ATD2011 Bio Thread

[seventieslord]

post your ATD2011 bios here - the longer, more complete, and more organized, the better!

Click to read more...

 

[BenchBrawl]

how am i suppose to tranfer my bios from one thread to another ?

 

[overpass]

Jaromir Jagr, RW

Legends of Hockey:

Even when he was an up-and-coming junior, the puck seemed magnetically drawn to Jaromir Jagr's stick. His size 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds makes the right winger tough to knock around, while his incredible touch, speed and creativity combine brilliantly to make him an almost unstoppable offensive force. His skills have propelled his teams, whether in the NHL or international play to titles and championships.

Hart Trophy Voting Record
1995 - 2nd. 27 of a possible 75 voting points.
1995-96 - 4th. 156 of a possible 540 voting points.
1997-98 - 2nd to Dominik Hasek. 308 of a possible 540 voting points..
1998-99 - 1st. 543 of a possible 560 votes.
1999-00 - 2nd. 395 of a possible 580 voting points.
2000-01 - 3rd. 210 of a possible 620 voting points.
2005-06 - 2nd. 974 of a possible 1290 voting points.

Post-Season All-Star Spots
1994-95 NHL All-Star Team (1st)
1995-96 NHL All-Star Team (1st)
1996-97 NHL All-Star Team (2nd)
1997-98 NHL All-Star Team (1st)
1998-99 NHL All-Star Team (1st)
1999-00 NHL All-Star Team (1st)
2000-01 NHL All-Star Team (1st)
2005-06 NHL All-Star Team (1st)

Stanley Cup: 1991, 1992

From 1995-2001, Jaromir Jagr scored 760 points - 24% more than the second highest scorer over those years! 498 of those points came at even strength, 32% more than the second highest scorer over this time.

Over the span of his NHL career (1990-91 to 2007-08), Jagr scored 1599 points, 9% more than the second highest total over this time. 1051 of those points came at even strength, 22% more than the second highest total over this time.

Over the span of his NHL career (1990 to 2007-08), Jagr was +275, the highest total of any forward over that time. This despite the fact that with Jagr off the ice, his teams were slightly below average (0.97 GF/GA ratio at even strength).

Clutch goal scorer - 112 GWG (2nd all-time) and 15 overtime goals (t-1st all-time).

Outside the NHL

1998 Olympic Gold Medal
2005 World Championship Gold Medal and Tournament All-Star (note: this was during the lockout, where the NHL playoffs did not prevent any players from participating)
2010 World Championship Gold Medal
Golden Hockey Stick (an award given to the top Czech ice hockey player): 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

In 1989-90, Jagr played for HC Kladno at the age of 17. He finished 8th in goals, 5th in assists, and 7th in points in Czechoslovakia. Jagr returned to Kladno during the 1994 and 2004-05 lockouts. In 1994, he scored 22 points in 11 games, and in 2004 he scored 28 points in 17 games. Jagr also played for Avangard Omsk during the 2004-05 lockout, and led them to the IIHF European Champions Cup.

Quotes from the SI Vault over Jagr's career


Jon Scher, SI, 1992:

Unlike Gretzky, Lemieux will have the opportunity to school his own successor. He has seen the future of hockey, and its first name, Jaromir, is an anagram for Mario Jr. Jagr, a 20-year-old from Czechoslovakia who joined the Penguins in 1990, scored 32 goals this season, but he didn't truly open up his bag of tricks until Lemieux was injured in the second game of the Patrick Division finals against the Rangers. Since then, he has scored fabulous goal after fabulous goal. Just watching him carry the puck can be a thrill. In Game 1 of the finals he faked and juked his way past three Blackhawks before calmly delivering a backhand shot that tied the score 4-4 late in the third period. "Inexcusable," fumed Keenan. "The greatest goal I've ever seen," gushed Lemieux.

E.M. Swift, SI, 1992:

Screaming down the right wing, his long dark hair flopping behind his helmet, the lefthanded-shooting Jagr would time and again beat both defensemen like a pair of rented mules.

"He's a different type of player than the league has seen in a long time," says Scotty Bowman, who coached the Penguins last season and is now the team's director of player development and recruitment. "He has a lot of Frank Mahovlich in him. His skating style and strength make him almost impossible to stop one-on-one. A lot of big guys play with their sticks tight to their bodies and don't use that reach to their advantage like Jaromir does."

...

In style, though, Jagr is something much different from Lemieux. "When Mario gets the puck, he's always thinking, Where can I put it?" says Bowman. "He'll pass the puck off and get himself in a better situation to score than he was in. When Jaromir gets the puck, he's always thinking, Where can I go with it? He reminds me of Maurice Richard in that way. They both played the off-wing, and both had so many moves I don't think either knew which moves they were going to do until they did them. Totally unpredictable."

Gerry Callahan, SI, 1995:

"They've got different styles, but Jagr does remind you of Mario in a lot of ways," says Penguin wing Kevin Stevens, who is sidelined with a fractured left ankle. "He's got the same kind of presence on the ice."

"When you're sitting on the bench, it's just like it was with Mario," says Cullen. "You watch. You can't help. You know Yaggs can get the puck and just take over the game. You don't want to miss it."

Jagr might be, among other things, the best one-armed player in the game today. The trend in the NHL toward more clutching and grabbing may slow down some slick-skating Europeans, but not Jagr, who is 6'2" and 208 pounds. He actually seems to enjoy the challenge of handling the puck while carrying a couple of passengers. "He should practice with a 100-pound dummy strapped to his back," says Penguin center Shawn McEachern, "because that's the way he has to play in the games."

Johnston has increased Jagr's ice time this season by putting him on the first power-play unit and allowing him to kill penalties. According to the coach, people are missing something when they attribute all of Jagr's success to his size and natural abilities. There is a pretty good mind under all that hair, says Johnston.

"He knows the game better than anyone on the team," says the coach. "He's very smart out there. He knows the little things, things you can't teach. He knows how to play the angles and how to protect the puck. You know where he got that, don't you?"

From his brilliant coaches on the Penguins?

"From Mario."

Michael Farber, SI, 1996:

Of course the NHL could invent other categories for Jagr, besides best-tressed. Best one-on-one player: Jagr. There are faster forwards who might embarrass a defenseman with their speed, but no one plays one-on-one in traffic the way he does. Best combination of skill and strength: Jagr again. The 6'2", 215-pound Czech is the first man to combine the traditional European attributes of slickness, nimble feet and goal scorer's hands with lower-body strength, allowing him to fend off checks and protect the puck. "He's a gorilla, strong as a horse," Penguins coach Ed Johnston says, offering his own vision of Jagr as a crossbreed. "I don't know anybody who's stronger on his skates."

Michael Farber, SI, 1999:

Last month Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach Denis Savard proclaimed Jagr "the best player in the game by a million miles," as if the subject were as closed as a team meeting.

...

"Jaromir should get a cut of every contract of everyone who plays with him before signing a new deal because half the money they're getting is due to him," Constantine says, despite his occasional differences with his star. "He makes it tricky for this organization. We have to ask ourselves how good the guy is. Is he good because he plays with Jagr? Not taking anything anyway from Marty Straka, who's a helluva player, but none of the guys Jaromir plays with have a time-tested history of being major talents." There is no one riding shotgun for Jagr the way Joe Sakic does for Forsberg, John LeClair does for Lindros or Selanne does for Kariya. Pittsburgh has several forwards with a clue, but it also has more extras than there were in Titanic.

...

"There are probably four ways to play Jagr, all of them wrong," Montreal assistant coach Dave King says. "He's the toughest player in hockey to devise a game plan against."

Michael Farber, SI, 2000:

With 32 goals and 39 assists in 39 games through Sunday, Jagr was close to a 150-point pace and was leading the league in both categories, something not achieved outright since Wayne Gretzky did it 13 years ago. Night after night Jagr finds not only open ice but also the inherent joy of his sport. He dances and dazzles, getting seven points against the hapless New York Islanders in one game, derailing the powerful Detroit Red Wings with a goal and an assist in the next, and, in the match after that, twisting New Jersey Devils checker Claude Lemieux into a pretzel by putting the puck through Lemieux's legs at the Penguins' blue line and creating a three-on-two. Jagr, with sturdy haunches that make him all but impossible to bump off the puck, puts on That '80s Show for almost 82 games a season. He's setting hockey back more than 10 years.

"The game in the 1980s was played with the puck," Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Glenn Healy says. "In the '90s it became a game of often willingly losing possession, of dumping the puck in and moving the battle to other areas, such as behind the net and in the corners. Jagr is an '80s player because he holds on to the puck and tries to make plays. He won't give it up until there is absolutely no other play, which isn't often, because he has the ability to make something out of nothing, even a one-on-three. As a goalie you're always aware of Jagr's presence on the ice."

Jagr's scoring rampage in an era of constipated hockey has ended debate about who is the NHL's best player. "With no disrespect to the other guys," says New Jersey defenseman Ken Daneyko, a 15-year veteran, "you've got [Eric] Lindros, [Paul] Kariya, [Teemu] Selanne and [Peter] Forsberg here, and Jagr head and shoulders above them, up there." That assessment was implicitly endorsed by Gretzky last April when he blessed Jagr with a private word during the Great One's retirement ceremony. "Maybe that's why I play good right now," Jagr said last week, his face crinkling in merriment as he sat at his locker. "I don't want to make Wayne a liar."

Kostya Kennedy, SI, 2000:

When SI asked NHL coaches in September, "Who is the best all-around player in the world?" 19 of the 26 respondents named Penguins right wing Jaromir Jagr. The other seven coaches fell into one of those hard-to-figure minorities, like the one dentist in five who does not recommend sugarless gum for his patients who chew gum.

Michael Farber, SI, 2006:

You can rhapsodize about the casual excellence of the Detroit Red Wings or the explosiveness of the Ottawa Senators, but the ideal jumping-off point for the 2006 NHL playoffs, and there is just no getting around it, figuratively and often literally, is Jaromir Jagr's booty. His derriere is large enough to cause a lunar eclipse, J. Lo-esque in its amplitude and wondrously utilitarian. When he is parked at the right half boards on the power play, Jagr can turn his formidable backside--"You can hang a license plate off it," New York Rangers coach Tom Renney marvels--and protect the puck for five, 15 or however many seconds he chooses until he spots a vacant passing lane or identifies a moment when he can easily wheel to the net. His rhythm. His whim. The game and, to some extent, the playoffs proceed at the discretion of a 6'3", 245-pound right wing with impossibly thick haunches, a player who is the NHL's top scorer since 1990 and whom New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur calls the best he has ever faced.

Adjusted Stats

Jaromir Jagr was arguably as good a scorer as Mario Lemieux at even strength.

Adjusted Even Strength Points per season during prime (First 10 modern forwards drafted)

Year | GP | Player | $ESP/82 | $PPP/82
81-88 | 617 | Wayne Gretzky | 119 | 48
88-01 | 573 | Mario Lemieux | 100 | 63
94-01 | 575 | Jaromir Jagr | 99 | 45
68-75 | 613 | Phil Esposito | 86 | 60
75-82 | 579 | Guy Lafleur | 84 | 44
87-94 | 604 | Steve Yzerman | 77 | 32
79-86 | 616 | Mike Bossy | 75 | 39
78-85 | 600 | Bryan Trottier | 72 | 33
89-97 | 625 | Mark Messier | 64 | 34
72-79 | 623 | Bobby Clarke | 63 | 35

The adjustment is to a league scoring level of 200 even strength goals per team per season. The power play adjusted points are also included - those are adjusted to a league scoring level of 70 power play goals per team per season, and to a league-average number of power play opportunities.

Lemieux was a much better scorer on the power play and shorthanded. And his numbers would have been better if he had been healthy more often. But at even strength, Jagr was just as productive during their respective primes.

Note that other players in this list are not all directly comparable to Jagr, some had more defensive roles and contributions. This list should not be taken as a definitive ranking of even strength performance.

 

[Leaf Lander]

Toe Blake, Coach

Blakes favorite saying was if the day ever comes when I can swallow defeat I'll die.

Blake coached the Canadiens for 13 years, winning eight Stanley Cups—the most for any coach in the team's history and second in the NHL. He is still the winningest coach in Canadiens' history. He was known for his tough, but fair coaching style; his players always knew he was on their side. He retired at the end of the 1967-68 season, ending 33 consecutive years at ice level with the Habs organization

wikipedia

Stanley Cup champion — 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968 (Head coach of Montreal Canadiens)

He had a remarkable coaching record in the playoffs of 82-37 and a 18-5 series record his team never missed the playoffs during his coaching tenure.HNIC Best of the Best

Toe Blake was the greatest hockey coach ever. That’s not the same as being the most successful hockey coach. There are two other coaches who rank higher in success points than Blake but no other coach was more successful in getting his players to achieve—and maintain—optimum performance on the ice than Toe Blake.

I base this conclusion on the data I acquired while calculating my ratings. Using my system six points is the best any hockey coach can achieve during a single season. The closer a coach’s score comes to six each season means that the coach in question is doing an excellent job in getting (and maintaining) optimum performance from his players. In Toe Blake’s case he coached thirteen seasons and scored sixty-one points out of a possible seventy-eight. Do the math and Toe Blake’s optimum performance rating is a staggering .782%.

No other hockey coach in the history of major league professional hockey from 1917 to 2010 scored higher than Toe Blake in the optimum performance rating!

His record is stunning to behold: He had a winning season and made the playoffs every year he coached. Nine times his Canadiens were the best team in the NHL. He won eight Stanley Cups in nine appearances (an NHL record until Scotty Bowman broke it in 2002). In his first five seasons of NHL coaching he won five consecutive Stanley Cups—the greatest coaching debut and the greatest dynastic run in hockey history. His record of five consecutive Cup victories will never be matched let alone be broken.

How did he do it?

Toe Blake was no tactician. During the past five years when I interviewed many former Habs players who played for Toe Blake, when asked what Blake’s offensive tactics were, they all recited the same sentence: advance the puck, hit the open man, and converge on the net. Simply put: a mere continuation of the tactics honed by Blake’s predecessor, Dick Irvin Sr.

Blake’s magic came from his leadership style which over the course of time took on a mystical, spiritual patina that would culminate in his apotheosis in the hearts and minds of Montreal Canadiens fans.

