ATD 2018 Bio Thread

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Nels Stewart, C/LW

Awards and Achievements
2 x Hart Trophy Winner(1926, 1930)
1 x Stanley Cup Champion(1926)
1 x Retro Conn Smythe Winner(1926)
1 x Retro Art Ross Winner(1926)
2 x Retro Maurice Richard Trophy Winner(1926, 1937)

Scoring
Ranking Finishes:
Goals: 1st(1926), 1st(1937), 2nd(1929), 3rd(1928), 3rd(1934), 4th(1930), 4th(1931),5th(1935), 7th(1932), 8th(1927), 8th(1938), 9th(1933), 9th(1939), 15th(1936),

Assists: 6th(1926), 8th(1928), 11th(1931), 12th(1934), 14th(1928), 14th(1933), 18th(1939), 19th(1930), 20th(1935), 22nd(1936), T-25th(1938),

Points: 1st(1926), 2nd(1929), 4th(1934), 5th(1928), 6th(1930), 7th(1931), 8th(1937), 9th(1933), 10th(1935), 10th(1938), 15th(1939(, 17th(1932), 17th(1936), 18th(1927)


Long-Term Percentages
From 1926-1940 (career), Nels Stewart is 1st in goals(141% of 2nd place Morenz), 4th in assists(93% of 2nd place H.Smith in 6 more games), and 1st in points(123% of 2nd place Morenz).

He is 2nd in GPG(only a 200+ less game Conacher is ahead), T-34th APG, and 6th in PPG(playing at least 150 games more than everyone ahead of him)

From 1926-1936 (10-year peak), Nels Stewart is 1st in goals(114% of Bill Cook in 25 more games), 8th in assists(77% of 2nd place Joe Primeau), and 2nd in points (1 less point than 1st place Morenz playing 12 more games)

He is 2nd in GPG (to Conacher who played over 100 games less), T-23rd in APG, 4th in PPG amongst 100+ game players(playing 100 or more games than everyone ahead of him except Morenz)

From 1926-1931 (5-year peak), Stewart is 2nd in goals(3 less than Morenz playing 7 more games), 8th in assists(80% of 2nd place Morenz), and 2nd in points(17 less than Morenz in 7 more games)



Changing the narrative on Stewart's 2 biggest "negatives":

There are generally 2 big knocks against Stewart. One, his skating and speed is often cited as being terrible (more on that later). The second is he was a zero sum player defensively. Somebody that should be viewed in the Bill Cowley or Gordie Drillon tier, which is about as bad as you can get. The following accounts should change that mindset to one degree or another. After going through the vast majority of available game reports here is what I unearthed about Stewart's abilities to play a strong defensive game from C/W.


Nels Stewart surprisingly good defensively throughout his Montreal Maroon days. Almost all of these quotes have not been brought forth previously:


Dec 2 1925: Montreal Gazette: Stewart called a power in defensive play at center ice
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Babe Seibert established himself as the hero of the night along with Nelson Stewart. The playing of this pair was as effective as it was varied. Siebert, the aggressive type, a husky young who works diligently, speedily and fairly cleverly, while Stewart, though not so flashy, is absolutely finished in his play; tricky, deceptive in attack and a power in defensive play at center ice."


Dec 4 1925 Montreal Gazette: Maroon forwards noted for bottling up the speed of the Canadians before it could get going. Sounds like the Maroon forwards fore checked hard and played up aggressively against an elite squad, featuring Morenz.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Canadians offensive strength was in the brilliant individual efforts of Morenz and Billy Boucher the latter going through practically the entire struggle without rest and without penalty. This pair were dazzling in their speed, but they were too closely checked to get their combination play going. Montreal forwards played out for the Canadian rushes and as often as possible, checked Canadian's speed before it could get going."


Dec 17 1925: Montreal Gazette: Stewart again cited for defense
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Nelson Stewart was conspicuous by his breaking-up of Pirate attacks, although he failed to score, he figured on the offense considerably."


Dec 24 1925: Montreal Gazette: Stewart and Reg Noble figured in continually stopping Pirates attacks
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"but the trickiest of play by such deceptive stars as Reg Noble and Nelson Stewart was as naught to this fighting aggregation. They stemmed attacks and carried the play to the other end, only to have to start all over again. And so the battle waged up and down the ice, with the crowd in an uproar as speed was pitted against a machine."


Jan 20 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart noted for great defense, poke checking many attacks away at center ice.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"The Maroons set their great defense to work in the final period with a one goal margin in their favor. Nels Stewart poked many an attack to the boards at center ice."


Jan 26 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart steals puck from Simpson and passes out to Broadbent.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Mickey Roach substituted for Burch. Stewart cleverly robbed Simpsons and sending out to Broadbent, who steer the puck into the net, but the referee ruled offside."


Feb 3 1926: Montreal Gazette: Stewart noted as being strong point of Montreal defense, scores a SH goal and poke check was in great form
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Montreal adopted different tactics from those used in previous games this season. The forwards did not chase the puck around the opposing goal with the same persistence, but rather fell back to meet the return rush. The switch gave Nelson Stewart an opportunity to star in a new role. After a rush, instead of chasing the puck carrier on the return journey back, Stewart immediately dropped behind to mid ice and awaited the rush. Attack after attack he broke up with his sweeping stick and a judicious use of his skates and body. His work as a strong point of the Montreal defensive bulwark."

"Munro drew the first penalty for elbowing Joliat. He had hardly climbed into the bench, when Nels Stewart stole the puck. The Maroon center swerved by Morenz, completely tricking the Canadian center and shot past Coutu to find the corner of the net. It was a brilliant play especially coming when the Maroons were short."

"With Siebert and Noble in the penalty box Montreal was sent on the defnsive. Montreal ragged and the crowd roared its disapproval. Nelson Stewart's poke check was greatly in evidence."


Feb 24 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart among multiple Maroon players who thwarted attacks.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"The game was another fast, rugged contest. Players were spilled right and left as dash after dash ended against heavy body checking. Siebert, Stewart and Munro were deadly in dropping Ottawa attackers."

"Stewart was the same crafty leader. He held his own in attack and showed early willingness to get back with Broadbent and cover up the right defense, where Kitchen was filling Noble's place."

"The Maroon center was fairly scintillating in attack. He was tireless in his work and was of inestimable help to the Maroon defense."


Feb 27 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart, in a loss, cited for playing great defense despite being bottled up offensively.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Stewart was unable to accomplish on the offense, being constantly covered. He was doing fine work on the defense and was instrumental in stopping frequent rushes."


Mar2 22 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart, shifted to D in 2nd period, cited for strong pokechecking. FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
Holway's defense was not to strong in the opening period, so manager Eddie Gerard shifted Nelson Stewart to Dunc Monro's defensive post and he remained there until the end of the game. Stewart's poke checking stood out.


Mar 31 1926 Montreal Gazette: SCF Game 1, Stewart is a monster offensively, defensively, quoted as playing a fast game, etc
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Stewart fairly towered over the pother players on the ice, and he was alone worth the victory which the local team scored in the game under eastern rules. The Victoria defensive was baffled by the rangy Maroon star. His crafty style of play was something new to them, and they failed to solve his tactics. This player, recently judged the most useful man to his club in the NHL accounted for two goals, the first and last of the game, and both tallies were out of the ordinary. The first, which came after two minutes of play in the initial period was a novel counter, the like of which is seldom witnessed in hockey. Stewart cleared a Victoria rush from close to Benedict's cage. He rushed through the Victoria players at mid ice with long swerving strokes and when he reached the defense, poked the puck through Loughlin. Stewart attempted to round the Victoria captain and defenseman but was spilled face down and full length on the ice....."

"Stewart's second goal came in from the third period less than four minutes from the end of the game. He cleared a rush by Frederickson and started for the Victoria end. He tore down the right wing and Babe Siebert flashed up on the left. At the defense Stewart gave Siebert the puck. The hero of Montreal's league title victory rushed in until almost even with the Victoria net. Stewart was following in fast on the cage and Siebert whipped him a pass. The Maroon star took it in full flight and did not give Holmes a chance to act against the flip from 2 feet out. It was a beautiful play."

"Seibert, Stewart and Broadbent rushed in turn. Then Stewart came down in a tricky rush through center. He evaded the Victoria outer guard, and then slipped the puck past Loughlin. He attempted to recover the disc, but fell. While sliding along the ice, face down, Stewart reached out with his stick, and pushed the puck behind Holmes, who had rushed out from his net to clear. The trick, a novel one, was done in two minutes."
"Frederickson made gallant efforts to get through the Maroon defense. He hit them from every angle and at every pace but Noble and Stewart kept him out. Benedict was having a soft time in the Maroon net."

"Stewart intercepted Fraser's pass to Hart and a dangerous rush by the westerners was wrecked. Stewart and Phillips took play to Holmes net, where they were joined by Dinsmore. All three started to snipe at the Victoria goalie but were thwarted by the brilliant play of Holmes."

"One of the smartest plays of the night brought a third goal Montreal about five minutes before the end of the game. Stewart cleared when Frederickson fell in rushing. The Maroon start tore down right wing. He gave Siebert a pass. The latter rushed in and whipped the puck back to Stewart at the goal mouth. Traveling like lightning Stewart gave Holmes no chance to save. The time was 16:10."


Apr 2 1926 Montreal Gazette: SCF Game 2, Stewart again dominates up and down the ice. But he is playing as a defensemen here.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"The big Maroon start is still an enigma to the Cougars. He has tricked them with such a variety of stunts that they hardly know what to expect. In the first game he slipped the puck through the Vic defense and rounded them to score the first goal while prone on the ice. Last night he rushed to the defense, but instead of around, he crashed between them. Still half off balance from the impact, Stewart kept to his purpose and blazed the puck past Holmes for goal number one."

"Stewart, teaming with Noble, was strong defensively and the biggest threat up forward."


Apr 7 1926: Montreal Gazette: Stewart has another monster game clinching the Cup for the Maroons. Again, Stewart is paired with Reg Noble on D. Cited for stealing the puck from Frank Foyston which directly led to a goal.

Nov 19 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart steals puck
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"The ice was sticky for the third period. Langlois got the first rush but shot from outside and Benny easily smothered the drive. Stewart took the puck away from McKinnon near the NY goal but shot wide."


Dec 31 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart described as tower of strength defensively, while constantly hooking checking attackers
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Dutton almost broke the boards with a drive as the second chapter opened, but the shot was high. Holmes cheated the same player, a minute later. Stewart intercepted a pass, but had no one with him."

"Benedict got Gordon's shot and then spilled in his net to block a drive off the rebound. He was faultless in his work every minute. Stewart was a tower of strength defensively as well as offensively, hook checking the puck away from the puck carriers time and again at center ice."


January 26th 1927 Montreal Gazette:

Feb 11th 1927 Montreal Gazette: Stewart's hustle and smart defensive play saves likely goal
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"A spectacular stop by Worters deprived Punch Broadbent of a seemingly certain goal while Milk's and Carson languished on the side lines. McCurry retrieved the puck on Worters clearance and flanked by Drury, piled through wildly. Either Corsair might have tallied on the thrust had not Stewart hustled his frame across the glaze to sweep Drury's path and whirl the disc to a corner."


Feb 18th 1927 Montreal Gazette Stewart playing solid defense opposite of Frank Boucher, breaking up multiple rushes.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"The teams started off at a rapid pace and after several rushed by both sides Nels Stewart took a pass from Dutton and sent a sizzling shot past Chabto fro the first counter in 3:55. This stimulated the Ranger forwards but they could not penetrate the Munro Dutton defense. Frank Boucher and Stewart broke up several plays around center ice where most of the play was confined"


Feb 25th 1927 Montreal Gazette: Montreal forwards mentioned for aiding the strong Maroon defense
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Noble had a pot shot from ten feet out, but Holmes outguessed him and saved smartly. At every threat the Maroons packed their defense, the forwards rallying to the aid of the defense."


Mar 9 1927 Montreal Gazette: Stewart praised for his demon like work ethic and toughness
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Montreal were as splendid in defeat. Never have they played better this year. Stewart worked like a demon and he gave and took his bumps with a willingness that was surprising. He was frequently spilled to the ice, his face barked by the falls, but he always came up for more and was ever dangerous as such closely watched."

"When Broadbent went off for heavy work, Gange started the Canadians on a sortie, which Stewart finally cleared. He was again tripped by Gange at the Canadian defense."


Mar 11 1927 Montreal Gazette: Stewart mentioned for being part of an impregnable defense
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Ottawa were trying to desperately score but Noble and Stewart, aided by Phillips and Siebert and Broadbent were impregnable on defense."


Nov 15 1927 Montreal Gazette: Stewart played magnificent and was hard working. Again noted speed
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Stewart was playing a magnificent hard working game at center for the Maroons, but was being closely watched and heavily bodied. Stewart and Munro traveled fast in an attack on the Senator goal...."


Nov 23 1927 Montreal Gazette: Stewart dropping back and blocking a Ching Johnson attack
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Ching Johnson had a try all on his own but Dutton charged him off before he could get his shot in. Ching kept on breaking through, but Nels Stewart dropped back and cleverly blocked him."


Nov 30 1927 Montreal Gazette In a 4-0 loss Stewart was only Maroon player who had any luck stopping Boston attacks. Noted as playing a strong physical came, checking anyone who got near him.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Shore tore and stumbled through for a shot and Gaynor tried on the rebound. Nothing could stop the Bruin attackers except occasionally Stewart's big body."

"Shore got apparently loose in front of the Maroon goal, but Stewart came from the side, and bodied him out of the picture. Bodying tactics were becoming common, and Stewart was doing a job on whoever came near him."


Dec 2 1927 Montreal Gazette: Stewart again dropped back to play D
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Stewart had to drop back to the Maroon defense, along with Dutton."

"Maroons were playing a sound back checking game to smother Ranger rushes as the final period reached the half way mark."


Feb 1 1928 Montreal Gazette: Stewart raced back to bowl over Frank Boucher who was about to let a shot rip from point blank range
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Frank Boucher wriggled his way through, but Nels Stewart raced back and bowled him over as he was about to shoot only a few yards from the cage".


Jan 23 1929 Montreal Gazette: Stewart singled out with 2 others for backing checking and poke checking brilliance. Stewart was on the LW in this game.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Stewart, Smith and Ward while working so dangerously on offensive also saw to it that there was no Couger retaliation. They back checked and poke checked so successfully that they had the Detroiters completely tied up. The Cougars couldn't move."


Feb 20 1929 Montreal Gazette: Stewart and Hooley Smith singled out for great poke checking efforts. Nels is still on the wing here.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Being out in front, the Maroons centered their efforts chiefly upon preserving their lead, which brought out some of the uncanniest poke checking ever seen here by Nels Stewart and Hooley Smith. The Americans drove down in three, four and finally five man attacks but nearly always great stick work by Smith and Stewart would sweep the puck away from them to pull their attempts to score up short. The crowd was almost delirious with excitement as the wonderful defensive tactics of the Montreal players baffled every effort t drive the disc into the net for the tying goal."


Nov 27 1929 Montreal Gazette: Stewart back at C, cited for back checking like a fiend.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Ward and Stewart played bang up games tonight. Big Bels was in on everything and back checked like a fiend."


The Calgary Daily Herald – January 19th said: (pulled from Dreak's bio)

It was a somewhat mild encounter, with the heavy checking of Hooley Smith and Nels Stewart smothering Ottawa attachs in the centre area.​

Feb 12 1930 Montreal Gazette: Stewart was a "COLOSSUS" with noted back checking efforts and great passing.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"Big Nelson Stewart stood out like a colossus last night. He backed checked effectively, fed his mates with passes, and when opportunities were presented him, made no mistakes. Both his goals were characteristic of him. The first Maroon goal of the game was propelled with mighty force in Stewart's quick shot fashion to beat Roach cold. John Ross never moved his stick on a low drive to the corner. Nelson's second goal, Maroon's fourth of the game, saw the big fellow pounce in on his own rebound to toss the puck high into the corner of the net. Stewart's goal getting average rose appreciably higher last night. Besides his two tallies, he gave a pair of assists, one to Seibert and the other to Smith."

"Smith, Stewart, and Siebert came on after about five minutes of the third period had gone, and at once achieved the double task of stemming the desperate Hawks attempts to score and of giving their own team an additional margin of safety by adding a second goal."


Jan 21st 1931: Ottawa Citizen: Stewart and Smith cited for playing well and poke checking many Leaf attacks in a loss
Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search
"Stewart and Smith played well on their poke checking breaking up many a dangerous Leafs attack"


Feb 10 1932 Montreal Gazette: Stewart knocks player out of game with huge hit at center ice. He's 30 by this point.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search
"The game was no pink tea affair, however. The lusty lads on both sides were handing out old fashioned body checks which, on more than one occasion, saw the victim decorate the ice with his prostrate form. Nels Stewart doubled up Wildor Larochelle with a bone rattling body check in center ice in the first period and they helped Wildor off with his feet dragging behind him, no to appear again well until the middle session was well on its way."




Was Nels Stewart a pylon?


Debunking the myth that Stewart was slow as molasses throughout his career. What I've found should certainly change the mindset as he was described as anything but slow, at the very least, throughout his Montreal Maroon days.


Toe Blake flat out refutes the notion/stereotype that Stewart was a slow skater:

The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Beliveau has often been likened to the late Nels Stewart. Toe Blake was asked if Stewart was a slow skater, as has been alleged.

"I've heard that and it wasn't true," he said. "You couldn't catch him from behind. He didn't look to be going fast because he took those long strides. Beliveau is like that, too."

Mar 31 1926: Montreal Gazette: SCF Game 1 Stewart was amazing. Defense, Scoring, Speed. "Rushed through the Victoria players at mid-ice with LONG, SWERVING STROKES". Sounds A LOT like what Toe Blake described above, doesn't it???

Same game: "He tore down right wing"....."Stewart was following in fast on the cage"

Same game: "Traveling like lightning".....lightning is pretty fast

Nov 26th 1927 Ottawa Citizen: Stewart and Siebert noted making a "speedy" rush

Nov 26 1930 Montreal Gazette: Stewart shows great speed and then makes a great drop pass to Siebert who scores. "Sped down center" sounds like he was moving pretty darn fast....

Jan 26 1931 Montreal Gazette: Stewart scores game winner of full length of the ice rush. "Speeding abreast the length of the ice" wouldn't be used to describe a slow skater.

Dec 1st 1933 (Stewart would be 31 years old now, so well past his prime)

Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search

"Nels Stewart appeared with the familiar black cap. He has lost a great deal of his speed, but is still a dangerous customer around the inner defense."

Kind of hard to lose A GREAT DEAL of speed if you didn't already posses it in the first place. Based on all my findings the speed stereotype surely came about from his Boston and NY days, certainly not from his time in Montreal which was his peak and prime.





Nels Stewart's resume on the LW. He's got more than seasons worth of time spent at LW:

52 game reports below with 30 goals scored over that time frame which would be a 47 goal pace over 82 games.


Dec 28th 1927 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 6th 1928 - Stewart at LW (1 goal) - Ottawa citzen cleary says Nels Stewart would be LW while box score Pitt Post Gazette listed him as a sub.
Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 15th 1928 - Stewart LW (2 goals)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Jan 18 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 20 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 27th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 1 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 8th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 11th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 12th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal, 1 assist) - noted as Maroons "huge wing"
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Feb 17th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 22nd 1928 - Stewart LW (2 goals)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 29th 1928 - Stewart noted as Montreal LW
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 2nd 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 7th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 9th 1928 - Steart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 14th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 23rd 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Nov 16th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 assist) - reconstructed assist, clearly described shows Siebert scoring off a pass by Nels
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Nov 18th 1928 - Stewart LW (2 goals)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Nov 21st 1928 - Stewart RW (1 goal) - interesting to see RW. Not sure, could be a typo. Ottawa Citizen just has him listed as wing
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search
Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search

Nov 23rd 1928 - Stewart LW/RW (no stats) - Ottawa paper lists him at LW, Pitt RW
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search
Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search

Nov 28th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal) - Hooley Smith called the Maroons "regular center" - Also, had 2 goals called back to offsides.
Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search

Nov 30th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 2nd 1928 - No editions available. Would be no reason to assume Stewart was anywhere other than wing given his position before and after this date.

Dec 7th 1928 - Stewart LW (2 goals)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 9th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Dec 12th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 14th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)

Dec 16th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Dec 19th 1928 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 21 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 26th 1928 - Stewart LW (?) paper is in bad shape. Can't see who scored but can tell Stewart was LW
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 30th 1928 - Stewart LW (1 goal) - Maroon forwads also noted for strong backchecking effort. Called "strong help to the defense"
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Jan 2 1929 - Stewart LW (3 goals)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 4 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats) - noted poor game/lacksadiscal after a "bad penalty"
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 6 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Jan 9 1929 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 11th 1929 - Stewart LW (1 assist)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 13th 1929 - Stewart RW (no stats)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Jan 18th 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Jan 20th 1929 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Jan 23rd 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats) - noted strong offensively and defensively
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 20th 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats) - noted that he played extremely effective defense
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 22nd 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Feb 24th 1929 - Stewart LW (2 goals)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Feb 27th 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 6th 1929 - Stewart LW (1 goal)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Mar 10th 1929 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search

Nov 19th 1930 - Stewart LW (no stats) - Stewart one of the few Maroon players who showed up well despite being shut out
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Nov 21st 1930 - Stewart LW (no stats)
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Dec 24th 1930 - Stewart C/LW? (2 goals) - Listed in lineup card as C but called big left wing in the game report.
The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Other references of Stewart on the wing: (from Leafs Forever bio in 2011)

Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroon Left Winger, is leading all scorers in either section of the National Hockey League...- The Border Cities Star, Dec 4, 1928

....came off the stick of Stewart, Maroon wingman....-Ottawa Citizen, Jan 28, 1931

Stewart, high scoring left wing of the Montreal Maroons, is now the undisputed scoring leader of the Canadian section of the national hockey league- New York Times, Mar 12, 1929

Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroon left winger, is leading all scorers in either section of the National Hockey League.- The Border Cities Star, Dec 4, 1928

Nels Stewart, high scoring left-wing of the Montreal Maroons, is now the undisputed scoring leader of the Canadian section of the National Hockey league- New York Times, Marc 12, 1929

Nels Stewart, big Montreal Maroon left winger, has been a powerful factor in leading his club in (word cut out) rush from a lowly position to top most position in the National Hockey League race.- The Pittsburgh Press, Dec 7, 1928

Stewart noted as tantalizing stick handler, as well versatile, specifically left wing here:

​

Stewart picked as the first team AS LW

A writer picks his all-star teams for the first half of the 1928-29 season picked Nels Stewart as the first AST LW. Here is what the writer said about him(credit to TDMM for the find):

"a big man, dangerously rough at times, a very hard man to check, and one of the most finished players around the goal. In one game at Montreal I saw Stewart back-check like a most enthusiastic rookie, but after his team had scored two goals, he assumed his careless manner, merely standing around until someone brought the puck up to him... must drive a manager frantic... but when bearing down, he is the best left wing in the game."


​

Odds and ends for Stewart:


Dec 4 1925 Montreal Gazette: Stewart has huge game vs Howie Morenz and the Canadians. Cited for matching Morenz's speed with cleverness and cunning. Goal scoring and passing brilliance.

Maroon forwards noted for bottling up the speed of the Candians before it could get going.

Nels Stewart was the spectacular player of the evening.

Dec 24th 1925 Montreal Gazette: Stewart and Reg Noble figured in continually stopping Pirates attacks.

Jan 13 1926: Stewart has huge game. Bags 4 goals. Highlights of his stickhandling ability.

Jan 20 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart noted for great defense poke checking many attacks away at center ice.

Jan 26 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart steals puck from Simpson and passes out to Broadbent

Feb 10 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart outstanding, great combination work with wings

Feb 19 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart with another brilliant game.

Feb 24 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart called smartest player in pro hockey

Same game: Stewart among multiple Maroon players who thwarted attacks

Same game: Again, Stewart singled out for his back checking efforts

Same game: Stewart called out for his tireless work and defensive contributions

Feb 27, 1926 Montreal Gazette: Stewart, in a loss cited for playing great defense despite being bottled up offensively

Jul 13 1932 Lewiston Daily Sun: Stewart called best inside player in game

Apr 3 1954 The Manitoba Ensign: DAL MacDonald calls Stewart the best scoring center he ever saw

Nov 12 1930 Montreal Gazette: Maroons shut out but Stewart still cited for hard working efforts

Nov 26 1930 Montreal Gazette: Stewart shows great speed and then makes a great drop pass to Siebert who scores

Dec 3 1930 Montreal Gazette: Nels Stewart cited for a nice pass to Hooley Smith who scores.

Dec 26 1930 Montreal Gazette: Stewart and Hooley Smith brilliant combination work nets a goal

Jan 26 1931 Montreal Gazette: Stewart scores game winner of full length of the ice rush. Speed shown and debunks the myth that Stewart couldn't skate or just stood in the slot

Nov 19 1930 Montreal Gazette. Stewart mentioned as showing up well despite Maroons losing 3-0

​

Nov 25 1938 Montreal Gazette: Stewart creates goal due to good fore check

​

View attachment 97649


Dec 19 1938 Montreal Gazette: Stewart noted "coming in fast" scores backhand goal
View attachment 97653


Dec 6 1933 Montreal Gazette: Stewart assist

​

Dec 19 1933 Montreal Gazette: Stewart big game with goal from behind net, using long reach.
View attachment 97669

Dec 3 1930 Montreal Gazette: Stewart makes a nice pass/assist to Hooley Smith who scores

Nov 26th 1927 Ottawa Citizen: Stewart scores a spinning backhander

​

Poor games noted below:

​

Feb 8 1928, Montrela Gazette, Stewart distinctly off, nothing would go right for him but nothing specific mentioned.

Feb 27 1928 Montreal Gazette, Stewart had poor game, Larry Aurie continually leaving him behind on rushes.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Eddie Gerard

General

Montreal Gazette Aug 7, 1937 (Obituary)

GERARD, ONE OF HOCKEY'S ELECT, PLAYED ON 4 STANLEY CUP TEAMS

In the storied days of "ironmen" hockey stars, when only the fittest survived National League battles, Eddie Gerard deserted public school rinks of Ottawa's New Edinburgh district to become one of the greatest defencemen the game has produced.

The husky, broad-shouldered Ottawan played with the famed Ottawa "super-six" and once long enough to establish a record of playing with four successive Stanley Cup victors.

...Gerard was known as a great team player who thought first of the team and last of himself.A tough, fearless defenceman, who received his elementary training at the same place as the Boucher brothers and "little Aurel" Joliat, Gerard could hit with the force of a battering-ram and could rush with the power of a forward.

Though Hockey far from monopolized his sporting life- for he was a noted football player, an outstanding paddler and took an active interest in baseball and cricket- his career on the ice was sludded with feats of courage and skill.

The Ottawa Journal Aug 7, 1937 (Obituary)

EDDIE GERARD, NOTED ATHLETE DIES IN HOSPITAL, AGED 48

[...]

BEST KNOWN AS HOCKEY STAR

One of the finest all=-around athletes ever developed in the Capital, it was as a hockey player that Eddie Gerard gained international fame as one of the greatest defenceman in the game.For a great portion of his playing career, spent entirely as a member of the Ottawas, Gerard captained red, white and black teams.

[...]

WAS GREAT LEADER

Great as he was as a hockey player, Gerard was equally valuable as a leader, and in his capacity of captain he was largely responsible for the glorious hockey chapters written by the "Super-Six."

[...]

As a youngster back in 1906 Gerard was attracting attention as one of the most promising of the younger crop of players in the Capital, and he quickly developed into a top notcher with powerful New Edinburgh teams.

[...]

From that night (his first game) until the end of the 1923 season Gerard performed with Ottawa's professional entry, a brilliant forward at the start, but greater as a defenceman.He teamed up with Sprague Cleghorn as one of the most powerful defence combination of all-time.Later he was paired with another of hockey greats, George "Buck" Boucher, and the two formed one of the tightest defensive cordons in the game.

RECALL SPEED DUELS

A two-way player, Gerard bolstered the Ottawa attack until the day he quit hockey.A stalwart defenceman, steady and dependable against the greatest forwards in the game, he never lost the speed and stickhandling ability which characterized his earlier play as a forward.His speed duels with the late "Didier" Pitre furnished some of hockey's big thrills at the old Dey's Arena on Laurier avenue.

At the coast in Springof 1923 Gerard gave one of the greatest displays of courage of his career,He received a severe shoulder injury in the series with Vancouver, but he refused to retire from the game and stayed with the team to help lift the Stanley Cup by defeating Edmonston Eskimos.

SPORTSMEN PAY TRIBUTE TO EDDIE GERARD

SPRAGUE CLEGHORN

"Eddie Gerard was the ideal type of hockey player," said Sprague Cleghorn."When I played on the defence with him for the Senators and we were winning world championships we were a team that didn't have a coach.We didn't need one.Every man on the team knew how to play his position, and Eddie Gerard knew more than any of us.He was a great puck-carrier, a fine blocking defenceman and he had all the courage in the world.He was a brainy hockey player and a natural leader on the ice.I am more than sorry to learn about Eddie's death."

LEO DANDURAND

"I am more than sorry to learn of it," said Leo Dandurand, when informed of the great hockey player's death."I had the grfeatest admiration for him, first as a hockey player and later as a manager, but I always admired him as a gentleman."

"Eddie Gerard contributed a great deal to hockey.He was a star when the game was a more thrilling and spectacular sport than it ever was before or has been since.He was one of its brilliant performers in its golden era and when he had to give it up the game lost one of its most splendid figures."

"It can be said that he elevated the status of professional hockey player and every man who lives by playing the game owes him a debt.He was a thorough gentleman and he hsowed that professional hockey could be the business of a gentleman.It is a sad and sudden blow t oso many people who had nothing but admiration for him, and I sympathize deeply with his wife and family."

GEORGE BOUCHER

Goerge "Buck" Boucher, for many years a defence mate of Gerard's on the Ottawa Senators' rearguard was deeply touched at the news of Gerard's death.To The Journal Boucher declared:

"I cannot say how sorry I am to hear of Eddie's death.I have played with many athletes in my time, but no finer type than the same Eddie.He was a grand sportsman, not only a great athlete but a born leader.He was as much a coach as he was a player in the best days of the Ottawa Hockey Club.We all followed his advice and profited by his example."

DAVE GILL

Dave Gill, long-time friend and former manager of the Ottawa Senators:

"Eddie Gerard was an inspiration to all young players.He was one of the cleanest living athletes I have ever known.His conduct on and off the ice must always be an example for the younger generation.I am terribly sorry to hear he is done."

DAVE McCANN

Dave McCann. former quarterback of the Ottawa Rough Riders, with whom Gerard played before turning professional with the Senators, said:

"Ottawa has lost a great athlete and gentleman.It is a deep personal loss to me, as we started out in football about the same time, and have been the best of friends ever since.He was one of the finest chaps I have ever met. a man who won friends wherever he played."

CHARLES SNELLING

Charles B. Snelling, lifetime friend and former teammate, was deeply grieved at the news of his passing."We grew up together, and played on the same football and hockey teams.I know of no one who lived up more to the ideals of a genuine athlete and sportsmen than Eddie Gerard."

TOMMIE GORMAN

"I greatly regret the passing of Eddie Gerard," said Tommie Gorman when notified of the deatl of the famous Ottawa hockey and football star.

"Eddie was, without doubt, the greatest and grittiest athlete I have ever handled.In the Ottawa-Edmonton series at Vancouver in March 1923, he gave the grandest exhibition of bravery and pluck that hockey has ever witnessed."

