The 2015 Double-A Draft (sign-up, roster post, everything)

[seventieslord]

Trapp was still available????

I don't think it's that surprising for trapp to last to pick 1100. It's Traub we're quite sure about, not Trapp.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I don't think it's that surprising for trapp to last to pick 1100. It's Traub we're quite sure about, not Trapp.

What's the difference between them, again? Didn't we confirm that Trapp has 2 legit 1st Team AS nods in the WCHL?

 

[seventieslord]

Yeah, I had him confused with another guy whose all-stars were questioned recently. Even if two of his ASTs are questionable he looks pretty damn good right now.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Damn it.....Trapp was going was going to be my next selection, my pre-WW1 selection too.....this is twice in a row guys.

 

[VanIslander]

Von Trapp is still available.

Plus he was a captain.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Von Trapp is still available.

Plus he was a captain.

Ha! Good one......

 

[BubbaBoot]

....but now that I'm thinking about it......how's his faceoff %?

 

[chaosrevolver]

I wonder how Pacioretty and Voracek compare when it comes to their resumes.

Pacioretty:
Top-10 Goals - 4th, 5th, 9th
Top-10 Assists - N/A
Top-10 Points - N/A

GP/G/A/P Since 2012: 229/105/87/192 (0.838 PPG)

Awards:
* Bill Masterton Trophy

Voracek:
Top-10 Goals - 8th
Top-10 Assists - 2nd
Top-10 Points - 4th

GP/G/A/P Since 2012: 243/69/139/208 (0.856 PPG)

Awards:
* NHL 1st Team All-Star

Just to add, it is important to note that before 2012, Pacioretty had 114 points in 202 games (0.564 PPG). Voracek had 183 points in 319 games (0.574 PPG).

These two are pretty even offensive contributors as a whole. However, as you can tell, they do it in very different ways. As we all know, Pacioretty is primarily a goal scorer while Voracek is generally a pass-first winger.

They are both fairly defensively responsible (although I see Voracek far less) from what I have seen and read. Pacioretty seems to have more top years but Voracek has the more consistent offensive production (albeit by very slightly) since he came into the league. There is not much separating these two offensively in terms of production, so I wonder..does the fact that it is rarer to find playmaking wingers make Voracek a better pick? Or does the fact that Pacioretty's got three top-10 finishes in goals (which I would imagine is almost unmatched in this draft) make him the better selection?

I would say both were solid for the record. Although, I never really thought Voracek would go in this draft as I didn't realize how consistent of a 40-50 point threat he was in his early years.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Boston Pere Marquette picks:
Mattias Norstrom
defense

 

[BubbaBoot]

Boston Pere Marquette picks:
Lee Fogolin, Jr.
defense

• Shoots: Right • Height: 6-0 • Weight: 200 lbs •
• Born: February 7, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois •
• Draft: Buffalo, 1st round (11th overall), 1974 NHL Amateur • From: Oshawa Generals (OHL) •
• Played: 1974/75 - 1986/87 (NHL) \\\ 1972/73 - 1973/74 (OHL) \\\ 1975/76 (AHL) •

• Championships
1984 Stanley Cup (NHL)
1985 Stanley Cup (NHL)

• All Star Games
1986 (NHL)

• SH Goals
1980-81 NHL 4 (6)

• +/-
1985-86 NHL 47 (5)

NHL: 924 games / 44 goals / 195 assists / 239 points / 0.26 PpG / 1318 PIMs / +177
NHL PLAYOFFS: 108 games / 5 goals / 19 assists / 24 points / 0.22 PpG / 173 PIMs / +0
OHA-Jr.: 102 games / 12 goals / 40 assists / 52 points / 0.51 PpG / 240 PIMs

• 1981/82 - One of the NHL top 6 defensemen for PK ice time for the season.
• Was the first U.S.A. born player to be a first round draft choice in the NHL Amateur Draft.
• Charter member of first Edmonton Oiler NHL team.
• Served as Edmonton captain from 1983 - 1985.
• Oshawa captain for the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons.
• Tied NHL record for shorthanded goals by a defenseman in one season with four in 1980-81.
• Member of the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame: Inducted 1993.

