ATD 2012 Bios Thread (as complete as possible: pic, quotes, stats, sources, etc)

[tony d]

With Pick 229 of the 2012 Garnish selects Defenseman Sergei Gonchar

Position: D
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-2 Weight: 211 lbs.
Born: April 13, 1974 in Chelyabinsk, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

Some stats on Gonchar from hockeyreference.com:

-9 50 point seasons including 3 seasons of more than 60 points
-744 Points in 1122 Career Games
-98 Career Power Play Goals
-80 Points in 118 Career Games
-4 All Star Game Appearances
-2 2nd Team All Star Team Selections
-212 Career Goals and 532 Career Assists
-4 Appearances at the Olympics for Team Russia

Legends Of Hockey:

After a season with Traktor in Chelyabinsk as a 16-year old, Sergei Gonchar moved to Dynamo Moscow. In those days, the amiable scoring defenseman was often involved in fist fighting on the ice. Most often his opponent was undrafted of Spartak Moscow and he almost never joined in the team's offensive rushes.

Watching Gonchar play, the first thing you notice is his powerful wrist shot. Often you don't even see the puck flying through the air; you only spot it when it's already in the net. He didn't have such a powerful shot playing back in Russia. Gonchar transferred smoothly to the North American style of hockey. In a way, he was lucky that his first season was during the 1994 NHL lockout. Gonchar had a two-way contract with the Capitals, so he was able to spend the lockout months with Portland of the AHL, the Capitals' farm team. He perfected his English and started learning the North American playing style.

In the second half of the season, Gonchar was called up to the regular team but was slow to get accustomed to his new milieu. At first he communicated only in Russian with undrafted and Peter Bondra (a Slovak who spent the first 14 years of his life in the Ukrainian city of Lutsk and speaks perfect Russian). Eventually, though, he widened his circle.

New Capitals coach undrafted has had an influence on Gonchar's career. Within six months they had gotten to know each other better, and Wilson soon considered Gonchar indispensable to the team. Gonchar's trip to Nagano, Japan, with the Russian Olympic team helped raise his profile. In Nagano he performed well, and back in Washington his star began to shine.

In the 1998-99 season, Gonchar became the first Russian defenseman to score over 20 goals in regular-season play. Gonchar his regarded as one of the most offensive defenceman in the NHL and proved it yet again in 2001-02 when he scored 26 goals and finished with a career high 59 points.

The smooth skating defenceman saw the defensive aspect of his game improve in 2002-03, while establishing career highs in assists and points. In 2003-04, Gonchar and the Caps struggled and piece by piece high profile members of the team were traded away. Jaromir Jagr went to the New York Rangers, Peter Bondra to the Ottawa Senators, undrafted to the Detroit Red Wings and Sergei Gonchar found a new home with the Boston Bruins.

Upon his arrival in Boston, Gonchar continued to produce offensively and once the regular season ended he was the league leader amongst defenseman with 58 points (11-47-58) before being acquired by the Pittsburgh Penguins during the summer of 2005.

On the international stage, Gonchar has gone on to represent his homeland at the World Junior Championship (1993), the World Championship (2000), the World Cup of Hockey (1996-2004) and the Winter Olympics (2002, 2006).

Despite injuring his knee in the Eastern Conference semi-final, Gonchar would return to the Penguins lineup to help them win the franchise's third Stanley Cup title in June of 2009.

On July 1, 2010, Gonchar would leave Pittsburgh for Ottawa, signing a three-year deal as an unrestricted free agent.

Hockeydraft.ca:

Sergei Gonchar was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the 1st round of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft as the 14th overall selection. He played on the Capitals until the 2003-2004 season, in which he was moved to the Boston Bruins for Shaone Morrisonn and two draft picks in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Gonchar's best season in Washington was 2002-2003 in which he scored 67 total points, including 18 goals and 49 assists. The season before, in 2001-2002, he scored an impressive 26 goals. Gonchar played 15 regular season games for the Boston Bruins before the lockout season. Gonchar signed a 5-year $25 million deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on 4 August 2005 and he has been playing there ever since. He began the post-lockout era as the top defenseman on the Pittsburgh roster, with most fans expecting him to duplicate his offensive production. However, Gonchar is somewhat notorious for his slow starts and his offensive numbers were disappointing in the first half of the 2005-06 season, earning him many boos from his new team's fans. Nevertheless, his play improved considerably in the latter half, allowing him to end the 2005-06 season as the 8th highest scoring defenseman. Gonchar is perhaps one of the most talented pure offensive defensemen in the league, putting up significant numbers throughout his career. He will likely never score 26 goals in a season again, but he still boasts great skill from the point and can quarterback a power play like few others. Typically good for around 12 goals as season, Gonchar is a defenseman that will produce points consistently once he gets into a groove.

Gonchar will anchor my 2nd power play unit, the guy might not contribute much defensively but as for pure offensive guys there may not be any better among those available at 229.

 

[Hedberg]

RW Jimmy Peters

125 G, 150 A, 275 Pts in 574 GP

8th in Goals 52-53
1946, 1950, 1954 Stanley Cup Champion

Legends of Hockey

Jimmy Peters was a scrappy winger who was known as a "Fighting Irishman" in the company of the Flying Frenchmen of Quebec.

In the early years, Peters usually skated on the Habs' defensive line with Murph Chamberlain and Ken Mosdell and sometimes with Billy Reay. In that context, Peters excelled as an effective checker and a nifty stickhandler with a respectable shot. The rap on his game was that he tended to lack confidence in his own prowess.

During the finals of his first big-league season, Peters and his defensive corps were instrumental in shutting down the Bruins' Kraut Line of Schmidt, Bauer, and Dumart. The end result was a Stanley Cup victory for the Habs.

Years Of Glory: The Official Book of the NHL's Six-team Era (originally posted by seventieslord):

Jim Peters played an important role in the Wings' championship season.

The Windsor Daily Star Mar 20 1946

The famed pony line was sent against Billy Reay, Jimmy Peters and Murph Chamberlain of the Candiens who checked them closely all night and it was seldom indeed when they could get a shot away

The Montreal Gazette Mar 25 1947

They also have the best checking line in hockey in Kenny Mosdell, Murph Chamberlain and Jimmy Peters. It has been pointed out that none of this line has scored many goals, but the fellows who have played against them have scored even less. And they have been assigned to most of the high-scoring lines in the league.

The Windsor Daily Star Mar 30 1946

For the post-season series cagey Dick Irvin, Canadiens coach, lined up Billy Reay, Murph Chamberlain, and Jimmy Peters against the Bentleys-Mosienko trio and his strategy paid dividends.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

LW Dave Trottier

x1 Top 10 Goals (4th)
x1 Top 10 Points (6th)

Credit to Madarcand for many of these quotes

Sturdy winger Dave Trottier was born in Pembroke, Ontario, in 1906.

The speedy Trottier also represented Canada as a member of the Grads in 1928 at the Olympic Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where he helped the Canadian squad win the gold medal by scoring 12 goals and setting up three others in the short three-game tournament.

But his game featured more than scoring - Trottier was also earning a reputation as one of the pro game's best checking forwards. In 1934-35, he was an important part of the Maroons' drive to the Stanley Cup, a playoffs that climaxed in a three-game sweep of the Leafs in the best-of-five finals. His consistent play with Montreal earned him a spot in the Howie Morenz Memorial Game in 1937, a precursor to the All-Star Game.

Dave Trottier was one of the greatest amateur left wings in the history of hockey, and his numbers show it.

But 1927-28 was Trottier's year of glory. He scored a whopping 33 goals,10 assists for 43 points in just 12 games, all of which led the OHA Seniors. The best was yet to come, though. Toronto represented Canada t the 1928 Olympics, winning the gold medal. The speedy Trotter was just phenomenal in the three games Canada played as he scored 12 goals, had 3 assists for 15 points, all of which led Olympic scorers.

A great stickhandler and a willing fighter, Trottier was always ready to mix it up with any of the boys. Indeed, he had 94 minutes in penalties in his outstanding 1931-32 season.

He remained a valuable player, a coach's dream really, by earning a reputation as one of the game's top checking forwards. Had the NHL had an award honouring defensive forwards back then, Dave Trottier likely would have won one year.

Like his fellow townsman, Frank Nighbor, Trottier swings a clever poke-check, and he is a back-checking fiend. His five goals and two assists last night attest to his shooting ability.

Considered one of the smoothest skaters in the game, Trottier jumped to Montreal Maroons in 1928.

Dynamic Jimmy Ward and smooth Dave Trottier were the spark-plugs of the Maroons attack throughout.

Dave Trottier and Russ Blinco played grand individual games, rushing dangerously and checking back well.

Trottier intercepted a Carson to Marker pass in Montreal territory and skated the length of the ice for the final score of the evening.

Dave Trottier, Noted Maroon Star, Before Court For Assault

Canadian Press
MONTREAL, July 21 - Dave Trottier, smart left winger of the Montreal Maroons of the National hockey league, was committed for voluntary statement when he appeared in arraignment court here today charged with assaulting Joseph Albert near St.Andre D'Argenteuil on July 10.

Albert said he was accompanying the chauffeur of a motor truck belonging to a bakery when a car driven by Trottier tried to pass at a narrow section of the road. After some time Trottier, who was accompanied by a woman, passed the truck and as he went by he signalled to the driver of the truck to stop, which the driver did. Trottier according to Albert, then stopped his car and came back. Without any warning, Albert alleged, Trottier opened the door in the cab of the truck took hold of his, Albert's leg, and twisted it until it broke in three places.

Dave Trottier, of Montreal, and Phil Watson provided most of the excitement of the period, though, as they tangled in a brief fist fight.

The Boston papers carried a lot of propaganda concerning the brutal tactics of the Maroons in Montreal as opposed to the saint-like manouevers of Boston's beloved Bruins. The crowd was howling particularly for the blood of Hooley Smith and Dave Trottier, whom the local newspapers rode unmercifully and to an unnecessary degree. However, both Dave and Hooley took good care of themselves and came out of the game quite whole.

 

[tony d]

With Pick 263 Garnish selects Right Winger Steve Larmer:

Some stats on Larmer from hockeyreference.com:

-5 40 Goal Seasons
-7 80 Point Seasons
-1012 points in 1006 games
-2 Time All Star
-1983 Calder Trophy Winner
-441 Career Goals (59th Most All Time), 571 Career Assists (83rd most All Time), 1012 Points (76th Most All Time)
-162 Career Power Play Goals (29th Most All Time)
-60 Career Game Winning Goals (59th Most All Time)
-131 Points in 140 Career Games
-Tied for league lead in games played 6 times

Legends of Hockey:

Right-winger Steve Larmer was a classy goal scorer who led by example on the ice during his 1,006 games in the NHL. His excellent on ice vision and quick hands made him a dangerous foe around the net as well as pesky defensive player.

Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Larmer spent the 1977-78 season with the hometown Petes of the OHA. He then played three years with the Niagara Falls Flyers where he formed a lethal team with Steve Ludzik. Larmer accumulated 247 points his last two years of junior and was drafted 120th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He was also named to the OHA's second all-star team in 1981.

After scoring 38 goals and helping the AHL's New Brunswick Hawks win the Calder Cup in 1981-82, Larmer was ready for the NHL. The talented forward was also named to the league's second all-star team. He made a dramatic impact as a rookie in 1982-83 with 43 goals while his 90 points set a new standard for Hawks' freshman. He played on one of the top lines in the NHL with Denis Savard and Al Secord, helped the Hawks reach the semi-finals, was the winner of the Calder trophy, and was named to the league's all-rookie team.

Throughout the 1980s and early '90s, Larmer was a reliable goal scorer on the Hawks who could also check and provide leadership. In addition to his rookie year, he topped the 40-goal mark four more times. In 1990-91, he set a club mark for right wingers with 101 points and helped the team finish at the top of the NHL's regular season standings. Larmer also scored 22 points when the Hawks reached the semi-finals in 1985 and was an integral part of the team that made it to the finals in 1992. One of the league's most durable competitors, the crafty forward set the Chicago "iron man" record by playing 884 consecutive games between October 6, 1982 and April 15, 1993.

The crafty forward was also an asset on the international stage. In 1991 he helped Canada win the silver medal at the World Championships and capture the fifth and last Canada Cup. Early in the 1993-94 season, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers. He was then flipped to the New York Rangers a few minutes later. The veteran notched 21 goals, killed penalties, and helped the Blueshirts win their first Stanley Cup since 1940. He brought his fine career to a close after playing 47 games for New York and helping the team reach the second round of the playoffs in 1995.

Joe Pelletier:

Steve Larmer very quietly assembled one of hockey's finest resume's. The 1983 Calder Trophy recipient played huge roles in both the 1991 Team Canada victory in the Canada Cup and the New York Ranger's Stanley Cup victory in 1994.

Larmer, a superb two-way forward, didn't miss a game in 11 years with Chicago and his 884 consecutive regular-season games is the third-longest durability streak in NHL history behind Doug Jarvis (964) and Garry Unger (914). Nine times in those 11 years, Larmer scored 30-plus goals and he broke Jim Pappin's club record for points by a right winger with 101 in 1990-91. The same year, he was honored as The Hockey News/Inside Hockey "Man of the Year" and his breakaway goal against Mike Richter was the decisive marker in Team Canada's victory over Team USA in the final of the Canada Cup tournament.

With all that success it's hard to believe that Steve was considered to be a longshot prospect when he was drafted in 1980. In hindsight Steve is one of the best players of that draft, but at the time he wasn't drafted until 120th overall. And aside from a 4 game and 3 game NHL trial respectively, Larmer was cut from the Blackhawks training camps for more seasoning in his first two years.