Toe led his players with an intricately balanced mixture of strength, subtlety, intensity, silence, anger, passion, and occasional humor. In return his players give him their collective hearts, minds, souls, bodies, blood, toil, tears, and sweat.

Blake forged those primal ingredients into the greatest assemblage of hockey talent in NHL history.

No other hockey coach during Original Six era was as beloved by his players as Toe Blake was. That is not hyperbole. When interviewing his former players, I was struck by the reverence they accorded Toe Blake. Never did I hear a complaint or a harsh word about him. Other coaches were spoken about in terms of fear and respect. Toe Blake was spoken of in the same way a son describes his father.

In 2007 when I asked Habs immortal Henri Richard who was the unsung hero of the Montreal Canadiens dynasty from 1956 to 1960? He said laconically: it was Toe Blake and gave me a stern look to let me know he wasn’t kidding.

When I asked the late Tom Johnson in 2006 how Blake kept his players hungry during their dynastic run he told me that Blake would pose a simple question to his players in training camp: is this the year you’re going to let them take it away from you? No fire and brimstone speeches. No threats or ultimatums; just a quietly expressed question.

No player ever put Toe Blake to the test when it came to discipline. The closest was probably the late Jacques Plante, whose eccentricities exasperated many a coach and teammate alike during his illustrious goaltending career but Blake kept him for seven seasons until he traded him to New York in 1963; even a roguish imp like Bryan “Bugsy†Watson toed the line while playing for Blake. Watson told me in a 2006 interview that Blake influenced his own managerial style when it comes to running his businesses (Watson is a successful restaurateur in Alexandria, Virginia).

Toe Blake’s entire hockey life was dedicated to the Montreal Canadiens. He began his playing career for the Habs in 1937—the late Cecil Hart’s last great gift to hockey. He endured the bad years of the late 1930s and the early 1940s. When Dick Irvin Sr. took over as the Canadiens coach in 1940, he kept Blake and eventually paired him with two future Habs immortals: Elmer Lach and Maurice “Rocket†Richard. The Punch Line was born. Blake played the same role in the Punch Line as Sid Abel did with the Production Line in Detroit. Blake’s experience and intelligence complemented the superb playmaking skills of Lach and the ballistic scoring talent of Maurice Richard. The Habs won the Stanley Cup in 1944 and 1946.

When Toe Blake’s NHL playing career ended in the 1948, he took up coaching in the Canadiens farm system. His big break came in 1955 when the Habs asked Blake to succeed Dick Irvin Sr. as head coach.

The Habs were at a crossroads. Irvin had led the team to nine Stanley Cup finals appearances in fifteen seasons with three Cup wins and six defeats. The talent was definitely there and there was no questioning Dick Irvin Sr.’s coaching genius but there was a problem: the passion of Maurice “Rocket†Richard.

The Rocket had been sailing on winds of fire for thirteen glorious seasons but now the flames were threatening to consume his career and his team’s chances for victory. The Richard-Hal Laycoe stick-fight; the ensuing suspension of Richard for the remainder of the season and the playoffs; and the Richard Riot which followed cost the Canadiens the 1955 Stanley Cup. Dick Irvin Sr. spent thirteen years keying the Rocket up. Now the Habs needed someone to key the Rocket down.

Enter former teammate and line-mate Toe Blake.

Blake removed the burden from Richard that he had to carry the entire team in return he made the Rocket the team captain and paired him with his younger brother Henri. In 1960 the Rocket retired with five more Cup wins; his place in the Hockey-Hall-of-Fame already guaranteed; his apotheosis complete.

1960 to 1964 were lean years for Blake. The Habs still won but always failed to reach the Cup finals; the stalwarts from the dynasty years had either retired or were traded away; the team was in transition. Youngsters like Gilles Tremblay, Yvan Cournoyer, Bryan “Bugsy†Watson, Bobby Rousseau, and the late John Ferguson were slowly being integrated into the team.

Toe believed in bringing rookie players up slowly; using them as role players until they gained maturity and confidence. Bryan Watson told me that he and Red Berenson were used exclusively in penalty-killing situations during his rookie season. Cournoyer was used on the power-play before becoming an offensive mainstay. Still when emergency situations arose, Blake would not hesitate to start a rookie. His use of goalie Rogie Vachon during the 1966-67 Season is a case in point.

The 1964-65 Season marked the beginning of four straight Cup finals appearances and three Cup wins for Toe Blake and the Canadiens. The 1965 Cup win was a record setter for Blake—his sixth victory surpassed Hap Day’s mark of five. The only blot was the loss to Toronto in 1967. By that time Toe had become wearied and drained by the emotional burdens of maintaining Montreal’s dynastic reign. Even victory can become as burdensome and destructive as defeat. If the Habs had won the 1967 Stanley Cup then Toe Blake would have retired right then and there. But the loss to Toronto stung him and his players.

The greatest coach of them all could not bear to end his career in defeat.

Toe steeled himself once more and led the Canadiens to one more glorious season in 1967-1968. They were the best team in the NHL and were 12-1 in the playoffs, sweeping the upstart St. Louis Blues in four games.

Toe Blake went into a furtive retirement. In his final years he was plagued with Alzheimer’s disease. Yet before he died he was given one final gift by the Montreal fans. In 1985, Montreal fans selected the all-time Montreal Canadiens dream team and the man they chose to lead that team was not Scotty Bowman—as one might expect considering it was only six years after his dynastic run…

It was Toe Blake.

The latest in a weekly series of articles which will discuss the greatest coaches in professional hockey from 1917 to 2009 using my variation of a rating system devised by sports historians Bill James and Sean Lahman.

The rating system awards points based on six measures of success. Points are awarded as follows:

1) For coaching a team to a winning season

2) For coaching a team with a team point percentage of .600% or better

3) For all first place finishes

4) For making a playoff appearance

5) For leading a team to the Stanley Cup finals

6) For coaching a Stanley Cup champion.

I have included coaching stats for those who coached in the World Hockey Association. Three coaches on my list (Glen Sather, Jacques Demers, and Bill Dineen) had their coaching performances in the WHA included in their ratings. I have also used a minimum of twenty success points as an arbitrary cut-off point. Out of the 364 men who have coached in the NHL and WHA from 1917 to 2009 only thirty-nine have achieved twenty or more success points. What follows is an examination of each one of those coaches from the bottom of the list to the top. When you compare the number of great coaches on my list with the total number of those who served, one could paraphrase D.H. Lawrence in saying that a good coach is hard to find.

http://insidehockey.com/?p=6812

Seasons 13
Era Mid 50's late 60's
RS:914 500 255 159 .634 WINNING PERCENTAGE
PO:119 82 37 0 .689 WINNING PERCENTAGE
League championships: 1955-1956, 1957-1962, 1963-1964, 1965-1966, 1967-1968
Best Season 1961-62 70 42 14 14 .700%
HOF 1964
Stanley Cups 8

#9 Charlie Conacher RW

One of the first true power forwards Charlie revolutionized the right wing position using his size, skill, physicality and his will to compete till he dominated the play like no one else ever did!.Conacher had a wicked hard shot that was considered the best back in hockey during his days in the NHL .He and his two other siblings are all members of the HOF.

Seasons 12
Era Late 20's Early 40's
RS 459 225 173 398 523
PO 49 17 18 35 49
Adjusted stats 459 393 399 792 323
Art Ross Trophy (1934, 1935)
First All-Star Team (1934, 1935, 1936)
Second All-Star Team (1932, 1933)
Stanley Cups 1
HOF 1961
Top 10 Goals
1930-31 (1)1931-32 (1)1933-34 (1)1934-35 (1)1935-36 (1)
Top 10 Points
1930-31 (3)1931-32 (4)1933-34 (1)1934-35 (1)1935-36 (4)
Top 100 Leafs of all Time book 6
Top 100 The hockey News (Late 1990's) 36th
Role Power Forward

#3 Sylvain Cote D

Cote toiled in hockey obscurity for many years carving out a nice career mostly in hartford then in washington back in the day when neither had the horses up front ot make it past teh 1st rnd of the playoffs. He was a underrated player for his entire career. Reliable defender with excellent puck skills, can play in all game situations. Plays it safe defensively whenever possible.Very competitive with good hockey sense.He is a coaches dream player who can do it all at both ends of the rink. Knows how to score when he is on the point during a powerplay. Effortless skater who had the wheels to join the rush to help out on offense.

Seasons 18
Era Mid 80's -mid 2000's
RS 1171 122 313 435 545 +39
PO 102 11 22 33 62
Best Season 1993-94 84 16 35 51 66 +30
Stanley Cup Finals 1
Role Power play specialist 7th d-man

#10 Billy Coutu,D
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 190 lbs
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: March 01, 1892
Place of Birth: North Bay, Ontario, Canada
Date of Death: February 25, 1977 (Age: 84)
Stanley Cup Champion (1924)
Stanley Cup Finalist (1917, 1919*, 1925)
Team Captain (1925-1926)
Top-10 Penalty Minutes (3rd, 7th, 8th, 8th)
Top-10 Scoring Among defenseman (7th, 7th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 10th, 10th)
Top-10 Goalscoring among defenseman (6th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 10th)
Top-10 Assist among defenseman (5th, 6th, 8th, 8th, 10th, 10th)
Top-10 Penalty Minutes among defenseman (2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 5th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 9th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring (8th)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (9th)
Top-10 Playoff Penalty Minutes (1st, 8th)
Top-10 Playoff Scoring Among defenseman (3rd, 6th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring among defenseman (1st)
Top-10 Playoff Assist among defenseman (1st)
Top-10 Playoff Pim among defenseman (1st, 4th, 5th)[/B]


- In 1916, Coutu won the U.S.A. Senior championship with the Michigan Soo Indians
- On November 24th, 1916, Coutu signed as a free agent by Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey Association
- In 1919, Coutu alongside Joe Hall, Edouard Lalonde, Jack McDonald and manager George Kennedy contracted influenza and were hospitalized. Teammate Joe Hall died during Game 5 and the Stanley Cup finals was cancelled.
- On November 27th, 1920, Coutu was loaned to the Hamilton Tigers by the Montreal Canadiens as part of trade of Jack McDonald, Harry Mummery and Dave Ritchie for Jack Coughlin, Goldie Prodgers and Joe Matte
- On January 12nd 1924,Coutu missed seven games due to a broken wrist suffered in a game against the Toronto St. Patricks
- On January 19th 1926, he was suspended one game and fined 100$ by theNHL for tripping referee Jerry Laflamme against the Ottawa Senators
- At the end of Game 4 of the 1927 Stanley Cup, Coutu started a bench-clearing brawl, apparently at the request of coach Art Ross, by assaulting referee Jerry Laflamme and tackling referee Billy Bell. As a result, he was expelled from the NHL for life. On October 8th, 1929, the suspension was lifted so that Coutu could play in the minor leagues. He never played in the NHL again, although he was reinstated in 1932–33 at the insistence of Leo Dandurand
- During the 1933-34 season, Coutu played one game in goal for the Providence Reds in the Canadian American Hockey League, allowing 12 goals
- Coutu was a longtime Minor Pro Coach and referee after his playing days

-Several hockey history books, including The Hockey News "Habs Heroes" by Ken Campbell incorrectly attribute his name to a photograph of teammate Louis Berlinguette. He and his family pronounced their name "Koochee", which was sometimes confused with "Couture".

-Ms. Aird Stuart, the sister of Coutu's wife, Gertrude Aird, was the mother of Mary Morenz and grandmother of Marlene Geoffrion, daughter of Howie Morenz and widow of Bernie Geoffrion.

-Howie Morenz played with Coutu on the Canadiens.-wikipedia

Originally Posted by Habs Heroes Somewhere along the line, Billy Couture became Billy Coutu, but one thing that remained the same was the man's temper and penchant for taking it out on his opponents.

Originally Posted by OurHistory.Canadiens
THE MERE PRESENCE OF BILLY COUTURE DETERRED OPPONENTS FROM TAKING LIBERTIES WITH THE TEAM’S STARS.

In his heyday, Billy Couture was one of the most feared men who laced up the skates in the rough and tumble world of professional hockey. Born in North Bay, Ontario in 1892, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound defenseman spent a decade defending his territory against his opponents using any means necessary.

The NHL set up shop the next fall. With Couture on defense and his well-developed mean streak often coming to the forefront.

With Joe Hall’s death, Couture became the Canadiens’ undisputed enforcer, a most effective deterrent to those who might choose to take liberties with the team’s marquee players. Loaned to the Hamilton Tigers for the 1920-21 season, Couture played against his former Montreal mates with the same ferocity he had shown while wearing their colors.

Returning to Montreal at the beginning of 1921-22, Couture once again began making life miserable for Habs’ opponents. Not allowing himself to be limited by the rules of play, no tactic was too underhanded or brutal as Couture made sure that his opponents worried about more than simply preventing the likes of Morenz, Joliat, and Boucher from scoring.

In the spring of 1924, the Canadiens made their way back into contention for the Stanley Cup. With Georges Vézina in nets and Couture creating mayhem on the blue line, Montreal was almost unimpeded in their efforts.

Originally Posted by Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol.1 One of the roughest defence men in hockey, particularly when paired with Sprague Cleghorn on the Canadiens.

Originally Posted by Ultimate Hockey
In Montreal, Cleghorn was paired with fellow archfiend Billy Coutu to form what was arguably the most frightening defensive duo ever seen.

Originally Posted by fanatique.ca
(Corbeau) will have the distinction to have form the first version of the ''Big Three'' with the Montreal Canadiens with all-star defenseman Sprague Cleghorn and Billy Coutu. Moreover than all three had lightning-like shots, all three of them measured at least 5'10'' et weight more than 190 pounds each.

Originally Posted by Globe and Mail; November 20th 1924 Patrick Offers to Trade Frank Boucher for Coutu
Vancouver, B.C Nov 19- Frank Patrick, owner of he Vancouver Maroons hockey team, has wired Leo Dandurand, offering to trade Frank Boucher for one year only for Billy Coutu, Canadiens defence man. Patrick, it is understood, make the offer owing to Boucher's desire to play hockey in the East.
If Dandurand does not approve, then Boucher will play here or remain out of hockey this season, it is stated.

