Mark Howe Forward/D-man

[crobro]

Just wondering what was the motivation for Mark Howe to Switch positions from Forward to Defensmen when he entered the NHL in 79-80

Did he play any games as a forward in the NHL?

 

[Pominville Knows]

Whatever the reasons, they were valid reasons.

 

[VanIslander]

It was a coaching decision. Howe wasn't even consulted.

I put the detailed reference in the All-Time Draft bio I constructed on him (see added BOLD RED):

Mark Howe, known for his hard tape-to-tape passes, his footspeed, positioning and lightning wristshot. The 1973 Memorial Cup MVP signed a half million dollar contract with Houston of the WHA and that league's top rookie then played in the 1974 Summit Series against the Soviets and scored six points, the following year winning the WHA championship. In the WHA he was a 2nd team all-star defenseman and 1st team all-star left winger, finishing top-10 in WHA career goals and assists before heading to the NHL to skate exclusively as a defenseman and lead all NHL blueliners in scoring in 1979-1980 with 80 points. He was the first defenseman in NHL history to score two short-handed goals in one period when he achieved the feat in Hartford's game at St. Louis on Oct. 9, 1980. He went on to thrice be a 1st team all-star and Norris trophy runner-up (1983, 1986, 1987), largely playing in the shadow of Bourque or Coffey. He twice led the Flyers blueline to the Stanley Cup Finals (1985, 1987). He had played the lion's share of games for 15 years but in 1988 injuries caught up with him and he played only part seasons for another seven years. He had scored 742 points in 942 NHL games after six years and 504 points in 426 games in the WHA. His number 2 was retired in Philadelphia last year, following his Hockey Hall of Fame induction the year before. An all-time great player finally getting his due.

"He's not real physical, but he doesn't have to be. He's so mobile he always gets a piece of you, just enough to throw you off the puck."

The only Flyer defenseman who has the speed to match Gretzky's is Mark Howe. His performance—and Howe has been spectacular in the playoffs—will be the key to keeping Gretzky off a spree. Howe, along with Edmonton's Paul Coffey, is probably the finest skating defenseman in the NHL. Unlike Coffey, he seldom gets so involved in his team's offensive thrusts that he is out of position defensively. Howe is also accustomed to an inordinate amount of ice time... Look for.. Howe on the ice whenever Gretzky's there.

... the opposing winger he defended rarely touched the puck.

"I learned how to do that," Mark said. "Once you get that in your head, you try to implement it into the way you play."

http://espn.go.com/nhl/halloffame11/story/_/id/7216908/2011-hockey-hall-fame-look-inductee-mark-howe

Indeed, in my lifetime only the great Red Kelly comes close as a master of both front and back line, and Kelly had already made the conversion from Norris Trophy winner to superb two-way centre by the time I tuned in to the game in the early ’60s. I watched Mark Howe star at two positions with my own eyes, and let’s just say it is high time and then some that this guy has been admitted to Hockey’s Hall.

http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2013/01/whos-better-mark-howe-vs-phil-housley.html

A description of when he turned into a defenseman full time in the NHL:

It was the fourth game of the 1979-80 season after the WHA/NHL merger. Howe participated in the Hartford Whalers' morning skate, playing left wing. Right before the game against the Buffalo Sabres, he saw the lineup on a chalkboard in the dressing room and it had his name on defense. He thought it was a mistake, erased it and made the fix. It wasn't a mistake.

"I'm like, 'It would have been nice if you would have let me practice once on defense,'" Howe said. But he soon adjusted and things started to click. Howe liked playing 30 minutes a night and quickly became one of the league's best puck movers on defense. If there was a loose puck on Hartford's side of the ice, nine times out of 10, Howe won the race.

"I just remember that I thought I couldn't play in the league because I couldn't catch Mark Howe's passes, they were harder than my shots," XXXXX said. "It literally took three months to figure out how to do it."

XXXXX would learn that Howe's passing wasn't typical of NHL defensemen, he was in a class of his own. Gordie Howe said the three best passers he ever played with were Ted Lindsay, xxxx and his son. "Nobody passed the puck better," Gordie Howe said.

And that wrist shot. It was as good as most players' slap shot. Early in xxxx's career, a Howe wrister whipped past his face and shattered the glass behind him.

"I always remember thinking, what happens if that hits my jaw?"

http://espn.go.com/nhl/halloffame11/story/_/id/7216908/2011-hockey-hall-fame-look-inductee-mark-howe

There are lots of constructed bios on all-time greats on the ATD Master thread: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1149019

 

[Moose Head]

His 86 season should have got him a Norris. Just an absolutely brilliant two way game similar to Bourque in 1990.

Yeah I know, Coffey put up eye popping numbers, but IMO he wasn't as good a player as he had been the two previous years.

 

[The Panther]

His 86 season should have got him a Norris. Just an absolutely brilliant two way game similar to Bourque in 1990.

Yeah I know, Coffey put up eye popping numbers, but IMO he wasn't as good a player as he had been the two previous years.

I don't disagree with you. I'd have no issue at all with Howe winning that '86 Norris -- what a year he and the Flyers had.

(Not sure about Langway over Coffey in '84, mind...)

 

[Rebels57]

Howe has to be one of the top 3 defensemen to never win a Norris Trophy.

He probably wouldn't be so underrated if he wasn't living in the shadow of Mr. Hockey.

 

[Moose Head]

(Not sure about Langway over Coffey in '84, mind...)

Or Bourque or Potvin for that matter.