Nels Stewart and the 1926 Montreal Maroons

[overpass]

Nels Stewart is famous as a high-scoring center of the NHL's 1920s and 1930s. He was known for being a big man, a slow skater, and being very effective as a goal scorer around the net.

Stewart had one of the great rookie seasons in NHL history in 1925-26, when he led the league in goals, in points, and won the Hart trophy. He also scored 6 of his team's 10 goals in the Stanley Cup final against Victoria, leading them to victory. One of the most interesting points about this season is that Stewart was moved back to play defence for the four NHL playoff games and four Stanley Cup games that his team played. It seems strange enough that a team's top scorer would be moved to the defensive position - but a top scorer who profiles like an early Phil Esposito, deadly around the net but not a quick skater?

I dug into the old issues of the Montreal Gazette to see what I could find about this.

As a little background, the 1925-26 Montreal Maroons had a starting lineup of Babe Siebert, Stewart, and Punch Broadbent at forward. They started Reg Noble and Dunc Munro at defence, and Clint Benedict in goal. Broadbent, Benedict, and Noble were all veterans imported from other teams with outstanding playing records. Siebert and Stewart were NHL rookies. Munro was only in his second NHL season but had an outstanding amateur career and reputation and was the team captain largely based on having captained a team to the Allan Cup and Olympic Gold as an amateur. Eddie Gerard, the coach, was recently retired as a star player and was a highly regarded hockey mind.

Late in the regular season, Dunc Munro went down to illness and young Albert Holway took his position on defence. We pick up the story with the Maroons' first playoff game against Pittsburgh.

Montreal Gazette, March 22, 1926

Capt. Dunc Munro, a defending cog in the regular Maroon assemblage, was missing because of illness.

Holway's work at defence was not too strong in the opening period, so Manager Eddie Gerard shifted Nelson Stewart to Dunc Munro's defensive post and he remained there until the end of the game. Stewart's pokechecking stood out.

The following day, Gerard announced that the lineup change would remain in effect for the next game.
Montreal Gazette, March 23, 1926

Nelson Stewart will be started on the defence with Reg Noble, Captain Dunc Munro being on the sick list still. Manager Gerard stated that Holway has been playing good defensive hockey in the last ten days for the Maroons, but the showing of Bill Phillips has been such that the management feels that Phillips must be included on the regular line-up, so that the former Soo Greyhound will start at centre, Stewart dropping back. The arrangement should add speed and scoring punch to the attack, without detracting from the defensive play of the Maroons.

It appears that Bill Phillips, the mid-season import from Sault Ste-Marie, made a strong case to be included in the lineup. More about Phillips here. The move paid off in Montreal's next game, as they beat Pittsburgh to advance to the NHL final against Ottawa.

Montreal Gazette, March 24, 1926

Nelson Stewart, dropped back from centre to Munro's place alongside Noble on the defence, starred in his new role. While not possessing the heavy bodychecking of Munro, he has a useful poke check and is a valuable aid in attack.

Phillips, at centre for the Maroons, filled the role to perfection last night. He showed all the finish of a master on attack and his defensive hockey was of great assistance to the guards. He is an indefatigable worker and gets into every play - and is ever earnest about his work.

Interesting note about this series against Pittsburgh - this was the season in which Odie Cleghorn, Pittsburgh's coach, pioneered the use of wholesale substitutions on a regular basis - or multiple lines. It seems the new tactic wasn't enough to make up the talent gap in the series. The Maroons would move on to play the powerful Ottawa Senators.

In the first game, Stewart remained in his position starting on the defence with Reg Noble. Phillips continued to centre Siebert and Broadbent, and the captain Dunc Munro returned and was able to contribute as a substitute.

Montreal Gazette, March 26, 1926

For relief Stewart was sent to centre and Captain Dunc Munro returned to the game after a two weeks ilness. The Maroon leader was a tower defensively where his weight proved a valuable asset in the Montrealers defensive scheme.

Not much was said about Stewart's play in the next game. but Montreal won the hard-fought two game series against Ottawa and went through to the Stanley Cup final against Victoria, played in Montreal with games 1, 3, and 5 under eastern rules.

Montreal Gazette, March 29, 1926

...their team was being outwitted, outgeneralled, and outplayed, by the brainy work of Noble and Stewart on the defence and the killing of time by Siebert, Phillips, and Broadbent on the line.

