100 things the NHL wished never happened

[Robert Gordon Orr]

In the long history of the NHL there have been many moments that the league wished never happened. Some on my list are of course made tongue-in-cheek, and I only restricted myself to 100.

Do you have any other examples of incidents in the NHL that led to bad publicity or was just embarrassing to the league in general, sad stuff, or stuff that happened behind closed doors that the league tried to put a lid on?

1918 – “Montreal Arena in flames” – Montreal Wanderers

1919 – “Spanish Influenza” – Joe Hall / Stanley Cup Finals

1921 – “Senators leaving the ice / Smeaton resigning” – Ottawa Senators / Cooper Smeaton

1922 – “One man war” – Sprague Cleghorn vs Ottawa Senators

1925 – “Roar of the Tiger players” – Hamilton Tigers / Frank Calder

1925 - "WCHL embarrassing the NHL" - Victoria Cougars / Montreal Canadiens - Added by Vanislander

1926 – “Tuberculosis” - Georges Vézina

1927 – “Suspended for life” – Billy Coutu

1930 – “Off-side rule debacle” – NHL – Added by Vanislander

1931 – “Rig it big nose Harry” – Harry Acker / Alec Connell / Bill Dwyer / The Mob

1933 – “Fractured skull” - Eddie Shore / Ace Bailey

1933 – “First forfeited game” – Tommy Gorman vs Bill Stewart / Boston vs Chicago

1937 – “Broken leg and death” – Howie Morenz

1939-45 - "World War II" - NHL - Added by BigBadBruins7708

1943 – “Three heart attacks” – Frank Calder

1946 – “Betting on his own team” – Babe Pratt

1948 – “Banned for life” – Don Gallinger / Billy Taylor

1955 – “The Richard Riot” – Maurice Richard / Clarence Campbell

1957 – “Birth of a players’ union” - Ted Lindsay / Doug Harvey and others

1959 – “All-time low move by Jack Adams” – Jack Adams / Billy McNeill

1959 - "Officiating mess" - Red Storey / Calrence Campbell - Added by Canadiens1958

1963 – "Officiating mess” – Eddie Powers / Clarence Campbell / Toe Blake

1968 – “On ice fatality” – Bill Masterton

1968 – “Stick swinging I” – Larry Zeidel / Eddie Shack

1969 – “Stick swinging II” – Wayne Maki / Ted Green

1970 – “CKPG-TV shootout” – Roy Spencer vs the Police

1972 – “Game 1 - Soviet Union-Canada 7-3” – Soviet Union / Canada / Summit Series – Added by alko

1972 – “Rival WHA” – WHA vs NHL

1974 – “Lawsuit costing the NHL $4000 per day” – Barry van Gerbig / California Golden Seals vs NHL

1975 – “On-ice assaults” – Dan Maloney vs Brian Glennie & Dave Forbes vs Henry Boucha

1975 – “Club office padlocked by I.R.S.” – Pittsburgh Penguins – Added by Iamjs

1977 – “No salary = No game / lawsuit” – Mel Swig / Cleveland Barons / NHL

1977 – “Sky shops bribe” – Clarence Campbell / Louis Giguére / NHL

1977 – “Paying for cars, NY apartment & first class trips” – National Hockey League Services / NHL / Don Ruck

1978 – “McCourt challenging the antitrust laws” – Dale McCourt / NHLPA / NHL / Los Angeles Kings / Detroit Red Wings – Added by Iron Mike Sharpe

1978 – “No letters on my jerseys” – NHL vs Harold Ballard / Toronto Maple Leafs

1978 – “First NHL player to be arrested on drug charges” – Don Murdoch

1978 - "Finito after 14 knee operations" - Bobby Orr - Added by BobbyAwe

1979 – “Soviet Union-NHL All-Stars 6-0” – Soviet Union / Challenge Cup / NHL

1979 - "The Shoe" - Mike Milbury / Boston Bruins / New York fans - Added by Filthy Dangles

1981 – “Stuck in a seat” - Barry Tabobondung / NHL draft / Philadelphia Flyers

1981 – “Soviet Union-Canada 8-1” – Soviet Union / Canada / Canada Cup

1982 – “The light bulb” - Pete Peeters / Jay Greenberg

1982 – “The sucker punch” – Jimmy Mann vs Paul Gardner

1982 - "Brain Aneurysm" - Normand Léveillé - Added by Sadekuuro

1982 – "Mulvey refusing to fight" - Paul Mulvey / Don Perry / Los Angeles Kings - Added by Iron Mike Sharpe