Defenceman Lee Fogolin, Jr. played over 900 NHL games for the Buffalo Sabres and Edmonton Oilers. He was an imposing physical presence in his own end and was capable of moving the puck up ice to help his team's transition game.

The rugged defender continued to supply grit and a bit of offense to Buffalo in the late 1970s but the team was unable to duplicate the post-season success of 1975. He was exposed in the 1979 Expansion Draft and claimed by the speedy Edmonton Oilers in the second round. The veteran blended in with his new team's rapid transition game and while serving as a defensive conscience in his own zone. His steady work with defense partner XXXXX XXXXXXXXX allowed the talented Oilers forwards to free wheel more often.

Fogolin scored a career-high 13 goals in 1980-81 then provided stability when the team became a Stanley Cup contender the following season. He was an important factor on the Oilers when they reached the finals in 1983 then won consecutive Stanley Cups in 1984 and 1985. By 1986-87, Edmonton wanted to give youngsters Geoff Smith, Steve Smith, and Jeff Beukeboom more responsibility, so Fogolin was traded to the Buffalo Sabres. He played nine games that year before retiring after 13 big league seasons.

Like father, like son is a phrase that fits Lee Fogolin Sr. and Jr. perfectly.

Although they played in very different eras, they played an almost similar style. Both were hard hitting defensemen who made up what they lacked in grace with an abundance of heart and leadership. Both were journeymen who specialized in the physical game and were excellent shot blockers. Poise and dedication were also commonly mentioned attributes of both player's games. Father Lee played in the rough and tumble post-World War II era with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Lee Jr. played during the high scoring, and high flying 1980s.

Lee Jr. was born in Chicago where his father spent most of his career, but grew up in rural Ontario. By 1972 he was skating for the junior Oshawa Generals and capturing critical acclaim for his exuberant play. By the time he became draft eligible in 1974, he was a top selection of the Buffalo Sabres as he was selected 11th overall.

Lee made the jump to the NHL immediately. He played somewhat sparingly, however, over his first two NHL season because of his lack of experience. Even at that early age he was considered to be the strongest man in professional hockey.

While Lee was too good to play in the minors, ultimately he was rushed into the Sabres lineup. He got caught up in the Sabres blue line depth chart and often saw little ice time and even skated as a penalty killing forward. After 5 seasons in Buffalo he was surprisingly left exposed by the Sabres in the 1979 expansion draft, and was quickly snapped up by the Edmonton Oilers.

It is in Edmonton where Lee is perhaps best remembered. He served as a team captain before handing that honour to Wayne Gretzky. He would quickly establish himself as one of the league's best defensive defensemen and most unheralded players while playing the run-and-gun Oilers team. One of the reasons the Oilers could play that all-offense system of theirs was because of players like Lee who would stay back and do the dirty work.

Lee enjoyed 8 seasons in Edmonton, including 2 Stanley Cups. Ultimately the emergence of young behemoths like Steve Smith and Jeff Beukeboom made a veteran Fogolin expendable in 1987. He was traded back to Buffalo late in the season. He would put in just 9 more games of NHL work before deciding to retire at the end of the season.

Lee Fogolin played in 24 regular season NHL games, scoring 44 goals and 239 points plus 1318 penalty minutes. In 108 playoff contests he scored 5 goals and 24 points plus 173 penalty minutes. But every player who ever played with (or for that matter against) Lee Fogolin will agree that no statistic could ever measure the value of this rock-steady defenseman.

 

[Elvis P]

Boston Pere Marquette picks:
Mattias Norstrom
defense

He was picked in the MLD and I wrote a bio for him. http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=105124881&postcount=2

 

[BubbaBoot]

He was picked in the MLD and I wrote a bio for him. http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=105124881&postcount=2

Damn it, and I did a search too, I must've spelled his name wrong. Bollocks....