It appears that Stewart played a quiet game in the NHL playoffs, using his intelligence and his stick skills to good effect on the defensive line. Bill Phillips had been the team's offensive leader against Pittsburgh and Ottawa. However, against Victoria, Stewart added the attacking dimension back into his game and showed the quality that won him the scoring title and the Hart trophy.

Montreal Gazette, March 31, 1926

Led by the brilliant Nelson Stewart, the Maroons fairly swept the Cup defenders off the ice in a game which was fast and open...

Stewart fairly towered over the other players on the ice, and he was alone worth the victory which the local team scored 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 N.H.L., 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 defence, poked the puck through Loughlin. Stewart attempted to round the Victoria captain and defence man, but was spilled face down and full length on the ice.

He was skidding at a fast clip towards the boards behind the westerners' net. Just as he was passing the Victoria cage at high speed, and with a crash into the boards inevitable, Stewart still had his brain working. He saw the puck five feet away and reached out his stick. He took a poke at the disc as he went sailing by. The puck went into the Victoria net at the same time that Stewart rammed into the boards with a thud - and Montreal were in the lead.

Stewart's second goal came in 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 right wing and Babe Siebert flashed up on his left. At the defence 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 two feet out. It was a beautiful play.

Some notes on his defensive performance.

Big "Slim" Halderson and Frank Frederickson...were able to launch formidable attacks that could sweep through Noble and Stewart occasionally. This pair staged terrific onslaughts in the last period...but they could not beat Benedict.

Where Victoria did appear to have an edge was in speed. The westerners dashed around the ice in flashes that brought great applause from the crowd. But where they failed was at the opposing defence. Unable to work their criss-cross forward passing under the eastern rules, their passing game was wrecked. They relied chiefly on boring in and shooting from outside the defence, or rushing to the corner and passing across the goal mouth. The defence was too cagey for this type of play and their efforts were shattered.

The Maroons stood out as a team. Nelson Stewart fairly scintillated. Bill Phillips was close behind him. Broadbent was like a young player fighting for a reputation instead of a veteran who has already proved his worth in marked fashion. Noble was steady and crafty and Siebert dashing. But it was the machine play of the Maroons which was the factor.

It's interesting that a big, slow player like Stewart could be an effective puck rusher from the defence, but that's just what he appears to have been. His outstanding stickhandling, smarts, and reach let him rush the puck and lead the attack from the back. Under a set of rules where forward passing was not permitted, that may have been more valuable than passing the puck to his forwards.

The next game was played under western rules, and forward passing was permitted. However, it appears that the Maroons stuck to playing their own game, with success.

Montreal Gazette, April 2, 1926

Against the Maroons last night, (Victoria) did their best to even the series. But they found they were opposed by a better machine. Playing strictly by their own brand of hockey and not attempting to take advantage of any of the liberties allowed by the westerners' regulations, the Montrealers won on straight, aggressive hockey in which they showed probably not quite as much speed, but smarter stickhandling and a far superior brand of team play. Where the Maroons towered over the cupholders was in their effectiveness from the defence in to the goal.

The score was the same as in the first game, but the margin for the Maroons was not as clear-cut. They were undoubtedly the better team and deserved their win, but they were forced to step out for the full sixty minutes of play to make certain of victory. From the first Victoria cut loose with a pace that was fairly dazzling. The Maroons played cannily, feeling their way and taking no chances on the criss-cross forward passes of the visitors from the Pacific Coast.

Stewart continued to be effective on the attack.

The big Maroon star (Stewart) 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 Victoria defence and rounded them to score the first goal while prone on the ice. Last night he rushed to the defence, but instead of going 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 again broke from the Montreal defence. He rushed down flanked by Phillips and drove a sizzler at Holmes. Phillips pounced on the rebound and goal number two was spotted and the Maroons were comfortably in front.

How did Montreal defend effectively with a defender frequently joining the attack? Their forwards checked back, of course. Interesting note here about the effectiveness of the Maroon wings on the backcheck.

Still Victoria pressed. They launched one attack after another. But their forward passes were being blocked by the back-checking Maroon wings. Siebert and Broadbent were the pair who, probably more than any other players on the team, wrecked the Victoria system. They chased their checks the full way back and never let them loose to rush in for discs shot ahead and near the Maroon cage. It was this difference in wing play between the two teams which spelt the difference. The Victoria wings remained up in the mid-ice area, trusting their defence men to take the puck and carry it back over the blue line and give them a break on the Montreal goal. In practice it did not work, which the Maroon wings were frequently left free to take passes or rush in for rebounds against a defence which had too much to cope with.

