HockeyPast dealings with Mike Danton

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During the 2002-03 season, Danton walked away from the New Jersey Devils rather than accept a demotion to the American Hockey League. I called David Frost, Danton's agent, to try and get an interview with the player. Walking away from Lou Lamoriello? Just didn't happen.

It took some negotiation, but Frost eventually made Danton available at the old junior rink in Kingston where Danton was skating on his own. Prior to the interview, doing some background, more than one person warned me: "Watch what you're getting into here. You don't understand the kind of person you're dealing with."

They were talking about Frost.

Almost seven years later, I don't even remember the interview. What I do remember – with exceptional clarity – is everything else about that day. Upon arrival at the rink, it became very clear that this was going to be unlike anything I'd ever experienced. The first thing we asked to do was shoot some footage of him skating. (I was still at The Score then.)

Danton told us that wasn't going to happen. He'd called Frost – who was in California, I believe – and Frost didn't like the idea. Thought it wouldn't look good, Danton said, so he'd done his skating before he knew we'd arrive.

Then, when our cameraman and I shut off our cellphones, Danton told us he'd be leaving his on. Frost wanted to listen to our interview from the other end, so Danton dialled him, put the phone in his pocket and told us he was ready to begin. Never seen anyone else do that before or since. (Now I should point out that Danton was as polite as possible. He was friendly, smiling and answered all of our questions without any issue. Even when declining our footage request, there was no hint of rudeness.)

Things really spiralled out of control afterward. While driving back to downtown Toronto, I did a radio interview with Gord Stellick, who still did afternoons on The Fan 590. During our conversation, Gord asked me why Danton changed his last name from Jefferson. I explained how Danton was estranged from his family, had accused his father of abuse and chosen his new surname in honour of a young boy he'd met.

About 30 minutes later, Stellick opened the phones. That's when I met Jeff Jefferson.

Jeff is Mike's uncle. His brother is Steve Jefferson, the man Mike claims he was trying to kill. Jeff Jefferson was upset at what I'd said, saying that while he knew there were disagreements between his nephew and his brother, there was no reason for a family breakdown.

I tracked down Jeff and spoke to him for awhile. He admitted then – and still does today – that Steve Jefferson could be (verbally) very tough on his son, but swore that if there was any sign of physical abuse, he would have stepped in and stopped it. Mostly, though, he talked about how he loved Mike and just wanted to re-form a relationship with him.

That night, I mentioned all of this on-air after the piece ran. I remember Mark Osborne saying, "Why are we spending so much time talking about a guy who's played 19 games?" Then, I remember my phone ringing and, when I answered, hearing, "What the fuck was that?" It was my introduction to the real David Frost. Frost was furious at what I'd said about the Jefferson family. I told him that Jeff Jefferson seemed sincere and deserved to have his say, just like Mike Danton did. I said I would do a follow-up piece investigating it. Now Frost was enraged.

I didn't write it down because I was so stunned, but the gist of the conversation was this: "Who the [bleep] do you think you are? Do you know who I'm friends with? You don't want to [bleep] with me! If you want to investigate, I'll bury that family!" (Frost was very close with Bob Goodenow, who kept him certified as an agent over much objection.)

I called back Jeff Jefferson. He said he'd be more than happy to do it. All he wanted was the opportunity to speak to Mike. That gave me an idea. I phoned Frost and asked if he'd be willing to do a conference call – him, Mike Danton and Jeff Jefferson. He said he'd think about it and eventually agreed – with one condition: I would not be allowed to record it or take notes.

I agreed. And I've never publicly said anything about it until now.

I remember it so clearly because it was unbelievable: Frost and Danton just teed off on Jefferson. They unveiled a laundry list of vile accusations against Steve Jefferson, which I'm not going to repeat here. (That's not because I'm taking sides, it's just that I can't prove them.) Jefferson told Frost that he would not be intimidated by him and all three of them yelled at each other some more.

I sat there in stunned silence.

There was a moment when everyone stopped. Then, Jeff Jefferson said something along the lines of, "I know my brother is not perfect. I understand you have some legitimate complaints." Hearing that, Mike calmed down. It was almost as if he just wanted to hear someone say that.

Frost, sensing the change, asked Mike if he wanted to talk further with his uncle. Danton said yes. At that point, I was asked to step off the call. As I understand it, Frost and Jefferson talked for about an hour longer because there was no way Frost would allow such a thing without vetting it first. (Adding to the surreal nature of the entire day, I had tickets to see Bruce Springsteen that night. Before the conference call, as my conversations with Frost were getting more and more bizarre, I actually said something along the lines of "I'm a sports reporter," so maybe this wouldn't interest me. That's the only thing I laughed about all day. I missed two hours of the concert.)

Out of all that craziness came some good. Jeff Jefferson and Mike Danton began to speak. Because they were making progress, I dropped any idea of a follow-up. Periodically, I'd call Jeff to see how it was going. Clearly, he did not trust Frost. But he was optimistic about the way things were going because a relationship was being formed. He was genuinely thrilled about that.

After Danton was traded to St. Louis, I was hired by Hockey Night In Canada. During his only season with the Blues, I travelled there to do a piece on Chris Pronger. I made a point to say hi to Danton, mostly because I was curious to see how he'd react. I hadn't spoken to him since that night.

It was a brief conversation, but a friendly one. He liked St. Louis, seemed happy and said he was continuing to talk to his uncle. I remember thinking, "I hope this works out for the two of them."

Obviously, it didn't.

I spoke to Jeff Jefferson hours before the Sportsnet piece aired. As you can imagine, he was disappointed. He said they last spoke a month before Danton was arrested.

"Once you're in jail, [Danton] has to put you on his visitation list before you can go see him," Jefferson said. "I tried to reach him to get on the list, but it never happened. I mailed him letters several times, but they came back ripped up."

"It's just unfortunate that he's going with this story about Steve being the target. I wish he didn't feel the need to do that." (The FBI and prosecutors allege Frost – who was living at Danton's apartment in St. Louis – was the target. CBC's The Fifth Estate once showed a photo of Frost to the hitman, who identified him as such.)

Seven years later, he wants the same thing: to find a way to repair the relationship with his nephew. Based on Danton's comments to Nick Kypreos, that's not going to happen.

Personally, the biggest question I have is still unanswered: How involved is Frost in Danton's life?

Danton told Kypreos, "Dave and I have talked and we both agree ... It's not the best thing in the world for Dave to be associated with my hockey."

That's certainly true. Frost is completely radioactive in NHL circles. Sheldon Keefe basically threw away his career because he wouldn't fire Frost as an agent. Teams didn't want Frost around after the Danton mess. More than one GM said Keefe was good enough to play, without the added aggravation.

"I'm going down this fork in the road, Dave's going down that fork in the road ... I'm going that alone," Danton added.

Does that mean Frost is still around Danton's non-hockey life? I hope not – genuinely hoping he can find peace. Under Frost's watch, Danton threw away his hockey career, hired a hitman to kill "somebody" and went to jail.

I wouldn't call Frost a good influence.

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