Kings Offer $1.6-Million Deal to Robinson : Canadiens Must Match Amount If They Want to Keep 38-Year-Old Star

If the Montreal Canadiens want to keep Larry Robinson, they will have to match the offer the Kings put before him Tuesday--and it doesn’t sound as if they want to match it.

Robinson, a defenseman who has been in Los Angeles since Monday, agreed in principle to a deal with the Kings that, according to King sources, is a two-year deal with an option year that could pay him up to $1.6 million.

Considered along with the Canadiens’ policy of giving veteran players separation pay equal to their final year’s salary, it would cost Montreal more than $2 million to see that the 38-year-old star retires in a blue, white and red sweater.

Robinson would like to see that No. 19 sweater hanging from the rafters in the Forum in Montreal. But, according to Montreal reports, Serge Savard, general manager of the Canadiens, would not include that assurance in Robinson’s final contract. It is likely that the number would have been retired, eventually, but Savard reportedly did not like having such an issue dictated.

Then there was a difference of opinion over how much of Robinson’s total annual salary of $430,000 should be included in the 15% raise that Savard was offering. And there was a glitch over the transfer of ownership of some season tickets.

Savard told Montreal reporters last week he had thought he had an oral agreement with Robinson as of last Monday--for one more year plus a year at the club’s option--but that by Friday he was being told to come up with a final offer. He said that he was “sick and tired” of all the objections being raised by Robinson’s representative, Donny Cape.

Robinson became a free agent on July 1. If Montreal chooses not to match the Kings’ offer, the Kings will be free to sign him without sending compensation to the Canadiens.

Savard said Tuesday, after coming off the golf course: “The chances are slim that we will keep Larry in Montreal.”

He did not want to discuss details before he had a chance to read the Kings’ offer, which was sent to his office while he was out.

“All I know now is that it was a three-year offer,” Savard said. “That’s long enough for a 38-year-old. . . . It would be premature for me to comment further. . . .

“If a deal with Los Angeles makes him happy, then I’m happy for him.”

National Hockey League rules do not specify a time frame for a response, but if this transaction follows form, the Canadiens can be expected to announce their intentions to either match the offer or let him go to the Kings within the next day or two.

The Kings have been loading up with players who can help them immediately. As General Manager Rogie Vachon said Tuesday in announcing the offer: “After meeting with (owner) Bruce McNall and confirming that our future is now, Larry most definitely fits our needs. He is a player of the highest caliber and his record speaks for itself throughout the league.”

Robinson, who was drafted by the Canadiens in 1971, started his pro career with their Nova Scotia club before moving up to play 17 seasons in Montreal. Robinson has been on the all-star roster six times and has won the Norris Trophy (as the top defenseman in the league) twice.

McNall, who had not been optimistic about getting Robinson on Monday, said Tuesday that he thought the Kings’ chances of ending up with Robinson were “a little better than 50-50.”

McNall said that he and Vachon had had a pleasant evening with Robinson and his wife, Jeannette, and that he thought Robinson would be happy with the Kings.

Robinson is planning to stay in Los Angeles through Friday.