Some Kings Rally to Ftorek, but Tension Lingers : Coach Conducts Practice Amid Reports He Is Disliked and Will Be Replaced

Although it was business as usual for the Kings Thursday, with Coach Robbie Ftorek directing an off-day practice at Maple Leaf Gardens and superstar Wayne Gretzky doing his daily duty with the reporters and TV crews out to record his every move, there was a residue of tension.

It was left by the questions of whether Ftorek is as disliked by his team as a column in the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, suggested and about whether Ftorek might be on his way out.

Words were being chosen very carefully. And although some players were already on the record in support of Ftorek--goalie Glenn Healy and defenseman John Tonelli for example--others skated neatly around the issue.

Gretzky had said Wednesday night that he thought Ftorek was a good coach and that it was not his place to interfere in management decisions. But several reporters pointed out in their summations of Gretzky’s reaction that he had not flatly disputed the column, which was written by Gretzky’s friend, Al Strachan.

And Gretzky had alluded to Ftorek’s growing pains in saying that everyone on the team was having growing pains. Gretzky expanded on that: “One year he had a team that was in the process of rebuilding, the next year they traded for four or five veterans.”

Ftorek, in pointing out that the man who controls playing time is always going to be out of favor with players who feel that they aren’t getting enough of it, said: “It was easier last year when we didn’t have as much ability. We didn’t have a lot of NHL veterans. Now we have guys who, among them, have nine Stanley Cup rings and they’re bumping some people out of ice time. That can be good. Competition is healthy.

“And then we have Wayne, who plays a little more than anyone else, and that takes up another spot.”

Ftorek, whose coaching philosophy does not include sharing team business with reporters, said he is not enjoying this.

“I’m not very comfortable with the fact that a lot of things are going around that are not directed towards winning hockey games.

“If I have a problem with a player I talk to them. It should be a 2-way street.”

Luc Robitaille was obviously not happy about not being on the ice at key times late in the 5-3 loss at Montreal Wednesday night. He took out his frustrations by heaving a cooler full of ice against a wall.

Thursday, Robitaille said: “We had lost and all. I wasn’t too happy. Today is another day. . . . Robbie, he’s got his own way. But he wants to win. We all want to win. . . . If we had won at Montreal, I would have been happy whether I had played or not.”

Defenseman Marty McSorley, who had a brief meeting with Ftorek after practice, said only that they met to discuss McSorley’s play.

“We can’t let all this stuff get to us,” McSorley said. “We’re all in this together to win. I can’t be worrying about the coach’s job. I can’t even be worrying about my own job. I have to be positive, concentrate on playing and trying to win games.”

King Notes

Center Bernie Nicholls missed practice at Maple Leaf Gardens for Saturday’s game against Toronto, apparently because of a minor injury, but Coach Robbie Ftorek would say only that Nicholls would be back today. . . . The Kings traded right wing Paul Guay to the Boston Bruins Thursday for Dave Pasin, another right wing. Both will continue to play at the teams’ American Hockey League affiliates. Pasin was drafted by the Bruins in the first round of the 1984 entry draft, the 19th pick overall. Pasin (6-1, 203 pounds) has 2 goals and 5 assists in 11 goals this season and has 18 goals and 19 assists in 71 NHL games . . . For the record: The King goalie who will report back to the Kings’ New Haven club is Mark Fitzpatrick, not Bob Janecyk as was incorrectly reported in Thursday’s editions.