 

[BubbaBoot]

Boston Pere Marquette picks:
Hal Laycoe
defense

• Shoots: Left • Height: 6-2 • Weight: 185 lbs. •
• Born: June 23, 1922 in Sutherland, Saskatchewan •
• Played: 1945/46 - 1955/56 (NHL) \\\ 1938/39 - 1939/40 (N-SJHL) \\\ 1940/41 - 1940/42 (N-SSHL) \\\ 1942/43 (OCHL) \\\ 1943/44 (OHA Sr) \\\ 1943/44 (TIHL) \\\ 1944/45 (WNDHL) \\\ 1945/46 (EAHL) \\\ 1947/48 - 1948/49 (AHL) •

• Championships
1939 Saskatchewan JR

• All Star Teams
1946 EAHL 2nd team

• Assists
1941 MEMORIAL CUP 8 (T1 for defensemen / T6 overall)

• Points
1940/41 N-SJHL 23 (1st for defensemen / 5th overall)
1941 N-SJHL PLAYOFFS 7 (1)
1941 MEMORIAL CUP 12 (2nd for defensemen)

• PIMs
1941 MEMORIAL CUP 22 (6)

NHL: 531 games / 25 goals / 77 assists / 102 points / 0.19 PpG / 292 PIMs
NHL PLAOFFS: 40 games / 2 goals / 5 assists / 7 points / 0.18 PpG / 39 PIMs

• Accolades

Defenceman Hal Laycoe played over 500 NHL games in the 1940s and '50s. He was a solid positional player who took the body well and moved the puck up to his forwards with efficiency.

Reversing his numbers the next year, the rangy rearguard spent only 10 games in Buffalo and the bulk of the season with the Canadiens as injuries limited Bouchard to only 27 regular season games.

The stay-at-home defenseman who could take a hit, dish one out and competently move the puck to his forwards, based his game on solid positional play. Thriving in his role of countering oncoming attackers effectively but unspectacularly, Laycoe rarely exceeded the rules of the game, only once collecting more than 30 penalty minutes as a Hab.

Traded to Boston towards the end of the 1950-51 campaign, Laycoe spent the next five seasons patrolling the Bruins’ blue line where the man who was also The Rocket’s occasional tennis partner while with the Habs, Nonetheless, he helped spark the infamous Richard Riot in 1955, with Laycoe being the player Richard would strike on his way to being suspended a few days later.

Hal Laycoe is remembered to for two things: the fight with Maurice Richard that ultimately caused the Richard Riot, and wearing glasses on the ice.

A native of Sutherland, Saskatchewan, Laycoe played senior hockey in Saskatoon with both the Dodgers and Quakers. During WWII, he played on the Canadian Postal Corps team as well as both the Winnipeg and Toronto Navy unit teams. He stepped into the NHL during the 1945-46 season, playing 17 games with the New York Rangers, and becoming a blue-line star with the New York Rovers of the EHL. He was named to the EHL second all-star team after the season.

After one regular season with the Rangers, Laycoe was traded to Montreal, but not before taking part in one of the NHL’s wilder Original Six brawls. On March 16, 1947 in the final minutes of a game between the Rangers and Canadiens, a bench-clearing brawl broke out. Despite the efforts of the organist (who played the “Star-spangled Banner”), referee George Hayes, his linesman, and the NYPD, the brawl lasted over ten minutes. One of four main events on the card was Laycoe vs. the Canadiens' Leo Lamoureux.

The Canadiens must have saw something they liked in Mr. Laycoe, as they insisted that he be part of the big trade that sent Buddy O'Connor to the Rangers. The Canadiens landed Joe Bell, George Robertson and Laycoe in return.

In Laycoe’s first two seasons with Montreal, he split his playing time between the Canadiens and the AHL Buffalo Bison. Finally, in February 1951 he found a permanent home when he was traded to the Boston Bruins. Laycoe proved to be a steady member of the defence, helping the team reach the finals in 1953.

The moment that defined Laycoe’s career came on March 13, 1955. Laycoe delivered a hard check to Montreal's Maurice "Rocket" Richard, cutting Richard’s face with a high stick. Richard, bleeding and furious, took off after Laycoe. When linesman Cliff Thompson attempted to pull Richard away, Richard punched Thompson. The incident led to Richard’s suspension for the rest of the season, including the play-offs. Laycoe received a 5 minute penalty, even though by his own admission he “swung [his] stick and struck Richard after feeling a sudden impact against [his] glasses."

