Former Bruins Phil Esposito: Legendary Bruins Sniper

[GordonHowe]

You are right it was Cherry, I think he has said he wanted to throw him out the window if I remember right . I will say if it was Sinden who went into the hotel room he would have been thrown out the window.........

The story was that Grapes ("wearing the most ridiculouse pajamas I've ever seen") and Bobby came down to Phil's hotel room.

What's all this about, queried Esposito.

Cherry informed that Phil had been traded.

Espo responds, "If you say it's the Rangers, I'm going to jump out that window."

Grapes: "Bobby, get away from the window."

 

[Hookslide]

Esposito wasn't exactly a saint. During the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals he was out golfing with reps of a WHA team talking potential
contract. I remember listening years ago to Ken Hodge on Calling All Sports or Cliff & Claf and heard him say it. I couldn't believe it, so I called in and asked Hodge if I heard him right and he confirmed it.
Lost a lot of respect for Esposito hearing that.

That is the first I have heard that story, but I will tell that back then hockey players were just starting to make a little more money and that is because of Orr .Remember Harry Sinden after winning the cup wanted more money was not satisfied so he picked up his ball and went home . Also the Bruins gave him the opportunity to coach. When he left he was already in talks with Jacobs family , he knew what he was doing.........

 

[KillerMillerTime]

That is the first I have heard that story, but I will tell that back then hockey players were just starting to make a little more money and that is because of Orr .Remember Harry Sinden after winning the cup wanted more money was not satisfied so he picked up his ball and went home . Also the Bruins gave him the opportunity to coach. When he left he was already in talks with Jacobs family , he knew what he was doing........

I am a bit unsure of your last sentence. Was Stirling Homex a
Jacobs Co. or are you saying Sinden was dealing in bad faith with Jacobs regarding the B's job, because Jacobs didn't own the B's in 1970.

 

[DKH]

Esposito wasn't exactly a saint. During the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals he was out golfing with reps of a WHA team talking potential
contract. I remember listening years ago to Ken Hodge on Calling All Sports or Cliff & Claf and heard him say it. I couldn't believe it, so I called in and asked Hodge if I heard him right and he confirmed it.
Lost a lot of respect for Esposito hearing that.

It was probably Larry Gordon so I would not hold it against Espo. Gordon was part of the gang before the WHA. He was a friend of my father and I was around him when I was a yute and knew he was getting heavy into the WHA and trying to siphon Bruins players. I was young but I knew what they were talking about was freaking out inside what was going on. Larry was a hustler and every time I saw him he was on but was a nice guy - not surprised he rose so high. He likely was tight with Sather. My folks were good friends with them and I’m sure they were in same group years ahead of WHA

I can remember like yesterday sitting there realizing probably playing Mouse Trap or something but listening as one of my favorite Bruins was likely jumping to WHA

Larry Gordon, hockey mogul

Larry Gordon didn’t have ties to hockey when he graduated from Aquinas in 1956, but by the time he left the sport in 2000, he called the game’s greatest players his friends.

usatodayhss.com

 

[Hookslide]

I am a bit unsure of your last sentence. Was Stirling Homex a
Jacobs Co. or are you saying Sinden was dealing in bad faith with Jacobs regarding the B's job, because Jacobs didn't own the B's in 1970.

There was a Buffalo connection ..........

 

[DaBroons]

Sinden actually brought Orr with him to tell Espo he'd been traded. When they got to Espo room he new something was up and said Bobby don't tell me I've been traded and if its to the rangers Im jumping out that window. Sinden replied by telling Bobby to go open up the window. lol

No, it was Cherry who broke the news. You have everything right except the person. The team was in California, and Harry was in Boston.

The weirder trade was the Vadnais trade, as the team also was in California, and the players involved switched dressing rooms before the game. The Seals jumped to a 5-1 lead, before da Broons came back to win.

 

[Bradely]

I don't think he hates the Bruins he hates Sinden.

I don't think nobody knows what Phil think!

 

[GordonHowe]

There was a Buffalo connection ..........

With a jerk from Buffalo.

 

[GordonHowe]

No, it was Cherry who broke the news. You have everything right except the person. The team was in California, and Harry was in Boston.

The weirder trade was the Vadnais trade, as the team also was in California, and the players involved switched dressing rooms before the game. The Seals jumped to a 5-1 lead, before da Broons came back to win.

Was that the West Coast game (probably not) where the B's were down big ^ after two periods and Bobby said, basically, get it together and let's show 'em we can win it in the third. And they did.

Both Orr and Esposito were tremendous competitors.

"All they wanted to do," observed Gary Cheevers, "was win. Bobby in his way, Phil in his.

"And we won."

 

[JustinCaron]

Always portraited as a garbage goal scorer. By those who didn't watch him play.

Funny looking skater but had a lethal wrister with super quick release. Great playmaker, led the league in assists 3 times. Think Charlie Coyle is a possession guy? Nobody could take the puck from Espo once he had it.

Did he benefit from playing with Orr? Of course, everyone did. Not much of a defensive player but was good on the PK because he could rag the puck and was still a threat offensively. Definitely played longer shifts than anyone else.

His Summit Series performance was legendary.

I also saw that Esposito said he picked up his snap shot technique from playing with Bobby Hull while he was in Chicago either for how great of numbers he put up I don’t think Espo gets as much respect, or acknowledgment might be the better word, as he should. Younger hockey fans probably have no idea who he was which is a shame considering he was the first player ever to score 60 and 70 goals in a season.

You are right it was Cherry, I think he has said he wanted to throw him out the window if I remember right . I will say if it was Sinden who went into the hotel room he would have been thrown out the window.........