The first cut saw Steve return to Niagara Falls to play another season of junior hockey with the Flyers. That turned out to be a great thing for him. Steve had previously played well in junior hockey, but he took his game to a new level in 1980-81. He posted superstar stats with 55 goals and 133 points in 61 games.

The second year Steve was sent to the American Hockey League where he was to learn the professional game. Steve called his demotion to the minors perhaps the best thing that ever happened to him. Instead of sitting on the bench as a NHL rookie, Steve was receiving tons of ice time with the New Brunswick Hawks. He scored 38 goals and 44 assists and helped the Hawks go deep into the playoffs with 6 goals and 12 points in 15 contests. More importantly he became one of the most relied upon and favorite players of minor league head coach Orval Tessier.

The Tessier factor weighed in nicely for Larmer in 1982-83. Tessier was promoted to head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks and that seriously upgraded Steve's chances of playing in the NHL. The Chicago brass wasn't overly happy with Steve's training camp and pre-season performance, but Tessier stuck with his young star and insisted that Steve be part of the team. Tessier was right about his prodigy. He often played him on what proved to one of hockey's top lines with Al Secord and Denis Savard. Secord recorded 54 goals while the spectacular Savard had 121 points. Larmer chipped in nicely with 43 goals and 90 points - good enough to win him the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.

Injuries to the rugged Secord prevented that line from staying together much after that season, but Larmer was always a fixture on Savard's right wing. He played a two way role which complimented the offensive wizard Savard very well. He allowed Savard to "cheat" offensively by playing sound defense, yet at the same time provided Savard with the matching skill to finish off the scoring chances Savard created.

Larmer' was incredibly consistent over his years with the Hawks. He was a constant 35-40 goal scorer and 85-90 point man. And he never missed a game in a Hawks uniform.

That games played streak came to an end in 1993 when Larmer asked to be traded. He felt (and history would prove him to be correct) that the Hawks were about to head in a downward spin and he wanted to get his career back on track with a new perspective in a new city. The Hawks apparently promised him he would be dealt over the summer, but the trade didn't happen until 13 games into the 1993-94 season. Larmer was disappointed that the longevity streak was broken, but he knew what he was doing was right for him and was willing to sacrifice that.

The big trade actually saw Larmer traded twice as it was a three team deal. The Hawks move Larmer and undrafted to Hartford for 2 undrafteds. The Whalers then moved Larmer along with 2 undrafteds and a draft pick for undrafted and James Patrick.

Larmer instantly fit in and was a big part of the New York Rangers first Stanley Cup win in 54 years.

"Playing for the Rangers was an unbelievably good experience. The script couldn't have been written any better. We had a great year with a talented team, a close team, " said Larmer in the Chris McDonell's great book "For The Love Of The Game."

Winning the Cup was of course the highlight of Larmer's career, but so was playing and winning in the Big Apple.

"I don't know that there's a better city in the world to win in than New York. They gave us a ticker tape parade and even teammates who had won the Cup before had never experienced anything like that. Between 1 million and 2 million people lined the streets and hung out of office buildings - it was the most incredible thing I've ever seen. A lot of the guys said they'll remember that more any hockey game."

The 1994-95 owner's lockout convinced the 34-year-old forward to call it quits after the 1995 abbreviated season.

"The lockout of 1994 gave me the opportunity to do 'normal' things in the fall and winter. It was a real eye-opener to see what else is out there. My heart was in hockey; on the other hand, the time away planted a seed for retirement," Steve said in Chris McDonell's great book "For The Love Of The Game."

"I've been lucky," said Larmer in typical fashion. "I've been on good teams and played in the Canada Cup with Mr. Gretzky. Winning the Stanley Cup is something you'll never forget and there was no better city to win it in than New York."

Before he retired Steve managed to reached the 1,000 plateau in both points and games played. When he told Rangers GM Neil Smith in June that he wasn't coming back, Larmer ended a Hall of Fame-like career with 441 goals and 556 assists in 1,006 regular-season outings. He added 56 goals and 75 assists in 140 playoff contests.

"He was one of the best forwards to ever play the game and more importantly, one of the finest people I have ever met," said former teammate Doug Wilson.

hockeydraft.ca

Chris Chelios speaks about Steve Larmer on the Chicago Blackhawks website:

I may be biased because I played with him, but he was absolutely a dominant player. I’m not sure you can go by stats alone anymore; that he played so many games in a row – 884, to be exact – while performing the way that he did should at least put him in the conversation. He was a big part of a lot of Stanley Cup-caliber teams, and he played an important role when the Rangers won in 1994. At the very least, I think he should be strongly considered.

I would call Larms an unsung hero in Blackhawks history. You never saw him over-celebrate his own goals and he never sought out the limelight, maybe even at the expense of his own publicity or popularity outside of Chicago. Blackhawks fans knew that they had something special in Steve Larmer, but I don’t think people in general really knew how good he was.

Really like having Larmer on the team. Much like Sundin he can do it all. I expect him to play a big role on Garnish's 2nd line.

 

[EagleBelfour]

Monsieur Harold Oliver

Name: Harry, Pee-Wee, Go-Go
Height: 5'8''
Weight: 155 lbs
Position: Right Wing, Centre
Shoots: Right
Date of Birth: October 26, 1900
Place of Birth: Selkirk, Canada
Date of Death: June 16, 1985 (Age: 84)

Stanley Cup Champion (1929)
Stanley Cup Finalist (1924, 1927, 1930)
First All-Star Team (1924, 1925) *WCHL*
Second All-Star Team (1923) *WCHL*
Art Ross Trophy (1925) *WCHL*
Manitoba Sport Hall of Fame (1985)
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1967)


Western Canada Hockey League [1921-25]
Western Hockey League [1925-26]
Top-10 Scoring (1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th)
Top-10 Goalscoring (2nd, 3rd, 5th)
Top-10 Assist (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 9th)
Team Scoring Leader (1923, 1924, 1925, 1926)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring (4th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring (2nd, 2nd)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (2nd, 2nd)
Top-10 Playoff Penalty Minutes (3rd)
National Hockey League [1926-29]
Top-10 Scoring (7th, 9th)
Top-10 Goalscoring (4th, 5th)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring (1st, 4th, 8th, 8th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring (2nd, 2nd, 5th, 6th)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (2nd, 3rd)
Top-10 Playoff Penalty Minutes (9th)
Team Scoring Leader (1927, 1928, 1929)

- Oliver is the All-Time top scorer, assist and goalscorer of the Calgary Tigers franchise
- In 1929, Harry Oliver set an NHL record for fastest goal from the start of a game, when he scored ten seconds into a 5-2 win over Toronto
- In the 1929 playoffs, Harry Oliver led the league in game winning-goals with two
- Oliver was his team top point getter seven-years in a row, with the Calgary Tigers and then the Boston Bruins

In a era when a small man could finesse his way to professional hockey, Oliver was considered to be in a class by himself. He move with the speed and grace of a greyhound. Always the perfect gentleman on and off the ice, Oliver never smoked or drank and was always dressed to the nines. As a skills player, he let the likes of Red Dutton, Eddie Shore, Billy Coutu and Sprague Cleghorn due the fighting.

In the 1927 playoffs, he was a star.

He was again the scoring-leader for Boston when they won the Cup in 1929, playing mainly with Bill Carson and Galbraith. This line was outstanding when the Bruins defeated the Rangers in the final. In 1930 Art Ross put together his famous 'Dynamite' line of Clapper-Weiland-Gainor which led the league in scoring but the starting line was Oliver-Barry-Galbraith who softened the opposition. Harry was a star in the rough series against Montreal Maroons this year when Boston won the championship. He scored the winning goal in a great overtime battle.

1927 Playoffs
[Against Ottawa]- Ottawa lay back with their lead in the final period and Harry Oliver promptly worked his way through for a neat goal.
- Oliver made it close for Boston on a nice solo effort

1929 Playoffs
[Against Montreal]- Shore, Oliver and Gainor were prominent for Boston
[Against New York]- Early in the second period Harry Oliver split the Rangers defence and fooled Roach on a close in shot
- Bill Carson scored the winning goal on a pass from Oliver

1930 Playoffs
[Against Montreal]- Finally, at the fourty-five minute mark, Galbraith rushed and passed to Barry who shot brining Walsh to his knee; Harry Oliver pounced on the rebound and lifted it over the prostrate Montreal goaler to win the game
- The Bruins pressed in the second period and secured good lead on goals by Barry, Oliver and Clapper

Harry "Pee Wee" Oliver was a self-taught hockey player, perfecting his craft as a youngster on the frozen river near his home.

Although he was one of the lightest players in the league he had speed and grace of a thoroughbred, and was named to the WCHL First All-Star Team in 1924 and 1925. He possessed great stick handling abilities and an accurate shot.

Oliver's behaviour was always exemplary, both on and off the ice.

But Oliver was the team’s superstar. From 1921 to 1926, he scored 90 goals for the Tigers, and later scored 127 goals in 11 NHL seasons with the Boston Bruins and New York Americans. Oliver was the opposite to the hard-nosed Dutton; weighing barely over 150 lbs., Oliver shied away from the penalty box.

The nifty winger played on a Stanley Cup winner in 1929 and was traded to the New York Americans in 1934, where he played another three years before retiring. During his pro career, he scored 218 goals, 144 assists, 362 points.

- ''When I was a kid, there was no organized hockey. We just went out and played, sometimes on an outdoor rink, but mostly on the river.'' - Harry Oliver

- ''Harry Oliver was smooth as silk."- Harry Scott, Sports Editor


Sites:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=P196703#photo
http://www.sihrhockey.org/member_player_sheet.cfm?player_id=2858&CFID=5863307&CFTOKEN=59210716
http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/honoured/players.html?category=7&id=20
http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/early_teams_calgary_tigers.html
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SilverwareTrophyWinner.jsp?tro=STC&year=1928-29

 

[Hedberg]

C Ralph Cooney Weiland

173 G, 160 A, 333 Pts in 509 GP

1929, 1939 Stanley Cup Champion
1934-35 2nd Team All-Star
1st (29-30), 9th (30-31) in Points
1st (29-30), 4th (30-31) in Goals
3rd (29-30), 6th (33-34), 7th (34-35) in Assists
Captain of the Boston Bruins 38-39
Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame

Legends of Hockey:

One of the slickest players of his era, center Cooney Weiland tormented opposing defenses with his trickery. A magician with the puck, he helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 1929 as a member of the famous Dynamite Line with Dit Clapper and Dutch Gainor. And his offensive totals might have been even greater than they were had Weiland not also been such an adept penalty killer.

While learning the ropes as an NHL rookie with the Bruins in 1928-29, Weiland scored a respectable 11 goals in the regular season and contributed to the first Stanley Cup win in franchise history. The next year the league relaxed its forward-passing rules, and the changes were tailor-made for the Dynamite trio. Weiland registered an astounding 43 goals in 44 games, while linemate Dit Clapper scored 41 more. Not only did Weiland lead the league in goal- scoring, he also won the points title with 73, shattering Howie Morenz's single-season record of 51 points.

During this time, many of Weiland's off-ice duties went unpublicized. He was, for instance, Art Ross's traveling secretary on road trips.

The Dynamite Line was broken up in 1932 when Weiland was traded to the Ottawa Senators because of conflicts with Ross. He led Ottawa in scoring, but the once proud franchise was decimated by the Great Depression and owner Frank Ahearn was forced to sell Weiland to the Detroit Red Wings. There he worked with talented wingers Larry Aurie and Herbie Lewis and put up the best numbers of his career since his glory days in Boston.

Legendary NHL Coaches: Stars of Hockey's Golden Age by Glenn Wilkins

Weiland made his name as a penalty killing specialist who could also find the back of the net

The Boston Globe, Jul 6, 1985

"I remember when I came up to the Bruins as an 18-year-old and [COONEY WEILAND] was still playing," recalled Milt Schmidt, the ex-player and coach of the Bruins. "The thing about Cooney was that he used an extra-length stick and there was nobody better than Cooney in poke- checking and hook-checking. He'd reach in there and take the puck away from anybody."

A stubborn man, Weiland often had jousts with management over money. He was traded by the Bruins, then he held out for a long portion of the 1933 season when Ottawa wouldn't give him a raise. "But can you blame him?" asked [Herb Gallagher]. "I remember once at the Arena (now Northeastern's Matthews Arena), that we dug out a safe that had been down in the cellar. It was [Art Ross]' safe and in it were old contracts for all the Bruins - Clapper, [Eddie Shore], Weiland, all of them. Cooney's contract was for $2,400."

The Evening Tribute, Nov 5, 1929

the forwards consist of such seasoned players as Cooney Weiland, speedy little centre...

 

[Hedberg]

D Alexander Gusev

11 G, 15 A, 26 Pts in 36 WC Gp
64 G in 335 USSR Gp

1973 World Championship All-Star
1973 2nd Team Soviet All-Star
1973, 1974 World Championship Gold Medal
1976 Olympic Gold Medal

Chidlovski:

Alexander Gusev was probably one of the most memorable Soviet defensemen of the 1970s. His style was based on both exceptional athletic strength and outstanding technical skills. As a result of this, he was equally strong in defense and offense. His mastery of hard-hitting physical game made him one of the toughest Soviet blueliners to pass by in the 1970s. His flashy puck handling skills and extremely strong slapshot made him one of the top scoring defensemen of all time.

s a CSKA and national team player of the mid 1970s, Alexander Gusev played in many top international tournaments including World Championships and Olympics, Canada Cup 1976 and various Superseries in North America. He was a member of Team USSR at the legendary '72 Summit Series.

