Gulls Add to Depth, Sign Up Hachborn

Already the International Hockey League’s strongest team, the Gulls today likely will sign center Len Hachborn, the second-leading scorer for the Gulls last season.

Hachborn arrived in town late last week after the Swedish club with which he signed during the summer told him it was unable to meet the financial terms of his contract.

Gulls General Manager Don Waddell anticipates no problems signing Hachborn, who scored 34 goals and assisted on 73 others in 70 games during the 1991-92 season.

“There’s no doubt we’re going to try to sign him,” Waddell said. “We’ll offer him what we did over the summer, but we’ll pro-rate it.”

Waddell and Hachborn had been discussing the player’s return for three weeks.

Whether Hachborn will play right away--the Gulls’ next game is Wednesday against Cleveland (7:05 p.m. at the Sports Arena)--is another question. Hachborn has skated only four times during the past few weeks, Waddell said.

Waddell dismissed the argument that the Gulls--who have not lost in regulation in 16 games--don’t need any more help.

“We’re going to go through some slumps this year like every team does,” he said. “But Len gives us another guy offensively who perhaps can keep us out of those slumps.”

Waddell said the club could delay signing Hachborn until a trade can be worked out that would open a spot on the roster.