New Bruins GM talking to Quinn

[Habit]

www.torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2006/06/15/1633599-sun.html

By MIKE ZEISBERGER, TORONTO SUN


Crushing a Boston sports icon such as Bobby Orr usually would get you tarred, feathered and dumped into the Charles River.

So how did Pat Quinn escape the wrath of Beantowners when he flattened Orr during the 1969 playoffs between Quinn's Maple Leafs and Orr's Boston Bruins?

Quinn's response to that question over the years always was the same.

"I guess they had a soft spot for my Irish background in a town with so many Irishmen," Quinn said.

More than 37 years later, Irish eyes could be smiling in the Hub after it was learned that the Boston organization is interested in the one-time Maple Leafs coach.

Incoming general manager Peter Chiarelli this week held face-to-face discussions with Quinn, who was relieved of his duties with the Leafs at the end of the 2005-06 season. The two were seen dining together at a Ottawa restaurant Tuesday.

While Chiarelli also met with incumbent Bruins coach Mike Sullivan last week, he has been tight-lipped concerning Sullivan's future. There has been speculation in Boston that Sullivan, who has a season left on his contract, could be on borrowed time behind the Bruins bench.

Quinn, 63, has missed the playoffs just twice in his 17 years as an NHL head coach.

From the Bruins' perspective, there could be legitimate concerns that Quinn might be a bit long in the tooth to run the team's youth movement.

At the same time, Quinn might be reluctant to jump into a situation involving a young rookie general manager after going through a similar process in Toronto with John Ferguson Jr.

[CentreHice]

I love the revisionist history at the beginning of the article. "Flattening.....crushing...."

It was an elbow to Orr's face in Game 1 of the 1969 Playoffs Quarter Finals.

April 2- With the Bruins leading the Maple Leafs 6-0, in a game they would eventually win 10-0, Leaf defenseman Pat Quinn caught Bobby Orr with an elbow to the face touching off one of most memorable brawls in the storied history of the Boston Garden.



I remember that hit, and Quinn was assessed a major penalty. The Bruins went on to win that series in 4 straight, outscoring the Leafs 24-5. Orr had his head down, yes, but it was a classless hit in a game that was out of reach. Leafs fans contend, of course, that the hit was legal.

The next year, Orr and the Bruins got some retribution, fight-wise.

Feb 1 - Bruins edge Leafs 7-6 on Johnny "Pie" McKenzie's late goal at the Gardens. This game saw both benches clear for a long brawl. In the second period Bobby paid retribution to Pat Quinn for the hit he put on him during last season's playoff game. The picture of Orr on top of Quinn behind the Leafs goal was published in Life magazine 26 days later. The fight came at 12:33 of the period when John McKenzie high-sticked Pat Quinn. Phil Esposito was prepared to drop the gloves but gave way to Orr.



Edit: Sorry, don't know how to make the first picture smaller. It's small on the website but opens huge here.

[Toronthab]

Thanks CH. I have mostly really liked Quinn. He was about the only guy in the NHL for a while that still believed in hockey, e.g. offense.

I'd like to see him back in it.