In 1974, Gusev was in the prime time of his career. He was one of the most noticeable defensemen of the Soviet roster and managed to score 3 goals in 8 games including game winning goal in Game 5.

1972 Summit Series

Alexander Gusev was a big defenseman known as a physical player and hard open-ice hitter in the Soviet league, but as Vyacheslav Gavrilin of Krasnaya Zvezda wrote: Gusev couldn't intimidate the Canadians with bodychecks like he does Soviet players in league play. He came to lose confidence in himself. The aggressiveness and never-quit attitude of the Canadian forwards shocked him."

Gusev was also known in Russia for his booming slapshot. He would score only once with that shot in this series, but it was a huge goal. It tied the game in game 5 before Vladimir Vikulov scored the game winning goal to cap off an amazing comeback from a 4-1 deficit to capture the third Soviet victory, winning 5-4.

Gusev played in 6 of 8 games, and would serve him well in becoming an elite player in the latter half of 1970s.

 

[Hedberg]

Coach Tommy Gorman

133-132-62 Regular Season
13-8-4 Playoff
1934, 1935 Stanley Cup Champion
Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame


Legends of Hockey

Thomas Patrick Gorman committed his life to improving and enjoying sports, especially hockey. While serving as a player, coach, executive, owner and journalist his enthusiasm knew no bounds.

Gorman became involved in the operation of a hockey club for the first time when his family purchased the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey Association (NHA) during World War I. Ottawa hockey fans owed the Gormans a debt of gratitude for stepping in since the original owners were going to dissolve the team. Losing a franchise at this time would have severely damaged the fortunes of the league as well.

Gorman gradually took over most of the responsibilities with the Ottawa franchise and was one of the founding members of the National Hockey League in 1917. Most significantly, he was the club's manager where he was a strong motivator and astute judge of talent and character. He was personally responsible for Lionel Hitchman, Alex Connell, and King Clancy joining the team. Under Gorman the Senators became the NHL's first dynasty with three Stanley Cups in four years between 1920 and 1923.

seventie's Study of Gorman and his contemporaries:
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=19395253&postcount=799

The Montreal Maroons (originally posted by seventieslord):

An NHL pioneer, and one of the game’s great characters…a smiling, quick-talking wit who wore his emotions on his sleeve. He loved an audience, and had endless stories about his colourful past…. Had a gift for promotion and an ability to create an atmosphere of enthusiasm and optimism.

There were speeches, including one by Connell…a gim-faced man on most occasions, Connell had tears in his eyes as he thanked Gorman for luring him out of retirement. “You know Gorman is like a tonicâ€, he said. “He can make you do things you never thought yourself capable of.†The word **** ******** used to describe what Gorman brought to the team was “harmonyâ€. “Tommy’s the man who developed the harmony,†he said. “Remember that.†Years later, Hooley Smith described his old coach in similar terms. “…boy, he could make you feel like the best player in the league. Then you’d get out there and really play hockey. Gorman knows how to inspire his playersâ€.

Gorman was not a typical coach. He liked what he saw and didn’t hide it. “That Toronto team can’t hold this speed,â€, he told a group of reporters. “Look at the balance we’ve got.†And then, as an afterthought: “Mind you, it’s going to be a tough battle.â€â€¦After game 1, Gorman, ignoring the cautious “it’s only one game†tone most coaches would have adopted, declared that the Maroons were the best team he had ever coached. Reminding one reporter of a sideshow barker, he went on about how good the Maroons were. “When they want open hockey, our team gives it to them. When they want defensive hockey, we have that too. What a team! What a team!†Then the slight, nimble man bounced around the room and serenaded his players with a song.

Gorman had little to say to his players during the pause before overtime, but decided to work off some nervous energy by taping a stick. He made a complete mess of the job, using an entire roll and producing a stick that looked like it had a doughnut strapped to the blade. As soon as the players saw the ludicrous effort, they burst out laughing, breaking the tension that had descended on the room. The Maroons had more to smile about a few minutes later… Baldy Northcott fired a high shot that beat Chabot for the winning goal.

Win, Tie Or Wrangle: The Inside Story Of the Old Ottawa Senators, 1883-1935 (originally posted by seventieslord)

In his speech Ahearn made a strinking admission about his relationship with Gorman, with whom he had had a falling out years earlier when Gorman was his hockey partner. “I am awfully sorry it ever happened,†he said. Referring to his buyout of Gorman after a dispute over club personnel, Ahearn continued, “If Tommy Gorman had styed here, it would have been the greatest thing that ever happened for Ottawa in a hockey sense.â€

 

[Dreakmur]

Garry Unger !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
7 x NHL All-Star (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)

All-Star voting – 5th(1970), 5th(1972), 8th(1976)

Statistics:
Points – 17th(1970), 18th(1975), 20th(1972), 20th(1976), 21st(1973)
Goals – 2nd(1970), 6th(1973), 12th(1972), 14th(1976), 15th(1974), 16th(1975)

Point Percentages – 77(1970), 77(1973), 70(1976), 66(1975), 65(1974), 64(1972)
Goal Percentages – 100(1970), 79(1973), 72(1972), 70(1976), 68(1975), 63(1974), 60(1978), 55(1971), 53(1977), 51(1979), 49(1969)

It was to have been a glorious career for Garry Unger in Detroit. In some ways, he could have been an early day Steve Yzerman. All the ingredients were there – speed, radar-shot, smarts, and drive.[/quote]

 

[tony d]

With Pick 327 Garnish selects Defenseman Terry Harper:

Position: D
Shoots: Right
Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 lbs.
Born: January 27, 1940 in Regina, Saskatchewan

Some stats on Harper courtesy of hockeyreference.com:

-5 Time Stanley Cup Champ
-4 Time All Star (2 Merited plus 2 as a member of the defending Cup champs)
-1963-1964 NHL leader in defensive point shares
-1362 PIMs in 1066 Career Games
-90th All Time in Career Plus Minus with a Plus 169

Legends Of Hockey:

Defenseman Terry Harper began his ascent to the NHL playing three years of junior hockey with his hometown Regina Pats. The club advanced to the Memorial Cup tournament in his first year with the team in 1957-58, although they came up short of winning the national junior amateur title, taken that year by Ottawa-Hull.

After toiling in the minor leagues for several years, Harper played 70 games with the Montreal Canadiens in 1963-64. Although he was not a flashy player, he was very effective in his own zone, ensuring the opposition forwards were kept at bay. Harper remained with the Habs for ten years, winning five Stanley Cup rings.

In 1974 the Canadiens traded Harper to the Los Angeles Kings, who were in desperate need of veteran leadership, both on the ice and off. Harper was given the captaincy and he guided the young team for two seasons before being sent to the Detroit Red Wings as part of a package deal, which saw Marcel Dionne move to the west coast. Harper remained with the Red Wing organization for four years before signing as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues in 1979. He finished his career at the age of 40 in 1980-81, playing 15 games with the Don Cherry-coached Colorado Rockies.

Joe Pelletier:

Terry Harper enjoyed a lengthy NHL career as an aggressive, stay-at-home defenseman. A willing though not always successful fighter, Harper played for 19 seasons with Montreal, Detroit, Colorado, and St. Louis before retiring in 1981.

Those who knew Terry from a young age were not surprised by his toughness. As a youngster he suffered serious third degree burns to his arms, chest, stomach and legs in a fire. The damage required 7 years of skin grafting. Terry used hockey as a motivating force to get through the pain. His doctors agreed to let him play hockey, thinking that the skating would help rebuild his leg muscles.

By 1957 Harper had joined the Regina Pats, a Montreal junior team, narrowly missing out on the Memorial Cup. Harper would turn pro in 1960.

Harper's got his first taste of NHL action in 1962-63. In his 3rd season of minor league hockey, Harper got the call when stalwart d-man Tom Johnson became injured. Harper filled in admirably in his 14 game appearance, supplying the same physical presence and defensive positioning that Johnson normally provided. Harper ended up finishing the year in Montreal. He participated in 5 playoff games and even scored a goal.

In 1963-64 Harper made the Habs on a full time basis, joining J.C. Tremblay, Jacques Laperriere and later Ted Harris on a revamped Habs' blue line.

The 6'1" 200lb defenseman quickly made a name for himself as a tough customer. Though he never was consider a true NHL heavyweight, there wasn't a thing he wouldn't do to help his team win. The defensive changing of the guard worked, even if it was more of a lunch-bucket crew than many great D-men groups in Montreal history. Montreal would quietly win 4 Stanley Cups by the end of the decade.

One of the interesting facts of Harper's career occured early in the season in 1963. Until that point, Maple Leaf Gardens had both teams share the penalty box. However Harper and Toronto forward Bob Pulford, who were sent to the box for an on-ice altercation, continued to mix it up in the sin-bin. The event led to the creation of two seperate penalty boxes at MLG within a week of the incident.

Harper, who wore #19, spent 10 seasons in Montreal. In that time he played in 4 NHL All Star games and won 5 Stanley Cups.

However in 1972 the Habs moved Harper to Los Angeles in exchange for a barrage of draft picks. Harper played 3 seasons on the west coast. In his final season with the Kings he was +38.

Despite his best statistical season to that point, Harper was moved to Detroit as part of the big trade that saw superstar Marcel Dionne land in Los Angeles. Harper would play 4 seasons for the Wings. His first season in the Motor City (1975-76) he set career highs with 8 goals and 33 points. However by the end of his 4 year tour with the Wings, Harper had clearly lost a step. He was 39 years old at the time and played 22 games of the season with the Wings farm team.

Harper appeared in two more seasons in the NHL (11 games in 1979-80 with St. Louis and 18 games in 1980-81 with Colorado) before retiring at the age of 41.

In his career, Harper played in 1066 games. He scored 35 goals and 221 assists in that time span for 256 points. He also added 1362 penalty minutes. The 5-time Cup champion battled in 112 playoff contests, scoring 4 goals and 17 points to go with his 140 PIMs.

From the Montreal Canadiens website:

Though he was not blessed with blazing speed, or a booming point shot, Terry Harper more than made up for that with heart and drive, playing more than 1,000 NHL games over 19 seasons. He played his first 554 professional games with the Habs, a member of five Stanley Cup Championship teams.

After three years with his hometown Regina Pats, the young defenseman turned pro with the Canadiens organization and spent some time learning the ropes with the Montreal Royals and Hull-Ottawa Canadiens of the Eastern Professional Hockey League. He made his initial appearance with the Canadiens in 1962-63, playing in 11 games on the regular schedule and a handful in the postseason.

Harper stuck with the Habs in 1963-64, appearing in every game while picking up 17 points and 149 penalty minutes, numbers he would consistently post throughout his career.

Rarely the most elegant or exciting player to watch, Harper improved his play through hard work and developed into a reliable stay-at-home defenseman. Solid on the blue line, Harper made it possible for his more offensive-minded playing partners to join the rush.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was one of the bigger rearguards in the league. He used his size effectively, bottling up oncoming forwards and separating them from the puck by any means necessary. Big, strong and one of the hardest hitters around, Harper had less success when the gloves came off. He won very few of his many bare-knuckle bouts but true to both his team and the unwritten rules of conduct, he never backed down from a fight.

When he left Montreal for Los Angeles after the 1971-72 season, the rugged Harper had spent 805 minutes in the penalty box, 15th on the team’s all-time list in that category.

In his eight years with the Montreal Canadiens, Harper and his teammates made it to the Finals six times and had their names engraved on the Stanley Cup on five occasions.

In Los Angeles to provide veteran leadership and set an example to younger players, Harper spent three seasons in Kings purple and gold before moving on to Detroit for three years.

In 1975-76 at age 36, when most players are considering their post-playing career options, Harper posted his best offensive numbers ever. He hit personal highs with eight goals and 25 assists.

Harper’s final NHL stops were in St. Louis and Colorado, where he played partial seasons before retiring after the 1980-81 campaign.

Harper should provide solid defense to my 2nd pairing. Think he'll play a really good agressive game.

 

[Hedberg]

LW/C Charley "Rabbit" McVeigh

84 G, 88 A, 172 Pts in 397 GP

1927 Retro Selke Winner

Legends of Hockey:

Forward Charley McVeigh was a consistent two-way player for nearly 400 games in the 1920s and '30s. He managed to hit double figures in goals four times despite playing on weak teams for most of his career.

Greatest Hockey Legends:

I recently found this gem of an article from the archives at Time magazine. This piece, from 1941, looked at how the U.S. decision to create the draft act would affect profession sports. The article opened by talking about the little known McVeigh:

"Pint-sized Charles ("Rabbit") McVeigh came home from World War I hard of hearing and full of fight. Like many another Canadian, he turned to U. S. hockey for a living. A star forward, the scrappy little fellow made a name for himself as a rough-&-tumble player, who never minded how big they came. Some time ago National Hockey League Linesman McVeigh, fractious as ever, called a close one on the Detroit Red Wings. Up streaked burly Ebbie Goodfellow, Red Wings captain, to give the umpire a piece of his mind. Calmly eying the big man hovering over him, McVeigh waited until he paused for breath, then let him have one. 'Listen!' said he icily, 'In the last war I got a dollar ten a day for killing big tramps like you!' "

The Border Cities Star, Dec 12, 1931

McVeigh, the tiny veteran who won his name by his agility at jumping over his rival's sticks without losing the puck.

The Border Cities Star, Feb 1, 1927

McVeigh, a real goal-getter as well as a skating whirlwind and amateur contortionist. McVeigh is called the most popular player in Chicago and it's not all because he can tumble around the ice like a jumping jack.