That Thunder and Lightning book was so good.

 

[bruins19]

I thought it was Don Cherry that told Phil he had been traded.

Phil said it was Cherry and Orr in his book. The quote from Phil was accurate, but Cherry told Orr to block the window rather than open it.

 

[nORRis8]

NHL99: Jean Ratelle thrived before and after one of the biggest trades in NHL history

Ratelle might have been at his best with the Boston Bruins, even though he's remembered most as a New York Ranger.

theathletic.com

Timely article in the Athletic today, discussing the trade from Jean Ratelle's perspective....


To each their own, but I find the Bolts radio broadcast un-listenable. Dave Mishkin is the worst.....

Is he the guy who screams like he's getting a colonoscopy with an elephant's trunk?

 

[jgatie]

Phil said it was Cherry and Orr in his book. The quote from Phil was accurate, but Cherry told Orr to block the window rather than open it.

Actually, the story I've always heard is Orr was standing by the window and Cherry said "Bobby, get away from that window!".

 

[Fenian24]

That is the first I have heard that story, but I will tell that back then hockey players were just starting to make a little more money and that is because of Orr .Remember Harry Sinden after winning the cup wanted more money was not satisfied so he picked up his ball and went home . Also the Bruins gave him the opportunity to coach. When he left he was already in talks with Jacobs family , he knew what he was doing.........

Was Espo clairvoyant? Storer bought the team from the Adam's family, Storer sold to JJ in 74.

The important part of this is Harry Sinden who called anybody who ever wanted money to play hockey a crook, delusional or told them to go yodel, being a slimy hypocrite he did it before being named GM.

Phil said it was Cherry and Orr in his book. The quote from Phil was accurate, but Cherry told Orr to block the window rather than open it.

Orr always claimed Cherry told him to move and it was one of the few times he was pissed at Cherry

 

[BNHL]

Loved Espo,he was the #2 reason we got 2 cups and part of the reason we didn't get 4. His Bruins numbers were preposterous and as time slips away,his legendary performance gets less credit. For me the #1B Bruin of that era,and the number 2 Bruin of my lifetime,a greater player with more success than Bourque,Neely or Bergeron. A true HOF player,not the watered down versions of today.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I have zero dislike of Espo. No matter how Espo feels about the Bruins, I will always regard him as a Bruin great and appreciate what he accomplished. Still love the guy.

Boston jobbed him. He was coming off a 61 goal season. He had just turned down a massive monetary offer from the WHA so that he could stay loyal to the Bruins. The one team he did not want to be traded to was the NYR. Sinden then traded him to the NYR.

Espo learned to love New York City eventually, but he had every right to hate what Sinden did to him. He was also a great competitor, and he has openly said that the NYR players when he got there didn't give a rat's ass about winning. That poured fuel on the fire in his mind I am sure.

I feel like Espo got revenge in some way by being a massive force behind Tampa getting a team. We all know what a pain in the ass TB has been for the Bs in recent years.

And yet when traded to the dreaded Rangers, he didn't jump to the WHA.

Clearly Phil never had any intention to jump but used the offer to get more from the Bruins.

 

[jgatie]

And yet when traded to the dreaded Rangers, he didn't jump to the WHA.

Clearly Phil never had any intention to jump but used the offer to get more from the Bruins.

He was still under the contract he signed (under false pretenses) with the Bruins, he couldn't break that without a harsh penalty.

 

[quietbruinfan]

While I respect his accomplishments greatly, I am not a fan of Phil. He is a company man and relativist who changes his stories, if not his beliefs, depending on who employs or interviews him.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

He was still under the contract he signed (under false pretenses) with the Bruins, he couldn't break that without a harsh penalty.

If he hated it in New York and was offered a ton more money from the WHA, how bad could the penalty be?

While I respect his accomplishments greatly, I am not a fan of Phil. He is a company man and relativist who changes his stories, if not his beliefs, depending on who employs or interviews him.

If he were on an episode of "Law & Order", Phil would be considered an unreliable witness.

 

[quietbruinfan]

If he hated it in New York and was offered a ton more money from the WHA, how bad could the penalty be?



If he were on an episode of "Law & Order", Phil would be considered an unreliable witness.

Bingo

 

[GoBs]

Book "The Brothers Esposito" was a good read when I was younger.

Yes also read “The Brothers Esposito" i was an adult enjoyed it as well

 

[PaulD]

I don't think he hates the Bruins he hates Sinden.

Unfortunately Phil seems to lump them together.

 

[PaulD]

You are right it was Cherry, I think he has said he wanted to throw him out the window if I remember right . I will say if it was Sinden who went into the hotel room he would have been thrown out the window.........

Cherry went in the hotel room, Cashman and Orr were with Phil. Cherry informed Phil he had been traded. Phil asked where and added "if you tell me its the Rangers Im jumping out that window" Grapes responded "Bobby , open the window"

 

[jgatie]

If he hated it in New York and was offered a ton more money from the WHA, how bad could the penalty be?

I don't know, I'm not a lawyer. However, being under contract and not wanting to break it are a far more likely scenario than Phil never had any intention to jump and used the offer to get more from the Bruins. Especially since he actually took less from the Bruins because he was promised he'd be a Bruin for life.

 

[missingchicklet]

Unfortunately Phil seems to lump them together.

To some extent I think you are right. I have no problem with that. Espo thought Cherry was a part of the reason he was traded as well. He rightfully felt that the coach and GM surely were in on the decision to trade him together. The dude had put up monster numbers and helped the Bruins become very successful. To be cast aside and traded to the one team he didn't want to be traded to I'm sure resulted in resentment that transcended just Sinden.