The NHL / Chris Baker : Pucks and Fast Cars--It’s a Life With a Price

Goaltender Tom Barrasso of the Buffalo Sabres became friends with the late Pelle Lindbergh of the Philadelphia Flyers when they were teammates in the 1984 National Hockey League All-Star game.

Barrasso, the NHL’s top goalie in 1983-84 and Lindbergh, the league’s best goalie in 1984-85, shared a fondness for Porsche cars.

Barrasso, in fact, had a fondness for sporty cars, period. Like many NHL rookies, he bought a Pontiac Trans Am when he signed his first contract with the Sabres in 1983. But he later bought a Porsche 944.

Barrasso won a Dodge Lazer when he was named the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1984, but he also bought a Ferrari, which is in storage at his parents’ home in Boston. He said he regards it as a good investment.

He sold his Porsche 944 to teammate Ric Seiling and bought a used 1979 Porsche Turbo, which was similar to Lindbergh’s car, for a reported $25,000.

It wasn’t hard to tell that it was Barrasso’s car, since it had vanity license plates--Tommy B.

After Lindbergh was killed in an alcohol-related accident in his Porsche earlier this month, Barrasso told a Buffalo paper: “It’s not like Pelle did anything we all haven’t done.”

A story in the Buffalo News mentioned Barrasso’s Porsche, but did not mention the license plates.

Less than a week after the story ran about Barrasso’s reaction to Lindbergh’s death, Barrasso’s Porsche was stolen from an isolated parking lot at the Buffalo airport while the Sabres were away on a trip.

Police met Barrasso at the airport when the team returned home and said that his car had been found, stripped and burned.

Barrasso took the news well, and got a ride home with teammate Phil Housley.

The Edmonton Oilers’ Stanley Cup championship rings cost a reported $17,000 apiece.

If the players ever run into any financial trouble, they can always pawn their rings.

Those who call the Hartford Whaler office and are put on hold hear taped play-by-play highlights from a recent game.

The Chicago Tribune reported that owner Bill Wirtz of the Black Hawks doesn’t have cable TV, so he watches TV at the home of his son, Peter, when his team is on the road.

Peter has a big-screen color TV set in the living room, but he won’t let his father watch TV with him because Bill chain-smokes cigarettes. Wirtz, one of the most powerful owners in hockey, must watch on a small TV in the kitchen.

Wirtz was recently included in the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. His wealth was estimated at $350 million.

George and Gordon Gund, owners of the Minnesota North Stars, were also included on the list. And are reported to be worth $350 million.

There are reports from Buffalo that the Kings are interested in goalie Jacques Cloutier, who is playing for the Sabres’ minor league team at Rochester, N.Y.

King assistant coach Mike Murphy watched Cloutier play recently against the New Haven Nighthawks, the Kings’ farm team.

King General Manager Rogie Vachon said, however, that Murphy wasn’t there to scout Cloutier. “He was there to look at some players (from New Haven) that we were thinking of bringing up.

“We have talked (with Buffalo), but we didn’t go anywhere with it. We didn’t mention any players.”

Asked if the Kings are on the verge of making a trade, Vachon said: “There’s always something cooking, but nothing concrete at this time.

“I think we have played much better in the last three games. There are a lot of good signs, Marcel (Dionne) is playing better and (Darren) Eliot played well.”

Defenseman Tom Hirsch of the Minnesota North Stars may be the only pro hockey player with an earring.

Hirsch, has two dangling loops in his left ear.

Teammate Steve Payne, a left wing, is a budding musician. Payne is taking guitar lessons from the lead guitarist for Husker Du, a promising Minneapolis-based rock band.

The hottest trade rumor in the NHL has Buffalo dealing defenseman Phil Housley to Minnesota for right wing Brian Bellows.

Bellows has been on the outs with the North Stars. He was benched for two games last week. Housley is also in the doghouse in Buffalo. He sat out a game last Friday.

If the trade is made, both players will be returning home. Housley was born in St. Paul, and Bellows is from St. Catharines, Canada, which is just across the border from Buffalo in Ontario. The Sabres have a large group of fans from St. Catharines.

The Philadelphia Flyers are apparently trying to trade center Todd Bergen. Bergen, 22, retired from hockey last summer after feuding with Flyer Coach Mike Keenan and now is trying to make the pro golf tour.

There are reports that the Flyers have talked to Minnesota about getting Bergen for defenseman Dave Richter.