1982 – "Harry Neale duking it out with fans" - Harry Neale / Vancouver Canucks - Added by Iron Mike Sharpe

1983 – “Lawsuit – counter-suit & draft forfeit” – Ralston Purina / NHL / St.Louis Blues

1983 – “To any who now use, or may want to use, illegal drugs, we say this: We do not want you. Get out and stay out of our business – John Ziegler” – Ric Nattress

1983 – “Mickey Mouse organization” – Wayne Gretzky / New Jersey Devils

1984 - "Drunk driving fatal accident" - Craig MacTavish - Added by MeHateHe

1984 - "Good Friday Massacre" - Québec Nordiques / Montreal Canadiens - Added by MXD

1984 – “No handshake, No Jersey” – Mario Lemieux / Pittsburgh Penguins

1985 - "Porsche + Alcohol = Bad combination" - Pelle Lindbergh - Added by Bear of Bad News

1986 – “Oilers flying high – Off the ice as well as on” - Sports Illustrated / Edmonton Oilers

1987 – “Quinngate” – Pat Quinn / John Ziegler / Los Angeles / Vancouver

1987 - "Punch-up in Piestany" - Canada / Soviet Union / NHL draft picks - Added by MeHateHe

1987 & 1988 – “Indecent exposure & stick attack” – Dino Ciccarelli

1988 – “Babysitter” – Doug Gilmour

1988 – “Have another donut” – Jim Schoenfeld / Don Koharski / Referees on strike

1988 – “Boston Garden Blackout” – Boston / Edmonton

1989 – “Slashed throat” – Clint Malarchuk

1990 – “Caps PR-disaster” – Dino Ciccarelli / Neil Sheehy / Geoff Courtnall & (Scott Stevens)

1991 – “No thanks!” - Eric Lindros / Quebec Nordiques

1992 – “Ambush marketing” – NHL vs Pepsi-Cola

1992 – “Selecting three ineligible players” – Mel Bridgman (GM) / Ottawa Senators

1992 – “10-day NHL Strike” – NHLPA vs NHL

1992 – “NHL loses pension suit” – Ex-NHL’ers vs NHL

1993 – “Late hit” – Dale Hunter / Pierre Turgeon

1993 – “Chairman of the NHL Board of Governors & Jail” – Bruce McNall

1993 – “Problem with Russian mafia” – Several Russian NHL-ers

1993 – “Rigging the system” – Gil Stein / Hockey Hall of Fame – Added by Normand Lacombe

1994 – “The Eagle have crashlanded” – Carl Brewer and others vs Alan Eagleson

1994 – “103-day lockout” – NHLPA vs NHL

1994 – “Chris Chelios threat” – Chris Chelios / Gary Bettman – Added by BadgerBruce

1995 – “No Mas!” – Patrick Roy / Mario Tremblay / Ronald Corey

1995 – “He shoots, he scores!” – Brendan Shanahan / Craig Janney & Jeff Brown / Kirk McLean

1996 – “Predator” – Graham James

1996 – “Foxtrax” – Glowing puck

1996 – “Swindler” - John Spano / NY Islanders / NHL

1996 – “The hit” – Claude Lemieux / Kris Draper

1997 – “Hot under the collar” - Dominik Hasek / Jim Kelley / Ted Nolan

1997 – “Sex scandal comes to light” – Toronto Maple Leafs

1998 – “The party incident” - Mark Messier / Pavel Bure

1998 – “Going berserk in Japan” – Bill Guerin / Keith Tkachuk / Jeremy Roenick / Chris Chelios / Brett Hull / Doug Weight

1998 – “You said what?” – Bobby Hull

1999 – “No goal” – Dallas Stars / Buffalo Sabres / Gary Bettman / Bryan Lewis

1999 – “Assault in Chicago” – George McPhee vs Lorne Molleken

2000 – “P-tute and a pipe” – Kevin Stevens

2000 – “Casanova getting clocked” - Eric Lindros / Rod Brind’Amour / Rick Tocchet

