This was 1968 and a 20-year-old Brad Park was negotiating his first NHL contract with Emile Francis. Well, to be more specific, that was the job of Brad’s father, Bob.
“What I’ll always remember is that my father had one request of Emile, and that was for me to be paired with Harry Howell at training camp,” Park said by phone Sunday. “I asked my dad, ‘Why?’ and he said, this man won the Norris, learn everything you can from him about how to be a pro.
“There I was, a rookie, and there was Harry, one of the league’s most respected players, and he treated me like an equal.