Despite Laycoe's involvement in the whole incident it was Clarence Campbell who really drew the ire of the Canadiens' faithful. When Campbell attended the Canadiens' game with the Detroit Red Wings at the Montreal Forum four days later, he was pelted with vegetables and struck by a fan. When someone set off a smoke bomb following the first period, the game was forfeited to the Red Wings.A riot ensued outside of the Forum, with windows broken, stores looted and clashes with the police. Needless to say, it was one of most unique events in the history of hockey.

A few days after the infamous Richard Riot, the Bruins played the Canadiens in the semi-finals, and the Montreal fans’ wrath was directed squarely at Laycoe. Bruins teammate Eddie Sandford recalled, “I drew Laycoe as my taxi teammate. When we got to the Forum, the police were waiting for us, and they escorted us into the building and to the dressing room past a bunch of angry fans. Then every time Laycoe came on the ice, the crowd booed him.” The hostile atmosphere and a determined Montreal team proved too much for the Bruins, who lost the series 4-1.

After the 1955-56 season, Laycoe retired. He had played 531 games with 25 goals and 77 assists. Despite the remarkable fights, he accumulated a rather average 292 penalty minutes.

 

[tony d]

Yesterday's picks:

Tom Bladon

Bladon had 3 top 20 finishes in points for a defenseman and was a 2 time all star.

Joe Murphy

Murphy had 528 points in 779 NHL games

 

[seventieslord]

I wonder how Pacioretty and Voracek compare when it comes to their resumes.

Pacioretty:
Top-10 Goals - 4th, 5th, 9th
Top-10 Assists - N/A
Top-10 Points - N/A

GP/G/A/P Since 2012: 229/105/87/192 (0.838 PPG)

Awards:
* Bill Masterton Trophy

Voracek:
Top-10 Goals - 8th
Top-10 Assists - 2nd
Top-10 Points - 4th

GP/G/A/P Since 2012: 243/69/139/208 (0.856 PPG)

Awards:
* NHL 1st Team All-Star

Just to add, it is important to note that before 2012, Pacioretty had 114 points in 202 games (0.564 PPG). Voracek had 183 points in 319 games (0.574 PPG).

These two are pretty even offensive contributors as a whole. However, as you can tell, they do it in very different ways. As we all know, Pacioretty is primarily a goal scorer while Voracek is generally a pass-first winger.

They are both fairly defensively responsible (although I see Voracek far less) from what I have seen and read. Pacioretty seems to have more top years but Voracek has the more consistent offensive production (albeit by very slightly) since he came into the league. There is not much separating these two offensively in terms of production, so I wonder..does the fact that it is rarer to find playmaking wingers make Voracek a better pick? Or does the fact that Pacioretty's got three top-10 finishes in goals (which I would imagine is almost unmatched in this draft) make him the better selection?

I would say both were solid for the record. Although, I never really thought Voracek would go in this draft as I didn't realize how consistent of a 40-50 point threat he was in his early years.

you know, I didn't mind the Pacioretty pick and I wasn't a fan of the Voracek selection at all (though I was going to run some numbers before I posted anything about it) and I'm surprised to see that Voracek has achieved more offensively thus far in his career. It would not make sense to like one pick and not the other, unless you overplay the "inconsistent enigmatic russian" card.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

you know, I didn't mind the Pacioretty pick and I wasn't a fan of the Voracek selection at all (though I was going to run some numbers before I posted anything about it) and I'm surprised to see that Voracek has achieved more offensively thus far in his career. It would not make sense to like one pick and not the other, unless you overplay the "inconsistent enigmatic russian" card.

He's Czech!

 

[Rob Scuderi]

Thanks for posting a bunch of those figures chaos.

In terms of VsX
Pacioretty: 78, 75, 69, 68, 67 - 5 year average of 71
Voracek: 94, 81, 71, 51, 46 - 5 year average of 69

Not a big difference, Voracek has the highest peak, Pacioretty has more solid seasons than Voracek. Pacioretty doesn't have anything after these five years, Voracek has a two middling scores in the 30-40s range.