Originally Posted by Globe and Mail; December 29th 1936 Coutu, a native of Sault Ste. Marie was a turbulant figure in hockey wars for years, and suspensions and fines made no visible impression on him. He was not a great defenseman, but he was better than average, and his reputation was such that attackers were always on the alert when he hove into sight. For several seasons he and Sprague Cleghorn were Canadiens' regular defensemen, and they certainly made the road to George Vezina's net the rockiest one to travel in all the history of hockey.

Originally Posted by Globe and Mail; October 18th 1937 Coutu, for many years a shining in NHL is making his debut as a manager.

Originally Posted by Globe and Mail; December 13th 1938Billy Coutu, one-time firebrand of major league hockey.- ''He might get overlooked because he played with Cleghorn in term of how dirty and nasty of a player he was.''

- Bob Duff, historian

-

''He was a rough, rough dude and I think a lot of people steered clear of him. He was one of those guys people thought 'Gee, you'd better not bother him because there's no telling what's going to happen.' He was a pretty good player, but while the others were doing the rushing, he was staying back and doing the dirty work.''

- Ernie Fitzsimmons, historian


Sites:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Legen...p?player=12352
http://www.sihrhockey.org/member_pla..._id=796&mode=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Coutu
http://theryancokeexperience.wordpre...p-100-habs-48/
http://www.habsinsideout.com/main/2068
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Billy-Couture
http://www.fanatique.ca/lnh/bert-cor...blie+3457.html



#8 Rusty Crawford, LW

Crawford was one of the more dangerous scorers in the league and in one three-year period he tallied 51 times in 61 matches.

He was a two-time Stanley Cup champion, winning the trophy with the Bulldogs in 1913 and the Areans in 1918. Crawford was one of the sport's early stars and appeared in 258 games in the three major leagues, scoring 110 goals. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.Crawford hung up his skates at the age of 45 in 1930.

Seasons 16
Era Early 1020's late 1920's
RS NHA 99 66 32 98 NHL 38 108 18
PO 2 2 1 3
Best Season
HHOF -1962
Stanley Cup 2
Role Two way warrior

#2 Red Dutton, D

Lost several yrs due to a war injury. Mervyn Dutton, forever known as Red thanks to his flaming hair, was a mean, no nonsense defender in the days between the two World Wars. Though long forgotten, he still ranks among the all the best.

Dutton joined the Amerks in 1930, and quickly established himself as one of the most popular athletes in all of New York city. He would play until 1936. Then leaving the ice because he assumed ownership of the team.-Joe Pelletier

Seasons 10
Era Mid 20's -Mid 30's
RS:449 29 67 96 43
PO 18 1 0 1 33
World War I Vet


#4 Dave Ellett

Dave Ellett was a very skilled finesse player. Skating was his prime asset. He was an excellent skater, blessed with very good speed and quickness, and fine agility. His mobility allowed him to dictate the play at either blue line. His transition game was great because he could effortlessly turn the play around at the defensive blue line.

His puck ability was also top notch, and that shone through on the power play, which is where Ellett established himself as one of the NHL's top players. He could control the point with great comfort, holding the line and pinching in with great efficiency. He was a key player in establishing the offensive zone. He was an under-rated puck rusher and a good break out playmaker. He also had a very good shot, and the smarts to keep it low and hard to create opportunities for deflections and rebounds.

Joe Pelletier
Seasons:16
Era:Mid 1980's early 2000's
RS 1129 153 415 568 197
PO 116 11 46 57 19
Best Season 1987-88 - 68 13 45 58
All-Star Games 1989 1992
10 seasons 30+ Points
9 Seasons 40+ Points
3 Seasons 50+ Points
Ranked 73rd all time leaf
Role: Offensive defenceman


#8 Ron Ellis, RW

With his team-first approach and consistent game in and game out effort and production, Imlach could only hope all his young players could be as good as the stocky right winger.

Ron was one of the fastest breakaway skaters in the league, Ellis had a fine accurate shot. He was also a very sound player positionally. Joe Pelletier

He was prolific young scorer who when he joiend the leafs immediately became a vital two-way performer playing on a line with stalwarts Dave Keon and Bob Pulford.


Ellis played on his most cohesive forward unit with Paul Henderson and Norm Ullman. This trio was adept at forechecking and opportunistic scoring. Ellis's role was crucial since he usually stayed back to guard against the counter attack while his linemates pushed forward.

Seasons 16
Era mid 60's early 1980's
RS 1034 332 308 640 207
PO 70 18 8 26 20
Lost 2 seasons due to early retirement
Eleven 20+ Goal Seasons
Two 30 + Goal Seasons
Best Season 1974–75 79 32 29 61 25\
* 1966–67 - Stanley Cup Champion
* 1963–64 - NHL All-Star Game
* 1964–65 - NHL All-Star Game
* 1967–68 - NHL All-Star Game
* 1969–70 - NHL All-Star Game
* [(1972)] Team Canada
runner-up to Roger Crozier as the rookie-of-the-year.
Second All-Star Team (1964)
Role 2 way player /sniper

#4 Ron Greschner, D

A member of the Rangers for all 16 of his NHL seasons, defenseman Ron Greschner was the heart and soul of the Blueshirts` blueline corps playing with a combination of skill and toughness that would enthrall a generation of ranger fans through that the late 1970s and the entire 1980s.

Opponents feared ron every time he was on the ice because he was intensively competitive utilizing his speed and his creative natural skill set dazzling all those in the hockey world.

At 6'2 200 pounds gresh could use his reach to a great advantage as well he was a great skater who excelled on the powerplay. He was also a great stickhandler who often played center on broadway.

Greschner came to the Rangers in 1974 as a highly-touted second-round draft pick, who was coming off a 103-point season for New Westminster of the Western Canadian Junior Hockey League. As if to signal how much of an impact he would make, he fittingly scored his first NHL goal against Hall of Famer Ken Dryden and went on to set a then Rangers rookie record of 37 assists in 1974-75.

Greschner was so skilled offensively that the Rangers would occasionally play him at forward as well as defense, and in 1977-78, he registered the first of four 20-goal seasons. His third 20-goal campaign in 1980-81 featured a career-high 27 goals and included time at left win on a line with Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg.

In 1982-83 broke Brad Park`s record for career points by a Rangers defenseman — a record he held until passed by Brian Leetch in the late 1990s.

He was named captain for the 1986-86 season after filling in for Barry Beck the previous year.

Greschner retired in 1990 at age 35. Although all of his major team records were later broken by Leetch, Greschner retired from the NHL as the Rangers` all-time leader in points, goals and assists by a defensemen.

Greschner deserves to has his number retired up their in the rafters next to Leetch and Messier- Tom Laidlaw.

http://rangers.nhl.com/club/atrplayer.htm?id=8447409
THE TOP 100 RANGERS OF ALL TIME BookRuss Cohen
RANGERS CAPTAIN
Oct. 9, 1986 to Dec. 3, 1987
MAJOR NHL AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS WITH RANGERS
NHL All-Star Game — 1980
RANGERS TEAM AWARDS
Players` Player Award — 1977-78 (co-winner)
Rangers Good Guy Award — 1985-86
"Crumb Bum" Award (Community Service) — 1984-85
INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS WHILE WITH RANGERS
1979 Challenge Cup — NHL All-Stars vs. USSR (reserve, did not play)
RANGERS TEAM LEADER
Most assists — 1977-78, 1980-81
Most playoff assists — 1980
Seasons 16
Era Mid-1970's -early 1990's
RS 982 179 431 610 80 1,226
PO 84 17 32 49
Best Season 1977-78 NYR 78 24 48 72
20 Goal Seasons -4
Stanley Cup Appearances 1
Role: Franchise Defenceman

Ron's skill and all-round game make him a solid anchor for our third pairing. There isn't anything in particular that he excels at from an ATD perspective, but there aren't any holes in his game. He's very effective at advancing the puck, whether it be skating it up ice or passing to a teammate. He's a good quarterback for our second power play unit, and he has a hard, powerful shot. He's a smart defenceman who takes good care of his own zone. We can play him against an opponent's top line, and not have a liability out there. And he plays a good, tough, physical brand of hockey. We feel confident that we can lean on him for 18-20 minutes per game, while playing a secondary role in all situations.

-GBC

select

#1 Reggie M. Lemelin

In the late 80's early 90's if one went to the game they would most likely walk into the gardens and here the fans chant “REGGIE---REGGIE---REGGIEâ€

Reggie was well known for his Aero pads and great glove saves and the helmet pump after a big win.Reggie was a card-carrying stand-up goaltender. He just really had a flare for the dramatic and clutch save. He made saves that you thought had no chance of being saved.He relished beating "the beast" also known as the Montreal Canadians

He had 19-game unbeaten streak for Calgary during 1983-84 season. It was the longest such streak by any goaltender that season and set a Calgary record for longest unbeaten streak. Was runner-up from Masterton and Vezina Trophies in 1983-84. Named NHL Player of the Month for November 1985.Set Boston postseason record (since broken) with 1,027 minutes in goal during 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs William M. Jennings Trophy: 1989-90 (co-winner) All-Star Game: 1989 (Boston)Stanley Cup Finals: 1986 (Calgary), 1988, 1990 (Boston)

Last I heard Reggie is was the goaltender coach for the Flyers

Stand up style goaltender. In 84/85 he had plenty of games where I thought he stood on his head. IIRC he was a candidate for the Vezina that year. Unfortunately he couldn't beat Edmonton, and back in those days losing to Edmonton was the worst thing that could happen to the Flames.

In the 1986 playoffs where Vernon took the team to the Cup finals, Lemelin played in only 3 games. All were losses to Edmonton in the 1st round.

I think his best years were in Boston where he had a goalie to share the duties with him. In Calgary he didn't have another goalie to push him until Vernon came around and Vernon outright stole the job away from Reggie.

While Reggie didn't have the goods to push the Flames to the next level he was still a good netminder for them.

Reggie was an above average goalie who was capable of great performances

Lemelin was an old-school stand up goalie. That style is basically instinct today, but it was still accepted practice back then, and Lemelin excelled at playing his angles and directing pucks into the corners. In many ways he was blocking shots rather than saving them. By virtue of his playing style he often made stops seem easier than they probably were.

Lemelin was asked to play for Team Canada at the 1984 Canada Cup following his 21-12-9 season

History may not be overly kind to Reggie Lemelin as perhaps it should be. He was an above average goalie, and for a couple of seasons he may even have been elite. But success and therefore that magical defining moment was tough to find. Consider this - Lemelin was the back up goalie for 3 Stanley Cup finals. Perhaps that is his defining moment.

legends -Joe Pelletier
Seasons 16
Era Late 70'S Mid 90'S
RS 507 236 162 63 .884 3.46 12
PO 59 23 25 .881 3.58 2
Best Season 1984-85 56 30 12 10 .888 3.46 1
All-Star Games 1989
William M. Jennings Trophy 1989-90
Shutouts -5 top 10's
Goals Against Average 4 top 10's
Wins 4 top 10's
Save Percentage 3 top 10's
20 Win Seasons 5
30 Win Seasons 2
Role Back Up Goalie/ Team Glue


#7 Ted Lindsay,LW

When Terrible ted retired he was 3rd all time point getter in the NHL with 851 points behind only Gordie Howe 1361 and Maurice Richard 965.

He was also the third highest goal scorer with 379 behind only The Rocket 544 and Mr Hockey 595.

Lindsay's is the only player to have led the league in goals, assists, points and penalty minutes.

Terrible ted was a leader,swift skater,a good checker, skilled with the puck, very feisty tenacious with a great all round game.


Ultra talented cheap shot artist or old school, hard hockey superstar.

More than just a cheap-shot artist, he was playing in the same league as everybody else in his day. If he was the only one who thought to play dirty, then congratulate him for being a genius in a league of idiots. But we're talking about a guy who won an Art Ross trophy by 10 clear points over his more-famous linemate and finished top 10 a bunch of times. Lindsay used intimidation to great effect, but he fought quite a bit too, and backed it all up with scoring.

Many of us modern hockey fans (who have never seen Lindsay play) will hear his name and imagine a star player who was tough as nails, and maybe threw a few questionable checks in his day, but generally just an old school, hard hockey legend.

The truth is he was a really, really dirty hockey player. He was directly responsible for the NHL's introduction of elbowing and kneeing penalties. Kneeing players. He was kneeing players so often and so maliciously that the league deemed it necessary to create a rule against it. He received over 400 stitches to his face during his career. He earned the nicknames Terrible Ted and Scarface.

He is an all-time great that stopped at nothing to win the game. Kind of like another version of the Rocket. It is no coincidence that the Wings never won another Cup without Terrible Ted. You can't replace his heart. Yes he delivered some cheap shots. I think he would still be loved in todays NHL.

Interesting enough back in 1954 Lindsay started a new tradition as he was the first player to hoist the cup over his head and do a victory lap around the ice.

He was an intelligent player on and off the ice.

Lindsay was definitely an old school, hardboiled hockey superstar. I think of him as a much more talented Bobby Clarke type but who did not need the rest of the roster to finish what he started. His leadership extended beyond the ice too.

Was there a more unlikely fellow to rally the other NHLers in an attempt to get a better deal for all? Ted Lindsay, one of the league's superstars and best-paid players and also a successful businessman in his off-hours, did not stand to gain personally in any way from the proposed association. Many of today's players could use a little of his Lindsay's integrity

Boldly Lindsay tried to start a players union to end the owners dictatorship over the players. To stop the injustice to keep the merely good players from being taken advantage off any longer. However the owners were able to squash the union Lindsay and the other trouble makers were banished to Chicago as punishment.

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=755276

Seasons 17
Era 1Mid 1940's to mid 1960's
RS 1068 379 472 851 1808
PO 133 47 49 96 194
NHL 1st All-Star Team 9 Times
All Star Games 10
Top 10 Goals 1946-47 (6)1947-48 (1)1948-49 (2)49-50 (9) 1950-51(6) 1951-52 (3)1952-53 (2)1953-54 (5)55-56 (6) 56-57(6)
All Time Goal Leaders NHL Career (97) 379
Top 10 Points 1947-48 NHL (9)1948-49 (3) 1949-50 (1)1950-51 (7)
1951-52 (2)1952-53 (2)1953-54 (3)1956-57 (2)
Stanley Cup 4
HOF 1970
Top 100 The hockey News (Late 1990's)21
Role Leader /Stud Forward



#27 Scott Niedermayer, D

He is the only player to have ever won at every level of hockey that he has played in. He is a great skater who moves effortlessly about on the ice. He has remarkable accuracy when making a pass. He has an above avg Hockey IQ and always makes the best offensive play when called upon. He has great offensive instincts within the team first concept. Scott was a great leader on and off the ice. He is a master at eluding the forecheck while launching a counter attack.