Cagey Reg Noble, never spectacular to the ordinary fan, was the brains of the Maroon team in the early stages until it had felt out the Cougars' unknown mode of attack and for the remainder of the game. It was his hefty frame and his sweeping stick which turned back the wild-cat rushes at the start and gave Benedict his chance to clear the puck. Stewart, teaming with Noble, was strong defensively and the bigest threat up forward. Phillips burned shots from all angles and distances and his poke check played havoc at centre ice with Victoria's rushes.

The anti-defence rule, which allows only two players back of blue line on defence and one between the blue line and a small mark between there and centre, was a continual source of trouble.

All odds were on the Maroons putting the series away as eastern rules were back in force for Game 3. Clint Benedict had only allowed one goal in the past four games, a weak one from Ottawa's King Clancy, and the Montreal defence appeared impregnable. But Victoria finally got their legs under them and stole Game 3.

April 5, 1926, Montreal Gazette
Stewart scored one goal, but was not as strong overall as he had been in the first two games.

Five minutes before the end of the game, the Maroons got back to within one goal of the Cup defenders, Stewart taking a back pass from Siebert to shoot from outside the defence.

Saturday night Noble, Stewart, and Munro were unsteady at times. They left Victoria players unmarked.

Siebert, Broadbent, and Phillips kept pounding away for the remainder of the period, aided at times by Nelson Stewart.

Here's an interesting note on Victoria's defensive strategy.

Th Cougars presented a defence built somewhat on the lines of the tough, tie-them-up sort which has characterized the guard built by Art Ross of the Boston Bruins. There was a suggestion of interference in their methods. Nelson Stewart suffered under this half-holding. It proved effective in halting Maroon rushes. Art Ross and Lester Patrick, leaders of the Bruins and Cougars, both learned that type of guarding with the old Westmount seniors and later with the Wanderers.

Finally, Montreal won the Cup in game 4 as Stewart starred once again.

Montreal Gazette, April 7, 1926

Nelson Stewart, Maroon ace, capped a season of sensational hockey, his first as a professional player, by scoring the two goals which brough the titular honors. Both came in the second period and were largely the result of the ability of this star to keep his brain functioning and his eye on the puck and net. It was Stewart's calculating, crafty hockey which proved a big asset in the Maroons' triumphal march.

Stewart took the puck from Frank Foyston as he tore down on the Montreal defence. The Maroon ace rushed back up the ice, flanked by Broadbent and Phillips. Stewart burned a shot in on Holmes, who saved but could not clear properly. Broadbent and Phillips swarmed in to help Stewart drive home the rebound. The Cougar defence was backed up on its own net. The puck was fired at Holmes with machine-gun speed four times until the entire Victoria defence was milked over to the left of the goal where the scramble was heaviest. Stewart sensed his chance. He got the puck and, like a flash, circled behind the Cougars' cage. He came up on the right side so suddenly that Holmes had not time to slide across his goal. Stewart rammed home the puck and the Maroons were in the lead.

With less than one minute to go in the middle session Stewart again went down, this time with Siebert and Broadbent. The trio gave Holmes another hailstorm of pucks and finally Stewart took one of his own rebounds, twisted around Loughlin and for the second time in the period found the left-hand corner of the Cougars' cage.

It appears Stewart was still able to use his skills around the opposing net from the defence position. When he jumped up into the attack he stayed there until the attack was finished.

A couple of other general notes on the game style.

Altogether Holmes was called on to make 38 saves, two of which he missed. At the other end Benedict blocked 22 shots which were dead on the goal...

Montreal continually bored in for goals. They sought rebounds off the boards and off Holmes' pads at all times. Phillips, Stewart, Broadbent, and Siebert followed through on every shot and were a steady source of worry to the Cougar defensive forces. But not so the westerners. The puck-carrier skated more slowly down the ice and relied on fast-skating wings to get ahead and take forward passes in promising scoring territory. But the punch was not there. From the defence in the Cougars faded. Their wings were bottled and could not shake their checks to get at the offside passes.

I really enjoyed reading up on this, so I put this together for anyone who is interested. Hopefully it can provide some insight into the style of play at the time, as well as some of the players of the day.

Click to read more...

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Well done. The profile of Stewart after his career was big, mean, smart, elite stickhandler, slow, and incredibly lazy. I am not surprised that when he was motivated, he could have been a strong two-way player in an era of no-forward passing (so skating was less important).

Motivation seems key.

