MLD, AAA & AA 2013 BIOs

[Rob Scuderi]

Frank Mathers, D

(#3 in the center)

- 5x AHL 1st All-Star Team (1952-1956), unanimous selection in 1954 and 1955, leading vote getter among defensemen in 1953.
*Can we call these three years retro Eddie Shore awards as we do with the Norris in the NHL?
- 1x AHL 2nd All-Star Team (1958)
- He was also named to the 1952 and 1954 players/coaches All-star teams, couldn't find info on any other years

AHL MVP voting
- He finished a distant second to Red Sullivan, the scoring leader, for the 1954 AHL MVP. The winner collected 26/30 voting points and Mathers was second with 8 voting points ahead of two players in third tied with 5 voting points.
- He was mentioned along with Johnny Bower as close competition for the 1952 AHL MVP winner Ray Powell, who was the scoring leader that year.

- 4x Calder Cup winner (1952, 1955, 1958, 1959)
- Played in 1954 (first ever) and 1956 AHL All-Star Game, no info found on any other games

- AHL defensemen scoring: 1, 2, 4, 4, 4, 6
- Led QSHL in defensemen scoring in 1948, led Allan Cup in defensemen scoring in 1948
*It should be noted I found mentions of him filling at center when his team suffered a rash of injuries, but during the 1953-54 season his GM mentioned he didn't want to use him there unless it was absolutely necessary because he was too valuable on defense.

- Captain of Hornets in 1954-55 and 1955-56 seasons, he was a player-coach in Hershey but didn't seem to be their captain
- LHS capable of playing his offside

- Charter member of AHL Hall of Fame
- Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder
- Recipient of Lester Patrick Trophy (commitment to hockey in US), again influenced by his non-playing career

On the ice Mathers became one of the AHL's all-time great defencemen, being voted to the all-star team on five consecutive occasions during the late 1950s. After he took on the dual role of player/coach the team won three Calder Cups. His greatest asset was remaining calm but still pushing players to reach their potential individually or as a team. He retired as a player in 1962 and turned his full attention to coaching. When he left the game, Mathers stood as the all-time assist and point-scoring leader among AHL defencemen.

Mathers soon turned his attention to hockey, and beginning in 1948, after three years in the Quebec senior circuit, he spent eight seasons patrolling the blue line for the AHL’s Pittsburgh Hornets, establishing himself as one of the best defensemen in the league. He was named a First Team AHL All-Star five straight years, the only player in AHL history ever to accomplish that feat, and he helped the Hornets to Calder Cup championships in 1952 and 1955. Mathers would also participate in all six of the AHL All-Star Games held in the 1950’s, five as a player.

When the Hornets folded after the 1955-56 season, Mathers nearly retired to pursue a career in dentistry. But legend has it that Hershey Bears president and general manager John Sollenberger persuaded Mathers in unique Hershey fashion to join his team as a player/coach: by taking him on a few roller-coaster rides at Hersheypark.

Mathers’ arrival immediately changed the fortunes of the Bears franchise. Coming off consecutive fifth-place finishes, Hershey qualified for the playoffs in 1957 and won back-to-back Calder Cup titles in 1958 and 1959. Mathers retired from playing during the 1961-62 season, but continued as the Bears’ head coach through 1973, capturing another Calder Cup in 1969 – the fifth of his career.

http://ahlhalloffame.com/frank-mathers-p139019

AHL All-Star Teams and mentions in MVP voting
1952
Mentioned as "close competition" for AHL MVP winner

Defensemen Frank Mathers and Tim Horton were $300 richer today and also had the honor of being the only Hornets named to the American Hockey League All-Star team. For Mathers it was the second honor he rated the past season. Frank also was chosen on the players' all-star team announced two weeks ago.

There was no argument about selection of Horton and Mathers to the first team. Their great defensive play had so much to do with the Wasps' sweep of the league as the offensive play of the wings and centers.

Mentioned as one of two players who gave the AHL MVP competition

Ray Powell, the Providence Reds center who led the American Hockey League in scoring during the 1951-52 season with 97 points, today was chosen as the circuit's most valuable player. He received close competition from Johnny Bower of Cleveland and Frank Mathers of Pittsburgh.

1953
Mathers gets 33/35 voting points in 1953 all-star team, this was the second highest vote getter of any position behind the unanimous RW selection.

Each of the seven league cities submitted one ballot, listing three choices for each position, with five points being award to a first place vote, three for second and one for third.

Hildebrand was the only one to poll the maximum of 35 points but two of his Cleveland teammates weren't far behind. Goalie John Bower and left wing Eddie Olson drew 31 points each. Completing the domination by the Barons, league and Calder Cup playoff champions, was Tommy Williams at defense. [Guyle] Fielder and Frank Mathers, defense star of the runner-up Pittsburgh Hornets, completed the first team. Mathers polled 33 points.

1954
Unanimous choice of players and coaches poll (I believe they combined their votes for a 1st and 2nd team as only one set of players was listed), unanimous choice for the official all-star team, and a distant second in the AHL MVP voting.

Almost a sure shot for his straight all-star berth is Defenseman Frank Mathers. He has already been the unanimous choice of the all-star teams chosen by players and coaches.

Frank Mather, Hornets' smooth-working defenseman who only a month ago said; "I don't think I'll make it again," was a unanimous choice for the American Hockey League's all-star team, league headquarters announced yesterday.

AHL MVP voting in 1954

George (Red) Sullivan, star center of the Hershey Bears, today was named the Most Valuable Player during the past season in the American Hockey League. He was the league's leading scorer and also chosen on the all-star team...Sullivan had 26 points of a possible 30 in the voting by writers and broadcasters. Frank Mathers, Pittsburgh defenseman, was second in the balloting far behind, with 8. Next in order were Gaye Stewart, Buffalo, and Jack Gordon, cleveland 5; Frank Eddolls, Buffalo, 4; Gordie Henry, Hershey 3....

1955
Unanimous selection for the second time

Frank Mathers, Pittsburgh's perennial All-Star defenceman, was the only unanimous choice for the 1954-55 American Hockey League All-Star team...Mathers drew a maximum of 30 points in the voting...It was the fourth consecutive year Mathers has been named for the All-Star team, and his second unanimous selection.

1958
Final all-star team spot after a down scoring year in 1957 that saw him miss 15 games.

Playing coach Frank Mathers of Hershey and Tommy Williams of Rochester were the alternate team defensemen...For Bower, it is the third consecutive year during which he has been a member of the first team, and fifth time in his AHL career...His five first team awards ties him with Mathers, who in previous years also had that amount, his coming in consecutive seasons. This is the most times any player has been voted to the first team.

Various quotes

The Hornets ended the Syracuse jinx at The Gardens last night, but it was somewhat of an individual triumph for Frank Mathers, speedy defenceman, who handed them a 2-1 victory in a “sudden death†overtime period. Mathers...scored both goals...

Although a LHS, the quote above comes from a game report that listed the starting blueliners as LD and RD. Mathers was listed as RD, which demonstrates an ability to play on his off-side.

But the defense behind them-Frank Sullivan, Pete Backor, Leo Boivin, Frank Mathers, and Tim Horton were just about as valuable in stopping the goalward rushes of the Bears. Mathers scored the first goal in Saturday night's third straight win, a battle in which Pittsburgh held the Bears to but one goal for the third straight time in the playoffs.

There is one bit of sunshine in the gloom. That's big Frank Mathers. The All-Star defenseman, who is playing his usual great game, can be shifted up front if necessary. It's a role he has filled, and creditably, when the Wasps were short-handed at various times the past few seasons. Bastien hopes he won't have to make the shift on Mathers. He is sorely needed at his rearguard post, as the Hornets defense has been below par all season.

Frank Mathers, Pittsburgh's star defenceman, is the leading active scorer among rearguards for the playoffs with 25 points on 6 goals and 19 assists...Mathers, who is the only defenceman ever to score over 300 points in regular season competition, is after the all time playoff mark for defencemen of 33 points held by Danny Sprout...

King Clancy reminisces about the 1952 Calder Cup winning Hornets he coached

Fining out that he had a visitor from Pittsburgh in his midst, Clancy added quickly, "But this isn't as much fun as when I coached the Hornets and we won the Calder Cup (1952). "That team could play in the NHL today." Then he flicked off some of the names that quickly came to mind. It was a course in nostalgia. "Let's see. We had Andy Barbe, Rudy Migay, Bob Solinger, Pete Backor, Frank Mathers. That was a team."

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Tord Lundstrom, LW

- Swedish league point finishes (per Eliteprospects): 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 10
- Led team in scoring 4 times (1965, 1972, 1973, 1979(tie))
- 8x Swedish league All-Star Team (1965, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976)
- 9x Swedish league champion (1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977)

Tord Lundstrom is the holder of the unique title of Brynas' Best Player of All Time. He was awarded the title after an opinion poll was conducted among the fans of the popular club, which in the 1998-99 season won the championship title of Sweden for the 12th time-second in the number of championship wins in Swedish hockey. The results of the poll, conducted by the newspaper Arbetarbladet, put Lundstrom in first place with 1,237 points. To underscore the significance of this achievement, it's worth noting that the runner-up was the legendary defenseman Borje Salming with 1,235 points.

No matter how difficult a game might be for Brynas or for the Swedish national squad, for which Lundstrom played 200 official games, he would always stubbornly clench his teeth and infect his teammates with sheer dynamism, inspiring them to play the game with the same fierce intensity.

- IIHF Hall of Fame
- Played in eight World Championships, winning 3 Silver Medals and 4 Bronze Medals
- Finished 6, 6, 6, 8 in scoring in WCs
- Played in two Olympics
- Played in one Canada Cup

Tord Lundström was one of Sweden’s greatest forwards, dominant both on the national team and in domestic play with the Swedish Elite League. He played in 200 national teams games between 1964 and 1977, took part in nine top pool IIHF World Championships, and captured three silver medals and four bronze medals during an era of Soviet dominance.

In 73 World Championship games, Lundström collected an impressive 40 goals and 26 assists, underlining his status as a point-per-game player internationally for almost 15 years.

Lundström also played a key role in two Olympic Games, Grenoble 1968 and Sapporo 1972, and he was still a dominating figure on the national team as the 1976 Olympics approached. Sweden, however, didn’t enter a team to the Innsbruck games, but later that year Lundström was selected to Tre Kronor's inaugural Canada Cup team.

Lundström’s accomplishments domestically were equally impressive. In 14 top league seasons, he led his club Brynäs to a record nine national titles during a period when he amassed 629 points in 453 games in various competitions.

In 1973, at the age of 28, at a time when only his much younger Brynäs teammates Börje Salming and Inge Hammarström managed to permanently crack the lineup of an NHL team, Lundström signed with the Detroit Red Wings and played in 11 NHL games during the 1973-74 season. He became only the second Swedish forward to score an NHL goal.

His Brynäs jersey number 6 was the first one to be retired by the club.

Analysis of Swedish forwards in international competitions

|Intl Pts|Intl GP|PPG|Best Intl Finishes
Sven Tumba|119|97|1.23|1, 1, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7
Nils Nilsson|87|63|1.38|1, 2, 6, 7, 9
Tord Lundstrom|81|91|0.89|6, 6, 6, 8
Ulf Sterner|85|86|0.99|1, 3, 4
Hakan Loob|60|60|1.00|2, 4, 5
Ronald Pettersson|85|91|0.93|2, 6, 10
Mats Ahlberg|73|73|1.00|3, 10, 10
Roland Eriksson|40|53|0.75|3, 9
Thomas Rundqvist|64|111|0.58|4, 9
Lars-Eric Lundvall|50|65|0.77|6
Willy Lindstrom|15|17|0.88|6
Jorgen Jonsson|59|127|0.46|
Pelle Eklund|36|63|0.57|

Lundstrom's 4 top 10 placements put him ahead of anyone available and his international career spanned from 1965-1976 so it's not like he was beating up on weak competition.