2000 – “Lumberjack” – Marty McSorley / Donald Brashear

2001 – “9/11” – Garnet “Ace” Bailey / Mark Bavis / USA

2002 – “Freak accident” – Espen Knutsen / Young hockey fan

2003 – “Ferrari” – Danny Heatley / Dan Snyder

2004 – “Unprovoked attack” – Todd Bertuzzi / Steve Moore

2004 – “Murder for hire” – Mike Danton / Dave Frost

2004 – “Loans & Lawsuit” – Andy van Hellemond / Mark Faucette / NHL

2005 – “Season officially cancelled” – NHLPA vs NHL

2006 – “Operation Slapshot” – Rick Tocchet / Jeremy Roenick / Travis Green

2007 & 2008 - “E-mail controversy - "There must be a way to get rid of this guy"” – Colin Campbell / Dean Warren / NHL

2008 – “The Avery Rule & Sloppy Seconds” – Sean Avery

2009 – “Coyotes bankruptcy” – Phoenix Coyotes / Jerry Moyes / NHL

2009 – “20 cents” – Patrick Kane

2009 - "Management issues" - Len Barrie / Oren Koules / Tampa Bay Lightning - Added by MeHateHe

2009 – “Hanging out with Tony Montana” – Kostitsyn brothers / Montreal Canadiens – Added by Iamjs

2010 – “The Guardian Project” – Stan Lee

2011 – “Vancouver Stanley Cup Riot” – Vancouver Canucks

2011 - “Nine former NHL’ers perish in plane crash” – Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

2011 - “Prescription drugs / Head trauma” - Derek Boogaard / Rick Rypien / Wade Belak - Added by Seventieslord

2012 – “Preventing team management from attending charity event” – Philadelphia Flyers / NHL

2012 – “Another Lockout” – NHLPA vs NHL

2013 – “Minus $113 million” – NHL / Phoenix Coyotes

2014 – “Line brawl” – John Tortorella / Bob Hartley

2014 – “Cup winner and one way ticket home” – Slava Voynov

2014 – “Federal witness & Betting” – Thomas Vanek / Nathan Paetsch

2015 – “There’s a lot of cocaine in the NHL” – Viktor Loov

2015 – “Las Vegas arrest” - Jarret Stoll

2015 – “Longest non-lifetime suspension in NHL history” – Raffi Torres

2016 – “All-Star controversy” – John Scott vs NHL

2016 – “Postponement due to poor ice condition” – Carolina Hurricanes

2017 & 2018 – “Ottawa in the limelight” – Ottawa Senators / Eugene Melnyk / Randy Lee / Erik Karlsson/Mike Hoffman – Added by NyQuil

2018 – “Concussion settlement” – 318 ex-NHL’ers vs NHL

Click to read more...

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Really good list!

Could the Lindbergh car accident make the list? I saw Heatley/Snyder and thought of that, but don't immediately see what it would displace.

(It's John Spano - not Joe).

 

[Canadiens1958]

1959 Officiating Mess. Red Storey resigns after Campbell criticism post semi-finals game 6.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Mike Millbury and Bruins going into the stands at MSG

 

[Robert Gordon Orr]

Really good list!

Could the Lindbergh car accident make the list? I saw Heatley/Snyder and thought of that, but don't immediately see what it would displace.

(It's John Spano - not Joe).

Good catch, Joe Spano was Lt.Henry Goldblume in Hill Street Blues.

The other suggestions are list worthy as well, Lindbergh, Storey, Milbury

 

[Sadekuuro]

Norm Léveillé?

 

[Robert Gordon Orr]

Norm Léveillé?

Absolutely, the Léveillé incident was very sad indeed. That kid had a bright future ahead of him, and I am glad to call him my friend. I remember him being very excited for the Centre Normand-Léveillé many years ago. He is a very down to earth guy, humble and speaks very little English. His wife was a rock back then who helped him a lot in everyday life, not just physically, but also mentally.

What happened to Léveillé was very unfortunate, just like what happened to Fischer and Peverley.
At least these guys didn’t suffer from permanent physical disability.

I still applaud Ray Bourque for bringing out Léveillé to skate at the old Garden (last hurrah) in 1995.
Léveillé told me that it was the highlight of his hockey related career and that he would be forever grateful to Bourque for that, very touching.