"After defeating Vancouver, we went into the series against Edmonton badly crippled.Cy Denneny and Lionel Hitchman had been badly injured in the playoff game against Canadiens and in the Vancouver series we lost George Boucher and Harry Helman.For the following games against Edmonton, we were left with only seven players-Benedict, Clancy, Hitchman, Gerard, Nighbor, Denneny and Broadbent."

"In the first game with Edmonton Eddie sustained an injury which we were told was a cracked shoulder bone.He refused to retire after being hurt in the second period and finished out the match, his face drawn and in pain.After the match we had several doctors look him over.They found the cracked shoulder bone all right and informed Eddie he must go t oa hospital for treatment and to have the bone reset.Eddie pleaded to be allowed to remain with us and insisted that the operation be deferred.He felt he would be able to assist us in the final game the following Saturday.Ottawa wo nthe first match with Edmonton 2-1 on Cy Denneny's overtime goal.

"They put Eddie's left shoulder in some kind of a cast and told him he must remain in his hotel.Two hours before the final game on that memorable Saturday night, Eddie sent for me and said he was going to play, regardless of what the surgeons said.He made Cosy Dolan cut off the plaster and they bound up the battered shoulder with heavy adhesive tape."

"We started with Frank Clancy and Lionel Hitchman on the defence, but Gerard refused to stay off the ice.At frequent intervals he would shout at Clancy and Hitchman to come off and he would relieve them.George Boucher and I tried to hold him in the third period, but he fought his way out of our arms and back upon the ice.Several times he crached into the boards and had to be helped up.

"Not only did Eddie play magnificient hockey while he was on the ice, but he inspired the team and kept shouting words of encouragement to Nighbor, Broadbent, Denneny and others.It was truly an amazing exhibition of grit and determination.Harr yBroadbent scored for Ottawa in the first period and we won the game of the Stanley Cup by 1 to 0, chiefly due to the remarkable defensive play of Nighbor, Clancy, Hitchman and of course, Eddie Gerard.Eddie collapsed on the Ottawa bench when the whistle finally blew, but recovered quickly and was very cheerful after the match.His first request was that we should wire Mrs.Gerard and tell her he was all right."Also say we won the Stanley Cup", he shouted gleefully.He had to be helped out of his torn and tangled uniform, but he insisted, that he was all right and was perhaps the happiest man in the Ottawa party.Tha twas his last game."

"He was a marvelous all aorund athlete and it was fitting that he hsould have captained an Ottawa team to the Stanley Cup in his final appearence as a player.Eddie was on three of our Stanle yCup teams and it was chiefly due to his efforts that we brought the trophy to Ottawa in 1920, 1921 and 1923.There will never be another like Eddie Gerard."

FRANK CLANCY

Frank "King" Clancy, former defence player with the Ottawa Senators and now with the Maple Leafs, said: "The passing of Eddie Gerard certainly was a great shock to me".

"In his death Ottawa loses one of her greatest hockey stars.Not only was he a great player but a wonderful inspiration to his teammates."

"Any success I may have had as a hockey player is due to my early training under Eddie and Buck Boucher."

"In my estimation they formed one of the greatest defence combinations ever to play in the NHL."

"Through his death I have lost a friend whose actions I have tried to emulate on and off the ice."

HARRY BROADBENT

Harry Broadbent, former right wing star of the famed "Super-Six" and for many years a teammate of Eddie Gerard, was shocked to hear his passing.

"Eddie and I had been through a lot together, and I have yet to see one instance when he was not always a thorough sportsman.His record is well known to all, but he was more than just a fine athlete.Eddie was ag entleman, and one of the finest hockey players with whom I have ever been associated."

FRANK AHEARN

Frank Ahearn, MP, former president of the Ottawa Hockey Club: "It was a privilege to be connected with the club when Eddie Gerard turned professional.He was a much sought after player and from the time he joined the Senators to the time he left them he proved himself a sterling player and gentleman.I know of no one in my hockey experience who so typified the term sportsman.He was one of the greatest players to ever wear the red, white and black, and I am extremely sorry to hear of his passing."

CY DENNENY

Cy Dennyn, left wing star of the Senators who played with Gerard and the Senators in some of their most brilliant victories:

"Everyone in sport will miss Eddie.Throughout his life he was everything that one expects from a great athlete.As a defence man he had few peers and few players have had the privilege of performing with a finer type of athlete.I am deeply grieved to hear of his passing."

CLINT BENEDICT

"The second one to go in a great team, the late Jack Darragh, who could play left or right wing and now Eddie, one of the best defencemen that ever played in front of me.I have yet to see a player who could flip the puck on the end of his stick as Eddie could, it seemed to be a specialty of his own, when circling the nets.I could relax when the puck was on the end of Eddie's stick, knowing it would reach the other end of the rink, when Eddie had it.Believe me when I say I am sorry of his passing."

GERARD'S EXAMPLE

From Tom Clancy, the original "King" Clancy, came the following touching tribute: "I am deeply grieved at the passing of Eddie Gerard.I have known him personally for a good many years, in fact I was connected with the Ottawa Football Club in the capacity of coach when the first began to play the game.I need not enlarge on his success as a half back because he was in the limelight at once.He was, to my mind, as sterling a player as ever wore the red, white and black."

"No words of mine can adequately express his qualities off the field.He was at all times a perfect gentleman and a wonderful example to all young athletes of our city."

"I am deeply sorry at his passing and I know that his loss will be deeply felt by the citizens of Ottawa in general."

HORACE MERRILL

Horace Merrill, prominent Ottawa athlete and fellow member of the Senators with the late Mr.Gerard, paid the following tribute:

"Eddie Gerard was one of the cleanest and whitest men you could meet.He was a perfect gentleman and a wonderful athlete.He never drank nor smoked and always kept himself in good physical condition.He paddled for the crew of which I was captain at the New Edinburgh Club and was in my boat to win three war canoe mile Canadian championships and one half-mile championship.I also worked with Eddie at the Mortimer Company, where he learned his trade, and when I turned pro I wanted Eddie to turn with me.However, he continued to play football and turned a few years later.When he joined the Senators, it was almost a New Edinburgh team, there being at least five old Burgh boys in the lineup.I am very sorry he has passed on.They do not make men any better than Eddie Gerard."

TRIBUTE BY MR.MACKAY

[...]

"Mr.Gerard was a gentleman in the highest and best sence of the term.Christian manliness was his first rule in the game of life and he needed no coach or umpire to remind him of this fact.He was usually a winner in the popular sense of the word but he always won the greater victory of self-control and personal morality.

This was perhaps his greatest contribution to life-a stainless character amidst all the temptations incidental to the kind of life he lived"

[...]

UNSPOILED BY SUCCESS

"His life was unspoiled by success.A lesser character reaping all the honors that came to him could easily generate some undesirable qualities.It has happened often in sport, and in every realm of life.But there was a grandeur of soul in this man that formed the foundation of everything else, so that successes and honors only added to the brightness and genuineness of his personality."

[...]

"A word must be said regarding his religion.He bcame a member of the church in early life and has always held the church and the things for which the church stands in the highest regard."

Maclean Article: It's a Tough Game — by Sprague Cleghorn (January 1st, 1935)

Eddie Gerard. There was a great hockey player. He had everything except robust health. He was fast, he could stick handle, he was afraid of no man living, and—a qualification not always present even in players who make hockey headlines season after season—he had brains. No one had to tell Gerard what to do. He knew it instinctively. Alf Smith, who was smart enough to know when he had a natural on the dice, neverb othered Gerard with instructions.

Eddie would have been in hockey as a player for many more years than he was had it not been for a throat ailment, which was aggravated every time he stepped on the ice.

Legends of Hockey

Rarely in hockey history has a defenseman exhibited as high a level of play and gentlemanly conduct as Eddie Gerard. While playing a position that constantly required physical confrontation, he performed with superior efficiency but in sportsmanlike fashion. Gerard was a fine skater with superior puckhandling capabilities who was a fair match for any adversary at either end of the ice, while his leadership skills made him the ideal captain for the Stanley Cup-winning Ottawa Senators.

[...]

Gerard established himself as a tower of strength on his squad's defense while serving as the team's inspirational heart. He formed an outstanding defensive partnership with George Boucher and was the natural choice for team captain.

[...]

During the 1920 Stanley Cup series against the Seattle Metropolitans, Gerard formed an impenetrable defensive wall with Sprague Cleghorn in his own zone and scored on a dramatic end-to-end rush in the deciding game.

[...]

The Senators didn't fare as well during the 1921-22 schedule, finishing first overall but then falling to Toronto for the NHL championship. Oddly enough, Gerard also found himself competing for the Stanley Cup on behalf of the Toronto St. Patricks. The St. Pats were riddled with injuries during their Cup encounter with the Vancouver Millionaires, so Vancouver manager Lester Patrick agreed to allow the Toronto club to call on any defense player in eastern Canada for the remainder of the series. Gerard was quickly summoned and played a crucial part in the St. Pats' victory in the fourth game of the match-up. In fact, he was so impressive that Patrick balked at allowing Gerard to participate in the fifth and deciding contest.

[...]

Gerard was among the first 12 inductees when the Hockey Hall of Fame was founded in 1945.

Clancy: The King's Story

On the defence we had Eddie Gerard, who started his career as a forward with the Ottawa Vics in 1908.He was one of the youngest players ever to take part in a Stanley Cup series, playing for Vics against Wanderers at the age of 17.By the end of the war he was captain of the Senators, and a wonderful defenceman.I must give full credit to Eddie.He helped me more than any other player I ever knew.

Before I'm finished with this narrative, maybe you'll be thinking that far too often I say this player was great and that player was great; that I build too many pedestals for these stars of the past to stand on.But there's no question about Gerard being a fabulous hockey player.They talk about Doug Harvey and Eddie Shore and one or two other legendary defencemen.Gerard was in that class - a brilliant skater and a fine team man.

I mentioned that he helped me a lot.To start with, I played my first game as a professional in a pair of Eddie Gerard's skates.He gave them to my dad one day and otld him to pass them on to me.Eddie wanted me to get off to a good start in hockey, and what better way to do this than to make sure I was wearing a first-class pair of skates.

I got out on the ice, an 18 year old kid with no experience, and there was Gerard coming over to me to point out one thing and another about the game, giving me all the help he could.I have to say he was a wonderful inspiration to me.It was a dream come true to stand out there on the defence beside the one player who'd been my idol for years.It was Gerard who taught me to skate in a straight line.He told me to take the shortest route to the goal, to go straight up the middle.Eddie was a straightaway hockey player; he never took two strides if he could get there in one.

All-Star Teams

MacLean's 1925 Article Individual Voters

W.A Hewitt - Toronto Star

G: Percy Leseur
D: Hod Stuart
D: Eddie Gerard
C: Newsy Lalonde
RW: George Richardson
LW: Tommy Phillips

Tommy Gorman

G: Georges Vezina
D: Eddie Gerard
D: Sprague Cleghorn
RW: Scott Davidson
C: Frank Nighbor
LW: George Hay

Sandy Hook (?)

G: Percy Leseur
D: Hod Stuart
D: Sprague Cleghorn
RW: Scotty Davidson
C: Russell Bowie
LW: Harry Watson

Also has kind words for F. Fredrickson, T. Phillips, B. Dye. Vezina and E. Gerard

Bruce Boreham - Winnipeg Tribune

G: Georges Vezina
D: Joe Simpson
D: Eddie Gerard
RW: Babe Dye
C: Cyclone Taylor
LW: George Hay

Frank Shaughnessey

G: Clint Benedict
D: Hod Stuart
D: Eddie Gerard
RW: Alf Smith
C: Russell Bowie
LW: Tommy Phillips

-----------------------------------------------------END OF MACLEAN 1925 ARTICLE TEAMS

Defensemen amount of votes

Stuart 8
Cleghorn 6
Gerard 4
Boucher 2
Simpson 2
Grant 1
Pulford 1
Ross 1
M.Johnson 1
Griffis 1
L.Patrick 1

-----------------------------------------------------

Other All-Star teams:

Ardent Fan (1917-1918)

In the February 26, 1918 issue of the Montreal Herald, Elmer Ferguson published the 1917-18 ardent fan All Star Team for the NHL. Little debate was presented.

Goalie - Georges Vezina, Canadiens.
Defencemen - Bert Corbeau, Canadiens and Eddie Gerard Ottawa.
Center - Frank Nighbor Ottawa.
Left Wing - Joe Malone, Canadiens.
Right Wing - Cy Denneny, Ottawa.

Aurel Joliat (1936-1937)

Goalie: Georges Vézina
Defenceman: Eddie Gerard
Defenceman: Sprague Cleghorn
Center: Frank Nighbor
Winger: Didier Pitre
Winger: Jack Laviolette

Comment: ''There's a pair who could stop any attack (Gerard & Cleghorn)''

Red Dutton (1938-1939)

Goalie: Tiny Thompson
RD: Sprague Cleghorn
LD: Eddie Gerard
Cneter: Dick Irvin
RW: Bill Cook
LW: Aurel Joliat

Shorty Green (1943-1944)

Goalie: ?
Defenceman: Sprague Cleghorn
Defenceman: Eddie Gerard
Center: Frank Nighbor
RW: Bill Cook
LW: Aurel Joliat

Fred ''Mickey'' Ion (1943-1944)

Listing 22 players as the all-time greats in hockey:

Georges Vezina
Cyclone Taylor
Howie Morenz
Eddie Shore
Joe Malone
Sprague Cleghorn
Eddie Gerard
Frank Patrick
Art Ross
Jack Walker
Duke Keats
Mickey MacKay
Bill Cook
King Clancy
Nels Stewart
Aurel Joliat
Milt Schmidt
Syl Apps
Ebbie Goodfellow
Dit Clapper
Frank Boucher

Frank Nighbor (1944-1945)

Looked back at the great hockey stars of his era, although not submitting an all-star team he thought a bunch of them stood out.

“When I look back over a period of 20 or 25 years I still think that Newsy Lalonde, Didier Pitre, Jack Laviolette, Sprague Cleghorn, Eddie Gerard, George Boucher, Harry Cameron, King Clancy and my old wingmates, the late Jack Darragh, Cy Denneny and Harry Broadbent were pretty fair hockey players, and that fellow named Clint Benedict and the lad that followed him, Alex Connell, were nice to look at too.”

Tommy Gorman (1947-1948)

Picked his all-time best team.

Goalie: Clint Benedict
Defenceman: Sprague Cleghorn
Defenceman: George Boucher
Defenceman: Eddie Gerard
Center: Frank Nighbor
Wings: Jack Darragh & Charlie Conacher

Aurel Joliat (1948-1949)

Also see 1936/37

He was very critical towards the NHL as a business.

He listed the greatest players he ever performed with or against as:

Goalies

Georges Vezina
George Hainsworth

Defencemen

Sprague Cleghorn
Eddie Gerard
George (Buck) Boucher
Ching Johnson
Eddie Shore

Forwards

Howie Morenz
Bill Cook

Hap Day (1948-1949)

Picked his all-time team (labeled prior 1926), only his defencemen were mentioned.

Defenceman: Georges Boucher & Eddie Gerard

Defenceman: Sprague Cleghorn & Lester Patrick

Cyclone Taylor (February 19156)

Tiny Thompson, goal.
Eddie Shore and Eddie Gerard, defense.
Howie Morenz, Syl Apps and Bill Cook, his forward line.

Foster Hewitt (1961)

G: Charlie Gardiner
D: Eddie Shore
D: Eddie Gerard
LW: Ted Lindsay
C: Howie Morenz
RW: Maurice Richard

Ace Bailey (1968-1969)

Commented on the best defenceman he ever saw.

“I’d say [Eddie] Shore was the best of all defencemen, except for one other. He was next to one Ottawa player. I mean the late Eddie Gerard. I put Gerard as tops, and Shore nex tto him.”

Jim Coleman (1979)

Top 10

Howie Morenz
Eddie Shore
Gordon Howe
Maurice Richard
Bobby Orr
Bobby Hull
Jean Beliveau
Milt Schmidt
Dit Clapper
Eddie Gerard

About Gerard: One must accept the opinion of King Clancy and historian Charles L. Coleman who insist Gerard was the best.Clancy said Wednesday: "You can put Gerard's name at the very top of your list."

***overpass commentary on All-Star Teams***

At the end of Vol. 1 of The Trail of the Stanley Cup the author, Charles L. Coleman, selected his all-star team for 1893-1926.

D: Harry Cameron, Sprague Cleghorn, Eddie Gerard, and Ernie Johnson

He selected Sprague Cleghorn and Ernie Johnson.

Gerard was also among the inaugural class of 12 players inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945.

Taking a critical eye to the opinions above:

I'd put the least weight on Dutton's opinion. He was a very good friend of Gerard and gave the eulogy at Gerard's funeral.

The great hockey writer Jim Coleman admits he didn't see Gerard play, he's taking the word of Clancy and historian Charles Coleman. It probably means something that he bought what they were saying.

Cyclone Taylor, Shorty Green, and Foster Hewitt would all be independent sources who saw Gerard play.

Gorman and Cleghorn were being quoted just after Gerard's death, so take that into consideration.

Finally, it's also worth emphasizing Gerard's experience in the 1922 Stanley Cup Final, when Toronto was given the choice of any defenseman in hockey to replace the injured Harry Cameron in Game 4, and chose Gerard. Gerard played so well that Vancouver refused to allow him to play in Game 5.

end of overpass commentary

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Game Descriptions

I went through many game descriptions and transcripted the passages I thought were relevent.

1913-1914

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 27, 1914 ***PROFESSIONAL DEBUT***

EDDIE GERARD SIGNS OTTAWA CONTRACT AT REGULAR N.H.A. SALARY

Eddie Gerard signed a contract to-day with the Ottawa Hockey Club and will be with the party which leaves for Quebec by the G.T.R. this afternoon.

LARGEST CONTRACT FOR SOME TIME

The New Edinburgh star received his offer yesterday from Coach Alf. Smith and Business Manager Frank Shaughnessy, and he had a long conference with the Ottawa club men, finally agreeing to take the plunge providing things could be arranged with the chief of his department in the Civil Service.

Gerard had a confab last night with a prominent New Edinburgh man, telling him the amount of the offer and asking for advice.''You'd be foolish not to take it,''he was advised.He will come in at the regular salary for the season.It is a big wrench to get Gerard away from the New Edinburgh, for which club he has paddled and played hockey since his entry into the two sports.

Gerard will probably play on the right wing or will be used with Ronan at center.

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 28, 1914

LITTLE DOUBT THAT EDDIE GERARD WILL MAKE GOOD WITH EASE IN THE N.H.A.

The acquisition of Eddie Gerard by the Ottawas rounds out what looks the best team to play in the N.H.A. for a good many years.The Ottawas now have easily the best forward line in the league...

[...]

Gerard will get his first taste of pro hockey tonight in the Quebec game, but there is hardly a fan who does not believe that the New Edinburgh amateur star will shine in the N.H.A. as he did in the Inter-provincial.Although playing with and against some good men in the amateur league, Gerard was out of his class, and probably only played the game of which he is capable a few times, when forced to cut loose.Lately he has had no real opposition, and is probably not in as good condition as the Ottawas players, who have been travelling at top speed since the NHA opened.

1914-1915

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 7, 1915 (4-2 W vs. Canadiens)

Position: F/D?

GERARD AND DARRAGH WERE IN FINE FORM

GERARD CAME BACK

Eddie Gerard proved the pick of the team in the first period, and it was mainly through his terrific speed that the Sneators were able to assume such a good lead.He dished up the best hockey he has contributed since his jump into the N.A.A., and it looked as if he had arrived.He outskated the fastest of the Frenchmen time and time again.

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 14, 1915 (3-5 L vs. Ontarios)

Position: C

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 15, 1915

EDDIE GERARD WILL GO TO ONE OF THE WINGS, CAPT. DARRAGH IN A BAD WAY.

If Darragh plays, Eddie Gerard will start out at right wing.

Notes: Eddie Gerard's specialty when he was an amateur was to carry the puck to the opposing nets and transfer it to the centre man for a score.If Eddie plays on the wing and Duford at center, they ought to be able to work this tomorrow.

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 16, 1915 (upcoming game)

Position: RW

Coach's Smith's idea of putting Eddie Gerard to watch Gordon Roberts is a good one.Eddie is just the boy for the job.

Notes: Eddie Gerard looks and feels more at home along theb oards.Eddie has barrels of speed.

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 21, 1915 (3-1 W vs. Canadiens)

Position: LW

Shore and Merill on the defence, Duford at center, Broadbent and Gerard on the wings.

Gerard and Broadbent were doing such fine work on the wings that Coach Smith decided to give them free reign, and they were on the ice for the whole evening.

Soon after the commencement of play in this period, Lowrey came on.Gerard met him with a terrific body check, that knocked the former Shamrock player out for fair.

STAR PLAYERS

Eddie Gerard, Harry Broadbent and Horace Merill were the particularly noticeable stars for the Senators.Gerard showed more consistent speed than any man on the ice.He figured at left wing, and played the boards to perfection, as well as checking back in great style.

Very few of the visitors had anything on Eddie Gerard in the way pof speed.The Burgh boy had lots of pop in him last night.

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 25, 1915 (2-4 L vs. Toronto)

Position: W

Gerard was the first man penalized, beign sent to the side for bodying Cameron into the boards.

Broadbent arose to the occasion when he neeted the puck awat up in the corner on a side shot from Gerard's corner pass.

Duford failed to do anything, while Darragh and Gerard seemed to fail in the last period.

The Ottawa Journal - Jan 28, 1915 (7-2 W vs. Quebec)

Position: LW

After the first period, Eddie Gerard, who is suffering from a "charley horse", went off, and his place was taken by Duford.

Gerard and Darragh went down together.Darragh slipped it across to Gerard, who returned it back to Darragh, the captain going right in on top of Moran and flipping the disc into the corner of the net.

Notes: Shore and Merrill were steady and effective, while Gerard was going good until his leg started to trouble him.

The Ottawa Journal - Feb 1st, 1915 (3-1 W vs. Quebec)

JOE HALL CUT LOOSE WITH CONTEMPTIBLE ATTACK ON EDDIE GERARD, WHO HAD THREE TEETH KNOCKED OUT

During the first period, Quebec played dirty, rotten hockey.Words to describe the way they played would not be allowed to appear in print.It was a shame.Eddie Gerard, the cleanest of the Ottawa squad, had three teeth knocked out by a deliberate blow from Joe Hall's stick.

Gerard had just got on the ice, and had not been near Hall, which give the Quebec man no provocation to smash the New Edinburgh boy.

Hall was not even ruled off, while Gerard was helped off the ice, Graham going in his place.

The Ottawa Journal - Feb 8, 1915 (1-8 L vs. Wanderers)

Position: LW

Eddie Gerard was again injured.During the first period, he was accidentally hit in the mouth, and had one of his new teeth loosened.

The Ottawa Journal - Feb 11, 1915 (6-2 W vs. Shamrocks)

Position: W

SHORE PLAYED A GOOD DEFENSIVE GAME, WHILE BROADBENT AND GERARD WERE ALSO GOOD

Gerard intercepted a pass, went down the boards and took a shot.

The Ottawa Journal - Feb 15, 1915 (5-3 W vs. Canadiens)

Position: LW/D

GERARD, GRAHAM AND BROADBENT UNCORKED SOME GRAND TEAM WORK WHICH SHOULD BE A FEATURE OF THEIR WORK IN THE REMAINING GAMES

Graham played good hockey, as did also Eddie Gerard.Eddie always displays speed against the Frenchmen, and last night was no exception.He failed t oscore, but gave Graham a pass all the way across the ice for the prettiest goal of the night.

Gerard took the puck down the right wing from behind his own net and passed all the way across to Graham (same play).

Gerard had a nice wing shot, but hit Vezina with the puck.

Didier Pityre was the only forward to play the whole game, and Eddie Gerard watched him like a cat watches a mouse.

Bawlf replaced Berlanquette, and Shore was given a rest, Gerard dropping back to the defence.

Notes: Eddie Gerard came back t oform.He outskated Pitre at times, and held the Canad wing man nailed to the fence.

The Ottawa Journal - Feb 22, 1915 (1-5 L vs. Wanderers)

Position: LW

In the first period, Broadbent and Gerard played good hockey, getting the man as often as the ycould.GGerard failed in the second and third, and Broadbent was the only man who was effective against his opponents.

Gerard, Graham and Hyland each had three minors to their discredit.

The Ottawa Journal - Mar 9, 1915

EDDIE GERARD WAS MOST UNSELFISH PLAYER OF THE OTTAWA HOCKEY TEAM

Eddie Gerard, the fast left wing player of the Ottawa Hockey Team, leads the Ootawa players as being the most unselfish, or in other words, he has ten assists to his credit during the season.

Passing the puck when in on the goals has always been Gerard's hobby in hockey, so to speak.When he was an amateur, he did nothing else but pass the puck to the centre man.Besides this, however, Gerard found time to score nine goals.

1914-1915 PLAYOFFS

OTTAWA SENATORS VS. MONTREAL WANDERERS

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 11, 1915 (4-0 W vs. Wanderers)

Position: LW

BROADBENT, GERARD AND ROSS WERE OTTAWA'S INDIVIDUAL STARS

Both Broadbent and Gerard played in splendid form, and there were many who thought Gerard displayed his best performance of the year.The New Edinburgh boy had it over his cover, Odie Cleghorn, at the start, but the Wanderer man played on the defence most of the evening.

Gerard tripped Odie Cleghorn and was ruled off.

After dashing up and down the ice continually, Eddie Gerard flew signals of disstress, and coach Smith sent Graham on.

Hyland tried to cross check Gerard, who sent the Wanderer man sprawling all over the ice.

Gerard brought the puck out from behind the nets, and lost it in the middle of the ice.

Game 2: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 15, 1915 (0-1 L vs. Wanderers, OTT wins series)

Position: D (written LW, but clearly D by description of tactic)

OTTAWAS BROUGHT STANLEY CUP BACK SATURDAY HOLDING WANDERERS TO A 1-0 SCORE IN HARD GAME

Eddie Gerard's work was a feature.

The Ottawas are 1915 N.H.A. Champions

PLAYED DEFENSIVE GAME: Acting under the instructions of Coach Alf Smith, the Ottawas played three men on the defence.They were Ross, Merrill and Gerard, and with them spread across the ice, the Wanderer forwards were unable to do a thing.

GERARD WAS GOOD: Eddie Gerard was one of Ottawas' bright particular stars.Playing on the defence, Eddie broke away time and time again, outskating his opponents and taking as well as delivering a lot of punishment.

NUMEROUS PENALTIES: Harry Hyland picked out Eddie Gerard as his target for rough work, but in the third period, when HYland deliberately held on to Horace Merrill's stick, the Ottawa defence man got to the Wanderer captain with the butt end on the side of the head.

1915 Stanley Cup Finals

OTTAWA SENATORS VS. VANCOUVER MILLIONAIRES

The Ottawa Journal - Mar 22, 1915

Ken Mallen is fast, but Eddie Gerard should compare favourably with the former Ottawa sub.The New Edinburgh boy is a better stickhandler unless Mallen has learnt a lot since he was with Ottawa.

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 23, 1915 (2-6 L vs. Vancouver Millionaires)

Position: Rover

EDDIE GERARD AND FRED TAYLOR HAD A GREAT BATTLE

Game 2: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 25, 1915 (3-8 L vs. Vancouver Millionaires)

Position: W

Gerard backchecked in grand styleand had Mackay bottled up.

Gerard faking a drive and snapping it over to his team-mate.

Gerard drew his second penalty for slashing Mackay.

Game 3: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 27, 1915 (3-12 L vs. Vancouver Millionaires, Vancouver wins Stanley Cup)

Position: Rover

Gerard tied up the score 2-2 in the 1st period.

Gerard and Broadbent tried hard in spots, but their efforts were nullified by close checking.

1915-1916

need work

1916-1917

need work

1917-1918

need work

1918-1919

need work

1919-1920

Game #1: The Ottawa Journal - Dec 24, 1919 (3-0 W vs. TOR)

Position: Cover Point

THE OTTAWA DEFENCE OF BENEDICT, CLEGHORN AND GERARD TURNED IN A CLEAR SHEET AT THE END OF THE SESSION.

Cleghorn and Gerard couldn't have been improved upon and George Boucher showed flashes pf nice stick work.

Game #2: The Ottawa Journal - Dec 29, 1920 (2-0 W vs. HABS)

Position: Cover Point

Cleghorn and Gerard continued their clever work.

Game #3: The Ottawa Journal - Jan 2, 1920 (3-2 W vs. QB)

Position: Cover Point

Game #4: The Ottawa Journal - Jan 5, 1920 (3-4 L vs. TOR)

Position: D

Game #5: The Ottawa Journal - Jan 8, 1920 (4-3 W vs. HABS)

Position: Point

Cleghorn and Gerard were particularly effective on the defence and...

Game #6 - The Ottawa Journal - Jan 12, 1920 (7-1 W vs. QB)

Position: Point

On the defensive, Gerard and Cleghorn overshadowed Mummery, Carpenter and Ritchie.

Gerard, with his rushes that reminded one of Cyclone Taylor, was up and down like a tornado.

Gerard and Cleghorn were all over the ice.

Note: Eddie Gerard scored his first goal of the year.He foozled(?) a number of drives during the night.Eddie was going like an express train and is one of the fastest of them all.

Game #7 - The Ottawa Journal - Jan 15, 1920 (2-1 W vs. QB)

Position: Cover Point

Gerard played about the best game for the winners, although Nighbor was always on the job.

Game #8 - The Ottawa Journal - Jan 19, 1922 (2-3 L vs. HABS)

Position: Point

Game Notes: Gerard was great

Game #9: The Ottawa Journal - Jan 22, 1920 (12-1 W vs. QC)

Position: Cover Point

Gerard was no less backward and tore up and down with the puck in tow.While he didn't score, Gerard was responsible for a number of points and was going as fast at the finish as at the start.

Game #10: The Ottawa Journal - Jan 26, 1920 (3-5 L vs. TOR)

Position: Cover Point

Cleghorn was the outstanding star of the team.[...] Gerard was a close second.

Game #11: The Ottawa Journal - Jan 29, 1920 (7-0 W vs. TOR)

Position: Cover Point

GERARD SCORES FIRST

Gerard kept up a series of rushes throughout the session and started the scoring carnival when he dashed through a wide open defence for Ottawas first goal.Boucher has been referred to.

Eddie Gerard broke away on a cyclonic dash and evaded Randall and Prodgers.He scored in two minutes.

Toronto couldn't penetrate the Ottawa defence.Gerard came through center and rocked Mitchell.

Game #12 - The Ottawa Journal - Feb 2, 1920 (10-3 W vs. HABS)

Position: Point

Darragh, Nighbor and Gerard all played great hockey.Gerard was a regular bear (?) at the defence.

Gerard made another rush and decided to raise his average a bit,He went alone and placed ab eauty past Vezina.

Game #13: The Ottawa Journal - Feb 5, 1920 (5-0 W vs. QB)

Position: Point

Carey and Mummery then went down the ice together, and a goal looked certain, but Gerard managed to get the disc out of danger.

For the winners, Cleghorn and Broadbent were about the best, though Darragh, Gerard and Nighbor worked hard.Boucher was on the ice for only a few minutes as was Denneny.

Game #14 - The Ottawa Journal - Feb 9, 1920 (3-4 L vs. TOR)

Position: Unknown

Matte took a wallop at Gerard in the third period and flattened Eddie against the board.It was an unexpected attack.George Boucher steamed up and crashed Matte for the count.While they were exchanging pleasentries on the side preparatory to going over the side, Goldie Prodgers chimed in.

Game #15 - The Ottawa Journal - Feb 12, 1920 (4-3 W vs. HABS)

Did not play

EDDIE GERARD UNABLE TO PLAY OWING TO FAMILY ILLNESS

WEAKENED BY THE LOSS OF EDDIE GERARD, WHICH WAS HARDLY EQUALIZED BY THE ABSENCE OF ARBOUR ON THE CANADIAN ATTACK, THE SENATORS WERE HANDICAPPED FROM THE START.MRS. GERARD IS SERIOUSLY ILL, AND EDDIE WAS UNABLE TO PLAY.