Originally Posted by The Sabre View Post
Scott Niedermayer is the only player in hockey history to have won a Stanley Cup, Olympic gold medal, World Championship, World Cup, Memorial Cup and World Junior title. He's the only player in hockey history to have won four Stanley Cups and two gold medals. He also has a Norris trophy and Conn Smythe trophy. He was a winner.

Niedermayer often looked like a defenseman with unparalleled skating ability, and he made it look effortless. That carried over to the power play, where Niedermayer's command on the point was glorious: That smooth skating and puck control near the blue line; the way he'd sail against the current while the other players prepared for either a pass or a shot. His influence can be seen in the way players like Mike Green(notes) help run the power play. He didn't reinvent the wheel; he just showed how smoothly it could ride.

He's an elite, legend-for-his-era defenseman; what would his stats have looked like in a different era? Could he have reached Coffey-like numbers in a more freewheeling era on a more freewheeling team like the Oilers? The Devils of the Dead Puck era was no place to rack up blueline numbers, not in Lou's house.

Untapped potential aside, Niedermayer was also an essential part of one of the best defensive teams of the last 20 years. And he's most fondly remembered for his goal as a 21-year-old in Game 2 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals against the Detroit Red Wings, Niedermayer helped the team on its way to a sweep with a calling-card tally on a brilliant end-to-end rush.

Truly, an all-time great.

Era Early 1990's - till early 2010's
Seasons:18
Stanley Cup 4
HOF not yet
22nd all time scoring d-man with 784 pts
All Star Games 1998,2001, 2004, 2008, 2009
All-Rookie Team (1st)1992-93
All-Star Team (2nd)1997-98
1ST All-Star Team 2003-04 2005-06 2006-07
James Norris Memorial Trophy 2003-04
Conn Smythe Trophy 2006-07
RS 1263 172 568 740 245 167 784
PO 202 25 73 98 20 155
Role: All round Franchise dman



#3 Dion Phaneuf, D

Has a quite greatness about him that lets other player know that he is one of the elite d-man playing today.
Phaneuf hits everything that moves. Owns a big shot from the point and isn't shy about unleashing it. Displays all-around ability. Is the total physical package. Owns impressive lateral movement and power-play quarterbacking skills.Can be a little too exuberant player who is one of the best offensive, big-minute defenseman in the NHL. Dion is a leader who plays with a physical edge. Plays like a seasoned veteran. Clears the front of the net well and can fight when needed.

Seasons 6
Era-Mid 2000's -Present
RS 466 85 183 268 642 + 15
PO 25 5 7 12 2
Best Season 2007-08 82 17 43 60 182 12
Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
NHL All-Rookie Team (2006)
NHL First All-Star Team (2008)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (2007, 2008)
Role Franchise defenceman


#10 Joe Primeau,C

Joe Primeau Joe Primeau, a playmaking wizard who established the modern passing game.

Placed between Charlie Conacher and Harvey "Busher" Jackson. The Kid Line was born. The three young players - all superstars, Stanley Cup winners and Hall of Famers in the making - complemented each other's style perfectly.

legends

Primeau was the guy who knew how to get them the puck in the kinds of spots that his wingers needed go to score - joe was the guy who knew how to set up a sniper to do what they did best.

Joe was a fantastic passer who could hit you on the tape from pretty much anywhere. It was said that he could put the puck in your pocket if you wanted. With Conacher and Jackson on his wings, Joe led the league in assists three times and set an NHL record with 37 in 1931-32. He was also the defensive conscience of the Kid Line, since it wasn't really a job that appealed to either of those wingers.

The ony real complaint with Joe was that he couldn't play with two pucks simultaneously - something he always had to remind both Conacher and Jackson whenever he'd pass to the other.

pensionplanpuppets

Not unlike Doug Gilmour years later, the slippery Primeau masterfully set up his two line mates time and time again, as well as acting as the line’s defensive conscience. He was as good a defensive center and penalty killer as there was in his day.

Primeau led the NHL in assists three times. He was never better than in the 1931-32 season. He not only led the league in assists, but he established a new season record with 37 helpers. That record would stand for 9 seasons.

Joe Pelletier

His game was all about getting the puck to his wingers. He would use his speed to get past physicaly punishing defenseman of the time

Top 100 Leafs-Mike Leonetti

An elite playmaking centre who provides a good two-way presence. Led the league in assists three times, with Frank Boucher and Morenz providing stiff competition. Two-time runner-up for the Art Ross Trophy. A very, very intelligent playmaking forward who sees and thinks the game at another level. A key part of Toronto's first championship victory in 1932, when he and the other Kid Line members spearheaded Toronto's offensive attack. Plays a good two-way game and another centre who can play against the opponent's best players.

Later on in life he began to coach and he remains the only man to coach teams to the Allan, Memorial and Stanley cups.

Seasons 9
Era mid 20's mid 30's
Best Season 1931-32 46 13 37 50
Adjusted stats 310 114 498 612
Top 10 Assist- 5 times
Top 10 Assists Per Game 7 times
Top 10 Points
1930-31 (6)1931-32 (2) 1933-34 (2)
Comparable player: Doug Gilmour
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (1932)
Second All-Star Team Centre (1934)
RS 310 66 177 243 105
PO 38 5 18 23 12
Stanley Cups 1
HOF 1963
Top 100 Leafs of all Time book 19
Top 100 The hockey News (Late 1990's) 92nd
Note: lead the leaf in assist for 5 straight seasons a record that stood till mats sundin did the same thing for the buds for 7 campaigns straight.
Role: Magician 1st line playmaker

http://www.hockey-reference.com/

#44 Stephane Richer,RW-

While playing midget hockey, young Stephane Richer was a smallish kid who had serious doubts about his ability to progress much farther through the ranks of hockey. He was seriously considering calling it quits when he was offered encouraging words and an invitation from a local police officer and coach to join his club. The man's name was Pat Burns, the future bench boss of the Montreal Canadiens. Richer believed Burns' assessment of his potential and stuck to his path in hockey -Legends of hockey

He had all the offensive tools. He possessed excellent skating ability, Richer refused to be intimidated,utilizing all of his size and strength to find scoring lanes so he could unload his cannon-like shot with the lightning quick release were all harmonized under one helmet. -legends

He was a beautiful player, blessed with lightning speed, good size and a bullet of a shot, Richer had no real weakness in his game. He was a very streaker player and scorer, but he was a conscientious defensive player and refused to be intimidated physically.- Joe Pelletier
Richer was a two time 50 goal scorer who had great size skating ability and a wicked shot. He became a complete player while in nj playing under the guidance of lemaire and robinson.

He had two 50 goal seaons, Five 30+ goal seasons and Twelve 20+ goal seaons

Was once considered the next great hope for les candiens . He was considered the heir to ascend to the throne where all great players in the habs history reigned on and off the ice in Montreal.Ce fut la créme de la culture of French Canadian players such as: Rocket Richard , Jen Belliveau, Boom Boom Geoffrion and Guy LaFleur.

He was the last Canadiens player in franchise history to score 50 goals in one season.

Seasons: 18
Era: mid 1980's early 2000's
RS:1054 421 398 819 339 76
PO:134 53 45 98 41 2
Best Season: 1989-90 75 51 40 91
All-Star Games 1990
Top 10 in Goals 1987-88 NHL 50 (6)-1989-90 NHL 51 (7)
Career Overall Goals NHL 421 (72 All Time)
Game-Winning Goals 1987-88 11 (1) 1989-90 8 (6) 1993-94 9 (4)
1994-95 5 (7)
Career Game-Winning Goals 72 (35 All Time)
Stanley Cups 2
Role: Sniper/ 2 way forward

-#12 Eric Staal,C

The eldest of the hockey playing Staal brothers.He has a spectacular presence not because of his enormous size 6'4" 220.
He is an intelligent player who plays an aggressive game using his great hands explosive speed and size that he uses to get himself into and out of puck traffic.Eric is a leader in both ends of the ice who can eat a tonne of minutes in all game situations.

Seasons 9
Era Early 200's -present
RS 547 222 269 491 14 84
PO 43 19 24 43 -3 10
Top 10 Goals Goals2005-06 45 (8) 2008-09 40 (5
Best Season:2005-06 Carolina 82 45 55 100
All-Star Games-2007 2008 2009& 2011
NHL 2nd All-Star Team 2005-06
Stanley Cup's 1
Captain Carolina Present
Role -2 way power forward


#11 Jordan Staal,C

A creative centerman utilizes his great size and strength to be one of the nhl's best players on the ice while on the penalty-kill.Has sleek skills terrific poise and game sense.is very agile for his size. The leagues best defensive forward when it comes to positioning.

Seasons 5
Era Mid 2000'S PRESENT
RS 369 95 103 198 42 13
PO 60 16 8 24 -14
2008-09 Stanley Cup
2006-07 NHL - All-Rookie Team
2006-07 Played in the NHL YoungStars Game
Top Defensive player overall for the last few seasons


#32 Steve Thomas RW

Signed as a Free Agent by the leafs in 84 Thomas became a fan favorite because of his skill desire and everyman appeal. Stumpy was one the more consistent clutch scorers in the game during most of his 20 yr career.

Thomas was a high energy player, relying on explosive speed bursts to key a ferocious fore-check.

Thomas is one who immediately comes to mind when the discussion of the most underrated players comes up. He always worked hard and was a great team guy.

Thomas, who essentially was an opportunistic mucker and grinder. His physical game made him popular wherever he played.
-Joe Pelletier

Thomas had a very strong desire to succeed.Speedy Steve thrived with a play making forwards.A very quick shooting with great instincts. A tough nosed player who would go anywhere on the ice to get a chance to score. He had a high on ice IQ hockey sense wise. Had a pair of decent hands and he could slam a blast past any goalie from any angle on the ice. He was not afraid to tread into the rough stuff on the ice. Stumpy was competitive and a combative fore checker. Can ride shotgun on any top line because he was always willing to pay the price to get his team ahead.

He had a rep as one of the best big game players during his era.Shown his courage and toughness night in and night out especially when all was on the line.

RS: 1235 421 512 933
PO: 174 54 53 107
Era: Mid 80's Mid 2000's
Seasons 20
Best Season 1992–93 New York Islanders 79 37 50 87
Stanley Cup Finals 1
60 Points+ Seasons -8
20 Goal Seasons + 10
30 Goal Seasons+ 5
40 Goal Seasons 2
Game winning Goals 23rd all time with 78
Overtime Goals 12th all time with 10
Playoff Shots on Goal All Time 20th with 444
70 career game winning goals, ranking him among the all time best of ll time
All Time Points - 85th with 933
All Time Goals- 68th with 421
Highest All Time Scoring player from England
Toronto Maple Leafs Top 100 Book Ranked 64th
Role: Sniper/Clutch Player


#7 Gary Unger,C

#7 Gary Unger was a 7 time all star who would play 16 ironman nhl seasons

Gary was a fast skilled player who could dart away with the puck and fulfill a scoring opportunity. He was also great in the faceoff circle in the offensive zone because in all in one motion he could win the faceoff and pin point the puck past the goalie.

During his subsequent eight years with the Blues, Unger would prove to be one of the more resilient players in the history of the National Hockey League. He played 662 games in a row for the Blues, and scored at least thirty goals per season during his time on their roster. Six of those seasons saw him leading his team in the number of goals scored. He remains to this day fourth on the list of Blues scorers. Still, the most memorable record that he set with the team came in the form of breaking Andy Hebenton’s 630-straight game record. By the time Unger’s streak of consecutive games ended, he had pushed that record to an incredible 914 games – it still remains second on the list of consecutive games played, having been surpassed only by the 964 game mark set by Doug Jarvis.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Garry-Unger-and-the-St-Louis-Blues-the-Life-of-an-Iron-Man

Played in NHL All-Star Game (1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978)
Top 10 Goals 1969-70 NHL 42 (2) 1972-73 NHL 41 (6)
Career NHL 413 76 all time highest total
RS 1105 413 391 804 131 1075
PO 52 12 18 30 12
Seasons of 20 or more goals 11
30 goal seasons-7
40 goal seasons-2
Best Season -75-76 80 39 44 83
All time Points 137th -804 points
Alll time Goals -77th 413
Retired as the 31st all tiem points leader with 804 points
Game-Winning Goals -Career NHL 54 (85)
Role: 2 way center /Iron Man

#26 Thomas Vanek RW

Uses his blazing speed to get him into scoring position,Thomas has a natural goal scoring ability using his high end hand -eye coordination to tip in any shots in his vicinity.He is dangerous in all areas of the opposing teams ice.He uses his 6'2 frame to battle through nhl d-men in front of the goalie.He is a sniper with great hands and always seems to be in perfect scoring position when the puck is near.In the last few seasons Vanek has developed a nice 2 way game becoming one of the more dangerous 2 way players in the game today

Seasons 6
Era Present
RS 465 200 180 379 286 +31
PO 29 10 5 15 18
Best Season 2006-07 82 43 41 84 40 47
Goals 2006-07 43 (5) 2008-09 40 (5)
2006-07 NHL All-Star Team (2nd)
NHL All Star 2009
Power Play Goals2007-08 19 (2) 2008-09 20 (1)
Game-Winning Goals2007-08 9 (3) 2009-10 6 (10)
NHL best +47, earning the NHL Plus/Minus Award 05-06
Role 2 way player /sniper /speedster


# 30 Cam Ward,G

Ward was drafted 25th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Ward is a classic butterfly goalie who remains square to the shooter. He is a goalie that enjoys his job, too, and plays better the more fun he is having.Owns a lighting quick glove hand, has excellent rebound control a calm confident nature that allows his team mates to play to there utmost potential. Ward enjoys up-tempo hockey and thrives when he's busy. Prefers to play it safe with the puck.