I found this article where one writer gave his All-Star selections for the 1928-29 season. It was during a brief period in Stewart's career when he played left wing:

He chose Nels Stewart as his All Star LW, followed by Joliat closely over George Hay

About Stewart:

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.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...BAJ&pg=1583,2668747&dq=worters+gardiner&hl=en

SO by 1928-29, Stewart's "careless manner" of standing around letting his teammates do all the work was already well established, though he was still a strong backchecker when he wanted to be.

Then there's this passage from Eddie Shore and that Old Time Hockey, quoted in Dreakmur's ATD profile:

The Maroons center, Nels Stewart, had it in for Shore all night. He managed a stiff check, but otherwise could not get the Bruin. As Boston scored more unanswered goals, Stewart’s frustration grew, and in the third period he took it out on Frank Frederickson, caught off balance from just having shot the puck near the boards. Stewart was known to be so lazy that he bothered to move his hefty frame only to take a shot on net or to hit somebody, and on this occasion, true to form, he leisurely shifted his bulk over a few inches to connect with Frederickson. The Bruin went up into the air, hitting his head off the wire fence above the back boards, bounced off, and landed back on the ice, face down. He didn’t move. Fans leapt into the ice and Frederickson was carried off, comatose, by the faithful to the dressing room.

But that book was written well after Stewart's career.

My take is that Stewart was capable of being a force all over the ice (at least prior to the forward pass), but that as his career went on, he got lazier and lazier, letting his linemates do all the hard work. The famous "S Line" (Babe Siebert, Nels Stewart, Hooley Smith) basically turned the two wingers (who were good enough to be HHOFers when not playing with Stewart) into glorified grinders who would do all the puck retrieval and backchecking for the line, while Stewart's slow ass cherrypicked.

This is consistent with Stewart's awards recognition. He won his second Hart Trophy in 1929-30, but barely factors into the awards voting in the 1930s, despite still racking up the goals.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Why?

Still leaves a very important question unanswered. Why didn't the Maroons repeat the Stewart on defense experiment beyond 1926?

Will see if I can find some info during my research.

 

[Killion]

Still leaves a very important question unanswered. Why didn't the Maroons repeat the Stewart on defense experiment beyond 1926?

Ya. And I love mystery so I did some research myself. Stewart, Siebert & a Defenceman by the name of Dunc Munro (former Olympic player) were signed by the Maroons in 1925. That season, Stewart was used on Defense sporadically however so too was Siebert, and it looks like the following year Siebert, Reg Noble & Hap Emms also moved to the Blue Line at various times, in whatever situations, Stewart left to concentrate on Center. He had afterall won the Scoring Title & Hart as MVP in his Rookie Season so perhaps that was a factor. A matter of pacing, importance. Also if you look at what these guys were being paid, says a bit as to what importance Eddie Gerard placed on Defense, how he built the team, wanted them to play, moving the higher paid forwards back from time-time. The highest paid player on the Maroons in 26/27 was Center Merlyn Philips at app $4400 (and he doesnt appear to have been used on Defense), Stewart making app $3400. Defenseman Dunc Munro was making $3300 compared to his colleagues on the Blue Line of Red Dutton & Babe Donnelly along with Albert Holway all earning a penurious $1700 each (if these numbers Ive dug up are accurate that is). I think perhaps in following the money we may have part of our answer.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Substitution Data

^^^ Excellent work. Some of the game summaries from the era carry substitution data. Combined with game circumstances - score, opposition etc, a clearer picture will emerge.

 

[overpass]

Well done. The profile of Stewart after his career was big, mean, smart, elite stickhandler, slow, and incredibly lazy. I am not surprised that when he was motivated, he could have been a strong two-way player in an era of no-forward passing (so skating was less important).

Motivation seems key.

I found this article where one writer gave his All-Star selections for the 1928-29 season. It was during a brief period in Stewart's career when he played left wing:

He chose Nels Stewart as his All Star LW, followed by Joliat closely over George Hay

About Stewart:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...BAJ&pg=1583,2668747&dq=worters+gardiner&hl=en

SO by 1928-29, Stewart's "careless manner" of standing around letting his teammates do all the work was already well established, though he was still a strong backchecker when he wanted to be.

Then there's this passage from Eddie Shore and that Old Time Hockey, quoted in Dreakmur's ATD profile:



But that book was written well after Stewart's career.