Game #16 - The Ottawa Journal - Feb 16, 1920 (3-2 OT W vs. HABS)

Did not play

Game #17 - The Ottawa Journal - Feb 19, 1920 (9-3 W vs. QC)

Position: D (only played five minutes)

The crowd was given a surprise when Eddie Gerard skated out.He was given a great ovation.Gerard went off when Boucher's penalty expired.

Game #18: The Ottawa Journal - Feb 23, 1920 (4-3 W vs. TOR)

Did not play.

Game #19 - The Ottawa Journal - Feb 26, 1920 (6-3 W vs. HABS)

Position: Sub

Eddie Gerard played back in his old position for over a period.He scored a dandy goal and was right in the thick of the play.

Game #20: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 1, 1920 (1-0 W vs. TOR)

Position: Sub

WONDERFUL DEFENCE: Gerard, Cleghorn and Boucher played a remarkable defensive game.

Note: Eddie Gerard didn't suffer any from his lay off of several weeks.His great rushing and speed had Toronto dizzy several times.

Game #21: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 4, 1920 (7-4 W vs. TOR)

Position: Cover Point

OTTAWAS ALL GOOD: Gerard did some wonderful rushing and outdistanced the Toronto defence time and time again.His reward was a goal which he picked just near the end of the game.

Gerard ran Noble into the corners.

Game #22: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 8, 1920 (4-3 W vs. HABS)

Position: Cover Point

Game #23: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 9, 1920 (11-6 W vs. QB)

Position: Cover Point

Eddie Gerard seemed to take the matter as an affront.He started a wild dash down centre and whipped a goal past Mummery before the latter could pull himself together.He took another notion half a minute afterward and scored again.Not satisfied with having punctured Mumm's reputation he tore through again and passed to Denneny, who scored.Quebec seemed a bit dazed and Mummery lost his dignity as the Ottawas started to pile in on top of him.

GERARD A WHIRLWIND :Gerard, Nighbor and Denneny each had three goals.[...] Eddie Gerard dashed around like a dervish(?).Eddie was out for altitude and between rushing, scoring and passing, had a giddy evening.

Game #24: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 11, 1920 (4-10 L vs. QB)

Position: Cover Point

1920 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 23, 1920 (3-2 W vs. Seattle)

Position: D

A beautiful attack by Georges Boucher six minutes later saw him crowded to the rail by Rowe.He made a deft pass that was caught by Gerard.The latter steadied himself and drove a liner that bounced off Holmes' pads, and Darragh, sweeping in like an express train, slapped the puck into the corner of the net.

Gerard and Cleghorn on the defence kept up constant series of rushes and ysed the body with telling effect.The pair gradually wore down the Seattle forwards who were limping around exhausted by the time the third period was well under way.

Gerard made a dash but was halted by Rickey.

Gerard made a great rush and Holmes stood off his drive.He came down again and batted a hard one that grazed the goal post.

Gerard saved a tight situation.

Game 2 (3-0 Ottawa) - Ottawa Citizen Mar 25, 1920

Position: Cover Point

PCHA Rules (seven men, forward pass)

Eddie Gerard drew a penalty in the second period for jumping into one of his opponent, and for three minutes Ottawa played a man short.

Benedict, Cleghorn, Boucher and Darragh played the entire sixty minutes, while Gerard was only off for his three minutes rest (penalty), Denneny and Broadbent alternating on the wing.

Gerard divided the individual honors with Boucher (the latter being the star of the game), and his rush, which netted Ottawa's second goal in the final period was perhaps the prettiest of the night.Gerard swooped down the center and shot from outside Rowe and Rickey, the puck landing in the nets behind Holmes.

Riley fooled Nighbor and Gerard but Benedict knocked down his drive.

Rowe flashed down and transferred to Morris who was knocked off his pins by Gerard.

Game 3: The Ottawa Journal Mar 29, 1920 (1-3 L vs. Seattle)

Position: Point

It was simply an off night for the Senators, and something that happened to the best of teams.[...] Gerard and Cleghorn played heady games on the defensive.

Gerard and Cleghorn worked hard to come through, but found it hard to hold the puck in the going.The ice while better than from previous games, was very sticky, and slush soon formed on the surface.

Gerard worked hard and was through several times close to goals, but Rickey and Rowe backed in close and stopped his efforts.

Gerard and Cleghonr saved cleverly in turn when Riley came through.

Sprague and Eddie were through but Holmes picked Gerard's shot off in clever style.

Gerard and Cleghorn made some unsuccessful sorties and had to resort to long range shooting which was easy picking for Holmes who was in rare form.

Game 4: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 31, 1920 (2-5 L vs. Seattle)

Position: Point

For the Senators, all seemed to be below par with Gerard and Cleghorn best.The line never got going and couldn't work any system.Individual rushes by Boucher, Darragh and Denneny usually fell short.

Gerard made the first rush when he intercepted a pass meant for Riley.The checking was very close, and both defence held well.Gerard broke clear, and had the first shot, which was wide by inches.

Game 5: The Ottawa Journal - Apr 2, 1920 (6-1 W vs. Seattle, Ottawa wins Stanley Cup)

Position: RD

WHEN EDDIE GERARD RUSHED IN THE LAST FRAME AND BEAT HOLMES FOR OTTAWA'S THIRD GOAL HE SETTLED THE GAME.

Cleghorn and Gerard worked body and stick with telling effect.

Gerard stopped Riley and saved an almost certain goal.He took a trip to the penalty box for it.

Walker rushed but Gerard relieved.

Riley made a great rush, but Gerard chased him to the corner.

Gerard scored on a great rush in five minutes.

1920-1921

Ottawa Citizen Dec 30, 1920

Position: D

Benedict played extremely good hockey for Ottawa and was ably supported by Cleghorn and Gerard, who formed an admirable defence.

Ottawa Citizen Jan 4, 1921

Position: Cover Point

The game convinced even the most skeptical that even without Cleghorn and Broadbent, the Ottawas are well (?) incredible and it also served to demonstrate that Manager Green and Eddie Gerard have not been wasting time or energy in schooling Meckell, Bruce and Graham.These youngsters arose in the pinch and (?) themselves with glory.

Boucher played a grand game on the Ottawa defence and Gerard was (?) spectacular and effective throughout.Once, in the third period, Geard raced after Pitre, over(?) the Canadien cyclone near the Ottaea nets, deprived him of the puck and rushed it back to the other end of the rink, where he almost scored, while the crowd went wild in delight.

Ottawa Citizen Jan 7, 1921

Position: D

Joe Malone slipped inside the Ottawa line and dodged aorund behind Gerard, after which he circled to the front of the nets and slapped one passed Benedict's guard.

Ottawa continued to outplay the home club and though Joe Malone led his team mates to many brillant attacks, the Gerard-Boucher defence proved invincible and Benedict had comparatively little to do.

Benedict, Boucher and Gerard were always effective on the defence.

Ottawa appeared to improved as the game wore on, though both Gerard and Boucher received hard bumps, both were going like wildfire at the finish.

Ottawa Citizen Jan 13, 1921

Position: Cover Point

...the last goal of the night fell to Capt Eddie Gerard, who accepted a pretty pass from Frank Nighbor and scored, while off his balance.

Darragh, of course, stood out as the brilliant inidivudal hero of the big struggle, but Gerard, Boucher, Nighbor and Denneny shared his glory.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 3, 1921

Position: D

...Cy Denneny rushed with Eddie Gerard and slapped the puck into Toronto's net.

Benedict was very good in the goal, and the Boucher-Gerard defence stood out brilliantly, as usual.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 10, 1921

Position: Cover Point

...they were unequal to the task of holding the apparently invincible Senators, and they had to bow before the wonderful speed and stickwork of Eddie Gerard and company.

Ottawa continued the offensive and in four minutes Eddie Gerard rushed alone and crashed in a shot, which carommed off Lockhart's body into the goal, leaving it 4-0.

Just before the play ended, Gerard slipped through again and scored a beautiful goal, making it 7 to 4(?).

Boucher and Gerard were very effective and both Ottawa defence men figured in the scoring as usual.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 17, 1921

Position: D

Gerard almost scored for the Senators from close in...

Gerard drew the first penalty of the night for slashing Cameron over the shoulder

Ottawa Citizen Mar 3, 1921

Position: D

Gerard, Denneny and Benedict were Ottawa's best, though Broadbenmt put a lot of aggressiveness into his play.

Darragh and Gerard both reinforced the Ottawa line in the closing minutes of the match, but Toronto kept the extra man back on defense and resisted all the efforts.

1920-1921 PLAYOFFS

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 11, 1921 (5-0 W vs. TOR)

Position: D

Game Notes: Eddie Gerard showed amazing speed in the dull going.He generallel his players well, and his puck-carrying was a revelation.Gerard never stopped trying, and kept up a constant chatter of encouragement to his mates.

Game 2: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 15, 1921 (2-0 W vs. TOR)

Position: D

Ottawas started a demonstration when Gerard sent a long shot hurtling into the net after 51 minutes' play.That sealed the fate of the Saints.

Game Notes: Both teams played defensively for the greater part of the game.Gerard was forced to rest for a spell.He played one of the greatest games of his career.

Ottawa Citizen Mar 16, 1921

GIVE GERARD CREDIT

Members of the Ottawa party say that Monday's game at Toronto was one of the hardest they have ever been through.They give credit to Forbes and Cameron for the good fight Toronto put up, but say all the ''breaks'' were favorable to the St. Patricks club.Eddie Gerard, according to the Ottawa officers, played the greatest game of his career.He was up and down the ice and on two different occasions he staggered over to the Ottawa bench to rest.Each time, however, Ottawa drew a penalty and Gerard fought back his way out of Green's arms and back upon the ice.He rushed and rushed until it looked as though he would fall exhausted, but he finally broke through and beat Forbes with a shot that carried with it the National League Championship.''I guess we go to the coast, follows(?)'' mumbled Gerard when he reached the Ottawa bench.Georges Boucher was at the party bench at the time and when Gerard scored Boucher broke down and cried.Toronto (?) said that they had never seen anything to excel Gerard's performance.

1921 Stanley Cup Finals

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 22, 1921 (1-3 L vs. VAN)

Gerard and Darragh made a brilliant combination play from end to end, but Lehman the invincible made a great save.

Gerard, Nighbor and Denneny were conspicuous for Ottawa.

Notes: Thousands went frantic as Gerard tried all his craft to break through and beat Lehman.Ottawas were shooting from outside the defence as they swept in in their final rushes.

Game 1 (Extra): Vancouver Daily World - Mar 22, 1921 (1-3 L vs. VAN)

Position: D

The (Ottawa) defenders checked hard, and many times brought the Vancouver forwards down when they were about to make a shot which might have scored.

Jack Adamas and Harris went away with some pretty combination but the attack was broken up by Gerard.

Game 2: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 25, 1921 (4-3 W vs. VAN)

Position: Cover Point

Gerard was constantly breaking away from his defence position where he intercepted the home club's rushes and showed he could attack as well as defend.

Under Picture: EDDIE GERARD, the captain, whose work in the second game was fine.

Game Notes: The playing of Gerard was an inspiration to his teammates.From the disastrous start he refused to concede defeat and huried himself up on the line playing like a superman.When Darragh tied up the score Gerard gave him an encouraging pat on the back.

Game Notes: The work of Sprague Cleghorn was outstanding [...] His perfect defence work wit hGerard held Mackay, Harris and Adams bottled up.

Game 2 (Extra): Vancouver Daily World - Mar 25, 1921 (4-3 W vs. VAN)

Position: D

Duncan was away again and learly scored, Gerard just reaching the puck in time.

Game 3: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 28, 1921 (3-2 W vs. VAN)

Position: D

Denneny and Cleghorn were both playing splendid game, while Gerard was keeping his team on the attack by his brilliant work in breaking up attacks by the Vancouver squad and turning them the reverse.

One of the feature of this period was the offensive rushes of Eddie Gerard.

...shot on Benedict, who fell in clearing.Gerard grabbed the loose puck, and went the lenght of the ice, shooting wickedly on Lehman.

Desireau and Gerard mixed in a bit of slugging and were chased for three minutes each.

GREAT DEFENSIVE: Ottawa usually relieved by sending one man on a lone expedition.Gerard usually acted as puck carrier and his great dashes kept the fans tense through the period.

Game Notes: Gerard played one of his cyclonic games.Desireau hooked and jabbed him a lot but Gerard refused to retaliate but finally took a jab at the sub and accompanied him to the penalty bench.

Game 3 (Extra): Vancouver Daily World - Mar 28, 1921 (3-2 W vs. VAN)

Position: D

Gerard was showing great speed

(Many repetition from Ottawa Journal, see above)

Game 4: The Ottawa Journal - Apr 1st, 1921 (2-3 L vs. VAN)

Position: D

Gerard, Ottawa captain, was given three penalties.

The two wing men exhibited an amazing speed in their back-checking and Gerard, with a continual smile, played as much of a forward game as any of his team.

As Duncan skated into the Ottawa area he was checked by Gerard who went through as far as the Millionaire's blue line when he was checked by Mackay.

There was little to choose betwee nthe teams in the first period.Ottawa seemed more confident in their playing.They packed round their goal when danger threatened and Gerard was usually called on to bring the rubber out of danger.

Game 4: Vancouver Daily World - Apr 1st, 1921 (2-3 L vs. VAN)

Position: D

Gerard played a hard game for the Senators, but his work was spoiled by the fact that he had to spend nine minutes on the bench.

Jack Adams and Gerard got into a slight fist argument, and both were benched.

Game 5: The Ottawa Journal - Apr 5, 1921 (2-1 W vs. VAN, Ottawa wins Stanley Cup)

Position: Point

The last period was by far the worst ever seen on the local ice, and with three minutes to go it looked as if the game was going ot be ruined when there was a free fight, practically all the players either using their sticks or fists, or trying to separate the combatants.The prize fight, Vancouver fans declare, started when Gerard pushed Cook, not very hard, but the Millionaires captain turned around and slashed at his opposing captain and nearly caught him over the head.Gerard immediately went back at his man.

Once again Gerard took the lead in penalties being forced to occupy the bench on six occasions.

Gerard played a great game, had it not been for his unecessarily strenuous tactics.

"Smiling" Gerard took two penalties...

Benedict, supported by Gerard and Cleghorn, kept the home team out until the sixteenth minute.

Gerard grabbed the lost rubber and pulled off one of his lightning rushes, but passed to Nighbor at center...

Mackay broke through several times only to fall victim to Gerard's hook check.

Game Notes: Eddie Gerard blossomed out as a bad man.Four penalties in, the first two periods fell to the lot of the Ottawa captain.

Game Notes: Senators felt very bitter toward Mickey Ion.They claimed that every move made by Gerard was the cause of his being chased to the bench.

Game 5: Vancouver Daily World - Apr 5, 1921 (2-1 W vs. VAN, Ottawa wins Stanley Cup)

Position: D

Game 5: Ottawa Citizen Apr 5, 1921 (2-1 W vs. VAN, Ottawa wins Stanley Cup)

OTTAWA RETAINS WORLD'S HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP

...while Gerard and Cleghorn were in grand fettle on the defence.Gerard was given no fewer than five penalties and he got, in addition, a terrific panning from the crowd, but the Ottawa captain took it all with a smile and was one of the fastest men on the ice.

Memorable scenes were enacted in the huge concrete arena when the bell finally rang out to end the suspense, but in the dying moments of the match, a free fight broke out and the police were on the ice for the first time during the series.Eddie Gerard, who had been made a target for the Vancouver criticisms, stopped Cook with a body check.They clashed and Cook struck at the Ottawa captain savagely.Sprague Cleghorn, rushing into the melee, knowcked Cook head over heels with a swing to the jaw.Duncan rushed up and cut Boucher accross the head, flooring the Ottawa player, and Denneny and Harris got into it.

1921-1922

Ottawa Citizen Jan 12, 1922

Position: D

Roach (?)ed a drive from Gerard and Cy Denneny (?)(?)ed to have him beaten.

...Gerard rushed...

...Toronto goaler then made a great stop off Gerard's drive from the wing.

Eddie Gerard rushed and rammed two shots in succession at the Toronto net but no harm came of his efforts.

Gerard rushed amd passed to Broadbent

Clancy was in every play and finally took Eddie Gerard's pass from the corner to beat Roach in three minutes.

Game Notes

The speed exhibited by Captain Eddie Gerard was a treat to gaze upon.The cap'n is at the top of his form, and demonstrating every game that he is in the highest flight of hockey speed merchants.He is also playing the best hockey of his long and honorable career.

The Gerard-Boucher defence had it on ''Red'' Stuart and Cameron.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 2, 1922

Position: D

Eddie Gerard has four stitches in his head.

Broadbent made two trips to the cooler and Bell and Gerard one each, the captain going off in protecting himsekf from Cleghorn's attack after receiving the gash over his eye that required medical attention and forced his retirement from the game.

Gerard and Nighbor were both playing brilliantly at the time they retired.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 16, 1922

Position: D

The stars of the game for Ottawa were Eddie Gerard, Georges Boucher and Frank Nighbor.

Broadbent scored Ottawa's third one on a pass from Gerard.The gallery yelled offside, but Sproule ruled otherwise.

Vezina should have stopped the shot Gerard banged at him, but he did not.

Gerard was hit in the eye and had to leave the ice amid sympathetic booes.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 23, 1922

Position: D

The game was comparatively free of roughness or unfair play, there being but one penalty and that fell on Eddie Gerard, the Senators' captain, who stepped into Billy Boucher too strenuously to suit Referee Sproule in the third period.

1921-1922 PLAYOFFS

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 12, 1922 (4-5 L vs. TOR)

Position: D

The defence of Boucher and Gerard was magnificient.

Toronto attacked desperately, trying to sweep Senators off their feet, but Gerard relieved with a brilliant dash that stopped when Dye tripped him and went off.

In the second session, Gerard and Boucher started with great rushes Roachward.

Eddie Gerard made a great save when he cut through and checked Dye as the latter was poised for a shot inside the defence.

Game 2: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 14, 1922 (0-0 T vs. TOR)

Position: D

(The spectators) saw a miserable game of hockey played under execrable circumstances (ice was poor), and saw a great team in its lasrt deperate stand go down with colors flying as great in defeat as they ever were in victory.

The Final five minutes were saturated with excitement.Ottawas leaving only Gerard on the defence to set four men on the attack.

ALL TRIED HARD: Gerard skated like a demon, hurdled and stickhandled his way through time after time only to get his stick or skates clogged in a bank of slush.

1922 Stanley Cup Finals

The Vancouver Sun, Mar 25, 1922

EDDIE GERARD TO PLAY FOR ST. PATS

LESTER PATRICK ALLOWS IRISH TO USE OTTAWA DEFENCE STAR TO TAKE PLACE OF INJURED PLAYER- EX-CHAMPIONS' SKIPPER SHOULD BOLSTER ST. PATRICKS FOR GAME TONIGHT

ST. Patricks' chances to defend the Stanley Cup were materially strenghtened tonight, at least insofar as the local viewpoint is concerned, when it became known that Eddie Gerard, captain of the ex-champion Senators, would play for the Irishmen for the remaining games of the championship series.

Eddie, himself, announced tonight he had been approchaed by Manager O'Donough, of the Toronto team, and, after being assured that Manager Patrick, of the Westerners, had expressed iwllingness to permit an "outsider" to replace Cameron, who was painfully injured on Tuesday night, expressed pleasure at being able to help keep the historic trophy in the senior Canadian Hockey League.

Eddie Left tonight for Toronto and will line up with the defenders tomorrow night.Gerard, one of Eastern Canada's premier athletes, undoubtedly will be a big assistance to the St. Patricks.He representes a school of defense players which combines the ability to administer a good heavy body check with lightning speed and clever stick-handling.Even subbing for the brainy stalwart of the present N.H.L. champions, it is considered he will be added strenght to the defenders.

ST.PATRICKS should be a much stronger aggregation tonight with Eddie Gerard of the Ottawa ex-champions, p-laying a defence position.Harry Cameron, who is in the hospital with an oinjured leg, is a great hockey player but he hardly measures up to the Gerard standard.Eddie is just the kind of a player who will play his best in a series of this kind.

The Vancouver Sun, Mar 26, 1922 (6-0 W)

Position: D

The Irish, aided and abetted by the great skipper of the ex-champion Ottawa Senators--Eddie Gerard-- slammed, banged and buffeted the Vancouver squad around at will.

Gerard rushed from the face-off but was stopped by Parkes.

Cook transferred play to the other end and Roach and his assistants were kept busy until Gerard relieved the possessor.

Parkes came down and Gerard took the play back again.

Skinner tried to step into Gerard but came out second best and retired for repairs.

GERARD EFFECTIVE: The inclusion of Gerard makes a great difference to the locals as he steadied the defense and gave the forward line a large amount of assistance, while he rushed a number of times.

It was on the offense he was particularly noticeable.

GERARD ADDS STRENGHT: The addition of Gerard is responsible for some of the great reversal to mid-season form (of the St. Pats), but the Irish have always been a good bacls-to-the-wall team.

Duncan went down, Gerard checked and came back, to be relieved by Cook.

The Vancouver Sun. Mar 27, 1922

Gerard strenghtened the team a great deal (on Saturday night).He was good on the defence and under his coaching Stuart turned in one of the best defensive games that he has produced this season.

Toronto St. Pats were without the services of their star defence man, Harry Cameron, in Saturday night's game but they were evidently not handicapped with Eddie Gerard, substitute from Ottawa, playing the game of his life.

In case Cameron plays the next game it is expected that Gerard will not be allowed to take part in the contest.

The Vancouver Daily Word - Mar 27, 1922

WOULD EXCLUDE GERARD

Individually Gerard shared with Reg Noble the honor of being the most effective man on the ice.He never checked better in his life, and so well did he and Stuart work together that not once did the tricky Vancouver attackers get past to test Roach from close range.As a matter of fact, the local goal keeper had about the easier night of his career and Vancouver had very few chances to beat him.It was a great triumph for St.Patricks and a wonderful achievement for Gerard- so wonderful, in fact, that Vancouver has decided that he will not be eligible to play in the final game.

The Ottawa Journal, Mar 28, 1922

CAN ST. PATS WIN (GAME 5) WITHOUT GERARD?

When Eddie Gerard pushed his brawny arms through a green and white sweater for St.Pats Saturday night he helped revive interest in hockey locally.Gerard, however, passed out of the picture after Saturday when his game did so much to defeat the Millionaires.

Gerard was so good, apparently, that Lester Patrick turned his thumbs down on any proposal to play him further.Gerard made an immense hit in Toronto, and the queen city papers showered him with praise, and the St. Pats management gave him 150$(?) for his little jaunt.

1922-1923

Ottawa Citizen Jan 4, 1923

Position: D

Before the game Prsident Fred Hambly, of the St. Patricks' club, presented Eddie Gerard, the Ottawa star, with a handsome token of the club's appreciation for his services in the final last year.

Eddie Gerard gave Clancy the support worthy of one who has long been known as one of the best defence players in professional hockey.

Gerard and Clancy played a big part in the early attack for Ottawa.

Ottawa Citizen Jan 11, 1923

Position: D

...the first Ottawa penalty when Gerard got a rest for flopping him (Joliat).

...and Couture cut in with a pair of businesslike rushes that were cut short when Gerard handed out a body check that spilled him.

Sprague Cleghorn dumped(?) Gerard behind the Ottawa nets and took a rest, and Odie again introduced his specialty of killing time, to the disgust of the crowd.

Gerard sped along on a smart rush and, going up the right wing, slipped the disc out to Denneny on a perfect pass, and the later drove it home.

Right off the reel, Gerard tore through the center and slipped the rubber to Boradbent. who hustled it passed Vezina in forty-five seconds.

Game Note: Gerard and Boucher were both great.

Game Note: Eddie Gerard led the Senators in a great win.He played a strong defensive game and two of the Ottawa tallies came from passes he fed to scorers.

Ottawa Citizen Jan 18, 1923

Position: D

Ottawa players went through the game as if overtrained, and never ta any time did Gerard and Nighbor turn in the game they are capable of.

Ottawa Citizen Jan 25, 1923

Position: D

Andrews bodychecked Gerard.

Gerard and Denneny beat the defence on a sensational play but Roach saved.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 1, 1923

Position: D

Gerard, Boucher and Darragh star for senators.

Darragh settled the issue (the game) with a beautiful goal on a pass from Eddie Gerard from behind the net.

Gerard laid Cameron into the fence and took a rest.

Gerard and Nighbor rushed but missed out

Gerard then cut from end to end and swerved(?) into the corner.

Game Notes:

Cameron and Adams hammered away but Gerard and Boucher held them safe till the finall whistle ended it.

Eddie Gerard led the Senators with a sparkling game

Gerard and Boucher, particularly the latter, outshone the Toronto defence.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 8, 1923

Position: D

Weakned by the loss of Eddie Gerard in the first five minutes.

The injury sustained by Eddie Gerard was much regretted by all.Billy Couture hurdled and his stick struck the captain in the mouth sending his teeth through his lip.There was no penalty and Harvey Pulford declared it an accident.

Ottawa Citizen Feb 15, 1923

Position: D

Ottawa Citizen Feb 22, 1923

Position: D

Taking a hard ride with his usual grace, Eddie Gerard starred throughout.

Gerard and Denneny went in together and the latter took Eddie's rebound to score a great goal.

Ottawa Citizen Mar 6, 1923

Position: D

Gerard rushed and shot

1922-1923 PLAYOFFS

Ottawa Citizen Mar 8, 1923

Position: D

OTTAWA HOCKEY TEAM SHUT OUT CANADIENS IN FIRST GAME 2 TO 0

The game was violent, and resulted in a near riot.Referee Marsh was assaulted and the police had to intervene.

Police got Benedict and Gerard off the ice and then rushed for the shelter of their dressing room.

Gerard, Boucher and Nighbor went the full sixty minutes

Darragh, who took a pass for Eddie Gerard, circled in on top of Vezina and slapped the puck into the nets.

Gerard and Boucher formed a grand defence and each assisted in scoring one of the Ottawa goals.Their defensive work was superb and on the offensive they were also great.

Ottawa Citizen Mar 10, 1923

Position: D

OTTAWA, NATIONAL HOCKEY L'GUE CHAMPS' WIN ROUND FROM CANADIENS BY 3-2 SCORE, LOSE FINAL GAME IN PLAY-OFF SERIES, 2-1

CHAMPIONS LEAVE TONIGHT FOR COAST TO DEFEND STANLEY CUP

Captain Eddie Gerard played his usual dashing game, and was very effective.

Gerard, G.Boucher and Broadbent all rushed in succession.

Malone, Gerard and Nighbor rushed alternately

Pitre came down as far as Boucher and Gerard, and Darragh too the play to the other end.

Joliat relieved at the defence and swing in the center with Billy Boucher flanking him.He went between Georges Boucher and Eddie Gerard and when he passed to the wing, brother Bill grabbed the disc and slid right in on Benedict to pick a cornoer for the second goal.This tied the score in the series.

Three canucks swept in but Gerard cleared just at the bell.

Gerard coming back with a fine try that ended with a shot from the corner

Gerard weaved his way through alone, lost the puck, recovered it at the black line and wormed in again to have his shot blocked.

Gerard missed on a spectacular try

Gerard stopped three canucks

Gerard rushed and the fans howled for Buck Boucher to pile it up, but he lost out in the corner.

OTTAWA SENATORS VS. VANCOUVER MAROONS

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal - Mar 17, 1923 (1-0 W vs. VAN)

Position: D

Gerard and Harris, both famous body checkers, bumped each other merrily in one corner and were chased to the boards.

Gerard hooked the puck from Mackay and made a dangerous rush down to right wing

Gerard's heavy body-checking stopped many of the rushes of the Vancouver forwards.

Gerard broke through from a scrimmage and carried the puck the entire lenght of the ice.

Gerard came down the ice and fooled the Vancouver defence and passed to Denneny to his left.

Game 1 (Extra): Vancouver Sun - Mar 18, 1923

Meanwhile Eddie Gerard, while stile a fine hockey player, did not on Friday display the outstanding class that made his work conspicuous in 1921.

Ottawa Citizen Mar 20, 1923

Position: D

It never rains but it pours and this proved the case in the second period, Captain Eddie Gerard was playing ab eautiful game when a skate cut through his right boot and slipped(?) it so badly that his ankle was (?)otruding.

After Georges Boucher had scored Ottawa's only tally, Frank Nighbor and Eddie Gerard pulled off a brilliant combination, only to fail at the end.Nighbor and Gerard went down through the Vancouver defence, passing the puck back and forward several times.The final pass which came when Gerard was close in on Lehman and in a good position to score got away from the Senators captain.

Both Gerard and Georges Boucher stepped into the Vancouver forwards with considerable force.

Eddie Gerard's bodychecking told severely upon such light forwards as Parks, Frank Boucher and Corbett Denneny.

Gerard rushed on Lehman but was headed into the corner.

Gerard retired to have his skate fixed and was replaced by Hitchman.

Denneny tried a long shot on goal and Gerard came through for another.

Gerard and Denneny came down cneter ice, the former passing to Denneny when the latter was close it, but Lehman saved what seemed like a certain goal.

Press Box Notes:

The Ottawa defence appeared badly scattered, failing to block with their customary accuracy.

Senators failed to show the dash and snap which characterized their play on Friday night.Their checking was very weak, Broadbent alone being the only one stepping in front of an opponent.

Ottawa Citizen Mar 24, 1923

Position: D

GERARD GREAT LEADER: Captain Eddie Gerard went into the game feeling unwell and a severe jolt from Duncan in the early stages of the play did not decrease his effectiveness any, but the Senators' captain gave a brilliant display even after being badly injured sticking to his guns, under heaviest fire and directing his players most effectively.Good as Gerard's game was tonight it was not a particular better than anyone of the others, Georges Boucher received orund after round of applause...

GERARD GOES BIG: Eddie Gerard came back with something ressembling his old time form tonight.Heb odychecked and skated on the attack with a speed reminiscient of his performance hero two years ago.In the matter of bodychecking, however, he more than met his mate in the giantic(?) Duncan, who sent the visitors on their backs more than once during the evening.

A rush by Gerard carried the puck into Vancouver's territory where Broadbent scored on a pass fro mDenneny, giving Ottawa the lead.

Gerard stopped a shot from Frank Boucher's stick and was forced to retire, Clancy taking his place.The loss of Gerard did not appear to weaken Ottawa's defence, which continued to herd many promising rushes safely to the corner.

Shortly after the second period started Gerard and Duncan collided and the Ottawa captain went down and had to be assited off the ice.King Clancy went on in his place.Gerard got back into the game after a rest of about five minutes.

Ottawa Citizen Mar 27, 1923

Position: D

INJURY TO EDDIE GERARD SEVERE BLOW, SENATORS CAPTAIN UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN FINAL SERIES

Benedict, Gerard, Boucher, Nighbor, Broadbent and Denneny constitute the grandest super-six that has ever graced the National League.

But Clancy wasn't alone in his glory.Benedict, Boucher, Gerard, Nighbor, Denneny, Broadbent and Hitchman- they were all heroes.

The first really dangerous shot was sent in by Gerard from the Vancouver blueline.

Gerard, skating strongly

Gerard was particularly dangerous and scored Ottawa's second goal after a strong rush down the right wing.

...and another stroke of ill-luck landed with a crash just after the commencement of the second period when Corbett Denneny threw Eddie Gerard into the boards.Gerard went down in great pain and it was afterwards learned that he had suffered a dislocation of his left shoulder.Last night Dr.Atkinson worked on the dislocation, but it looks as though Gerard has played his last hockey for this year.

