Off-season just that for goaltender Fuhr

Tim Graham

Monday, July 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

It's apparent Grant Fuhr tries to keep his mind off hockey in the summer.

During an autograph session at the Riviera Sunday, the St. Louis Blues goaltender was aloof in talking about the injury that ended his season in the playoffs last year, about the prospects of teammate Wayne Gretzky, and about his relationship with controversial coach Mike Keenan.

Maybe the future Hall of Famer, who was 30-28-16 with a 2.87 goals-against average (the lowest in his 15-year NHL career) for St. Louis last season, was bored with the interview.

Then a fan approached and asked him what he thought of the Blues' signing of defenseman Trent Yawney this weekend.

"Oh, we got him?" said Fuhr, seemingly amazed at the news.

But Yawney isn't a household name, not like free-agent friend Wayne Gretzky, who played with Fuhr several seasons in Edmonton before they were rejoined last year in St. Louis. Gretzky was unhappy with the Blues and is entertaining mega-deals, but Fuhr claims to be ignorant of that situation as well.

"I haven't been in St. Louis at all," Fuhr said. "I haven't heard what's going on. I read it in the paper just like everybody else.

"Obviously, I'd like to see him come back. It's always fun to play with him, but sometimes the business end of it doesn't work out that way."

Gretzky's trouble with the Blues stems from his rift with Keenan, who publicly questioned the Great One's ability during the Stanley Cup playoffs last year. Keenan also had problems relating to his players, most notably Mark Messier, in winning the Cup with the New York Rangers three seasons ago.

Fuhr, however, doesn't see why Keenan is made out to be the bad guy.

"I don't find Mike tough to play for at all," Fuhr said. "As long as you come ready to play every day, he's easy to work with. He expects that, and players should do so themselves anyway. I enjoyed playing for him."

After all, it was Keenan who gave Fuhr a chance to play. While with Buffalo three seasons ago, the man with over 320 career victories was relegated to backing up Dominik Hasek before a trade sent him to Los Angeles during the 1994-95 season. He was then brought to St. Louis last September.

"St. Louis was a really good change for me," Fuhr said. "It marked a resurgence in my career. It was nice they gave me an opportunity to play. That was the biggest difference. A lot of a goalie's game is confidence and that comes as you play. The more you play, the better you feel."

That's why Fuhr was miserable when his season came to an abrupt end in April. In the opening round of the playoffs, Fuhr was bulldozed in the crease by Toronto's Nick Kypreos. A pileup ensued. Fuhr's knee was mangled.

While the Maple Leafs claim Kypreos was cross-checked by a Blues player, it didn't matter who was at fault. Fuhr was out with three knee ligament tears -- anterior cruciate, medial meniscus and medial collateral. It took over four hours of surgery to rebuild it.

"It wasn't something I was happy about," he said. "The way it happened is the toughest part to deal with, but there's nothing to deal with anymore."

Fuhr will begin rehabilitation in two weeks -- "Doc's taken any limitations off," he said -- and predicts he'll be full-go when training camp begins.

"The toughest part will be the first couple times I put the pads on and trying to keep (the injury) out of my mind," said Fuhr, who plans on playing three more seasons. "It will take some time, maybe a year or so, but eventually it will be stronger than it was before. That first year, though, you have to be careful with it.

"It just means a little more hard work. I've had enough injuries over my career to know that if you put the time in, then good things will happen."