Recently, I've been curious about Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion. He retired 8 years before I was born, so I've seen nothing of him.
How good was he? What was his skill-set?
Just looking at the stats, he came in to the early-1950s' Canadiens and immediately scored 30 goals in 67 games (more than Maurice Richard, although The Rocket was injured for part of the season). He hovered around the top-4 of team-scoring in seasons two and three, before exploding in his fourth season (1954-55) for 38 goals (1st, NHL) and 75 points (1st, NHL). And this was the '55 Canadiens, which went 41-18-11, and Geoffrion matched Rocket Richard in goals and out-scored both him and Jean Beliveau.
During the 5-Cups-in-row period (1955-1960), Geoffrion did well, finishing 4th, 7th (injuries), 5th (injuries), 3rd (injuries), and 3rd (injuries) in the Habs' scoring. So, we can see that his finishes would have been higher without a succession of minor injuries. In fact, he was 4th in the NHL in PPG over those five Cup seasons (behind Beliveau, Howe, and Andy Bathgate).
For some reason, Geoffrion went nuts in 1960-61 (first season post-Rocket Richard), scoring 95 points in 64 games (1st NHL), and he went on to be named 1st-team All Star and win the Hart and Art Ross. Notably, that season he scored 50 goals, becoming only the second player EVER to score 50 (after that other Canadiens' guy). However, in the playoffs that year, the Habs were upset by the Blackhawks (who went on to win it all).
He had three more season with Montreal (1961-1964), putting up good numbers, but with gradual scoring decline.
He finished his career with two seasons for the Rangers, doing reasonably well but not spectacularly so. He played 1 season post-expansion, and then retired in 1968 at age 37.
Geoffrion retired with 822 points in 883 games, which I'm guessing was pretty high in the all-time rankings in 1968. From 1950-51 through 1960-61, Geoffrion is the second highest scorer in the NHL after Howe.
He won 6 Stanley Cups with Montreal. In the playoffs, Geoffrion's numbers look very good. Whereas Beliveau was lights-out in 1956, it was Geoffrion in 1957. He scored 11 goals and 18 points in 10 games! From 1953 to 1960, Geoffrion's playoff resume is unimpeachable: 84 games, 49 goals, 53 assists, 102 points, 6 Cups.
He coached the Rangers (briefly) and the Atlanta Flames in the NHL. His son and grandson both made the NHL, but largely as minor players. He passed away 10 years ago.
Anyway, I'm wondering about Geoffrion in general -- how he ranks, how good he was, what his style was, etc.
How good was he? What was his skill-set?
Just looking at the stats, he came in to the early-1950s' Canadiens and immediately scored 30 goals in 67 games (more than Maurice Richard, although The Rocket was injured for part of the season). He hovered around the top-4 of team-scoring in seasons two and three, before exploding in his fourth season (1954-55) for 38 goals (1st, NHL) and 75 points (1st, NHL). And this was the '55 Canadiens, which went 41-18-11, and Geoffrion matched Rocket Richard in goals and out-scored both him and Jean Beliveau.
During the 5-Cups-in-row period (1955-1960), Geoffrion did well, finishing 4th, 7th (injuries), 5th (injuries), 3rd (injuries), and 3rd (injuries) in the Habs' scoring. So, we can see that his finishes would have been higher without a succession of minor injuries. In fact, he was 4th in the NHL in PPG over those five Cup seasons (behind Beliveau, Howe, and Andy Bathgate).
For some reason, Geoffrion went nuts in 1960-61 (first season post-Rocket Richard), scoring 95 points in 64 games (1st NHL), and he went on to be named 1st-team All Star and win the Hart and Art Ross. Notably, that season he scored 50 goals, becoming only the second player EVER to score 50 (after that other Canadiens' guy). However, in the playoffs that year, the Habs were upset by the Blackhawks (who went on to win it all).
He had three more season with Montreal (1961-1964), putting up good numbers, but with gradual scoring decline.
He finished his career with two seasons for the Rangers, doing reasonably well but not spectacularly so. He played 1 season post-expansion, and then retired in 1968 at age 37.
Geoffrion retired with 822 points in 883 games, which I'm guessing was pretty high in the all-time rankings in 1968. From 1950-51 through 1960-61, Geoffrion is the second highest scorer in the NHL after Howe.
He won 6 Stanley Cups with Montreal. In the playoffs, Geoffrion's numbers look very good. Whereas Beliveau was lights-out in 1956, it was Geoffrion in 1957. He scored 11 goals and 18 points in 10 games! From 1953 to 1960, Geoffrion's playoff resume is unimpeachable: 84 games, 49 goals, 53 assists, 102 points, 6 Cups.
He coached the Rangers (briefly) and the Atlanta Flames in the NHL. His son and grandson both made the NHL, but largely as minor players. He passed away 10 years ago.
Anyway, I'm wondering about Geoffrion in general -- how he ranks, how good he was, what his style was, etc.