Gerard, the Senators' dashing captain, was put out of action with a double dislocation of the shoulder.

Two minutes later (after a goal by Georges Boucher) Eddie Gerard rushed down the center and scored the second goal for the Senators.

EVERY MAN A STAR: It would hardly be fair to the Senators as a whole to mention anyone in particular.Every player gave his very best excpet in the second match of the series, when the whole team seemed more or less disorganized.[...] Captain Eddie Gerard and Georges Boucher for the defence were solid as the Rock of (?).They used their heads(?) when danger threatened and reserved their strenght for the opportune moments knowing full well they were woefully short on substitutes.

1923 Stanley Cup Finals

Ottawa Senators(NHL) vs. Edmonton Eskimos(WCHL)

Game 1:

Injured, shoulder.Did not play.

Game 2: Edmonton Bulletin Apr 2, 1923 (1-0 W vs. EDM, Ottawa wins Stanley Cup)

Position: D

Gerard came down the right wing carrying the puck cleverly, but was herded into the right corner.

The period ended with Gerard in full flight toward the Edmonton goal closely pursued by Arbour.

Gerard, despite his injured shoulder, showed much of his old-time speed and ail of his old-time persistence.

Gerard combined on a two man rush which beat everything but Winkley.

Gerard received another injury to his shouldert and was forced to retire.

Gerard's appearence on Saturday night was made at the cost of considerable pain to himself owing to his injured shoulder.

 

[BenchBrawl]

delete

 

[ResilientBeast]

Joe Simpson
"Bullet" Joe Simpson
"Peerless" Joe

- Member of the HHOF
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1923)
- Allan Cup Champion (1916)
- WCHL 1st All-Star Team (1922, 1923, 1925)
- WCHL 2nd All-Star Team (1924)

Didn't join the Edmonton Eskimos until he was 27 years old.
Didn't make the NHL until he was 32 years old.

I didn't get the pleasure of drafting Joe Simpson this ATD but I'd be damned if all the work I've done went to waste.

Statistics
​

Joe Simpson has 4 WCHL seasons of a high calibre, one good season in the NHL as an old man and an amateur career dominating lesser talent.

1921-22 - Simpson is 2nd in WCHL league Scoring and 1st in D scoring
1922-23- Simpson is 6th in WCHL league scoring and 1st in D scoring tied with Lloyd Cook (WCHL and PCHA played an interlocking schedule)
1923-24 - Unsure in league scoring but 3rd in D scoring behind Duncan and Loughlin
1924-25 - Simpson is 9th in league scoring and 1st in D scoring​

​

So a summary of his offensive exploits out west among defensemen 1, 1, 1, 3. One of those number ones came when the PCHA and WCHL did not play an interlocking schedule. Though once the leagues combined he was still dominant offensively.

A summary of his offensive exploits out west among all players, 2, 6, 9, ~20.

Which looks fairly strong when no attempt it made to reconcile it with the NHL.

The old man season of note, at age 36 in 1929-30 Simpson finds his offensive groove in the NHL and ends up in the top 6 in D Scoring pending where Goodfellow/Seibert/Clapper were playing this year.

He is by 3 years the oldest player to be in the top 50 in points.

So overall in 5 seasons among defensemen his finishes within his own league is 1, 1, 1, 3, ~6

Modern Sources

...A graduate of the Selkirk Fishermen juniors, Simpson played senior hockey with the Winnipeg Victorias in 1914-15, prior to enlisting in the Canadian army for World War I. Before he was sent overseas he captained the 1916 Allan Cup champions 61st Battalion team of Winnipeg.

During the war, he served with the 43rd Cameron Highlanders and his unit held a part of the British front alongside a battalion commanded by Major Winston Churchill. Simpson was twice wounded in the war and was awarded the Military Medal for valour prior to returning home in February of 1919, discharged as a lieutenant. In fact, he was home in time to appear in the last four games of the hockey season for the hometown Selkirk Fisherman seniors of the Manitoba Senior League and starred again for the seniors the following year.

Simpson was in a Winnipeg poolroom in 1920 when Kenny Mackenzie of the Big-4s Edmonton Eskimos offered him $3,000 to turn pro. Upon hearing the offer, Simpson chalked his cue and replied that if Mackenzie could sell the deal to his father then Edmonton would have themselves a hockey player. Edmonton got their player and Joe headed off to the northern Alberta city in time for, what turned out to be, a disappointing 1920-21 season.

He made amends for a poor showing in his rookie year by winning a Western Hockey League First Team All-Star berth in 1921-22. He was named to the First Team on three occasions and to the Second Team once. At the time, "Newsy" Lalonde called Simpson the greatest living hockey player.

When the WHL ceased operations at the end of the 1924-25 campaign Simpson's contract was purchased by the New York Americans of the NHL. Simpson played six seasons with the Amerks before turning his attention to minor league coaching for a few seasons.

"Bullet" Joe Simpson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

dubbed Bullet Joe by a reporter due to his darting moves on the ice, and because of his military past... Simpson, along with New York native Billy Burch, was one of the first outstanding gate attractions, and thus partly responsible for making New York a hockey hotbed that it is today... a lightweight weighing as little as 155lbs, but he played like he was 200lbs. Bill Corum, a columnist of the New York Journal-American, described Simpson as "a rollicking, rocking man, flashing down the rink with the puck on the end of his stick."

His end-to-end rushes were the stuff of legend, his skating without compare.

A speed demon on skates. Simpson certainly earned his moniker Bullet Joe. He was a defenseman who made fearless, headlong rushes...

Memories of Simpson's career from later

Billy Finlay, Vancouver Sun, Nov 10, 1932:

Simpson was the "Babe" Ruth of the Western Canada circuit. His presence on the ice was always one of the big attractions wherever he performed. The flashy defense star was one of the most colorful players ever to perform at the Arena, and that is saying a lot when it is considered the many outstanding puck chasers who have flashed forth in the past twenty years.

"Newsy" Lalonde, who had many a mixup with the former Edmonton puckist when managing Saskatoon Sheiks, and who is now coaching the Montreal Canadiens, recently remarked that Simpson was one of the best defense men he had ever seen in his career.

We well remember when Simpson started his career. In fact, we were refereeing a senior amateur game in Winnipeg when Joe blossomed forth as a rover for a Winnipeg team. He had previously performed in junior hockey in the town of Selkirk, 25 miles east of the Manitoba capital.

Simpson wasn't any standout as a rover, but when he got his chance on defense it wasn't long before he had the fans sitting up and taking notice and it took some pretty smart playing in those days to outshine the opposition in Winnipeg hockey.

It was after he joined the army and played hockey for the 61st Battalion that Simpson really came to the front. His wonderful playing both on defense and attack had more than anything else to do with the team capturing the Allan Cup, emblematic of the amateur hockey championship of Canada. It was that year that he became famous as "Corkscrew" Joe, owing to his style of dodging through the opposition.

Simpson never showed his real class in the National Hockey League. He was a bit past his prime when he moved east after Frank Patrick disposed of the Western Canada league players. He gave earnest service to the New York Americans, but never the same scintillating flash that marked his career in western hockey.

George Mackintosh, Edmonton Journal, March 6, 1941:

Says Baz O'Meara in the Montreal Star: "Someone was writing about Stanowski as the nearest approach to Joe Simpson that has been seen in years...the Joe Simpson who played in the east was only a shadow of "Bullet Joe" who thrilled western audiences...It was too bad so few sport writers in the east saw him at his best. They would have seen a player who could break faster than Hamby Shore, skate faster than Clancy, handle a stick like Gottselig, shoot like Sprague Cleghorn...But the east did something to him...He became a wobbly skater, put on about 20 pounds that he never seemed to be able to shed, and was always too amiable to be impressive...Stanowski is a greater rusher but is still a long way from being a Simpson as Joe was at his peak."

Mr O'Meara is right. "Joe the Bullet" was past his best by the time he went east, but when he was with Edmonton the guy was the biggest attraction in hockey. There's been no player quite like him since, and it's doubtful if another like him ever will come along. From the strict defensive angle there have been plenty of better performers than Simpson, but none his equal at serving up rushing thrills.

Simpson had a hard shot. Gorde Hunter, Calgary Herald - Dec 15, 1962:

If I'm not mistaken, the shots of that era (Babe Dye, Bullet Joe Simpson, Duke Keats) were just as hard as the ones propelled by Hull, Howe, and Mahovlich today.

Was Simpson the best offensive defenceman in the world at his peak?

He scored 99 points from 1921-22 to 1924-25, first among all defencemen. Georges Boucher and Harry Cameron would also be up there.

He appears to have been better than his western competition, Lloyd Cook and Art Duncan.
Calgary Herald, March 21, 1923

Joe Simpson, reputed to be one of the greatest hockey stars in the game today, is better than either Duncan or Cook, but he hasn't a mate that completes a pair equal in strength to the Vancouver couple.

Year By Year Breakdown (Unless otherwise stated all sources are from the Edmonton Bulletin)

1920-1921 - The Big 4 League Season

1921 - 01 - 11

Gardiner played well and Simpson and Anderson starred for Edmonton.

1921 - 01 - 29

Joe Simpson was at his best. He scored his first goal this season and thoroughout played a grand game

Eight minutes later Simpson glided down the ice to beat Talbot with another fairly long shot which came after a beautiful rush

1921 - 02 - 19

And it made it easy for Simpson and Dea to break away with the puck. Howard Dea and Joe Simpson, while a veritable stone wall also excelled in offensive work, both fairly burning up the ice, the former playing the best game of his career in Calgary, while Simpson played in the manner that characterized his work when he starred as a member of the Selkirk team in the Manitoba league.

1921 - 02 - 22

Gagne was travelling like a Cyclone and Briden was doing some work. Dea and Simpson on defence played brilliantly.
....
Thirty seconds later Simpson flashed the length of the ice circled the Tiger goal and passed out to Keats who rammed in into the tapestry.
...
Simpson and Dea were checking and taking loose pucks with ease.

1921 - 03 - 22

Against the Victoria Aristocrats
While Simpson was playing good hockey, Dea appeared to be way below his usual form

1921 - 03 - 26

Against the Coast League All Star Team
Joe Simpson was playing one of his best games. His checking and rushing were good and he was shooting

1921-1922 - The First WCHL Season

1921 - 01 - 29

Regular periods of play were ragged but first overtime stanza was real hockey - Regina adopts four man defence system trusting to occational rushes for Goal - Simpson was whirlwind
....
Joe Simpson was a whirlwind last night. He looked better than he did in any game last winter and played the entire hour and forty minutes without relief
....
Joe Simpson played the best hockey he has played in Edmonton. His checking was grand and rushes spectacular but a battalion of barber poles at the other end of the rink was a difficult problem.

1921 - 12 - 20

Joe Simpson and Duke Keats not to say anything of Talbot and Ty Arbour were the big noises on the Edmonton lineup. Keats showed local fans a thing or two in stick handling while his offensive tactics left little to be desired. He was ably supported by two wing men. Gagne and Arbour, who are two speed merchants who burn the ice with their fast skating. Trapp and Matz worked as utility players and were effective all the time they were on the ice. Simpson and Dea were a hard working defence pair who broke up rush after rush and gave the Crescent forwards lots of trouble when they endeavored to break through for a shot at Talbot.

1921 - 12 - 24

Simpson is playing remarkable hockey both defensively and offensively

1921 - 12 - 27

Eskimos were not only weakened by the loss of Arbour but also by lack of capable subs. One of the other hand the Tigers, with three subs kept changing players frequently and they were therefore in better shape to withstand the grueling grind. Joe Simpson was the bright star for the Eskimos, his rushing electrifying the fans time and time again.

1922 - 01 - 03

Edmonton team retains its position in second place - both teams played combination style and pretty contest resulted - Simpson, Matz and Arbour played grand hockey

1922 - 01 - 31

Five of the Eskimos played brilliant hockey. They made the corresponding five of the Capitals look like city leaguers. Keats, Arbour, Gagne, Simpson and Gillespie stood head and shoulders over their opponents. there can scarcely be a comparison between the teams in those positions.

1922 - 02 - 07

Gagne was the big scorer of the evening securing two goals and two assists. Simpson was close behind with two goals and one assist.
...
Eskimos scored three goals in succession in the first ten minutes of the play and then eased up. The first was the result of Keats and Arbour combining. Arbour taking the shot. The second was a rush by Simpson and Gagne, Joe skipping the puck to Gagne across the front of the net.

1922 - 02 - 09

In defense Simpson and Gillespie both played remarkable games, Joe scored twice and Gillepsie got an assist. Very rarely indeed did Calgary beat the pair on the attacks.

1922 - 02 - 18

Gillespie and Simpson were apparently working hard but showed an unwillingness to get in front of opposing forwards in the manner they have been doing the last few weeks

1922 - 02 - 23

Joe Simpson was the beat player for the visitors with Keats in second place.

1922 - 03 - 02

Simpson and Gillespie were both doing some good defence work and Simpson's rushes were the best of the season.

Throughout the game the Regina defensive system was thoroughly disorganized. Simpson, Gagne and Arbour would sweep past them as though they were glued down and when they did succeed in forcing an Eskimo to the corner so badly were they broken up that they failed to intercept the passes to the center.

1922-1923 - The Eskimos Play For the Cup

1922 - 12 - 11

Joe Simpson was enjoying himself hugely especially during the first period when he threw himself into the game with an energy which resulted in two goals. Besides the three goals Joe played an effective defensive game.

1922 - 12 - 21

The first goal of the game fell to Gagne who took a pass from Simpson after Joe had made a brilliant cork screw solo the length of the ice.

1922 - 12 - 21

It fell to Joe Simpson the dazzling defence of the northerners to be the hero of the on the greatest exhibitions of hockey ever staged in Calgary....
...
Simpson after one of his brilliant cork screw rushes took a chance on a lift from the side

1923 - 01 - 23

Individual, two and three men rushes predominated on both sides. After several noble efforts Joe Simpson flashed down the ice like a meteor, penetrated the Seattle defence and passed the puck to Duke Keats...
.....
Joe Simpson was 100 percent efficiency. His dazzling speed, wonderful stickhandling and defensive tactics left nothing to be desired.

1923 - 02 - 01

The playing of Keats, Gagne and Simpson was a revelation to the fans while the little left wingers of the Eskimos won popularity with his clever speedy play.
....
...but Seattle forwards couldn't get through on account of the fast back checking of Gagne and Arbour and Morrosion and the strong defensive play of Simpson and Trapp.

1923 - 02 - 24

While the Esks have a very formidable defence in Hal Winkler in goal and Joe Simpson and Bob Trapp out in front, the fact remains that their strongest suit is the brilliant and effective attack of that first string forward line, Keats, Gagne and Arbour . the individual and combined efforts of these gentry back up by the wizardry of Joe Simpson in his rushes....

1923 - 03 - 03

Everyone one of the Eskimos played brilliant hockey. Keats, Gagne and Arbour while they were on the ice at their best. Simpson and Trapp were unbeatable on defence.

1923 - 03 - 15 (Playoffs game for the WCHL)

For the winners Simpson was the bright star with the possible exception of Winkler. Simpson was dangerous at all times bringing the crowd to it's feet time and time again with his famous twisting rushes.

1923 - 03 - 17

Deacon White Makes Selection of Hockey Players From Coast and Prairies Leagues That Will Startle Many Fans - Reviews Work of Players in Both Loops Throughout Present Season

Lehman - Goalie
Simpson - Right Defence
Clem Loughlin - Left Defence
Frederickson - Center
Gagne - Right Wing
Hay - Left Wing
Keats - Sub Center
Mackay - Sub Right Wing
Riley - Sub Left Wing
Cook - Sub Defence

Simpson the King of All Defence Players Anywhere

Joe Simpson is the king of all defence players that we have see in these two leagues and we jump to the conclusion - of any league. And that too when he does not posses the avoirdupois that naturally belongs to the position of a defence player. But he more than makes up for the lack of weight in quickness on his skates and uncanny skill in using his stick. On the defence end alone of his position he ranks above them all. His tactics are remarkable. If he fails to hook the puck away from an opposition plaguing with his stick, at which he is an adept he plunges low into the legs of his opponent like a rugby player making a tackle and invariably stops the man. he is such a quick starter that opponents can not stick handle around him. Joe is able to stay right with them until he brings them down or steals the puck away from them. But it is on the attack that Simpson shines the brightest. His rushes down the ice with the puck are the most spectacular and most effective in the business...

His stick-handling ability is unexcelled his speed is blinding and he packs a powerful and accurate shot. It looks as though he would have made the greatest forward in the business, not excepting Frederickson


1923 - 03 - 31 (Against Ottawa)

The Edmonton goal which Morrison scored after a rush and a pass by Simpson was a brilliant piece of work...
...
Gagne played a disappointing game. his work was about the same as in the game against Regina in Edmonton. His failure to go at his best threw extra work onto Simpson who had more than he could be expected to handle. Under the conditions he played a wonderful game but was not so spectacular as usual. Keats was also below usual form.....

Simpson's performance in the Stanley Cup Final of 1923 against Ottawa (held in Vancouver, a neutral site). Courtesy of Overpass

Game 1

Edmonton started red hot favorites with the crowd. Every time little Joe Simpson came down the ice with his sensational bursts, the six thousand fans cheered him to the echo

A corkscrew rush down the right wing by Simpson resulted in a snappy shot on Benedict.

Simpson went down the right wing and held the puck until he was within a few feet of Benedict. His shot was saved by pretty work.

Edmonton went into the lead when Morrison scored, subbing in for Keats, went in with Simpson and took a pass close in from Joe, which he shot past Benedict like lightning.

Simpson made a rush which carried him in for a shot. The Ottawa defense picked up the puck but Simpson had caught them before they had crossed the blue line and returned for another shot.

Game 2

"Little Joe" Simpson was the star of the Esks. He made thousands of friends by his brilliant dashes and his undeniably sporting spirit. He played the man and the puck in equal proportions but he played with conspicuous regard to the rules. Newsy Lalonde's expressed opinion that Joe Simpson is the greatest hockey player in the world will find general support in the coast country. He is a wonderful athlete and a gentleman on and off the ice.

Every time he rushed in Saturday's game he was given an ovation. His work was the outstanding incident. He was half the Edmonton attack, and his uncanny faculty for keeping his feet and his legs under difficulties is amazing. He was given a rough ride all evening by the Senators. All the penalties incurred, including Benedict's, were caused by attacks on "Little Joe." The first period alone, Clancy, Benedict, Nighbor, and Broadbent brought him down with trips or slashed wickedly at his form as it gyrated around them or flashed past. Benedict tried to separate him from his legs behind the goal and the fans razzed the tall iceberg as Ion banished him for two minutes. Judging by the support accorded him Simpson could displace Mayor Tisdall if he sought the job of bossing Vancouver.

A moment later Simpson passed to Keats in front of Benedict. The Edmonton centre missed the pass.

Simpson carried the puck the length of the ice and passed to Gagne, Gagne missing.

Joe Simpson stickhandled his way all through the Ottawa defense for what seemed to be a certain goal but lost out by Benedict making a sensational save.

1923 - 04 - 05

Simpson's Ovation
Prolonged cheering and insistent demands brought Simpson to his feet. Joe said speaking wasn't exactly in his line. He apologized for not bringing home the cup but said if the Eskimos are kept together hey go east next year and trim two teams of Senators

1923 - 04 - 06
Nighbor says Simpson best in any league

Frank Nighbor, the big noise with the Ottawa Senators has picked Joe Simpson and Art Duncan as the ,most outstanding players who opposed the Ottawa team during their games on the coast. Nighbor declares Simpson was on the most finished hockey players in any of the professional leagues.

1923 - 04 - 07 (Series Recap)

G1: As the period progressed Eskimos were pressing Ottawa hard and on one of Joe's spectacular rushes a pass to Morrison and the first goal was scored. This was the finest goal of the series.

G2: As the period progressed Nighbor, who was the pivot of their defence was starring for his club using his wonderful hook check to great advantage. Simpson and Arbour were going great.

To mention any outstanding players during the series Simpson certainly ranks first, Benedict and Nighbor follow closely.

1923 - 04 - 10 - The Globe and Mail

West Says Simpson Best Hockey Player

After watching the Stanley Cup teams perform an eastern follower of the sport selected the following as the all-star professional team of Canada.

Goal - Roach
Defence - Simpson
Defence - Gerard
Center - Nighbor
Left - Mackay
Right - Broadbent
Subs, Benedict, Dye, Noble, Foyston, Frederickson, Irwin.

Until the Stanley Cup final games local fans were convinced Duke Keats of Edmonton was the best forward of his day, but Keats faltered badly and looked like an ordinary performer, and was completely outplayed by Frank Nighbor.

Joe simpson formerly of Selkirk however rose to the occasion and played sensational hockey. In the west Simpson is acclaimed as the best player in the sport.

1923 - 12 - 03 (Friendly cup rematch with Ottawa 3-1 Edmonton)

The second period commenced with the same blinding pace as the first. Here two players stood out above others. They were Joe Simpson and Hal Winkler. Simpson's brilliant stick handling, unlimited speed and super air tight defensive tactics brought the crowd cheering to it's feet time and time again.

1923 - 12 - 04 (Friendly cup rematch with Ottawa 2-1 Ottawa)

Winkler's goal keeping was a treat with Simpson and Arbour as the other bright stars of the visitors. Simpson's goal was a beauty and he kept up a tireless attack that spelled defeat for Ottawa. The other members of the western team all played right to form though neither Keats or Morrision were able to get into uniform

​

1923-24 - WCHL Season

1923 - 12 - 18

Peerless Joe Simpson was once again the shining beacon on either team. Hoe played a wonderful game. He checked beautifully. His poke check was great and he always out guessed his opponents.

1923 - 12 - 20

Joe Right There

Joe Simpson was once again the outstanding played on the ice. Joe was going like a house on fire. His serpentine rushes were beautiful and worked like a trojan bringing the crowd cheering a hundred times. Joe's rushes were always dangerous as is amply proved by the fact he scored three goals.

It was Peerless Joe Simpson who grabbed off the largest share of the glory for the win. Joe scored the winning counter. Coming into possession of the puck at the Esks' end of the rink. Joe turned on full speed. The rest of the team stayed back to protect Winkler. Down Joe went like the Twentieth Century Limited. Stick-handling and corkscrewing his way through the entire Seattle team, Joe planted the puck fairly and squarely behind Holmes for a great finish to a wonderful game

1923-12

1929

"Bullet" Joe Simpson American defence players, was outstanding for the losers giving the Americans most of their early lead. He scored twice in the first period...

1932

"Bullet" Joe is one of the Amerk originals, having broke in with the star-spangeled team when the ice game was first introduced here by the old Hamilton Tigers.

Since 1925 Simpson has played fine hockey for the Dwyer men being outstanding on both defence and possessing enough old-time speed to fill in capably on the front line when dash and experience was needed.

Joe Simpson for Frank Nighbor - the trade that almost was

In the summer of 1924, Ottawa and Edmonton agreed to swap Frank Nighbor and Joe Simpson straight up, before the deal fell through.

Remember while reading this that various sources certainly have agendas, so not everything can be taken at face value. But it certainly appears that the trade was very close to being made.

Aug 16, 1924, Calgary Daily Herald

Latest advice from eastern sport circles give foundation for the report that Ottawa is after Joe Simpson, Edmonton hockey defence flash, and it is said that the Senators have gone so far as to offer Frank Nighbor, noted hook-check star and centre man of the Ottawa club, in exchange for Simpson.

Kenny MacKenzie, Eskimo manager...does not look with any great favor on the idea of trading Nighbor for Simpson. He figures Nighbor has seen his best day.

In fact, Simpson's play would drop off sooner than Nighbor's. Not that surprising - both were 31 years old at the time, so it was definitely a deal where both players could be expected to be on the decline. MacKenzie's statement is probably just negotiating through the press, in any case.

Ten days later, the same paper carried the following report:

Calgary Daily Herald, Aug 26, 1924

When the curtain rolls up on the 1924-25 hockey season—and that's only in a matter of a month or so—there will be one famous flashing figure missing from the lineup of the Edmonton Eskimos, the same being Joe Simpson. If it had not been announced by Manager MacKenzie some time ago that he was willing to trade Simpson, the news that the greatest defense man in the game was to leave the club would have been a shock not only to Edmonton hockey fans, but to fans all over the Western Canada circuit

Simpson will perform for the Ottawa Senators during the coming season, and in exchange the Eskimos will get Frank Nighbor. one of the most brilliant forwards in the National League. According to information given out by Manager MacKenzie, the deal was consummated yesterday, and it’s an even trade. Simpson for Nighbor. with nothing to boot either way. Tongues will wag over this deal as probably they have never wagged before since the inception of the Western Canada League.

Simpson was obviously very highly rated out west. And Ottawa must have seen something they liked also.

An Eastern paper the next day gave some reasons why Ottawa might want to do the deal.

Aug 27, 1924, Montreal Gazette

In the first place, the Canadian Press wire carried a despatch from Calgary, where the western magnates have been in session, stating that "Bullet Joe" Simpson, sensational defence man of the Edmonton Eskimos, had been traded to the Ottawas for Frank Nighbor, centre man of the Senators, who was voted last winter the most valuable all-round player in the National League.

...

Right on top of this came an announcement from Toronto that Reg "Hooley" Smith, brilliant centre man of the Canadian Olympic hckey team, had signed with the Ottawas.

...

It is quite evident that the Ottawas plan a big shake-up and it is said that they have offered several of their players to Cecil Hart for the new club in Montreal.

Looks like Smith was to replace Nighbor at centre. Other speculation from the Journal via Morning Leader had a potential lineup with George Boucher and Joe Simpson on defence, and King Clancy back as a substitute.

Aug 27, 1924, Morning Leader

The Journal states that it has learned unofficially that the Senators are also after Frank Boucher, of Vancouver, and he may be in an Ottawa uniform before the new year, and it also claims to have learned unofficially that it was doubtful if Nighbor will go west. There are rumors that he will retire from the game.

The Journal then goes on to speculate on the following lineup for the 1924-25 season: Joe Ironstone, goal; George Boucher and Joe Simpson, defence, Cy Denneny, Hooley Smith, and Punch Broadbent, on the forward line. Hitchman will be spare defence player and Clancy Finnegan and probably Frank Boucher substitute forwards.

The speculated lineup looks pretty heavy in defensive talent, with Boucher and Simpson starting, Hitchman as a sub, and Clancy as a forward sub. The last paragraph in the above quote suggests another possibility - Ottawa was planning to move some of their defensive depth to Montreal. Montreal coveted Clancy, according to this article.

In any case, the deal ended up falling through. Some reports had Nighbor possibly refusing to report to Edmonton, upon which the deal was conditional. And in the end, the deal was blocked by the Toronto club.

Morning Leader - Aug 28, 1924

Where the Edmonton Eskimos will stand when the season gets under way about December 8 was not revealed at the miracled meeting. But one point seems fairly well disposed of - Kenny Mackenzie will not be able to put over his trade of Joe Simpson for Frank Nighbor. Toronto St. Pats appear to have settled that little matter by their statement that they will refuse to waive the Ottawa star out of the N.H.L. The National League, it may not be generally known, has adopted the major league baseball plan of waivers, and no player can be sold or traded out of the circuit unless all other members of the loop are offered and refuse to purchase his services.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Joe Nieuwendyk, C

​

Overview

3 Stanley Cups won with 3 different teams.
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner, 1999
King Clancy Memorrial Trophy Winner, 1994-95
Calgary Flames Captain, 1991-1995
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011
Selected one of the top 100 players of all-time by the NHL in 2017...

​

Top Points finishes: 14, 16, 16
Top Goals finishes: 5, 5, 7, 7, 9
Top Power Play Goals finishes: 1, 2, 5, 7, 7

7 year VsX points score: 70.3 (similar to Steve Shutt and Bill Barber)
10 year VsX points score: 66.3 (similar to Joe Mullen, Bill Barber, and Mike Gartner)
7 year VsX goals score: 39.8 (similar to Eric Lindros, Evgeni Malkin, and Mats Sundin)
10 year VsX goals score: 37.0 (similar to Mats Sundin and Pat Lafontaine)

Averaged 24 adjusted PP points per season over his career
13th All-time in career PP Goals with 215
12th All-time in career game winning goals with 93

Playing Style

Knowledgeable hockey fans know that Nieuwendyk was one of those guys who brought more to the rink than any statistic can quantify. That might seem odd to say given Nieuwy spent much of his career primarily as a top marksman, but he was a complete player. Aside from chronic back injuries, he had no real weakness in his game. And he brought a lot to the organization off the ice, both in terms of dressing room leadership and community involvement.

From wikipedia: Cliff Fletcher, who drafted him into the NHL, described Nieuwendyk as being a "pre-eminent two-way guy who had 50-goal seasons", adding that "he had a great stick around the net, he had a great shot, he saw the ice well, he could skate, he had the size – he had everything you needed to have. History has indicated that wherever he went, the team was competitive. The more that was on the line in big games, the better Joe played."[29] He was an offensive centre in Calgary and power play specialist, able to withstand the physical punishment required to stand in front of the net and battle defencemen for the puck.

[6] He led the NHL in power play goals in 1987–88 with 31 and finished in the top ten on four other occasions.[55] Wayne Gretzky, who also played box lacrosse in his youth, argued that the skills Nieuwendyk learned dodging opposing players in that sport aided his development as a hockey player.[6] Nieuwendyk was regarded as a top faceoff man,[11] a skill that Team Canada relied on during the Olympics.[8] He was a checking-line centre at the 2002 Olympics, relied on for his defensive and faceoff abilities.[53]

Nieuwendyk was regarded as a leader throughout his career. He was the captain of the Flames for four seasons, and his teammates in Dallas praised him as a player who would help guide the younger players as they began their careers.[56] His presence was considered an important factor in New Jersey's 2003 Stanley Cup championship. Devils' general manager Lou Lamoriello praised his impact both on and off the ice: "Certainly (the tangibles were) the quality player he was even at that time, how good he was defensively as well as always finding a way to get big goals. It was also about how good he was on faceoffs. And the intangibles, which are really more tangible than anything, are what he brought in the locker room from leadership and unselfishness. It was obvious that when he didn't play he was still so active in his support. He's genuine in every sense of the word. He was a true team player."[57] Nieuwendyk was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011,[18] and his uniform number 25 was honoured by the Calgary Flames on March 7, 2014, as he was named to the organization's "Forever a Flame" program.[58]


International play

Nieuwendyk was selected to Team Canada for both the 1998 and 2002 Olympics over centers who put up better numbers, to play a bottom 6/PP role.

"Internationally, he was a key defensive cog as part of Canada's Olympic entries in 1998 and 2002 (as seen above), and he won a silver medal with the 1986 world junior tournament." - James Myrtle

NHL players were first allowed to participate in the Olympic ice hockey tournament in 1998. Nieuwendyk was among the players named to join Canada's "dream team".[51] He scored two goals and three assists in six games,[19] but was one of several Canadian players stopped by Czech goaltender Dominik Hašek in a shootout loss in the semifinals. Canada then dropped a 3–2 decision to Finland to finish fourth.[52] Nieuwendyk played alongside Brendan Shanahan and Theoren Fleury on Canada's checking line at the 2002 Olympic tournament.[53] He scored one goal and helped Canada win its first Olympic hockey gold medal in 50 years.[54]

General quotes (via BillyShoe1721):

In his first full season as a Flame (1987-88), the young centre scored 51 goals and 92 points, becoming only the second NHL player after Mike Bossy to score 50 goals in his rookie season. His totals also included an eye-popping 31 powerplay goals and 8 game-winners, and he was rewarded with the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie.