Léveillé also told me that Bourque and him roomed together for a while when he was a rookie in the NHL (both French speaking) so they became good friends off the ice as well. He also roomed with Barry Pederson I believe (2nd season?).

 

[MXD]

I don't even know all of these events.

I'm pretty sure the Good Friday brawl should be on that list though, if only for the sakes of Jean Hamel.

 

[NYR94]

What was operation slapshot with Tocchet, Roenick and Green?

 

[seventieslord]

Good list. every time I think of a certain calamity I check and you have it listed.

 

[The Panther]

1998 – “The party incident” - Mark Messier / Pavel Bure


1998 – “You said what?” – Bobby Hull

What were these two?

 

[seventieslord]

What were these two?

The Bobby Hull incident was where he apparently said in an interview that Hitler had some good ideas, he just took them a little too far.

 

[alko]

What were these two?

Bure / Messier:

Link 1

Link 2

Discuss

 

[daver]

Mike Millbury and Bruins going into the stands at MSG

Or, at the very least, the guy wasn't wearing loafers.

 

[sr edler]

Bure / Messier:

Link 1

Link 2

Discuss.

I don't think we're allowed to discuss such rumors here. And by the way, I think Bure spoke respectfully of Messier after he left Vancouver.

 

[MeHateHe]

I would think the Piestany Punch-up, featuring a load of NHL draft picks, would rate as well. As well, the financial mess involving Lightning co-owner Len Barrie.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

WW2

cost the league all of its major stars for 3-4 years. most of them losing prime seasons.

Bauer, Dumart, Schmidt, Brimsek, Bentley, Abel, Conacher, Broda, Apps, Harvey

 

[Robert Gordon Orr]

WW2

cost the league all of its major stars for 3-4 years. most of them losing prime seasons.

Bauer, Dumart, Schmidt, Brimsek, Bentley, Abel, Conacher, Broda, Apps, Harvey

Excellent suggestion. I have added all of the suggestions made so far to the list above.

 

[MeHateHe]

WW2

Gonna go out on a limb and say just about everyone wished that didn't happen.

 

[MeHateHe]

On the topic of players killed, could also add Luc Bourdon:
Canucks' Bourdon dies in motorcycle crash | CBC Sports

 

[seventieslord]

Bure / Messier:

Link 1

Link 2

Discuss.

OK, if this is what the OP is referring to, it should not be on the list. Quiet rumours that one player thought another player was gay, was one of the top-100 worst things ever?

Gonna go out on a limb and say just about everyone wished that didn't happen.

Yeah, I see this mostly as very tragic events that related to the NHL and hockey, or events that embarrassed the NHL. The War transcended all of that. you could do a "top 100 things (insert organization that existed as of 1939) wish never happened" list and WW2 would be on every one of them. Should not be listed.

On the topic of players killed, could also add Luc Bourdon:
Canucks' Bourdon dies in motorcycle crash | CBC Sports

While I'm obviously sympathetic to this, Not every player who dies while active should populate such a list, in my opinion. This was tragic but he was not an NHL player yet, and it was not an embarrassment for the league. A guy like Boogaard dying, now that was embarrassing (while still tragic).

I would highly recommend Boogaard's death and the spotlight it placed on prescription drug abuse among NHLers (and particularly enforcers) make a top-100 list.

 

[BobbyAwe]

Absolutely, the Léveillé incident was very sad indeed. That kid had a bright future ahead of him, and I am glad to call him my friend. I remember him being very excited for the Centre Normand-Léveillé many years ago. He is a very down to earth guy, humble and speaks very little English. His wife was a rock back then who helped him a lot in everyday life, not just physically, but also mentally.

What happened to Léveillé was very unfortunate, just like what happened to Fischer and Peverley.
At least these guys didn’t suffer from permanent physical disability.

I still applaud Ray Bourque for bringing out Léveillé to skate at the old Garden (last hurrah) in 1995.
Léveillé told me that it was the highlight of his hockey related career and that he would be forever grateful to Bourque for that, very touching.

Léveillé also told me that Bourque and him roomed together for a while when he was a rookie in the NHL (both French speaking) so they became good friends off the ice as well. He also roomed with Barry Pederson I believe (2nd season?).

