Esposito to back new league

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 17, 2005

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Phil Esposito is so mad the season was lost due to labor problems, he said he is taking a job with the fledgling WHA.

The Lightning founder said Wednesday he agreed to help put together an eight-team tournament he hopes will come off in May and be played in Toronto and a city in the United States.

"I'm appalled. I'm very angry," Esposito said. "I just can't sit back and let this thing go. I just can't."

Esposito said Rick Smith, the CEO of the WHA, has been after him for "three or four months" to join the league, which hopes to begin its inaugural season in the fall. Esposito, who said, "My first love is the Tampa Bay Lightning," said he told Smith he would agree only if the NHL season was canceled.

"I agreed to a deal (Wednesday) afternoon, the minute they said there was no more hockey," he said.

Smith could not be reached for comment.

"There isn't an NHL, and there may not be next year. And it bothers me. It bothers me big time," said Esposito, whose 717 goals with the Bruins, Rangers and Blackhawks are fifth all-time. "I'm angry, and when I get angry like this, I've got to do something about it."