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Quick on the draw – Lanny McDonald

Story:First off, I wanted to mention my mother was a big fan of yours and named me after you.

I heard that and I'm so sorry.

My uncle is Billy Derlago, a former Toronto Maple Leaf. Did you play with him at all during your time with the Leafs?

I never played with him. When he played in Vancouver, I was already in Toronto and when he was traded to Toronto, I was already in Colorado. We kind of made a circle around each other.

How often do you speak at functions like the Wheat Kings dinner and what do you get out of them?

I probably do this quite a bit, at least twice a month. If I wanted to do it ten times a month, I could. But I kind of pick and choose quite frankly. I'm busy. I have a whole bunch of other things going on.

Being a former member of the Medicine Hat Tigers back in the day, what do you remember about the games against the Wheat Kings?

I remember the long road trips on the bus to Medicine Hat, Swift Current, Regina and then back up through to Saskatoon and then Brandon and Flin Flon and finally back home. It was a long time on the bus. We had some great battles here in Brandon and it's a great franchise.

What have you been up to lately? Are you still involved with the NHL in any way?

I am not. I left the Flames about ten years ago and I work a couple days a week for an oil and gas services company on the business development side. My family owns a microbrewery, a bar and three other restaurants in Montana. I've got a lot of stuff going on.

How long have you had your famous moustache and do you trim it often?

No. At this point out, it just falls out.

Seriously?

No, I'm kidding. I grew it out at the end of my first year and I haven't shaved it off since.

How much money would it take for you to shave it off?

I've been asked and offered a lot of money. Probably a half dozen times by different companies. I'd probably have to go into hiding for two years. I never thought it was the right thing to do.

What was your favourite pre-game meal before each NHL game?

Spaghetti. In the early days, I would eat steak and baked potatoes because that's what everyone was doing. Eventually I got away from that.

Take me back to when you were drafted fourth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973. What do you remember and how did you feel knowing you were about to start a career in the NHL?

Well I think you never quite believe its actually happening until you get on the ice for your first NHL game. Even in training camp, I had to pinch myself to see if this is real. You believe you're in the right place but until I got through that first game, it was like “Oh my gawd, this is unbelievable.”

I understand you're good friends with a former teammate in Darryl Sittler, is that true?

Darryl and I are best friends, still are today. We talk to each other every three or four days. I think we’ve gone through so much together on the ice and off the ice. It's so much fun to be able to pick up the phone and ask how he's doing, how the kids are doing, and the whole thing.

I read somewhere you weren't overly pleased when you first heard the news that you were traded from Colorado to Calgary, why was that?

I think your first reaction to any trade, regardless of which team you're going to is that Oh My Gawd, they didn't want me anymore and they gave up on what they were trying to do. After a few minutes of my now former teammates yelling at me saying “For god sakes Lanny! Get on the plane and get out of here!” When I was on the plane to Calgary, I felt that this could be all right for me.

If they could only build one statue in Hanna, would it be of you or Nickelback rocker Chad Kroeger?

There used to be a sign up in Hanna that mentioned “Home of Lanny McDonald” but those darn guys backed over my sign and put up their own damn sign. I’m just kidding. If you’re as big and as famous as Nickelback, you know what, I’d be honoured to share the stage with those boys.

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