Robert, as a friend of Normand, are you aware of any other comments made by players who played with or against him as to how good they thought he would have been? I am only aware of O'Reilly's comment which compared him to Cournoyer and Sinden who compared him to the better Russian skaters?

BTW - no "1978 - Bobby Orr forced to retire early"? For shame!

 

[MeHateHe]

While I'm obviously sympathetic to this, Not every player who dies while active should populate such a list, in my opinion. This was tragic but he was not an NHL player yet, and it was not an embarrassment for the league. A guy like Boogaard dying, now that was embarrassing (while still tragic).

I would highly recommend Boogaard's death and the spotlight it placed on prescription drug abuse among NHLers (and particularly enforcers) make a top-100 list.

Well, OP's list, OP's rules, so he can include or not as he sees fit. It definitely meets the test of "sad" events. Similarly the case of George Pelawa, another highly touted draft pick who didn't see his 19th birthday. My Boy's Gonna Play In The Big Leagues: The Legend Of George Pelawa

I didn't see Craig MacTavish on the list, and not just his coaching stint with the Oilers. There is a sadly interesting link between a lot of those incidents - a link that starts with "B" and ends with "ooze".

 

[Robert Gordon Orr]

OK, if this is what the OP is referring to, it should not be on the list. Quiet rumours that one player thought another player was gay, was one of the top-100 worst things ever?

Would normally not have been included, but two players independently of each other said that something happened that night. They did not see anything, but one teammate apparently observed some disturbing things. This even reached the NHL office at the time. They got a scare (that it would leak), but couldn’t do nothing about it. But yes, it's borderline.

Yeah, I see this mostly as very tragic events that related to the NHL and hockey, or events that embarrassed the NHL. The War transcended all of that. you could do a "top 100 things (insert organization that existed as of 1939) wish never happened" list and WW2 would be on every one of them. Should not be listed.

True, but it also had a great impact on the league, depleting it considerably. Some guys even gave their life (Red Garrett), so I think it’s not wrong to include it.

While I'm obviously sympathetic to this, Not every player who dies while active should populate such a list, in my opinion.

I agree, I included some of these tragic events when some of the marquee players passed away, but there are many others that could be included of course.

I would highly recommend Boogaard's death and the spotlight it placed on prescription drug abuse among NHLers (and particularly enforcers) make a top-100 list.

I agree with this too. I’ll add it, the whole Boogaard/Rypien/Belak thing.

Robert, as a friend of Normand, are you aware of any other comments made by players who played with or against him as to how good they thought he would have been? I am only aware of O'Reilly's comment which compared him to Cournoyer and Sinden who compared him to the better Russian skaters?

BobbyAwe. I went through my files and found a few comments.

“He came to us and had an incredible rookie year. I think he scored 20 or more goals. He was fast. He had a great shot. He was explosive. He was meant to be a great player.” – Ray Bourque

"I saw him as a 19-year-old who was so naive. It was so much fun to watch him play, how he acted and how he struggled in English. It was that radiant smile that first struck me. He was really starting to feel good about himself. He was terrific and he was developing. He was an extremely fast skater and had a great shot. He was like (Yvan) Cournoyer. There were some similarities. He could have been better. Who knows?" Although not overly big, Leveille was a physical player.” – Mike O’Connell

”He spoke little English. Most of all, though, I remember Normand's smile when he walked into the dressing room. He had such an enthusiasm for the game. Judging by his speed and shot, you knew he was going to be a good one. He could really move and he was unafraid.” – Brad Park

"If not playing would bring him back, I'd never play again. I'd trade in my skates, I'd trade in anything to get Normy back." – Wayne Cashman

BTW - no "1978 - Bobby Orr forced to retire early"? For shame!

Yes, you are right of course. I’ll add it.

I didn't see Craig MacTavish on the list, and not just his coaching stint with the Oilers. There is a sadly interesting link between a lot of those incidents - a link that starts with "B" and ends with "ooze".

I had him in mind when I made the initial list, but eventually dropped it. But since there is no limit to the additions, it’s now on the list.

 

[MeHateHe]

Would you consider Ed Belfour drunkenly offering a cop a billion dollars not to arrest him embarrassing?

Belfour Offered Cops Money