 

[tony d]

LW/C Vincent Damphousse

Position: LW/C
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-1 Weight: 200 lbs.
Born: December 17, 1967 in Montreal, Quebec

Some stats of Damphousse courtesy of hockeyreference.com:

-1205 points in 1378 games
-6 50 Assist Seasons
-4 90 Point Seasons
-104 Points in 140 Career Playoff Games
-3 All Game Appearances
-Led Montreal in points in 1993 playoffs with 23
-432 Goals ranks 64th All Time
-773 Assists ranks 36th All Time
-1205 Points ranks 44th All Time
-1378 Games Played ranks 36th All Time

Legends Of Hockey:

It was obvious from a young age that Vincent Damphousse had extraordinary hockey talent. He starred for the Montreal-Bourassa midgets of the Québec AAA Hockey Leauge. In 1983-84, he joined the QMJHL's Laval Voisin and scored 65 points as a rookie. In 1984-85, he improved to 35 goals and 103 points and in 1985-86, Damphousse scored 45 goals and 155 points and was named a QMJHL Second Team All-Star.

Vincent Damphousse was drafted sixth overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his rookie season, Damphousse played in all 80 games and tallied 21 goals and 25 assists for 46 points. The breakout year offensively for Damphousse came in 1989-90, when he scored 33 goals and finished second in team scoring with 94 points. In 1990-91, he paced the team with 26 goals and 73 points and was named the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game in Chicago thanks to a four-goal effort. He still regards that as the single greatest memory in his NHL career.

In one of the biggest trades in NHL history, Damphousse was traded with 3 undrafteds, and cash to the Edmonton Oilers for Grant Fuhr, Glenn Anderson and undrafted on September 19, 1991. The move to northern Alberta seemed to agree with him, as he led the Oilers with 38 goals, 51 assists and 89 points. In the playoffs, he scored 14 points in 16 games as the team reached the Campbell Conference finals before losing to the Chicago Blackhawks.

On August 27, 1992, Damphousse was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. Playing in his home town, Damphousse responded with 39 goals, 58 assists, and 97 points for the Habs. And the playoffs were even better. He had 23 points in 20 games as the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, defeating Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings four games to one.

In 1993-94, Damphousse led the Canadiens with 40 goals and 51 assists for 91 points. In the shortened 1994-95 campaign, he played all 48 games and scored 40 points. In 1995-96, he co-led the Canadiens with 38 goals and finished second in team scoring with 56 assists and 94 points. In 1996-97, he led the Canadiens with 54 assists and 81 points. In 1997-98, he finished second in team scoring with 59 points.

In 1998-99, Damphousse moved to his fourth NHL club when he was traded to the San Jose Sharks. On October 14, 2000, Damphousse recorded his 1,000th career NHL point and was one of the most consistent players on the Sharks for the better part of six seasons, before signing as a free-agent with the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2004.

Following a lock out year in 2004-05, Damphousse announced his retirement from the game of hockey during the summer of 2005

Joe Pelletier:

Vincent Damphousse was one of those players that the Toronto Maple Leafs should have never let get away.

Damphousse was an extremely valuable skater - being able to play both left wing and center with equal efficiency. He was an extremely clever player who somehow has always made those who played with him better. His puck control and passing were only matched by his superior hockey sense.

Damphousse broke in with the Leafs in 1986-87 after a spectacular junior career with the Laval Voisins. In his final year in Laval, Damphousse scored 45 goals and an amazing 110 assists for 155 points in 69 games. Add 36 points in just 14 playoff games, and Damphousse was one of the top prospects in the 1986 Entry Draft. He ended up joining the Leafs as the 6th overall selection. Hindsight is 20/20, but aside from Brian Leetch and perhaps Adam Graves, many would say Damphousse was ultimately the best player in that weak draft class.

Damphousse joined a weak Leafs team immediately, and showed promise. In his first year he scored 21 goals and 46 points in the 1986-87 season - a season which gave Leaf fans their first glimmer of hope in many years. The team seemed to be getting deeper in talent, and even made it to the second round of the playoffs.

The Leafs were never really able to take their game to the next level in Damphousse's tenure, however. Damphousse became a key member of an exciting foursome of scoring stars in Toronto - 2 undrafteds worked well together, often with undrafted on the left side. Damphousse was a key member of the second line along with 3 undrafteds often served as that duos center.

Over Damphousse's 5 years in Toronto, the talented winger and the team suffered from similar problems. Damphousse was streaky in his younger years. For example, he started the 1988-89 season near the top of the league scoring race with 7 goals and 10 games, but followed that up with just 8 in his next 30. He ended with a respectable 26 goals and 68 points, but somehow Leaf fans always wanted a bit more out of Damphousse.

Vincent was able to put it altogether in the 1989-90 season when he scored 33 goals and had 94 points. He dazzled everyone at the NHL all star game when he was named as the game's Most Valuable Player thanks to a record tying performance. Damphousse notched 4 goals - equalling an all star game record shared previously by Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux (and later equalled by Mike Gartner). Even better, the Leafs returned to the playoffs, although they were dropped swiftly.

Damphousse and the Leafs were unable to duplicate their fine year the following season. Damphousse fell to 73 points, although to be fair that did lead his team in scoring and he was one of the better players. Undrafted fell from 51 goals to just 17. Undrafted fell from 39 goals to 21, and really struggled when he and Damphousse were broken up due largely to an injury decimated lineup. Wendel Clark played as close to a full season as he could for the first time in several years, although he wasn't the same Wendel as he was before all the injuries. Al Iafrate and Ed Olczyk were both traded away, as was half the team. The Leafs failed miserably, despite Damphousse's good play.

As shown the previous season, the Leafs management were in a hurry to clean house, and Damphousse himself was traded away. In 1991-92 he joined Edmonton in a package deal which saw the Leafs acquire the legendary Glenn Anderson and Grant Fuhr. Damphousse led the Oilers in scoring that season but was then moved on to his hometown where he played with the Montreal Canadiens in 1992-93.

Coming home was a great chapter of Damphousse's career. He was born in Montreal and grew up not far from the Montreal Forum and idolized the charismatic Guy Lafleur. It turned out to be a great move for Damphousse as he spent 7 wonderful seasons in Montreal highlighted by a Stanley Cup victory in 1993 and later being named captain of the fabled team. He was also asked to represent Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

In 1999 Damphousse, on the verge of unrestricted free agency, was traded to the team he would ultimately sign with - the San Jose Sharks. He'd spend the next 5 years in California, playing a big role in making the team a Cup contender prior to his retirement in 2004.

Montreal Canadiens History Website:

Considered one of the most complete centermen in Canadiens history, Vincent Damphousse was known not only for his huge offensive output, but also for his great two-way play and significant defensive contributions.

After posting 45 goals and 155 points during an outstanding junior season with the Laval Titan in 1985-86, Damphousse jumped directly to the NHL with Toronto the following year. The Maple Leafs selected him sixth overall in the 1986 entry draft.

Damphousse spent the first five seasons of his career developing his game with Toronto before he was dealt to Edmonton in 1991 as part of a blockbuster deal involving six players.

After only one season with the Oilers, he was acquired by Montreal in exchange for 3 undrafteds in one of the best trades ever executed by Canadiens General Manager Serge Savard.

It was as a member of the Habs that the Montreal native enjoyed the best years of his career. In his first season with the Canadiens in 1992-93, Damphousse had a career year, notching 97 points. He added 23 points in 20 playoff games to hoist his first and only Stanley Cup.

He continued in his role as the team’s leading scorer over the seasons that followed, including a 91-point season in 1993-94 and 94 points in 1995-96. His production slowed gradually over the next few years and the Canadiens traded him to the San Jose Sharks late in 1998-99.

After six seasons in California, Damphousse signed with Colorado in the summer of 2004 but never appeared in a game with the Avalanche because of the lockout that wiped out the 2004-05 season. He officially retired on September 7, 2005.

Damphousse appeared in three All-Star Games during his career, earning All-Star MVP honors in 1991.

During the 2004 lockout, he was the vice president of NHL Players’ Association’s executive committee.

Really like this pick. Damphousse much like his linemates on the 2nd line can do it all. I like his playmaking abilities and his defensive game to be the main focus of his game.

 

[Velociraptor]

Normand Rochefort, D

Position: Defenseman
HT/WT: 6'2", 220 lbs
Handedness: Left
Born: January 28th, 1961 in Quebec City, QC

- Gold Medallist at 1987 Canada Cup.
- scored 39 goals, 119 assists, 158 points in 598 regular season games, adding 570 penalty minutes.
- scored 7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points in 69 playoff games, adding 82 penalty minutes.

Quotes

Legends of Hockey

But obscurity continued to follow Rochefort, in part because of his stay-at-home style of play and in part because the Nordiques had a long-standing reputation for being weak on defense. If such was the case, it was thought, then perhaps Rochefort wasn't really all that good. However, he was the kind of defender who was noticed only when he made a mistake--and he didn't make many of those.

He anchored the Nordiques' blueline, which had a strong offensive orientation, for seven seasons until his little secret got out. He was invited to play at Rendez-vous '87 and the Canada Cup later that year. He surprised everyone as the steadiest defender at the tournament. From then on, Rochefort was on the NHL map.

Greatest Hockey Legends

Rochefort was one of the top defensemen in the National Hockey League for a time during the mid 1980s. Don't believe it? Well he played in the 1987 Rendez Vous tournament against the Soviet Union, and later that year was a nice part of Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup.

Rochefort was a bone crunching bodychecker. Though he took few penalties, he was one of the most feared physical players of his time. He loved to rattle a player along the boards and at times would go out of his way for an open ice hit. He was also a menace in front of his own net, punishing any opposition forward who dared to enter the slot. He was also a premier shot blocker.

Playing such a physical style can be tough on a guy's body - no one knows that more than Rochefort. However Rochefort just absolutely loves to play, which is why he came back from repeated severe injuries and why he continued to play in the minors for years after his NHL days were done. Rochefort, who wasn't the fleetest skater to start with, had several major surgeries on his knees, including reconstructive surgery in 1988-89.

Though his skating wasn't impressive, his puck skills were. He rarely jumped up into an offensive attack, but he had this knack of always clearing his zone with a perfect pass to a breaking forward.

Rochefort played in in 9 games of the 1987 Canada Cup. He had 1 goal, 2 assists, and was +3. Against the Soviets, he was matched against the KLM line

From game 2 Canada matched the line of Mark Messier, Mike Gartner, and Glenn Anderson linked with defensemen Rochefort and XXX against the Soviets' main threat, the KLM line, to attempt to shut them down...

As a Team Canada general manager, Serge Savard insisted on one selection when a roster was being chosen. Normand Rochefort would have to be included. Savard, managing director of the Montreal Canadiens, had watched Rochefort play plenty of great defence for the Quebec Nordiques. With rearguards like Kevin Lowe, Doug Wilson and Larry Robinson unavailable, Savard felt Rochefort would be important to Team Canada, and he was right. In Canadian territory, nobody has been more reliable, or tougher.

Boston Globe - Sep 14, 1987

The key man in Canada's first two goals was Normand Rochefort, the man coach Mike Keenan calls "a hard-nosed defensive defenseman". ...

nytimes.com - Mar 15, 1991

Normand Rochefort, perhaps the team's most physical defenseman.

Newsday - Feb 18, 1990

The Rangers believe wings XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXXXXXX and hard-hitting defensemen XXXXX XXXXXX and Normand Rochefort have the muscle and the toughness to compensate for the loss of [XXXXX XXXXX].

The Canada Cup of Hockey Fact and Stat Book

Normand Rochefort, a surprise selection by team Canada, robbed XXXXXX XXXXXXX of the puck and headed up the ice passing the puck to Mario Lemieux...

 

[tony d]

Centre Don Luce

Position: C
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-2 Weight: 185 lbs.
Born: October 2, 1948 in London, Ontario

Some stats on Luce courtesy of hockeyreference.com:

-1975 Masterston Trophy Winner
-1975 All Star Game Appearance
-6 Top 10 Finishes in Short Handed Goals
-62nd All Time In Plus Minus with a career Plus 197
-554 Points in 894 Career Games
-6 Time 20 Goal Scorer

Legends Of Hockey:

Don Luce was a superior defensive centre and penalty killer who could score and work the power play. His strong two-way play and work on face offs aided all five teams on which he played, especially the Buffalo Sabres.
Luce played junior with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHA. He was chosen 14th overall by the New York Rangers at the 1966 Amateur Draft then spent two years developing with the CHL's Omaha Knights. The young pivot registered consecutive 20-goal seasons for Omaha and was placed on the CHL first all-star team. He played briefly with the Rangers at the end of the 1969-70 season and the beginning of the next before he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Luce was a solid checker the rest of the year with his new club but did not fit into their long-range plans.

Luce was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in May 1971 and went on to become one of the top defensive centres and penalty killers in the game. His finest year was 1974-75 when he scored 33 goals, including eight shorthanded, while forming one of the best number-two lines in the NHL with Craig Ramsay and Danny Gare. That spring, he scored 16 points and provided stellar two way work as Buffalo reached the Stanley Cup finals. Following the season, Luce was presented the Bill Masterton trophy. In all, Luce hit the 20-goal mark six times and scored 25 times when killing penalties.

The veteran forward was moved to the L.A. Kings in March 1971 as Buffalo started to make changes. Prior to the 1981-82 season, he was sent to the Toronto Maple Leafs where he played his last 39 games before retiring.

Joe Pelletier

The first thing most fans think of when reminiscing about the Buffalo Sabres of the 1970s is the fantastic play of the French Connection. Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin and Rene Robert grabbed most of the spotlight with their creative artistry and production.