My take is that Stewart was capable of being a force all over the ice (at least prior to the forward pass), but that as his career went on, he got lazier and lazier, letting his linemates do all the hard work. The famous "S Line" (Babe Siebert, Nels Stewart, Hooley Smith) basically turned the two wingers (who were good enough to be HHOFers when not playing with Stewart) into glorified grinders who would do all the puck retrieval and backchecking for the line, while Stewart's slow ass cherrypicked.

This is consistent with Stewart's awards recognition. He won his second Hart Trophy in 1929-30, but barely factors into the awards voting in the 1930s, despite still racking up the goals.

I posted this article in the All Time Draft forum. Marc McNeil in 1940, reminiscing about the Maroons-Canadiens rivalry.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...ons+canadiens+hooley+smith+mantha+munro&hl=en

Remember how the huge Nels Stewart used to cruise about slowly like a majestic liner, but no man could beat him to the draw once he got within shooting range, which was anywhere?

Remember the bull-like rushes of Dunc Munro with his short, choppy strides?... The whirlwind attacks of the late Babe Siebert, and his screaming shot?... Remember the late Howie Morenz chugging around the back of his own nets with hopping, overlapping steps as his skates bit into the ice working up speed for his cyclonic dashes - straight down the middle and hurtling through a sandwich-minded defence pair?... Remember the night one of Howie's smashing shots caught old Benny, Clint Benedict, full in the face, to spell the beginning of the end for Clint?... Black-capped Aurel Joliat, stickhandling wizard, a ghost on skates, waiting just inside the enemy blue line, evading checks by a slight shift, until someone got near the goalmouth, then he'd fire a long pass in with deadly accuracy to the man planted in front of the nets?... The weaving rushes of Sylvio Mantha, who skated with his legs wide apart and couldn't be shoved off balance, or off the puck?... Remember the most beautiful skater of them all, Dave Trottier?... And old hard-rock Reg Noble, who could hit as jolting a body check as was ever thrown out?

And Lionel Conacher, the Big Train, with his knock-kneed skating, tremendous competitive spirit, a rallying point in distress, a driving leader, and a second goalkeeper dropping to his knees to block countless shots?... Remember Punch Broadbent, who knew all the tricks, virtually riding on the wing he was checking and tiring him all out?... Little Dinny Dinsmore, the peskiest puck-ragger of them all?... Remember Hooley Smith's great centre-ice sweep check, rivalled by that of the suave and superbly polished Pete Lepine?... The speed-ball Georges Mantha, Sylvio's little brother?... The smoothness of Paul Haynes, with both Maroons and later Canadiens?... Earl Robinson, the blond bullet, and Russ Blinco, who looked as if he had majored in mathematics and when he got mad at the opposition used to call them "gol-danged tinkers?"... And Jimmy Ward, a great all-around hockey star with a mighty shot, and one of the most popular players in the town, the idol of all the kids... The lanky, durable Gander Northcott?... The speed-fiend Bob Gracie, who had scoring punch in his stick - and punch in his machine-gun fists?... Remember Walter Buswell, a forcing defenceman with an uncanny knack of anticipating plays and breaking them up almost before they developed?

Some colourful descriptions there. The relevance here is that the description of Stewart cruising about slowly is from his days in Montreal, in the first half of his career. Possibly from his days with the S line.

 

[overpass]

Still leaves a very important question unanswered. Why didn't the Maroons repeat the Stewart on defense experiment beyond 1926?

Will see if I can find some info during my research.

I noticed that the season-opening lineup for the 26-27 season had Stewart at centre and Phillips back on the bench as a substitute. Phillips played his way into the starting role for the 1926 playoffs but apparently couldn't hold it over into the next season. Possibly the management preferred captain Dunc Munro in a starting role when healthy.

Probably the most important changes for the Maroons in the 1926 offseason were the ones that didn't happen. No western players were added to the team, putting them behind compared to other NHL teams who improved their rosters.

Ya. And I love mystery so I did some research myself. Stewart, Siebert & a Defenceman by the name of Dunc Munro (former Olympic player) were signed by the Maroons in 1925. That season, Stewart was used on Defense sporadically however so too was Siebert, and it looks like the following year Siebert, Reg Noble & Hap Emms also moved to the Blue Line at various times, in whatever situations, Stewart left to concentrate on Center. He had afterall won the Scoring Title & Hart as MVP in his Rookie Season so perhaps that was a factor. A matter of pacing, importance. Also if you look at what these guys were being paid, says a bit as to what importance Eddie Gerard placed on Defense, how he built the team, wanted them to play, moving the higher paid forwards back from time-time. The highest paid player on the Maroons in 26/27 was Center Merlyn Philips at app $4400 (and he doesnt appear to have been used on Defense), Stewart making app $3400. Defenseman Dunc Munro was making $3300 compared to his colleagues on the Blue Line of Red Dutton & Babe Donnelly along with Albert Holway all earning a penurious $1700 each (if these numbers Ive dug up are accurate that is). I think perhaps in following the money we may have part of our answer.