After posting 15 wins, 2 shutouts and suiting up for 23 of Carolina's 25 playoff games the rookie netminder led his team to its first Stanley Cup. Ward became the fourth rookie goaltender to be named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as most valuable player of the playoffs.(Dryden,Roy, Hextall)

RS 342 173 125 32 .909 2.75 15
PO 41 23 18 4 2.38 .917
Seasons 6
Era mid 2000's -Present
Best Season 2008–09 68 39 23 5 6 2.44 .916
Stanley Cups 1
2007 World Championships (gold medal)
2008 World Championships (silver medal)
All-Rookie Team (2005)
Conn Smythe Trophy (2006)
30 win seasons-4
Top 10 Wins 2007-08 37 (4) 08-09 39 (3) 10-11 35 (3)
2011 All Star Team
Role: Relief Starting Franchise Goalie

I'll have time to write bios on the 4 players left on saturday.
#8 Cooney Weiland, C

Weiland lead the league in goal- scoring, he also won the points title with 73, shattering Howie Morenz's single-season record of 51 points.

One of the slickest players of his era, center Cooney Weiland tormented opposing defenses with his trickery. A magician with the puck, he helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 1929 as a member of the famous Dynamite Line with Dit Clapper and Dutch Gainor. And his offensive totals might have been even greater than they were had Weiland not also been such an adept penalty killer.

Seasons 10
Era lat 20's -late 1930's
RS 509 173 160 333 147
PO 45 12 10 22 12
Adjusted stats 509 288 393 681 264
1934-35 NHL NHL All-Star Team (2nd)
Best Seasons 1929–30 44 43 30 73 27
Top 10 points -2 times
Top 10 goals- 2 times
Art Ross Trophy (1930)
First All-Star Team Coach (1941)
Lester Patrick Trophy (1972)
Second All-Star Team Centre (1935)
Stanley Cups 2

#1 Gump Worsley, G

Gump is the only all time great goalie who wasn't developed by the habs. He came via trade after playing for an awful ny rangers team.He won a calder trophy there and always performed exceptionally well despite not having much of a team in front of him in ny. Once he came to the habs he got recognized for his brilliance on the ice.

One could argue that he was the best goalie in the nhl when he played for the blueshirts. He lead the league in save percent-edge yr after yr when with the rangers - bob duff hockey historian

He was the only reason the blueshirts made it to the playoffs 4 times during his 10 yrs there.Year in and year out he was the teams best player.

Hes hared 2 Vezinas with Jacque Plante Charlie Hodge and Rogie Vachon

He lead the habs to 3 cups and won another with him as a back up!
Habs Heroes (45) and HNIC Best of the Best (9th)

Seasons:21
Era:Early 50's mid 1970's
RS:861 335 352 150 43 2.88
PO:70 40 26 5 2.78
Career Games 861 (10 All Time)
Career NHL Wins 335 (17th All Time )
All-Star-1961,1962,1965,1972
Calder Memorial Trophy-1952-53
Vezina Trophy-1965-66-1967-68
NHL All-Star Team (2nd)1965-66
NHL All-Star Team (1st)1967-68
Stanley Cups -4
HOF- 1980
Role:Franchise Goalie:


#25 Peter Zezel, C

In Peter Zezel's first NHL season, he established a Flyers rookie record of 46 assists while helping the team to a berth in the Stanley Cup finals. He was quickly regarded as one of the league's premier faceoff men and used his tenacious style to earn himself duty on the penalty-killing unit.

Zezel played a vital role in the resurgence of the Maple Leafs in the early 1990's as a checking centre and faceoff specialist, but he also added his share of timely goals using the soft hands and hard shot developed in his junior days.

Zezel was a face off machine because he studied how an opponent would take their face off and try to exploit their weakness. He would also see the ref's puck dropping mechanics and try and use this to his advantage and if that didn't work he would tie up the opposition players stick and kick the puck with his feet.

The faceoff is perhaps the most under-appreciated element of the game but on closer inspection it plays a critical role. It’s one of those games-within-a-game that coaches and players zero in on.

“People in the stands don’t take much notice of it, but players do,†says Zezel. “We know how important they are. We know how a game can change on who wins a faceoff. I took a lot of pride in taking faceoffs. I never wanted to chase the puck. The idea was to gain possession and have them chase you.â€

Part of Zezel’s pre-game preparation was to look at tapes of the opponent’s centermen and study their tendencies when taking a draw. Zezel also kept a mental book on each referee and linesman and he studied their mechanics when they dropped the puck.

Zezel had a routine of his own when he was taking a defensive draw. He would skate small circles before taking the faceoff, studying how the opposition had lined up for the draw. He was trying to get a sense of the play the opponent’s were trying to work off the faceoff.

“I would circle (the faceoff dot) to make sure the goalie was ready. When I saw how they were lining up, I’d tell the goalie what I thought they were trying to do. It was important to see how the other team was lining up. You take a faceoff against a left-handed shot you know he is going to try to backhand it to the defenseman for a shot from the point.†- By Alan Adams

Zezel's skills were not only limited to the ice. He saw action with the Toronto Blizzard of the North American Soccer League and the North York Rockets of the Canadian Soccer League.

Zezel was traded by Van to Anaheim in exchange for future considerations on March 23,99, but the trade was voided on Mar 24,99, because Zezel never reported to Anaheim.

Zezel opted to end his NHL career rather than go to Anaheim because his 3-year-old niece Jilliann, the daughter of his sister, was dying from neuroblastoma cancer back in Scarborough, Ontario, and he wanted to spend more time with his family. Zezel's agent Mike Gillis let the Canucks know that he was considering quitting hockey to be with his niece and would only accept a trade to Toronto or Buffalo. Jilliann died on May 16, 1999, but Zezel opted to remain out of the NHL, retiring for the first time that summer. He never came back to the nhl.

He passed away in 2009 from hemolytic anemia , a rare disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. Zezel was diagnosed with the condition in the summer of 2001. A side effect of the medication is weight gain.

He has had two bouts of this blood disease one attacked his red blood cells the other attacked his white blood cells.

"I’m just taking it easy now. I can’t get too worked up because that seems to trigger it. I’m really taking it easy."
said Peter a yr before he passed away.

Zezel was anything but laid back during his 15-year NHL career that included two tours with the Blues, 1988-89 and 1989-90, and 1995-96 and 1996-97. In 873 career games, he scored 219 goals and 389 assists for 608 points. He also played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks
Zezel is also working with former NHLers Bill Berg and Mark Osborne on a scouting website for players (www.playerprospect.com). The site allows teams from across North America to discover players who fly under the radar screen and track their progress

Peter played 873 NHL games scored 219 goals and tallied 608 career points

Seasons
Era Mid 1980's late 1990's
RS 873 219 389 608 39 435
PO 131 25 39 64 4 83
Best Season 1989-90 73 25 47 72
Played in over 1000 NHL games
Holds flyers record for assists by a rookie
Went to the Cup finals with the flyers twice
Five time 20+ goal scorer
On Jan16, 1991 Peter realized a childhood dream and got traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped lead the leafs to the conference finals twice

 

[seventieslord]

how am i suppose to tranfer my bios from one thread to another ?

try this. hit "reply" below your post as though you are going to quote it. Copy the entire post, then cancel your reply and come to the bio thread and paste that copied info into a new post.

 

[jkrx]

Stephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman, C

Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185 lbs
Shoots: Right
Born: May 9, 1965 in Cranbrook, British Columbia
Number: 19

Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft.

Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame as Player in 2009

- Stanley Cup Champion (1997, 1998 and 2002)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1995)
- Conn Smythe Trophy (1998)
- Frank J. Selke Trophy (2000)
- Lester B. Pearson Trophy (1989)
- Bill Masterton Trophy (2003)
- NHL 1st All-Star Team (2000)
- NHL All-Rookie Team (1984)
- Top-10 in Goals 6 Times (6th, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 6th, 6th)
- Top-10 in Assists 5 Times (7th, 3rd, 10th, 7th, 3rd)
- Top-10 in Points 6 Times (3rd, 3rd, 7th, 7th, 4th, 10th)
- Top-10 in Even Strenght Goals 6 Times (3rd, 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 5th)

All-time with the Red Wings
Goals: 2nd with 692; behind Gordie Howe (786)
Assists: 1st with 1063
Points: 2nd with 1755; behind Gordie Howe (1809)
Games Played: 2nd with 1514; 2nd behind Gordie Howe (1678)

All-Time NHL

Goals: 692 ( 8th)
Assists: 1063 (7th)
Points: 1755 (6th)
Games Played: 1514 (10th)

- Olympic Champion (2002)

It's been a great honor for me to be a player for the Detroit Red Wings, to play for an Original Six franchise. I know I'm far from perfect, but I learned a lot.

And for the team, I always tried to do the right thing.

"Some nights you'd see him try to climb up the stairs to get on an airplane and wonder, 'How can he be ready for a game in 24 hours?’ But that's part of the package you see every day when you are around Steve Yzerman. I always thought I knew how much it took to win a Stanley Cup, but I didn't really get it until I sat in that locker room and on that bench and watched Steve.”

"Trade Steve Yzerman? That's like asking me if I want to trade my son Jason for the kid next door."

"Yzerman is not the youngest, the strongest, nor the fastest, and he was never the biggest. But make no mistake, he is the maximus of gladiators, the man who fights wounded and bleeding, with a heart as large as any lion they spring on him."

“He deserves it all. It’s all perseverance. He’s stuck through some tough times — tough times when XXXX first came here, trade rumors, some 20-win seasons — he’s been through a lot. He’s all about the team, and he proves that the way he plays and the way he carries himself. I’m proud of him as a player. Just from watching him, he’s taught us younger guys about being a professional athlete, playing in the NHL and being a good role model. He’s getting everything he deserves.”

“If there was a trophy for courage, he would have already won it. I’m going to be thrilled to see him back out there. Just to be able to say, ‘Yzerman, your line is up,’ is going to be some of the greatest words I’ve ever said.”

“I believe winning the Stanley Cup and the gold medal the same year was something Steve Yzerman will look back on and be proud about. He was struggling with the knee and some thought that might be the end of his career. It might have been for somebody else. He fought his way back. He wanted to compete,”

“It begins and ends with Steve”

 

[jkrx]

try this. hit "reply" below your post as though you are going to quote it. Copy the entire post, then cancel your reply and come to the bio thread and paste that copied info into a new post.

He could just hit the "edit"-button and copy and paste.

 

[DoMakc]

Stephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman, C

We can name undrafted players/coaches in the bio thread, that's actually the reason we have it, so you can edit the names from Yzerman's bio back.

 

[jkrx]

We can name undrafted players/coaches in the bio thread, that's actually the reason we have it, so you can edit the names from Yzerman's bio back.

Ok, didn't know names will be put back.

 

[BenchBrawl]

WAYNE GRETZKY (C)

Nickname: ''The Great One''
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185 lbs
Shoots: Left
Position: Center

1487 games.
894 goals. (1st)
1963 assists. (1st)
2857 points.(1st)
1,92 point per game(1st)
208 playoff games.
122 playoff goals. (1st)
260 playoff assists. (1st)
383 playoff points.(1st)
18 invitations to All-Star game.
NHL All-Star Team: ( 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 )
9x Top 10 goal NHL: ( 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 4, 5, 6 )
19x Top 10 assist NHL: ( 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 6, 9 )
16x Top 10 point NHL: ( 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4 )
Most goals in a season: 92 (1st)
Most assists in a season: 163 (1st)
Most points in a season: 215 (1st)
Scored 50 goals in 39 games (1st)
Only player to reach 200 pts in a season (4 times)
11 consecutive 100 assists seasons.
8 consecutive 50 goals seasons. (total 9)
Hart Trophy: 9 (1st)
Art Ross Trophy: 10 (1st)
Lady Byng Trophy: 5
Lester B Pearson Trophy: 5 (1st)
Conn Smythe Trophy: 2
Stanley Cup: 4
Gold Medals: 3


QUOTES:

”The only way you can check Gretzky is to hit him when he is standing still singing the national anthem.”

People talk about skating, puck handling and shooting, but the whole sport is angles and caroms, forgetting the straight direction the puck is going, calculating where it will be directed, factoring in all the interruptions. Basically, my whole game is angles.”

I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.”

Some guys play hockey. Gretzky plays 40mph chess.”

"Good. Tell him he's Wayne Gretzky." -- Ted Green Edmonton Oilers coach, when told that center Shaun Van Allen had suffered a concussion and didn't know who he was

 

[BenchBrawl]

NICKLAS LIDSTROM (A)

Height:6.2
Weight:180
Shoots:Left
Position: Defense

1461 games.
248 goals.
840 assists.
1088 points.
247 playoff games.
50 playoff goals.
125 playoff assists.
175 playoff points.
NHL All-Star Team: ( 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 )
Norris Trophy: 6
Conn Smythe Trophy: 1
Stanley Cup: 4
Olympic Gold Medal: 1
First Europeen to Captain a Stanley Cup Winner.

QUOTES:

"The thing I always said about Nick, for all the points he's had, his offense has been so good, but the thing that's always amazed me about him is that very, very seldom have I seen Nick caught up ice. Very seldom does he leave his partner alone."

 

[seventieslord]

He could just hit the "edit"-button and copy and paste.

Yes, that too.

We can name undrafted players/coaches in the bio thread, that's actually the reason we have it, so you can edit the names from Yzerman's bio back.

That's not actually the reason we have it, but it's a nice side benefit that it's an undrafted player "safe zone" as well.

 

[BillyShoe1721]

C Jean Beliveau.