Nieuwendyk's second season with the Flames was just as impressive as his first. He was the leader of a team that won the Stanley Cup, again scoring 51 goals. In 1991, he was named captain of the Flames. When knee problems prevented Nieuwendyk from playing early in the 1995-96 season, the Flames found few takers on the trade market. Finally, in December 1995, the Flames traded Nieuwendyk to the Dallas Stars for Jarome Iginla and Corey Millen.

Known as an aggressive player in front of the net as well as an exceptional passer, Nieuwendyk's style of play caused him a number of health problems. He missed most of the 1998 playoff due to a knee injury. However, in 1999, his health and luck returned as Nieuwendyk scored 6 game-winning goals in the playoffs to lead the Stars to victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup finals. That spring, Joe was recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP.
...

Joe Nieuwendyk left the NHL as one of the most respected players of his time, collecting 564 goals and 562 assists for 1,126 points through 1,257 regular season games. In playoff action, he added 66 goals and 50 assists for 116 points in 158 games.

Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Joe Nieuwendyk

In the limited time he was with us, he was one of the most team-oriented guys I’ve ever come across. Whether he was in the lineup or hurt, all he thought about was the team. His commitment to winning and unselfishness is what I think about.

He was a player you tried to get others to be like. You want players to give up their own identity for the team. Joe would do whatever was asked of him.

Current Devils need unselfish, team approach Joe Nieuwendyk brought

Drafted by Calgary in the second round (27th overall) in 1985, the clutch center won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 1988 after scoring 51 goals and 92 points. He would go on to amass a total of 564 goals -- including 93 game-winners (ninth all-time) and 1,126 points during the course of 20 NHL seasons. One of the league's top face-off specialists, Nieuwendyk, who is now the GM of the Dallas Stars, won three Stanley Cups with three different teams.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mu...hl-2011-hall-of-fame-inductees/content.1.html

"If you shot [the puck] at the net and Joe was there, he'd get a piece of it." Nieuwendyk, who last week retired from the Florida Panthers because of chronic back injuries after 20 NHL seasons, was one of the best players in the league at deflecting shots past goaltenders. Since he was an altogether average physical specimen, Nieuwendyk took it upon himself to master the little things; he was also one of the top face-off men around.

Players who rely on wile don't generally attract much attention from scouts, so when the Flames took him with a second-round pick in 1985, one paper ran the headline JOE WHO? He answered his critics quickly. Between the deflections and a wrist shot that wasn't strong but was deadly accurate, he scored 51 goals in each of his first two seasons. (Nieuwendyk, Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy are the only players to start their NHL careers with consecutive 50-goal seasons.) In his second season Calgary won its only Stanley Cup. Nieuwendyk, who went on to play for four other teams and hoist the Cup twice more, finished with 564 goals, 19th best of all time. Along the way, countless kids who might not have been the most physically blessed took notice. "If you don't learn anything from being around him," said Panthers center Stephen Weiss, "then you're in trouble."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1114844/index.htm

Eric says he modeled himself "after guys like Mike Modano and Joe Nieuwendyk, who played the game with size and speed and strength."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1111539/index.htm

By signing free-agent C Joe Nieuwendyk the Maple Leafs finally have a bona fide No. 2 pivot behind Mats Sundin. Nieuwendyk will score points, win face-offs and be a positive influence in the dressing room....

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1030080/index.htm

Nieuwendyk, a fine two-way player, would be a perfect fit in Detroit, where he would be reunited with Brett Hull.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1029179/index.htm

Joe Nieuwendyk's line scored all three goals, but it doesn't matter if the Modano line scores, or the Nieuwendyk line, or the Guy Carbonneau line. We all go out and do the same thing: We frustrate people. I don't know how many times this year players on other teams have skated up to me and said, "Will you give us some room here?"

The goal was set up because of good forechecking by Langenbrunner and Nieuwendyk.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1016088/2/index.htm

A good bit of Nieuwendyk's success—19 goals, in fact—can be traced to Calgary's potent power play. His job on the power play is to plant his 6'1", 175-pound frame in front of the goalie and go for rebounds and deflections. He might as well wear a sign that says, "Cross-check me hard." It seems he takes 20 hard hits in the back per night. "Just part of the job," says Nieuwendyk, who leads the NHL in power-play goals.

"He stands in there and takes it," says Edmonton coach Glen Sather, admiringly. "He is tough."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1066961/2/index.htm

Easing into the scoring area from either side of the net, stick coiled, waiting for the prey to drop its guard, the opportune moment to strike, blade darting out like a serpent's tongue.

"I've got to admit I'd never heard of the guy, but he was really impressive right away,'' says former Flames teammate Hakan Loob, two decades later, from his home in Sweden. "Immediately. He played like a European. Skill. Size. Smart. Great, great hands. Amazing touch. I can't begin to remember how many pucks he deflected into the net. I probably can't count that high.

"I do know that playing on a line with him helped boost my career. It's easy to with players that talented. How lucky was I? Here's a rookie, scoring 51 goals, chasing Mike Bossy, one of the best in league history, and I'm playing beside him.

"A dream to coach,'' echoes his old coach, Terry Crisp. "Nieuwy would just come into the room, put on his gear and go out and play. No fuss. No dramatics. You could chew him out, kick his butt. He went out and did the job.''

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=07e2c675-134d-4011-9cb9-760fae46c0b6&k=32356

Elegantly and almost effortlessly, Nieuwendyk shot and scored the 493rd goal of his career and his first with the Devils, who outlasted the Nashville Predators tonight, 4-3, in front of 16,535 at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.

After only two games since arriving in a trade from Dallas, it is obvious that Nieuwendyk, 35, still has game-breaking talent. Nieuwendyk, who has yet to play with either Petr Sykora or Patrik Elias, gives the Devils a center who can play with finesse and ferocity.

''The transition has been good,'' Nieuwendyk said. ''I like this team's style. It's a style I'm accustomed to. We play defense first and create offense from there. I couldn't ask for a better situation.''

Nieuwendyk, meanwhile, has played with extra sizzle.

''One thing that is instantly noticeable is that we're a better face-off team,'' Constantine said. ''But I don't want to minimize his talents by saying he's just that.''

Nieuwendyk has enough speed to burn when he needs it. He fed Langenbrunner for his goal by setting up behind the net and threading a pass that only Langenbrunner could have reached.

''He's just very good around the net -- great around the net,'' Bobby Holik said.

HOCKEY; Nieuwendyk Gives Devils A Needed Boost of Offense

Nieuwendyk was one of the most respected players of his generation, an elegant forward with a knack for scoring key goals and winning faceoffs.

Most importantly, he was a winner, with three Stanley Cups rings and a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games.

"Joe was a great player and a class act and I really enjoyed being around him, both on and off the ice," Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano said.

"As great a player as he was, he was an even better teammate," said retired forward Brett Hull, Nieuwendyk's trigger man with the Stars. "He got along with everybody, was very classy, unbelievably skilled and clutch."

"He brought a different aspect to our team," said New Jersey Devils and Team Canada goaltender Martin Brodeur. "He was one of the great centremen I played with, a leader who blended in right away."

"He was an all-around elite player," said Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey, Nieuwendyk's boss in Dallas. "He was the kind of player whose accomplishments merit consideration for the Hall of Fame."

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2006/12/07/nhl-panthers-nieuwendyk.html

 

[ResilientBeast]

Hugh Lehman

-Eleven time PCHA First Team All-Star (1912, '14, '15, '16, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22, '23, '24)
-Eight time Stanley Cup Finalist, One time winner (1910, '10, '15, '18, '21, '22, '23, '24)

Random Quotes

The Globe 11-24-1925

Two Veteran Goalkeepers

Victoria Stanley Cup holders, have lost three of the five games played on their invasion of the East. They took two from the two Montreal teams, lost two in Ottawa and, recorded their third loss here last night to the Toronto professionals team St Patricks. Toronto fans who witness the contest last evening were reminded of the comparatively "old days" by the appeared of "Happy" Holmes in goal for the westerners. Holmes tended goal in the OHA senoir series here almost fifteen years ago. Goaltending is not as strenuous as some of the other departments of the game and the net guardians wear well. Another example is Hugh Lehman of the Vancouver tam, who has been a goal-keeper and a good one since the days when two red poles stuck in the ice without nets were the regulation goal.

The Globe 02-14-1922

Dispatches from Vancouver claim that Hugh Lehman is showing great form in the net for the Millionaires of the PCHA. He has the pass out from goal down to a fine art and in this respect is claimed to be the best in the coast circuit.

The Globe 01-26-1943

By Jim Coleman
While not wishing to discredit Chuck's (Rayner) performance we suggest that Victoria sport fans must have short memories. In the past 20 years, Victoria customers have seen some pretty fair goalers. These custodians included immortal Georges Vezina, Hughie Lehman, George Hainsworth, Heck Fowler, Happy Holmes who later played for Detroit Cougars.

The Globe 03-13-1914

A Victoria correspondent who came east with the Victoria team in quest of the Stanley Cup, is of the opinion that Hugh Lehman of the Vancouver team is the best net guardian in the professional ranks,

Comparisons to Peers (via Nalyd Psycho)

What we see time and again, over a long period of time, and from the West Coast to Ontario. Hugh Lehman was the benchmark for superior goalkeeping. When others are said to be better than Lehman, it is high praise. (When Charlie Gardiner is, we can safely say that Gardiner's peak value is high, but his career value is lacking.) And when others are said to be less than Lehman, it is no criticism at all.

(1919) and last but not least, the goal-minders, who have demonstrated that they can stop the hard shots a la George Vezina and Hugh Lehman.

Source

(1914) As a goalkeeper, Lesueur is still in a class by himself. They talk about Moran, Holmes, Vezina and others, but the only net guardian capable of giving Lesuer a run for the honours is Hugh Lehman

Source

(1931) Gardiner is even greater than Hughie Lehman, known as "Eagle Eye" was in his prime.

Source

(1916)Holmes work last season was sensational at times, but he had nothing on Hugh Lehman

Source

(1922)Hugh Lehman who has been a star for the last twenty years. And it could not be said that youth was served to the detriment of Lehman this time, as the veteran played equally as well as the St. Patrick's wizard.

Source

(1915) Hugh Lehman, the best goaltender in the game, will be between the flags

Source

(1909) Ottawas will be sure of a good goalkeeper if they land Hugh Lehman.

Source

(1922) Coast lacrosse fans, by every indication, have said goodbye to Bun Clark. The veteran goalie, whose name in gutted stick circles is on a par with Hugh Lehman in hockey

Source

Stanley Cup Series By Series Recap

Stanley Cup Series 1915

Game 1
Nothing on Lehman's performance

Game 2
Edmonton Bulletin 03-25-1915

The Ottawa Players electrified the fans with their burst of speed in the first period and when they secured the two goals and had Lehman Vancouver's goaltender dancing in all directions there was not much enthusiasm displayed by the Vancouver fans.

Game 3
Nothing on Lehman's performance

Stanley Cup Series 1918

Game 1
Edmonton Bulletin 03-22-1918

It was Vancouver's worst exhibition of the season according to President Patrick, who was at a loss to account for the indifferent form displated by his champions. In his opinion only Mackay and perhaps Lehman performed up to mark. "Cyclone" Taylor was more or less a disappointment.

Game 3
Edmonton Bulletin, 03-27-1918

Two of the Westerners' counters were practically gifts, Taylor taking (???) when he crammed in the goal mouth. Mackay was conspicuous bit he was watched closely by Skinner and at times showed his displeasure at the latter's persistent attention by much slashing. Lehman's work in goal boarded on the marvelous. He had three times the work that Holmes was called upon to do and he undoubtedly saved the visitors from much worse beating.

Game 4
Edmonton Bulletin, 03-29-1918

The first period was decidedly plain, but in the second there were general slashing bees and many penalties imposed. The last chatper was almost a burlesque, the plus at one time playing two men short and it was while they were not at full strength that Vancouver ran up several goals. Holmes had a bad night, letting some easy shots get away from him, while Lehman was almost unbeatable.

Game 5
Edmonton Bulletin, 04-01-1918

The last five minutes of the game was the most exciting of the contest. Vancouver threw every man with the exception of the goal-keeper into the attack and had the Torontos back up into their own nets. Mummery several times relieved the tension by lifting the puck the length of the ice. On two occasions the Blues came in on Lehman, but he came out and met the rushes. His great work has been an outstanding feature of the play and he never showed up to better advantage than he did tonight. But for him and Mackay the series would hardly have gone into an extra game.

The Toronto Daily Star

Outside of Denenny's great work the outstanding feature was the marvelous work of Harry Holmes and Hugh Lehman, the rival goalkeepers. No better exhibition of goal-guarding has ever been seen in Toronto than this pair gave Saturday night. They were both wizards. It was positively uncanny the way in which this pair came out and out guessed players who had penetrated the defences.

Stanley Cup Series 1921

Game 1
Edmonton Bulletin, 03-22-1921

In the first stage of the game the Ottawas seemed to excel in stick handling but were not so speedy on the ice as theur opponenets. In the last period, however the easterners appeared to grow faster on their skates and made long rushes down the ice. Gerard, Nighbor and Denenny were particularly brilliant. In the last period Ottawas introduced some very clever combination play and only the great defensive tactics of Vancouver and the invincibility of Goalie Lehman kept them from scoring.

Game 2
Edmonton Bulletin, 03-25-1921

They went through the PCHA champion defence like sunlight through glass. "Eagle Eye" Lehman saved his team from being hopelessly outdistanced by a remarkable exhibition, practically playing the whole Ottawa team single handed.

Game 3
Edmonton Bulletin, 03-29-1921

Lehman's long forward passing from the Vancouver goal bothered the easterners as it did in the first of the series.
...
Desireau on the Vancouver right wing was playing pretty well at large, allowing his opponent Denenny to run wild. As a result it was from the left that most of the shots poured in on Lehman. The Ottawa checked splendidly throughout the period. Darragh carrying the puck part the way and shot from the blue line.

Lehman cleared but the speedy runner gathered in the rebound and snapped it in. The time was 8:08 . One of the features of the is period was the offensive rushes or Eddie Gerard.

Game 5
Edmonton Bulletin, 04-05-1921

Lehman was leaving goal continually in the the period checking Ottawa men who broke through. Denneny was on the stars of the team. Rushing dangerously and shooting close in on Lehman constantly...
....
Once Lehman skated out to the blue line after a close puck, and sent in a long shot which got through as far as Benedict.

Stanley Cup Series 1922

Game 1
The Globe 03-18-1922

Great Duel between Lehman and Roach

Particular interest centred in the play of the rival goalkeepers John Ross Roach, the greatest net guardians in the East and Hugh Lehman who has been a star for the last 20 years. And it coult not be said that youth was served to the detriment of Lehman, this time the veteran played equally as well as the St Patrick's Wizard, which in itself is praise enough. Neither is to play for the sh0ts that got past.
....
Lehman however, saved the day and he amazed the spectators by skating over to the rail several times to retrieve the puck. He is remarkably active on his skates

The Toronto Daily Star

Great is Lehman

The big surprise of the evening was not so much St Patrick's defeat as it was the appearance of a goalkeeper who out worked the famous little St Pats cage custodian. Public opinion as to the relative strength of the club was about equally divided before the game. But most fans were willing to Admit that John Ross Roach was the best little Jack in the box in pro hocky
....
But to get back to a goalkeepers Johnny Roach put up a sterling performance last night and no one will try and take any of the credit from him but the fact remains that Hugh Lehman, the ex-Berlin veteran proved himself to be one of the greatest goalkeepers that ever donned a pad. Lehman has been in the game a long time and has been for years considered the one of the best three goalkeepers in Canada, but it was figured that if he slipped back the width of a whisper that Roach would out star him.

But Lehman hasn't slipped and last night's performance made them all sit on and take notice. He is the liveliest goalkeeper I have seen in many a moon. He thinks nothing at all of going over into the corner to get the puck and pass it out to his forwards. He was out of his net three or four times last night, and away out at that.
....
But Lehman had Babe's (Dye) curves figured out, and he beat him time and time again

Game 2
Toronto Daily Star 03-29-1922

In the first part of the third period Lehman scored one for the Irish and knotted the contest up. Cameron shot and Lehman stopped it. The puck nestled around his feet and he fell on the nestled around his feet and he fell on it to stop Denneney from getting it. Denney took a half nelson on Grandad Lehman and gave him a roll and when the referee untangled them the disc was over the line (Seriously that sounds like a clear goalie interference, modern NHL would probs rule it good though)
...
Roach in goal was a tower of strength for the winners. He looked just as good as Lehman at all times

Game 5
The Globe 03-29-1922

"Old Eagle Eye" was not as good as usual, and when his mistakes gave the locals two goals in the first period, all the fight and sash was taken from the Millionaires...

 

[Dreakmur]

Kris Letang !!!

Awards and Achievements:
3 x Stanley Cup Champion (2009, 2016, 2017)

2 x Second Team All-Star (2013, 2016)


Norris voting - 3rd(2013), 4th(2016), 6th(2011), 8th(2015), 9th(2012)
All-Star voting - 3rd(2013), 4th(2016), 6th(2011), 8th(2015), 9th(2012)

Offensive Accomplishments:
Points among Defensemen - 1st(2013), 3rd(2016), 6th(2011) 7th(2015), 17th(2018)
Points per Game among Defensemen - 1st(2013), 2nd(2012), 2nd(2016), 4th(2015), 4th(2017), 12th(2011), 12th(2014), 19th(2018)

Play-off Points - 1st(2013), 2nd(2016), 3rd(2009)


5-Year Peak: 2011 to 2016
6th in Points among Defensemen, 94% of 2nd place P.K. Subban
2nd in Points per Game among Defensemen, 93% of 1st place Erik Karlsson

2nd in Play-off Points among Defensemen, 81% of 1st place Duncan Keith

10-Year Peak: 2009 to 2018
7th in Points among Defensemen, 89% of 2nd place Duncan Keith
3rd in Points per Game among Defensemen, 94% of 2nd place John Klingberg

2nd in Play-off Points among Defensemen, 81% of 1st place Duncan Keith


Scoring Percentages:
Points among Defensemen - 100(2013), 100(2016) 90(2015), 81(2011), 79(2012), 76(2018), 61(2017), 52(2009)
Best 6 Seasons: 526

Points per Game among Defensemen - 124(2016), 121(2013), 100(2012), 99(2015), 90(2017), 79(2011), 77(2014), 71(2018), 55(2009)
Best 6 Seasons: 613

Team Ice Times:
TOI - 1st(2011), 1st(2012), 1st(2013), 1st(2015), 1st(2016) 1st(2017), 1st(2018), 2nd(2010), 2nd(2014), 3rd(2009)
ES TOI - 1st(2010), 1st(2015), 1st(2016), 1st(2017) 1st(2018), 2nd(2011), 2nd(2012), 2nd(2014), 3rd(2013), 4th(2009)
SH TOI - 2nd(2015), 2nd(2016), 2nd(2018), 3rd(2013), 4th(2011) 4th(2012), 4th(2014)
PP TOI - 1st(2011), 1st(2012), 1st(2013), 1st(2014), 1st(2015), 1st(2016), 1st(2017), 1st(2018), 3rd(2010), 4th(2009)​

 

[overpass]

Vladislav Tretiak, G

Career Highlights:
1972 Summit Series Player -- significantly outplaying his Canadian counterparts
1974 Summit Series
1975 New Years Eve Game
1976 Super Series
1979 NHL Challenge Cup Winner
1981 Canada Cup Champion
3 Time Olympic Gold Medalist, 1 Time Olympic Silver Medalist
10 Time World Championships Gold Medal Winner (Also 2 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Selected to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team
Golden Stick Winner (1981, 1982, 1984)
IIHF Best Goaltender (1974, 1979, 1981, 1984)
IIHF All-Star (1975, 1979, 1985)
Izvestia Cup Best Goaltender (1978, 1980)
Canada Cup MVP (1981)
Canada Cup All-Star (1981)
Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame 1989 (The first player who never played in the NHL to be so honoured).

Vitals:
Born: April 25, 1952
Position: G
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs

Regular Season (Soviet League):
Soviet League Champion (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
5 x Soviet League MVP (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983)
14 x Soviet League All-Star (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984)
Soviet League MVP – 1st(1974), 1st(1975), 1st(1976), 1st(1981), 1st(1983), 2nd(1978), 2nd(1984), 3rd(1973), 3rd(1977), 3rd(1982), 4th(1972), 5th(1971)

Playoffs:
As alluded to above, he significantly outplayed his counterparts in the 1972 Summit Series:

After 1972 Summit Series: Canada ultimately would prevail, if only by the thickness of the friction tape on Paul Henderson’s stick, in this landmark eight-game Summit Series.

But in their mismatched equipment and decade-old skates, the Soviets gave the Canadians all they could handle — and much more — in a series that forever would change hockey’s global landscape.

The backbone of the U.S.S.R. squad that romped in Montreal was an unheralded young goaltender who had been dismissed as his team’s weakest link.

But by the end of September, Canadians knew a great deal about 20-year-old Vladislav Tretiak. The netminder from Dmitrovo stoned Team Canada shooters on Sept. 2 and in the seven games that followed.

Tretiak made many miraculous saves on the 267 total shots he would face, his .884 save percentage superior to the combined .859 on 227 Soviet shots fired at Ken Dryden and Tony Esposito.


Tretiak's impressive Olympic resume can be found here: Vladislav Tretyak Bio, Stats, and Results

Quotations and Perspective:
The Contrarian Goaltender from the HOH Top Goalies project:

I'm struggling with Vladislav Tretiak. Part of me thinks he's getting underrated by our NHL-centric worldview and deserves to go near the top of this round. The other part of me is always skeptical of goalies with accolades on great teams, particularly against mostly weaker competition, and wants to leave him where he fell on my original list (which was ahead of only Benedict and Durnan, who I think has nearly as many questions about quality of competition and strength of team defence as Tretiak does).

I spent a fair amount of time researching international goalies for this list. The concerns about quality of competition for goalies in weaker leagues are fair, although just throwing out their results entirely based on whatever league they played in is certainly not. It's all a matter of context. It is fair to demand that a goalie dominates a weaker league. The flipside is that when the goalie does dominate a league by winning MVPs and championships and being widely seen as the best goalie, then that should be given at least some credit. Otherwise you're just penalizing the goalie because of circumstance.

What you ideally want to see out of a goalie in a weaker league is all the signs that they were a rare talent. Them being a prodigy, breaking into the top level at an early age is usually a sign (many of the goalies who went on to North American success were cleaning up their domestic leagues in their early 20s). Winning a pile of domestic awards and putting up strong stats relative to other goalies is also fairly crucial, even though there are certainly limitations to the value of awards voting. And finally you want to see evidence that the goalie could compete at the highest level on the international stage, and that includes things like NHL interest, starting for their country a long time, etc., not just how many best goalie awards they win.

As far as I can tell, the only two goalies who really fill in all the checkmarks when you look at their international careers are Vladislav Tretiak and Dominik Hasek. The more I look at Holecek, the more I think that he's getting too much credit for a few comments made around the 1976 Canada Cup, and because members of the media directorate were hesitant to vote for world championship goalies on dominant teams. I really don't know why results from the mid-'70s are so crucial for evaluating Tretiak, particularly relative to Holecek, since Tretiak was only 24 at the 1976 Canada Cup and his best hockey really came later. Maybe Holecek was better than Tretiak for a few seasons in the mid-'70s, but maybe Tretiak was the best goalie in the world in the early 1980s. Compare them head-to-head at the same ages and I think Tretiak has a clear advantage career-wise, even just on the international stage, and any weighting at all given to domestic results further tilts the advantage decisively to Tretiak.

From watching Tretiak play, I think it's possible he was the best in the world and a guy who was capable of being an NHL star. However, I also put a lot of stock in numbers for evaluating goalies.

There is one big concern with Tretiak's statistical record, and that is according to Chidlovski Tretiak's career international GAA is higher than every other goalie who played at least 20 games for CCCP. Tretiak had 2.28, every other Soviet goalie combined for 2.07. In the early years Puckov and Konovalenko probably had much weaker competition, and since Tretiak dominated the net for so long it's possible that all the other guys were mainly playing against Poland and East Germany whenever they did get the odd start, but that is at least questionable for Tretiak.

Same thing with shutout rate: Tretiak had 29 in 291 games (10.0%), all others had 105 in 725 (14.5%). Tretiak was worse than every other Soviet goalie with at least 25 games played, with the exception of Alexander Sidelnikov.

On the other hand, his Olympic numbers are excellent even on a dominant team, with the noticeable exception of Lake Placid:

1972 Sapporo (19 yrs old): 116 saves, .928
1976 Innsbruck (23 yrs old): 181 saves, .943
1980 Lake Placid (27 yrs old): 42 saves, .840
1984 Sarajevo (31 yrs old): 112 saves, .966

And Tretiak's numbers relative to his backups in CSKA Moscow seem to be clearly better than Ken Dryden's relative to his backups in Montreal, although I'm not positive that the data I have is accurate (sources are HockeyDB and Elite Prospects). I'm assuming there was no overtime skewing the minutes played numbers and that Tretiak's games played numbers were from the regular season only and didn't include any other games (which was an issue with Hasek's numbers in the last thread):

1971: Tretiak 40 GP, 2.03; CSKA Moscow 40 GP, 95 GA, 2.38
1972: Tretiak 30 GP, 2.60; CSKA Moscow 32 GP, 94 GA, 2.94
1973: Tretiak 30 GP, 2.67; CSKA Moscow 32 GP, 102 GA, 3.19
1974: Tretiak 27 GP, 3.48; No team data
1975: Tretiak 35 GP, 2.97; CSKA Moscow 36 GP, 122 GA, 3.39
1976: Tretiak 33 GP, 3.03; CSKA Moscow 36 GP, 122 GA, 3.39
1977: Tretiak 35 GP, 2.80; CSKA Moscow 36 GP, 113 GA, 3.14
1978: Tretiak 29 GP, 2.48; No team data
1979: Tretiak 40 GP, 2.78; CSKA Moscow 44 GP, 131 GA, 2.98
1980: Tretiak 36 GP, 2.36; CSKA Moscow 44 GP, 118 GA, 2.68
1981: Tretiak 18 GP, 1.78; CSKA Moscow 49 GP, 113 GA, 2.31
1982: Tretiak 41 GP, 1.70; CSKA Moscow 47 GP, 91 GA, 1.94
1983: Tretiak 29 GP, 1.46; CSKA Moscow 44 GP, 73 GA, 1.66
1984: Tretiak 22 GP, 1.89; CSKA Moscow 44 GP, 80 GA, 1.82

1972: Dryden 64 GP, 2.24; Montreal 2.60
1973: Dryden 54 GP, 2.26; Montreal 2.33
1975: Dryden 56 GP, 2.69; Montreal 2.79
1976: Dryden 62 GP, 2.03; Montreal 2.14
1977: Dryden 56 GP, 2.14; Montreal 2.12
1978: Dryden 52 GP, 2.05; Montreal 2.27
1979: Dryden 47 GP, 2.30; Montreal 2.52

In all, I think I need to move Tretiak up some but I haven't decided yet how much. I'd be very interested to hear more from European posters who might have access to better Russian league stats or more info on how Tretiak was rated in Europe relative to his NHL contemporaries.


Darren Eliot on Tretiak’s stylistic innovations and why he was the greatest goalie ever.

Writers roundtable: Brodeur the best of all time?

I'm going to offer up Vladislav Tretiak as the best ever and here's why: He bridged eras from both style-of-play and global perspectives. Let's look at the history, shall we?

In the beginning, Plante wrote the book -- literally -- on goaltending: strict standup fundamentals that influenced three generations of netminders, with the Flyers' Bernie Parent in the mid-70's being the most accomplished and obvious disciple. Parent's counterpoint contemporaries were Dryden and Tony Esposito -- both preferring to play on their knees, taking up space, focusing on low shots. They were both direct descendents of the first butterfly stylist -- Glenn Hall -- who himself borrowed the bottom-net-priority philosophy from a guy he saw in the American Hockey League.

The offense-happy 80's took its toll on goalies, increasingly incorporating side-to-side plays and drop passes to defensemen who were jumping up and joining the attack. Goaltending techniques remained divided and still mostly self-taught, with strict stand-up practitioners like Greg Millen adhering to Plante's teachings and drop-down advocates being represented best by the economical Mike Liut and the athletic and agile Grant Fuhr. These guys provided the bridge to the fully adjusted netminders of today -- the generation sacrificed to arrive at what Russian great Tretiak already knew.

Tretiak brought both styles together -- playing big with his upper body, while protecting the low corners with his pads forming a V. He also introduced a change in priorities -- the need to consider the offensive player on the weak side, rather than zeroing in solely on the puck carrier. Tretiak's controlled butterfly style -- playing a little deeper in the crease to protect against the cross-ice pass -- is now the norm in the NHL, adopted by virtually everyone and turned into an art form by Roy, who further refined Tretiak's mechanics on plays in tight by playing neither the shot nor the pass. Roy chose to play percentages only by spreading out and taking away as much net as possible.

If imitation is truly the highest form of flattery, then Tretiak's role in redefining the position -- particularly when considering how the North American game was evolving to add more European influences on the attack -- makes him the greatest goaltender of all time.

E.M. Swift on Tretiak.

An Army Man To The Core


Tretiak never looked better than he did in the 1983 world championship in Munich last spring, allowing just four goals in seven games as the Soviet Union coasted to its 19th title. When he skates into the goal crease for the 1984 Games in Sarajevo, Tretiak will become the first Soviet hockey player to appear in four Winter Olympics. He is still, at 31, the best goaltender not only in the U.S.S.R. but also in the world, and when he retires, an era will end—not just for the Soviets, but for the sport itself. Tretiak belongs to the sport—not just to a team or to a nation—and is as respected in Montreal as he is in Moscow. A generation of hockey fans will never forget the things he has done in the nets.

The rumors that Tretiak would seek to join the Canadiens, who did, in fact, draft him last June, began on New Year's Eve, 1982, in the midst of the Soviet National Team's most recent tour of NHL cities. Tretiak had shut out the Quebec Nordiques and the Canadiens, two of the league's most explosive teams, in back-to-back games. After his team was beaten 5-0 on New Year's Eve, Montreal Forward Mats Naslund said, "I have never played on a team that had such a good game and didn't score a goal." It was familiar praise for Tretiak, who always seemed to save his greatest performances for the Montreal Forum: the 7-3 Soviet upset of an NHL All-Star team in the opening game of the 1972 Summit Series, the 3-3 New Year's Eve classic in 1975 and the 8-1 final of the 1981 Canada Cup, to cite three. When Tretiak was named the first star of that 5-0 game, the Montreal fans gave him a standing ovation that lasted four minutes. Twice Tretiak was forced to skate out from his line of red-sweatered teammates and wave to the crowd. It was an astonishing reception, surely the warmest ever accorded a Soviet athlete on this continent.

Tretiak could be forgiven his exaggerations. He was justifiably proud of his popularity in Canada. And while his skills are appreciated, by now countless NHL-ophiles have tired of the league losing to the Soviets and hope he'll retire soon. Always, it seems, Tretiak has been the difference. During the last tour, for example, the Soviets were 4-0 with two shutouts when Tretiak played goal. With Myshkin in goal, the Russians were 0-2.
Technically, what sets Tretiak apart from other goalies is his skating ability—the single most important facet to goaltending. He flows about the crease seamlessly. "A goalie must be a virtuoso on skates," Tretiak wrote in his autobiography. The Hockey I Love. "He does not stand in the crease, he plays in the crease." Tretiak's superior skating enables him to cut down angles a fraction more quickly, to set himself for a rebound the moment the first shot is stopped. And when he does leave his feet, Tretiak recovers almost instantaneously. He never seems out of control. It is not, however, technical matters that define greatness in goaltending—it's the intangibles Tretiak has a sort of genius for his position a love of the game an unwillingness to fail and the absolute conviction that he is a better man than the shooter he is facing There is something almost regal about great goalies on great teams—Dryden comes to mind—an air of dominion that starts at the crease and emanates outward.

