Gino Odjick

[Eye of Ra]

What are you guys memories of his time as a canuck player? What did he bring to the ice? Was he just a goon with no skills?

Just asking out of curiosity.

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[RebuildinVan]

Watch his penalty shot footage, the crowd reaction, his teamates reaction, his reaction. There's your answer... "he could run for election right now"

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Gino was more than an enforcer. He had underrated speed and a nose for the net. But his primary job, and one he embraced completely, was standing up for his teammates and fighting. There’s a reason all his teammates absolutely adored him. He’d go through brick walls for them.

 

[MS]

As a fighter, Gino was the opposite of a spot-picker and his attitude and personality were beloved by fans and teammates.

As a player, he wasn't a Chris Simon or Bob Probert but was probably slightly above-average for 1990s goon. Got to the NHL by quickly blowing through the old IHL with 7 goals in 17 games which isn't a small feat. Decent skater in straight lines, reasonably soft hands. Would not be able to play in today's NHL but compared to the Stu Grimsons and Jay Caufields of that era he was a major step up. Probably was good enough to be a middle-6 AHLer without fighting. Note that his 16-goal season was a mirage where he scored 14 goals in 40 games in the first half of that year when he was ridiculously glued to the top line with his best friend Pavel Bure, and sunk Bure's production in the process.

His biggest letdown was that his discipline was horrible and he was prone to absolutely stupid penalties at stupid times and couldn't be trusted by coaches in important games. As a result, he was a healthy scratch in most of every playoffs from 1992-1995 as the Canucks went to at least the 2nd round every year. Sat in the pressbox for the 1994 Finals run while Pat Quinn played the more disciplined and reliable Tim Hunter and Shawn Antoski instead.

 

[archangel2]

Tribute - Gino Odjick has passed away (Sister's Facebook)

Thought this deserved its own thread.

forums.hfboards.com

 

[David Bruce Banner]

As a fighter, Gino was the opposite of a spot-picker and his attitude and personality were beloved by fans and teammates.

As a player, he wasn't a Chris Simon or Bob Probert but was probably slightly above-average for 1990s goon. Got to the NHL by quickly blowing through the old IHL with 7 goals in 17 games which isn't a small feat. Decent skater in straight lines, reasonably soft hands. Would not be able to play in today's NHL but compared to the Stu Grimsons and Jay Caufields of that era he was a major step up. Probably was good enough to be a middle-6 AHLer without fighting. Note that his 16-goal season was a mirage where he scored 14 goals in 40 games in the first half of that year when he was ridiculously glued to the top line with his best friend Pavel Bure, and sunk Bure's production in the process.

His biggest letdown was that his discipline was horrible and he was prone to absolutely stupid penalties at stupid times and couldn't be trusted by coaches in important games. As a result, he was a healthy scratch in most of every playoffs from 1992-1995 as the Canucks went to at least the 2nd round every year. Sat in the pressbox for the 1994 Finals run while Pat Quinn played the more disciplined and reliable Tim Hunter and Shawn Antoski instead.

Probert was a better player than you give him credit... he scored 29 goals riding herd for Yzerman one year.

And god, Antoski... I remember him being a decent skater, with terrible balance (and being the guy we drafted right ahead of Tkachuk Sr. and Brodeur). It says something for Gino's unpredictability that Antoski saw ice time in the playoffs over him. Hunter, OTOH, was a cagey veteran who knew his role as a policeman and occasional instigator... you rarely saw him go to the penalty box without taking someone else with him.

As for Gino, the guy was all heart and would have thrown himself on a grenade for the team. The team and the fans loved him. He was a daunting physical force, and as a "skill" player, he was far better than most of the era's enforcers.

But, in those days, having a nuclear deterrent like Odjick was essential. At least in the regular season grind. We had spent the previous half decade getting bullied and pushed around something fierce. Those late 80's Canucks were getting beaten on the ice and in the alley. Gino replaced Craig Coxe, who was definitely as game as Gino, but a lesser hockey player and as a fighter, although very entertaining, seemed to end up on the losing end more often than not.

 

[RobertKron]

Probert was a better player than you give him credit... he scored 29 goals riding herd for Yzerman one year.

And god, Antoski... I remember him being a decent skater, with terrible balance (and being the guy we drafted right ahead of Tkachuk Sr. and Brodeur). It says something for Gino's unpredictability that Antoski saw ice time in the playoffs over him. Hunter, OTOH, was a cagey veteran who knew his role as a policeman and occasional instigator... you rarely saw him go to the penalty box without taking someone else with him.

