(NOTE: The following is from a March, 1998 column by Norm Sanders written about former St. Louis Blues General Manager Ron Caron):
It's a few minutes before a St. Louis Blues home game and Ron Caron, as usual, is holding court in the Kiel Center press box with anyone who cares to listen.
Whether the topic is hockey, golf or the New York Yankees, these chats are never boring.
The former Blues vice president and general manager -- now an advisor to the president -- sees Chicago Blackhawks announcer Dale Tallon and immediately recalls scouting Tallon in junior hockey.
The ever-present suit and tie, the smile, incredible memory and French-Canadian accent are all part of the Ron Caron experience. His infectious enthusiasm, still bubbling like a geyser at the age of 68, has been a mainstay of Blues hockey since he joined the team in 1983.
Caron will be honored in pregame ceremonies tonight before the Blues game against Caron's former employer, the Montreal Canadiens.
"What I remember very well is coming into St. Louis; I knew the people were great hockey fans and the heritage," said Caron, who arrived in town not long after the franchise nearly moved to Saskatoon. "I knew it was a very tough challenge. With (owner) Harry Ornest, we had very little money, I knew it would be a struggle."
Caron recalled what it was like in the penny-pinching Ornest era. Trades were made not in the interest of improving the team, but keeping the payroll down.
"We had new ownership, we missed the draft that year and we brought in a new coach (Jacques Demers)," Blues Vice President Jim Woodcock said. "We totally revamped and relaunched this franchise and the person that is instrumental in that was the Professor.
"He was given the charge of turning this things around."
Caron got plenty of help from people like Barclay and Bob Plager, broadcaster Dan Kelly and marketing and public relations guru Susie Mathieu. A solid, developing core of talent included players like Mike Liut, Rob Ramage, Bernie Federko, Joe Mullen, Brian Sutter, Doug Gilmour and Jorgen Pettersson.
"These guys were competitors, big time, and loved the Blue Note," Caron said. "We had what was a proud nucleus and they knew they had a huge challenge to keep the team here."
Caron hired old buddy Demers to coach and brought Ted Hampson aboard to head the scouting department. Hampson was a friend from the days when Caron was chief scout for the Canadiens.
The Blues had a small, hard-core group of fans in those days.
Caron would wade into crowds at training camp, asking fans their opinions on the team's latest moves and filling them in on upcoming prospects.
"I enjoy talking to people, I love doing this," Caron said. "In training camp in those days, I would try to keep them informed about what's going on, give them some new hope on players.
"They want you to win. If you work hard and you entertain them, they'll appreciate that."
He would roam the stands before heading to his private box at The Arena.
"What was my biggest satisfaction? To see the 3,500 fans being changed to 14,000 during Mike Shanahan's reign," Caron said. "I've got nothing against Harry Ornest, he saved the franchise. He saved some money, too, in his pockets.
"In his years, we survived."
Not all of Caron's moves were popular. Many cost the team draft picks which other teams used to take players that would become stars. An ill-fated deal with Vancouver in 1991 helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup finals a few years later.
The trade that cemented Caron's place in Blues' lore occurred on March 7, 1988. Goalie Rick Wamsley and defensemen Rob Ramage were sent to the Flames for Steve Bozek and a young right-winger named Brett Hull.
"Here's what happened," Caron said. "I didn't scout him as a hockey player. I saw him once and he scored three goals and I didn't even know who it was ... well, I knew it was Brett Hull, but he wasn't the guy I was looking at."
Caron was intrigued and began working his old buddy, Flames GM Cliff Fletcher, to complete the deal.
"My vision was the following," Caron said. "One day he would score 50-55 goals for the Blues, and with a name like that, it would be great for the franchise."
Caron's visions never led to a Stanley Cup, but his tenure did include the famed "Monday Night Miracle" playoff game win over Calgary in 1986.
"You know, it was the most rewarding game that took place emotionally for me, so far," Caron said. "Three times I almost left my seat in my box to go congratulate Cliff Fletcher and then I said no, we still had a chance."
Even though Caron is being given his own special night, it doesn't mean he is headed for retirement. He plans to continue in an advisory role for two more years.
"I'll never retire," Caron said. "You retire when you lose your passion for the game."
(Norm Sanders has covered the Blues for the Belleville News-Democrat since 1995. He can be reached at 239-2454 or nsanders@bnd.com.)
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