A hockey nut since his Toronto childhood, Devellano actually launched his bird-dogging career as an unpaid scout in 1967 when the Blues entered the NHL in its first expansion.
Now, Jimmy was hoping Torrey would offer him a paying job to find talent for the team that soon would call it home on Hempstead Turnpike.
Devellano: We chatted for a long time that afternoon, right there on the street. I wound up with a firm promise to meet with Torrey and Chadwick in Toronto the following month. I had my foot in the door.
Nobody could know it at the time but apart from Torrey Devellano would emerge as, The Other Architect, a man responsible for finding and drafting more top players than anyone for the four-Cup dynasty.
Maven s Memories: Kelly Hrudey s Road to the Islanders
Stan Fischler chronicles Kelly Hrudey s path from learning to skate at age 11 to making the NHL by Stan Fischler @StanFischler / NewYorkIslanders.com The miracles we do immediately, the impossible takes a little longer - U.S. Armed Forces Slogan
Considering Kelly Hrudey s goaltending career, that could have been his slogan as well.
After all, Hrudey was in goal April 18-19, 1987, making 73 saves as the Islanders beat Washington in the playoffs. The Easter Epic.
It was the longest Game Seven in history, spanning four overtime periods. The Hockey News rated it One of the greatest games ever played all-time.