As for Gino, the guy was all heart and would have thrown himself on a grenade for the team. The team and the fans loved him. He was a daunting physical force, and as a "skill" player, he was far better than most of the era's enforcers.

But, in those days, having a nuclear deterrent like Odjick was essential. At least in the regular season grind. We had spent the previous half decade getting bullied and pushed around something fierce. Those late 80's Canucks were getting beaten on the ice and in the alley. Gino replaced Craig Coxe, who was definitely as game as Gino, but a lesser hockey player and as a fighter, although very entertaining, seemed to end up on the losing end more often than not.

I think OP was saying that Probert or Simon were the upper tier of goon as far as playing ability is concerned. It's likely that both of those guys are NHLers even without the enforcer role. Odjick wasn't at that level.

But yeah, Odjick was clearly a guy who wasn't just punching the clock, which is commendable personality-wise, but also was probably his biggest flaw as a player.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

As a player, he wasn't a Chris Simon or Bob Probert but was probably slightly above-average for 1990s goon. Got to the NHL by quickly blowing through the old IHL with 7 goals in 17 games which isn't a small feat. Decent skater in straight lines, reasonably soft hands. Would not be able to play in today's NHL but compared to the Stu Grimsons and Jay Caufields of that era he was a major step up. Probably was good enough to be a middle-6 AHLer without fighting.

the catch 22 about gino’s skill is he was good enough to not be a total plug, like link gaetz or brian mcgrattan, but not good enough to put that skill to real use playing a real bottom six timely scoring role. but at the same time, his non-skill game wasn’t developed enough to contribute in a fourth line role player way. so he couldn’t be a tim hunter or chris nilan or do what joe kocur did for the rangers and detroit.

a guy like mike peluso, for example, also was good enough to fluke out 15 goals in the perfect situation (in his case getting plum icetime on the expansion sens, ie the worst team of all time). but he also had the ability to credibly grind out 54 playoff games over four years, including a memorable stint on jersey’s cup winning crash line with holik and randy mckay.

but otoh, at the end of game six of the finals, that’s where you regret not dressing gino and hiding him on the fourth line. when graves cheap shotted linden and then messier hit him when he was down, big pat quinn reportedly jumped on sergio momesso’s back to stop him from hopping the boards to take care of business. timmy hunter and antoski were dependable workmanlike fighters but they didn’t scare anyone. gino scared people. partially because he was an elite fighter and partially because he was a loose cannon. he would have hopped those boards and there would have been no stopping him.

i feel like part of why the rangers won that series is this incredible confidence they had and that largely came from knowing they had messier. and while most of that was his abilities as a great player who made things happen on the ice combined with that greatest leader in sports bs, there was also the knowledge that you are an O6 team in the world’s biggest media market and you have the second most made guy in the league as your captain. in any 50/50 or even 60/40 you are going to get the break. so if a team’s heart and soul captain is having a conn smythe performance, you can just take two shots at him behind the play, including while he’s already on the ice, and the refs are going to look the other way.

so enter gino. he would have found a way to correct that. he would have done something crazy and impactful, whether that’s running the shit out of richter the next shift and taking him out of the series, or grabbing and ragdolling messier to within an inch of his life, or hopping the boards and going st louis on the rangers.

and then what does game seven look like? remember that while gino’s suspension would have lasted so long his kids wouldn’t be able to play, we still would be dressing hunter, anton, big mo, diduck, and ready to go if new york had the nerve.

 

[wetcoast]

Gino was more than an enforcer. He had underrated speed and a nose for the net. But his primary job, and one he embraced completely, was standing up for his teammates and fighting. There’s a reason all his teammates absolutely adored him. He’d go through brick walls for them.

Came here to say this and he is one of the most beloved players in Canucks history along with other honest hard working guys like Linden and Smyl.

Thankfully his legendary status will live on because he was a larger than life character and inspiration.

