The National Hockey League’s annual meetings continued in Montreal yesterday with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers conducting the most significant piece of business for the day.
The Canadiens sent goalkeeper Cesare Maniago and forward Garry Peters to the Rangers. In exchange, the Habs will receive veteran centre Earl Ingarfield, forwards Dave McComb and Gordon Labossiere, and defenceman Noel Price. The Rangers will also send an undisclosed amount of cash to Canadiens, suspected to be in the range of $30,000, the amount of the draft fee Montreal would have realized if Maniago had been exposed in the intra-league live stock market.
Maniago the key for Rangers
Maniago was the key to the trade for the Rangers. With the surprise retirement of veteran goalie Jacques Plante Monday, general manager Emile Francis wasted little time lining up what he feels will be an adequate replacement. Maniago is a veteran of 21 NHL games with Toronto and Montreal. He was the all-star goalie in the CPHL this past season and appears at 26 to be ready to take a run at a regular NHL job.
Peters, only 23, came to Montreal as a highly regarded junior out of Regina. The Canadiens had high hopes for the high-scoring centre, but his development was curtailed by injuries this past season, his second in the professional ranks. He was a 32-goal scorer with Omaha of the CPHL in his first pro season.
Ingarfield gives Habs depth
Ingarfield was the key acquisition for Montreal. He has been a regular centre for the Rangers for the past five seasons. His best year was in 1961-62 when he put up 26 goals. Last year, he had 15 goals and 13 assists and became expendable when Francis initiated his full-scale youth movement. Ingarfield gives the Canadiens solid depth down the middle.
Labossiere, 25, was a mainstay for the Rangers’ Baltimore farm team in the AHL last season and is destined for the Quebec Aces next year. The tall, lanky centre had 38 goals and 41 assists for the Clippers. Price also played in Baltimore and was their best defenceman, but coming up on 30 years old, he didn’t fit in the Rangers’ plans.
McComb goes back to the Montreal organization after being included in the deal that sent Dick Duff to the Canadiens from the Rangers for Bill Hicke in December.
Habs deal Watson for Johns
Montreal also completed a second trade of the more minor variety, with the Chicago Blackhawks. The Canadiens sent defenceman Bryan Watson, who split last season between Quebec of the AHL and Montreal, to the Hawks for veteran defenceman Don Johns. Montreal also received the customary undisclosed amount of cash.
Johns had previously been picked up by Chicago last season in the same trade with the Rangers where Camille Henry came to Chicago.
Two move on waivers
Two players were put on waivers and were claimed by rival clubs. Toronto asked waivers on veteran forward Don McKenney, who was snapped up by the Detroit Red Wings. Boston made a similar request with young forward Billy Knibbs, and were surprised to see him claimed by Emile Francis for his New York Rangers.
Francis asked waivers on recently retired goalie Jacques Plante, but no team made a claim. Toronto president Stafford Smythe, who had bragged he would snatch Plante if he became available, was apparently convinced by general manager Punch Imlach that the Leafs have their quota of aging netminders.
Buckaroos rap Bruins
Harry Glickman, the managing director of the Portland Buckaroos of the Western Hockey League, is not happy with the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins on Tuesday sent two Portland players, defenceman Pat Stapleton and right-winger Andy Hebenton, to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade in which Boston acquired right-winger Ron Stewart. Both players were WHL all-stars last season, and were the only players on Portland owned by Boston.
The Bruins also sent forward Orland Kurtenbach to Toronto in the deal.
Glickman had implored Bruins’ new general manager Hap Emms to re-work the deal so that Portland’s two best players would not be included in the transaction. When Emms ignored his pleas, Glickman announced that his club was severing all ties with the Boston organization.
Portland has had a working agreement with the Bruins for the past five seasons. Taking a swipe at Emms, Glickman said, “In the last five years our dealings with Boston have always been through Lynn Patrick, and we have been assured satisfaction. However, I understand he is no longer connected with the Boston organization.”
Notes
- The Molson Brewing Company has hired former NHL’ers Gaye Stewart and Hank Goldup for executive positions at their Hamilton, Ontario operation. Murray Oliver of the Boston Bruins, a Hamilton native, is already on staff there.
- The New York Rangers are apparently trying to buy the Ringling, Barnum and Bailey Circus. Let the jokes begin…
- Los Angeles Blades of the WHL have traded goalie Jack McCartan to the San Francisco Seals for defenceman Hal Jackson.
- The NHL board of governors has shelved plans to seek an immediate successor for president Clarence Campbell.
