Ftorek, "Robbie" (Robert B.)
Hockey
b. Jan. 2, 1952, Needham, MA
Ftorek was an all-state high school star in both soccer and hockey. As a freshman, he set a new state hockey scoring record and he improved the record every year until he graduated, then went to Canada to play junior hockey. The Detroit Red Wings signed him in 1972, after he played for the U. S. Olympic team that won a silver medal. But Ftorek was considered too small, at only 5-foot-6 and 140 pounds, to be an NHL star and he spent most of his time in the minor leagues until he joined the Phoenix Roadrunners of the new World Hockey Association in 1974.
He was an instant star in the WHA, the league's most valuable player in 1977 and The Sporting News player of the year in 1979. After the WHA broke up, Ftorek joined the Quebec Nordiques of the NHL for the 1979-80 season. He was traded to the New York Rangers in 1981 and played with them until his retirement in 1984.
In his eight NHL seasons, Ftorek had 150 goals and 227 assists for 377 points in 334 regular season games. He added 9 goals and 6 assists in 19 playoff games. He became coach of the Los Angeles Kings during the 1987-88 season but resigned after a 42-31-7 record in his only full year with the club.