clarinews@clarinet.com (FREDERICK WATERMAN, UPI Sports Writer) (01/17/90)
BOSTON (UPI) -- Boston Bruins center Ken Linseman, at odds with coach Mike Milbury since the season's start, was traded Tuesday to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for center and team captain Dave Poulin. Linseman, who like Poulin is 31, was Boston's No. 2 scorer each of the past two seasons but was demoted to the third and fourth lines. ``We just never seemed to get on the same wave-length,'' said Linseman of his relationship with Milbury. ``I didn't feel needed or wanted. Milbury said that Linseman asked him last week what he must do to get more playing time, and Milbury recalled telling him, ```You need to play better to play more.''' Linseman returns to the team which drafted him in 1978. This season, he scored 6 goals and assisted on 16 others as Boston compiled the league's best record, 27-16-3. Poulin, who played four seasons at Notre Dame, has 9 goals and 8 assists this year, his seventh NHL season, all with the Flyers. From 1983-84 through 1986-87 he registered at least 25 goals and 42 assists. In 1987, he won the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top defensive forward. ``Dave Poulin fits the particular job description that we feel needs to be filled,'' said Bruins president and general manager Harry Sinden. ``It seemed the proper time for the team and Ken to move on.'' The Bruins are the league's best defensive team, allowing just 134 goals this year. Sinden emphasized the different strengths of Linseman and Poulin. Linseman, in his 12th NHL season, ``had been playing in a checking situation and is best suited for a more offensive role,'' said Sinden. ``He's been an excellent competitor for us and has been one of the nucleus of this team since he's been here. ``Kenny's a difficult guy to trade,'' said Sinden, but he did not hesitate to change the NHL's best team because ``You're only the top team after you win the Stanley Cup.'' Flyers vice president and general manager Bobby Clarke expressed regrets similar to Sinden's. ``Trading Dave Poulin was extremely difficult,'' said Clarke. ``He's not only a personal friend, but he's been a tremendous player for the Flyers -- a real heart-and-soul player. During the 1980s, our club had great successs and Dave Poulin was one of the leaders. He was the ideal captain and a courageous clutch performer. ``However at this time, we feel we need a little more offense and Kenny Linseman can provide that. We've lost 13 games by one goal, so we had to do something to improve the offense,'' said Clarke. Linseman played with Philadelphia from 1979 to 1982 and spent two years with Edmonton before coming to Boston in 1984. He has 244 goals and 513 assists in his NHL career. Poulin, after college, played one season for the Swedish team Rogle. He signed as a free agent with Philadelphia in February 1983, on the recommendation of his Rogle coach, Ted Sator, who is now an assistant coach with the Bruins. Poulin, who succeeded Clarke as Flyers captain in 1984, has 161 goals and 233 assists in his NHL career. ``Unfortunately, you have to give up something good to get something good,'' said Clarke. ``Boston wanted Dave and we felt we had to make the deal.''