While they were the stars of the show, no team can achieve success without elite role players. The Sabres acquired one of those from Detroit in 1971, trading for Don Luce. In Buffalo Luce would develop into one of the best defensive centers and penalty killers of his era. Luce, who only missed 14 games in a decade of service with the Sabres, would often work with equally reliable left winger Craig Ramsay and sniper Danny Gare to form one of the best checking lines of the 1970s. The Sabres had perhaps the best #1 line and best #2 line in the entire league.

Luce was not so one dimensional that he could not score himself. He showed his versatility by becoming an important part of the Sabres power play. His offensive production was steady and significant, and he'd often push the 70 point plateau in his prime. In 1973-74 he bulged the twine 26 times, better than any Sabre other than Rick Martin. And in 1973-74 Luce achieved a career high 33 goals and 76 points. Eight of his goals came while shorthanded, then a NHL record. That was a magical season for Luce and the Sabres. Luce was named as the team's MVP, and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game of hockey. But more importantly Luce helped the Sabres get all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before bowing to the defending Cup champs from Philadelphia.

It is unfortunate that the NHL did not award a trophy for best defensive forward until 1978, as Luce likely would have won the trophy at least in 1974-75, if not in other years.

After brief stops in Toronto and Los Angeles, Luce retired after the 1982 season. In 1986 he was inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame. He has continued to work for the Sabres in a variety of coaching and scouting assignments in his retirement.

Really like this pick. Luce is a great defensive guy we all know but I can see him as being a good offensive guy as well. Him, Sundin and Messier give me a great top 3 centre lineup.

 

[JFA87-66-99]

LW/C Harry Smith

- This guy was a winner and a leader who was one of the top scorers wherever he went, if not the top scorer. He put in over two goals per game everywhere that he played, outscoring some excellent players along the way, and saved his best for when the cup was on the line. He was sometimes in trouble as his in-game passion would get the better of him. In many ways he is a poor man’s Newsy Lalonde. And he has great bloodlines, hailing from the same parents as Tommy and Alf Smith.

- Stanley Cup Champion (1906, 1909*)
- SOHA leading scorer (1905)
- ECAHA Leading Scorer (1906)
- 4th in ECAHA Scoring (1907)
- WPHL Leading Scorer (1908) - not a top league but outscored brother Tommy 44-32
- In 1909, managed to lead the TPHL in goals, was 3rd in WPHL, and had 9 goals in 4 ECHA games, which projected to 27, 3rd in that league
- 2nd in NHA scoring (1910) - behind only Newsy Lalonde
- 4th in OPHL Scoring (1911)
- NOHL Scoring leader (1912)
- Playoff Scoring Leader (1906, 1909) - had 21 goals in 7 top-level playoff games
- 1st Team All- Star (1907, 1908, 1912) - per SIHR
- 344 goals, 347 PIM in 162 recorded games (172 goals in 83 top level games)
- One of only three available players of the 100 who earned a bio in "The Trail Of the Stanley Cup Vol. 1"

* Wanderers, led by Smith, defended the cup successfully to keep the cup as ECHA property, but had to hand the cup over to Ottawa as the Sens won the ECHA regular season title.

Originally Posted by The Trail Of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1
He looked very much like his brother Alf and had a lot of his fighting characteristics. He was a much better player than Alf during his two years with ottawa and might have been the equal of his brother Tommy, if he might have behaved.

In his first year with the Senators he was a ball of fire and he topped both Russell bowie and Frank McGee in scoring. He was a spectacular star in the famous two-game playoff with the Wanderers for the championship and Stanley Cup. Wanderers had won the first game 9-1 and no odds were quoted on the chances of Ottawa overtaking that lead. nevertheless, in the return match at Ottawa, the Senators tied the round before losing by two goals. This great comeback included five goals by Harry Smith who was personally congratulated at rinkside by the Governor General. This was the high point of Harry's career.

Frank McGee dropped out the next year and Harry took over at center with his brother Alf and Hamby Shore on the wings. Harry played well but Alf was tiring.

Originally Posted by The Trail Of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1 (1906 finals)
The Smith Brothers skated wild through the Wanderer defense and in succession Harry tallied twice more...

Originally Posted by The Trail Of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1 (1909 playoffs)
Harry Smith showed again that when sticking to hockey he was as good as any by scoring five goals.

Originally Posted By Ultimate Hockey
Most Unpredictable Career of the 1900's-Harry Smith was a rookie whiz kid, scoring a league-best 31 times in 1906. After that season, his love of the nightlife seemed to get the better of him. He would never again regain his rookie form, but in 1910 he put in an exellent season, placing third in NHA scoring.

Best Shot Of The 1900's

Originially Posted By Ian Fyffe's Hockey Historysis
Harry Smith - "Only" a Goal-Scorer
Continuing on a theme of early 1900s hockey mercenaries, we now have the case of Harry Smith. Less known than his two Hall-of-Fame brothers Alf and Tommy, Harry (younger than Alf but older than Harry) was a hockey star in his own right.

Smith was perhaps the ultimate hockey nomad. After an amateur career covering four teams in four seasons, he joined his older brother Alf on the powerful Ottawa Senators for the 1905/06 season, and immediately led the best league in the world in goals scored with 31, despite missing two games of the schedule. He outscored immortals Russell Bowie and Frank McGee, and several other Hall-of-Famers. Harry scored 15 goals in five Stanley Cup matches that season, as Ottawa won their first two challenges against Queen's University and Smith's Falls, then lost to the equally mighty Montreal Wanderers.

Smith fell to fourth in ECAHA scoring in 1906/07, the only season that he, Alf and Tommy played on the same team in senior hockey. His wandering period began in 1907/08, when he went to Pittsburgh to play for the Bankers, leading the league with 44 goals, ahead of brother Tommy's 32 markers. His 1908/09 season was perhaps the ultimate hockey mercenary year: he played for the Bankers, Haileybury of the Temiskaming league, Toronto of the Ontario pro league and the Montreal Wanderers, who he was with when they won the Stanley Cup against Edmonton in 1906. Because different leagues played their schedules at slightly different times, Harry was able to lead the Temiskaming league (which featured many future NHA players) in goals, despite playing for several other teams.

He spent the 1909/10 season in the NHA, splitting time between Haileybury and Cobalt, tying Ernie Russell for second in league goals behind Newsy Lalonde. For Waterloo of the Ontario pro loop in 1910/11, Smith was fourth in goals, but second on a per-game basis. In 1911/12, he led the New Ontario Hockey League (named for the area called at the time New Ontario, not for the fact that it was the most recent hockey league in Ontario) with 32 goals in only 13 games. Back in the NHA for the 1912/13 season, he played for the Toronto Tecumsehs, then played three games for Ottawa in 1913/14 before wrapping up his pro career in the Maritime league the same year.

Smith had undeniable talent, though he was at times criticized for his lack of conditioning. But everywhere he went, he scored goals but the bucketload. Like his brothers, he was also prone to losing his temper, but his calling card was most certainly his goal-scoring. He is not fondly remembered, largely because of this. Just like today, players who "only" score goals are seen as playing selfishly, while defence-first muckers who can't score to save their lives are seen as hard-working, team-oriented players. This is silly, of course. Players who score goals contribute an awful lot to their team's success, because you need to score goals to win hockey games. You have to consider a player's defence as well, of course, to get a full picture of his contributions to his team's efforts. But players like Harry Smith, who are so exceptional at goal-getting, simply cannot be so bad defensively as to eliminate the value produced by his offence.

At some point I'll be using historical Point Allocation results to argue that Harry Smith belongs in the Hall of Fame with his brothers. He may have been "only" a goal-scorer, but he was one hell of a goal-scorer. Nothing else he did or didn't do can't take away from the fact that he was a historically gifted offensive player, and put it to good use, playing on several championship teams.

Most Goals In Organized Hockey, 1904-1914 (Harry Smith's Career)
This list only includes players who excelled in the top leagues of the time, it includes all leagues that existed and have stats available, but obviously to include all players who excelled only in lesser leagues would be both exhaustive and pointless

Name | Games | Goals | GPG
H.Smith | 160 | 342 | 2.14
T.Smith | 141 | 288 | 2.04
N.Lalonde | 120 | 219 | 1.83
E.Russell | 111 | 212 | 1.91
M.Walsh | 89 | 203 | 2.28
B.Ridpath | 118 | 192 | 1.63
D.Pitre | 158 | 181 | 1.15
R.Bowie | 53 | 180 | 3.40
D.Smith | 140 | 171 | 1.22
K.Mallen | 131 | 157 | 1.20
T.Dunderdale | 114 | 156 | 1.37
D.Kerr | 102 | 151 | 1.48
J.Hall | 146 | 147 | 1.01
J.McDonald | 123 | 146 | 1.19
T.Phillips | 63 | 144 | 2.29
H.Hyland | 90 | 139 | 1.54
J.Walker | 112 | 138 | 1.23
**** ****** | 79 | 135 | 1.71
H.Jordan | 54 | 134 | 2.48
J.Malone | 99 | 134 | 1.35

Most goals only in top-level hockey, 1904-1914
(in each season there was one or two leagues known as the "top" leagues, these were the leagues whose teams owned the cup or frequently challenged for it: CAHL ,FAHL, EC(A)HA, OPHL, CHA, NHA, PCHA - playoffs and cup matches also count)

Name | Games | Goals | GPG
E.Russell | 111 | 212 | 1.91
T.Smith | 91 | 193 | 2.12
N.Lalonde | 93 | 179 | 1.92
M.Walsh | 70 | 166 | 2.37
R.Bowie | 45 | 153 | 3.40
H.Smith | 76 | 151 | 1.99
D.Smith | 126 | 150 | 1.19
J.McDonald | 123 | 146 | 1.19
H.Hyland | 90 | 139 | 1.54
H.Jordan | 54 | 134 | 2.48
J.Malone | 99 | 134 | 1.35
D.Kerr | 73 | 117 | 1.60
F.Glass | 107 | 115 | 1.07
F.McGee | 52 | 113 | 2.17
E.Johnson | 139 | 112 | 0.81
**** ****** | 66 | 107 | 1.62
D.Pitre | 100 | 104 | 1.04
A.Smith | 63 | 100 | 1.59
W.Smaill | 118 | 99 | 0.84
K.Mallen | 81 | 90 | 1.11

Harry Smith is 6th in goals and 6th in GPG during this time. (Blair Russell also had 2.06 GPG but not enough total goals to get in the top-20)[/QUOTE]

 

[JFA87-66-99]

Scott Niedermayer D

- 6'1, 195 Ibs, Shoots:Left, Born 8/31/1973 in Edmonton, Alberta
- Stanley Cup Champion, 4 Times (1995, 2000, 2003, 2007)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (2001)
- Olympic Gold Medal, 2 Times (2002, 2010)
- IIHF World Championships Gold Medal (2004)
- World Cup Champion, (2004)
- World Cup Runner-Up, (1996)
- Norris Trophy (2004)
- Conn Smythe Trophy (2007)
- NHL All-Rookie Team (1993)
- NHL 1st All-Star Team, 3 Times (2004, 2006, 2007)
- NHL 2nd All-Star Team (1998)
- Top 12 In Norris Trophy Voting, 6 Times (5th-1998, 12th-1999, 2nd-2006, 2nd-2007, 10th-2008, 10th-2009)
- Top 9 In Hart Trophy Voting, 3 Times (9th-2004, 8th-2006, 7th-2007)
- NHL All-Star Game, 5 Times (1998, 2001, 2004,*2007, 2008, 2009) *Selected
- Number #27 retired by the New Jersey Devils

Orginally Posted By NHL Source
Niedermayer is the only player to win every major North American and international championship in his career; he has won the Memorial Cup, World Junior Championship gold, IIHF World Championship gold, two Olympic gold medals, four Stanley Cups and the World Cup

Originally Posted by The Sabre View Post
He is the only player to have ever won at every level of hockey that he has played in. He is a great skater who moves effortlessly about on the ice. He has remarkable accuracy when making a pass. He has an above avg Hockey IQ and always makes the best offensive play when called upon. He has great offensive instincts within the team first concept. Scott was a great leader on and off the ice. He is a master at eluding the forecheck while launching a counter attack.

Scott Niedermayer is the only player in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title. He's the only player in hockey history to have won four Stanley Cups and two gold medals. He also has a Norris trophy and Conn Smythe trophy. He was a winner.

Niedermayer often looked like a defenseman with unparalleled skating ability, and he made it look effortless. That carried over to the power play, where Niedermayer's command on the point was glorious: That smooth skating and puck control near the blue line; the way he'd sail against the current while the other players prepared for either a pass or a shot. His influence can be seen in the way players like Mike Green(notes) help run the power play. He didn't reinvent the wheel; he just showed how smoothly it could ride.

He's an elite, legend-for-his-era defenseman; what would his stats have looked like in a different era? Could he have reached Coffey-like numbers in a more freewheeling era on a more freewheeling team like the Oilers? The Devils of the Dead Puck era was no place to rack up blueline numbers, not in Lou's house.

Untapped potential aside, Niedermayer was also an essential part of one of the best defensive teams of the last 20 years. And he's most fondly remembered for his goal as a 21-year-old in Game 2 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, Niedermayer helped the team on its way to a sweep with a calling-card tally on a brilliant end-to-end rush.

Truly, an all-time great.