How does 4 top 10s in international competitions stack up to other European forwards drafted around this level?

|Intl Finishes
Vladimir Ruzicka|1, 3, 5, 5
Ville Peltonen|2, 2, 4, 6
Raimo Helminen|1, 6, 7
Vladimir Golikov|4, 6, 10
Viktor Polupanov|2, 2
Alexander Golikov|3, 3
Viktor Zhluktov|1, 10
Sergei Shepelev|8, 9
Jiri Novak|2
Jan Klapac|3
Alexander Martynyuk|4
Alexander Bodunov|5
Matti Hagman|10

The following drafted players never had a top 10 finish: Evgeny Mishakov, Eduard Novak, Alexander Skvortsov, Sergei Svetlov, Evgeny Zimin
Peltonen's finishes came during the 90s and 2000s. Ruzicka's came during the 80s.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Mike Sillinger, C

- Killed 31% of teams' penalties for units 4% below average, second most adjusted SH points among players available coming into this draft with 50
- 8th most adjusted ES points among players available coming into this draft with 405, he does have the lowest per season average of anyone in the top ten however averaging 31 points per season
- 147 adjusted PP points playing on 35% of teams' penalties for units' 14% below average

- vsX: 59, 55, 52, 48, 45, 43, 41 / 6 year sum of 302

- 23rd in Selke voting with 7 votes in 2007

Yearly faceoff % ranks using NHL.com leaders (starts in 1997-98)
2001: 3rd - 60.3%
2007: 3rd - 58.8%
1998: 7th - 57.6%
2008: 7th - 56.3%
2002: 8th - 57.0%
2006: 8th - 55.9%
2004: 9th - 56.9%
2003: 12th - 56.5%

One of the drawbacks to this veteran's career is his size, but on a team like the Flyers it's easy to hide a small, skilled player, but Sillinger is not without his assets. He is a smart player with a knack for positioning himself in the attacking zone. He has a good shot with a quick release.

Sillinger is a good skater with speed and balance. His one-step acceleration is good. He plays well in traffic, using his sturdy form to protect the puck, and he has sharp hand-eye coordination. He is a smart penalty killer and a shorthanded threat.

Sillinger is small but burly. He is tough to budge from in front of the net because of his low centre of gravity. He is not very feisty or aggressive.

...not to mention the best face-off man on the Lightning.

With Rob Zamuner's departure, Sillinger will be given more of the checking line and penalty-killing duties. He is a grinder, a role player and a leader by example.

Q:Then by the 1992-93 season you were up for good. What were the biggest lessons you learned as a young player in those first few years in Detroit?
They really teach you the defensive aspect of the game. I was a player drafted in the first round, as a skilled scorer out of junior. But then when I came up, I really learned how to play in all areas of the game, so that it wasn't just about scoring goals...They had so many good players, so many scorers, I knew I would never get a sniff on the power play. When I broke into the league, I knew I was going to kill penalties and that was about it. That's why I became a good faceoff guy: If you weren't winning faceoffs, you weren't going to kill penalties either.

Q:Why do you think you ended up getting traded so much?
That's just what happens sometimes, you get pinpointed as a tradable guy. I'd hear people talk about me, they'd say, "He's a great leader, a great teammate, a good player, why has he been traded so much?" I think it just becomes a case where the organization is looking to trade their No. 9 for your No. 9, you know? I was never breaking banks in terms of salary, so that also makes you a tradable asset. Then once I started to establish myself as a solid, two-way player who could play in different situations, on the power play, killing penalties, I just became one of those guys that teams seemed to trade for. It's one of those things you find out quick in the NHL: You have to do something special. Fighters fight, hitters hit, penalty killers block shots, scorers score. You have to find your niche.

One of the better moves at the trade deadline was made by Panthers general manager Bryan Murray, who obtained reliable two-way center Mike Sillinger from the Lightning for center Ryan Johnson and forward Dwayne Hay. Sillinger has given Florida much-needed grit and a face-off specialist, something the team sorely lacked....

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Jarret Stoll, C

- Killed 30% of teams' penalties for units 12% above average
- 1x Stanley Cup winner, 1x Stanley Cup finalist

Assets: Has excellent two-way ability and sound leadership qualities. Also possesses a wicked shot, grit and face-off skills. Can play the point on power plays and also play on the wing if needed there.

Flaws: Doesn't always play with consistency, which prevents him from taking his game to another level. Has a tendency to rush things in the offensive zone, so he lacks a little patience with the puck.

Career Potential: Veteran two-way center with a big shot.

The Kings would lose plenty without Stoll, a stalwart on their championship team last summer. Stoll is their third-line center and a top penalty-killer and face-off specialist, playing a valuable two-way game while also logging time on the power play.

"It's huge, because he's one of our clutch players," Richardson said of Stoll. "He's the first guy on the penalty kill, and he's a power-play guy."

Stoll's worst season he won 54% of faceoffs and has been in the top ten of faceoff % four times.
Yearly faceoff % ranks using NHL.com leaders
2011: 5 - 57.5%
2006: 5 - 56.8%
2009: 7 - 57.2%
2007: 9 - 55.6%
2010: 10 - 56.0%
2013: 11 - 56.0%
2008: 14 - 55.1%
2012: 15 - 55.0%
2004: 25 - 54.1

As Stoll plays the point on the powerplay, here's how he compares to the best scoring defensemen according to adjusted PP points. This may not be perfect as he had the opportunity to play up front unlike these defensemen.

Drafted defensemen with most adjusted PP points

|GP|Career $PPP|$PPP/S|Usage|+/- League average
Bryan Berard|619|167|22|65%|-9%
Filip Kuba|836|154|15|50%|-11%
Jeff Norton|799|147|14|52%|-5%
Mike McEwen|716|141|16|50%|+0%
Jarret Stoll|641|135|16|49%|-1%
Joni Pitkanen|535|116|17|61%|-5%
Rick Lanz|569|114|16|53%|-9%
Shawn Chambers|625|99|12|41%|-16%
Willie Huber|655|94|11|51%|-18%
Todd Gill|1007|90|7|25%|-2%
Joe Cirella|828|71|7|29%|-22%

 

[VanIslander]

5'8 Bill Hicke, the little right winger who was an offensive star in juniors, then top rookie, scorer and MVP in the AHL and billed the next "phenom" to replace Rocket Richard, shoes he was not able to fill and he wasn't a first liner on the mighty Canadiens as he played behind Geoffrion and Provost. He did, however, have a decent three-year stint with his limited minutes in Montreal with a total of 55 goals and 135 points, winning two Stanley Cups by the age of 21, scoring three points in the second championship. He then went to the Rangers for three rough years in which he nearly died from an off-ice injury that plagued him. He recovered to become a central part of the NHL expansion Oakland Seals, immediately leading the team in goals and 2nd in points. The following season was a career year on an improving club with 25 goals and 61 points, 2nd in Oakland for points and an NHL all-star game appearance. His third season there he was the top-scoring winger, tied for 3rd in team points. His last season with the Seals he was tied for 3rd in team goals. Over four seasons with the franchise, he was a top-3 forward, scoring 180 points. He played one year in the WHA as a 34 year old and scored 38 points, barely top-9 for the squad. He retired having scored 402 NHL points in 729 NHL games.

...a compact, fleet-footed skater

In Oakland, he got plenty of ice time and an opportunity to net his best offensive numbers. The price, however, was to struggle with an inept team at the bottom of the league's standings.

To say that Hicke was dying with the Seals was something to be taken as literally true. While gliding through a particularly tough skating drill for coach Bert Olmstead, Hicke went to the bench for a rest. Olmstead told him to hit the ice again. Hicke explained that he wasn't feeling well. His coach didn't believe him and insisted that he get a move on. He did and, within minutes, collapsed to the ice. Nearly dead, he was rushed to the hospital for a two-week stay. Hicke managed to recover and lasted with the Seals until 1971.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Andy McDonald C/LW

- Point finishes: 20, 29
- Goal finishes: 21
- Assist finishes: 26, 27
- Team scoring placements: 1, 2, 2, 4, 4, 6 (46 GP)

- vsX: 80, 69, 52, 51, 49, 40 / 6 year sum of 341
- 363 adjusted ES points, 42 per season
- 179 adjusted PP points, 21 per season on 55% of teams' powerplays for units exactly average

- 1x Stanley Cup winner, 2nd in goals and 11th in points in playoffs
- 1x All-Star Game participant
- 17th in Selke voting with 4 votes in 2006

Post-expansion top six centers according to 6 year sums

|Sum
Brendan Morrison|365
Guy Charron|359
Derek Roy|352
Andy McDonald|340
Jude Drouin|331
Brian Bradley|308
Gerry Meehan|305
Juha Widing|304
Carey Wilson|278
Andre Savard|252

Drafted forwards with most adjusted PP points

|GP|Career $PPP|$PPP/S|Usage|+/- League average
Derek King|830|198|19|50%|-5%
Michael Ryder|677|183|21|54%|+11%
Andy McDonald|685|179|21|55%|+0%
Brendan Morrison|934|178|16|40%|+12%
Ales Hemsky|597|178|23|58%|-5%
Martin Erat|732|161|17|44%|-5%
Brian Bradley|651|156|19|53%|-17%
Eric Vail|591|149|20|56%|+0%
Derek Roy|591|149|20|50%|+2%
Mike Sillinger|1049|147|11|35%|-14%

Playing next to Selanne, he finished 2005--06 with 34 goals and 51 assists; this season he had 78 points. Selected to his first All-Star Game in January, McDonald also won the NHL's fastest-skater competition on the eve of that annual goal orgy. He has not missed a game in two seasons, during which time he was +40.

There are some around the league who find the idea of McDonald's centering the top line on a Cup-caliber team a bit of a stretch. As the conference finals begin, the question looms large: With Clydesdale-sized centers in vogue, how far can Anaheim get with Seabiscuit centering its top line?

McDonald seems to be holding up to the rigors of the postseason. He had a hat trick in a 5--1 laugher over Vancouver in Game 1. True, he didn't score for the rest of the series, but that wasn't because the Canucks were pounding him into Duck confit. McDonald put 15 shots on net in those four games, but Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo, the best player in the series, stopped them all.... When a Toronto Star writer declared in print that the Ducks lacked a "bona fide Number 1 center," Burke wigged. "I'd like to meet the imbecile who said that in a dark alley," he snarled.

Indeed, there was McDonald deep in Vancouver's end in the second period of Game 5, jolting Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa from behind, trying to knock him off the puck. One shift later he took Vancouver blueliner Mattias Ohlund into the boards as hard as he could. (Whether either Canuck actually noticed that McDonald was accosting them is less important than the fact that he was willing to do so.) The ultimate form of aggression, of course, is to attack with the puck, which has long been McDonald's strong suit.

While he expresses affection for his former teammate, "I don't really like playing against him," Avery says. "He plays hard, for one thing. I think he's arrogant, which is probably a good attribute for him, because, as a little guy, you have to be." Informed that some people wonder if McDonald is up to the job of centering the top line for a Cup contender, Avery sniffs, "Obviously they're not very smart hockey people. Because he can play."

Anaheim center Andy McDonald is a perfect example of what's right about the new NHL. Undersized (5'10", 186 pounds) but with great speed, he had 68 points through Sunday, proof that referees are calling hooking and holding, which once impeded his type of player.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Mats Ahlberg, C

- Swedish league scoring placements (per Eliteprospects): 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6, 7
- Led team in scoring 7 times (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978(tie), 1979)
- 4x Swedish league All-Star (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977)
- 4x Swedish league champion (1969, 1973, 1974, 1975)
*Ahlberg's Leksand club were the only team aside from Brynas to win a SHL championship from 1966-1977.