 

[wetcoast]

the catch 22 about gino’s skill is he was good enough to not be a total plug, like link gaetz or brian mcgrattan, but not good enough to put that skill to real use playing a real bottom six timely scoring role. but at the same time, his non-skill game wasn’t developed enough to contribute in a fourth line role player way. so he couldn’t be a tim hunter or chris nilan or do what joe kocur did for the rangers and detroit.

a guy like mike peluso, for example, also was good enough to fluke out 15 goals in the perfect situation (in his case getting plum icetime on the expansion sens, ie the worst team of all time). but he also had the ability to credibly grind out 54 playoff games over four years, including a memorable stint on jersey’s cup winning crash line with holik and randy mckay.

but otoh, at the end of game six of the finals, that’s where you regret not dressing gino and hiding him on the fourth line. when graves cheap shotted linden and then messier hit him when he was down, big pat quinn reportedly jumped on sergio momesso’s back to stop him from hopping the boards to take care of business. timmy hunter and antoski were dependable workmanlike fighters but they didn’t scare anyone. gino scared people. partially because he was an elite fighter and partially because he was a loose cannon. he would have hopped those boards and there would have been no stopping him.

i feel like part of why the rangers won that series is this incredible confidence they had and that largely came from knowing they had messier. and while most of that was his abilities as a great player who made things happen on the ice combined with that greatest leader in sports bs, there was also the knowledge that you are an O6 team in the world’s biggest media market and you have the second most made guy in the league as your captain. in any 50/50 or even 60/40 you are going to get the break. so if a team’s heart and soul captain is having a conn smythe performance, you can just take two shots at him behind the play, including while he’s already on the ice, and the refs are going to look the other way.

so enter gino. he would have found a way to correct that. he would have done something crazy and impactful, whether that’s running the shit out of richter the next shift and taking him out of the series, or grabbing and ragdolling messier to within an inch of his life, or hopping the boards and going st louis on the rangers.

and then what does game seven look like? remember that while gino’s suspension would have lasted so long his kids wouldn’t be able to play, we still would be dressing hunter, anton, big mo, diduck, and ready to go if new york had the nerve.

Great post and will add that after game 6 Keenan went quite public on the officiating in game 6 and volia the NYR get the first PP and score first in game 7.

 

[Killer Orcas]

Guy was all heart indeed and Bure's best friend on team. Beloved by every member of team and fans adored him. He could play as he did hit 16 goals high once but his real talent was enforcer extraordinaire.

 

[ChilliBilly]

I think the point every one is missing here is that Gino and Bure adored each other, and that having Gino out there made sure that if any one gave Bure a cheap shot, he was getting killed. I am glad that hockey is no longer like that (as much) but Gretzky had protection, and it was good that Bure did too. It sure makes someone think twice when you know if you cheap shot a star, there is someone out there who no one wants to deal with. Gino was that man. Not a person in the league wanted to go one on one with him when he was pissed.

Edit - interesting debate would be did Gino help Bure's production because he was his enforcer, or did he hinder it because he was a border line NHLer outside of his enforcer roll. All in all, my vote that he was a plus.

 

[im gangster]

I think the point every one is missing here is that Gino and Bure adored each other, and that having Gino out there made sure that if any one gave Bure a cheap shot, he was getting killed. I am glad that hockey is no longer like that (as much) but Gretzky had protection, and it was good that Bure did too. It sure makes someone think twice when you know if you cheap shot a star, there is someone out there who no one wants to deal with. Gino was that man. Not a person in the league wanted to go one on one with him when he was pissed.

Edit - interesting debate would be did Gino help Bure's production because he was his enforcer, or did he hinder it because he was a border line NHLer outside of his enforcer roll. All in all, my vote that he was a plus.

Gino absolutely directly hindered Bure’s production when playing together. He probably did make things a little safer for Pavel though by being around.

 

[Hit the post]

Gino absolutely directly hindered Bure’s production when playing together. He probably did make things a little safer for Pavel though by being around.

I'm sure if Gino had your back, you wouldn't hesitate to give a flying elbow in retaliation to another "goon" on the opposing team.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Probert was a better player than you give him credit... he scored 29 goals riding herd for Yzerman one year.

And god, Antoski... I remember him being a decent skater, with terrible balance (and being the guy we drafted right ahead of Tkachuk Sr. and Brodeur). It says something for Gino's unpredictability that Antoski saw ice time in the playoffs over him. Hunter, OTOH, was a cagey veteran who knew his role as a policeman and occasional instigator... you rarely saw him go to the penalty box without taking someone else with him.

As for Gino, the guy was all heart and would have thrown himself on a grenade for the team. The team and the fans loved him. He was a daunting physical force, and as a "skill" player, he was far better than most of the era's enforcers.