Linemates are also a point in Pacioretty's favor, he has no Giroux to work with. Hard for me to split their non-scoring abilities. I figured Voracek would be better regarded along the boards than he is (only watch him when it's against the Pens), and maybe it's just because of plus minus driven Selke votes but I'd guess Pacioretty is more regarded defensively.

Pacioretty's goalscoring is definitely the most noteworthy thing about these guys, but Voracek's playmaking from a winger is very hard to find at this level so he surprisingly was the best pick for me.

I'd prefer Pacioretty, as I don't put too much stock in Voracek's middling years boosting his VsX score as you break beyond five years (Voracek nudges ahead in 6 and 7 year looks). But I agree with 70s, if you like Pacioretty and hate Voracek then you aren't looking close enough.

 

[Rob Scuderi]

I'll take a clutch scorer who was decently well-rounded to start my third line Don Grosso, LW/C

"The Count" was his nickname, which seemed appropriate, because Don Grosso was a guy Detroit could count on in the big games.

The pesky left-winger's best years came while he skated with center Sid Abel and right-winger xxx on Detroit's "Liniment Line." "It was called that because one of us was always hurt," Grosso explained. "That's because we got so much ice time on our regular shift, killing penalties and on the power play."

Grosso's best regular-season performance came in 1941-42, when he registered 23-30-53 totals to finish third in NHL scoring and establish a new Detroit single-season mark for points. Three other times, he netted 15 goals and Grosso garnered 47 points in 1943-44.

Known as a money player, Grosso saved some of his best hockey for the playoffs. During the 1942 post-season, Grosso tallied a Stanley Cup-record 14 points, eight of them coming in Detroit's seven-game loss to Toronto in the finals.

Don Grosso has changed from a player who last year went only when the spirit moved him into just about the best forechecking centre ice player in the league.

Detroit's Don Grosso put on a brilliant three-goal scoring exhibition for the 14,480 fans and continually kept the Bruins bottled up by harrying defensive tactics.

Grosso, who got $75 for his goals the first game from Harry Jacobson, No. 1 Detroit fan, picked up another $15 from the same source in the second game-but not for his scoring. "I offered $5 for a body check-that is a good clean check which put the man on the ice-and Grosso bowled over three of them," Jacobson explained.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=53307471&postcount=38

 

[Rob Scuderi]

And my third line center Steve Rucchin, C
Selke voting - 7th(1999), 14th(2000)

Bio full of scouting reports outlining his two-way prowess
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=56129949&postcount=57

 

[seventieslord]

He's Czech!

yeah, sorry, I meant to say the catch all "enigmatic european", lol. Embarrassing.

 

[seventieslord]

Thanks for posting a bunch of those figures chaos.

In terms of VsX
Pacioretty: 78, 75, 69, 68, 67 - 5 year average of 71
Voracek: 94, 81, 71, 51, 46 - 5 year average of 69

Not a big difference, Voracek has the highest peak, Pacioretty has more solid seasons than Voracek. Pacioretty doesn't have anything after these five years, Voracek has a two middling scores in the 30-40s range.

Linemates are also a point in Pacioretty's favor, he has no Giroux to work with. Hard for me to split their non-scoring abilities. I figured Voracek would be better regarded along the boards than he is (only watch him when it's against the Pens), and maybe it's just because of plus minus driven Selke votes but I'd guess Pacioretty is more regarded defensively.

Pacioretty's goalscoring is definitely the most noteworthy thing about these guys, but Voracek's playmaking from a winger is very hard to find at this level so he surprisingly was the best pick for me.

I'd prefer Pacioretty, as I don't put too much stock in Voracek's middling years boosting his VsX score as you break beyond five years (Voracek nudges ahead in 6 and 7 year looks). But I agree with 70s, if you like Pacioretty and hate Voracek then you aren't looking close enough.

linemate collaboration scores are 1.22 for Patch and 1.07 for Voracek on their careers, that's outside the margin of error, so I'd agree linemates are in Patch's favour.

 

[Elvis P]

yeah, sorry, I meant to say the catch all "enigmatic european", lol. Embarrassing.