6'3", 205lbs.
1,219 points in 1,125 career NHL games
176 points in 162 career NHL playoff games
Hockey Hall of Fame Member
#7 on THN's List of 100 Greatest Hockey Players
Montreal Canadiens Captain 1961-1971
10x Stanley Cup Champion (His name is on the cup 17 times, an all time record)
2x Hart Trophy Winner (4x 2nd, 1x 3rd, 2x 4th)
13x NHL All Star Game Participant
6x 1st Team All-NHL
4x 2nd Team All-NHL
1x Art Ross Trophy Winner
1x Conn Smythe Trophy Winner
10x Top 10 Goals NHL (1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)
11x Top 10 Assists NHL (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
12x Top 10 Points NHL (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 6, 8, 8, 9)
4x Top 10 PP goals NHL (3, 3, 7, 8)
9x Top 10 Goals NHL Playoffs (1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6, 8)
10x Top 10 Assists NHL Playoffs (1, 1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7)
11x Top 10 Points NHL Playoffs (1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 9)
1st in Playoff Points during career(52 ahead of 2nd place)
2nd in Points during NHL career(behind Howe)

Jean "Le Gros Bill" Beliveau was one of the all-time classiest players in the NHL, both on the ice and off. He made his career as a strong skater and was hard if not impossible to slow down. He was nicknamed after a popular French song of the day by the same name, "le Gros Bill," and in all he played on an incredible 10 Stanley Cup-winning teams as a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

Born in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, in 1931, Beliveau first played organized hockey in Victoriaville, Quebec. He played junior hockey as a member of the Quebec City Citadelles and senior hockey for the Quebec Aces. The Canadiens wanted the young Beliveau in their lineup, but he wasn't all that eager to play for them.

But the Canadiens owned the rights to Beliveau, so he couldn't play for another pro team unless Montreal traded him. Since the Aces were an amateur team, there was no conflict with his staying there. Finally, Montreal purchased the entire Quebec Senior Hockey League, turned it pro and added Jean Beliveau to their roster. Without much choice in the matter, Beliveau signed on with the Canadiens in 1953 for a then unheard-of $100,000 contract over five years.

Beliveau made the All-Star Team 10 times, was the leading scorer of all time for Montreal and the all-time leading scorer in Stanley Cup history as well. After playing a total of five regular season games in 1950-51 and 1952-53, he played another 18 seasons with Montreal, and in 10 of those he led the team as their captain.

When he retired from the game, Beliveau said, "I made up my mind to offer my place to a younger player." He added: "It's hard, but I will play no more. I only hope that I have made a contribution to a great game. Hockey has been my life since the day my father gave me a pair of skates when I was five years old." In reverence to all that Beliveau gave to hockey, the Canadiens held Jean Beliveau Night at the Montreal Forum in March 1971. They also established the Jean Beliveau Fund for underprivileged kids.

For everyone who knew him, the fund was a very fitting way to say farewell to Beliveau, as he was considered by many to be a true role model for kids. Clarence Campbell, president of the NHL, said: "Any parent could use Jean Beliveau as a pattern or role model. He provides hockey with a magnificent image. I couldn't speak more highly of anyone who has ever been associated with our game than I do of Jean."

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Lege...?mem=p197201&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo

Mention the name Jean Beliveau, and so many images come to mind. His size, his skills, his class - he was the perfect hockey player and an even better person. He's one of the few players that seems to have transcended the game itself, particularly in his native Quebec.

"Le Gros Bill" (Jean was nicknamed after a French folk hero) was the centerpiece of the mighty Montreal Canadiens dynasty that accumulated 10 Stanley Cups during his extraordinary reign. Five of those championships came with him serving as captain - no other man has captained his team to more Stanley Cups. Twice voted the NHL's MVP, he was a First All Star in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1961. He was the scoring champ in 1956 and was the first recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs in 1965. He accumulated 507 goals, 712 assists for a point total of 1219 in 1125 games, all with Les Habitants. He racked up 176 more points in 162 playoff games.

Most "experts" agree that Beliveau is one of the top ten players in hockey history. He is also almost universally regarded as one of the top three centers in NHL history - along with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.

Mario Lemieux is most often compared to Jean, and it is a very accurate assessment. That statement alone gives younger fans an idea of just how Le Gros Bill was. Like Mario, Big Jean was an almost unseen blend of grace and power. He had the body of a giant, yet was such a gentleman. He could use his physical gifts to dominate a game, but more often than not relied on his skill and smarts.

Wild Bill Eznicki, one of the most physical players of his era, recalled what it was like to attempt to knock down Beliveau: "It was like running into the side of a big oak tree. I bounced right off the guy and landed on the seat of my pants."

His uncanny physical gifts weren't his only blessing on the ice. He was a great skater - deceptively fast due to his long stride. He was a puckhandling wizard with a great knack for goal scoring. He was a majestic player known for his crisp passes and laser like shot.

Beliveau's journey to Montreal was one of the most interesting in pro sports history. The Canadiens purchased an entire hockey league in order to get him. The Habs held Jean's negotiating rights, but he refused to sign with them, preferring to stay in his hometown of Quebec City where he already was a legend with the junior team and was being paid big money to play as a supposed amateur in the Quebec Senior League. In fact many reports suggest he was being paid more money than any professional of the day, including Gordie Howe and Rocket Richard! But moreover, Jean felt a great deal of loyalty to the Quebec Aces and the people of Quebec City, and just wasn't quite ready to leave yet. He was treated like royalty, and he wanted to stay to repay his debt of gratitude.

However the Canadiens had just won their first Stanley Cup since 1946 in 1953 and they wanted to inject some of their top junior prospects in order to get them over the hump known as the dynastic Detroit Red Wings of the 1950s. Dickie Moore and Boom Boom Geoffrion were two key additions, but the graceful giant Beliveau was a must have as far as Frank Selke was concerned. He went to great lengths to ensure he could get Beliveau in a Habs jersey. The Canadiens purchased the whole league and turned the league professional just to get Beliveau in a Habs jersey! Beliveau could have played in the amateurs forever but once he became a professional he had to play with Montreal. By turning the whole league professional, Beliveau had to travel down the highway and lace up for Montreal.

But by 1955-56, Beliveau and the Habs arrived. Beliveau seemingly took the torch from Rocket Richard's hands and led the Habs to their first of 5 consecutive Stanley Cups. En route, Beliveau scored a league high 47 goals and 88 points in the regular season, plus 12 goals and 19 points in 10 post season games. It was one of the greatest seasons by any individual in hockey history.

The Canadiens owned the remainder of the decade. Beliveau was of course a huge part of what many consider to be the greatest team in NHL history. He never quite duplicated his great 55-56 season, though came close in 1958-59 when he again lead the league with 45 goals in just 64 games, plus 91 points. While the Habs of course won the Cup that year too, Jean was only able to play in 3 games (accumulating 5 points) due to injuries.

The 1960s have been termed The Forgotten Decade by Montreal Canadiens decades. Rocket Richard had retired at the beginning of the decade, and the Canadiens got off to a slow start in terms of championships. But by the end of the decade Jean led the Habs to 5 Stanley Cups in 7 years (including 1971).

5 championships in 7 seasons has earned the Toronto Maple Leafs of the 1940s and the Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s dynastic status, but that has eluded the Habs of the 60s. Perhaps that was because Canada's other team - the Toronto Maple Leafs - did so well and it is remembered their decade. And despite great performances from Jean, Geoffrion, Henri Richard and many Canadiens, that team seemed to lack that one iconic attraction that captured the Quebec fans - like Rocket Richard of the 1950s and Guy Lafleur of the 1970s.

That 1971 Stanley Cup was special. The Chicago Blackhawks were favored to win, yet somehow a combination of the old guard and some of the young guns of the 1970s dynasty teamed together to win a surprise Cup. It was a perfect moment for Jean to ride out into the sunset. He retired at the end of the playoffs.

http://habslegends.blogspot.com/2006/05/jean-beliveau.html

I could see there was something special about the Hab's big number four-on and off the ice.-Wayne Gretzky

http://books.google.com/books?id=2c...&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

"He was so unassuming for a guy of his stature. He was a very unselfish player. He had great moves, that great range, and anybody playing on a line with him was certain to wind up with a lot more goals. If you got there, the puck would be there. He had so much courage, so much determination."

"It's just that we were so damned proud to have him as our captain."

http://books.google.com/books?id=wp...0CEUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=jean beliveau&f=false

"As a hockey player and a gentleman, Jean Beliveau is unbeatable. He has no equal."

http://books.google.com/books?id=ge...CsQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=jean beliveau&f=false

Their star player was a smooth-skating, hard-shooting playmaker by the name of Jean Beliveau

His reign as the dominant center in the league created thrill after thrill, night after night,

http://thehockeywriters.com/jean-beliveau-a-class-act/

A powerful skater, he had a polished air of composed confidence that made him a natural leader both on and off the ice.

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Jean_Beliveau

For years any controversy over who was the best player in hockey has been pretty well confined to right wingers Maurice Richard of Montreal and Gordie Howe of Detroit.

Now Bill Chadwick, former NHL referee, injects the name of Montreal's "Le Gros Bill" centre Jean Beliveau.

Chadwick said, "Beliveau is the best I have ever seen", and "smarter" than the Rocket. "You never seen Beliveau give the puck away. There isn't anything he can't do." Referring to his bullet shot, Chadwick added: "Some guys can put it through the building but miss the net. Beliveau never misses."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAIBAJ&pg=1780,2299991&dq=jean+beliveau&hl=en

Jean Beliveau, the youngster who performs like an old smoothie...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAIBAJ&pg=3616,6107717&dq=jean+beliveau&hl=en

An old Beliveau and xxx could shut down Orr something that xxx and Hull had a hard time doing.

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=655336

But xxx, xxx, and Beliveau were certainly 3 of the guys that I remember as being good face-off men.

http://books.google.com/books?id=82...esnum=5&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ted Lindsay says he means no disrespect to Gretzky and Mario when he says that Big John is the greatest centre that has ever played the game because the 205lbs swift-skating 6'3" pivot "played in a tough time, when checking was tough, where guys knew how to bodycheck, how to hit, you checked your man, you took your man"

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=556795&highlight=beliveau&page=4

Beliveau was a strong and nimble skater, able to make remarkable changes of direction at top speed. Despite his size, he had quick feet in tight places. On the rush, he had long, graceful strides that gobbled up ice.

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=556795&highlight=beliveau&page=6

Classiest player of all-time
Most respected player of all-time
Best leader of all-time
Best winner of all-time
Best Stick-Handler of the 1950's
Most Admired Player of the 1950's
Highest Paid Player of the 1950's
1950's Decade All-Star
Best Passer of the 1960's (with Stan Mikita)
Best All-Around Player of the 1960's
Best Line of the 1960's (with 2 undrafteds on the wings)
Comparable Recent Player: Mario Lemieux
In A Word: Elegant

-Ultimate Hockey

 

[Velociraptor]

Phil Esposito, C

Position: Center
HT/WT: 6'1", 205 lbs
Shoots: Left
Nickname(s): "Espo", "The Happy Worrier"

- 2-time Stanley Cup Winner
- Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame (1984)
- 5-time Art Ross Trophy Winner
- 2-time Hart Memorial Trophy Winner
- Lou Marsh Trophy, as Canadian Athlete of the Year in 1972
- Lester Patrick Trophy (personifies contribution to hockey in the United States of America) in 1978.
- 6 acknowledgements for the NHL First All-Star Team, 2 acknowledgements for the NHL Second All-Star Team
- 717 goals, 1590 regular season points in 1282 games played.
- 61 goals, 137 playoff points in 130 games played.

From the HOH board, intangibles resource gathered from surveys answered by NHL coaches.

PHIL ESPOSITO

Best on faceoffs | 3rd | 1974
Best on faceoffs | 3rd | 1981
Best shot | 3rd | 1971
Best shot | T-1st | 1974
Best stickhandler | 1st | 1971
Most dangerous near goal | 1st | 1971
Most dangerous near goal | 1st | 1974
Most dangerous near goal | 2nd | 1976
Smartest player | 2nd | 1971
Smartest player | 4th | 1974

This Phil was really something. If he felt like complaining, he complained. If he felt like yelling, he yelled. It was new to us, this childlike attitude. He didn't hide his emotions, as we were taught.

Esposito was teamed up with Bobby Orr in Boston, forming one of the most dynamic scoring duos in hockey history. Orr would dance around from his point position with no one knowing how to defend against hockey's first offensively dominant defenseman. Esposito would park himself in the slot, readying himself for a pass, a deflection or a rebound.

In his very first year in Boston Espo led the entire league in assists. By year two He became the first player to break the 100 point plateau. In fact, he smashed the old record held by Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. Both of those magnificent Chicago players shared the record with 97 points in a single season.

Espo should be known as the greatest offensive force prior to Gretzky and Lemieux.

Leader By Example

While Paul Henderson has been forever immortalized for his series winning heroics, Phil Esposito's effort in the tournament was equally as memorable. In fact, almost every member of Team Canada would be quick to point out that Espo - their undisputed leader - was the real hero of the series.



Paul Henderson as said that seemingly everyday of his life someone thanks him for scoring the dramatic goal in Moscow. Thank you too, Phil Esposito.

He was the centerman who held the greatest scoring record of them all before Wayne Gretzky came along and broke it - 76 goals in a single season in 1970-71. Espo won the Art Ross Trophy five times, the Hart Trophy twice, the Lester B. Pearson Award twice and the Lester Patrick Trophy for service to hockey in the United States. What's more, he was a ten-time All-Star and represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, the 1976 Canada Cup and the 1977 World Championship. While a member of the Boston Bruins, he scored 40 or more goals in seven straight seasons and 50 or more in five straight seasons. In his 76-goal season, he also recorded an amazing 76 assists for a league record at the time of 152 points.

The Black Hawks thought they were unloading an unproven talent to the Boston club, but in fact the trade only went in favor of the Bruins. Over his career in Beantown, he joined up with greats Bobby Orr, Wayne Cashman, Ken Hodge and Gerry Cheevers on a powerhouse team that won two Stanley Cups in three years.

While Espo was gaining a reputation among NHL coaches and fans as a goal scorer, his fellow players were also beginning to recognize that they were dealing with a real character and a practical joker in the dressing room and on road trips. He liked to smoke cigars, and one reporter, noting his constantly furrowed brow and droopy expression, started calling him "the Happy Worrier."

Phil Esposito is one of the top ranking scorers in the NHL history. Although he wasn’t a gracious skater and never showcased 1-on-1 mastery, his scoring talent was simply unprecedented. Most of his goals came from his work in front of the net and on the rebounds. Besides his scoring skills, he was a sound 2-way player contributing immensely into his team defense work. The Summit 1972 was a great example of Esposito’s team leadership.

Phil Esposito was Team Canada's leader in the 1972 Series. His series performance was superb and earned him an extremely high popularity among Soviet fans. He played in all 8 games and was an overall scoring leader with 13 points. Esposito was awarded with the games MVPs in Toronto, Vancouver and Moscow (Game 7).