Noble was playing defence full time by then, no?

Interesting note: in the Gazette piece where Stewart was announced as Hart winner, the writer said Montreal fans would be surprised that Noble didn't finish higher in the voting. (I believe he finished 8th.)

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

It was pretty common in the 20s and 30s for aging forwards to be move back to defense when they started slowing down - Babe Seibert and Ebbie Goodfellow most famously - so many be trying the always big and slow Stewart on defense was a natural move

 

[Killion]

Noble was playing defence full time by then, no?

Not according to hockeyreference, his Legends bio on the HHOF & other sources overpass. Still LW/D with the Maroons in 26/27 HOWEVER... seems Eddie Gerard there was none too impressed any longer, considered Reg "washed up" & traded him to the Detroit Falcons. Jack Adams didnt believe Reg was washed up & it was there & then that he was converted to a Defenseman full-time. Believe he went on to play another 4yrs in the Motor City. Also of interest, he was known for his accuracy in the "poke check", not something he invented but something he was extremely adroit in employing as a high scoring forward earlier in Toronto as well as in Montreal. That wouldve been more than useful in playing defense for sure, mind you, always taught to take the man & then the puck but still.... Ya. Reg Noble. From Collingwood Ontario.

 

[Killion]

It was pretty common in the 20s and 30s for aging forwards to be move back to defense when they started slowing down - Babe Seibert and Ebbie Goodfellow most famously - so many be trying the always big and slow Stewart on defense was a natural move

Indeed, and Ive often wondered about that as a lot of these clubs were financially challenged right out of the chute, and certainly as the Depression grew darker through the 30's. Wouldnt you sign younger, cheaper talent rather than converting a guy who was making good money as say a Center or Winger with 5-10yrs or whatever under his belt? I guess perhaps as jobs were scarce and hockey was all a lot of them knew, take a pay cut, play Defense, and of course they did have a lot of experience... 50 years on the opposite of Defenseman Harold Snepsts who later in his career is advised by his Doctor to start wearing a helmet or he might suffer brain damage... replys with "Aww, dont worry Doc. If that happens I can always come back as a Forward".

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I'm linking to this thread in the HOH Top 100 project, but no harm giving it a little bump this way, is there?

 

[MXD]

Timely bump chap.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It was pretty common in the 20s and 30s for aging forwards to be move back to defense when they started slowing down - Babe Seibert and Ebbie Goodfellow most famously - so many be trying the always big and slow Stewart on defense was a natural move

IMO, the key to understanding anybody on those Maroons teams is understanding the influence of Eddie Gerard.

Gerard came into the NHA as a forward, and was reasonably successful at that position for three years till he moved back to defense. During the Sens' dynasty years, when their success as a team was primarily a result of their legendary defense, he paired with Georges Boucher and Sprague Cleghorn -- both of whom also played forward when called upon. As consequence of having that much skill on the back line, the Sens could attack from all five positions, and their defensemen routinely landed near the top of the league's scoring list (to say nothing of Frank Nighbor playing the most conservative defensive game of any center while still being an offensive force). The two-way threat was nearly unbeatable.

As a coach, Gerard attracted and trained players who were capable of playing both positions. Babe Siebert, Hooley Smith, Reg Noble, Nels Stewart all played both forward and defense according to Gerard's adjustments. While this was more common at the time than later, it was still something that was noticeably practiced more by specific coaches. Boston was another organization that deliberately trained players to play at all positions, with Dit Clapper being the prize result. Also, notably, the Maroons were among the very roughest teams in the NHL during this period. That meant a lot of little injuries that required shifts in the lineup, in an era when you had very limited depth on the bench. "Utility" players had been phased out, but a guy who could jump back or forward and play out of his usual position was incredibly important to the keeping the Maroons' lineup stable.