That's nothing. I recently accidentally said on the HoH board that before 2010 the Hawks hadn't won the SC since the 30s. Of course I knew better, but still. The ATD is great socially to see the vets who only come back for that, but this has really become my favorite draft. I like the surprises here, seeing who gets picked and who doesn't, and trying to figure out why.

 

[BubbaBoot]

That's nothing. I recently accidentally said on the HoH board that before 2010 the Hawks hadn't won the SC since the 30s. Of course I knew better, but still. The ATD is great socially to see the vets who only come back for that, but this has really become my favorite draft. I like the surprises here, seeing who gets picked and who doesn't, and trying to figure out why.

Yeah, it's crazy, especially with so few teams. Everytime I pick a player, I research for the next pick and find about 5 or 6 players that could easily be on par and sometimes better than my previous couple of selections. I really enjoy these drafts.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Boston Pere Marquette picks:
Dave Reid
left wing / centre

• Shoots: Left • Height: 6-1 • Weight: 217 lbs •
• Born: May 15, 1964 (Age 51.217) in Toronto, Ontario •
• Draft: Boston, 3rd round (60th overall), 1982 NHL Entry • From: Peterborough Petes •
• Played: 1983/84 - 2000/01 (NHL) \\\ 1981/82 - 1983/84 (OHL) \\\ 1984/85 - 1987/88, 1991/92, 1994/95 (AHL) •

• Championships
1999 Stanley Cup (NHL)
2001 Stanley Cup (NHL)

• Selke Trophy Voting
1995-96 (17)
2000-01 (34)

• Lady Byng Trophy Voting
1992-93 (17)

• Assists
1983-84 OHL 64 (T12)

• Short-Handed Goals
1989-90 NHL 4 (5)
1990-91 NHL 8 (1)
1992-93 NHL 5 (5)
1995-96 NHL 6 (2)
Career • NHL 28 (26)

NHL: 961 games / 165 goals / 204 assists / 369 points / 0.38 PpG / 253 PIMs / +54 / 17 PP / 28 SH
NHL PLAYOFFS: 118 games / 9 goals / 26 assist / 35 points / 0.30 PpG / 34 PIMs / +2 / 0 PP / 1 SH
AHL: 191 games / 61 goals / 96 assists 157 points / 0.82 PpG / 77 PIMs / -7
AHL PLAYOFFS: 15 games / 6 goals / 8 assists / 14 points / 0.93 PpG
OHL: 198 games / 66 goals / 130 assists / 196 points / 0.99 PpG / 86 PIMs
OHL PLAYOFFS: 13 games / 5 goals / 4 assists / 9 points / 0.69 PpG / 11 PIMs

• Rated in The Hockey News draft preview issue as the No. 6 OHL prospect for the 1982 NHL draft.
• Peterborough Petes captain in 1983/84
• Incucted into the Etobicoke Sports Hall of Fame Inductees in 2004.
• Killed 34% of penalties for teams 8% better than average
• 45 career Shorthanded points

• Accolades

a strong skater, Reid has developed into one of the very best penalty killers and checking wingers in the game... he is tireless and dedicated. His success of late has caused him to work harder and harder... he's more of a lunchpail player...

Reid is a defensive forward and penalty killing specialist. Opposition powerplays have to be aware of taking away Reid's space if they lose the puck, because he has the ability to blow the puck past the goalie from a lot of spots on the ice. Possessing an underrated, accurate shot with a quick release, he can freeze goalies... Reid is a good skater with surprising straightaway speed, especially for a big player. he has proven he can play regularly in the NHL and contribute. All of his moderate skills are enhanced by hard work and hustle.


Reid can create a little maelstrom on the ice. A big guy who can get his skating revved up, he causes problems once he is in motion. He isn't a big hitter, though, and there is no nasty side to him. he is just an honest checker.

sturdy, working class defensive minded forward. Gritty, strong and extremely disciplined. Decent skater with a deceiving shot. offense doesn't come naturally to Reid, who gets his chances through hard and relentless work. Penalty killing specialist.

