I liked the Gaborik trade.
- MJL

Brassard (outside of maybe Nash) has been their most consistent offensive threat. I certainly like the trade for the Rangers, but it is weird trading a superstar sniper when you're battling as a Cup contender. Rangers are a strange team, I think the cookie crumbles this upcoming offseason. Something has to give.

Brassard (outside of maybe Nash) has been their most consistent offensive threat. I certainly like the trade for the Rangers, but it is weird trading a superstar sniper when you're battling as a Cup contender. Rangers are a strange team, I think the cookie crumbles this upcoming offseason. Something has to give.
- GirouxForTheShow

And they got a young defenseman in Moore, and some toughness in Dorsett. I think Tortorella has run it's course. Time for another voice.

I still think of Gump as that little Munchkin like gnome I first met in 1980 and last talked as he left the Spectrum to just hours before his tragic accident. To me he will always be that happy go lucky little guy of 26 in 1985. RIP Gumpster.

Will share one more story that got entirely cut from the final English edition of the Pelle Lindbergh book (although the photo meant to accompany the story -- a mug shot -- remained in the book).

****************

Shortly after Pelle and Eriksson moved to Maine, they bought matching Corvettes with their sign-on bonuses.

“It cost us half of our salaries for the year, but it was worth it. Pelle and I both loved sports cars, and it was a dream to get a Corvette,” Eriksson recalls. “But we quickly became well-known by the police.”

Both Lindbergh and Eriksson are stopped for speeding by the Portland police. For Pelle, it’s a fairly regular occurrence. But he’s almost always able to charm his way out of a ticket, even when he drives 30 or more miles per hour above the speed limit.

“The Mariners players, including myself, were able to get away with a warning for speeding. It wasn’t like that at home in Sweden, where we were treated like anyone else by the police,” says Eriksson.

On occasion, however, Pelle is unable to talk himself out of trouble. He ends up getting arrested.

Anna-Lisa and Sigge Lindbergh are scheduled to visit Pelle, who arranges to pick up his folks at Boston’s Logan International Airport along with Björn. But early on the morning of their arrival, Pelle realizes there’s a snag in the plan: the Corvette is a two-seater and there’s no way to fit four people and a large suitcase.

Pelle asks teammate Freddy Williams if he can borrow the player’s four-door Chevrolet.

“Sure, no problem,” Williams says. “It’s in the garage.”

Pelle and Björn walk out to the Civic Center garage to get the car. But when they get there, the guard wags his finger at them.

“Sorry, but I can’t let you take that anywhere. The police said it has to stay here.”

“Why?” Pelle asks.

“Too many unpaid tickets, I think.”

Pelle hurriedly makes a phone call to Flyers general manager Keith Allen.

“Ah, go ahead and take the Chevy,” Allen says. “It will be OK.”

Pelle returns to the garage and drives off in the Chevy. Björn, standing on the sidewalk next to where the Corvette is parked, waves goodbye.

Minutes later, Pelle sees two police cars behind him. The car, already semi-impounded, has now been reported missing. Pelle pulls over to the curb. He tries to explain the situation.

The officers aren’t buying the story, nor are they amused by Pelle’s attempts to joke around when they ask questions about how and where he got the car. They mean business, but he continues to treat the situation like someone is trying to playing a practical joke on him.

“Come with us,” the officer says.

“Ah, I know where you live,” Pelle smirks. “I’ll take you.”

The policeman interprets Pelle’s smartass comment as a threat. The goaltender is placed in handcuffs and taken to the station. Lindbergh is booked, has mug shots taken and is briefly placed in a holding cell.

The situation is soon cleared up at the station, helped in no small part by the fact that many of the other officers recognize Lindbergh. No charges are filed, and he’s allowed to leave – without the Chevrolet. The car’s owner later promises to pay all outstanding tickets, and the situation is resolved once and for all.

“A lot of the cops were buddies with Pelle, or at least recognized him. He always made friends with police offers, and later hung out with some of them,” Neckman says. “When he left the station, I was waiting for him. He stood around signing autographs and shooting the breeze with the officers.”

Pelle and Björn drive the Corvette to Boston. Apparently not learning his lesson from the close call he’d just had, Pelle flies through a speed trap and gets pulled over by another patrol car.

“I’m sorry,” Pelle says. “We’re in a hurry. We have to go to Logan to pick my parents, and we’re running late.”

The officer shakes his head incredulously. “Pick up your parents, huh? In a Corvette with no backseat?”

Pelle tells the story about mixup with the Chevrolet. Fortunately, the policeman recognizes him.

“OK, you can go. Just slow down a little, all right?” the officer says.