Originally Posted By Joe Pelletier
The key component for two Canadian Olympic gold medals seems to be hockey's winningest man: Scott Niedermayer. He captained Team Canada to gold in 2010, and was a top player on their previous gold medal championship in 2002. Niedermayer was inexplicably left off of the 1998 team, and was injured in 2006. Canada did not step on the podium without him. He was instrumental in Canada's 2010 success, playing his best when his team needed him the most. The veteran was a calming influence and arguably the team's best defenseman in the gold medal game.
Niedermayer does not always get properly credited as one of the all time great blue liners. He has always been recognized as a great skill player, but not necessarily revered as a legend. That is partially because his quiet, laid back persona off the ice. But on the ice he is a true champion. In addition to the two Olympic gold medals, Niedermayer has also won the Memorial Cup, World Junior and World Championships, a World Cup and four Stanley Cups. All he does is win.

To me, that makes him one of the greatest hockey legends.

The pride of Cranbrook, BC, Niedermayer first became a notable hockey name when he joined the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL and helped them win a Memorial Cup championship in 1992 and help Canada to world junior championships in 1991 and 1992. Scouts raved about Niedermayer, especially his effortless, almost artistic skating. It was truly a treat to watch him skate, which is not something you normally say about players. He was the definition of skating agility. Scouts also liked his offensive instincts. Comparisons to Paul Coffey were inevitable. The New Jersey Devils selected Niedermayer with the third overall pick (acquired infamously several months before from Toronto in exchange for Tom Kurvers), directly behind Eric Lindros and Pat Falloon. Alright, no one was going to dislodge Lindros from the top spot that year, but in hindsight who would you rather have? And what was San Jose thinking?! In the Devils tight, defense first system Niedermayer never really did emerge as a Coffey-like offensive force. Instead he became a great, well rounded defender. He still carried the puck often and occasionally using his wheels for a highlight reel rush. Niedermayer was somewhat overshadowed in New Jersey by team captain Scott Stevens. Stevens defined New Jersey hockey with his hard hitting, defensive focus. Niedermayer's skill set may have offered the Devils a nice change up, but he was also a flawless defender and an unnoticed physical player in his own fashion. All in all Scott Niedermayer was part of 3 Stanley Cup championships in New Jersey. But he left the Devils after the 2005 lockout, heading west to join his brother Rob with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He would play 5 seasons in California, posting some of his best offensive seasons thanks to the shackles finally being lifted from his game.

The highlight in Anaheim - and possibly of his whole storied career - was winning the Stanley Cup in 2007. It may have been the 4th Stanley Cup of his career, but it was brother Rob's first. To win it together with his brother was real special. Niedermayer retired in 2010 with one of the most impressive resumes ever completed in hockey. 1263 regular season games; 172 goals, 568 assists for 740 points. Another 25 goals and 98 points in 202 Stanley Cup games. Four times he was named as a year end All Star. He also won a Norris trophy and Conn Smythe trophy. Two Olympic gold medals, the Memorial Cup, World Junior and World Championships, a World Cup and four Stanley Cups.


Words that describe Scott Niedermayer -Winner; Hall of Famer; Greatest Hockey Legend.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Marty Pavelich

*One of only 5 players to be on all 4 of Detroit’s Cup winning teams of the 1950’s (Howe, Lindsay, Kelly, Pronovost).

*5 Consecutive Retro Selkes awarded by Ulitmate Hockey: 1952-53 to 1956-57

*Held Rocket Richard Pointless for an Entire Playoff Series!

*Went an entire Cup Winning playoff year without being on the ice for a single ES goal against!



Joe Pelletier

Marty wasn't the most explosive scorer in the league but he put up respectable offensive totals and was a 4 time NHL All Star. But his job was more that of a defensive winger. He excelled in shutting down the other team's top gun.

So good was he at shutting down the opposition, Stan Fischler, a famous hockey author, ranked him as the 4th best defensive forward of all time in his book Hockey's 100. Only Claude Provost, Joe Klukay and Ed Westfall ranked ahead Marty.

Probably Pavelich's best known opponent to shadow was Rocket Richard, who Pavelich held in high regard.

"Well, Richard, that was my job to check him for 10 years and to me, he was the greatest goal scorer of all time. Even anybody playing today. Richard would have scored … he had a knack of getting the puck to the net. He was a very determined hockey player. Very, very fierce competitor.

LOH

Usually on the ice with Tony Leswick and Glen Skov, it was Pavelich's job to shadow many of the greats of his day: Rocket Richard, Bill Mosienko, Ted Kennedy, Milt Schmidt, and the Bentley brothers.

The Windsor Daily Star - April 1, 1955

In a way, Pavelich was long over-due for such a snugly fitting hero's mantle. Recognized as one of the greatest penalty-killers in the game, he has never been a prolific scorer. Blessed with fine puck sense and great speed there have been scores of times when he has, by his own alertness, created such opportunities as he had last night-but not with the same result

The Gods of Olympia Stadium

The former general manager of Dallas, Bob Gainey, used Marty as the epitome of what it means to be a two-way forward when he played for Montreal

Ted Lindsay - The Gods of Olympia Stadium

So every night, these guys-Pavelich, xxxx, and xxxx-played against the best players the other team had. But besides stopping them, these guys, our checking line, they'd each end up with anywhere from eight to 12 goals a year. That was a tremendous advantage for the Detroit Red Wings.

Jack Adams - Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players

Pavelich is one of the key men around whom we built our hockey club

Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players by Stan Fishler

His primary asset is his ability as a defensive or checking forward, and there is no one in the sport today who can match him in this department. Marty draws the assignment of checking the league’s great right wings.

Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players by Stan Fishler

Detroit attained a peak of achievement in 1952 by winning eight straight playoff games. It was much more than coincidence that the forward line headed by Pavelich and containing Tony Leswick and Glen Skov did not permit a single goal to be scored against it throughout the playoffs. In the final round of four games with Montreal – the Toronto Maple Leafs were disposed of in the preliminary round – Marty completely tamed the dangerous Richard, not permitting him so much as an assist, much less a goal.

Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players by Stan Fishler

The left wing’s secondary value to his club suggests a storybook touch, for it is wrapped around the old rah-rah theme, a rare item these days, at least in professional sports. It is a fact, though, that Pavelich is like a tonic to his teammates. Spirit is an intangible commodity, but Marty clearly bubbles over with it, spreads it among his mates. How many games have been won by the Red Wings as a result of Marty’s morale boosting, hustle, and defensive work cannot be estimated, but the figure must be considerable.

Tommy Ivan - Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players

I don’t know how many times we’ve gone into the dressing room between the second and third periods a goal or two behind…and before I can open my mouth to say a word to the fellows, Marty starts in. Before he’s through, he’s got them all fired up, and as often as not we’ll pull out of the game with a win”

Detroit Red Wings Greatest Moments and Players by Stan Fishler

Pavelich torments the man he’s covering. He makes passing difficult, shots almost impossible, and as often as not he steals the puck. The mere presence of this 170-pounder on ice, players from the other team will tell you, makes it tough to get a goal.

Ted Lindsay - The Gods of Olympia Stadium

And where Adams thought Marty Pavelich was finished. Hell, Marty could have played another five years. He was one of the best defensive hockey players in the National Hockey League.

Ted Lindsay - The Gods of Olympia Stadium

Marty Pavelich was very intelligent-probably one of the most intelligent hockey minds that was never utilized by coaching or anything like that.

Ted Lindsay - The Gods of Olympia Stadium

For a time, it was my job to stop the Rocket. But then, very quickly after that, because we had the Production Line, Marty Pavelich took over. Marty could put the Rocket to sleep a little bit because he was a diplomat. He didn't rile him. Marty would say, "He's great enough. I don't want to get him angry and make him greater, so I'll kind of try to subdue him a little bit."

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Thanks to MadArcand for the hockey card quotes

John "Pie" McKenzie

All Star Voting Record: 2, 3, 3, 5

Top 15's in Points: 8, 10, 12

Joe Pelletier

But don't forget John "Pie" McKenzie, the diminutive pest who was a real leader and fan favorite on that team. He was so popular that Boston fans bought 100s of bumper stickers that said "No matter how you slice it, Pie is the greatest."

Bostonians loved his courageous physical presence and dogged defensive attention. General Manager Milt Schmidt best summed up McKenzie as the Bruins' "mood-setter."

McKenzie described his approach to hockey to writer Andy O'Brien once.

"I guess what it boils down to is my custom at the start of games. I like to take a run at somebody on my first shift just to stir things up and plant the idea that if a squirt like me can go after 'em - particularly if my target is a big star - then why not everybody? I try to act the same way when were sagging in a tight game."

He didn't drop the gloves with great regularity, but that's what McKenzie instigated his rivals to do on numerous occasions, usually resulting in a Boston power-play.

In his best season the 5'9", 180-pounder netted 31 goals and recorded 77 points in 1970-71, despite missing 13 games due to a shoulder separation that required an operation

LOH

He made it to the Bruins in 1966 and finally began to see regular action. In his second season, his union with Fred Stanfield and Johnny Bucyk allowed him to blossom into a valuable part of the club as an agitator and scorer. His scoring totals were also given a lift through his regular spot on the powerplay with Bucyk and Esposito. McKenzie once joked that third-man-in rule killed his career. He specialized in needling his opponents until their blood boiled to throw them off their game. But he didn't fight very often. He'd just get things going and then let the big boys take over. He even managed to complete his career with all of his teeth intact.

The Greatest Players and Moments of the Boston Bruins

McKenzie was an integral part of both the 1970 and 1972 Cup-winning machines.

The Greatest Players and Moments of the Boston Bruins

Underrated by the Blackhawks, Stanfield emerged as a crackerjack two-way center, whereas Pie McKenzie worked the ice like a tireless hornet, constantly disrupting the fore while melding neatly with his linemates.

The Greatest Players and Moments of the Boston Bruins

None was tougher than McKenzie....Despite his notorious roughhouse style, McKenzie's penalty minutes never reached triple figures - 77 minutes in 1970-71 was his high point - but he was always intimidating.

The Greatest Players and Moments of the Boston Bruins

Derek Sanderson, Ted Green, Wayne Cashman and Ken Hodge all contributed to the club's aggressive image, but it was McKenzie who seemed to do the most as agitator extraordinaire.

The Greatest Players and Moments of the Boston Bruins

During that spring of 1972 the Bucyk-McKenzie-Stanfield line had set an NHL playoff record with 53 points - breaking the record the same line had set in 1970.

The Bruins in Black and White

Pie was a Boston favorite while working the corners of the Boston Garden as a second-line right winger for seven seasons.

The Greatest Players and Moments of the Boston Bruins

Veteran Boston hockey writer Leo Monahan noted that had a popularity poll been taken in 1970 "Pie" would rank just a cut below Bobby Orr, Derek Sanderson, and Phil Esposito. Bruins fans took the bouncing winger to their hearts

1960-61 Parkhurst

A fast skating chunky winger who is able to go well both ways. Possessor of plenty of courage and desire he gives everything he has every time he's on the ice.

1966-67 Topps

A very fast skater, John is expected to fit into the "New Look" Bruins this season.

1969-70 O-Pee-Chee

His lack of size hasn't stilled his aggressive play and the fans love his style. He's one of the league's top skaters.

1975-76 O-Pee-Chee

John spent most of his NHL time with the Boston Bruins and although he never weighed more than 175 lbs. he became the symbol of the Bruins' toughness and one of the most feared checkers in pro hockey.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Warren Strelow, Goaltending Coach

*21 Years as an NHL goaltending coach

*Instructed Martin Brodeur, Mikka Kiprusoff, Evgeni Nabokov, Pete Peeters, Jim Craig, Vesa Toskala

*1 Olympic Gold Medal (1980) and 1 Olympic Silver Medal (2002)

*3 NCAA Division 1 National Championships


NHL.com - "Sharks Say Goodbye to Warren Strelow"

Known throughout the hockey world for his expertise and results in training young goaltenders, Strelow was widely regarded as the best in his profession.


Strelow served as goaltending coach for the U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey team at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, where the squad, coached by the late Hockey Hall of Famer and Strelow’s long-time friend Herb Brooks, pulled off the “Miracle on Ice†victory against the Soviet Union and later won the gold medal against Finland. Jim Craig, who backstopped Team USA to those impressive victories, credited Strelow as one of the main reasons for his success in the tournament. Strelow reprised his role with the U.S. Men’s Team at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City where the team captured the silver medal.

In 2004, Strelow was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, along with the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team.

He was hired by the Washington Capitals as the first full-time goalie coach in the NHL, where he coached from 1983-1989. During a five-year period as an NHL coach, Strelow’s goaltenders with the Capitals posted the lowest composite goals-against average in the League, including winning one Jennings Trophy, emblematic of the goaltending tandem with the lowest goals-against average in a season. They also finished second in the League three times. Two of his goaltenders (Al Jensen and Pat Riggin) were named to the NHL All-Star Team and the Capitals won the 1988-89 Patrick Division Championship. Strelow also spent two seasons as a scout for the Capitals.

He served in a similar role with the New Jersey Devils from 1990-1993.

Hired by San Jose in 1997, Strelow helped the Sharks organization become widely recognized as one of the best consistent developers of goaltending talent in the NHL.

Under Strelow’s tutelage in 2000-01, four goaltenders in the Sharks system were named to their respective league’s All-Star Teams - Evgeni Nabokov-NHL, Miikka Kiprusoff-AHL, Terry Friesen-WCHL and Johan Hedberg-IHL.

Nabokov also won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2001. In addition, Strelow’s other former pupils include 2003-2004 Vezina Trophy winner Martin Brodeur and ex-Sharks goaltender 2006 Vezina Trophy winner Kiprusoff (Calgary Flames), who made a point to acknowledge Strelow in his acceptance of the award last June.

Before being hired by Washington, Strelow spent eights seasons as a scout: four with Calgary of the World Hockey Association and four with the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Department.

