Maven's Memories: Amazing Anders Kallur

While building the New York Islanders into a Stanley Cup champion, GM Bill Torrey added three players who often have been touted as "The Missing Pieces," and for good reason. Combined, their total assets led to the 1980 title. To wit:
1. BUTCH GORING: Easily the most famous and most pivotal, Goring was the center so badly needed to relieve Bryan Trottier of his too-heavy load, which Butch did so well in each of the four Cup victories.
2. KEN MORROW: Coming off his 1980 Gold Medal triumph, lanky Kenny
rounded out arguably the best defense in NHL history. In his spare time, he contributed timely goals.
3. GORD LANE: There already were intimidating players on the roster but none who could put intense fear in the hearts of the enemy the way Lane could, and did.

But, wait a minute; somebody is missing and don't ask me why, but the other so valuable acquisition seemed to come out of nowhere but, then again Sweden most definitely is Somewhere. The player in question was Anders Kallur.
Unobtrusively and without any fuss and fanfare -- before the September 1979 training camp -- Torrey signed the streamlined (5-11, 185 pound) Swede who was equally comfortable playing right wing or center.
"We felt we made a good catch," Bow Tie Bill explained, "since Anders had been named the Swedish MVP in 1978-79; plus we already had a good experience with a fellow countryman, Stefan Persson."
MAVEN'S HAVEN: MORE STAN FISCHLER STORIES
Kallur, 27, arrived at the club's training camp in September virtually unnoticed.
Having been ousted from the playoffs both in 1978 -- by Toronto -- and then a year later by the Rangers -- the Isles camp was in turmoil.
Coach Al Arbour had to call a number of meetings and in his autobiography, "Boss," Mike Bossy addressed the issue. Even Kallur noticed the discontent after his arrival.
"When I showed up at training camp," he recalled, "I didn't share the disappointment the other guys felt from the two years before, but I knew it was there. And since I never had experienced NHL hockey my only focus was on making the team."
MAVEN'S MEMORIES
WRITTEN COVERAGE
Taming the Intimidators
Early Days of Islanders TV
The Amazing Nights of Wade Dubielewicz
Frans Nielsen, Sultan of Shootout
Shorthanded Swede Anders Kallur
Stan's Fans: The Amazing Polatoffs
Billy Smith's Origin Story
Butch Goring's Wise Words
Maven's Haven
That Kallur flowered into a magnificent hockey player hardly surprised those from his town. From the moment he put on his first pair of skates he took to the ice as naturally as a duck to water. What was somewhat of a surprise in the town of Falu is that he sidestepped the more popular sport there called Bandy.
Played on a football-sized ice surface with sticks, skates and nets, a main difference from hockey is that a ball is used instead of a puck.
"Bandy was the number one sport in our town," Anders related, "and we produced some of the best teams in Sweden. But right from the beginning, I chose hockey instead. We played on an outdoor rink and were very happy when the weather was okay so we could have a good practice without rain or snow or windstorms.
"I stayed with hockey all the time and, as I grew older I did some coaching. When I was 20, I coached one of the young players who was 12 at the time and who grew up in my town. You will remember him because he became a fine Islanders defenseman -- and that kid was Tomas Jonsson."
"When I reached the age of 20 I moved into the top hockey league in Sweden and played there for seven years. In 1975-76, while I was playing for Modo, I was offered a contract by the (Boston) Bruins. I turned them down because I wanted to stay in Sweden and get an education."
The Bruins loss was the Isles gain. Although he also had offers from the World Hockey Association before it merged with the NHL, Kallur's focus was on the Nassaumen.
"It may be hard to understand the excitement I felt at that first training camp," Anders recalled. "And I could tell that -- as a team -- the guys had something to prove."
So did Kallur. He knew that he'd be severely challenged for a regular berth and reporters who attended the 1979 pre-season workouts noticed that the veterans were "testing" the newcomer although Anders long has maintained that he was oblivious to anything but Arbour's orders.
"I really didn't notice," he insisted, "because I was so motivated to make the team. I didn't feel that the guys were playing any different toward me. Frankly, I was so concentrated on my job, it never occurred to me."
His countryman,
Stefan Persson
, previously had beaten the training camp challenge and now was playing big brother to Kallur.
