April 30th, 1984 NHL Coaches Poll - Toronto Star

[Canadiens Fan]

In an article written by Frank Orr of the Toronto Star, dated April 30th, 1984, all of the NHL coaches were asked anonymously to submit their choices in various categories given by the Toronto Star. Each NHL head coach at the time participated.

Below I have listed the winners in each category. In brackets I have put the runner-ups in order of finish. Sometimes the article lists the runner-up only. Other times it goes a few players deep. In two cases, the selections by the coaches were unanimous.

Most Underrated Player - Barry Pederson (Rick Middleton, Michel Goulet, John Ogrodnick)

Best Shot - Mike Bossy (Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Michel Goulet)

Hardest Shot - Reed Larson (Doug Wilson, Ray Bourque, Rick Vaive)

Best Skater - Paul Coffey (Denis Savard, Rick Middleton, Mike Gartner, Gilbert Perreault)

Fastest Skater - Glenn Anderson (Mike Gartner, Denis Savard)

Best Stickhandler - Wayne Gretzky (Rick Middleton, Denis Savard)

Best Playmaker - Wayne Gretzky

Best Passer - Wayne Gretzky (Barry Pederson, Peter Stastny)

Best Referee - Andy Van Hellemond (Bruce Hood, Kerry Fraser)

Best on Faceoffs - Bryan Trottier (Doug Jarvis, Barry Pederson, Bobby Clarke)

Best Fighter - Dave Semenko (Larry Playfair, Behn Wilson, Clark Gillies)

Most Dangerous Near Goal - Wayne Gretzky (Mike Bossy, Rick Middleton)

Best Coach - Bryan Murray (Al Arbour, Scotty Bowman)

Smartest Player - Wayne Gretzky (Peter Stastny, Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Rick Middleton, Jari Kurri)

Best Penalty Killer - Doug Jarvis (Rick Middleton, Wayne Gretzky)

Best Defensive Forward - Doug Jarvis (Craig Ramsey, Bob Gainey, Rick Middleton, Bryan Trottier, Jari Kurri)

Best Bodychecker - Scott Stevens (Denis Potvin, Dave Langevin, Bob Nystrom, Rod Langway, Stan Smyl)

Hardest Worker - John Tonelli (Bobby Clarke, Terry O'Reilly, Wayne Gretzky, Bryan Trottier, Brian Sutter)

Toughest Player - Brian Sutter (Scott Stevens, Dave Williams, Terry O'Reilly)

Most Improved Player - Tim Kerr (Reggie Lemelin, Scott Stevens)

Most Colorful Player - Wayne Gretzky (Denis Savard, Dave Williams)

Most Natural Ability - Wayne Gretzky (Kent Nilsson, Denis Savard, Rick Middleton, Paul Coffey)

Best Defensive Defenceman - Rod Langway (Mike Ramsay, Ken Morrow)

Best Goalie - Pete Peeters, Billy Smith, Tom Barrasso tie (Reggie Lemelin)

Best Young Player - Steve Yzerman (Tom Barrasso, Patrick Sundstrom, Brian Bellows, Phil Housley, Scott Stevens)

Best 1983-84 Rookie - Steve Yzerman (Tom Barrasso)

Most Valuable Player 1983-84 - Wayne Gretzky (Rod Langway, Rick Middleton)

Starting a team from Scratch, First player chosen - Wayne Gretzky

Click to read more...

 

[BobbyAwe]

My boys Pederson and Middleton mentioned quite a few times

 

[reckoning]

A few thoughts on this:

- I would hope Gretzky's domination of most of the categories here would lay to rest the myth that he was overrated or a product of statistics, since this was a poll of coaches who would understand the game.

- Barry Pederson is unfairly remembered as being on the wrong end of one of the most lopsided trades ever. This poll serves as a reminder of how highly regarded he was early in his career.

- There's seems to be a perception that Scott Stevens didn't become a hard-hitting physical player until he came to New Jersey. This poll from early in his career with Washington suggests otherwise.

- Interesting that most of the hardest shot choices were defencemen.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

A few thoughts on this:

- I would hope Gretzky's domination of most of the categories here would lay to rest the myth that he was overrated or a product of statistics, since this was a poll of coaches who would understand the game.

- Barry Pederson is unfairly remembered as being on the wrong end of one of the most lopsided trades ever. This poll serves as a reminder of how highly regarded he was early in his career.