With Toronto, Reid was thrown onto a checking line with Dave Hannan and Lou Franceschetti. The trio clicked with their less-than-fancy, dump-and-charge style of play. Reid looked very much at home until his contract expired in 1991. It then looked like history repeating itself when Reid signed again with the Boston Bruins who, during the course of the 1991-92 season, sent him back down for a return visit with the Maine Mariners of the AHL. But this time the stay was short and Reid resumed his NHL gig for good.

He lasted one more season in Boston and then signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars who welcomed his tenacious defensive play and streak scoring outbursts, especially the odd cluster of shorthanded goals. In 1998-99, all of Reid's patience and hard work paid off as his Stars won their first and only Stanley Cup.

The following year, life only got better as he signed with the Colorado Avalanche, another dominant team of the NHL. And as usual, Reid plugged right into the club's defensive system, making himself his usual useful self. At the close of the 2000-2001 campaign, Reid was awarded his second Stanley Cup ring.

On June 23, 1988, the Jays beat the Orioles 5-2 at home, bringing themselves to just a game under .500 in what had not been a very good season. Diamond Jim Clancy (4-9) went six for the win and a somewhat portly reliever named David Wells picked up his fourth save. (No, of course I don't remember this. I had to look it up. I was still reeling from the '87 collapse.)

Oh, and the Leafs signed a free agent named Dave Reid from Boston that day. Nobody we'd heard of and the signing was a non-event.

In the first couple of weeks of the season, though, we got all into Dave Reid. He was a point-per-game through his first 10 as a Leaf and it looked like we'd snookered Boston even better than on the Fergus deal.

Then, for whatever reason, he switched from wearing #34 to Mirko Frycer's old #14 - and never scored again.

Ever.

Well, not exactly ever, but he finished with 30 points and we realized that what we had was not an elite scoring winger, but a kickin' PK guy and checker extraordinaire - and that wasn't really a bad thing. Kind of makes one wonder if he's otherwise employed at the moment.

The other thing he did to endear himself to us that first season was to finish not only as a plus, but a significant plus. I mean, Tom Fergus was -38 that year. Dave Reid was +12, and for a guy who wasn't bringing a ton of offense, that was unreal. Even a rival player was quoted before a game, wondering just how it was possible that anyone could be a +10 (at that particular moment) on the Leafs.

No matter whether the Leafs couldn't score at all ('90-91), scored in buckets ('89-90) or somewhere in between ('88-89), Dave always hit for between 28 and 30 points. His most interesting offensive stat came in 1990-91. He scored 15 goals, his best output as a Leaf, but get this - eight of them were shorthanded. This tied a team record set by Dave Keon years and years earlier and was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season.

In one stretch that must be a record but has probably never been looked into, Dave scored at least one shorthanded goal in three straight games, four shorties in total. The TV crew dubbed him "Rocket Reid," a nickname that never really stuck, except for me.

While growing up as a teenager in Etobicoke, Ontario, Dave Reid got close to the pros by collecting their images on hockey cards. It's a habit that has stayed with him right into adulthood. By the time he joined the Maple Leafs in 1988, his collection was 180,000 strong and included baseball, football, and even Batman.

But while enlarging his collection during those early days, Reid also enlarged upon his on-ice career, skating for three years with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL from 1981 to 1984. The Boston Bruins were sufficiently impressed with his performance to pick him up in the 1982 Entry Draft. Two seasons later, he saw his first action with the club, an event that launched a pattern of shuttling between Hershey, Moncton, Maine, and the parent Bruins. The rocky ride went on for four seasons when the Bruins decided not to renew his contract. Reid looked destined to remain a career minor-leaguer.

With Toronto, Reid was thrown onto a checking line with Dave Hannan and Lou Franceschetti. The trio clicked with their less-than-fancy, dump-and-charge style of play. Reid looked very much at home until his contract expired in 1991. It then looked like history repeating itself when Reid signed again with the Boston Bruins who, during the course of the 1991-92 season, sent him back down for a return visit with the Maine Mariners of the AHL. But this time the stay was short and Reid resumed his NHL gig for good.