- Played in six World Championships, winning two Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals.
- Finished 3rd, 10th, 10th in scoring in WCs
- Played in two Olympics, winning one Bronze Medal
- Played in one Canada Cup

A given leading figure in both the Three Crowns and Leksand IF for almost a decade. Swedish champion on four occasions, games in two Olympic Games and three World Championship medals speaks volumes about his greatness (164 A-internationals).

"Mat" had the natural talent with a dazzling technique and mind in order to score.

There are players who may not be distinguished among their peers by height, dexterity or strength but who are natural-born scorers, accumulating goal after goal. Swedish forward Mats Ahlberg of Leksand was one of those players. Many believe he was Sweden's best forward during the 1970s. What is remarkable is that Ahlberg never played in the NHL at a time when the league attracted many of Sweden's best hockey players. Ahlberg was invited to join the Minnesota North Stars, the Detroit Red Wings, the Hartford Whalers and the Atlanta Flames, but he turned them all down.

He later explained: "There are many reasons. One of the main ones was that a life of constant motion filled with training and games almost every day didn't appeal to me." As well, Ahlberg had long before decided he wanted to get a good education.

At the 1977 World Championship in Vienna, Ahlberg was elected captain and the Swedish team achieved the impossible, winning two games against the unbeatable USSR. As captain, Ahlberg worked wonders on the ice, getting a hat-trick in a game against the U.S. and leading Tre Kronor to the silver.

Analysis of Swedish forwards in international competitions

|Intl Pts|Intl GP|PPG|Best Intl Finishes
Sven Tumba|119|97|1.23|1, 1, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7
Nils Nilsson|87|63|1.38|1, 2, 6, 7, 9
Tord Lundstrom|81|91|0.89|6, 6, 6, 8
Ulf Sterner|85|86|0.99|1, 3, 4
Hakan Loob|60|60|1.00|2, 4, 5
Ronald Pettersson|85|91|0.93|2, 6, 10
Mats Ahlberg|73|73|1.00|3, 10, 10
Roland Eriksson|40|53|0.75|3, 9
Thomas Rundqvist|64|111|0.58|4, 9
Lars-Eric Lundvall|50|65|0.77|6
Willy Lindstrom|15|17|0.88|6
Jorgen Jonsson|59|127|0.46|
Pelle Eklund|36|63|0.57|

Undefeated Sweden bunched three goals in the third period, the last one by Mats Ahlberg with only 85 seconds left to play, to defeat Finland 3-2 in the World Hockey Championship tournament Thursday.

...Sweden got power-play goals from Mats Ahlberg, Leif Holmgren and Mats Naslund for a 4-2 victory over Czechoslovakia.

Just 18 seconds after Czech defenseman Milan Chalupa was whistled for interference, Ahlberg sneaked five feet to the right of goalie Jiri Kralik. Ignored by defenseman Frantisek Kaberle, Ahlberg took Naslund's pass from behind the net and rammed a shot into the cage at 9:18 of the first period.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Urpo Ylonen, G

[thanks to Sanf for helping me with this]

- Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame, member of inaugural inductees
- IIHF Hall of Fame, member of inaugural inductees (only Finn in this class of 30)
- Named to Finnish All-Time team*

- 1x World Championship Best Goaltender (1970)
- 1x Izvestia Tournament Best Goaltender (1968)

- 3x Finnish Player of the Year (1967, 1968, 1970)
- 3x Finnish league Best Goaltender (1967, 1968, 1970)
- 4x SM-Sarja All-Star Team (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970) these awards considered league play and national team play
- 2x SM-Liiga All-Star Team (1976, 1977) these awards considered only league play
- 1x Lynces Academica All-Star Team (1976)**
- 3x Tarmo Goalie Trophy or Finnish league Jennings Trophy (1967, 1970, 1976)***

- 1x Finnish league champion (1976)

*Explanation of the Finnish All-time Team

Kaikkien aikojen leijonajoukkue book (2010) had coaches poll. Every NT coach from Bubnik (66-69) till Jalonen (till 2012) gived their vote. Starting lineup based on those votes was Ylönen Marjamäki-Numminen Kurri-Koivu-Selänne.

**What is the Lynces Academica All-Star Team ?

Lynces Academica is Helsinki university´s "club" (nation?) for Hockey players, background workers and hockey enthusiasts. They voted their best goalie, defencemen and forward.

Before 65 goalies and defencemen were on the same group as the best defending player. From 65 till 70 and 77 till 79 awards wasn´t given . From 95 all the awards (Lynces,All-Star,Ylönen trophy) has been given automatically to the same goalie.

***What was the Tarmo trophy?

This was predecessor of Best goalie trophy, but it was somehow based on stats lowest GA or something.

- Made eight World Championship teams, played only one game in two tournaments, played less than half of game in two tournaments
- Made three Olympic teams, did not play any games in one tournament and played 3/5 games in another tournament

WC voting results courtesy of Sanf. Sometimes it's percentage of votes and other it is voting points. Based on this information we can see the media had Ylonen as the third best goalie the year the Directorate voted him Best Goalie. However, Ylonen got the second most media all-star votes in 1967 and 1968.

|#1|#2|#3|#4
1967|Carl Wetzel 42.5%|Urpo Ylonen 20.5%
1968|Ken Broderick 28|Urpo Ylonen 7|Vladimir Dzurilla 6|Leif Holmqvist 3
1970|Viktor Konovalenko 43|Leif Holmqvist 23|Urpo Ylonen 21

Also we have some stats from the 71-76 international tournaments.

I don´t have all but here are some stats. Gathered from Finnish hockey books. They used this "upside down" Sv%. How many shots to make one goal. I have seen few oddities in these but they propably printed the data which they got from IIHF?

Depending on the year, we have top 3, top 4, or top 5. Ylonen only made the Top 5 in 1976 Olympics.

|GP|SA|GA|Shots per goal
Aleksander Sidelnikov|1|25|1|25.00
Jiri Holecek|4|159|9|17.67
Vladislav Tretiak|4|165|11|15.00
Antii Leppanen|2|79|7|11.29
Urpo Ylonen|3|118|11|10.73

Other quotes

Stockholm World Cup 1970 was chosen as the best goalkeeper lions Urpo Ylönen. It was the first time that an equivalent level of choice focused on the Finnish player.

When Finland played in a long time over the defendant's role in the world's best hockey against the countries goaltender's role was emphasized. Ylönen was at the finish when Finland gained its first major international victory as Czechoslovakia fell to 3-1 in Vienna at the World Cup in 1967.

He was the MVP in our first wins against big four (CSSR 67 and 70, Canada 68 and Sweden 70). Chosen the best hockey player in Finland 67,68 and 70.

If I remember right after the 68 win against Canada he did get some offers from NHL (likely training camp invitations). It´s really hard to say would he have make it. NHL was expanding and Ylönen was still quite young.

The players of Canada's national hockey team may have trouble spelling his name, a Finn named Y-L-O-N-E-N, but they'll not forget him for a long, long time.

It was Urpo Ylonen's night as he led Finland to a 5-2 victory over Canada in the Olympic championship tournament. The 24-year-old goalie and his teammates pulled off the biggest upset in international hockey since 1954 when Russia won the world title on its first try, beating the Toronto East York 7-2.

The Canadian defeat was all the more shocking because it was the first time a Canadian team had ever lost to Finland in Olympic and world competition. The over-confident Canadians found themselves on the losing end 2-0 with almost 13 minutes gone in the first period, and then panic set in as Ylonen got hotter and hotter as the game progressed.

Wearing an orange face mask, Ylonen took everything the Canadians threw at him-and it was plenty. "The harder we tried, the worse we got," said Canadian Coach Jackie McLeod. It was an almost unbelievable reversal of form for the Finns. Only two nights earlier, they looked like rinky-dinks when the Russians clobbered them 8-0, and Ylonen let in all the goals.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Bu5kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EYINAAAAIBAJ&pg=1069,1872814&dq

 

[BubbaBoot]

Jim Lorentz
center / right wing

• Shoots: Left •
• Height: 6-0 ▪ Weight: 190 lbs •
• Born: May 1, 1947 in Waterloo, Ontario •
• Played: 1968/69 - 1977/78 (NHL) \\\ 1967/68 - 1968/69 (CPHL/CHL) \\\ 1964/65- 1966/67 (OHA) •

• Championships •
1965 Memorial Cup (CHL JRs)
1970 Stanley Cup (NHL)

• All-Star Teams •
1967-1968 (CPHL) First All-Star Team
1968-1969 (CHL ) All-Star Team

• Honors •
1967-1968 (CPHL) Rookie of the Year "Ken McKenzie Trophy"
1968-1969 (CHL) Most Valuable Player "Tommy Ivan Trophy"
1968-1969 (CHL) Scoring Champion "Joe Burton Award"
2010 Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career NHL • 659
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 54
- Career OHA • 129
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 28
- Career CPHL/CHL • 126
- Career CPHL/CHL PLAYOFFS • 19

• Goals •
1967-68 CPHL 33 (2)
1968-69 CHL 33 (3)
1969 CHL PLAYOFFS 9 (1)
1975 NHL PLAYOFFS 6 (T5)
- Career NHL • 161
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 12
- Career OHA • 51
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 10
- Career CPHL/CHL • 66
- Career CPHL/CHL PLAYOFFS • 10

• Power Play Goals •
1972-73 NHL 11 (8)
1973-74 NHL 12 (6)
- Career NHL • 46

• Assists •
1967 OHA PLAYOFFS 17 (T1)
1967-68 CPHL 50 (2)
1968-69 CHL 68 (1)
1969 CHL PLAYOFFS 16 (1)
- Career NHL • 238
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 10
- Career OHA • 95
- Career OHA PLAYOFFS • 25
- Career CPHL/CHL • 118
- Career CPHL/CHL PLAYOFFS • 17

• Points •
1967 OHA PLAYOFFS 21 (T5)
1967-68 CPHL 83 (2)
1968-69 CHL 101 (1)
1969 CHL PLAYOFFS 25 (1)
- Career NHL • 399
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 22
- Career OHA • 146
- Career OHA PLAYOFFS • 35
- Career CPHL/CHL • 184
- Career CPHL/CHL PLAYOFFS • 27

• Points per Game•
1967 OHA PLAYOFFS 1.62 (3)
1967-68 CPHL 1.17 (T3)
1968-69 CHL 1.80 (1)
1969 CHL PLAYOFFS 2.08 (1)

• career team records •
BUFFALO SABRES (NHL) - games (31) / goals (T20) / EV goals (22) / PP goals (15) / (assists (28) / points (T20) / points per game (T25)

• Accolades •

Waterloo, Ontario's Jim Lorentz was an NHLer for a full decade. He played with several teams but he is best known for his days when he skated for the Buffalo Sabres. He played the majority of his NHL career in the city, and enjoyed his finest seasons there. And of course he continues to live in the community and works on Buffalo Sabre broadcasts now many years after hanging up the blades.

Lorentz's career started in 1964 when he played the first of three years of junior hockey with the Niagara Falls Flyers of the Ontario Hockey Association before beginning his pro hockey career with the Oklahoma City Blazers of Central Hockey League in 1967-68. It wouldn't be long before Lorentz would make the NHL, as he tore up the CHL. He was named rookie of the year in his first season, and in his second and final season in the minor leagues he was an all star who led the league in scoring and was named as the most valuable player.

Lorentz's playing rights belonged to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins of the later 1960s and early 1970s were a powerhouse in the NHL, led by Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. As a result Lorentz didn't get to play a whole lot. He was shuffled around from center ice and to the wing, but was always a minor player.

Jim never minded though, as he was in the NHL and on the league's best team. In fact in his rookie season Jim was able to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup.

