NHL Meetings : Sabres Name Dudley as Coach; Draft Is Today

On the eve of today’s National Hockey League draft, the usual flurry of activity that comes with the gathering of general managers included the naming of Rick Dudley as coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

Dudley, who was interviewed for the Kings’ head coaching position eventually filled by Tom Webster, is coming off a successful season with the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate in New Haven, Conn. Dudley led the Nighthawks into the Calder Cup final.

Dudley, a former Sabre player, replaced Ted Sator, who was fired Thursday.

General Manager Rogie Vachon of the Kings said: “I’m happy for him, but we’re sorry to lose him. He’s a good man.”

So the Kings weren’t just being polite in interviewing Dudley for their head coaching job? “Oh, no,” Vachon said. “We know he’s good.”

Asked if Robbie Ftorek would be considered a candidate for the now-vacant spot at New Haven, Vachon said, “No. I don’t think that would work.”

Ftorek was happily coaching New Haven in December 1987 when King owner Bruce McNall hired him to coach the Kings.

The Stanley Cup champion Calgary Flames traded 30-year-old defenseman Rob Ramage to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a second-round pick in the draft, which begins this morning at the Met Center.

The Flames still have no first-round choice, but their second-round selection is high enough--No. 24 overall--to get them close.

The Kings also have no first-round pick. They traded this year’s selection and firsts in 1991 and 1993 to Edmonton in the Wayne Gretzky deal.

The Kings are in the market for defensemen, but there is no way to speculate who may be available when they take No. 39 in the second round. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Vachon said.

Friday, in the supplemental draft, the Kings claimed Carl Repp, a goaltender from the University of British Columbia. Repp is 23 and a native of Kimberly, British Columbia. Last season he had a record of 13-14-1 with a goals-against average of 1.17 and two shutouts.

Vachon said that Repp had been No. 1 on the Kings’ list for the college draft, adding that the Kings needed a backup goalie for insurance.

The Kings now have Kelly Hrudey, acquired late last season from the Islanders, as a starter and Mario Gosselin, formerly of Quebec and recently signed as a free agent. And, if they choose to sign him soon, they also have Glenn Healy, who won 25 games for them last season.

Vachon said that he did not know whether Healy would be back with the Kings’ organization next season.

“He has played out his option,” Vachon said. “Maybe some club will sign him.”

Or the Kings could sign him and trade him.

There also were rumors that Healy would be included in a trade sending Luc Robitaille to Washington for defenseman Kevin Hatcher.

In fact, there were a couple of Robitaille trade rumors. But Vachon said: “We’re not looking to trade him. We always listen, and this is the time of year when everyone comes up with weird ideas for trades.”

The Philadelphia Flyers are expected to come up with some trade ideas now that they have three of the top goaltenders in the league. They already had Ron Hextall and Wregget, then signed free agent Pete Peeters Friday.

Philadelphia General Manager Bob Clarke said: “It’s a proven fact in the NHL that goaltender is one position where depth is essential.”

The St. Louis Blues outbid several teams to sign free-agent goaltender Curtis Joseph to a $1.2-million contract over four years.

Joseph, who finished his freshman year at Wisconsin with a record of 21-11-5 and a Western Collegiate Hockey Assn.-best save percentage of .919, was passed over in the 1985, ’86 and ’87 entry drafts and was not eligible in ’88.

Tim Kerr of Philadelphia received the NHL’s Bill Masterton Trophy, an award given to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Kerr, who overcame five shoulder operations, led the Flyers in points with 88 and goals with 48 last season.

The Quebec Nordiques have the first pick in the draft and are reportedly interested in Mats Sundin of Sweden. Sundin was ranked by the Hockey News as a future “franchise player.”

But Sundin still has a year of military service to complete and is under contract to Sweden’s Djurgardens club through the 1990-91 season. Sundin is here for the draft.

Lou Nanne, president of the North Stars; Bud Poile, president of the International Hockey League; the late Lynn Patrick, a member of the Hall of Fame and a former general manager of the St. Louis Blues, and the late Dan Kelly, St. Louis broadcaster, all were honored with the Lester Patrick Award, which recognizes outstanding service to hockey.