He lasted one more season in Boston and then signed as a free agent with the Dallas Stars who welcomed his tenacious defensive play and streak scoring outbursts, especially the odd cluster of shorthanded goals. In 1998-99, all of Reid's patience and hard work paid off as his Stars won their first and only Stanley Cup.

The following year, life only got better as he signed with the Colorado Avalanche, another dominant team of the NHL. And as usual, Reid plugged right into the club's defensive system, making himself his usual useful self. At the close of the 2000-2001 campaign, Reid was awarded his second Stanley Cup ring.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Boston Pere Marquette picks:
Martin Rucinsky
left wing

• Shoots: Left • Height: 6-1 • Weight: 205 lbs •
• Born: March 11, 1971 in Most, Czechoslovakia •
• Draft: Edmonton, 1st round (20th overall), 1991 NHL Entry • From: HC CHZ Litvinov (Czech ExtraLiga) •
• Played: 1991/92 - 2007/08 (NHL) \\\ 1988/89 - 1990/91 (Czech ExtraLiga) \\\ 1990/91 - 2004/05, 2014/15 (CZECH National Team) •

• Championships
1996 CZECH ExtraLiga
2015 CZECH ExtraLiga

• International Medals
1998 GOLD Olympics
1999 GOLD World Championships
2001 GOLD World Championships
2005 GOLD World Championships
1991 BRONZE World Jr Championships
2004 BRONZE World Championships
2006 BRONZE Olympics

• Awards
2004 World Championship / Top 3 Player on Team

• All Star Teams
1991 U20 World Jr Championships
1999 World Championships
2001 World Championships

• All Star Games
2000 (NHL)

• Goals
1990/91 CZECH ExtraLiga 24 (T9)
1991 WJrC 9 (2)
2004 WC 5 (T2)

• Short-Handed Goals
2002-03 NHL 4 (3)

• Assists
1999 WC 6 (T4)

• Points
1990-91 CZECH ExtraLiga 44 (T12)
1991 WJrC 14 (4)
1999 WC 10 (T3)
2004 WC 9 (T3)

• PIMs
1990-91 CZECH ExtraLiga 69 (7)
2011-12 CZECH ExtraLiga 94 (9)

NHL: 961 games / 241 goals / 371 assists / 612 points / 0.64 PpG / 821 PIMs / +46 / 61 PP / 15 SH
PLAYOFFS: 37 games / 9 goals / 5 assists / 14 points / 0.38 PpG / 24 PIMs / -17 / 3 PP / 0 SH

CZECH: 425 games / 153 goals / 163 assists / 316 points / 0.74 PpG / 608 PIMs / +30
PLAYOFFS: 59 games / 13 goals / 25 assists / 38 points / 0.64 PpG / 66 PIMs / +6

OLY: 18 games / 4 goals / 7 assists / 11 points / 0.61 PpG / 6 PIMs / +1 / 0 PP / 1 SH
WC: 41 games / 15 goals / 20 assists / 35 points / 0.85 PpG / 80 PIMs / +27

• 2011/12 Captain for HC Litvinov (CZECH ExtraLiga)
• 2012 - 2015 Assistant Captain for HC Litvinov (CZECH ExtraLiga)
• 2002 Assistant Captain for Czech Olympic Team
• 2015 Assistant Captain for CZECH European Hockey Tournament
• Played in the 1991 Canada Cup as well as both the 1998 and 2004 World Cups.

• Accolades

He was blessed with blinding speed and had the hands to handle the puck and make plays while in top gear. He had a laser of a shot and unlike so many Europeans of his time he would shoot often.

... groomed in the style of international hockey, where speed to cover more ice was essential.... During the World Junior Championships of 1991, he impressed all observers with his deft scoring touch and quick wheels... some effective playmaking and balanced his offense with sufficient attention to keeping the puck out of his own net.

As a Hab,... In his first 56 games he netted 60 points. Over the next two seasons, Rucinsky became a steady, versatile wheel on the Canadiens' caravan. In addition to skating with Damphousse... he killed penalties and joined the club's second power-play unit. And to add some trimming to the cake, Rucinsky joined Dominik Hasek at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano where their native Czech Republic team won the gold medal.