“It’s very special." said Jim. "I know players will say this but I don’t think you really realize what you’ve done until after you’ve retired. You don’t really realize the impact of it."

Because the Bruins couldn't find a full time position for the young scoring star Jim was dealt to St. Louis after the 69-70 season, in exchange for the Blues first pick in the 1970 Amateur Draft (the pick was used to select Ron Plumb).

Jim played the 1970-71 campaign with St. Louis before splitting the 1971-72 season between the Blues, the New York Rangers and the Sabres. It was in Buffalo that he found a permanent home.

Over his six-plus seasons in Buffalo, Jim racked up 134 goals, 197 assists and 331 points in 487 games. Jim also enjoyed his best seasons in a Sabre uniform, recording a career-high 27 goals in 1972-73 and a personal-best 70 points in 1974-75, the same year he helped Buffalo reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Jim helped a young expansion franchise in Buffalo become a league powerhouse in a very short time period. Jim has many memories of his playing days with the Sabres. One of the most exciting was the first time the team made the playoffs..

“I think the first year that we made the playoffs was very exciting. We ended up playing the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. No one gave us a prayer to win that series but we took them to six games. And one of the great moments in my career was in that sixth game in the Auditorium when the fans starting chanting in unison, ‘Thank you Sabres.’ It was a great feeling."

But of course the greatest memory was the Stanley Cup finals appearance of 1975. Jim played an important role in the Sabres improbable run, scoring 6 goals and 10 points in 16 playoff games.

That I think was one of the … next to going to the Finals in ’75, would rank right up there with the memorable moments. And of course just playing with some of the players that I did. There were great players. Gilbert Perreault, Richard Martin and Rene Robert. Jim Schoenfeld, Roger Crozier. We had a bunch of real character guys that liked to have a lot of fun and who were great players.”

He is also well remembered for a zany act that will go down in the rich folklore of Stanley Cup history..

Lorentz used his stick to slay a bat, of all things, that was annoying players and fans. Nobody was sure whether the bat had found its way into the arena or was brought into the building by a mischievous fan.

"It was dive-bombing the crowd, and a couple of times it came near the ice and I remember Parent taking a couple of swings at it with his goal stick and missing," Lorentz said.

Fans continually reacted to the bat when it swooped down toward them, and it was a clear distraction. When Lorentz was standing still getting ready for a face-off and spotted it zooming toward him, he reached up and killed it with a slash of his stick. The crowd and the players were happy until they realized they had another problem.

"No one wanted to pick it up," said Lorentz, who instantly was dubbed as Batman. "Finally, (Philadelphia's) Rick MacLeish picked it up and buried it in the penalty box."

Not everyone was pleased by Jim's actions though. He actually received several letters from animal rights activists.

Jim continued to play until 1978 when he retired from NHL duty. He retired with 659 games, 161 goals, 238 assists and 399 points under his belt, and a ton of stories. He turned to a brief stint of junior coaching before becoming the popular colour commentator for the Sabres radio and later television broadcasts.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Pascal Dupuis
left wing

• Shoots: Left •
• Height: 6-1 • Weight: 205 lbs •
• Born: April 7, 1979 in Laval, Quebec •
• Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, August 18, 2000 •
• Played: 2000/01 - current (NHL) \\\ 1996/97 - 1999/00 (QMJHL) \\\ 2000- 01 (IHL) •

• Championships •
2009 Stanley Cup (NHL)

• All-Star Team Voting •
2012-13 (14)

• Honors •
2012-13 Best +/- (NHL)

• Selke Trophy Voting •
2002-03 (31) / 2010-11 (17) / 2011-12 (13) / 2012-13 (7)

• Lady Byng Trophy Voting •
2009-10 (42) / 2011-12 (32) / 2012-13 (46)

• Hart Trophy Voting •
2012-13 (23)

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career NHL • 853+
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 97
- Career QHJHL • 229
- Career QHJHL PLAYOFFS • 25

• Goals •
1999-00 QMJHL 50 (T12)
- Career NHL • 188
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 19
- Career QHJHL • 105
- Career QHJHL PLAYOFFS • 18

• Short Handed Goals •
2007-08 NHL 3 (8)
2010-11 NHL 4 (5)
2011-12 NHL 3 (4)
- Career NHL • 15

• Even Strength Goals •
2012-13 NHL 17 (6)

• Assists •
- Career NHL • 217
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 25
- Career QHJHL • 142
- Career QHJHL PLAYOFFS • 15

• Points •
- Career NHL • 405
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 44
- Career QHJHL • 247
- Career QHJHL PLAYOFFS • 33

• Plus/Minus •
2012-13 NHL 31 (1)
- Career NHL • +64

• NHL Stats • (as of 1/26/15)
853(GAMES) / 188(G) / 217(A) / 405(P) / 0.47(PtPG) / +64 / 375(PIMs) / 22(PP) / 15(SH) / 30(GW) / 15:59(ATOI)

• career team records •
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (NHL) - games (20) / playoff games (T7) / goals (27) / playoff goals (T14) / EV goals (17) / SH goals (T12) / (assists (33) / points (34) / playoff points (15) / points per game (T47) / Plus-Minus (7)

• Accolades •

Assets: Is an excellent penalty-killer. Plays the game with tremendous energy and combativeness. Is versatile enough to play on either side of center, and can also fill out a scoring line. Can at times unleash a huge slap shot.
Flaws: Needs to bury more of his chances around the goal area, since he tends to get a lot. Is too inconsistent on offense and even lacks a bit of offensive awareness at times. His exuberance can sometimes lead to bad penalties.
Career Potential: Complementary energy winger with defensive ability.

In 2008, Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero shocked the hockey world with one of the most aggressive moves of his career. As time was running out on the NHL trade deadline, Shero acquired Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis from the Atlanta Thrashers.

That trade may go down as the greatest trade that Shero has ever made, though he could out-do himself in the future. The trade is reminiscent of what Craig Patrick was able to do in 1991. Shero’s trade really didn’t pay off until the year after the move was made, but that’s okay, the goal was achieved.

Pascal Dupuis is the one player on the Pens roster who always seems to get overlooked. I remember a lot of people asking, who is this guy? Is he any good? I can honestly say that unless you’ve watched a lot of hockey over the years, his name would be pretty foreign to you. The thing I don’t understand is how a lot of fans can say that he is expendable after he’s played the better part of two and a half years in a Penguins' sweater.

It’s that mentality that makes me ask if Pascal Dupuis truly is underrated. After a lot of thought on this issue, my conclusion is that he is in fact underrated, and maybe it’s time he starts to get recognized for how much he plays a part in the Pens' success.

He has decent size for a forward at 6’1". He is arguably one of the fastest skaters on the team. His shot is definitely in the cannon department, and he has shown glimpses of his offensive skills throughout his time as a Penguin. The more minutes he gets, the more he shows he is a very diligent winger. So diligent in fact that he is a candidate to be a top-six forward.

I realize this angers some fans, as they crave for an elite winger to become part of the team. The reality is that getting a winger of elite status probably won’t occur until the trade deadline, as players' cap hits are more affordable at that time of year. With that being said, there are a lot of benefits to having a guy like Pascal Dupuis.

The most appealing factor to Dupuis is how he can be put anywhere in the lineup and seamlessly fit in. He’s played on every line, including special teams, and it just somehow seems to fit. He’s an excellent penalty killer, and his production in points increased as he received more playing time.

What that tells me is that Dupuis is a smart hockey player who is willing to throw himself into a variety of roles because of that knowledge.

Should that give him the nod to play on Crosby’s wing on opening night? Why not? He proved that he could play with Sid and Hossa during the end of the 2008 season and during the Pens' run to the final. The best part of him being on that line was the support he provided to his two superstar linemates.

Dupuis is the type of player who will go into the corners and fight for the puck. He rarely ever gets caught in the offensive zone when the play is going the other way. He back-checks like a madman and is always willing to give up his body. These qualities are living proof that the guy knows his position and what it takes to provide support for his team.

He will have an enormous amount of pressure on him to perform considering this is a contract year. He will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.
I am hoping that Shero signs him to a contract extension before that window runs out.

A lot of other teams wouldn’t mind having him based on his performance. He’s the type of role player who adds to the offensive dynamic with hard work and by doing all the little things that make a team successful.

His cap hit is only $1.4 million dollars, and playing in the top six could only boost his point total of 38 points (18-20-38) from last season. No, Pascal Dupuis is not an elite winger, but he is a great alternative to one.

 

[GFS]

Kyle McLaren, D

Position: D • Shoots: Left
Height: 6-4 (193 cm) • Weight: 235 lbs. (107 kg)

Born: June 18, 1977 in Humboldt, Saskatchewan
Draft: Boston, 1st round (9th overall), 1995

Awards
NHL All-Rookie Team (1996)

Regular Season​

|

Playoffs​

Season | Team | Lge |

GP​

|

.G.​

|

.A.​

|

Pts​

|

PIM​

|

+/-​

1993-94 |Tacoma Rockets |WHL |

62​

|

1​

|

9​

|

10​

|

53​

|

​

1994-95 |Tacoma Rockets |WHL |

47​

|

13​

|

19​

|

32​

|

68​

|

​

1995-96 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

74​

|

5​

|

12​

|

17​

|

73​

|

16​

1996-97 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

58​

|

5​

|

9​

|

14​

|

54​

|

-9​

1997-98 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

66​

|

5​

|

20​

|

25​

|

56​

|

13​

1998-99 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

52​

|

6​

|

18​

|

24​

|

48​

|

1​

1999-00 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

71​

|

8​

|

11​

|

19​

|

67​

|

-4​

2000-01 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

58​

|

5​

|

12​

|

17​

|

53​

|

-5​

2001-02 |Boston Bruins |NHL |

38​

|

0​

|

8​

|

8​

|

19​

|

-4​

2002-03 |San Jose Sharks |NHL |

33​

|

0​

|

8​

|

8​

|

30​

|

-10​

2003-04 |San Jose Sharks |NHL |

64​

|

2​

|

22​

|

24​

|

60​

|

10​

2005-06 |San Jose Sharks |NHL |

77​

|

2​

|

21​

|

23​

|

66​

|

6​

2006-07 |San Jose Sharks |NHL |

67​

|

5​

|

12​

|

17​

|

61​

|

10​

2007-08 |San Jose Sharks |NHL |

61​

|

3​

|

8​

|

11​

|

84​

|

3​

2008-09 |Worcester Sharks |AHL |

22​

|

1​

|

6​

|

7​

|

19​

|

1​

| NHL Totals ||

719​

|

46​

|

161​

|

207​

|

671​

|

​

|

GP​

|

.G.​

|

.A.​

|

Pts​

|

PIM​

6​

|

1​

|

4​

|

5​

|

6​

4​

|

1​

|

1​

|

2​

|

4​

5​

|

0​

|

0​

|

0​

|

14​

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

6​

|

1​

|

0​

|

1​

|

4​

12​

|

0​

|

3​

|

3​

|

10​

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

4​

|

0​

|

0​

|

0​

|

20​

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

|

--​

16​

|

0​

|

3​

|

3​

|

10​

11​

|

0​

|

3​

|

3​

|

4​

11​

|

0​

|

4​

|

4​

|

10​

5​

|

0​

|

0​

|

0​

|

6​

7​

|

0​

|

1​

|

1​

|

2​

70​

|

1​

|

13​

|

14​

|

78​

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=10669

A huge defenceman with decent mobility and offensive skill, Kyle McLaren's ability to play the man in the defensive zone and work the point on the power play made him an important part of the San Jose Sharks.

