Well, here we go....
John Bucyk's most productive seasons came with this man as his center on a 2nd line. They will reunite to play on the Penguins' second line, along with Rick Middleton at RW -- an upgrade on their linemate with the Bruins from 1967-1973.
The
Portland Penguins select
Fred Stanfield, Center.
2x Stanley Cup Champion
5x Top 10 Assists(4, 6, 7, 7)
3x Top 20 Points(9, 12, 15)
4th in Playoff goals, 1972
2x Top 6 Playoff Assists(2, 6)
2x Top 5 Playoff Points(4, 5)
3x Top 13 All Star Voting(6, 8, 13)*
*8th and 13th were with 1 voting point
Some quotes about Stanfield...
During his first season with the Bruins in 1967
What is amazing and remarkable is the Chief’s percentage. In 20 games he has 43 shots on goal. He has 13 goals. In the big league a shooting percentage of 20 percent is considered excellent. There is a reason -- Fred Stanfield.
He’s best known as the “throw-in” on the big deal with Chicago, the one that brought Phil Esposito and Ken Hodge and Stanfield to the team.
…. Bucyk says he has never played with as much savvy, which has to come naturally. Stanfield never got much of a chance to play in Chicago.
“When you cut, you know he’ll put the puck right there on your stick. If you can’t score working with a kid like this, you’ll never score.”
Even Milt has to be surprised. He never really expected to get so much -- a prolific playmaker, a scorer, a point on the power play, a penalty killer. Better yet, here’s a star without lip.
Late today the team leaves Logan for St. Louis. It has to be a happy group. It’s winning again. The straggler, a few steps astern, will be Fred Stanfield going quietly about his business and never giving a hint about his value. He doesn’t have to now. The figures are out. They tell plenty.
Fred Stanfield was moving around, hitting the head man with perfect passes and if there’s a man on this team who doesn’t have to work at that -- or much else for that matter -- it’s Stanfield.
During his first year (1967-68) Harry Sinden found the line that is still flying. During training camp he put John Bucyk on Fred’s left, [undrafted] on the right. It was a great matchup and Stanfield scored 20 goals and had 44 assists.
Last year he followed it up with 25 goals and 29 assists and who noticed? Espo and Hodge were steaming along like gangbusters.
Now it has become too obvious to ignore. Bucyk and Stanfield have 10 goals. [Undrafted] is only one back and other than Orr, Fred is the most noticeable man on the ice. “He’s skating better than I have ever seen him,” goal tender [undrafted] claimed. He’s moving that puck. He’s making the passes. He’s got confidence. He knows he can do it now.”
“He’s been super,” Sinden said. “He always could pass. He always could shoot. But now he’s forechecking. He’s backchecking. He’s skating. He’s doing everything.”
Prior to the 1970 Cup finals, Scotty Bowman said:
But the man who does the great job, the super job, and the man who gets lost in Esposito’s shadow, is Fred Stanfield.
That line of his goes great. It’s a wonderful line. And he’s the one who makes it go.
Coming into the 1971 season:
Also intact is the line of Fred Stanfield with Johnny Bucyk and [undrafted] which set a Stanley Cup record of 52 points for a line.
The Bruins coach on Stanfield:
He’s a real playmaker, a great skater and he’s wonderful on the point on the power play. He has that great low shot, usually right on net. If he doesn’t get the goal, the rebound is there. He always gives us a chance.”
Stanfield on himself:
I’d like to score 30 goals for myself. I got 24 last season but I was still 10th overall in league scoring with 76 points, which was my highest. Also my wingers had 82 goals, with 51 for Chief (Bucyk) and 31 for [undrafted]. And I guess my work as a center would be reflected in their scoring.
BillyShoe1721's bio of Stanfield