Tretiak is not the product of a superior Russian system; there are not dozens like him waiting to appear on the scene. There is not even an heir apparent. His greatness is individual and irreplaceable.

HOCKEY

Skill, flair, fire in the belly—these are the traits I've looked for in the players on my alltime hockey Dream Team. No one said anything about passports. So in goal, I'll start Tretiak. Big, quick and fundamentally flawless, he dazzled hockey's cognoscenti from 1972, when he starred for the Soviets against Team Canada, until his retirement in '84. I'll back him up with seven-time Vezina Trophy winner Plante, whose minuscule 2.17 goals-against average in 112 playoff games helped his teams win six Stanley Cups. To those who would name Montreal's Ken Dryden and Detroit's Terry Sawchuk to the team, I say this: Those four were the best ever, but there are only two seats on the starship.

Greatest Hockey Legends said:
Team Canada's players fully believed their scouts' observations early in game one in Montreal. Tretiak allowed a goal just 30 seconds into the game, and before the 7 minute mark it was 2-0 Canada.

But from that point on Tretiak shut the door. Tretiak emerged seemingly from nowhere to rob and frustrate Canadian shooters who peppered him relentlessly.

September to Remember said:
Canada outshot the Soviets in 6 of the 8 Summit Series games including game 4 when Tretiak stopped 21 third period shots in a 5-3 Soviet win. And while Tretiak's save percentage of .884 isn't spectacular by today's standards, his play was spectacular by any era's standards.


La Presse, September 14, 1981 (translated from French. The day after the 1981 Canada Cup final)

BAnQ numérique

Tretiak, who allowed only 8 goals in 6 games, proved to the whole world he had become, at age 29, the outstanding goaltender of the years 1972 to 1977. He has won the title of the best goaltender in the world in an unequivocal fashion.

There are probably not any Canadian players who will challenge this assertion. Not the crowd of the Forum either, who gave him a well-deserved ovation after the game.

“Yes, that’s true, but it wasn’t Tretiak who scored their goals,” said a profoundly disappointed Guy Lafleur.
Lafleur, who was with Bryan Trottier one of the best Canadian players yesterday, estimates it was because his team played badly in the second period that the Soviets looked so good.

...

The Soviets, according to their statistics, had 15 scoring chances against 12.

On the Canadian side, they had 14 against 12 in favour of the Reds. But people will remember only one statistic: 8-1.

...

Said Michel Bergeron: “What is most frustrating is the score does not really tell the truth…just the first goal, and everything could have been much different.

“But”, adds Bergeron, “the more time passed the more it became a very tall order to put one behind Tretiak.”

...

But if the score was so dramatic for the Canadian players, it was largely due to Vladislav Tretiak, the best goaltender in the world. Tretiak performed miracles in the first period, notably. He stole several certain goals when his teammates in front of him were completely outclassed by the ardor of the Canadian players.
His tenacity changed the game.

...

Larry Robinson: Tonight, we did not get lucky and they had Tretiak.

...

La Presse, January 3, 1983: La phenome Tretiak (translated from French)
Eddie Johnston thinks Tretiak will become the longtime best goaltender in the National Hockey League if he obtains permission to come and complete his career here. “The man is constantly in the game, is prepared for all kinds of shots, has the habit of warding off danger and breaking the deadlock even when the defence is overwhelmed. What’s more, and it’s considerable, he has the presence to give confidence to his teammates.

For Johnston, Tretiak still has many good years to go and in the pros, he would excel just as well with 80 to 100 games. “Overall, with their long preparation for the world championships and various tournaments, the Soviets already play at least 80 games a year already,” adds Gilles Tremblay. “And I am convinced the intensity of his games does not fade throughout the year. Personally, I consider Tretiak to be the ideal type of goaltender, constantly standing and calm, tall and lively, more technical than a reflex player. In different ways he reminds me of Jacques Plante and Terry Sawchuk.”

Le Devoir, May 31, 1984 (Tretiak's retirement, translated from French):
Vladislav Tretiak, the number one star of Soviet hockey, has decided to retire from competition, announced the Soviet agency TASS yesterday.

Tretiak, considered the best goaltender in the world, announced he would now be coaching the goalies of the Red Army Club.

He had been drafted by the Canadiens in the ninth round last June, but he never responded to the questions of the general manager Serge Savard, despite repeated diplomatic efforts, among others at Sarajevo, at the last Olympic games.

The interest of the Canadiens in his regard had seemed to drop recently for two reasons: because of the evidence he would not come to Montreal, and because of the discovery of Steve Penney, a much more accessible goalie from Sainte-Foy.

The retirement of Tretiak will prevent Canadians from cheering him one last time during next Canada Cup. It was during the first presentation of this competition that he won the admiration of the North American public. The Montreal public, for one, made him a real idol and Tretiak had often repeated that it was in Montreal where he would like to play hockey if he ever came to North America, which led Savard to draft him.


La Presse (a Montreal newspaper) had a fan survey for their centennial edition asking for their readers' favourite athletes of the past century. 1250 readers submitted 10 name ballots, which were scored using a 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system. Maurice Richard won going away, with baseball player Babe Ruth in second, Gordie Howe in third, and boxers Joe Louis and Muhammed Ali in fourth and fifth. Below are the results for the hockey players. Note that Tretiak received substantial support and was not far behind Jacques Plante, the only other goaltender to get votes.

1 Maurice Richard 6767
3 Gordie Howe 2745
6 Wayne Gretzky 2513
9 Guy Lafleur 1375
10 Jean Beliveau 1062
13 Howie Morenz 955
20 Jacques Plante 667
22 Bobby Orr 662
27 Vladislav Tretiak 502
36 Aurele Joliat 320
50 Mike Bossy 24

 

[overpass]

Brad Marchand

​

Accomplishments
Stanley Cup (2011)
1st in playoff EV goals (2010-11)
6th in goals (2015-16)
1st in goals, World Cup of Hockey 2016
4th in goals (2016-17)
5th in points (2016-17)
2016-17 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

Since Marchand’s first full season in 2010-11, through February 20, 2017-18 he ranks high in several categories among NHL players.

1st in plus-minus (+185)
1st in shorthanded goals (23) and in shorthanded points (36)
1st in backhand goals (49) and backhand shooting percentage (29.3%)
6th in shooting percentage (16.1%)

ASSETS:

Owns very good scoring instincts and hockey sense. Is a world-class agitator and sparkplug type who plays way bigger than his 5-9 frame suggests. Is effective on special teams. Confident with the puck, he produces in the clutch.

FLAWS:

Plays over the edge sometimes. Size can be an issue at the National Hockey League level, especially because of his annoying style of play (he draws plenty of attention from opponents). Injuries may be a concern down the road.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

EV VsX: 72.4

 

[overpass]

Alexander Mogilny, RW/LW

​

Awards and achievements

• NHL All-Star Game(s) – 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2003 (Injured)
• NHL Second All-Star Team – 1993, 1996
• NHL Stanley Cup Champion – 2000 with the New Jersey Devils
• 1992–93 NHL Season – Goal Scoring Leader (76) (*tied) (since 1999, this distinction has been awarded the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy)
• 2002–03 NHL Season – Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
• (NHL) 1992–93 Season – Game-Winning Goals (11) (1st)
• Member of the Triple Gold Club (June 10, 2000)

Defection
Mogilny was a trailblazer as a defector from the USSR to America.
Defector: The Alex Mogilny story - Sportsnet.ca

Coaches Polls
1993: t-2 Best Pure Scorer (3 of 21)
1994: t-2 Best Stickhandler (4 of 21)
1994: t-4 Best Shot (1 of 21)
1994: t-6 Best Skater (1 of 21)

Quotes

Gare Joyce: When the Lights Went Out:
It's usually easy to project how history will judge athletes. More so than, say, politicians or artists or almost anybody else. Athletes are measured by titles, by wins and losses, by statistics. In hockey, players head to the Hall of Fame if they hit benchmark numbers and compile a resume featuring trophies, All-Star berths, and championships, Show enough skill on the ice and enough nerve in pressure situations, head to the Hockey Hall of Fame. It's clear-cut. Almost all the time.

It's hard to say how history will judge Alexander Mogilny. Hard to slot him. He'd show flash skill on the ice, yet he'd be perhaps his most artful off the ice. He'd never be regarded as a hard-nosed player, yet he'd do something so brave that his teammates regarded it as reckless. He'd never be thought of as a team player--not then, not later--yet he would do something that would benefit not only those who played beside him, but a whole generation of Russian players; he'd open the gates to the West that his countrymen would skate through.

Sergei Fedorov:
Q: Before you played in the NHL, you played on the Russian national team on a line with Alexander Mogilny and Pavel Bure. What was that like?
A: It was easy hockey. We didn't have any trouble communicating on the ice, no matter how fast we played. Hockey was just fun. On that line, I played defensively and would back-check. As soon as we got the puck, I would find either Alex or Pavel with a good pass and the puck would be in the net before I crossed the blue line.
Q: When it comes to being naturally gifted, who has the most talent out of the three?
A: Alex, I think, was the strongest. He has the most agility, the quickest release and the best shot. He was a little bit older and was the leader of our line.

Pat Quinn: Maybe the most talented player I had was Alex Mogilny.

Heart and Spirit: The Toronto Maple Leafs of 2001-2002: a Fan's Journal: Pat Quinn describes Alexander Mogilny as a conscientious player, who skates well, has good hands, and who sees the ice surface with considerable clarity. “He is one of the best players that I have ever coached.”

Alexander the Great
"Alex Mogilny can do things that I've never seen anybody else do," says Sabre center Pat LaFontaine, who has assisted on 23 of Mogilny's goals this season. "With his speed, with his quickness, with his hands, with his ability to be at top speed in three strides, it's scary. When a guy like that gets in a groove, you want to feed him every chance you get."

6 New Jersey Devils
New Jersey will have a harder time replacing swift right wingAlexander Mogilny, who scored 43 goals last year. Mogilnydemonstrated surprising grit late in the playoffs, and in July hesigned as a free agent with the Maple Leafs.

HFBoards user vadim sharifijanov: in terms of what he did, yeah bure was better. but to me, mogilny was the bigger talent. much better vision, much better playmaker, better wrist shot, almost as fast. i think the difference is mogilny had the physical tools and world class hockey IQ. not to say bure wasn't a smart player, but mogilny was a next level genius in terms of seeing the ice.

i think of what he could have done if he'd wanted to and i shake my head. of all wingers since 1990, jagr is the only guy where i can definitely say mogilny isn't as good as that guy. ovechkin is a maybe, bure is a maybe (though i'd lean towards no), selanne, iginla... can't say any of them were better than mogilny talent-wise without immediately doubting it.

Another post.

now mogilny was a true natural. he had all the individual parts (shot, speed, moves) and they all fit together fluidly like a well oiled machine. he would probably be in the 99th percentile for how he saw the game (at both ends, believe it or not), and that makes a huge difference. one wishes both mogilny and kovalev had their heads in the game more often, but i firmly believe mogilny could have had selanne's prime ('96-'00).

HFBoards user MS: Mogilny was both brilliantly skilled and brilliantly intelligent on the ice.

His defensive ability is really under-rated. If he'd actually wanted it bad enough, he could have been Selke material (like Fedorov). Just always knew where everyone was on the ice and exactly where the puck was going to go. He's probably the best forechecker I've ever seen in terms of forcing outlet passes to go to low-percentage areas ... looked like he was just casually wandering in on the forecheck but his positioning was genius and was always a step ahead of the defender mentally.

Mogilny is a funny guy in terms of his effort level. Some guys give 100% all the time. Some guys are just lazy, soft floaters. But Mogilny so often appeared to be at about 85-90%. It wasn't like he was mailing it in (as a guy like Kovalev often did), but that top bit of intensity was only there in spurts.

HFBoards user Andrew Sykes: I always admired how in Mogilny's first few years he was considered to be purely a shooter, then as his career went on he became more of a passer. Probably one of the smartest passers I've seen in the league. Shows how gifted of a player he was.

HFBoards user LeBlondeDemon10: I'd take Mogilny any day over Kovalev. Mogilny had so much better vision, explosive speed and his play making skills were very underrated. He aged very well because of his play making skills.

There's also an extended description of Mogilny's game in his Wikipedia article. It appears to be original research, meaning it could be posted by anyone...but there's not a whole lot out there describing his overall game, so here it is. Take it for what you wish.

Wikipedia
A natural right-winger, Alexander Mogilny profiles the classic Russian winger: An off-wing sniper with elusive skating ability, shiftiness, exceptional puck skills and an arsenal of shots. Under the CSKA Moscow hockey program, Mogilny developed elite skating and shooting capabilities to become one of the most talented Russian prospects to play in the NHL. He had explosive acceleration, which helped him generate numerous breakaways and the ability to blast through defenders. Listed at 6 feet and 200 pounds, he possessed a strong combination of agility, balance as well an uncanny ability to be evasive in checks. A highly effective forechecker, he did not rely on physicality to generate turnovers but instead a combination of anticipation, excellent positioning and a swift stick to create takeaways. Mogilny was particularly adept at creating quick-strike offence from his right-wing. He preferred to rush in on his off-wing, make a quick deke into the slot and fire a quick wristshot. If he was covered, Mogilny was more than capable of making crisp accurate passes to an open teammate off the rush to create an unpredictable offence. Although he was blessed with tremendous speed, Mogilny was also very skilled at slowing down his game to create half-ice offence because of his excellent hockey sense. He had outstanding on-ice awareness and was proficient in quarter-backing his team's offence from the half-boards.

He was generally a very structured, calculated player, utilizing his patience, physicality, and creative passing plays to generate offense. Offensively, Mogilny often drifted within a designated area in the offensive zone and would rely particularly on plays from the right side and behind the net; his anticipation, meanwhile, permitted him to retrieve loose pucks and create second opportunities from behind the opposing net. He utilized his shot and side-to-side movement, as well as sneaky tactics to generate chances and would generally return to a number of preferred locations in the offensive zone if he was out of position. If he was freewheeling, however, Mogilny's skill set allowed him to at times perform remarkable feats with the puck. His combination of raw hockey skills and his willingness to not shy away from physical play made him, at the time, one of the most complete offensive players of the game.
A poised player with the puck, and gifted with incredible vision, Mogilny generated an abundance of remarkable plays. In addition, his stick handling skills were excellent, and his skating was terrific. While he was not as explosive a skater as Bure, Mogilny's tremendous agility allowed him to navigate smoothly throughout the open ice. His speed was also very admirable. As a result, when carrying the puck into the offensive zone, he could frequently cut across the slot or maneuver into an open space to unleash his shot. Occasionally, though, he would catch the opponent unprepared, and would swiftly stickhandle through the defender. Defensively, his ability to send pucks cross-ice was useful when his team needed to transition quickly.

Often the offensive catalyst for his line and his team, Mogilny has led his team in scoring various times. As his career progressed and injuries began to mount, he evolved into a cerebral play-maker to generate his offence. Mogilny has always been a strong two-way player thanks to a high level of hockey instincts and a tremendous sense of anticipation. His preferred move on a breakaway is a quick snapshot to catch the goalie off-guard. The backhand 5-hole is also one of Mogilny's favourite moves.

 

[Voight]

Peter Laviolette

Awards and Achievements:
2005-2006 Stanley Cup
2009-2010, 2016-2017 Stanley Cup Finalist
Only the 4th coach in NHL history to lead 3 different teams to the finals
Made the playoffs in 9 out of 13 full seasons
Two division titles (2006, 2011)
Runner up for the 2006 Jack Adams award

Coaching Record (as of June 2017)​

Regular Season - 518-363-25
Playoffs - 66-58

Jack Adams Record: 2, 3, 6, 10, 10, 12, 12
His second place finish he was one vote shy of winning.
5 Seasons he made it to the second round
3 Seasons made it to the finals

Laviolette has taken his last two clubs to the Stanley Cup Final. He won it all in 2006 with the Hurricanes and then led the Flyers to the Final only to come up two games short in 2010.

“It really feels good today to know that we’re in good hands with a real experienced coach that’s turned franchises around,” Poile said. “In his whole history, when he first started coaching, he took over a team in the ECHL and took them from a very low position into the playoffs to almost winning a championship. When he got his first chance in the American Hockey League, he took a team in Providence that had one of the worst records ever in the league and won 71 games and then won a Calder Cup.”

Okay, but that’s the minors. What about the big leagues?

“In his first NHL opportunity with the Islanders, he took a team that had 52 points took them to 96 points and a team that made the playoffs,” Poile continued. “When he went to Carolina, they went from 76 points to 112 points in his first year and won the Stanley Cup. Then, in his last job with the Flyers, they went from 88 points to 106 points and they went to the Finals in 09-10. This is exactly what we’d like to have happen here.”

Laviolette is the type of coach that a GM brings in when he wants his team to win now. His hiring is understandable, then, given that pressure was likely put on Poile by ownership to make changes to bring about the kind of wins Nashville hasn’t seen in a while. Nashville’s fans want to see their team succeed; ownership wants to see those fans stay in the seats. What better way to say “We are dedicated to helping your team succeed, Nashville” than to bring in a Stanley Cup winning coach?

Laviolette has won nine of the 14 post-season series he has coached with the Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers. He also won the Stanley Cup in 2006 with Carolina and coached the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals in 2010.

Laviolette is considered an offensive-minded coach with his teams finishing in the Top 10 in six of his eight full seasons and not lower than 13th in goals scored. That helps fill a major need for the Predators who scored only 216 goals this season when they finished three points out of the final Western Conference playoff berth.

"He's a great fit for our team and what we need going forward," Cullen said on a conference call. "And I just think a lot of Peter as a coach. He's a good person, and he just has that real ability to bring out the best in all of his players."

Thanks to Resilient Beast for some of the research done.​

 

[Voight]

Kimmo Timonen

All-Star voting - 5th(2007), 14th(2009), 18th(2008), 18th(2013), 20th(2002), 21st(2012)

Norris voting - 5th(2007), 15th(2009), 17th(2008), 20th(2013)

You all know the big names on this team, seven players were here for all three titles, the guys you’ve heard me talk about twice before, so today I actually wanna give the spotlight to two of the unsung heroes on this team, and they’re the kind of guys that are behind the scenes of every winning team in sports and beyond. First there is Kimmo Timonen. Now Kimmo already had a great career before last season. He had been to the Stanley Cup final, Olympic final, World Championship final — he had lost them all… [laughter from the audience] … Just telling the truth… [more laughter] … In August he was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs and his calf, he wasn’t even sure he’d play again. He was traded to Chicago mid-season, fought back on the ice, his final NHL game, at the age of 40, Kimmo finally hoisted the Cup. And that, first of all, as an old guy, it makes me feel good, but it’s also a sign of a great career when somebody who’s just able to stick with it and consistently contribute and make a huge difference, so give Kimmo a big one!

"You're talking about a special player, don't forget," Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said during a conference call. "These types of players, I know Kimmo's 39 years old, but this is a special player. If he goes in there and plays the way he's capable of playing, he's going to give Chicago a big boost.

Timonen spent seven of his 15 years playing in the NHL with the Flyers, joining the ranks of Mark Howe and Eric Desjardins as arguably the third most significant defenseman who has worn orange ‘n' black.
Much of Timonen’s Flyers career was spent alongside Braydon Coburn, forming one of the most dynamic defensive duos in club history.

Timonen leaves in what will be his 16th season where he didn’t play at all as a Flyer because of blood clots in his lungs and legs. Still, his marks on the franchise will stand for generations.
He was the third most productive defenseman in Flyers history with 270 points in 519 games. He averaged 22 minutes, 27 seconds ice time here — two ticks shy of his eight-year average with the Nashville Predators.
His presence made the Flyers' power play and penalty kill one of the top 10 in the league.
His five Barry Ashbee Trophies as the club’s best defenseman are second only to Desjardins (seven).

 

[Sprague Cleghorn]

MARTY PAVELICH
​

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

*Five 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!​

This summary perfectly describes Pavelich:​

Detroit Free Press, April 5 1955, page 23

A few years back, Pavelich stood up… to receive a hockey trophy as the unsung hero of the Red Wings.

Just what [Pavelich] did is difficult to explain by pointing out any other parallel in sports. When one hockey team is short handed… the scoring odds ride with the opposition. And when the short handed team scores, those same odds spin around like a sparrow in a cyclone. Dizzy-like, that is.

Pavelich’s play had a touch of Dusty Rhodes in it. Startling, unexpected, spectacular, decisive.

The massive shadows cast by his three illustrious teammates weren’t the only ones that Marty played in. For years now, it has been his personal job to shadow one Maurice Richard, late of the Canadiens.

But when the playoffs rolled around, he blossomed. His winning goal Sunday was his 13th when the big chips were on the ice. Howe, greatest scorer in Detroit history, has only 21.

Manager Jack Adams calls the Howe-Lindsay-Kelly-Pavelich quartet “our Four Horsemen”. He never elaborated by breaking them down into their definitive category. But if the first three players fit the classical description by wreaking Death, Destruction and Famine in figurative fashion on rival hockey teams, then Pavelich fits the fourth… Pestilence.

They don’t call him Pesty Pavelich for nothing.

More primary sources on his defensive play, and speed:​

Detroit Free Press, May 8 1987, page 36

Sawchuk’s work was made easier by… plus the back checking of Pavelich, Skov and Leswick.

Detroit Free Press, August 30 1957, page 36

Pavelich has long been one of the most popular players with Detroit fans. He was a defensive specialist on the club…

Detroit Free Press, September 13 1956, page 36

The fans like his hustle, and admire his defensive skill. He’s an expert at killing off penalties.

Detroit Free Press, Feb 2 1955, page 23

Pavelich has been a key player for the Red Wings. He is one of the four men (Lindsay, Howe and Kelly are the others)... Jack Adams calls the quartet “my winning nucleus - I built around them and started the winning cycle”. He never fails to mention Pavelich as an important part.

“Pavelich is the best defensive forward in the league and the best penalty killer - it’s a shame there isn’t an award for those talents” Adams points out with vigor.

Pavelich is the type of athlete often referred to as a “team player”. He is a holier guy, a potent force in the locker room, never gripes and is a spark plug on the ice with his perpetual motion skating.

Detroit Free Press, December 15 1993, page 29

Bowman remembers [Pavelich] well.

“He was a very good skater and a real good defensive player. He was a very intense competitor… He usually played with Skov and Leswick. He didn’t score a lot but he always played against the opposing team’s top offensive line.”

Detroit Free Press, February 12 1959, page 31

Pavelich stayed for several years in the NHL only because of his defensive skill. Season after season, he dogged the Rocket just as faithfully as Shack now dogs Howe.

[Adams] linked Leswick with Skov and Pavelich and they could control any line they went up against.

Detroit Free Press, October 19 1955, page 26

Rarely does defensive strength get the same attention as offensive power. In this case however, the defensive platoon can take big bows.

Pavelich and Toppazzini are the regular penalty-killing forwards while Kelly and Goldham usually handle the defense.

Detroit Free Press, April 12, 1978, page 50

Pavelich was a feisty left winger… All he did was run on his skates, make life miserable for Maurice Richard and others…

Detroit Free Press, May 7 1995, page 44

Perhaps the hardest worker of all the Wings, Pavelich had great speed and would have been a 30 goal scorer had he been blessed with a touch more raw talent. Teamed with Skov and Leswick to give other teams fits.

Detroit Free Press, January 18 1950, page 18

SPEEDSTER: Max McNab… has established himself as the fastest man on the squad. In the race, each player had to circle the rink, stickhandling the puck all the way. McNab’s best time was 14.9 seconds. Pavelich was second at 15 flat.

Quotes on positional versatility​

Detroit Free Press, Oct 28, 1956, page 45

When Beliveau and friends invade the Olympia Sunday night, Pavelich and friends will be waiting.

Pavelich substitute center for the Red Wings.

During the summer all the rival brass did considerable plotting over ways to keep Beliveau in check. Jack Adams and Jimmy Skinner were not exceptions. Their answer was Pavelich, a 10 year veteran at left wing whose offensive power is limited but who is recognized as one of the finest defensive players in the game.

Pavelich was shifted to center. His big assignment was to be the checking of Beliveau.

Detroit Free Press, December 15, 1948

Center Max McNab… still has a 10 day wait for his broken hand.

Marty Pavelich transplanted to right wing.

Detroit Free Press, December 12 1948, page 25

Pavelich playing in place of Howe sent the Wings ahead at 6:23 of the second period

General quotes on performance in 1954 playoffs
​

Ottawa Citizen - Google News Archive Search, page 23

Leading the Detroit attack was Pavelich, a tireless skater who gets paid primarily to play defensive hockey.

The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search, page 23

Tommy Ivan’s checking line of Glen Skov, Marty Pavelich, and Tony Leswick took good care of the Beliveau - Moore - Geoffrion line.

The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search, page 18

Detroit also packs a powerful defensive strength in the line of Skov, Pavelich, and little Leswick. It was this line that looked after the Montreal trio of Beliveau, Moore and Geoffrion. Although the Boomer got Montreal’s lone goal, the line gave no indication of waltzing along to a scoring spree as it did against Boston.

The Montreal Gazette - Google News Archive Search, page 25

However, the Wings checked like leeches - especially Pavelich and Lindsay. Captain Lindsay was the spark plug in checking every Hab thrust with Pavelich, Prystai, and the defence pairs of Goldham - Kelly, Wolt and Pronovost bolstering the barrier.

Detroit Free Press, April 5 1954, page 25

Ivan had high praise for the checking line of Skov, Pavelich and Leswick, which was responsible against defending against the high scoring Canadien trio of Beliveau, Geoffrion and Moore.

Hawkey Town 18's stuff​

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."

​

 

[Dreakmur]

Eddie Oatman !!!

Awards and Achievements:
Stanley Cup Champion (1912)
PCHA League Champion (1916, 1922, 1924)

OPHL First Team All-Star (1910)
PCHA First Team All-Star (1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1923)
PCHA Second Team All-Star (1919)
*1916 at center, and 1922 at defense

Portland Rosebuds Captain - 1915, 1916, and 1918
Victoria Aristocrats Captain - 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923
Calgary Tigers Captain - 1924, 1925 and 1926
Minneapolis Millers Captain - 1927
Boston Tigers Captain - 1929
Buffalo Americans Captain - 1931

Offensive Accomplishments:
OPHL Points - 4th(1910)

NHA Points - 7th(1912), 9th(1917)
NHA Goals - 7th(1912), 7th(1917)
NHA Assists - 9th(1917)

PCHA Points - 3rd(1915), 3rd(1920), 4th(1918), 5th(1914), 6th(1916), 8th(1913), 8th(1919), 8th(1922)
PCHA Goals - 3rd(1914), 4th(1915), 5th(1919), 6th(1920), 7th(1918), 9th(1922)
PCHA Assists - 1st(1920), 3rd(1916), 3rd(1918), 4th(1915), 5th(1921), 6th(1913), 6th(1922), 9th(1914), 9th(1919), 9th(1923)


Consolidated Points - 7th(1920), 9th(1918), 11th(1912), 11th(1914), 12th(1915), 12th(1916), 12th(1919), 15th(1917), 20th(1913)
Consolidated Goals - 8th(1914), 10th(1919), 11th(1912), 12th(1918), 13th(1915), 15th(1917), 16th(1920)
Consolidated Assists - 1st(1920), 3rd(1918), 5th(1916), *6th(1913), 6th(1921), 13th(1915), 15th(1917), 16th(1919), 18th(1922)
*NHA did not record assists

Scoring Percentages:
Consolidated Points - 81(1920), 74(1912), 69(1914), 69(1915), 63(1918), 60(1916), 56(1919), 53(1913), 53(1917), 53(1921), 49(1922)

Best 6 Seasons: 416

Professional hockey may be the most physically challenging of all sports.The strenuous leg exertion - the grueling player contact - the playing arena coldness - the ice hardness, all takes their toll on the player. The professional career is fewer than a dozen years. Bobby Hull's 20-year career is exceptional. To play 32 years in the demanding sport should be impossible, yet that is the extraordinary accomplishment of Eddie Oatman.

While there is relatively little known about his personal life, the Internet did reveal information about his hockey career. Though Eddie never played in the National Hockey League, he was among the elite goal scorers of his era. During his 32 years playing professional ice hockey, Eddie was picked 10 straight seasons as an all-star with the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. He was a star with the Quebec Bulldogs when it won the 1912 Stanley Cup. Eddie played with clubs that won five league championships, and he was a successful coach and captain of five different hockey teams.

He signed with New Westminster Royals. In the 1914-15 season, he was named to the PCHA all-star team. The Royals became the Portland Rosebuds and Eddie became the team captain. The following year, he also was its coach and was an all-star again when the club won the league championship. However, the Montreal Canadians won their first Stanley Cup title beating Portland three games to two in a best-of-five playoff. With Portland's near victory over Montreal, expectations grew for their chances in the 1916-1917 season, but these hopes ended when Eddie enlisted in the Canadian armed forces as part of the 228th Battalion.

When the 228th Battalion secured a franchise in the NHA for the 1916-17 season, Oatman joined the roster. But when the 228th was sent to Europe for military action in the First World War, Oatman was discharged "for special circumstances." The following season Eddie went back to Portland, again as its coach and captain. When the Rosebuds suspended operations, Eddie joined the Victoria Aristocrats as their captain and remained with the team for the next five years. As result of another player's injury, he saw action with the Vancouver Millionaires when they lost the Stanley Cup to the Toronto St. Pats in 1922.

Eddie was traded to the Calgary Tigers in 1923-24. He helped the team win the Western Canada Hockey League title, but were denied a Stanley Cup championship when they again lost to the Montreal Canadiens. From 1924 to 1926, he was the Tigers' coach and captain, leading them to back-to-back championships in 1924 and 1925. Unfortunately, pro hockey collapsed in the West after the 1925-26 season, but he continued to play minor-league hockey. Eddie was the team captain of the Minneapolis, Minnesota, club in the American League in 1927. Then, for the next three years, he played for the Boston Tigers in the Canadian-American League (1928-1930), and as their captain led them to the league championship in the 1929. In 1931, he played as captain for the Buffalo Majors in the American League. He later served as a player-coach in Yorkton, Prince Albert and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, until his hockey-playing career ended when he was 50.

Eddie died 24 years later in 1973 at age 74. Although hockey was his life, Eddie was a barber by trade and found time to marry and have one son. There is a triangular stone for him at the Springford Cemetery, Oxford County, Ontario, where he is buried next to his brother Russ. He was also the subject of a Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" article for playing 32 years in professional hockey and is featured on at least two trading cards.

Following his death, Ed's family tried unsuccessfully to have him inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

...He played a few games on defense with Ernie Johnson and then took over his regular RW spot with Ken Mallen and Charlie Tobin. The next year playing rover and RW with the Royals, he made the PCHA All-Star team, in spite of being out two weeks with a broken toe. The team was moved to Portland where he repeated on the All-Star team when the Rosebuds won the championship but failed to win the cup... When the 228th Battallion secured an NHA franchise, Oatman was in the lineup and although their best player, earned some unfavourable publicity when the battallion went overseas... he returned to Portland where he played Rover... had four years with Victoria playing rover and RW, and also did a spell on defense with Clem Loughlin... He outlasted his old teammates Joe Malone and Jack MacDonald. He was a first class player, numbered amongst the elite who scored over 200 goals.

 

[Sprague Cleghorn]

SYD HOWE
​

• Stanley Cup Champion 3 times (1935-36, 1936-37, 1942-43)
• Hart record: 3rd (1943), 4th (1941), 5th* (1945)
• All Star LW: 2nd* (1945), 3rd (1941)
• All Star C: 4th* (1944), 6th (1943)

• Points: 2, 2, 8, 10*
• Goals: 3, 5, 6*, 8, 9, 10
• Assists: 4*, 5, 6, 7, 9

*Finishes during 1944 and 1945 years that were heavily depleted by WW2.