“You betcha,” Pelle replies with a smile.

When they arrive at the airport, Pelle rents a car to transport his parents. Neckman returns to Portland in the Corvette.

Brassard (outside of maybe Nash) has been their most consistent offensive threat. I certainly like the trade for the Rangers, but it is weird trading a superstar sniper when you're battling as a Cup contender. Rangers are a strange team, I think the cookie crumbles this upcoming offseason. Something has to give.
- GirouxForTheShow

Torts puts his players down...he will be gone after this year. Living in new york i hear all of the post game interviews...he has no patience for his young players.

Brassard (outside of maybe Nash) has been their most consistent offensive threat. I certainly like the trade for the Rangers, but it is weird trading a superstar sniper when you're battling as a Cup contender. Rangers are a strange team, I think the cookie crumbles this upcoming offseason. Something has to give.
- GirouxForTheShow

From what I have seen of the Rangers, they just lack the same grit that they had last season.

Thrower was suspended for the rest of the MC, but that might only turn out to be one game.
- wilsonecho91

well they got that right

I liked the Gaborik trade.
- MJL

Yup, not bad, just odd.

The question is, did the trade make the Rangers a better team heading into the playoffs? The same trade likely could have been made during the off-season as Gaborik is signed through next season.

Taylor Leier is doubtful to play in the remainder of the Memorial Cup. Not surprising, but unfortunate. Thrower has been suspended.

Will share one more story that got entirely cut from the final English edition of the Pelle Lindbergh book (although the photo meant to accompany the story -- a mug shot -- remained in the book).



.........When they arrive at the airport, Pelle rents a car to transport his parents. Neckman returns to Portland in the Corvette.
- bmeltzer

Bill, what was the reason given for cutting all these great parts? Not enough room?

Yup, not bad, just odd.

The question is, did the trade make the Rangers a better team heading into the playoffs? The same trade likely could have been made during the off-season as Gaborik is signed through next season.
- wolfhounds

With the way Gaborik was playing? Brassard has done more for them. But who knows how Gaborik would have played

Bill, what was the reason given for cutting all these great parts? Not enough room?
- MBFlyerfan

Yes, cut for space. That is also why all those paragraphs and quoted conversations got mashed together.

And they got a young defenseman in Moore, and some toughness in Dorsett. I think Tortorella has run it's course. Time for another voice.
- MJL

he is the hidden gem in the deal

I think the Rangers did well there

torts benched richards for tonight....the guy is a douche

I liked the Gaborik trade.
- MJL

i thought both teams made at well in that deal. i really cant wrap my head around the rangers. they just should be better than they are.

at what point do you think henrik gets fed up?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Voracek, Leier, Draft Talk, Lindbergh Birthday
- bmeltzer

thanks as always bill, for helping keep my hero alive.

he is the hidden gem in the deal

I think the Rangers did well there
- Marc D

No doubt, Moore looks good.

No doubt, Moore looks good.
- wolfhounds

they have to prepare for the day when Staal goes family reunion on them and heads south

torts benched richards for tonight....the guy is a douche
- Philly1980

Richards has been brutal, but i dont think thats reason enough to refer to him as a douche.

they have to prepare for the day when Staal goes family reunion on them and heads south
- Marc D

If all 4 are in the lineup at one time that would be great.

Richards has been brutal, but i dont think thats reason enough to refer to him as a douche.

- Doc_Sarcasm

i meant torts...

No disrespect intended, but in hindsight it seems that PL was a disaster waiting to happen.

And maybe if some of those "well meaning" officers did their jobs things would've turned out differently.

So basically since 1995 the biggest contributor for the Flyers who was selected in the second round was Nodl? Holy poop, that is pathetic.

I especially love how Kulemin and Lucic were drafted after Nodl in 2006.

No disrespect intended, but in hindsight it seems that PL was a disaster waiting to happen.

And maybe if some of those "well meaning" officers did their jobs things would've turned out differently.
- Scoob

Lindbergh's reckless driving was something everyone smiled and laughed about (even his many friends on the police force in Portland and South Jersey), until it killed him one night. Even if Pelle hadn't touched a drop of alcohol that night -- and most nights during the season, he didn't drink -- the way he drove could still have had fatal consequences.

Lindbergh's reckless driving was something everyone smiled and laughed about (even his many friends on the police force in Portland and South Jersey), until it killed him one night. Even if Pelle hadn't touched a drop of alcohol that night -- and most nights during the season, he didn't drink -- the way he drove could still have had fatal consequences.
- bmeltzer

I always made it a point whenever I went anyplace with Gump that I drove!!