"Stef was someone I could talk to and someone who could explain things to me that I didn't understand," Anders added. "He was a big help."
There was, however, one setback. After the first week of camp, Kallur suffered a pulled groin and was dispatched to the club's IHL farm team in Indianapolis to regain his shape.
"The turning point for me took place soon after Mister Torrey had me return to the Island. We were playing the Canadiens, who had won four straight Cups at the end of the 1970's, and I scored a shorthanded goal against them."
Then, a pause:
"After that I felt that I really belonged in the NHL."
He most certainly did.
Anders played five full seasons -- spanning the four-Cup Dynasty -- before retiring after the 1984-85 campaign. He peaked offensive in 1980-81 scoring 36 goals and 28 assists for 64 points over 78 games.
During the 1983 fourth Cup crusade, Anders totaled 15 points after 20 games.
"All things considered," said chief scout Jim Devellano who seconded Torrey's mission when Bow Tie Bill signed Kallur, "Anders gave us some awfully good hockey."
In my recent interview with Kallur, I asked him a few questions about specific people and goals. The following are the subjects that we discussed, and Anders' answers:
AL ARBOUR AS A COACH:"I had much respect for Al, especially since he gave me lots of chances in my rookie year. He wanted to be sure that I had the talent and guts to play for the Islanders. He gave me confidence and he let me play my Euro type of game.
"He did the same with the other young players drafted in the 1970's. In the long run that led to the formation of a great team ready to compete for the Cup, from1978 going forward.
"The great talents Bill Torrey drafted with leadership qualities helped Al in his role as coach. On the other hand, Al was the one who helped them become leaders at the NHL level. We had several players who took those roles on our team and that was one of the many keys to our success."
THE TOUGH SIDE OF RADAR: "Put it this way; I was never intimidated by Al.
On the other hand, I had great respect for him in terms of the way he led our team. When we played well, he would be tough just to make sure that we didn't take any shortcuts. And when we had bad stretches, we knew that he always would be behind us and supportive. He never played favorites no matter how big a star a player may have been."
RATING OF THE STRONGEST OF THE CUP TEAMS: "I call it a tie between our second (1981) and third (1982) teams. In 1981 we went to the Final round and beat Minnesota in five games. I know that Mike Bossy -- in his book -- called that the easiest of the four Final round series that we were in and he made a good point there.
"The 1982 team also had reached a peak and when we got to the Finals, we beat Vancouver in four straight. They had been hot that playoff and their goalie, Richard Brodeur was really good. But the thing is that in '81 and '82 we were equally strong on offense and defense and, of course, we had Billy Smith in goal. Put it this way, our best players had the best years of their careers in those years. Plus, one other very important thing: our guys also had learned from the experiences of the '77-'78, '78-'79 and '79-'80 seasons. By the second Cup year, the Islanders had experienced plenty and it just helped smooth over the rough times."
THE GAME ANDERS WILL NEVER FORGET:"This one was so important to me because I was just trying to make an impression on management, my teammates and the fans that I belonged. I'll never forget it because it happened to be my very first game at Nassau Coliseum and we were playing the defending champion Canadiens. Al put me out there to kill a penalty and I managed to steal the puck from none other than the great Guy Lafleur at our blue line. I skated in alone, made a nice move, and scored! Another one was a game against the Quebec Nordiques. I got a hat trick in that one. You don't forget games like that!"
INTENSITY OF GAMES AGAINST THE RANGERS: "I loved the Battle of New York. I loved the excitement of those games. All the best ingredients were there; the media giving it great coverage, the fans so involved and, of course, we as players were eating it up. I loved both the games at the Coliseum and The Garden. The extra added ingredient was the fact that the Rangers had several Swedish players; so that added to the excitement for me, also me being a Swede."
THE SPECIAL AMBIENCE OF THE OLD BARN: "There was nothing like playing a game at The Coli. It was a combination of the fan's involvement -- you had to love them for their intensity -- and the building. In those days it was especially great because -- except for a snowstorm -- the arena always was sold out."
ANDERS TODAY:"I'm 70 and have been retired from hockey scouting for six years. I live -- with my wife Lisa -- in the small village of Vikarbyn where my parents grew up. My focus now is staying healthy and in shape; and improving my golf game. Lisa also enjoys golf. I should not forget to tell you that we enjoy being with our four grandchildren very much!"