• 7 yr vs.X: 84.3 (87.9*)
• *score without war adjustment

Syd Howe in a nutshell
​

April 7, 1941, The Ottawa Journal, page 20: Hec Kilrea on Howe’s candidacy for the Hart

“But, it’s about time someone got mad enough to say something about the way Syd Howe is neglected. He didn’t make the all-stars but I bet if you made a survey of hockey players, he’d be there for left wing. Now the Hart Trophy is coming up and if there ever was a player deserving of that cup - not only this year, but for several years back - I’d say Howe was.

Syd’s the kind of a hockey player another player goes for. He keeps pounding away. He skates with any of them, checks harder than most of them and will do anything you ask but play goal and no one has asked him to do that. I remember the first time they asked him to play defence… You’d think he’d started out his career as a defence man that night.

Howe will be going for years yet. He’ll go back to the defence when he’s through as a forward, because he can break from any spot. I’d like to skate like him. But I had to wind up to go. Syd doesn’t. And on top of that, he can hit a hell of a body check.

Howe does everything well. He does most things better than most players can if you shift him around, but he never gets a break for a trophy award. I think they must look at him the way Detroit hockey writers do. They take him for granted. With them, it’s always ‘the reliable Syd Howe’. I’d say he’s too reliable for his own good.”

November 27, 1942, The Ottawa Journal, page 24

Syd Howe wears well among the professionals. Howe is an unusual character in as much as few, if any, hockey players, past or present, have turned in the same consistently brilliant efforts without meriting equal recognition. Over a period of years, his record in the NHL is unsurpassed. Yet Howe, a great all round hockey hand, never seems to draw the credit coming to him.

It is a matter of record that each year writers in different parts of the NHL circuit take time off to extol the hockey brilliance of this athlete. In each case he rates adequate praise. But, it’s also a matter of record that just as surely as one season runs into another, Howe is ignored in the voting for such awards as the Hart Trophy.

So it seems Syd is destined to go down in the books as a hockey player’s hockey player, taken for granted but those whose lot it is to single out the individual trophy winners. Among the players themselves, there are few more highly rated than the Ottawa forward, who switches from centre to wing and then moves back to the defence and still contributes the maximum in hockey efficiency.

February 19, 1943, The Ottawa Journal, page 19

Howe has been a mainstay, a rugged, steady going player who never has received the all-star rating he deserved. To draw a hockey parallel, he was like the statesman who claimed he got all the cheers, but his opponent got all the votes.

Hockey writers have lavished praise on Howe for his work. Plenty of them voted for him too, but somehow or other, Syd always missed out on one of the individual trophies. But, that hasn’t detracted from his worth as an outstanding hockey player.

His versatility has been utilized to the limit on various occasions by the Wings. He has been at centre, shifted to the wing and back again. At times, he has been sent back to the defence. Always he has come up with the same conscientious performance. A fine hockey player who all through his career has been a deservedly popular athlete.

Howe's time with the St. Louis Eagles (mostly PK evidence).
​

November 9, 1934, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 22: PK evidence

A little later, Shannon’s stick cut Burke, Chicago defense man… called for an automatic penalty of five minutes against Shannon.

While he was off the ice, Voss, Howe, Frew and Bowman managed to protect the St. Louis goal and the Hawks were unable to score.

The penalties against the Hawks expired, leaving five of them on the ice to three for St. Louis. Frew, Ayres and Howe were the St. Louis defenders.

December 21, 1934, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 24: More PK evidence

… when Bowman was chased and the St. Louis defence was called upon to handle the Toronto power play… Finnigan, Ayres, Frew and Syd Howe were called upon to do the work and they succeeded.

Frew was banished at the start of the third period and again the St. Louis defense was equal to the task but when Bowman [again] was chased… the Leafs tied the score. Again, Howe, Finnigan, Ayres, and Frew tried to stem the tide…

December 28, 1934, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 16

Howe, the youthful blond left wing, in addition to his scoring feats, played a great defensive game. He was all over the ice checking the rushes of the Wings and he didn’t hesitate to body check the opposing players. Twice, he set Ebbie Goodfellow, big Detroit defense man, own legally…

January 27, 1935, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 13

Howe is the big noise of the Eagles team and the outstanding star of the club.

He is fast on his skates and shifty.

Syd attributes his improvement to the fact that he has played left wing steadily this year but above all the center man on his line, Carl Voss, who, Syd says, is an excellent playmaker.

February 6, 1935, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 16: More PK evidence

[Himes] failed to cover Howe on the faceoff after Red Dutton had drawn a tripping penalty and Syd scored easily after Voss sent him the puck.

Howe, and linemates C Carl Voss and RW Glenn Brydson were pretty much the only positive things in St. Louis.

Howe traded to Red Wings
​

February 12, 1935, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 16

There is another angle to the deal, however, which immediately will have an adverse effect on the Eagles’ play. That is it breaks up the one real scoring line which the club has had all season in Howe at left wing, Carl Voss at center and Glenn Brydson, right wing. These three have scored the greater portion of the team’s goals and in addition have been very good at aiding the defense.

February 12, 1935, The Detroit Free Press, page 15

Syd Howe, high scoring left wing… were purchased by the Detroit Red Wings.

Adams has been partial to young Howe since he broke into the NHL as a member of the Ottawa Senators three years ago. Today he ranks third among the scorers of the International Division, being led only by Charlie Conacher, and Harvey Jackson…

Howe is one of the best stick handlers in the league and he knows how to finish around goal.

February 13, 1935, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, page 16

[Eagles] have lost Howe and in doing so, broke up a really first-class line. They have lost the fourth scorer in their division and in addition, hurt his two line mates Carl Voss and Glenn Brydson.

After being traded, Howe went on a tear, scoring 20 points in 14 games, propelling him to 2nd on the scoring table. However, Howe had the benefit of playing two more games than anyone due to the trade, playing in 50 games, while the schedule was only 48 games.

February 14, 1935, The Detroit Free Press, page 19

Howe and Bowman should make a vast difference in both the attack and defense of the Wings. Howe is a goal getter of top rank, a good team player and is a shifty stick handler.

Adams immediately sent Howe on the left wing on the second line with Ebbie Goodfellow and Eddie Wiseman.

Howe played the first game at LW, but finished the remaining 13 games at C.

March 8, 1935, The Detroit Free Press, page 19

The Wings’ line of Syd Howe, Eddie Wiseman and Johnny Sorrell doing a splendid job of keeping the veteran Boucher-Bill Cook-Bun Cook unit in check.

Three minutes later, Howe hooked the puck from Seibert in a manner that made the big fellow look foolish…

April 17, 1935, The Ottawa Journal, page 25

Syd Howe showed flashes of the speed and stick wizardry that netted him the American Section scoring honors of the NHL.

General quotes
​

March 10, 1935, The Detroit Free Press, page 18: Very high praise by Adams

How many hockey players in the NHL are 40 000$ players? Jack Adams, the Red Wings manager gave a quick answer.

“Right off the batt I’ll say Charlie Conacher and Harvey Jackson of the Maple Leafs, Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins is in the same class, and the Red Wings have the other one. His name is Sydney Howe, the Ottawa boy.

Jack declared that the four players he named weren’t for sale at any price.

The presence of Howe at center ice between Johnny Sorrell… and Eddie Wiseman has made a tremendous amount of difference in the efficiency of Johnny and Eddie.

“Howe has made a different kind of a hockey player out of Wiseman” declared James Norris Jr. “Before Howe came with us, Eddie was an average hockey player. Howe has aided Wiseman in regaining his confidence.

Howe has been a big factor in Sorrell’s improvement. Syd is fast enough to make plays suitable to Sorrell’s speed. Already this line is one of the smartest in the league.

Howe has a lot to offer Detroit hockey fans. The first thing he did was to firmly establish himself with Eddie and Johnny. They swear by him. Howe has youth and size. He is possessed of great courage. He can shoot and pass with the best of them. He has sufficient speed. Syd keeps himself in top physical condition at all times as a result he has an unusual amount of stamina even for a hockey player.

He matches Herbie Lewis for competitive spirit, is nearly as rugged as Aurie, and soon is expected to rival Cooney Weiland’s stick handling ability. He’s an asset to the Red Wings organization because of his contribution to team morale. His teammates rate him thus: “He’s a hell of a fine guy”.

​

November 29, 1935, The Detroit Free Press, page 19: More PK evidence

The Canadiens tried a power play when Johnny Sorrell was penalized and Howe and Hec Kilrea got the puck away from the power boys.

February 7, 1936, The Detroit Free Press, page 17: More PK evidence

In one with Capt. Doug Young off the ice for tripping… Syd Howe, Hec Kilrea, and defenseman Bucko McDonald and Ebbie Goodfellow aided in repulsing the terrific attack.

February 16, 1936, The Detroit Free Press, page 41: More PK evidence

Young was penalized for tripping… Howe got the puck away and had only King Clancy between him and the nets.

November 15, 1936, The Detroit Free Press, page 79

At left wing, [Adams] has Syd Howe who was a mighty fine centre in the first place.

December 13, 1936, The Detroit Free Press, page 57

Some day in a year or two, maybe Syd Howe will startle the fans by joining Ebbie Goodfellow back on the defense

He is a youngster without fear and that right today, he could be a rushing, aggressive defenseman. Only his superior value as a forward keeps King Wing Adams from trying him back there even now.

December 17, 1936, The Detroit Free Press, page 23

Syd Howe, brilliant left winger on the Red Wings will become a defenseman Sunday night against the Boston Bruins unless Scotty Bowman [returns from injury].

If the switch is made and turns out satisfactorily, Howe may find himself there permanently.

Adams pulled Bowman… and tried Howe out in his place. Syd did all right for a newcomer at the job.

The Howe experiment on defense will be more than an emergency move as Adams had planned to make a defenceman of him anyway in a year or so. The experience back there will do Howe no harm and it may do the Red Wings some good.

March 23, 1937, The Detroit Free Press, page 18

In the event Scotty Bowman is not able to take up his full time duties in the Red Wings’ defense setup Tuesday night, Jack Adams revealed that Syd Howe might be involved in a changed line up.

“Syd Howe is as versatile as any man in the league. He can turn in a good job at center and he can pitch in there at left wing as you know. And you also know he can play defense.” - Adams

April 11, 1937, Detroit Free Press, page 51

Syd Howe… is one of hockey’s coming great all-around stars. He can skate fast. He can check with the viciousness of a cowcatcher. He can score goals with the grace of the greatest offensive stars. He can hand out in punishment more than the average player can give him.

In other words, Syd will go down in hockey as one of its greats. So active is he that a reporter finds it difficult not to mention his name at least six times in every hockey story and a half dozen times each day between games.

April 14, 1937, The Winnipeg Tribune, page 14

Syd Howe filled in for Goodfellow on defence at times joined the forward lines with a brilliant exhibition.

Syd Howe replaced Pettinger at centre again.

March 3, 1939, The Ottawa Journal, page 18

[Howe] possessed one of the hardest shots…

March 31, 1939, The Detroit Free Press, page 23

Syd Howe was another star last night whose name didn’t get into the summary. He was a dynamo of protection and offense throughout the game. He played center, left wing and defense.

January 9, 1940, The Ottawa Journal, page 12

When the fleet, stocky forward, Syd Howe…

March 7, 1941, The Ottawa Journal, page 21

Not long ago, Syd Howe, fleet left wing… the chunky, swift skating product of Ottawa hockey.

March 9, 1941, The Detroit Free Press, page 23: Adams picks all-time Red Wings team

Goal: Normie Smith
LD: Goodfellow
RD: Noble
C: Barry
LW: Lewis
RW: Aurie
Utility: Syd Howe

Adams insisted on a utility man and chose Howe for that role without a quibble. “I wouldn’t pick the other six,” he said, “if I couldn’t pick Howe. Syd is the best all-around player in the NHL right now. He can play and has played every position on the team with the exception of goaltending. And he could do that.”

March 21, 1941, The Ottawa Journal, page 23

The hard skating [Howe], spark plug of the Wings’ attack all season came through with the playoff goal in overtime. More than a steady forward at any time of the year, Howe, season after season, has demonstrated himself a money player and last night’s counter may serve as a reminder to those who ignored him this year for even second team all-star rating.

April 2, 1941, The Detroit Free Press, page 16

In the surprising rise of the Wings, Howe, in his seventh season with the club, has been a jack of all trades and good at all of them.

At various times this winter, he has played left wing, defence, and center. Furthermore, he has sparked an aggressive, but basically inexperienced team until it clicked like nobody imagined it could.

This Howe is an unusual fellow. He talks with the bashfulness of a choir boy and bumps opposing hockey players with the abandon of a giant.

January 30, 1942, Lansing State Journal, page 17

He plays center now after several years at left wing.

April 20, 1942, The Ottawa Journal, page 19

Syd Howe, pinch hitting general utility man…

January 19, 1943, The Herald-Palladium, page 7

Aside from scoring talents, Howe possesses all-around ability that makes him the handy man of the Detroit club. At present, he is centering the top line of Bruneteau and Liscombe, but he can play either wing position and does a superb job on defense even though he’s on the small side.

In the average game, he’s on the ice more than half the time Besides taking his regular turn, Howe is out there whenever Detroit is shorthanded as a defensive measure and he likewise is utilized when the Wings have a manpower edge and are prepared to swoop in on the rival goalie.

March 14, 1943, Detroit Free Press, page 21: Howe chosen as Wings’ MVP in 1943 SC win

The thirty one year old Howe has been chosen as the most valuable member of the championship Red Wings and as such will receive the Jacobson Trophy and 250$ in war bonds.

Howe was named for the Jacobson Trophy not only because he led the Wings in scoring but because his all around playing despite injuries played a prodigious part in bringing Detroit its first league title in six years.

Besides being the top scorer, Howe also was used extensively when the Wings were a man short because of penalties. His defensive work on these occasions was just as important as his passing and shooting.

March 14, 1943, Detroit Free Press, page 21: Fans asked for best Red Wings player

Edward Rath: I’ll take Syd Howe for my No.1 Red Wing. He’s the most reliable man on the ice for the Wings. He’s always been the Johnny on the spot man for Detroit. He’s the type who is called a player’s player.

George Walker: I’ll pick the most aggressive player on the team - Syd Howe. He’s on the ice when the Wings are short a man. And he’s right up there in the scoring race. Yes, he’s the best in the league.

April 5, 1945, The Ottawa Journal, page 18: Howe finally makes AST

One of the most satisfying features of the all-star selection was the inclusion of Syd Howe. Year after year, Howe has been a first rate hockey player with a record so consistently good that both fans and selectors have taken him for granted. In that respect, he has been surpassed by none of the coterie of stars who have sparkled at the end of one season or another on all-star squads.

Someone once said that if it were left to the hockey players to make a selection, Howe would have been named on more occasions than one. Others believe him a victim of the Adams policy of de-emphasizing individual stars.

April 23, 1945, The Ottawa Journal, page 18

Yet, it was Sir Sydney, the all-rounder and back checker deluxe…

February 19, 1951, The Detroit Free Press, page 22: Maybe one day Gordie will be as good as Syd...

“I told [Gordie Howe] to keep working and maybe someday he could become another Syd Howe. But I never dreamed how right that would become” laughed Adams.

March 22, 1975, The Ottawa Journal, page 16

Syd was primarily a left winger though he played every position but nets in the NHL.

He was a clean, hard hitting two way star

May 21, 1976, The Ottawa Journal, page 22

Despite the fact that he was not a big man, playing at about 170 pounds, he was used at centre, on the wing, and on defence.

He was fast, clever and possessed a great shot

Credit to Hawkey Town 18, overpass, Stoneberg, Hobnobs, seventieslord for the following info
​

Joe Pelletier

Former Wings owner Norris credited Syd with creating interest in hockey in Detroit, years before it became known as "Hockeytown." Howe was also a major part of the 1936, 1937 and 1943 Stanley Cup championships. A versatile player who played in all positions except goal, Syd was used primarily at center and on left wing by the Wings. A remarkably consistent player...

Legends of Hockey

Howe was an all-around player, shifting between left wing and centre as needed, killing penalties and dropping back to play defence in a pinch. Those who watched the team closely reported that Howe's ice time with Detroit would constitute an amazing total.

Legends of Hockey

The Wings repeated as Stanley Cup winners in 1937. "For the greatest all around performance, you can't overlook Syd Howe's play in the 1937 series," mentioned xxxx, referring to the semi-final against the Canadiens. "Howe played defense, left wing and centre in the final game of that series." Detroit beat Montreal 2-1 in the third overtime period of that contest.

Montreal Gazette, March 10, 194x

When Syd Howe broke Nels Stewart's all-time point total in the N.H.L. the other night, Jolly Jack Adams nominated Syd the all-time Red Wing and declared he wouldn't take two Stewarts for Howe, though Nels is twice as big.

Howe was more versatile than Nels was said Jack. He has played every position except goal. He's a good backchecker and that's something Stewart never was. Both have been great competitors in the playoffs but Howe's record overshadows Stewart's. Stewart collected some of is goals before the crease (the area in front of the goal) was made out of bounds for opponents. In his day, forwards could block the goaltender off.

Flash Hollet, who also saw action against Nels, supports Jolly Jack's opinions and declares that in the 10 years he played with the Bruins he rated Howe as the league's outstanding centre.

Howe is a great team player said Flash. Stewart wasn't, though I don't think there ever was a better player around the nets than Stewart. When they were shouting the praises of Syl Apps, I couldn't even see him over Howe. I could always check Apps. You could always force him to make the first move, and drive him over to the side. Not Howe. Syd can shift from the inside or from the outside, or stop. He always makes a play. Some of the hardest bodychecks I ever took were from Howe while I was with Boston, as I was carrying the puck out of our end.

But these arguments never do get anywhere. Stewart and Howe are two of the greatest players to ever strut their stuff in the N.H.L, so why not let it go at that?

Bob Duff, 50 Greatest Red Wings

Syd played almost 60 minutes a game, left wing, right wing, power play, killed penalties." Cowley told the Ottawa Citizen in 1991.

Stan Fischler, Hockey Chronicle, Howe does the dirty work, scores a lot

Howe exhibited the hard working spirit of the Olympia stadium faithful, playing the corners, digging for the puck and delivering timely body checks.

Prescott Evening Courier, March 2, 1942

Despite his long service, Howe has lost none of his speed. A clever stick-handler, he is particularly dangerous in the scrambles in front of the opposition's nets.

The Ottawa Journal, June 8 1965

Jim Norris inevitably says: Things started to boom in a hockey way in Detroit when we bought Syd Howe from St. Louis. He was a tremendously conscientious forward who did a lot for us and became one of the most popular players we ever had in Detroit.

Durable, clean, and a player who gave of his best every time out, the Hall of Fame boasts no finer performer than Howe who finished his career in 1945-46.

Ottawa Journal, March 22, 1975

Bill Cowley, another NHL Hall of Famer from Ottawa, says: There's no doubt in my mind that Syd Howe was the most underrated hockey player who ever played in the National Hockey League past or present. I'll tell you something else, if you asked most anybody else who played with or against him they'd tell you the same thing.

Syd was primarily a left-winger though he played every position but nets in the NHL.

He was a clean, hard-hitting two-way star who returned to Ottawa shortly after his retirement, coaxed back by the late T.P. Gorman to play a half-season with Ottawa Senators.

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding Howe is how much did he play LW, C and D. I've broken down Howe's 1934-35, 1935-36, 1938-39, 1940-41 and 1942-43 seasons. The breakdowns only incorporate which position he was slated to START the game at, NOT mid game subs. Game reports taken from the Detroit Free Press, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Ottawa Journal.
​

1934-35 (St. Louis): Spent the entire season at LW on a line with Carl Voss, C, and Glenn Brydson, RW.

1934-35 (Detroit): Howe was the LW with Goodfellow, C, and Wiseman, RW for his first game with the Red Wings. After that, he spent the remaining 13 games at C, between John Sorrell, LW, and Wiseman.

1934-35 (Total): 37 at LW, 13 at C

1935-36: Howe started the season at C and shifted to LW midway through the season. Final tally was approximately 22 games at C and 23 games at LW.

1938-39: Pretty much spent the entire season at LW, along with Barry, C, and Bruneteau, RW.

1940-41: I counted 45 games at LW, and three games at C. Most common linemates were Gus Giesebrecht, C, and Bruneteau, RW.

1942-43: Spent pretty much the entire season at C. Bruneteau was his most common RW, and LW was filled by either Carl Liscombe or Harry Watson.

 

[Voight]

Mike Liut

Awards and Achievements:
1982 Lester B Pearson Award
1st Team All Star (1980–81)
2nd Team All Star (1986–87)
Led NHL in Goals Against Average (2.53) in 1989-90 season.
Led NHL in Shutouts in (1986–87) and (1989–90) seasons.
Won "Silver" in 1981 Canada Cup as starting Goalie for Team Canada.(4-1-1,1 SO, 3,17GAA)
Led NHL in "Games Played" and "Minutes" in (1981–82) and (1982–83) seasons.
Most Wins (239) by a Goaltender in the 1980s decade.
Most Shutouts (22) by a Goaltender in the 1980s decade.
Most Games Played (544) by a Goaltender in the 1980s decade.
Most Minutes (31597) played by a Goaltender in the 1980s decade.

Hart voting - 2nd(1981), 3rd(1987), 6th(1980)

Vezina voting - 2nd(1987), 5th(1990), 7th(1986), 10th(1984), 12th(1988)

All-Star voting - 1st(1981), 2nd(1987), 3rd(1980), 4th(1990), 8th(1984), 8th(1986), 9th(1982), 12th(1988)

**Until 1982 the Vezina went to the goalie(s) with the lowest GAA, the AST was seen as a better record of the best goalie**

Wins - 1st(1980), 2nd(1981), 2nd(1982), 2nd(1987), 5th(1988), 7th(1986), 8th(1984), 10th(1983)

Shutouts - 1st(1990), 1st(1987), 2nd(1982), 2nd(1985), 3rd(1984), 5th(1986), 7th(1980), 7th(1988), 8th(1983), 10th(1989)

Goals Against Average (GAA) - 1st(1990), 7th(1988), 8th(1987)

Save Percentage - 2nd(1990), 4th(1985), 10th(1984)

After five straight seasons of 20-plus wins, which included five of 25 straight playoff appearances for the Blues, Liut was traded to the Whalers with Jorgen Pettersson for Mark Johnson and Greg Millen.

While his numbers during the 1984-85 season weren’t at the same level of his Lester B. Pearson Award-winning season of 1980-81, he was still a very valuable goalie. During his tenure with the Whalers, Liut posted three 20-plus win seasons including a division title in 1986-87, and led the league in goals-against average (GAA) in 1989-90. Liut ended his professional playing career in 1992 after a mediocre stint with the Washington Capitals.

As of today, Mike Liut still holds the bulk of St. Louis Blues goaltending records. He still leads the Blues in the following categories: games played (347), wins (151), losses (133), ties/overtime losses (52), goals against (1194), minutes played (20,010), and many of the same categories in the playoffs as well. All of these records were set during the five and a half years he spent in St. Louis during the early 1980s, when offense was beginning to take off due to the rise of Gretzky, Messier, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Marcel Dionne, Bernie Federko, Peter Stastny and Denis Savard.

''That was a great trade for us,'' Coach Terry Murray said today about Liut's acquisition from Hartford on March 5. ''The reason we made the trade was to give the Capitals two great goaltenders in the playoffs. We have all kinds of confidence in Mike Liut.''

Mike Liut was acquired by the Capitals the day before last month's trading deadline to provide the kind of goaltending that brings success in the playoffs.

With Don Beaupre playing well, however, Liut has seen only limited duty thus far. But now that Beaupre is expected to miss the next two games of the playoff series against the Rangers, Washington will have to rely on Liut, who has had plenty of playoff experience in his 11 years in the National Hockey League.

Then the Canadiens knocked off a plucky Hartford team in seven. It was a Whalers squad that had Mike Liut—a borderline Hall of Fame guy himself—on one of those matchless, or near matchless, runs of his, and let it be said that few goalies could get hotter than Liut. Still he was no match for Roy.

 

[ResilientBeast]

Ron Stewart

Born: July 11, 1932
Died: March 17, 2012
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 197 lbs.

Stanley Cup Champion: 1962, 1963, 1964
Played in the NHL for 21 years: 1952-73
Norris Trophy: 4th (1957-58)
All-Star: 5th (1957-58 - D)
Lady Byng: T-10th (1954-55)

This is Ron Stewart, a long time, industrious hockey player throughout the 1950s, 1960s and into the 1970s. Teammates loved Stewart because he was hard working on the ice, and fun loving off of it.

Stewie got serious 70 times a year once the opening face-off took place, and was a very durable and often underrated hockey player.

Greatest Hockey Legends.com: Those Were The Days: Ron Stewart

Toronto Maple Leaf coach and general manager Punch Imlach described Stewart as being "one of the smoothest and most competent right wings around."

Hockey Then & Now: Ron Stewart: 1932-2012

“He was one of the best defensive forwards in the N.H.L.,” said Emile Francis, who coached Stewart for the Rangers and later, as their general manager, turned the coaching over to him. “He was an excellent penalty-killer, one of the best in hockey.”

Ron Stewart, N.H.L. Star With Role in Fatal Fight, Dies at 79

Stewart was one of those guys who just seemed to skate effortlessly. He was faster than he looked, but was one of those players who looked like he played the game for fun. He was a naturally gifted athlete.

He was a very good penalty-killer, too. But the thing about Stewart that probably wasn’t talked about much was how versatile he was. It wasn’t just that he could play any forward position. But he had actually played primarily as a defenseman early in his career, and he morphed into a forward as years went on.

Vintage Leaf Memories - Michael Langlois: Ron Stewart: Mr. Versatility in a fine Maple Leaf career

Ron Stewart was a hard working versatile player who could play defence as well as anywhere on the forward line but, his regular position was right wing. He was a tireless skater and coupled with being a good checker, made him a steady and reliable penalty killer.

He was particularly effective in the playoffs of 1963 when, despite cracked ribs, he scored four goals as the Leafs eliminated Canadiens and Detroit to win the Cup.

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix - Google News Archive Search

But Stewart is a solid, all-round hockey player who always gives it his best. Coach Punch Imlach must have had his reasons for keeping him on the bench and he knew that when he did remove Stewart's shackles, the latter would go out on the ice, and do the job.
Imlach especially liked to employ Stewart as a defensive specialist guarding against such Stars as Bobby Hull of the Hawks or Ted Lindsay of the Wings. In these situations, Stewart sometimes used his wit as a weapon.

The Telegraph - Google News Archive Search

The man who will get the assignment of keeping a tight check on Hull is veteran Ron Stewart.

Coach Milt Schmidt, who has made it plain he wants a victory as much as Chicago, described Stewart as a man "who plays a very good defensive game himself."

A defensive forward who also could play defense.

The sturdy right winger [...] Stewart's main strenghth was his effortless skating style. He was also a relentless checker, and he could play that way all season long.

Chronological Depiction in hockey cards:

Ron has given a terrific account of himself. He came 4th in Leaf point-getting and well up the NHL scoring list.

An outstanding junior player, Ronnie made the jump into pro ranks look easy. Playing right wing with Teeder Kennedy and Sid Smith, he has developed the knack of taking his man out and yet keeping up with the play. He has a good shot and is a pretty good stickhandler. Needs a little polish around the nets, which will come with experience. Did an outstanding job in a penalty-killing role for the Leafs last season.

Last season, Ron proved a big asset to Leafs both offensively and defensively as he killed off penalties and also popped in 14 goals, including a "hat trick". Stewart is one of the few young players to make the big jump from junior ranks to the NHL, and he looks like he intends to stay. Big, rangy and a good stickhandler, Ron can turn on burst of speed, and is always dangerous.

Ron is the "cool" type of player, never getting rattled when the going gets tough. He has a good hockey brain and [is] quick to size up situations and can adapt himself quickly because of his poise. This year, the Leafs moved Ron back on defense, and he has excelled there. He drops in front of shots just like Goldham used to do for Detroit. He carries the puck well and skates so strongly with such ease that people sometimes feel that he is not giving his all. This is not true as "Stew" gives 100% at all times. Ron is the team's "jokester", and pokes fun at everyone. He was born in Calgary.

Last year, Ron played defense for the Leafs for most of the season. However, this year with the new defensemen added it looks like he may spend the winter up on the forward line where his strong shot and excellent skating ability will help him score many important goals for the Leafs. He has started out will this season by scoring in the early games which seems to have given him added confidence. He is excellent at killing penalties and is teamed up with Rudy Migay for this purpose.

Played several seasons as a defenseman with Toronto before reverting back to forward. Stewart is one of the finest all-around players on the Toronto team. He is an excellent goal scorer and has notched 119 goals in 8 seasons and was playing defense for a major portion of that time.

This versatile veteran goes into 13th year with Maple Leafs needing 30 goals to reach career mark of 200. A smart penalty killer, sometimes a spare defenseman, Ron generally plays a wing with a smooth skating style. Owns one of the better shots in hockey.

One of the most consistent players in the NHL. Scored 250th goal last season. Deceptively fast skater for his size. Excellent penalty killer. Ron played 14 years with Toronto, two with Boston and one with St. Louis before hitting New York.

This 18 year veteran is perhaps one of the most tenacious checkers in the league, an expert penalty killer. Rival coaches have often said Ron is one of the most valuable players in the NHL. He was particularly strong last season in Rangers' bid for the playoffs.

Most career SHGs for players born 1940 or earlier:

1. Dave Keon (1940) - 32
2. Bob Pulford (1936) - 30
3. Ed Westfall (1940) - 26
4. Eric Nesterenko (1933) - 25
5. Gordie Howe (1928) - 24
6. Ron Stewart (1932) - 24
7. Jerry Toppazzini (1931) - 22
8. Bobby Hull (1939) - 19
9. Don Marshall (1932) - 18
10. Jim Roberts (1940) - 17
11. Charlie Burns (1936) - 16
12. Alex Delvecchio (1932) - 15
13. Red Kelly (1927) - 15
14. Claude Provost (1933) - 15

 

[Dreakmur]

Rod Seiling !!!​

​

Awards and Achievements:
Olympic All-Star (1964)

Norris voting - *7th(1972), 7th(1973), 10th(1971)
All-Star voting - 7th(1973), 8th(1972), 10th(1971)​

​

Offensive Accomplishments:
Points among Defensemen - 7th(1965), 7th(1973), 9th(1972), 15th(1970), 19th(1971)
Play-off Points among Defensemen - 4th(1972)

Olympic Scoring among Defensemen - 1st(1964)


5-Year Peak: 1970-1974
7th in Points among Defensemen, 81% of 3rd place Carol Vadnais

10-year Peak: 1965-1974
10th in Points among Defensemen, 75% of 2nd place Pat Stapleton


Point Percentages:
Points among Defensemen - 78(1973), 74(1965), 72(1972), 59(1970), 51(1974), 49, 46

Best 6 Seasons: 383

Seiling was a finesse defenseman at heart, which was not always a good thing in New York. The Rangers fans notoriously favored rough and tumble hockey players, especially on the back end. They hounded Hockey Hall of Famers Allan Stanley and Harry Howell with choruses of boos because they were rambunctious enough back there.

....

Seiling made the most of us his first impressions with the Rangers faithful. He was of good size, though he never had the inclination to be a true bruiser. But he would hit to make a play, like he famously did on his first shift in his first game. He slammed Chicago great Pierre Pilote with a thunderous and clean hit, earning many cheers from those in attendance at Madison Square Gardens that night. Such hits may have been rare by Seiling, but the boos never did come for #16.

