 NHL players ' union president and Hockey Canada director Alan Eagleson , while not involved in the initial negotiations , became a central figure in the organization of the series . Eagleson , who could call on a personal network of players , NHL owners , Hockey Canada executives and Canadian business , would be involved in most arrangements for the Canadian team . Eagleson would confide to Toronto Star reporter Alexander Ross , that he " un @-@ negotiated " much of what had been negotiated between the governments . Eagleson placated the NHL owners by arranging that part of the series ' proceeds would go to the NHL player 's pension fund , reducing payments from the owners , and threatening to have his player clients play without NHL co @-@ operation . Before the first game , Eagleson personally paid to settle a lawsuit won by a Montreal man , whose car had been destroyed in the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia . The court had ordered the Soviet team 's hockey equipment seized to guarantee payment , threatening the start of the series . 