They sit on different sides of the Boston Bruins dressing room, unmindful of each other because of a paneled pole that probably keeps the old fusty Boston Garden from falling down. In a few minutes they will take on the champion Montreal Canadiens, but now Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr - the National Hockey League's only two-man team, are psyching themselves for the Great Hockey Show they will soon be staging again.

Like Ruth and Gehrig, Cousy and Russell, Hornung and Taylor, Esposito and Orr dominate their sport from the box office to the record books to the playing surface. They sell out nearly everywhere, even on a sunny day in California. When one of them does not win the scoring championship or the league's Most Valuable Player, the other one usually does. Indeed they have taken the last five scoring titles, and four of the last five MVP trophies.

Despite what others say about him, Esposito is the complete center, as he proved conclusively in Team Canada's games with the Soviet Union last year. He is tall and strong, as that prince of centers, Jean Beliveau, a man to cause terror whenever he skates within 20 feet of the net. He has hockey's best wrist shot, although he prefers to call it a "snap shot" and he invariably shoots without looking at the net. He estimates about "80%" of his goals each season come from either snap shots fairly close to the goal, or artful deflections. Once stationed in front of the net, the 210-pound Esposito is a difficult man to dislodge. He uses his long arms and powerful body to fend off defenseman while waiting for one of his wings, Wayne Cashman or Ken Hodge to get the puck from the corners or for Orr to blast away from the blueline.

Esposito, Hodge and Cashman have scored more points than any NHL line since coach Harry Sinden paired them together in 1969. One time when the St. Louis Blues rudely routed the Bruins, Center Walt Tkaczuk was stuck on Esposito, and followed him everywhere besides the dressing room, Esposito still managed to score two goals as the defensive center played as a firewall on him the entire game, Bobby Orr added the only other goal in a 7-3 Blues rout. Did anyone say two-man team?

Boston would be null without Orr, and void without Esposito.

I have just developed a feel for where it is, just like John Havlicek has a knack for knowing where the basket is. Besides, taking even the quickest look at the net wastes precious time.

Summit Series Statistics

GP | G |A| Pts | PIM | SOG | SAG | +/-
8 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 52 | 89 | 2

It was war and, yes, hell for us whether we wanted it or not.

 

[DaveG]

Terrance Gordon "Terry" Sawchuk

position: Goaltender
height: 5'11"
weight: 190lbs
catches: Left

* USHL Rookie of the Year (1948)
* AHL Rookie of the Year (1949)
* Calder Memorial Trophy winner (1951)
* NHL First All-Star Team (1951, 1952, and 1953)
* NHL Second All-Star Team (1954, 1955, 1959, and 1963)
* Vezina Trophy winner (1952, 1953, 1955, and 1965)
* Stanley Cup championships (1952, 1954, 1955, and 1967)
* Lester Patrick Trophy winner (1971)
* Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1971
* Inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 1982
* In 1998, he was ranked number 9 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players, the highest-ranking goaltender
* On March 6, 1994, the Detroit Red Wings retired his #1 jersey
* Selected to Manitoba's All-Century First All-Star Team
* Selected as Manitoba's Player of the Century
* “Honoured Member” of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame


http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Lege...e=Player&page=bio&list=ByPosition&pos=G#photo

Called "the Uke" or "Ukey" because of his Ukrainian heritage, Terry Sawchuk played more games and recorded more shutouts than any goalie in the history of the NHL.

Although he was originally Boston property, he was traded to Detroit before he played in the NHL. His big break came toward the end of the 1949-50 season when Red Wings incumbent (undrafted) was injured and Sawchuk had to play seven games toward the end of the season. He allowed just 16 goals in those games and along the way earned his first shutout.

The next season, 1950-51, Sawchuk played every game for the Red Wings and led the league in wins and shutouts, winning the Calder Trophy in the process. Sawchuk's first years as a pro were remarkable in that he was the first player ever to be named rookie of the year in three different leagues: with Omaha in the USHL, with Indianapolis in the American Hockey League and in his first full year with Detroit in the NHL.

The usual five-year waiting period was waived for Sawchuk's induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Dead at 41 years of age, he finished with an incredible 447 wins and 103 shutouts in 971 games played.

http://redwingslegends.blogspot.com/2006/11/terry-sawchuk.html

Record books show that Terry Sawchuk was one of the greatest goaltenders ever to play in the NHL. He played in 21 seasons with five different teams. His 103 career shutouts set a record that might never be broken (it was). Sawchuk did a tremendous amount for the game of hockey, but it's a shame to see what hockey ended up doing to him.

Sawchuk entered the National Hockey League in 1951 as a bright young prospect with the Detroit Red Wings. He played all 70 games for the Wings that season, compiling 11 shutouts and a puny goals against average of 1.98. He was awarded the Calder Trophy for his spectacular play. Things went well for Sawchuk over the next four years. He won three Vezinas and three Stanley Cups, including back-to-back wins in 1954 and 1955.

 

[BraveCanadian]

With their first round pick (15) in the 2011 ATD, the Guelph Platers have selected: Bryan Trottier, C

Career Highlights:
6 time Stanley Cup Champion 1980,1981,1982,1983 New York Islanders - 1991, 1992 Pittsburgh Penguins
1975-76 Calder Trophy Winner (with a record 95 points at the time)
1978-79 Art Ross Trophy Winner
1978-79 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner
1979-80 Conn Smythe Trophy Winner
1988-89 King Clancy Memorial Trophy Winner
2 x 1st Team All Star at C (Post Season)
2 x 2nd Team All Star at C (Post Season)
Inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame 1997


Vitals:
Born: July 17, 1956
Position: C
Height: 5-11
Weight: 195 lbs


Regular Season:
6-time 100 point scorer, including 5 consecutive seasons.
Led the NHL in assists twice.
11-time 30+ goal scorer, 5 time 40+ goal scorer including a peak 50 goal season.
Led the NHL in +/- one time.



Playoffs:
Over the Islanders 5 straight Stanley Cup final runs Trottier put up 121 points in 96 games while helping his team win a record 19 straight playoff series.

A little known fact is a testimonial to Trottier's consistency during the playoffs: He is the unofficial record holder for scoring at least one point in 27 consecutive playoff games. (80-82)

As a role player with the Penguins, Trottier captured 2 additional Stanley Cups and was credited by Mario Lemieux for teaching the Penguins what it took to win.

Trottier led the NHL playoffs in scoring two times and won the Conn Smythe trophy in 1980.​

Quotations and Perspective:

Bobby Orr says, " Trottier is the most complete player in the league." (1983)

SIVault: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1121353/index.htm#ixzz1CisYjyIF

Bryan Trottier was a modern-day player with old-fashioned attributes. At a time when specialists were beginning to take over from the all-round player, Trottier was a throwback. He was a defensively sound centerman with the vision and instincts of a pure scorer.

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Lege...?mem=p199702&type=Player&page=bio&list=#photo

Hulking defenseman Larry Robinson was another fan of Trottier's. "What you don't realize is that Trottier weighs over 200 pounds. You can't budge the guy or knock the puck off of his stick. And he hands out a lot of punishment at close quarters."

http://nyislanderslegends.blogspot.com/2006/09/bryan-trottier.html


BRYAN TROTTIER

Best defensive forward | 5th | 1984
Best on faceoffs | 1st | 1984
Best passer | 1st | 1979
Best playmaker | 1st | 1979
Best stickhandler | 2nd | 1979
First player to build team around | 2nd | 1979
First player to build team around | 3rd | 1981
Hardest worker | 5th | 1984
Smartest player | 2nd | 1979
Smartest player | 4th | 1984

http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?p=30627114 From Hockey Outsider


Video:

​

Will add more when I have some time to search for some tidbits I remember from before...

 

[arrbez]

Jacques Plante

Jacques Plante

Hart Memorial Trophy: 1962
NHL First Allstar Team: 1956, 1959, 1962
NHL Second Allstar Team: 1957, 1958, 1960, 1972
Stanley Cup Champion: 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960
Led NHL in GAA: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1969, 1971
Led NHL in sv%: 1956, 1959, 1962, 1971
Led NHL in wins: 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962
Led NHL in shutouts: 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963

"I rate him and Terry Sawchuk as the best goalies I've ever seen, with Ken Dryden, Glenn Hall, Bernie Parent and Patrick Roy on the next rung down." - Jean Beliveau

"He's the best goalie I've ever had" - Frank Selke

"Jacques Plante is the best goaltender I've ever seen" - Anatoli Tarasov

Trivia:

- Plante holds the record for highest sv% ever in a single season: .942 sv% in 1971
- Plante won the Cup 6 times, with an average GAA of 1.80 in those playoffs
- Plante won the Vezina in 3 different decades with 3 different teams
- Plante is regarded as the first goalie to regularly leave his net to play the puck
- Jacques Plante once ate an entire birthday cake before anyone could tell him there was a stripper inside

 

[hfboardsuser]

Syl Apps Sr., C

Apps is one of the best players I have ever seen and that covers a lot of hockey. I send two men out to haunt him every time he's on the ice and still he gets away.

(Apps) goes by players today faster than (Cyclone) Taylor (Howie) Morenz went by me.

For my money, Apps is as good now as Morenz. Howie was a brilliant individualist and when he got going, (was) hard to stop, but Apps is just as shifty. Where Howie used to circle his nets to gain speed, Apps breaks like a flash whenever he picks up a pass and is a good shot from either side.

"Syl had said he was going to get the first guy that started dirty work. They've been going after (him) too long. Just because he stuck to clean play they thought they could get away with anything"- XXXX XXXXX, after Apps dropped the gloves with XXXXXXX "XXXXX" XXXXXXX

Syl Apps vs. Yzerman/Messier/Clarke

While longevity is a key factor in the ATD, peak is, ultimately, where we judge the majority of a player's worth. After all, which matters to you more when considering who would win in a hypothetical match-up between two stars- whether Player A scored 35 points at age 40, or whether he had 135 at age 25? When compared at their peak, Syl Apps looks very, very good against three players that are consistently drafted ahead of him- Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and Bobby Clarke.

Apps

---|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th
Goals|0|0|0|1|2
Assists|2|0|0|0|0
Points|0|3|0|0|0

vs.

Yzerman

---|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th
Goals|0|2|1|0|0
Assists|0|0|2|0|0
Points|0|0|2|1|0

Comments: Yzerman is the perfect example of a player whose longevity is often cited as a plus- which it is. But Yzerman was an unusual player for a Top 50 of all-time; he began his career as a relatively one-dimensional offensive superstar, and evolved later into a two-way presence. But as this study shows, even at his very best one-way peak, Yzerman was only clearly a better goal-scorer than Apps- who both was a better playmaker and a better overall point producer.

vs.

Messier

---|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th
Goals|0|0|0|0|0
Assists|0|1|2|0|1
Points|0|2|1|0|2

Comments: Obviously, there are other factors in play that lead to Messier cracking the top 30. But as the following quotes will indicate, Apps was both noted for his exemplary leadership and had no trouble leading his teams to Stanley Cups. So how do they stack up in regular season peak production? Very closely. Apps was clearly the better goal-scorer, and while Messier has more 5th place finishes, they're about equal in terms of 2nd and 3rds- Messier one fewer second place and one more third in each category.

vs.

Clarke

---|1st|2nd|3rd|4th|5th
Goals|0|0|0|0|0
Assists|2|0|1|1|1
Points|0|2|0|0|1

Perhaps the most surprising discovery in this study was the amazing similarity offensively between Apps and Bobby Clarke. Both led the league in assists twice, and both were 2nd in points at least twice. Clarke won two Stanley Cups, Apps three. So why does Clarke continually go so much higher? Defensive play is the major reason- while Clarke is generally considered the best "two-way" player in the history of the game, is that really worth 20+ spots in the ATD? If it can be proven that Apps was at least above-average defensively, should the difference not be 10 or even 5 spots in an overall context?

Quotes

As said, intangibles are what push players like Messier, Yzerman and Clarke above Apps- two of them due to incredible leadership, and in Clarke's case, defense. Leadership is the easiest area to make a case for Apps:

"He was an inspirational leader who had the talent of setting his teammates on fire with his own all-out play"- Regina Leader-Post, 1949

"Inspired by the return of their mighty captain, Syl Apps, Toronto over- whelmed the Boston Bruins, 7 to 2, at Maple Leaf Gardens"- New York Times

''He represents what pro athletes should be. He was the Jean Beliveau of English Canada.'' - Former Leaf Jim Dorey

"His leadership skills were never more evident than when he led the Leafs back from a three-game-to-none deficit against Detroit."- Top 100 Maple Leafs of All-Time

"Syl's great play-making and leadership wasn't the only things the Leafs lacked."- Ottawa Citizen

(credit to EagleBelfour for many of the above)

Of course, the proof is in the pudding; Apps was captain in Toronto for three Stanley Cups, including the aforementioned comeback from three games down.

Defensively is another matter. No in the ATD has yet to produce much evidence that he was as effective or diligent in his end as he was in the other, this despite being perhaps the fastest skater in hockey and its most intelligent. In addition, due to the fact he took fewer penalties than most any other player, Apps would have been available during most every PK.

I figured the best source for research would be the most obvious- The Globe and Mail. As a Toronto paper, their write-ups of Leafs games were often the longest and most detailed.

Before the archive seemingly crashed for the day, I did find this:

With XXXXXXX and Apps absent, they have had no consistently good powerplay of their own, nor have they maintained a better than middling defense against enemy powerplays.

When asked about Bobby Orr's infamous flying goal, Apps was able to perfectly elucidate the defensive miscues that led up to it, and there are numerous G&M references about him stealing pucks from opposing players or jumping on give-aways. It makes me wonder; was Apps a better version of a modern-day Russian center? Without ice-time- or even shorthanded goals- it's impossible to know. However, that modern player I'm referring to is currently 11th on his team in SH TOI despite being generally known as a two-way ace. Would Apps have had less in T.O.? I doubt it- it's never been said that he was bad defensively. If anyone has a source that says otherwise, I'd love to see it. Hopefully we can clear that up this ATD.