Strelow served as the goaltender coach at the University of Minnesota from 1974-83. During Strelow’s eight seasons at Minnesota, the Golden Gophers won three NCAA Division I National Championships and twice finished runner-up.

ESPN.com

"He had unbelievable talent, but he was prepared every day, and his preparation and passion is what set him apart," said Sharks assistant general manager Wayne Thomas, who assumed Strelow's responsibilities when the coach was ill. "He knew exactly what to do. You'd wonder, 'Why is he doing this drill for 20 minutes?' Because it had to be done for 20 minutes."

Boston Globe - Nov. 14, 2006

For the first time in more than three years, Strelow, the grandfather of NHL goaltending coaches, is once more able to go from rink to rink, sharing everything he knows about what it takes to play the hardest position in hockey -- and arguably the most difficult position in all sports. He is in his 10th season now as the San Jose Sharks goalie coach

"Twenty-one years coaching in the NHL," mused Strelow, considering where he's been, and where he is today. "Now I'm coaching in a cart. Do you believe that? Oh, well, better than not coaching at all . . . sometimes."

"I had a doctor say, 'I don't know how you do it -- you should go to bed,' " recalled Strelow. " 'No thanks,' I said. 'I'm going to work.' "

It was Strelow who ultimately determined which goalies made the Team USA roster, and he also made the decision to go with Boston University netminder Jim Craig for the heavy lifting in Lake Placid.

Wilson said Strelow's presence at training camp this September gave all of the club's goalies an emotional boost.

"He showed up and it was like a missing part of the equation had been found," said Wilson, the one-time great Blackhawk blue liner. "Just to have him around, you could see the body language among our goalies was just different, relaxed.

"In sports, people too easily toss around the terms 'great' and 'unbelievable relationship.' But Warren is truly special with our guys, and they truly, truly missed him. Everything he's been through . . . well, he's really an inspiration. Just a year ago, to be honest, I didn't think he was going to make it."

Over the years, he has tutored some of the best, most notably ex-Sharks netminder Miikka Kiprusoff, who last season won the Vezina Trophy with the Calgary Flames and has had the NHL's lowest goals-against mark two years running. A three-year stint in New Jersey had him working diligently with the Hall of Fame-bound Martin Brodeur. No fewer than a half-dozen of his understudies, including Pete Peeters, have gone on to become NHL goaltending coaches. Peeters fills that role these days with Edmonton.

Strelow is the game's guru goaltending coach.

 

[vecens24]

Jack Evans, D

Just to give an idea of his size over other players of the time, I’ve included this photo as well of him with the Stanley Cup standing next to Bobby Hull who was an average sized player at the time:

-1 of only 5 MLD-eligible defenseman with a top 5 finish in Norris voting, and his 752 career games (when seasons were 70 games long) are the most of any of the five.

- 80 points and 989 PIMs in 752 career NHL games makes it obvious what type of player he was.

Longevity:

- Durability: In the final 8 seasons of his career (1955-56 to 1962-63), Evans only missed 5 total games.

- 12th in Norris voting in 1960-61
- 5th in Norris voting in 1961-62
- Stanley Cup winner in 1961

There have been few players with more raw strength than Jack "Tex" Evans, who split his NHL career between the Rangers (1948 through 1958) and Blackhawks (1958 through 1963). Tex was also renowned for his "latern jaw" and his reluctance to speak.

-Who's Who in Hockey (with Shirley Fischler)

A member of the 61 Blackhawk cup team where he was on the second pairing with St. Laurent. Scored a key goal in the deciding game of the 61 final

Evans was also one of the more feared fighters of his day. This article describes who would be duking it out for the crown of best heavyweight fighter in the NHL. Windsor Daily Star, November 27, 1951:

The players have taken to rating the fighters. In the top bracket, are Harry Watson and Fernie Flaman of Toronto, Jack Stewart of Chicago, Jack Evans of New York, Gordie Howe of Detroit, and Maurice Richard of Montreal. In the lighter class are such tigers as Bill Ezinicki of Boston, and Tony Leswick and Ted Lindsay of Detroit.

Evans, despite his size and roughness, was actually a good skater as well (and apparently British as well :O ) ,From the APNewsArchives, November 11, 1996, his obituary):

He was born William John Evans on April 21, 1928 in South Wales, Great Britain. He broke into the NHL as a strong-skating defenseman with the New York Rangers, where he played from 1948 to 1958. He also played for the Chicago Blackhawks from 1958 to 1963 and was a member of Chicago's last Stanley Cup championship team in the 1960-61 season.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Thanks to hungryhungryhippy and overpass for a large chunk of this bio

Bruce MacGregor

A versatile team player who can blend into any role on any team, MacGregor has been dubbed a coach's "dream player". He can play any position, he's an incredible skater, and he has great hockey sense. A consistent and low-key scorer who also killed penalties regularly and finished top-10 in Short-Handed Goal four times.

Later in his career, his coach gave him the assignment of shutting down Yvan Cournoyer, and MacGregor used his speed and hockey sense to do a very, very effective job at the difficult task.



Joe Pelletier

In the 1960s and early 1970s speedy Bruce MacGregor was so fast he was nicknamed "The Redheaded Rocket.

MacGregor was a slick and speedy forward who was a coach's dream. He was never an outstanding scorer, topping 20 goals only three times in his 13 year career, but he would do anything the coaches needed him to do, and with great proficiency. Using his incredible acceleration and his equally impressive hockey sense, he was a great utility player, filling in admirably wherever and whenever the team asked him to. He was also a mainstay on the penalty kill unit.

MacGregor scored 20 goals in three consecutive seasons for Detroit pre-expansion. In the first two of these seasons he played with various linemates, including veterans Ted Lindsay and Andy Bathgate, Paul Henderson, and various undrafted players. In 1966-67 he joined Henderson and Norm Ullman on the HUM line, and his 28 goals were good for fourth in the league. MacGregor was in the top 10 for even strength goals in both 64-65 and 66-67. His scoring dropped off after this but remained consistent, as he scored at least 14 goals in the next seven seasons.

LOH

There's a great deal to be said for consistency, and that is exactly the term applied to Bruce MacGregor for much of his career

Although never a bona fide scorer, MacGregor possessed a tenacity that earned him a spot on Team Canada's 1974 WHA Summit Series roster

He was sixth in Lady Byng voting in 1964-65.

Later in MacGregor's career, his coach gave him a major responsibility against the Canadiens in the playoffs...

SI Vault - Poor Power For New York

It all started shortly before Game Four with a private meeting between XXX XXXXX, the scrappy chancellor of the Rangers' exchequer, and the man they call Murdoch. The 33-year-old MacGregor is a quiet redhead who has skated in obscurity through most of his 13 NHL seasons. As he suspected, XXX wanted to discuss Yvan Cournoyer, the Montreal Roadrunner, who had deflated the Rangers in Games Two and Three by scoring five goals.

"XXX said we had to contain Cournoyer, or else," MacGregor says. "He asked if I'd switch from right wing to left wing, forget all about my own offense and think only about shadowing Cournoyer. He told me that if I could keep Cournoyer off his game even a little bit, then things might fall into place for us."

While MacGregor admittedly cannot skate as fast as Cournoyer—who can?—he accepted the assignment. "I had never played head to head against Cournoyer," MacGregor says, "but I knew his game. He plays the percentages. He likes to sneak between or behind the defense and get a long lead pass from Jacques Lemaire or one of the defensemen. My job, as I saw it, was to stay between Cournoyer and [Ranger Goaltender] Eddie Giacomin. I had to be the middleman at all times. I knew if Cournoyer got between Giacomin and me on a breakaway, it probably would be curtains. There's no way I'd ever catch him in a race. It would be worse than the tortoise and the hare."

In three games MacGregor had out-shot Cournoyer nine to five and out-scored him four to nothing, leaving Bowman with a strange look on his face. "I didn't think New York had anyone who could slow Yvan down," he said. "I thought XXX XXX was the only New York player who could skate with him, and they traded XXX to Los Angeles. That MacGregor, he's pretty smart."

MacGregor is listed as a center at the hhof website, played right wing on the HUM line, and switched to left wing to check Cournoyer. His versatility, scoring ability, and defensive skill will make him a valuable 4th liner.

 

[vecens24]

Rick Middleton, RW

"You just continue to talk in superlatives," said Boston coach Gerry Cheevers of Middleton. "He's unbelievable. It's not just the goals he scores. He should be the cinch winner of the Selke Trophy for the best defensive forward."

- Calgary Herald (AP) Apr 21, 1983

Voting overall:
2nd Team All Star at RW (Post Season) 1982.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner 1982.
Hart: 4, 8
All-Star voting: 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 7,
Lady Byng: 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 9
Selke: 4, 9, token voting two years
Member of Team Canada for the 1981 and 1984 Canada Cup series.
Co-Captain (for home games) of the Boston Bruins with Raymond Bourque 1985-1988.
Tied with Ken Hodge for the Bruins points record by a RW with 105.
Holds the Bruins record for most points in a playoff year with 33.
Boston Three-Stars Leader: 1978-79, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84

Regular Season:
Finished top 10 in goals three times and in points twice.
12 times scored 20+ goals, 8 times 30+ goals, 5 times 40+ goals.
Recorded 5 consecutive 40+ goal and 90+ point seasons during his prime, twice reaching 100 points.
Hit the magical 50 goal mark in 1982 with his career high of 51 goals.
Career shooting percentage of 19.7 ranks 6th all time.





Playoffs:
Has 100 points in 114 career playoff games, including a monstrous 33 points in 17 games during 82-83.
During his big 1983 run, Middleton set the record for most points in a single playoff series with 19 against Buffalo.
His Bruins reached the Stanley Cup finals 3 times (77,78,88) but ran up against dynasty teams in the finals each time.

Middleton credits much of his success in hockey to Cherry, who very early in his career encouraged him to work on his defense. Without a doubt, Middleton was one of very few players in the NHL who was strong on both the power-play and as a penalty killer.

- Legends of Hockey

"He's the best player in the league at his position," Brad Park said. "I've seen all the forwards and I can't see one who can compare with him right now."

- The Windsor Star (CP), Feb 2, 1981 (Park reacting to an all-star game snub of Middleton)

Gretzky praised his line-mate Rick Middleton for the work he did in the corners. In fact, it was Middleton's diligence that setup Perreault for the key goal of the final period.

- Ottawa Citizen (CP) Aug 25, 1981 (Canada Cup Series)

"Rick Middleton is a superstar of the brightest magnitude. He and Wayne Gretzky (of Edmonton) have been our two best players" said coach Scotty Bowman

- Boston Globe Aug 30, 1981 (Canada Cup Series)
Sports Illustrated article on Middleton, March 30, 1981:

Defenseman Brad Park, a five-time All-Star who is now in his 14th NHL season, says, "I've seen them all, and Nifty's the best one-on-one player in hockey. Take anyone in the league, give Nifty the puck, and 90% of the time he'll turn the other guy inside out."

Combining superb quickness and stickhandling with unusual balance and instinct, Middleton, a forward, not only is one of the league's most stylish players, but also is emerging, in his seventh season, as a scorer.

Middleton logs more ice time than any Bruin except defense-men Park and Ray Bourque. He works the power play, kills penalties and protects late leads. The opposition keys on Middleton, too, because he's Boston's only genuine threat to "create" a goal: for the most part the other Bruins qualify as muckers, members of the so-called Lunchpail A.C., who score on goal-mouth tip-ins, rebounds or unintentional deflections.

Jim Craig, the U.S. Olympic hero who's now Boston's No. 3 goal-tender, says that of all the scorers he has faced, Middleton's the most talented at giving the puck, taking it away and then sliding it into the net—right between the goalie's legs.

The Pittsbrugh Press, January 23, 1979, Don Cherry:

This guy is starting to come on like Guy Lafleur. He’s not as good as Lafleur, but he’s as exciting. He’s our spark right now and he must be a defenseman’s nightmare.

 

[vecens24]

Dave Keon, C

Voting Overall:

8 All star game appearances
Calder Winner, 1961
Conn Smythe winner: 1967
Lady Byng Winner, 1962
WHA Most Gentlemanly Player: 1977, 1979
2nd All-Star team: 2nd in 1962, 1963,
Hart: 4, 6,
Selke: couple years of token consideration way after his prime
Lady Byng: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6 (this might be the most prolific Byng voting record ever)
All-Star voting: 2, 2, 3, 3, 7, 4 years of a single vote so he clearly was someone’s favorite player

LOH:

Dave Keon could be a dazzling offensive player, utilizing bursts of speed and deft moves around the net. He also had what is widely considered to be one of the best backhands in the game, a deceptive, often powerful shot that flummoxed opposing goaltenders. He used his agility to avoid opponents' hits and remained injury-free for much of his career. He also used his speed and maneuverability as a pesky penalty killer, covering a large portion of the ice and turning shorthanded situations into scoring chances for his own team. He set a league record for most goals while killing penalties with eight in the 1970-71 season

Joe Pelletier

He combined skating and stick handling gifts with superior hockey sense in all zones of the rink, both offensively and defensively.

But Keon was tough in his own way. He was strong though slight, and mastered the art of angling opponents out of harm's way. While no one questioned Keon's heart or toughness, he always preferred to play within the rules. He won the Lady Byng as the NHL's most gentlemanly player in both 1962 and 1963. In fact he averaged only 6 minutes in penalties in each of his NHL seasons.

In a surprise championship, the Leafs captured their 4th Cup of the decade in 1967. Keon's relentless checking and premier faceoff abilities were first and foremost, and he was rewarded with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the league's most valuable playoff performer.

