reckoning
Registered User
- Jan 4, 2005
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Most of you will be too young to remember this player, but in 1972 the #2 pick in the draft was Jacques Richard; ahead of future stars like Shutt and Barber. He was the leading scorer in the Q that year and some speculated he might turn out better than his highly regarded teammate the year before- Guy Lafleur. Unfortunately he picked up several bad habits (drinking, gambling,cocaine) and things went downhill quickly and his career was a total bust-except for 1980-81. For whatever reason that season he had 103 points that year with Quebec (his previous career high was 43). Maybe playing in his hometown inspired him to clean up his act. Regardless,it was short-lived and he fell back in the dumps the following year. After his career ended, he did time in jail for cocaine smuggling. After his release he looked like he was trying to change (i.e. giving speeches at schools), but a couple of years ago he died in a car crash and police found cocaine in his car.
Another can`t-miss prospect from the 70s was Peter Lee. Here in Ottawa, he was a star with the 67s. In fact his retired jersey still hangs from the rafters in the Civic Centre. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, who were so strong back then that making the team was practically impossible, so he played with their minor-league team in Nova Scotia (back then it was often said that that AHL team was better than some of the lower NHL teams.) He got his chance to play in the NHL when he was traded to Pittsburgh for Pierre Larouche, and had a few not bad years for Pittsburgh, but was never considered a top player. Being a small player, he was never able to adapt to the rough style of the NHL, so at 27 he moved to Germany and had a lengthy and successful career over there.
The other guy i could mention was Tom Edur. He joined the WHA as an underage and played there for three years before going to the NHL, where he played for Colorado and Pittsburgh. Even though those teams were horrible back then, he was by far their best defenseman and gained a reputation as a future star. However, he was deeply disturbed by some of the off-ice activities of his teammates (i.e. drinking,adultery) and decided to quit at 23 years old to become a Jehovah`s Witness and dedicate his life to that faith. Pittsburgh thought it was a ploy to get more money, which they offered him, but he said he had no desire to play again. Even so, a year later, Edmonton used one of their picks in the 1979 expansion draft on him, just in case.
Another can`t-miss prospect from the 70s was Peter Lee. Here in Ottawa, he was a star with the 67s. In fact his retired jersey still hangs from the rafters in the Civic Centre. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, who were so strong back then that making the team was practically impossible, so he played with their minor-league team in Nova Scotia (back then it was often said that that AHL team was better than some of the lower NHL teams.) He got his chance to play in the NHL when he was traded to Pittsburgh for Pierre Larouche, and had a few not bad years for Pittsburgh, but was never considered a top player. Being a small player, he was never able to adapt to the rough style of the NHL, so at 27 he moved to Germany and had a lengthy and successful career over there.
The other guy i could mention was Tom Edur. He joined the WHA as an underage and played there for three years before going to the NHL, where he played for Colorado and Pittsburgh. Even though those teams were horrible back then, he was by far their best defenseman and gained a reputation as a future star. However, he was deeply disturbed by some of the off-ice activities of his teammates (i.e. drinking,adultery) and decided to quit at 23 years old to become a Jehovah`s Witness and dedicate his life to that faith. Pittsburgh thought it was a ploy to get more money, which they offered him, but he said he had no desire to play again. Even so, a year later, Edmonton used one of their picks in the 1979 expansion draft on him, just in case.
