clarinews@clarinet.com (01/14/90)
NEW YORK (UPI) -- John Vanbiesbrouck, a mainstay in the New York Rangers' net since 1984, may be headed for Toronto in a deal that includes oft-injured Maple Leafs' left wing Wendel Clark. Reports out of Toronto indicate that Vanbiesbrouck will be traded from the Rangers to Toronto if Clark passes a physical examination Sunday afternoon. Neither side has confirmed any deal, but the Maple Leafs have been making a serious bid to pry Vanbiesbrouck away from the Rangers. Earlier in the week Toronto General Manager Floyd Smith offered center Tom Fergus to New York in a straight-up deal, but was turned down. Both Fergus and Clark were scratched from the Toronto lineup for Saturday night's game against Calgary. Maple Leafs spokesman Bob Stellick would only say that nobody had heard from Smith, who is in New York, since early Saturday morning. Clark's agent, Don Meehan, also said he had no knowledge of a trade. Clark, the first pick in the 1985 NHL entry draft, has seen limited action since injuring his back during the 1987 season. He missed the better part of two seasons before returning to the Toronto lineup March 1 against the Rangers after missing the previous 90 regular-season contests and 116 of the previous 144. Described as a muscular imbalance, the injury never has been completely diagnosed though the 24-year-old winger has visited specialists around the world. The examinations included visits to London and the Mayo Clinic. This year, he has missed the last three games with a severe slash across the forearm. Earlier in the year he missed seven games with a knee injury and has occasionally taken time off to rest his back. Clark, a noted sniper, has amassed 106 goals and 53 assists in a career spanning a little more than four years. Rangers General Manager Neal Smith called reports of the deal ``a Toronto rumor.'' ``I haven't made a trade involving Vanbiesbrouck for anyone,'' Neal Smith said. ``I don't know if I want another guy with a bad back. No, at this point I have not traded Vanbiesbrouck.'' A fourth-round pick of the Rangers in the 1981 NHL entry draft, Vanbiesbrouck ranks fourth on the club's all-time victory list. He tied for the NHL lead with 31 regular-season victories in 1985-86, adding eight more victories in the playoffs to set a club record with 39 combined victories. His performance that year made him recipient of the Vezina Trophy, given to the best goaltender in the NHL. Vanbiesbrouck also holds the club record for assists with 16, including a team-record five in 1987-88.