Bryan Trottier recalls getting drafted by New York Islanders
In the years 1973 and ‘74 the World Hockey Association was signing what was then “underage” players and grabbing talent before the NHL could draft and sign them at 20 years of age…
I was 17 years old and had just finished my 2nd year of major Junior Hockey for the Swift Current Broncos. I finished the year with over 100 points and was approached by the WHA Cincinnati Stingers that spring to sign a $500,000, 10-year deal that would pay me 50k a year…WOW!
My Dad (Buzz) called his local attorney and they found Montreal agent Dave Schatia and the three formed a strategy.
Wait!
The NHL was going to pass a new by-law that would allow them to draft players turning 18 years of age prior to December 31 1974….being born July 17, 1956 put me in the group of underage draftables!
There was no TV or grandiose hoopla surrounding the draft that year…Everything was going to be done by telephone AKA “The Secret Draft”…a special draft that was going to compete with the World Hockey Associations business of grabbing players two years ahead of the NHL draft age of 20…
Part of our strategy was “if” I got selected in the June 1974 NHL draft, then I would have some bargaining power between the WHA Stingers and whatever team drafted me in the NHL.
“If” I got drafted… ???…
The way I understood it too, the NHL must pick all underage players in either the first or second round. Cincinnati then dropped the ultimatum that I had to sign immediately or they would take the deal off the table.
Uh-Oh! Was I taking too big a risk waiting? “What if’s” started running through my mind…my bargaining chip was gone…the $500k Stinger contract was gone…I might not even get drafted!!
Draft day I was up early. I listened to the radio and sat by the phone awaiting any news…Saskatchewan was two hours behind Montreal. I’m nervous, excited, unsure, anticipating…who will call me? My agent? The team? The NHL office? Or possibly, Nobody? (Yikes)
I was alone in the house when the phone rang around 11 am. Dad had work to do…Mom (Mary) started gardening and brothers and sisters were oblivious and apathetic scurrying about doing odd jobs that kids do on a ranch. It was late Spring and it gets busy early in this little farming cowboy land of Val Marie.
There were chores to do and I was answering the phone that would change my life forever…voice said “Ott Erickson New York Islanders, please hold for Bill Torrey.”
My mouth went dry and I think I muttered “uh-huh”…
“Come on Bryan” I thought to myself “Be polite, respectful…its first impression time” Mom and Dad said you can only make a first impression once and this was one of those times…
“Bryan? It’s Bill Torrey. Welcome to the New York Islanders. You were selected 22nd overall. Congratulations! My secretary, Jeannie Boyle will be contacting you next week with flight information to Montreal. I’ll see you then.”
“Thank you sir. Yes, Mr Torrey,” I managed to somehow say without blurting or stammering.
“Call me Bill. See you next week. G’bye! And oh yeah, Bryan I look forward to meeting your Mom and Dad. Can you bring them with you next week?”
“I’m sure they would like that a lot Bill,” I thanked him again, we exchanged goodbyes and I hung up the phone.
As I walked outside and mounted the tractor hitched to the bale picker, I wondered how am I suppose to celebrate this? Who do I tell? What else happened today at the draft? I’ll call Tiger (Williams) later…got work to do right now…
All afternoon I’m thinking, “Man oh man, I have a chance to play in the NHL with the expansion team from Long Island. I have to check them out in hockey news…who’s on their roster? Who are their Centermen? Wonder if I can make it right away? What’s next? Will Cincinnati still be around? Maybe the Islanders will offer a better deal? Dad and Mom will know hopefully.”
Later that day I shared the phone call with Mom and Dad and like me, the questions came pouring out…we were all so excited.
Dad started planning the next few days work load for us to ready for the trip. Mom was smiling her “mother’s smile” that made me beam with pride every time I sort of did something good or right.
All was good that day. No hoopla! no bright lights! no interviews!
Just a life changing phone call, my moms smile and a list of chores to do from Dad. Wouldn’t change a thing!
June 25th, 2010