Coming back to Stewart -- seeing Eddie Gerard stick a big towering forward on the back line to cover for an injury therefore isn't such a surprise. Even if he didn't quite have the temperament to be a permanent fixture on the defense, Stewart was a nasty piece of work and one of the biggest bodies in the league. In an era when an ordinary forward was about 160lb, Stewart had a 40lb advantage -- in today's game that's similar to having a Brent Burns or Dustin Byfuglien type player on the front line. And just as today, there's a logic to moving that guy back and letting him slam people around physically while still picking up his share of points, even if he's not a "natural" defenseman. I suspect that's where Gerard's head was when he decided to move Stewart back, especially seeing as he had enough forward depth to backfill the position with another starting-quality player. Better to have Stewart on the defense and another top-quality forward in his place, than a sub-quality defenseman and a top-quality forward sitting on the bench.

 

[Canadiens1958]

IMO, the key to understanding anybody on those Maroons teams is understanding the influence of Eddie Gerard.

Gerard came into the NHA as a forward, and was reasonably successful at that position for three years till he moved back to defense. During the Sens' dynasty years, when their success as a team was primarily a result of their legendary defense, he paired with Georges Boucher and Sprague Cleghorn -- both of whom also played forward when called upon. As consequence of having that much skill on the back line, the Sens could attack from all five positions, and their defensemen routinely landed near the top of the league's scoring list (to say nothing of Frank Nighbor playing the most conservative defensive game of any center while still being an offensive force). The two-way threat was nearly unbeatable.

As a coach, Gerard attracted and trained players who were capable of playing both positions. Babe Siebert, Hooley Smith, Reg Noble, Nels Stewart all played both forward and defense according to Gerard's adjustments. While this was more common at the time than later, it was still something that was noticeably practiced more by specific coaches. Boston was another organization that deliberately trained players to play at all positions, with Dit Clapper being the prize result. Also, notably, the Maroons were among the very roughest teams in the NHL during this period. That meant a lot of little injuries that required shifts in the lineup, in an era when you had very limited depth on the bench. "Utility" players had been phased out, but a guy who could jump back or forward and play out of his usual position was incredibly important to the keeping the Maroons' lineup stable.

Coming back to Stewart -- seeing Eddie Gerard stick a big towering forward on the back line to cover for an injury therefore isn't such a surprise. Even if he didn't quite have the temperament to be a permanent fixture on the defense, Stewart was a nasty piece of work and one of the biggest bodies in the league. In an era when an ordinary forward was about 160lb, Stewart had a 40lb advantage -- in today's game that's similar to having a Brent Burns or Dustin Byfuglien type player on the front line. And just as today, there's a logic to moving that guy back and letting him slam people around physically while still picking up his share of points, even if he's not a "natural" defenseman. I suspect that's where Gerard's head was when he decided to move Stewart back, especially seeing as he had enough forward depth to backfill the position with another starting-quality player. Better to have Stewart on the defense and another top-quality forward in his place, than a sub-quality defenseman and a top-quality forward sitting on the bench.

Detroit with Jack Adams also favoured the F/D. Greater roster flexibility as you stated. Maroons habitually played with the smallest roster.

The F/D had a rebirth whenToe Blake coached the Canadiens, continued under Scotty Bowman.

Today it is a question of optimizing TOI.

Welcome back.

 

[tarheelhockey]

IMO, the key to understanding anybody on those Maroons teams is understanding the influence of Eddie Gerard.

Gerard came into the NHA as a forward, and was reasonably successful at that position for three years till he moved back to defense. During the Sens' dynasty years, when their success as a team was primarily a result of their legendary defense, he paired with Georges Boucher and Sprague Cleghorn -- both of whom also played forward when called upon. As consequence of having that much skill on the back line, the Sens could attack from all five positions, and their defensemen routinely landed near the top of the league's scoring list (to say nothing of Frank Nighbor playing the most conservative defensive game of any center while still being an offensive force). The two-way threat was nearly unbeatable.

As a coach, Gerard attracted and trained players who were capable of playing both positions. Babe Siebert, Hooley Smith, Reg Noble, Nels Stewart all played both forward and defense according to Gerard's adjustments. While this was more common at the time than later, it was still something that was noticeably practiced more by specific coaches. Boston was another organization that deliberately trained players to play at all positions, with Dit Clapper being the prize result. Also, notably, the Maroons were among the very roughest teams in the NHL during this period. That meant a lot of little injuries that required shifts in the lineup, in an era when you had very limited depth on the bench. "Utility" players had been phased out, but a guy who could jump back or forward and play out of his usual position was incredibly important to the keeping the Maroons' lineup stable.