Injuries plagued McLaren's 1996-97 season, and his play suffered along with most of the team but he rebounded with a career-high 25 points and solid defensive work in the following year. In 1999-00, McLaren played a disciplined game under coach Pat Burns and helped the Bruins reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time in five years. The talented backliner averaged nearly 25 minutes per game but started missing time with injuries.

http://rapids.canoe.ca/acl-bin/hplus/PlayerInfo/PlayerInfo.cgi?id=1100

The guard is changing in Boston. With Future Famer Ray Bourque now in Colorado, McLaren has moved into his spot of general. McLaren struggled slightly shortly after Bourque's departure, trying to do too much, which led to uncharacteristic mistakes, but it was only a temporary situation.

Mark it down, McLaren will soon be regarded as one of the 10 best defensive properties in the NHL. He's big, legitimate tough, and can play it both ways.

McLaren likes to partake in the offensive side of things, but he's still learning the all-around basics of the game. Concentration and doing one thing at a time is something the Bruins and the fearless rearguard work on. When his defensive approach to the game hits its pinnacle, Burns will allow McLaren to stray even more.

The huge kid is not spectacular, but he does possess solid skills nonetheless. Some 35-40 points in a full 82-game schedule is not an impossible task. McLaren would have most probably attained that mark in 1998-99, but he missed the first month of the season because of a month-long contract dispute.

McLaren, a big blueliner who can tussle with any of the NHL's bad boys, is evolving into a defensive stalwart, one of the better ones they've seen in "Bawston" in years. Most talk about young phenoms Sergei Samsonov and Joe Thornton when they visit "Beantown". But without mentioning it firsthand, they always leave with a most favourable impression of the strapping McLaren.

BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE: While he is rounding out into a complete defenceman, that's not to say he has forgotten what are obviously his greatest qualities; his size and the ability to use it! "One of my goals is to be in the top 10 in hitting. I love open-ice hits. I love being hit and I love giving hits. It's a big part of the game. For me to get into a game, I love a guy coming down the boards and hammering me. It wakes you up. If you have a chance to hit someone, it can change the momentum of the game; it can change the game around completely. If your team is down, it's almost like a fight. A real big hit at a certain time, can get the bench going really good," said McLaren early in 1999-2000.
...

Big McLaren is living up to his advanced billing.

If McLaren made his share of goofs during his rookie and sophomore seasons, observers are now starting to realize the immense potential that lies within him.

A big, aggressive and disciplined youngster who won't back down from anyone, McLaren was a first-round selection by the Boston Bruins in 1995, ninth overall, after spending two seasons with Tacoma of the WHL.

He made the Bruins roster following his draft season and, as the youngest player in the league, finished the year with the best plus-minus mark among rookies with a plus-16. He was also named to the All-Rookie Team.

Solid in his zone and progressing steadily, McLaren might never skate in the footsteps of the great Eddie Shore, Bobby Orr and Raymond Bourque, but he has the potential to become an extremely dependable and all-star defensive rearguard. A leader in-the-making!

http://www.si.com/vault/1998/01/19/...trong-young-defense-baby-boom-for-the-coyotes

Says Sweeney, who as a rookie in 1988-89 was Bourque's partner, "He teaches you a day-in, day-out approach to the game that stays with you. Look at Kyle [McLaren]. He's 20, and he plays like a veteran. You know Ray had something to do with that."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...uAgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UGsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3301,3427244

There's no question in Bruins coach Pat Burns's mind that defenseman Kyle McLaren is destined to be a standout someday. But to get there, the third-year veteran must work on maintaining his focus and concentration from start to finish each game.

"I keep saying this guy could be a real great player,' said Burns of the 20-year-old first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 1995 draft. "He tends to, I wouldn't say it's sleep, he gets unconcentrated at certain times in a game and we have to bring him back. He has all the tools to be a real good player in this league for a long time.
...

"I'm not the type player who gets 60 or 70 points..."
...

"It would be great to see myself as an All-Star. It's only up to me, and if I push myself up to that level and do what I can, I think I can be a great player in this league. I want to prove myself as a defensive player this season and nothing more than that in coming back with a new attitude and regained confidence."

http://www.si.com/vault/1998/10/12/250184/15-boston-bruins

Quick, burly 21-year-old Kyle McLaren has proved that he's ready to anchor the defense if Ray Bourque, who comes back for his 20th season, ever retires.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...qFJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NQ0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=2563,2454564

Pat Burns already coaches future Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. He thinks he might have another top-notch defenseman in Kyle McLaren.

He has the potential to he a superstar in this league," Burns said after McLaren scored two goals in the Boston Bruins' 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night.

"He played a great game. He plays best when he comes to the rink full of energy."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...4IjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j2oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1581,1709708

With Ray Bourque sidelined by a hip flexor strain, he knew he was going to have to work harder, much harder. He knew he was going to have to play more, much more. But Kyle McLaren said he had no inkling that he was going to be in the line-up for 36 minutes and 38 seconds of Saturday's game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.

The only player who was on the ice more than McLaren was goaltender Rob Telles, who relieved Byron Dafoe at 4-0 and played 45:46.

Coach Pat Burns went with four defensemen for the most part, with Brandon Smith, in his NHL debut, playing just 1:37. Don Sweeney, who played 28:46, was one of four Bruins and the only defenseman to finish with plus. Darren Van Imp, suffering from the flu, logged one second shy of 30 minutes and Hal Gill was on for 21:38. But it was up to McLaren to pull yeoman's duty.

I didn't know I played that much," said the 21-year-old McLaren, who is emerging in his fourth season as one of the best blue liners.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...FIpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rWoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1405,1285775

There was no formal ceremony to mark the passing of the torch from Ray Bourque to Kyle McLaren, the new minister of defense for the Bruins. There was a two minute phone conversation Monday night between Bourque and McLaren, not long after Bourque had been dealt to the Colorado Avalanche to pursue his Stanley Cup dreams.

That will have to do.

"Basically, he told me, 'Remember what I taught you over the last couple of years,' " said McLaren. "He [Ray Bourque] believes in me. He's one guy who really believes in what I can do. I know I have a fan in him that will watch me through the years. To have the respect of Ray Bourque and what he taught me, I'm never going to forget it.

"Kyle McLaren is a young, physical defenseman who brings elements which will fit with our stable of defensemen for years to come," Sharks general manager Dean Lombardi said.
...

"What Kyle brings is just hard to find," Lombardi said. "When you bring physical play and good numbers like he does, when you find a player who can play in your top four (defensemen) and can play with that Derian Hatcher, Adam Foote edge, you get him."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...UpPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HgQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6596,2616270

McLaren is physical, all right. He was suspended after the fourth game of last season's playoffs for a check that put Montreal's Richard Zednik in the hospital with a broken nose, concussion, cuts on his face and a bruised throat.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=1655632

Now, on the eve of his first return to the town where Bourque is revered and where McLaren established himself as a top-notch young defenseman, McLaren is trying to impart what he learned from that same legend in the hopes of forging a new identity for himself and the rest of his colleagues along the San Jose Sharks' blue line.
...

[On Ray Bourque's influence]

"If I didn't learn anything from my six years playing with him, I'd be foolish," he said. "I just sat back and just listened.

"I learned from probably one of the best captains ever on and off the ice. It made me a better player and a better family guy."
...

If the Sharks are to rebound from last season, when they fell to last in the Pacific Division after six straight seasons of improvement (they were only the second NHL team to accomplish that feat after the New York Islanders), McLaren will be a key part of that renaissance.

At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, McLaren gives the Sharks what other Western Conference powers have always had -- a physical defensive force. Derian Hatcher, Chris Pronger and Rob Blake have all been central figures in their respective teams' rise to elite status. The problem for McLaren, said coach Ron Wilson, is that he must learn to play the more up-tempo, puck-possession hockey favored in the Western Conference and leave behind the static, grinding, hammering hockey favored in the Eastern Conference.
...

"I'm content with the way Kyle's played," Wilson said. "He can play better. He knows what's expected.

"We've got some young guys he's going to be great with. Kyle's kind of a natural leader."

McLaren may never approach Blake-like or even Pronger-like offensive numbers, but he said he's more comfortable with the faster-paced game that Wilson is encouraging his young team to play. Still, Wilson makes no bones about where McLaren's strengths lie and the vital role he plays on this team.

"He's that unknown back there," Wilson said. "That missile. He can really pile-drive some guys."

And if there's one sure antidote to the speed that teams like Detroit, Vancouver and Colorado bring to the party it's a healthy dose of fear.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=R4...=0CCUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=kyle mclaren&f=false

He was known more for his hard hitting and defensive play than his scoring from the blue line, but he was always a valuable asset to any team's corps of defencemen.

The yellow visor began as a joke. McLaren is colour blind, so before one game players changed his clear visor to a yellow one. He didn't notice until someone asked him about it after the game, but he scored the winning goal that night and decided to keep it on. It stood him in good stead until late in the 2007-08 season when he reverted to the clear version in an attempt to change the team's playoff fortunes.

https://books.google.ca/books?id=b2...=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=kyle mclaren&f=false

At six feet four inches tall and 225 pounds, Kyle McLaren was a force at the blue line.

http://www.fearthefin.com/2009/3/23/808022/greatest-sharks-in-our-def

Because of his [Sandis Ozolinsh] "defensive lapses", he'd be best paired with a player who was more focused on the defensive end.

McLaren is that player. Yeah, we could have chosen Hannan, Rathje, or even Marchment to play the part. But McLaren was something special. Over his five seasons with the Sharks, McLaren showed us big hit after big hit after big hit after big hit. His hip checks really were something to behold; he protected his team's blue line like few could. I always thought that McLaren's hits did more than just demoralize the recipient... he could really change the momentum of a game. He was slowed toward the end of his career by injuries, but he was a skilled, fluid skater who could catch up if need be. He's the yin to Ozolinsh's yang, and an elite pairing defender.

Possessing one of the best hip-checks in all of hockey, McLaren was one of the most feared defensemen in the NHL.

If he's truly healthy, the physical, stay-at-home defender could prove to be a reasonable, cheap, veteran option for the 6/7 slot on the Rangers blueline this season.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Antti Laaksonen
left wing

• Shoots: Left •
• Height: 6-0 • Weight: 187 lbs •
• Born: October 3, 1973 in Tammela, Finland •
• Drafted by Boston, 8th round (191st overall) • 1997 NHL Entry • from: University of Denver (WCHA) •
• Played: 1999/00 - 2006/07 (NHL) \\\ 1997/98 - 1999/00 , 2006/07 (AHL \\\ 1997/98 (ECHL) \\\ 1993/94 - 1996/97 (WCHA) \\\ 2008/09 - 2009/10 (Finland SM Liiga) \\\ 1989/90 - 1992/93 (Finland Jr.) \\\ 2007/08 (NLA Switzerland) •

• Championships •
1993 SM-Liiga (runner-up)
1999 Calder Cup (AHL)

• International Medals •
2001 SILVER World Championships
2004 SILVER World Cup
2006 SILVER Olympics

• Honors •
1996 All-WCHA (Second Team)

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career NHL • 483
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 25
- Career AHL • 168
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 34
- Career SM-Liiga • 100
- Career SM-Liiga PLAYOFFS • 4
- Career NCAA • 153
- Career International • 25

• Goals •
- Career NHL • 81
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 1
- Career AHL • 47
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 12
- Career SM-Liiga • 26
- Career SM-Liiga PLAYOFFS • 0
- Career NCAA • 75
- Career International • 3

• Short Handed Goals •
- Career NHL • 8

• Assists •
- Career NHL • 87
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 5
- Career AHL • 54
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 6
- Career SM-Liiga • 37
- Career SM-Liiga PLAYOFFS • 1
- Career NCAA • 72
- Career International • 6

• Points •
- Career NHL • 168
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 6
- Career AHL • 101
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 18
- Career SM-Liiga • 63
- Career SM-Liiga PLAYOFFS • 1
- Career NCAA • 147
- Career International • 9

• NHL Stats •
483(GAMES) / 81(G) / 87(A) / 168(P) / 0.35(PtPG) / -11 / 152(PIMs) / 1(PP) / 8(SH) / 12(GW) / 15:03(ATOI)

• career team records •
MINNESOTA WILD (NHL) - games (13) / goals (T11) / EV goals (8) / SH goals (6) / assists (24) / points (T16) / playoff points (15)

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (NCAA) - goals (8)

1995/96 - Led University of Denver (NCAA) in goals / points / PIMs
1996/97 - Led University of Denver (NCAA) in goals / PP goals /

• Accolades •

A reliable and experienced player with a good technique. Defensively strong.

