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Originally Posted by Word
Also factor in that Gretzky wanted a No 1 defensemen and a No 1 forward to be acquired or he would walk at the end of the year. I for one was suprised that McMaster got the return he did.
One thing tho Roman Vopat was a top prospect with loads of talent [at least from what I read at the time] but he had a ten cent head. Al Arbouer [sp] of the NY Islanders didnt think St. Louis would ever deal him. He thought he would go far.
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I remember the two names that were rumored to be coming to Los Angeles, per Gretzky's request. The defenseman would have been Phil Housley and the forward would have been Brett Hull, who was not getting along at all with Mike Keenan.
And I recall Vopat being called the "gem" of that trade. I don't know what went wrong with him, must have been that sucker punch that knocked his lights out, courtesy of Dody Wood (right as soon as the puck dropped when Wood and Vopat were facing off). Vopat had a mean streak in him... other than that, he didn't have much going for him.