Best known for his defensive game rather than his offense, similar to a contemporary player like Teppo Numminen. Seiling scored 50 goals and 248 points in 644 games with the Rangers. He later moved on to play Washington, Toronto, St. Louis and Atlanta, upping his NHL career totals to 979 games played with 62 goals and 331 points.

As a Rangers defenceman, Seiling was known as a stay-at-home blueliner who made few mistakes.

Rod Seiling was a wonderful defenseman who never got the recognition he deserved because of his classic stay at home style of hockey. Yet he was recognized in 1972 when he was included on Team Canada.

....

A steady, classic-style defender, Seiling was a standout NHL player in parts of 17 NHL seasons.

The prize of all our defensemen is Rod Seiling and he's only 20. He can be great. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if he becomes another Doug Harvey.

There isn't a better defensive defenseman.

....

He gives our defense the steadiness it needs.

Ranked #41 in "100 Ranger Greats"
​

​

Scouting Reports:​

Consistency is this veteran defenseman's main assets... One of NHL's top defensemen at playing the man and clearing the puck...

​

Ranger fans never appreciated his defensive style...

Often unappreciated by fans, but knowledgeable hockey people know this veteran's value... Plays the man well, doesn't rattle...

Veteran Rod Seiling is the Blues' defense leader, a smart, agile craftsman in his own zone, gifted at playing the man, making breakout passes to his forwards and an outstanding penalty killed.

....

Steady but unspectacular defensive-defenseman who plays power play point, kills penalties and knows how to clear the puck from defensive zone...

Used to kill penalties... Intelligent, poised player... Experience shows...

​

 

[Dreakmur]

Jeff Carter !!!


Awards and Achievements:
2 x Stanley Cup Champion (2012, 2014)
Olympic Gold Medalist (2014)

Hart voting - 10th(2009)

Offensive Accomplishments:
Points - 12th(2009)
Goals - 2nd(2009), 4th(2013), 7th(2011), 13th(2010), 17th(2017), 20th(2015)

Play-off Points - 2nd(2014)
Play-off Goals - 1st(2012), 2nd(2014), 10th(2008)
Play-off Assists - 3rd(2014)


5-Year Peak: 2009 to 2014
6th in Goals, 81% of 2nd place Steven Stamkos
13th in Play-off Goals, 74% of 2nd place Evgeni Malkin

10-Year Peak: 2008 to 2017
5th in Goals, 94% of 2nd place Steven Stamkos
10th in Play-off Goals, 72% of 2nd place Sidney Crosby

Scoring Percentages:
Points - 76(2009), 74(2017), 72(2015), 70(2016), 67(2011), 58(2013), 57(2014), 56(2010), 50(2008)

Best 6 Seasons: 417

​

 

[BenchBrawl]

Baldy Northcott
Real name: Lawrence Northcott

The Winnipeg Tribune November 27, 1933

Baldy Northcott, aggressive Montreal Maroon winger, scores only goal of the game against New York Rangers.

The Ottawa Journal January 4, 1936

Perpetual improvement might have been the motto which Lawrence Northcott, who goes under the cognomen Baldy, and wings for the ubiquitous Maroos, adopted when he started to become a NHL puck-chaser.He started off in 1930 by chalking only six points to the Northcott credit, jumped it to 15 the next year.His "goals for" count climbed from one to three in the transition.Then in 1932 Baldy made another climb, this time to a total of 33, which made him a very valuable left winger indeed, as left wingers go.In 1933 he had dropped back to 30 points, but that's still fair travelling in hockey circles.

Not alone for his point scoring propensities is Northcott beloved of the Maroon management, but for his back-checking ability as well.When they tell Baldy to go out and tie up the opposition, you can rest assured that there won't be many thrusts come down from the left boards without breaking on the Northcott rock.

He was born in Calgary, which has turned out plenty of fine hockey players.Standing nearly six feet tall and weighting around 175 or 180 pounds, there is a sturdy chunk of player wherever Northcott is found.Nor does he accept rough-house tactics with a lamb-like countenance.In fact, at times Northcott can become quite pepery.Which is all very popular in Montreal.

February 22, 1936 Canadian Press article

Tommy Gorman gave a one-man coach poll in a February 22, 1936 Canadian Press article. Note that Gorman coached 3 of the 12 players named (Northcott, Wentworth, and Conacher).

Gorman was asked to build the perfect hockey player and provided a list of attributes. He named a player for each attribute.

Forwards

Blazing shot: Charlie Conacher

Accuracy in driving pucks into the net: Bill Cook

Skating speed: Hec Kilrea

Backchecking: Larry (Baldy) Northcott

Stickhandling: Johnny Gottselig

Give and take a pass: Marty Barry

Finish around the nets: Paul Thompson

Defencemen

Break from the blueline in a goalward rush: Marvin Wentworth

Blocking opponents: Eddie Shore

Handing out stiff bodychecks: Bucko McDonald

Accurate shot: Babe Siebert

Coolness under fire: Lionel Conacher

Old college try: King Clancy

Detroit Free Press February 16, 1938

BALDY NORTHCOTT IS PLAYER HAWKS WANT FOR 10, 000$

The Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday were trying frantically to the tune of 10,000$ cash offer to land Baldy Northcott, of the Maroons, before their sunday night game against the Red Wings at Chicago.

Northcott is one of the league's great left wingers and undoubtedbly the star if the present Montreal Maroon aggregation.

Montreal Gazette Sept 16, 1938

Later in 1934-35 Northcott was rated the best back-checking winger in the league as Maroons swept to their last stanley cup.

 

[ResilientBeast]

All Star Team: 1, 1, 5, 6, 8, 9
Hart Voting: 1
Goals: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10
Points: 3, 5
Stanley Cup Champion 2007
Olympic Gold Medalist: 2010, 2014
World Championship Gold: 2016
7 Year VsX: 75.0
10 Year VsX: 69.8
7 Year Goals VsX: 41.4
10 Year Goals VsX: 37.1


The Hockey News

Has excellent offensive instincts, a solid frame, agitating qualities and big-time scoring acumen. Is especially good at puck possession in the slot and in tight quarters. Has a long reach and an uncanny way of sliding by defenders. Plays well in the clutch, too.

Anaheim Ducks star Corey Perry is sneaky-dirty like Mark Messier used to be in his Edmonton Oilers days

Anaheim Ducks star Corey Perry is sneaky-dirty like Mark Messier used to be in his Edmonton Oilers days

– There’s plenty of vitriol from aggrieved Minnesota Wild fans, upset at Corey Perry’s elbow on rookie Jason Zucker when I dared to tweet Perry’s “sneaky-dirty” play was what made him special to other NHL general managers around the league, outside of his obvious talent. Perry isn’t as overt as Mark Messier was — remember The Moose drilling an unsuspecting Jamie Macoun in the face with a punch off a faceoff in the Battle of Alberta days — but Perry is no angel. I just wish players would stop saying, ‘I didn’t mean to hurt him’ when it’s they did. Perry did mean to clean out Zucker’s tonsils.

THN Scouting Report
Has excellent offensive instincts, a solid frame, agitating qualities and big-time scoring acumen. Is especially good at puck possession in the slot and in tight quarters. Has a long reach and an uncanny way of sliding by defenders. Plays well in the clutch, too.

He's a hard worker:

Randy Carlyle
"I don't think there's anyone who puts more pressure on themselves to perform than Corey Perry. His expectations of himself are pretty high. We love that. You can always ask for more. When you lean on a guy and ask for more, he never folds his tent"

He's deceptive and tricky:

Lubomir Visnovsky
"Lots of defenseman — I don't know how you say in English — don't play hard to him because he's Corey Perry, and he's not like [Sidney] Crosby or Ovechkin," Visnovsky said. And I think he is like these guys. I play against him in the practices, and it's not easy to beat him. Because he is not good [looking] skater, the guys like Crosby, I don't know, like [Martin] St. Louis, When he skates, he look like slow. And he's not slow, you know. He's very smart guy."

For Ducks' Corey Perry, greed is a good thing

Dustin Penner
"I'm noticing that Corey is getting back to the way he played in the AHL in the type of goals he is scoring. There are goal-scorers goals and greasy goals and Corey is the one who'll get those greasy goals. I watch video replay and ask myself, 'How does he do that?' If only I could have a few of those. He definitely has a nose for the net."

Corey Perry
"There's always a time when you say to yourself, 'You have to play this way since it's working for you,' and for me, that meant taking the role as an agitator. It's how I stay involved in the game."

Ducks' Perry is a highly-talented agitator

 

[overpass]

Jack Darragh, RW
Also spent time at centre and left wing

Legends of Hockey:

Jack Darragh was one of those old-time players who grew up, played and died in the same city - his home town of Ottawa, Ontario. He was a rarity in that he played right wing but was a left-hand shot. While not an unusual strategy today, in the early days of the century, playing on the "wrong wing" was pioneering. He was a superb skater, a very clever stickhandler and had a good backhand shot. As a result, Darragh was a prolific scorer. In 1919-20, he scored 22 goals in 23 games, and over his 13-year pro career he averaged better than a goal every two games. In an era of fierce and often violent hockey, Darragh also had a reputation for being a pacifist. Darragh won four Stanley Cup championships, all with the Ottawa Senators.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Ottawa Hockey Legends:

Jack was a speedball with a great knack for goal scoring. His backhand was particularly lethal, often surprising goalies as that was a largely undeveloped tactic in those days. He also pioneered the "wrong wing" theory, as he was a left handed shot playing on the right side. Jack, one of the cleanest players of his era, had some fine years in the old NHA, scoring 124 goals (and 17 assists, which were rarely recorded) in 132 games. ... Much like a modern day Glenn Anderson, Darragh was able to take his game to a higher level in Stanley Cup competition. In 1920 Darragh led the Senators to their first Stanley Cup championship as a member of the NHL. He had the game winner in all three of Ottawa's victories among his five goals. With the series tied he took over with a hat-trick and was the big star in the series clincher. In addition to three winners he had a first goal and two unassisted tallies to his credit. The following year Darragh rebounded from a weak regular season (just 11 goals in 24 games) to lead all post season scorers with 5 goals to lead the Senators to a repeat championship. In the Cup clinching game it was Darragh who had the game tying and game winning goal.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Ottawa Journal, April 9, 1927:

The late Jack Darragh was also a great speeder. Under way Darragh could match strides with anybody. His famous rushes from the defence and back-handed shots are still fresh in memory.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Darragh was among the top 12-13 forwards of the pre-consolidation era in the judgement of hockey historian Charles L. Coleman.

At the end of Vol. 1 of The Trail of the Stanley Cup the author, Charles L. Coleman, selected his all-star team for 1893-1926. He considered Cyclone Taylor and Newsy Lalonde to be rovers, not forwards. The nominees for forwards were: Russell Bowie, Harry Broadbent, Jack Darragh, Cy Denneny, Frank Foyston, Harry Hyland, Joe Malone, Frank Nighbor, Didier Pitre, Gordon Roberts, and Ernie Russell. He selected Russell Bowie, Joe Malone and Frank Nighbor.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

The Ottawa Senators dynasty of 1920-1923 had a very strong group of wings, including Darragh, Punch Broadbent, and Cy Denneny. In the 1920 and 1921 seasons, Darragh was clearly the more important of the three. He played most of the time at RW position in the playoffs and also filled in for Nighbor at centre when necessary, while Broadbent and Denneny split time at LW. Not only was Darragh a clutch scorer, but he, like Nighbor, could drop back to form a three man defence when necessary.

Finally, here is an extensive selection from the obituary of Darragh. Darragh passed away far too young at the age of 33. His lengthy obituary on page 2 of the June 30, 1924 Ottawa Citizen shows how much he meant to the city of Ottawa and the love and respect so many had for him. An obituary cannot be expected to be an even-handed comparison between Darragh and others, of course. Still, there is much in here not available anywhere (else) online. I have excerpted only the parts about his hockey career. There is much more about his family, his business career, and his other sporting interests.

JACK DARRAGH, NOTED HOCKEY PLAYER AND SPORTSMAN, DEAD

“Darragh’s place will be hard to fill,” said (Tommy Gorman). “We had all learned years ago to look up to him for advice and counsel. He was an object lesson to all our young players. A finer and cleaner athlete never laced on a skate. Darragh’s record speaks for itself and is typical of Jack. He wore his honors with becoming modesty and he accepted his defeats with smiling sportsmanship. He was one of the greatest players that hockey has ever produced.” ... The late Jack Darragh first came into prominence in hockey when he was a member of the Fort Goulonge team in the old Pontiac League. Previously he had attended the Arlington Avenue school and had played in many hard fought games in the Public School League. In 1909 he played for the Stewartons in the City Hockey League and in 1910 he was a member of the Cliffside League which tried for the Allan Cup in Kingston. The following winter he was sought by the Ottawas and finally signed by Petie Green, then manager of the team. It has often been recalled that Darragh signed his contract in a restaurant on Sparks Street and that the sum he received for making his plunge into professional hockey was then $15 per week. From the start, however, Darragh was a sensation. In his first game against Wanderers in the Laurier Avenue arena, Darragh skated rings around his opponents and scored four or five goals. He became noted as one of the most brilliant players in hockey and his services were soon in great demand. Jack, however, was loyal to Ottawa and had been on the local roster ever since, with the exception of the season 1921-22, in which he stayed out. He captained the Ottawas for several seasons and was a member of the team which brought the championship here in 1911 and in 1915. He also made several trips to the Coast with All-Star teams and for several years he led the National Hockey League in scoring. He and Frank Nighbor, present captain of the Ottawas, developed a system of team play that carried the Senators to victory time after time. He was an ideal type of hockeyist, fast, and as strong as steel. Jack had speed to burn and so much grit and determination that he repeatedly arose to the occasion and won thrilling overtime games for the red, white, and black. He was a great favorite in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec, and Hamilton, and along the Pacific Coast they regarded him as the most dangerous forward in the game. Jack reached the pinnacle of his hockey fame in 1921, when the Ottawas defeated Vancouver in a sensational series at the Coast and brought the Stanley Cup back to Ottawa. In the fifth and final game, with ten thousand people begging Vancouver to lift the Cup, Darragh tied up the score at 1-1 in the second period and then put Ottawa ahead with another goal in the third. On both occasions Darragh broke through the Vancouver defence and scooped in rebounds, despite the frantic shouts of Goalkeeper Lehman to “watch Darragh.” Jack was naturally the hero of the series, and on his return he was literally mobbed by thousands who greeted the victorious Senators at the Central Station. Jack proudly retained the stick with which he scored both goals and it is among the most valuable souvenirs of his brilliant hockey career. Darragh did not play in 1921-22, but the following season he consented to do a comeback and was a great addition to the Ottawa team. He helped greatly in winning the championship, but was unable to go to the Coast for the memorable series against Vancouver and Edmonton. Nevertheless, Jack’s heart was with his team mates and he shot across the continent many messages of encouragement. Last winter Darragh signed again, but had just reached his stride when he collided with Eddie Boucherd of Hamilton in a game at the Auditorium, breaking his right knee cap. Darragh pluckily tried to get back but the mending process was slow and he was out of hockey for the greater part of the season, being forced to sit on the bench in despair when Canadiens vanquished Ottawa in the playoff and carried the Stanley Cup to Montreal. The late Jack Darragh was, as pointed out by officers of the Ottawa club, a model athlete. Jack never smoked, he never tasted liquor in any form, trained assiduously both in and out of the hockey seasons and always kept himself in perfect condition. He was a beautiful specimen of an athlete and his weight, coupled with terrific speed and magnificent stickhandling, made him a terror to opposing teams. Jack was one of the cleanest as well as the greatest players that have ever graced professional hockey and though his face and body bore many scars, he always played the game as it should be played and never retaliated. He was in every respect a credit to the game and it is understood that officers of the Ottawa Hockey Auditorium have already proposed to place in a prominent position at the new Auditorium a permanent memorial as a tribute from the club-owners and his team mates, to a player who was chiefly responsible in recent years in bringing some of the highest honors to his home town.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Some have suggested that Darragh was "soft", based on their reading of LOH calling him a "pacifist." Such a view is not congruent with the way physical play and violence was viewed in hockey at the time. Darragh was of the same type as Russell Bowie, Joe Malone, Frank Nighbor, Frank Boucher, and Syl Apps, refraining from dirty play or violence based on principle and not from any lack of courage. The respect that Darragh earned from his peers and his fans and his record in the biggest games do not fit the mold of someone who would be considered "soft." Note the quote from his obituary, "so much grit and determination that he repeatedly arose to the occasion and won thrilling overtime games for the red, white, and black." Nobody found it necessary to make excuses for his clean play--rather, it was celebrated. Not a Pierre Turgeon type.

 

[overpass]

Hamby Shore, D

​

Shore played LW, switching many positions as many players did in his era, but his best play was clearly at D


- 6'0", 175 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1905, 1911)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1908, 1915)
- Started as a scoring forward: 8th in FAHL scoring in 1906, 7th in ECAHA in 1907, 3rd in MHL in 1908
- Joined NHA as a defenseman: Placed top-6 among defensemen seven times in his 9 NHA/NHL seasons: 4th, 2nd, 4th, 1st, 6th, 3rd, 6th.

Ottawa Hockey Legends:

Shore, no relation to Eddie Shore who would later dominate the NHL, was a versatile player, playing both wing and defense. With his steady influence the Senators won the Stanley Cup two times, in 1905 and 1911. Earlier in his career Shore was a scoring forward, registering 114 goals in 186 career games. Later in his career he played on the blue line, most often with Fred Lake in Ottawa. The duo formed a fearsome pairing in front of Sens goalie Percy Lesueur for four seasons before Lake's departure to Montreal.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Ottawa Journal, April 9, 1927:

The late Hamby Shore was one of the fastest breakers in hockey. He could break like a shot, and underway he had terrific momentum. Shore and Cyclone Taylor had numerous speed duels, and in 1910 Shore, in a memorable game, actually sprinted away from Taylor, to the great chagrin of the latter.

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The Trail Of the Stanley Cup:

Hamby Shore was a member of the last edition of the Silver Seven who won the Stanley Cup on 1905, playing on a line with Alf Smith and Harry Westwick. After a year in the Manitoba Pro League, he returned to Ottawa to play with Harry and Alf Smith. In 1910 he joined Ottawa to play defense. He and Fred Lake were the regulars in front of Lesueur for four years. Shore was at his best in Ottawa and was a defense stalwart of the 1911 Cup champions.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Shore was noted for playing well in a losing cause in the 1908 series:

The Trail Of the Stanley Cup:

Shore was the best for Winnipeg.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

In the decisive final game of the 1912 NHA season that ultimately gave Quebec the right to defend the cup against the Moncton juggernaut, Ottawa lost the game but Shore played well.

Ottawa Journal:

Hamby Shore was not as spectacular as usual, but played a hard, defensive game and blocked in style.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Let's check the game summaries for a couple of memorable games that Shore played in, and maybe get a better idea of how he played.

From a famous game against Renfrew in 1910 where Ottawa won 8-5
Ottawa Citizen, Feb 14, 1910

In one of the greatest battles in the history of such a fascinating game, probably the hardest fought match ever played in Ottawa, the Ottawa hockey team on Saturday scored its greatest victory of the season, defeating the famous all-star seven of the Renfrew club at the local arena by 8 goals to 5 in over-time. … Hamby Shore having tallied the first (goal) on a beautiful piece of individual work… ... Nothing could have been more beautiful than the long, graceful rushes of the wonderful Patrick brothers, the short sharp dodging rushes of Lake and Shore or the beautiful work of Millar and Whitcroft on the opposite sides of the ice. The two cover points, Fred Taylor and Hamby Shore, were totally different in their play, Shore giving the greatest exhibition that he has yet put up in the position. Hamby’s blocking was superb and while not as spectacular as Taylor he appeared more effective, this being due perhaps to the fact that he did not receive the attention devoted upon the Cyclone. Shore has developed into a sterling point man, his scoring of the first goal being a beautiful piece of work. Shore has become the idol of the Ottawan fans, his every move being cheered as enthusiastically as the other Ottawa rooters hooted those of Taylor.

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Picking a game from the peak of Ottawa’s performance in the 1911 season.
Ottawa Citizen, Feb 20, 1911. Ottawa beat Quebec 7-2. (I checked two other dates first but neither date was available.)

A great deal of credit for Ottawa’s victory must go to the Ottawa defence. Lesueur played a sensational game in the nets saving on two or three occasions when goals seemed inevitable and which would, in the second period, have changed the whole game. Fred Lake was a stone wall at point and Quebec players learned early in the game to respect his ability to block a man and also to keep away from the boards. Hamby Shore at cover was probably the star of the night. Shore’s blocking, intercepting, rushing, stick handling, and shooting, indeed, formed a treat for the crowd. The game little cover-point never played more effectively.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Finally, from the Ottawa Citizen two days after Shore's death. (Unfortunately the edition from the day after his death is not online.)

LATE HAMBY SHORE'S DEATH MAKES SECOND BREAK IN 1911 TEAM

Ottawa Citizen, Oct 15, 1918

The death this week of the late Hamby Shore created the second break in the famous Ottawa Hockey Club’s team which captured the Canadian championship and the Stanley Cup in 1911. In 1909, it will be recalled, Bruce Stuart led the Ottawas to the championship with a team, which consisted of Percy Lesueur, Fred Lake, Fred Taylor, the late Edgar Dey, Billy Gilmour, Marty Walsh, Albert Kerr, and Stuart. In 1910, Renfrew raided the Ottawa team, but overlooked Hamby Shore who had not played in 1909. President Bate then induced Shore to try out on the Ottawa defence and succeeding “Cyclone” Fred Taylor after the latter’s jump to Renfrew, Shore became one of the grandest defence men in the game. In 1910, Renfrew, with their celebrated “million dollar” team, which included Bert Lindsay, Lester Patrick, Frank Patrick, Fred Whitcroft, Hay Miller, Newsy Lalonde, Steve Vair, and Bobby Rowe, made a desperate effort to capture the honors. They were defeated in both games by the Ottawas and it was the late Hamby Shore whose superb defence work proved largely responsible for Renfrew’s downfall. However, Wanderers annexed the championship and the Stanley Cup. The succeeding autumn, Fred Taylor had moved to Renfrew and the Creamery Kings, now playing in the National Hockey Association, had reconstructed their team, adding Sprague and Odie Cleghorn of the Wanderers, and Skene Ronan of Ottawa. Wanderers and Canadiens were also remarkably formidable, but President Bate and his Ottawa confreres set out to recapture the Stanley Cup and succeeded in establishing a record that has not since been equalled. Ottawa won thirteen straight and clinched the championship before they were obliged to send a weakened team to Renfrew, being beaten by an overwhelming score. In that winter Percy Lesueur played goal for Ottawa with Fred Lake at point and Hamby Shore at cover, while the forward line consisted of Dubbie Kerr, the late Marty Walsh, Jack Darragh and Bruce Ridpath. Bruce Stuart got into the game late in the season and Alex. Currie played in a few of the matches. This was regarded as one of the greatest teams Ottawa had ever produced. It was invincible, both at home and abroad, until they lost to Renfrew. Shore played in that winter the greatest hockey of his career, his phenomenal speed and beautiful stickhandling making him the best all round defence man in the league. Dubbie Kerr and Bruce Ridpath were then in their primes, while the late Marty Walsh also rose to the zenith of his hockey standard. Jack Darragh broke in with magnificent hockey, while Lesueur and Lake formed an inner defence that was almost invulnerable. That was one of the greatest teams L.N. Bate and his confreres ever mustered. They played before capacity crowds at the Ottawa Arena and though their early run of victories settled all doubt as to the championship, thousands were turned away from each game and they succeeded in holding the Stanley Cup. Percy Lesueur captained the Ottawas that season and they led the league in every possible way. Ottawa finished up that winter with a record in the National Hockey Association of 13 wins and 3 defeats. In addition they vanquished the Port Arthur and the Edmonton teams in the Stanley Cup matches on the local ice, sweeping, in fact, everything before them. Ottawa’s chances looked blue at the commencement of the season, but Jack Darragh developed so brilliantly at center and Hamby Shore became such a sensational defence star that they had things their own way. latter.

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[BenchBrawl]

Bobby Bauer

Vancouver Province 1964 (via Joe Pelletier)
Bobby Bauer was many things to many people. To his opponents of the late 30s and the early 40s, he was a gnat, a buzzing, flying, stinging gnat - too fast to swat, too tiny to hate and too skilled to ignore. To the Boston Bruins, he was the thinking part of the Kraut line.

Milt Schmidt: "He was always thinking and a very clever playmaker," stated Milt Schmidt. "Bobby was our team. He was my right arm."

Legends of Hockey
Bobby Bauer successfully fused skillful play and sportsmanship during his 10 years with the Boston Bruins, earning much acclaim as the right winger on the famed Kraut Line with Milt Schmidt and Woody Dumart. Bauer amassed 260 points in 328 regular season games in a career that was interrupted by his service with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.

VsX and Bobby Bauer
I made a post in ATD2018 arguing VsX, when focusing on 7 years (which is by far the most popular use of the system), is unfair to Bauer.

So about Bobby Bauer and his VsX 7 years score.I did something quick this morning, in good faith, if mistakes were introduced they wouldn't change the overall picture.

I checked the difference between the VsX7 and VsX5 scores of many drafted wingers who have a VsX7 score in the 74-83 range.I might have forgot some, but again, irrelevent and I didn't choose them on purpose to massage the numbers in my favor.I think they speak for themselves as it is.

Here are the results ordered by difference.

winger	VsX7	VsX5	Diff
hextall sr	80.9	91.2	10.3
bauer	74.6	84.4	9.8
benn	78.4	86.9	8.5
thompson	82.6	88.9	6.3
goulet	79.3	85.6	6.3
naslund	82.9	88.9	6
lewis	75	80.9	5.9
rousseau	75.5	81.3	5.8
olmstead	75.9	81.4	5.5
elias	78.9	84.2	5.3
joliat	82.6	87.7	5.1
palffy	80.1	85	4.9
leclair	81.7	86.3	4.6
perry	75	79.6	4.6
heatley	81	85.5	4.5
mogilny	77.7	82	4.3
d.sedin	79.9	83.9	4
alfredsson	82.3	85.7	3.4
shanahan	79	82.2	3.2
hossa	82.4	85.3	2.9
gottselig	74.8	77.4	2.6
fleury	82	84.6	2.6
tkachuk	79	81.6	2.6
gilbert	83.1	85.6	2.5
dillon	78.1	80.4	2.3
cournoyer	77.1	78.9	1.8

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So clearly, Bauer is the player getting screwed the most.Benn has an awesome peak, but the reason his difference is so high is because he didn't play long enough yet.He doesn't have the excuse of missing many prime years due to a World War.He should join the pack in Diff after this year unless injured.As for Hextall Sr, his peak is just very high, and he fell off a cliff (but before the war, and he never returned to his form after the year he missed, as opposed to Bauer, who did).

In the 5 years where he was affected or absent due to the war, Bauer was 26-27-28-29-30 years old, absolute prime years for a player.

If you really want to compare Bauer on the VsX7 scale, I would reduce his difference to some sort of average Diff, thus increasing his VsX7 score to reduce the gap.That would put him around 79-80, exactly like my gut feeling told me yesterday.

 

[overpass]

Rusty Crawford, LW
Also played some defence and filled in at other forward positions

​

From Bob Duff's The First Season: 1917-18 and the Birth of the NHL

Rusty Crawford: Defence/Left Wing A rancher in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Crawford was well-travelled on and off the ice. "He can play just as good a game on defence as up on the line, and vice versa," the Ottawa Journal reported. "He is a speed artist from the word go, and it is doubtful if there is a faster skater in the league." That speed came in handy. Because Rusty was a man on the move. Crawford played pro hockey from 1912-1930, skating in six leagues and suiting up for eight teams. He was 45 when he hung up his blades. Crawford played for five different teams in the Stanley Cup final, winning with the Quebec Bulldogs in 1912-13 and again with Toronto in 1917-18. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

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Joe Pelletier:

Rusty was known for his fast skating and his left handed shot. He was a very versatile as a forward giving a strong performance as either right or left wing or center. The early bible of hockey "Trail of the Stanley Cup" described him as "a tireless backchecker," something not always practiced by forwards of his day. He also played with a physical edge and more than once found himself losing his temper and getting into trouble.

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Daily Telegraph, Jan 16, 1913

Russell Crawford, Quebec’s new all-around player, is making a hit with the fans…and before coming to Quebec was one of the fastest men in the Western league.

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Montreal Gazette, Jan 30, 1913

Crawford…showed a world of speed. In fact, he was the fastest man on the ice.

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January 22, 1918 Toronto Star

The work of “Rusty” Crawford last night was positively sensational. He showed us as much “pep” as a “hop” horse going to the post. The way he dodged and checked and hurdled had the crowd on its feet cheering him wildly. He would grab the puck on his own defense, dodge the Canadiens first line, tear into the defence, hurdle between Hall and Corbeau, slam one at Vezina, come back and take the puck from the relieving Canadien player, and come back for another chance. He leaped and curvetted like a two-year-old. Once Joe Hall gave him a flying tackle and, rolling him over, examined him curiously. “What’s the idea?” squeaked “Rusty” from beneath the heap. “Just looking for yer wings,” grunted the ex-Bad Man.

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February 25, 1918 Toronto Star

The first man that touched the puck after the faceoff was crashed into the fence with a healthy body check by Rusty Crawford, and the next place the brunette with the blonde nickname found himself was in the “clink” with a “major” opposite his name on Dick Kearns’ penalty sheet. And by the same token this same boy Crawford seemed to be the man Coach Carroll had selected to be “Bad Man” for the night. He wound up with five penalties—the last one sent him to the barn—but though he checked hard and sometimes not at all according to Hoyle, he did no damage to his opponents. Crawford drew his penalties for chopping and slashing. He hadn’t been on the ice for five playing moments before he had the Ottawa forwards watching him instead of the puck. Once Crawford collected their “nannies” it was all off. The rest of the Toronto bunch settled away, and after handing out some pile-driving body checks on their own account, played hockey. Goals came easily. A Toronto crowd never saw Crawford play such strenuous hockey in all the years he has played here. Usually the old boy rolls along chasing that old puck netwars with an earnestness that is commendable. But Saturday night—oh! my! It was a different story. All he wanted was for some Ottawa man to just dare to try and carry the puck. He just sailed into every man who held the puck with a body slam that shook ‘em from cellar to garret… Crawford didn’t have it all to himself by any means. He met Shore and Merrill a couple of times and they put him shoulder high, and so did Cy Denneny, but Crawford only chewed another wrinkle out of his Spearmint and came right back for more. Mr. Crawford is a very useful man to have around—as a “goal-getter” he has the late “Jawn L” backed into the Sunday school superintendents’ class. The fans say so. That’s a whole lot about “Rusty”—let’s get back to the game.

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Ottawa Citizen, January 22, 1946

(Eddie) Shore once said that by using proper conditioning measures a star player should linger until he was fifty years of age, but he was destined to discover that only a roustabout like “Rusty” Crawford could perform a stunt like that. Crawford, incidentally, was still playing hockey when he was fifty-four years of age.

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Montreal Gazette, Jan 20, 1951

Wonder how many old-timers in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Quebec City remember Rusty Crawford? (Joe) Malone recalls “Rusty”, now a Western Canada wheat farmer, as one of the fastest and most tireless skaters hockey ever developed. Both Joe and Newsy (Lalonde) pick him with Jack Laviolette for skating honors.

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When researching Joe Malone, I read through game summaries of the 1916-17 Quebec Bulldogs. The Bulldogs had a terrible first half of the season, finishing 2-8, and poor play from their defence was the number one reason. In the second half of the season, captain Rusty Crawford moved back to the left defence position and the left defender took Crawford's spot on the line. Crawford's physical play and hard skating on defence was a key part of the Bulldogs going 8-2 in the second half.