A highly skilled player with versatility in that he can play either wing, Laaksonen has impressed with his straightaway speed, puckhandling ability and scoring touch. However, his smallish size makes it a tad difficult for him to handle the rugged play of the NHL. Can play an effective two-way game nonetheless.

Antti Laaksonen began his journey to the NHL when he was playing in Finland for Forssa of the Finland Jr. league in 1990-91. During that same year, he also played for the FoPS Forssa. The following season, he played for the FoPS Finland Jr. and recorded 19 goals and 23 assist in 24 games. During the 1992-93 season, Laaksonen played in the Finland Jr. league for nine games before being traded to the HPK Hameenlinna. He played in only a single game with the team before being called up to FoPS. During that same season, Laaksonen played for Finland's National team recording no points in two games.

Laaksonen enrolled at the University of Denver in the fall of 1993 and was a member of the team's varsity team. During the four seasons he played (1993-97), he recorded 75 goals and 72 assists in 144 games. In 1997-98, Laaksonen played for the AHL's Providence Bruins for 38 games recording three goals and two assists and with the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers for 15 games.

Drafted by the Boston Bruins, 191st overall in 1997, the following season Laaksonen played in 11 games for the team. He would also return to the Providence Bruins for the remainder of the season, playing 66 games. In 1999-00, Laaksonen would do the same, this time playing 27 games with Boston and 40 games with Providence. During his two seasons with the Boston Bruins, he scored seven goals and had five assists.

After spending three seasons in the Boston organization, Laaksonen signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Wild in the summer of 2000 and went on to play four seasons with the club as one of the team's offensive leaders, before being acquired by the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2004.

On the international stage, Laaksonen has represented Finland at the World Junior Championships (1993) the World Championships (2001, 2004), and the Winter Olympics (2006).

One Decade, 10 Great Moments
Thursday, 12.31.2009 / 3:53 PM / Minnesota Wild | Features

10. April 8, 2002 - Antti Laaksonen's $25,000 pass

Especially during the early years, the Minnesota Wild was stocked with “character†guys more than “superstar†guys. One of those character guys was Antti Laaksonen, whose high-pitched voice and slight frame made him look like anything but a hockey player. That’s what made his nickname of “The Iron Finn†so amusing, because he didn’t look like a guy who would set a franchise record for consecutive games played at 288.

Laaksonen also had a reputation among the team as a…um…frugal person. He didn’t like to freely spend his hard-earned money, and he wasn't afraid to poke fun at himself for that face. That’s what made one particular play near the end of the 2002 season so amazing. With the Wild leading the San Jose Sharks 2-1 late in the game, Sergei Zholtok had a clear path to an empty net goal. Zholtok dished off to Laaksonen at the blue line, but rather than burying his 15th goal of the season, Laaksonen gave it right back to Zholtok, who easily put it in.

It looked like an unselfish play from two unselfish players, which is not uncommon. The next day, however, it was revealed that Laaksonen passed up on goal number 15 at the expense of a $25,000 incentive in his contract for reaching the milestone. Laaksonen was well aware of this when he had the puck on his stick, but the always-modest Finn simply said, “It was a great play be Sergei. He’s the one that got the puck out. Most guys wouldn’t have even passed the puck. They would shoot it from the blue line. I was just happy with the assist. He didn’t have to do that.â€

Laaksonen did end up getting the bonus, and finished the season with 16 goals.

Reflections from Antti Laaksonen

Antti Laaksonen played for the Boston Bruins, Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche in a 483-game NHL career spanning from 1998 through 2007. He came to the U.S. at age 20 to play college hockey at the University of Denver after fulfilling his military obligation of a year in Finland.

Laaksonen was recruited to Denver by then-assistant coach Mike Gibbons (now coaching at St. Cloud State). Laaksonen described how, as a result of playing in a ‘second level’ junior (under 20) club in Finland, he hadn’t been noticed until being brought into the Finnish National Junior Team tryouts process and onto the Finnish National Junior Team. When he went to the team’s camp and World Junior Tournament he showed very well as a player among other well-known Finnish junior players of the time.

“A player may not show as much at home,†Laaksonen said, “but can show very well on a national team (in Finland).â€

He described how the Finnish National Team program identifies a core group of players, and then gives many other players “lots of looks†through various four-nation tournaments and other national team gatherings within Finland Hockey. Laaksonen’s career benefitted from the Finnish National Junior Team’s exposure, where Gibbons recruited him at the 1993 IIHF World Junior Tournament in Sweden.

Now 40, Laaksonen lives in Chanhassen, Minn., and has spent nearly 20 years of his life in the U.S. He has great perspective on both the Finnish and American athletic and hockey cultures as the parent of a son and daughter in the U.S. and having grown up in Finland. He has represented Finland in IIHF competitions at the 1993 World Junior Tournament, two World Championships, one World Cup of Hockey and in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Antoine Vermette
center

• Shoots: Left •
• Height: 6-1 • Weight: 198 lbs •
• Born: July 20, 1982 in St-Agapit, Quebec•
• Drafted by Ottawa, 2nd round (55th overall) • 2000 NHL Entry • from: Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) •
• Played: 2003/04 - current (NHL) \\\ 2002/03 - 2004/05 (AHL) \\\ 1998/99 - 2001/02 (QMJHL) •

• Championships •
2002 Champions (QMJHL)
2002 Memorial Cup (runner-up)

• Honors•
1999-00 CHL Top Prospects Game
1999-00 QMJHL Best Professional Prospect "Mike Bossy Trophy"
2002-03 AHL All-Rookie Team

• Selke Award Voting•
2006-07 (48) / 2007-08 (16) / 2009-10 (37) / 2013-14 (14)

• Lady Byng Award Voting•
2009-10 (54)

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career NHL • 809
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 58
- Career AHL • 161
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 20
- Career QMJHL • 203
- Career QMJHL PLAYOFFS • 50

• Goals •
- Career NHL • 194
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 9
- Career AHL • 62
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 3
- Career QMJHL • 96
- Career QMJHL PLAYOFFS • 14

• Short Handed Goals •
2005-06 NHL 6 (2)
2006-07 NHL 3 (10)
2007-08 NHL 3 (8)
2013-14 NHL 3 (5)
Career NHL • 21 (57)
Active • 21 (4)

• Assists •
- Career NHL • 236
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 9
- Career AHL • 73
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 13
- Career QMJHL • 122
- Career QMJHL PLAYOFFS • 23

• Points •
- Career NHL • 430
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 18
- Career AHL • 135
- Career AHL PLAYOFFS • 18
- Career QMJHL • 218
- Career QMJHL PLAYOFFS • 37

• Faceoffs •
2005-06 (20) / 2006-07 (6) / 2008-09 (6) / 2009-10 (15) / 2010-11 (15) / 2011-12 (8) / 2012-13 (6) / 2013-14 (9 / 1st in shorthanded faceoff %)

• NHL Stats • (as of 1/28/15)
799+(GAMES) / 192+(G) / 234+(A) / 426+(P) / 0.53(PtPG) / -11 / 443+(PIMs) / 39+(PP) / 21+(SH) / 26+(GW) / 17:12(ATOI)

• Accolades •

Assets: Has excellent two-way instincts, great wheels and tenacity. Is dedicated to playing at both ends of the ice and displays loads of perseverance. Effective on face-offs, he can play any role on a team.
Flaws: Isn't capable of making an offensive impact at the National Hockey League level over the long haul. Is woefully inconsistent in the attacking zone. Misses a lot of quality scoring chances.
Career Potential: Inconsistent but solid two-way forward.

His best offensive season was in 2009-10, when he set career highs with 27 goals, 38 assists and 65 points. But regardless of whether he scores at that level for the Coyotes, Phoenix general manager Don Maloney said Vermette is a perfect fit for his organization.

"We look at Antoine as being a Dave Tippett-type player," Maloney told the team's web site. "He touches a lot of areas of the game. He's very good in the faceoff circle, he's a good penalty killer, he plays the power play. Two years ago he had [65] points, 27 goals. ... He's having a little down year offensively this year, but he's the type of player that will fit in like a glove with Dave and his staff.

ANAHEIM -- So much is still a work in progress for the Coyotes: their forward lines, the penalty kill and, of course, the power play.

But what’s been a steady asset so far this season has been their efficiency on the faceoff dot.

Before Friday’s game, the Coyotes were tied for fifth in the league — with the Ducks — with a 54.3 facoff percentage. That’s an impressive ranking considering the Coyotes lost faceoff specialist Boyd Gordon to free agency.

Credit center Antoine Vermette for helping ease Gordon’s loss. Entering Friday’s action, Vermette was first in the league with 105 faceoff wins.

“I’ve always been pretty good, always been up there,†Vermette said. “But knowing Gordo wasn’t going to be there, that falls on my responsibility a little more.â€

Three of Vermette’s first four assists have come because he won a faceoff. But where he’s been particularly helpful is when the Coyotes are shorthanded. Vermette also leads the league with faceoff wins on the penalty kill (20 entering Friday’s game vs. the Ducks). On the road, he has 81 faceoff wins. The next-best player, Ottawa Senators captain Jason Spezza, has 65.

“If you can relieve that pressure from the draw, from the get-go, it’s a big plus,†Vermette said.

It was this easy-going, affable personality that the Coyotes decided would be a perfect complement to the core they were assembling when they added Vermette at the trade deadline in 2012. And with three years left on his contract when he arrived from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Vermette wanted to become one of the team’s vital pieces.

But he didn’t consciously set out to accomplish that. He simply was himself.

“I want to have the best effect on the team and try to help the team and fit in as good as possible,†Vermette said. “Guys have been nothing less than tremendous to me — really great — and I felt part of it right off the get-go, so that’s a huge help, too. You just want to fit in and be respectful to the other guys.â€

With so many responsibilities, it’s hard for Vermette not to influence the Coyotes. He’s their top faceoff specialist, a reliable penalty killer and an offensive threat — perhaps the team’s best two-way forward.

And yet Vermette was predicted to fall down the depth chart with the addition of Mike Ribeiro.

“I always want to have the biggest impact, positive impact, on the team, and I knew I didn’t want to let go on some offense and some key situations, playing with some offensive guys,†Vermette said. “But if it’s different, it’s different.â€

It certainly has been. Vermette’s value has only grown this season — especially in Doan’s absence.

“He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve met,†winger Rob Klinkhammer said. “He’s always friendly, ‘How you doing? How’s your wife doing?’ He’s always got something nice to say. He’s a real positive guy.

“And then on the ice, he plays just such a solid game. He’s great offensively. He’s awesome defensively. He’s great at draws. He’s counted on at both ends of the rink for us. He’s just kind of a utility guy that he’s good at everything. He’s not OK at everything. He’s good at everything.â€

That wasn’t always the case, especially when it came to English. But Vermette couldn’t accept that or anything else that was at odds with his ultimate goal.