Stan Fischler, published in Boy’s Life Magazine, February 1964:

“And that,” says a grateful Imlach, “is why I call Dave Keon the most valuable player in the National Hockey League, the best center, and the most consistent guy in the business.”

Mikita, like Keon, a center and often has been frustrated by Dave’s defensive and offensive prowess.

“Keon is the best center in hockey,” says Maurice Richard, the former Canadiens star whose brother, Henri, competes against Keon for All-Star honors. “He’s a fine checker and terrific puck-carrier. The league hasn’t had a player like him in years.”

The Duff-Keon-Armstrong line has been to the Leafs what Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, and Whitey Ford have meant to the Yankees in their championship drives.

At the moment, it appears the rise or fall of the Toronto Maple Leafs will be determined by the skill and endurance of Dave Keon. Some observers thought the Leafs revolved around Frank Mahovlich, the big left wing who once valued at 1,000,000 dollars by Jim Norris, the Chicago Blackhawks owner. But last spring, Mahovlich scored no goals and only two assists in the Leafs’ drive for the Stanley Cup. Keon had seven goals and five assists.

“I wouldn’t trade him for Gordie Howe,” says Imlach.

Skating:
Keon was very clearly one of the top skaters of his day.
The Toronto Maple Leafs by Mark Stewart:

Opponents had to keep an eye on Dave Keon. He was a swift and tricky skater who loved to flash toward the net and catch goalies by surprise.

Emile Francis in Boy’s Life:

He lets the defenseman think he’s skating as fast as he can but Dave’s really in low gear. Then like a bullet he’ll jump into high gear and leave everyone standing still.

Montreal Gazette, March 19th, 1971:

And Keon placed second in two other categories…and the Bruins Orr is the superior skater in the league.

The Pittsburgh Press, May 8 1962:
[qu0te] The smooth skating Toronto center scored 71 of a possible 180 points to win the award [/quote]
Schenectady Journal, November 21, 1980:

He still shows flashes of the great speed that was his trademark so many years ago.

Offensive ability:
As can be seen by his finishes, Keon is a guy whose offensive skill gets underrated by simple top 10s. If you extrapolate out to top 20s, we see that Keon is an 8 time top 18 finisher in goals, a 7 time top 19 finisher in assists, and a 7 time top 20 finisher in points overall. Keon is a good support scorer, but cannot be counted on to carry an offense by himself.

NHL Point finishes:
Goals: 6, 8, 8, 11, 16, 16, 17, 18
Assists: 11, 13, 14, 14, 15, 19, 19
Points: 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17
The Toronto Maple Leafs by Mark Stewart:

…one of the best backhand shots in the NHL.

Meriden Journal, September 21, 1970:

Dave Keon, Toronto’s most consistent scorer in the National Hockey League during the last 10 years…

Bangor Daily News, April 7, 1971:

Toronto depends on the goaltending of Jacques Plante and Bernie Parent with centers Norm Ullman and Dave Keon the chief scoring threats.

The Sun, May 3, 1967

Keon was instrumental in leading the Leafs to their fourth cup championship in six years. He scored three goals and added five assists in the 12 games the Leafs played…

Faceoff ability:

Keon was a very good faceoff man. A couple quotes about this are above.

Montreal Gazette, March 3, 1971

I remember Dave Keon won the draw against me so clean that he put it into his own net.

Defensive ability:
Dave Keon was clearly one of the best defensive forwards in the NHL throughout his career. Ultimate Hockey awarded Keon three Retro Selkes during a stretch of years where mostly purely defensive forwards won them, such as Klukay, Pavelich, Provost, Marshall, Westfall (also Mikita was awarded a couple). Many of the defensive skill quotes are above.
Montreal Gazette, March 19, 1971

Dave Keon and Norm Ullman received the same amount of support and tied for first place when the coaches were asked to name the best checker in hockey. And Keon placed second in twoo other categories. According to the coaches, only Derek Sanderson is better at killing penalties…

 

[vecens24]

Reijo Ruotsalainen, D

With his alphabet soup name and his unbelievable skills package, Reijo Ruotsalainen is impossible to forget for anyone who ever watched him play.

- Greatest Hockey Legends

Career Highlights:
Stanley Cup Champion 1987, 1990.
Played NHL All Star Game 1986
Regular Season:
2-time 20 goal scorer.
5-time 50+ point defenseman, twice over 60 points.
Career high of 28 goals and 73 points during the 84-85 season (also played wing that season).
Played NHL Allstar game (1986).

Playoffs:
Stanley Cup Champion in 1987, 1990.
47 points in 86 GP.
Won two Stanley Cups by playing in 43 playoff games for the Oilers while playing in only 26 regular season games during his two stints with the team.
Non-NHL career:
Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame: Inducted 2000
Finland Championship: 1981 (Oulu)
Switzerland Championship: 1989, 1991, 1992 (Bern)
Finland Best Defenseman: 1980-81 (Oulu)
Finland All-Star First Team: 1980-81 (Oulu)
DN Cup MVP: 1981 (N.Y. Rangers)
DN Cup Championship Game MVP: 1981 (N.Y. Rangers)
DN Cup Best Defenseman: 1981 (N.Y. Rangers)
Finland Playoffs Goals Leader: 1981 (Oulu) (7 goals)
DN Cup Points Leader: 1981 (N.Y. Rangers) (7 points)
DN Cup Assists Leader: 1981 (N.Y. Rangers) (6 assists)
Olympics: 1988 (silver medal)
Canada Cup: 1981 (sixth place), 1987 (sixth place)
World Championships: 1981 (sixth), 1985 (fifth), 1989 (fifth)
Quotations and Perspective:

Paul Coffey was Ruotsalainen's most comparable peer. Like Coffey, Rexi's skating ability was simply phenomenal. He had an incredible set of wheels, blessed with great speed and the ability to get into gear within a step. And he skated backwards and laterally equally as well, perhaps even better than Coffey. In fact he could skate better in reverse than most forwards could skate forward! He effortlessly drifted across the ice as the opposition skaters strained to keep up. It was nothing short of beautiful, and perhaps only equaled by a Scott Niedermayer or a Katerina Witt!

Also like Coffey, Routsalainen loved to rush the puck, often bursting down the left wall, or sneaking off the point and into the slot. He was an excellent stickhandler, able to cradle the puck at any speed. His passes were soft and on target. And his shot was almost as good as his skating. He had an absolute rocket from the point. It took him a bit to learn to keep his shots on net, but once he did he may have been the best one-timer in the league.

Where Coffey and Ruotsalainen differed was in their size and physical ability. While Coffey was big and sported a physical nature, Ruoutsalainen was just too small to be effective. At just 5'8" and 170lbs, Ruotsalainen didn't shy away from the physical play, but he would stay away from the big battles and try to defend from the outside by using his smarts and skates.

- Greatest Hockey Legends

Sather has done some minor rebuilding in Edmonton with an eye toward reclaiming a certain piece of hardware. Ex-Ranger Reijo Ruotsalainen, who is in a league with the Oilers' Paul Coffey and Boston's Ray Bourque as an offensive defenseman

- Si Vault http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126993/index.htm#ixzz1HKwUFHsT

Reijo Ruotsalainen makes their powerplay fearsome

- The Courier (Helene Elliot) April 6, 1987.

The New York Rangers: Broadway’s Longest Running Hit by Kreiser and Friedman:

Probably no Rangers at any position, and certainly no defenseman, has ever had Reijo Ruotsalainen’s combination of speed and blazing shot. Ruotsalainen was among the smallest Rangers to play on the blueline, but he made up for it with incredible speed and a slap shot that terrified goaltenders (and, until he learned to control it, kept fans behind the end glass alert too).

From Hockey Draft Central a profile of his career: http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1980/80119.html

Rated to have the fourth-best slap shot in the NHL by a Calgary Herald poll of executives, coaches and goalies in 1984-85 (ranking behind Al MacInnis, Doug Wilson and Reed Larson).

Paired on defense with Barry Beck for N.Y. Rangers in 1981-82 and 1982-83. ... Played left wing for N.Y. Rangers on occasion during 1982-83 season. ... Missed part of 1983-84 season with hip pointer, an injury suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Oct. 22, 1983, game at N.Y. Islanders. ... Played left wing for N.Y. Rangers in 32 games during 1984-85 season. ... Played on line with Mark Pavelich and Anders Hedberg for N.Y. Rangers in 1984-85

-That last quote gives us some reference as far as how often he played wing. I tried to guess as far as when he played LW based on his point totals in the HSP summary and how much it affected his totals, but it was impossible to make any conclusions based off of what I got.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Thanks to hungryhungryhippy for some of these quotes

Bob Goldham

All Star Voting Record: 3, 5, 7, 8

Norris Voting Record: 4, 5

Top 20 Scoring Finishes Among Dmen: 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 15, 15, 18

Stanley Cup: 1942, 1947, 1952, 1954, 1955

Joe Pelletier

But who was hockey's first shot blocking expert? Defenseman Bob Goldham, a tough defensive defenseman from 1941 through 1956 with Toronto, Chicago and Detroit.

In the early 1940s the Maple Leafs coach Hap Day tried to convince all of his players the art of shot blocking. None of them were willing to sacrifice their bodies by dropping in front of a frozen rubber bullet. None except for Goldham.

Goldham first appeared in the NHL with the Leafs in 1941-42. He was part of the memorable Stanley Cup championship team that rallied from a thee games to none deficit in the finals.

Goldham missed the next three years due to service in the World War II with Canada's Navy. However, Goldham was back in a Maple Leafs uniform by 1945-46.

Goldham was part of a 5 player package traded to Chicago in exchange for superstar Max Bentley on November 4, 1947. While the Blackhawks were a weak team, Goldham's skills as a big league defenseman improved greatly under the tutelage of Bill Gadsby.

On July 13, 1950, Goldham was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Bob enjoyed his finest years as a member of the Wings. He spent six seasons with what many consider to be the strongest team of all time. Goldham was a big part of 5 first place regular season finishes and 3 Stanley Cup championships - 1952, 1954, and 1955. In 1954-55 Bob received a rare piece of personal recognition when he was named to the NHL Second All Star Team.

LOH

Defenceman Bob Goldham played 650 NHL games for three different clubs in the 40s and 50s. He was known for playing the man well in his own zone and contributing the occasional burst of offense.

Goldham's steady play contributed to Detroit Stanley Cup wins in 1952, 1954 and 1955. He retired in 1956 after the Wings lost the Stanley Cup final to the Montreal Canadiens. During the 1970s Goldham remained visible on Hockey Night In Canada television broadcasts in Toronto as an analysts during the first and second intermissions.

Jack Adams

Bob was like a rock on our blue line. It was no coincidence that we were a first-place team with him in the lineup

Red Kelly

Goldham was as about as good as anyone at blocking shots. Bob may not have invented the puck-blocking technique, but he certainly took it to a new and more effective level.

Stan Fischler

A case could be made for Bob Goldham as the most underrated defenseman in the annals of the National Hockey League. Overshadowed by flashier types, Goldham was nevertheless a winner wherever he played. There's no better proof than the fact that he played on four Stanley Cup Winning teams....

Tall and powerful, Goldham was a deceptive type of player. He was faster than he appeared and considerably tougher than his outwardly passive nature suggested... he was the quintessential defenseman, doing his job with a minimum of fuss and fanfare

But there was one aspect of Goldham's technique that lifted him above the masses. Few - if any - backliners were as adept at puckblocking on a consistently effective basis. Employing exquisite timing, Bob would dauntingly throw his body in front of dangerous shots and invariably smother the rubber or deflect it out of harm's way.

Many students of The Game believe Goldham should have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame along with such teammates as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and Red Kelly. They cite his overall defensive effectiveness and the fact that the Red Wings won three Stanley Cups with him as balance-wheel defenseman.

(Below quotes from Dreakmur)

Although he played with Babe Pratt, a rushing type of defenseman, he developed more as a defender but could move when an opening developed.

….

Early on, Goldham perfected the technique of dropping to block shots on goal, a hazardous but effective method of protecting the goalkeeper.

Originally a rushing defenseman, Goldham changed his style when he joined the Red Wings and their other rushing defenseman, Red Kelly. Aware of Kelly's great abilities, he chose to stay at home.

Though he could rush the puck when the opportunity presented itself, Goldham as best known as a defensive defenseman and skilled shotblocker.

In time, Goldha, matured into an effective defenseman who was especially good at dropping to the ice to block enemy shots.

The all-star defenseman as known as a great shot-blocker.

Defenceman Bob Goldham played 650 NHL games for three different clubs in the 40s and 50s. He was known for playing the man well in his own zone and contributing the occasional burst of offense.

But who was hockey's first shot blocking expert? Defenseman Bob Goldham, a tough defensive defenseman from 1941 through 1956 with Toronto, Chicago and Detroit.

In the early 1940s the Maple Leafs coach Hap Day tried to convince all of his players the art of shot blocking. None of them were willing to sacrifice their bodies by dropping in front of a frozen rubber bullet. None except for Goldham.

Goldham would drop to one knee and keep his hands besides his body, taking up as much room as possible. If the puck didn't just hit him, he'd swat at the puck with his gloves.

Bob Goldham was an All-Star defenceman in the National Hockey League for many seasons, although his teammates referred to him as “the second goalie” because of the local native’s fearless shot-blocking.

He is the greatest competitor in hockey.

He as a great, great player and he as the only player on the Detroit club that never game me any trouble. When I was a referee that is. He was a classy guy.

He used to get down on his knees and look the puck in the eye. He's the first totally fearless guy that I ever saw.

Ultimate Hockey’s “Best Shot-Blocker” of the 1950s