Coming back to Stewart -- seeing Eddie Gerard stick a big towering forward on the back line to cover for an injury therefore isn't such a surprise. Even if he didn't quite have the temperament to be a permanent fixture on the defense, Stewart was a nasty piece of work and one of the biggest bodies in the league. In an era when an ordinary forward was about 160lb, Stewart had a 40lb advantage -- in today's game that's similar to having a Brent Burns or Dustin Byfuglien type player on the front line. And just as today, there's a logic to moving that guy back and letting him slam people around physically while still picking up his share of points, even if he's not a "natural" defenseman. I suspect that's where Gerard's head was when he decided to move Stewart back, especially seeing as he had enough forward depth to backfill the position with another starting-quality player. Better to have Stewart on the defense and another top-quality forward in his place, than a sub-quality defenseman and a top-quality forward sitting on the bench.

I came across an article that really illustrates how much Gerard favored flexible players, and how much he exploited roster shifts even in the middle of a game.

Context: Odie Cleghorn popularized the idea of "set" forward lines in 1925-26. Two years later, the idea had started to take hold throughout the NHL, but was not yet universal. Teams that still did basketball-style spot substitutions typically had a very clear-cut starting lineup, with bench players whose playing time might be very limited depending on who they were expected to replace. For example, there were still some games in 1927-28 where the starting defense pair played all 60 minutes and the D sub simply watched the game from the bench.

The Maroons' situation was complicated by frequent suspensions -- Hooley Smith missed the first month for an attack in the 1927 Finals, and Babe Siebert was suspended almost as soon as Smith returned. Siebert had been a fixture as the top LW up until his suspension, but his first game back he was used as a flexible sub at forward and D... which made it apparent he was actually good on defense. The following game he started at D, and that was the game reviewed below:


Montreal Gazette 1/6/1928
Manager Gerard gambled with a changed line-up and a more frequent use of relief players than has been customary in former Maroons games. Babe Siebert, playing his first game since he was suspended ten days ago, paired with Dutton on the defence. Hooley Smith went to centre and was flanked by Bill Phillips and Russell Oatman. Stewart was used to relieve at centre and left wing, and Dunc Munro, who can play both sides on the defence, was thrown into action to give blows to either Siebert or Dutton.

Gerard juggled his players with abandon. Occasionally he had Siebert off the defence and on left wing. Hooley Smith had a whirl at defence duty, besides playing centre. There were many changes and they all showed the Maroons as a combination which can be switched wholesale without materially distracting from the strength of the team on the ice.

ALL PLAYERS IN ACTION

Every player in the roster was in the game for fairly long periods and the result was a more open, dashing, aggressive style than the Maroons are accustomed to show, but above all their (sic) was always the impression that the players were trying their level best.

[skip to miscellaneous comments after the game summary]

Babe Siebert revels in this defence business and what a chance it gives him to work up steam for a meteoric flash down the ice. He drilled some vicious shots.



I think what we see in Gerard and his Maroons is an alternate evolutionary "branch" of late-1920s coaching theory. The original trunk of the tree began in the 19th Century with the concept of a fixed 6- or 7-man lineup without subs, where injuries were handled by dropping a player from both sides. That soon led to the notion of emergency subs for injuries, which in turn led to the idea of having a small number of relief players to do "utility" duty in case of fatigue. That gets us as far as the early 20s, where relief subs began to specialize and hold their own with semi-regular shifts.

When we hit roughly 1926/27/28, the tree branches in two directions: one in the Cleghorn direction where set lines provide a structured schedule of relief, the other in the Gerard direction where players are free to shift around the lineup as dictated by game conditions.

The difference between Gerard's strategy and the well-established "utility player" concept, is the frequency and strategic purpose with which Gerard switched around his subs. He had deliberately collected players who could play multiple positions, methodically tinkered with them in roles outside their "natural" position, and now he was starting to work a shell game where opposing coaches would struggle to establish checks against dangerous scorers like Smith and Siebert. In a world where critics relished the matchup between LWs and RWs at both ends of the ice, it would have been disconcerting to realize the other team's LW is now playing D and roaring up the middle of the ice against a surprised centerman.

For a very brief period, both of these concepts were in the evolutionary pool together, struggling for dominance. In hindsight we know that the set-lines concept would win out... but it's interesting to see Gerard's experimentation with an alternate theory. One can imagine a world where the set-lines theory takes longer to develop (maybe Cleghorn slips on a banana peel in 1925) and we see a very different NHL as a result of Gerard's success with "flex" players.