“I want to be the best player possible, and I want to help my team as best I can,†he said. “I’ll do the best that I could.â€

Center of attention
Coyotes center Antoine Vermette’s season:

--Scored his second career hat trick Saturday in a 4-3 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators.
--Played in Game No. 700 Dec. 10 in Colorado against the Avalanche.
--Carries a 57.5 percentage on faceoffs — good for seventh in the league.
--Sits second in the NHL with 463 faceoff wins, first with 269 road faceoff wins and first with 79 short-handed faceoff wins.
--Tied for the team lead in goals with 12. The Coyotes are 6-0-3 when Vermette scores.
--Ranks first among Coyotes forwards with an average of 19:22 ice time per game.
--Leads Coyotes forwards with 31 blocked shots.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Yury Krylov
right wing / defense

• Shoots: left •
• Height: • Weight: •
• Born: March 11, 1930 • Krasnogorsk , Russia, USSR •
• Played: 1951/52 - 1964/65 (SOVIET League) \\\ 1953/54 - 1958/59 (USSR National Team) •

• Championships •
1953 SOVIET CUP
1954 SOVIET LEAGUE

(2x SOVIET CUP Runner-up)
(7x SOVIET LEAGUE Runner-up)

• International Medals •
1954 GOLD World Championships
1956 GOLD Olympics
1955 SILVER World Championships
1958 SILVER World Championships
1959 SILVER World Championships

• Honors •
1954 USSR (RUSSIA) Hall of Fame
1956 USSR (RUSSIA) All-Star Team

1956 USSR Olympic Gold Medal team

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career INTERNATIONAL • 70
- Career SOVIET • 344

• Goals •
1954/55 SOVIET League 19 (T5)
- Career INTERNATIONAL • 29
- Career SOVIET • 140

• Accolades •

The go-to-guy on many nights. Fine overall skills and a wicked shot. In 1956 former NHL-star Bobby Bauer said that Krylov had one of the finest shots he had ever seen. Shifted to defense at the end of his playing career. Formed a line together with Valentin Kuzin and Aleksander Uvarov. Later on he played with Yuri Kopylov and Vladimir Elizarov. Played 344 league games, scoring 140 goals. Represented Soviet Union 70 times (29 goals). Retired in 1965.

Krylov Shot Soviets Past Canada
============================================ Order having been restored by the Penticton Vees at the 1955 IIHF World Championships in West Germany, the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen were dutifully dispatched by CANADA to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps to retain the Olympic gold medal at the 1956 Winter Games. The Dutchmen were coached by none other than BOBBY BAUER.

============================================

Order having been restored by the Penticton Vees at the 1955 IIHF World Championships in West Germany, the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen were dutifully dispatched by CANADA to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Alps to retain the Olympic gold medal at the 1956 Winter Games.

The Dutchmen were coached by none other than BOBBY BAUER, a famous member of the ”Kraut Line” which helped the Boston Bruins capture two Stanley Cups prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

The SOVIET UNION, meanwhile, had suffered some genuine humiliation with the 5-0 loss at the hands of the Canadians on the final day of the 1955 tourney. Later, some speculated as to whether or not the Soviet team had been suffering from overconfidence at Krefeld. Whatever the case, the USSR arrived in Italy a motivated and determined squad aware that only one result would satisfy the coaching staff and domestic hockey officials.

Canada were well aware of the chief Soviet scoring threat VSEVOLOD BOBROV, who had scored nine goals in six games for the USSR coming into the final day’s play at the 1956 Winter Games.

Great attention had been paid to the 33-year-old in West Germany following the Stockholm disaster of 1954; Bobrov did not so much as register a shot-on-goal as the USSR were blanked at Krefeld. A similiar strategy was adopted by Kitchener-Waterloo in the Italian Alps with some effectiveness.

Bobrov was knocked to the ice three times in the first period by Canadian checkers and did not appear at all on the ice in the second stanza.

The Soviet Union were far from a one-line show, however, and the Canadians’ close marking of the CSKA Moscow star was bound to present opportunities to others in front of the 12,700 outdoor crowd on hand.

And so stood up the USSR second line, the Dynamo Moscow trio of Krylov-Uvarov-Kuzin. Six minutes and twenty seconds into the middle period, right wing YURI KRYLOV took advantage of a screen to give the Soviets the game’s first goal. With just 37 seconds of the third period played, left wing VALENTIN KUZIN collected his fourth goal at Cortina to put the USSR in front 2-0.

The Soviets mustered just nine shots on goal in all, which proved to be sufficent with the play of NIKOLAI PUCHKOV in the USSR nets.

———————————————————————————————————

After the game, former NHL star and future Hall Of Fame player BOBBY BAUER reportedly stated three Soviet players could make NHL clubs (of which there were only six at the time) :

31 — def – Nikolai SOLOGUBOV — CSKA Moscow
30 — ctr — Alexei GURYSHEV — Soviet Wings
25 — rw — Yuri KRYLOV — Dynamo Moscow

 

[BubbaBoot]

Edmond Bouchard
defense

• Shoots: left •
• Height: 5'10" • Weight: 185 lbs •
• Born: May 24, 1892 • Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Quebec •
• Played: 1921/22 - 1928/29 (NHL \\\ 1930/31 - 1931/32 (AHA) \\\ 1930/31 (IHL) \\\ 1926/27 (Can-Pro) \\\ 1927/28 - 1928/29 (Can-Am) \\\ 1914/15, 1916/17 - 1918/19, 1920/21 (QCHL) \\\ 1915/16, 1919/29 (MCHL) •

• Championships •
1920 Art Ross Cup (MCHL / with Montreal Hochelaga)
1932 AHA (runner-up)

• All-Star Teams •
1920 MCHL 1st team

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career NHL • 211
- Career AHA • 85
- Career Can-Am • 63
- Career QCHL • 32
- Career MCHL • 20

• Goals •
1917/18 QCHL 27 (1)
1918/19 QCHL 21 (1)
1918/19 QCHL PLAYOFFS 8 (1)
1919/20 MCHL 12 (3)
1919/20 MCHL PLAYOFFS 10 (1)
1920/21 QCHL PLAYOFFS 4 (1)
1929/30 Can-Am 18 (T8)
1930/31 AHA 23 (4)
- Career NHL • 19
- Career AHA • 29
- Career Can-Am • 23
- Career QCHL • 71
- Career MCHL • 15

• Assists •
1917/18 QCHL 6 (3)
1919/20 MCHL 8 (1)
1919/20 MCHL PLAYOFFS 3 (1)
* 1922/23 NHL 12 (2) *
1930/31 AHA 12 (5)
- Career NHL • 21
- Career AHA • 15
- Career Can-Am • 7
- Career QCHL • 11
- Career MCHL • 8

* Many sources have him as first in assists / Hockey Reference has him at second, one behind Eddie Gerard.

• Points •
1917/18 QCHL 33 (1)
1918/19 QCHL 21 (1)
1918/19 QCHL PLAYOFFS 8 (1)
1919/20 MCHL 20 (T1)
1919/20 MCHL PLAYOFFS 13 (1)
1929/30 Can-Am 21 (T13)
1930/31 AHA 35 (4)
- Career NHL • 40
- Career AHA • 44
- Career Can-Am • 30
- Career QCHL • 82
- Career MCHL • 23

• Points Per Game •
- Career NHL • 0.19
- Career AHA • 0.52
- Career Can-Am • 0.48
- Career QCHL • 2.56
- Career MCHL • 1.15

• PIMs •
1919/20 MCHL PLAYOFFS 9 (T3)
1922/23 NHL 44 (7)
1929/30 Can-Am 58 (T13)
- Career NHL • 117
- Career AHA • 96
- Career Can-Am • 103
- Career QCHL • - incomplete
- Career MCHL • 32

• Accolades •

Edmond Bouchard was a versatile player who lined up at left wing and defence during a career that lasted more than 200 games in the 1920s. He was best known as a checker but also demonstrated astute passing on occasion.

Edmond Bouchard (May 25, 1892 in Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, Quebec, Canada – July 18 1955) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who sometimes doubled as a defenceman.

He started in amateur hockey in Quebec playing for the Montreal Nationale, Quebec Crescents, Hochelaga, Quebec Voltigeurs, and three seasons with the Quebec Montagnais.

In 1921 he was thrown out of amateur hockey because it was said that he had received $50 per game while playing for the senior Hochelaga team in 1919-20.

Bouchard signed as a free agent with the Montreal Canadiens in 1921-22 but was traded to the Hamilton Tigers the next season for Joe Malone. He led the NHL in assists with 12 in 1922-23 and stayed with the Tigers through 1924-25.

He moved with the rest of the team to the New York Americans in 1925 for three and a half years until he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1928-29 season.

After that season, Bouchard played three more years in the minor pros and retired in 1932.

In the NHL, Bouchard scored 19 goals and 21 assists in 211 games.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?p=41439289&highlight=edmond#post41439289

The Minutemen select Bottom-6 left winger Edmond Bouchard, an offensive star in his days with the Quebec Montagnais, averaging over 2 goals per game for three seasons from 1916-1919 while in his mid-twenties. He was 29 year old by the time he joined the NHL with the Canadiens yet went on to play over seven full NHL seasons in his thirties. He was famously traded for Malone and Corbeau, showing how highly valued he must have been. He didn't disappoint his first season after the trade, finishing 2nd in NHL assists and 7th in PIMs for Hamilton, though he went on to play mostly a defensive role for the rest of his NHL career, making the trade look real lopsided.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Paul Laus
defenseman / right wing

• Shoots: right •
• Height: 6'1" • Weight: 215 lbs. •
• Born: September 26, 1970 • Beamsville, Ontario •
• Drafted: Pittsburgh Penguins • 2nd Round (37th overall) 1989 NHL Entry • From: Niagra Falls Thunder (OHL) •
• Played: 1993/94 - 2001/02 (NHL) \\\ 1990/91 - 1992/93 (IHL) \\\ 1987/88 - 1989/90 (OHL) \\\ 1990/91(ECHL)•
• Co-captain with Pavel Bure for the 2001/02 season •

• Achievements •
• Games •
- Career NHL • 530
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 30
- Career IHL • 193
- Career IHL PLAYOFFS • 22
- Career OHL • 165
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 45
- Career ECHL • 20

• Goals •
- Career NHL • 14
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 2
- Career IHL • 11
- Career IHL PLAYOFFS • 3
- Career OHL • 15
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 6
- Career ECHL • 6

• Assists •
- Career NHL • 58
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 7
- Career IHL • 43
- Career IHL PLAYOFFS • 5
- Career OHL • 54
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 21
- Career ECHL • 12

• Points •
- Career NHL • 72
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 9
- Career IHL • 43
- Career IHL PLAYOFFS • 8
- Career OHL • 54
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 27
- Career ECHL • 12

• PIMs •
1988/89 OHL 225 (9)
1989 OHL PLAYOFFS 56 (T4)
1989/90 OHL 231 (4)
1990 OHL PLAYOFFS 71 (3)
1991/92 IHL 248 (12)
1992 IHL PLAYOFFS 70 (T2)
1992/93 IHL 427 (2)
1996 NHL PLAYOFFS 62 (1)
1996/97 NHL 313 (3)
1997/98 NHL 293 (4)
1998/99 NHL 218 (6)
1999/00 NHL 172 (9)
- Career NHL • 1702 (88)
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • 74
- Career IHL • 785
- Career IHL PLAYOFFS • 110
- Career OHL • 627
- Career OHL PLAYOFFS • 155
- Career ECHL • 83

- HockeyFights.com list Laus as participating in 177 regular season, preseason and postseason fights over his 9 season career.
- DropYourGloves.com lists Laus as having a 75-40-62 NHL record and, including minor leagues and juniors, having participated in 265 total fights.