- There's seems to be a perception that Scott Stevens didn't become a hard-hitting physical player until he came to New Jersey. This poll from early in his career with Washington suggests otherwise.

- Interesting that most of the hardest shot choices were defencemen.

Where does that myth exist?

Where does that perception exist?

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

My boys Pederson and Middleton mentioned quite a few times

Ricky Middleton in 9 categories.

At his peak, he really was that good.

 

[Dark Shadows]

A few thoughts on this:

- I would hope Gretzky's domination of most of the categories here would lay to rest the myth that he was overrated or a product of statistics, since this was a poll of coaches who would understand the game.

- Barry Pederson is unfairly remembered as being on the wrong end of one of the most lopsided trades ever. This poll serves as a reminder of how highly regarded he was early in his career.

- There's seems to be a perception that Scott Stevens didn't become a hard-hitting physical player until he came to New Jersey. This poll from early in his career with Washington suggests otherwise.

- Interesting that most of the hardest shot choices were defencemen.

Really?
He has always been a hard hitting raw power defenseman. Much more of a two way defenseman in his youth than later in his career, when he became a shutdown defenseman.

 

[BobbyAwe]

Coffey is "best skater" but not even in the top 3 of "fastest skater"?

 

[Dissonance]

Stevens was a terrifying hitter pretty much from day one—if anything he was even more terrifying when he was younger, because he was less disciplined and would go out of his way to destroy other players, even if it meant getting out of position. Sort of like Phaneuf as a youngster, only much stronger. Here's a good Washington Post article on Stevens from 1984:

Scott Stevens: Checking In And Punching Out
By Jane Leavy. The Washington Post. April 8, 1984.

Scott Stevens is young and in love with the idea of hitting people. He's a baby-faced tough whose idea of a good time is a chocolate milkshake and a good solid hip check. Just the thought of it makes him smile. His own smile: he has just turned 20 and still has all his own teeth. "Some guys, you go boo and they're scared," he said. "Hitting guys is so much fun. You hit a guy, it's like scoring a goal. I try to get a good one every game."

Ka-boom.

"I remember one of 'em against Gary Rissling for Pittsburgh," he said. "I thought he'd never get up. That son of a gun got up and started yapping at me, 'I'm going to get you.' I said, 'No way.' "

Ka-boom.

"There was one against Paul Holmgren," he said. "A great hip check. One of those end-over-end ones. That's the kind you love." …

If there is a dent in Stevens' armor it is his temper. Already he is legendary for going bonkers on the ice. This causes foolish penalties. This is caused by youth. "He overstates his emotions at times," Murray said ruefully.

 

[member 51464]

Stevens was a terrifying hitter pretty much from day one—if anything he was even more terrifying when he was younger, because he was less disciplined and would go out of his way to destroy other players, even if it meant getting out of position. Sort of like Phaneuf as a youngster, only much stronger. Here's a good Washington Post article on Stevens from 1984:

Haha, thanks for posting that article! It is rather awesome.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Hip Check

Stevens was a terrifying hitter pretty much from day one—if anything he was even more terrifying when he was younger, because he was less disciplined and would go out of his way to destroy other players, even if it meant getting out of position. Sort of like Phaneuf as a youngster, only much stronger. Here's a good Washington Post article on Stevens from 1984:

Yes. Hip check as clearly stated in the article not an upward blow to the head with a forearm, elbow or shoulder as was the case in Scott Steven's later years.

 

[Crosbyfan]

Yes. Hip check as clearly stated in the article not an upward blow to the head with a forearm, elbow or shoulder as was the case in Scott Steven's later years.

Not a fan of these types of hits, but Stevens lead with the shoulder, which did all the damage. Incidental elbow contact at the most, arguably slightly more on the follow through, but certainly no forearm.

The guy was pretty much textbook.

 

[Psycho Papa Joe]

Ricky Middleton in 9 categories.

At his peak, he really was that good.

I've said it many times, but IMO he should be in the HOF. He was a better player than some of his contemporaries who have gotten in.

 

[seventieslord]

Not a fan of these types of hits, but Stevens lead with the shoulder, which did all the damage. Incidental elbow contact at the most, arguably slightly more on the follow through, but certainly no forearm.

The guy was pretty much textbook.

You are right. Stevens had fewer than 5 elbowing penalties in his career. There sometimes appeared to be an elbow in hte follow through but he did not strike players with his elbows.