A Collection of Six Original Telegrams 1923-1925 from the NHL Ottawa Senators GM, Tommy Gorman to the WCHL Edmonton Eskimos GM, Ken MacKenzie.
These telegrams, which were part of the Ken MacKenzie estate, outline some of the player negotiations that took place between the two clubs. A highlight of the negotiation discussion pertains to the rights to future Hall of Famer, Bullet Joe Simpson. And his eventual sale to the NHL New York Americans with John Morrison and Roy Rickey. This sale is documented as having taken place on September 18, 1925 for $10000.00 by the Society for International Hockey Research.
The telegrams tell a slightly different story. The telegrams are dated 1924 and not 1925. Of particular note is the agreed upon sale of Simpson to Ottawa for $6000. However, he never plays for Ottawa.
The telegrams hold the following content:
- Dec 30, 1923: Accepting Brandon on terms. (This refers to Rube Brandow - misspelled on the telegram)
- Aug 29, 1924: Offer of $5000 for Bullet Joe Simpson
- Aug 30, 1924: Acceptance of counteroffer of $6000 for straight sale of Joe Simpson to the Ottawa Hockey Association
- Sept 9, 1924: Deposit of Contracts agreement for $9000.00 on New York Hockey Club for Simpson, Morrison and Rickey
- April 7, 1925: Money Wired - Forward contracts (not certain which players this is in reference to)
- Sept 18, 1925: "They asked $50,000.00. See what you can get it for and advise me" (not sure what this is in reference to).