• Plus/Minus •
- Career NHL • +31
- Career NHL PLAYOFFS • even
- Career IHL • +23
- Career IHL PLAYOFFS • -4

• Team Records •
- FLORIDA PANTHERS (NHL) - games (6) / playoff games (3) / PIMs (1) / playoff PIMs (1) / Plus-Minus (2)

• Accolades •

Big Laus isn't only a goon! He has a role to play and does it very well. He's slow and lacks natural talent, but while the hard-working Laus makes the opposition shrink in the defensive zone, he doesn't run around like a headless chicken. Moreover, the great thing about Laus is that he has improved as a player. Has played most of 1999-2000 on the wing! Lots of heart and determination!

Laus is one of the NHL's best and most-respected brawlers. He can topple any of the league's top bad boys if they're not careful.

On the surface Paul Laus was a goon. If you watched him play with the Florida Panthers in the 1990s, you quickly realized he was far more than that. He was a hockey player's hockey player.

Laus was a very physical player. He hit anyone and everyone, and he hit to hurt. It could not have been a pleasant experience going into the corners or standing in front of the net when Laus was on the ice. He was big, powerful and mean.

Of course, he was also noted for dropping the gloves. HockeyFights.com counted 177 career NHL fights for the native of Beamsville, Ontario, 39 in the 1996-97 season alone. Laus would stand up for his teammates, knew when the team needed an energy boost, and never forgot that fighting was the ticket that got him into the NHL in the first place.

Unlike a lot of goons, Laus was able to transform himself into a good player. The defenseman worked tirelessly at all aspects of his game, making him a popular leader and figure with the Panthers.

He became a very serviceable fifth or sixth defenseman who was also utilized as a fourth line right winger. His skating was always a question mark at the NHL level, as he had no speed or agility to speak of to cover the ice. But Laus smartly recognized his own limitations and learned how to play within them. He was usually pretty good about reading the oncoming attack and knew how to position himself so he would not be burned by speedier forwards. He would force them wide to the boards where his superior balance on his skates helped him battle for pucks and space. Of course, his reputation as a mean son-of-a-gun also bought him some time.

While he was a great teammate, a very good tough guy and a serviceable defenseman and utility player, he had no offensive game whatsoever. 530 NHL games he scored just 14 goals and 72 points.

The highlight for Laus was of course the Panthers unexpected Stanley Cup finals run in 1996. That is where Laus really earned high praise for the evolution of his game. He even scored 2 goals and 8 points in 21 post season contests.

A serious wrist injury hampered Laus after the turn of the century, and ultimately forced him to retire from hockey. He would return home to Ontario to raise his young family and get into coaching youth hockey.

Paul Laus patrolled the Florida Panthers’ blue line from 1993-2002. He was tough, rugged, and knew his role on the team. He could hit. He would fight. He defended the stars on his team. He was one of those players that flew under the radar, not known for immense scoring feats or spectacular plays. But he was a player that every team would want.

Rated #1 all-time Florida Panthers defenseman

Laus ranks ninth all-time in scoring among Florida's defensemen, so how did he end up first on this list? Thanks to a great deal of balance.

The defenseman will forever be known for being one of the NHL's more feared fighters, but in hindsight, it turns out he was one of Florida's most reliable defensemen. Never mind the fact he spent a franchise-high 1,702 penalty minutes. If dropping the gloves keeps the puck out of the net, well, every bit helps.

Laus' role as an enforcer might lead some to think his numbers otherwise were particularly bad, when in fact, they are anything but.

The defensemen spend nine seasons in the NHL, all with Florida. Laus never led the team or its defensemen in scoring. He never scored more than four goals or 12 points in a season. In each of the five seasons he played close to the entire slate of games, Laus always produced around 11 points a season -- not much, but consistent.

Laus finished with 72 career points, which is impressive considering he rarely, if ever, played with the team's power-play unit or behind its top lines.

During Florida's Stanley Cup run in 1995-96, Laus picked up two goals and six assists in 21 games, while also finishing with a plus-3 rating.

He was awarded the 'C' in 2001-02, serving as team co-captain with Pavel Bure.

What is really amazing is Laus finished with a career plus-minus of plus-31. That's a number which stands not only as tops among Panthers defensemen, but by a margin of 13. (Jaroslav Spacek is second-all time in career plus-minus with a plus-18 mark.) The mark ranks second all-time behind Martin Gelinas.

Laus' career spanned some of Florida's best defensive years as well as some of it's more impressive offensive ones. He played on some of its more successful teams and some of the franchise's worst. Florida produced only one scorer with at least 30 goals in six of Laus' nine seasons. He benefitted from playing on teams that relied on scoring distributed throughout the lineup.

Simply put, Laus found ways to contribute with the puck, without it and off the ice. So few Panthers have been able to produce that combination consistently. Laus did it over nine seasons.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Vladimir Ruzicka
head coach

• Achievements •
2002/03 Czech Extraliga Champion
2002/03 Czech Extraliga Coach of the year
2004/05 World Championship Gold Medal
2007/08 Czech Extraliga Champion
2008/09 Czech Extraliga Coach of the year
2009/10 World Championship Gold Medal
2010/11 Czech Extraliga Coach of the year

• History •
2000/01 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (7th / semi-finals loss)
2001/02 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (6th / semi-finals loss)
2002/03 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (2nd / League Championship)
2002/03 Czech Republic World Championships Asst. Coach (4th)
2002/03 Czech Republic European Hockey Tourney Asst. Coach (BRONZE)
2003/04 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (5th / League Championship runner-up)
2003/04 Czech Republic World Championships Asst. Coach (8th)
2003/04 Czech Republic World Cup Head Coach (BRONZE)
2004/05 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (4th / quarter finals loss)
2004/05 Czech Republic World Championships Head Coach (GOLD)
2005/06 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (2nd / League Championship runner-up)
2006/07 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (6th / quarter finals loss)
2007/08 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (2nd / League Championship)
2008/09 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (1st / League Championship runner-up)
2008/09 Czech Republic World Championships Head Coach (6th)
2009/10 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (7th / semi-finals loss)
2009/10 Czech Republic World Championships Head Coach (GOLD)
2009/10 Czech Republic Olympic Games Head Coach (5th)
2010/11 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (7th / semi-finals loss)
2011/12 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (12th / saved in play-out)
2012/13 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (2nd / semi-finals loss)
2013/14 HC Slavia Praha U20 Czech U20 Coach
2013/14 HC Slavia Praha Czech Head Coach (10th / playoff quarter finals loss)
2013/14 HC Slavia Praha Czech Sports Manager
2013/14 Czech Republic European Hockey Tourney Head Coach (BRONZE)
2013/14 Czech Republic World Championships Head Coach (4th place)
2014/15 HC Slavia Praha U16 Czech U16 Coach
2014/15 HC Slavia Praha Youth Hockey Supervisor
2014/15 Czech Republic European Hockey Tourney Head Coach
2014/15 Czech Republic World Championships Head Coach

• Accolades •

The Czech Republic named Vladimir Ruzicka coach of its World Cup of Hockey team Tuesday, just one day after the death of Ivan Hlinka.

Hlinka, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals in 2001, died Monday from injuries sustained in a car accident in the Czech Republic. He was 54.

With training camp for the World Cup set to open Thursday, the Czech Republic turned to Ruzicka, who was an assistant coach on the country's national team at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Ruzicka, 41, represented Czechoslovakia in several international tournaments as a player, including the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, two Canada Cups and five World Championships. He also was the captain of the Czech Republic's gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

Ruzicka spent fives seasons in the NHL, collecting 82 goals and 85 assists in 233 games with Edmonton, Boston and Ottawa. He finished his playing career with Slavia Praha of the Czech league, recording 122 goals in 245 games over six seasons.

After retiring in March 2000, Ruzicka held coaching and general manager positions with Slavia, helping the team win the first league championship in club history in 2003.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Ike Hildebrand
coach

• Achievements •
- 1985 Canada Sports Hall of Fame
- 1972 Canada Lacrosse Hall of Fame
- 1978 Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame
- 1989 Belleville Sports Hall of Fame
- 1993 Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame

- 1945/46 - 1947/48 Jr hockey / Oshawa Generals & Toronto Marlboros
- 1953/54 - 1954/55 NHL / NYR - CHIC
- 6 yrs - PCHL - AHL - WHL - QHL
- 5 yrs - amateur senior hockey

- 1959 GOLD World Championships as Player/Coach
- 1958 Allan Cup as Player/Coach

- 1969/70 League Championship (OHA Sr) as Coach
- 1970 Allan Cup runner-up as Coach

- 1953 Calder Cup (AHL) as Player
- 1953 1st Team All-Star (AHL) as Player
- 1953 Leading goal scorer (AHL) as Player
- 1951 1st Team All-Star (USHL) as Player
- 1946 Playoff scoring leader (CHL JRS) as Player
- 1945 1st Team All-Star (PCJHL) as Player

• Coaching History •
- 1957/58 - 1959/1960, 1968/69 - 1969/70 - COACH (OHA Sr)
- 1963/64 - COACH (OHA-B)
- 1967/68 - 1968/69 - COACH (OHA)

• Accolades •

It was Hildebrand who scored the winning goal in the thrilling 3-1 victory over the Soviet Union to bring Canada, represented by the Belleville (Ontario) McFarlands, the gold medal at the 1959 World Championship in Czechoslovakia. Belleville had rallied from a two game deficit to defeat the Kelowna Packers in seven games in the 1958 Allan Cup finals, in which all seven games were played in British Columbia. That earned the club an invitation from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to go to the world tournament the next season. Canada and the Soviets finished with identical records, but the McFarlands had beaten the Soviets in the only match between the two teams and also had an advantage in the goals-for and against differential.

When Bep Guidolin had left the Belleville club to play for the Windsor Bulldogs two years earlier, McFarlands manager Drury Denyes had made Hildebrand player-coach. Gordon "Red" Berenson, who had scored 46 goals in 51 games for the Regina Pats juniors the previous season, was probably the best player on the team, and there were others who surpassed Hildebrand in talent, but in naming him player-coach, Denyes was banking on his NHL experience.

Likewise, in making the final cuts to the roster prior to the World Championship, Hildebrand hung on to NHL vets like Al Dewsbury and Pete Conacher. As player-coach, Hildebrand was responsible for keeping track of all the line changes as well as taking a regular shift. Conditions in Czechoslovakia were quite a bit below what the former pros had been used to. While playing the preliminary round of the tournament in Bratislava, the McFarlands had to put their hockey uniforms on at the hotel, then take the bus to the arena.

A native of Winnipeg, Hildebrand played junior hockey with the Oshawa Generals in 1945-46 and 1947-48 and with the senior Toronto Marlboros in 1947-48. At Oshawa, he led all playoff scorers in the 1945-46 season with 21 goals and 32 points in only 12 games.

He won a Calder Cup championship with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League in the 1952-53 season and earned a berth at right wing on the league's First All-Star Team. He led all goal scorers with 38, although he had only one goal and one assist in 11 playoff games. Hildebrand played a total of 41 NHL games with the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks, recording seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. In his very first game with Chicago in the 1953-54 season, he scored a goal and assisted on another as the last place Black Hawks embarrassed the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens 8-3 in front of a small crowd of close to 8,000 at Chicago Stadium.

He coached hockey in Ontario, Pembroke, Belleville and Orillia and was active in the NHL oldtimers' games in Toronto.

He eventually returned to senior hockey, first with Pembroke and then Belleville. It was while with the Belleville McFarlands that Hildebrand achieved his greatest successes as a both a hockey player and coach. He was a member of the McFarlands team that won the 1958 Allen Cup, earning the right to represent Canada at the world hockey championship.

At the 1959 world tournament in Czechoslovakia, Hildebrand both played for and coached the McFarlands. In fact, he scored the game-winning goal in the 3-1 victory over the Soviet Union that clinched the world championship for Canada. Hildebrand continued to coach junior hockey throughout the 1960s.