But, in those days, having a nuclear deterrent like Odjick was essential. At least in the regular season grind. We had spent the previous half decade getting bullied and pushed around something fierce. Those late 80's Canucks were getting beaten on the ice and in the alley. Gino replaced Craig Coxe, who was definitely as game as Gino, but a lesser hockey player and as a fighter, although very entertaining, seemed to end up on the losing end more often than not.

in the alley? care to expand on that?

 

[F A N]

The thing with Gino is in that era there were many HW enforcers but not many elite ones. The elite ones manage to have a few solid seasons of play combined with an elite fighting record. Gino was above average as far as HW enforcers go due to his willingness to fight and ability to hold his own but his on ice play wasn't consistent from season to season.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

in the alley? care to expand on that?

Just some old school terminology. It was related to the fact that teams like the Oilers would come into our barn, beat us 10-1, bully our Swedes and little guys and if we tried to push back, Dave Semenko would beat the piss out of Garth Butcher. That kind of thing.. not only did we lose the skill game (on the ice), we also lost the physical game (in the alley).

 

[VanJack]

Gino accomplished so much in a life tragically cut short. Beloved by Vancouver hockey fans, he was also an inspiration to players from Canada's First Nations communities.

And he will continue to inspire the next generation of young hockey players from indigenous communities long after his passing.

Just goes to show that you can make your mark on an NHL team and on the game of hockey without putting up huge points and assists. Gino will always be sadly missed by Vancouver Canuck fans.

 

[Hit the post]

in the alley? care to expand on that?

Just some old school terminology. It was related to the fact that teams like the Oilers would come into our barn, beat us 10-1, bully our Swedes and little guys and if we tried to push back, Dave Semenko would beat the piss out of Garth Butcher. That kind of thing.. not only did we lose the skill game (on the ice), we also lost the physical game (in the alley).

Actually there *WAS* a story going around when the Vancouver Canuck players (not all of them but many of them) went out for dinner (can't remember whether it was before or after the game) in Chicago. They found themselves 'in a wrong part of time' and were jumped by a gang of thugs. Unfortuanately for the thugs, the Canuck players in question included Curt Fraser, Stan Smyl, etc., Needless to say, those thugs made a bad decision.

 

[wetcoast]

Actually there *WAS* a story going around when the Vancouver Canuck players (not all of them but many of them) went out for dinner (can't remember whether it was before or after the game) in Chicago. They found themselves 'in a wrong part of time' and were jumped by a gang of thugs. Unfortuanately for the thugs, the Canuck players in question included Curt Fraser, Stan Smyl, etc., Needless to say, those thugs made a bad decision.

Curt Fraser was a guy who punched above his weight, was an elite fighter and a pretty good player on that line for a while.

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Actually there *WAS* a story going around when the Vancouver Canuck players (not all of them but many of them) went out for dinner (can't remember whether it was before or after the game) in Chicago. They found themselves 'in a wrong part of time' and were jumped by a gang of thugs. Unfortuanately for the thugs, the Canuck players in question included Curt Fraser, Stan Smyl, etc., Needless to say, those thugs made a bad decision.

 

[Hit the post]

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

I'm sure if Gino had your back, you wouldn't hesitate to give a flying elbow in retaliation to another "goon" on the opposing team.

when bure flying elbowed churla, gino hadn’t played a minute in the series.

obviously gino’s presence was a positive for his teammates’ collective bravery, but not in that case.

 

[Hit the post]

when bure flying elbowed churla, gino hadn’t played a minute in the series.

obviously gino’s presence was a positive for his teammates’ collective bravery, but not in that case.

While true I don't think it's a secret around the league how close as friends those two were. I *still* remember the time when BOTH players were no longer on the Canucks, some player (who's name escapes me) gave a dirty cheapshot on Bure (when he was a Panther). Gino, now playing for the Habs I think, was asked about it. He merely said something along the lines to the effect: "We (Montreal) play every team around the league & sooner or later we'll be coming to play (that team). He looked into the camera & you can tell what he meant". Probably why Gino was kept out of the Dallas series heh.

 

[HairyKneel]

Gino was kept out of most of the playoffs because he wasn’t good enough. Hunter was far more useful and Antoski could provide some speed on the forecheck.

Bure never needed protection and even without Gino there was plenty in the lineup. Diduck, Momesso, Hunter and Antoski was plenty.