 

[Dreakmur]

Though he too ranks as one of the greatest offensive defensemen ever, it was Bourque's defensive genius that set him aside from his peers. While his offensive game grabbed more headlines, Bourque's tremendous defensive instincts that rivaled anyone in the game's history. In a split second he could dissect the oncoming play and more often than not positioned himself perfectly to defend. Though not big, his incredible balance made him tough to play against. Therefore Bourque was not afraid to play the physical game when he had to.

Skating was the key to Bourque's game. Overshadowed by the puck rushing exploits of Orr and __________, Bourque too could skate like the wind. More importantly, perhaps he was better than Orr, _______ or just about any other defenseman in terms of lateral movement, balance and agility. He would often jump into the offense as a 4th forward, or breakout of his own zone to lead the attack.

More often than not he would use incredible passing skills to kick start the offense. Though he was often zeroed in on by opposing team forecheckers, Bourque was rarely rattled, and always made a great first pass out of the zone to headman the transition offense. He had that rare touch and vision of a creative center on the back end. He had the uncanny ability to control the play, both with and without the puck. He was extremely methodical in his approach as a hockeyist.

He had an arsenal of lethal shots to unleash on goalies. He could shoot as hard as practically anyone, but more often than not he changed his shot up in order to get the puck to the goal crease. No matter how closely he was checked from his point position or how crowded the shooting lanes were, Bourque seemingly always landed the puck on net. He would often stray from the point position and jump into the slot for dangerous scoring chances. He was so deadly accurate with the puck that he won or shared the all star game's shooting accuracy competition 8 times between the competition's inception in 1990 and 2001. And he shot often. Only Wayne Gretzky regularly finished ahead of Bourque as the season's shots on goal leader.

Perhaps the most complete defenseman this side of Doug Harvey, Bourque retired as the career leader in practically every offensive category for a defenseman.

Raymond Bourque, a model of proficiency and consistency at an elite level throughout his career…consistently provided leadership from his spot on the Boston blueline.

He had all the offensive tools that propelled Denis Potvin, _______, and Bobby Orr, whose presence close by in Boston was always felt. Bourque had the ability to dominate consistently in his own end of the ice. He showed durability and longevity, leadership and character.

… the long-time Bruins stalwart was as adept at shutting down goal-scorers as he was producing offense.

Bourque was a bit more flashy offensively, but he played in an era that demanded it, but otherwise both are near perfect defenders.

Bourque possessed uncommon offensive skill while sacrificing nothing on defense. His speed, strength, and uncommonly hard shot complimented his deep understanding of the game.

Bourque rules the ice with his offensive prowess and defensive excellence.

I'll take Orr if I'm down by a goal, but I'd take Bourque if I'm defending a one goal lead.

He was a two-way player and he was so durable. He seldom got injured even though he played more than half the game. He played on some good teams in Boston because he made them good. I always felt Bourque was very similar to Denis Potvin. Both were great passers, had a terrific feel for the game and they were strong. Nobody ever would push them around.

He had those tree-trunk legs. So consistent – he could do everything. He could give you nine or 10 shots on the power play, but if you were up 3-2, you could put him on the ice. He really knew how to play the situation.

No one can shoot the puck any better than he is right now. He is moving the puck well, and creating confusion in their end.

I know his talents and the team player and team leader that Ray is. I know the Boston Bruins rotate around Ray. He’s just a great player.

When you watch Ray Bourque play, you see that he’s not only such a pure talent, but he seems to work harder than everybody else, too. He’s probably the best defenseman in the game right now. He’s a pleasure to watch most night. I’m not going to have much pleasure watching him this series.

He’s aggressive out there. He wants the puck. Goaltenders have to react off what their teammates do and what the opponents do. And if Ray’s reaction time is a little bit quicker than everyone else’s, that means the goaltender has a little more time to react.

You never catch Ray out of position. He anticipates everything so well, it’s like he knows what you are going to do before you do.

Whenever he steps on the ice, Ray brings a certain aura that gets us juiced up, too.

What a great performance! He was the general on the blue line and did an outstanding job. Ray was very dominant.

Ray Bourque !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
Hockey Hall of Fame (2004)

Stanley Cup Champion (2001)
2 x Stanley Cup Champion (1988, 2001)

5 x Norris Trophy Winner (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994)
13 x First Team All-Star (1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001)
6 x Second Team All-Star (1981, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1999)

Voting Results:
Norris Trophy – 1st(1987), 1st(1988), 1st(1990), 1st(1991), 1st(1994), 2nd(1982), 2nd(1985), 2nd(1992), 2nd(1993), 2nd(1996), 2nd(2001), 3rd(1983), 3rd(1984), 3rd(1995), 3rd(1999), 4th(1980), 4th(1981), 4th(1986), 4th(1989), 7th(1997), 7th(1998), 7th(2000)

Hart Trophy – 2nd(1987), 2nd(1990), 4th(1991), 5th(1984), 5th(1985), 6th(1996), 8th(1988), 10th(1986), 11th(1996), 13th(1992), 14th(1981), 15th(1982)

Hart Trophy among Defensemen – 1st(1987), 1st(1988), 1st(1990), 1st(1991), 1st(1994), 2nd(1984), 2nd(1985), 2nd(1986), 2nd(1995), 3rd(1982), 3rd(1992), 4th(1981)

Regular Season Scoring:
Points – 9th(1987), 11th(1991), 14th(1984), 20th(1994)
Assists – 2nd(1987), 4th(1991), 5th(1994), 8th(1985), 9th(1984), 10th(1988), 10th(1990), 11th(2001), 13th(1992), 14th(1996), 17th(1995), 17th(1999), 18th(1993)

Points among Defensemen –1st(1987), 1st(1994), 2nd(1984), 2nd(1985), 2nd(1988), 2nd(1991), 2nd(1992), 2nd(1995), 2nd(1996), 2nd(1999), 3rd(1990), 3rd(1993), 3rd(2001), 4th(1986), 5th(1980), 5th(1983), 6th(2000), 7th(1997), 8th(1982)
Goals among Defensemen – 1st(1981), 1st(1987), 1st(1996), 2nd(1983), 2nd(1984), 2nd(1992), 2nd(2000), 3rd(1995), 3rd(1997), 4th(1991), 4th(1994), 5th(1980), 6th(1985), 6th(1990) 7th(1988), 7th(1989), 7th(1993), 8th(1982), 8th(1986)
Assists among Defensemen – 1st(1987), 1st(1999), 2nd(1984), 2nd(1985), 2nd(1988), 2nd(1990), 2nd(1991), 2nd(1992), 2nd(1992), 2nd(1994), 2nd(1996), 3rd(1986), 3rd(2001), 4th(1995), 6th(1980), 6th(1982), 7th(1983), 10th(1998), 10th(2000)

Peak 5 Years (1984 to 1988)
15th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and Points per Game among defensemen
2nd in Goals and Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and Assists per Game among defensemen

Peak 10 Years (1985 to 1994)
11th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and Points per Game among defensemen
3rd in Goals and Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and Assists per Game among defensemen

Peak 15 Years (1981 to 1995)
9th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and Points per Game among defensemen
2nd in Goals and Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and Assists per Game among defensemen

Peak 20 Years (1982 to 2001)
7th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and Points per Game among defensemen
2nd in Goals and Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and Assists per Game among defensemen

Play-off Scoring:
Play-off Points – 6th(1983), 6th(1991), 7th(1988)
Play-off Goals – 9th(1983)
Play-off Assists – 3rd(1988), 4th(1991), 5th(1983), 8th(1990), 10th(1999)

Play-off Points among Defensemen – 1st(1983), 1st(1988), 1st(1990), 1st(1991), 2nd(2001), 4th(2000), 5th(1980)
Play-off Goals among Defensemen – 1st(1983), 1st(1990), 1st(1991), 3rd(2001)
Play-off Assists among Defensemen – 1st(1983), 1st(1988), 1st(1990), 1st(1991), 2nd(2000), 4th(1980), 4th(1999)


Peak 5 Years (1988 to 1992)
7th in Points among all players
1st in Points and 4th in Points per Game among Defensemen
1st in Goals and 5th in Goals per game among Defensemen
1st in Assists and 4th in Assists per Game among Defensemen

Peak 10 Years (1983 to 1992)
10th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and 4th in Points per Game among defensemen
2nd in Goals and 9th in Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and 3rd in Assists per Game among defensemen

Peak 15 Years (1982 to 1996)
8th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and 5th in Points per Game among defensemen
2nd in Goals and 11th in Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and 5th in Assists per Game among defensemen

Peak 20 Years (1982 to 2001)
8th in Points among all players
2nd in Points and 5th in Points per Game among defensemen
2nd in Goals and 11th in Goals per Game among defensemen
2nd in Assists and 4th in Assists per Game among defensemen

International Accomplishments:
2 x Canada Cup Champion (1984, 1987)
Canada Cup Finalist (1981)

Canada Cup All-Star (1987)
Leading scorer among Defensemen (1987)


1993 Coach’s Poll:
Tied for 2nd Best Player
2nd Best Defensive Defenseman
2nd Best Offensive Defenseman
Tied for 2nd Smartest Player
Tied for 5th Hardest Worker
Tied for 4th Hardest Shot

1994 Coach’s Poll:
Tied for 3rd Best Player
1st Best Defensive Defenseman
2nd Best Offensive Defenseman
Tied for 4th Best Shot

Number Games:
Based on a study conducted here:
http://hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=30601164&postcount=285

Of modern defensemen, Bourque is among the very best at even thrength, on the powerplay, and on the penalty kill.

Newspaper Clippings:

Seldom in the Stanley Cup play-offs, where the pressure tends to bring out the best in the veterans, does a rookie lift a team from the brink of elimination to victory.
But Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins, at the tender age of 19, is dismissing those ideas. In the past two games, during which the Bruin rallied from a 1-2 deficit to win their series with the Pittsburgh Penguins in five games, Bourque proved to be the undeniable spark-plug.

The Montreal Canadiens are checking Ray Bourque pretty hard in this series, but if they think that's going to change his game, they're wrong.

From the first few minutes of Boston's 3-1 victory over Montreal, he took control of the game as only he can - blocking shots, manning the power play and dishing out punishing checks in his own end.

 

[JFA87-66-99]

Originally Posted by Greatest Hockey Legends
His skating was unequaled and his passing and shooting was simply uncanny. He perhaps had the greatest arsenal of skill of any player ever, maybe even more so than Gretzky or Lemieux, but we never had the chance to really determine that. One European hockey expert described Kharlamov as a combination of Mike Bossy and Pavel Bure.

Originally Posted by Arthur Chidlovski
Kharlamov made the Canadian defenders look like they were old-timers, minor-league wannabes or something. What he was doing to them was very intimidating. The Canadians were always looking at Kharlamov with their mouths open. But they just couldn't accept it. He was just this skinny guy. But on the ice, a magician.

Originally Posted by Legends of Hockey
Kharlamov combined superior hockey intelligence with outstanding natural talent and established himself as one of the most formidable weapons in the dominant Soviet arsenal during the decade.

Originally Posted by A September to Remember
Valeri Kharlamov awed Canadian audiences. His slick foot and stick work and amazing speed and shot accuracy places him as perhaps the single most talented player in the entire tournament. It is arguable that Kharlamov was as talented as Gretzky or Lemieux. Kharlamov was also feisty, leading the Soviets in penalty minutes with 16.

Originally Posted by Hockey:A People’s History
Valeri Kharlamov, a dazzling left-winger who could stickhandle and pass with breathtaking precision, was so fast that he could beat two Canadian defenseman just by skating around them

.

Originally Posted by Putting a Roof on Winter
When the Soviets’ elegant and fearless Valery Kharlamov burned the Canadiens for three goals and four assists in five games…

Originally Posted by Putting a Roof on Winter
After the Canadians’ elbowing and body smashing only strengthened Kharmamov’s play, Bobby Clarke had seen enough.

Originally Posted by Hockey:A People’s History
Whenever an NHL team would have an exhibition game against the Red Army, Kharlamov was a target of cheap and dirty play. They would brutally dominate the small Russian because they feared his ability. Stop Kharlamov from scoring was half the battle against the Soviets…

Originally Posted by Greatest Hockey Legends
Valery Kharlamov gained international fame in 1972 when the Soviet Union played the NHL All-Stars in a series of games. He had an excellent series, but his fame was cemented when he was anointed by the redoubtable Bobby Hull, who said that Kharlamov was “the best winger in the world.”

Originally Posted by Childovski
What Kharlamov did on the ice wasn't something that one can learn from a hockey school or a book. It was a God given gift. Many of his moves captured on film became classics of the world hockey.

Originally Posted by Putting a Roof on Winter
Bobby Clarke was knocked down and had his stick broken by Valery Kharlamov, a shoving match followed in which Kharlamov threw a punch at Clarke.

Originally Posted by Childovski
The Summit in 1974 project is proud to name Valery Kharlamov the Most Valuable Soviet Player of the Decade.

Originally Posted by Hockey:A People’s History
In Game 6, feisty Soviet left-winger Valeri Kharlamov, who had burned the Canadians for six points this far, was attacked so viciously that it is still remembered in the Soviet Union as the great “crime” of the series.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Player
He was fast, so hard to defend against out there. I admired the way he used to come from behind and how he kept everyone on their toes. He was simply outstanding!

Originally Posted by YouTube Video
Valeri Kharlamov is one Soviet who plays with an attitude familiar to the Canadians. Bobby Clarke knows his potent skill and feisty manner all too well. The clash was destined to happen.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Player
His talents were God-given and he could do practically everything — a smart play, a tricky pass, a precise shot. Everything he did looked so easy, so elegant. His execution of hockey was aesthetic and he amazed millions.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Player
Kharlamov was killing us. I called Clarke over to the bench, looked over at Kharlamov and said, 'I think he needs a tap on the ankle.' I didn't think twice about it

.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Player
In my NHL career, I had to shadow a number of superstars – Bobby Hull being one of them. I would certainly put Kharlamov on the same level as Hull in terms of talent and ability.

Originally Posted by Howie Meeker
What hurt the Russians badly was losing their best player, Kharlamov. He was their best goal scorer; their best player to go wide around a not-too-mobile Canadian defense, and that was a big blow to the Russians.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Player
I remember Valeri as a remarkable man with a strong personality. Whenever he came out on the ice, his opponents never knew what he was going to do the next moment. Everything he did looked so easy, so elegant. There'll never be a hockey player who could match his achievements. People like Kharlamov are born once in a century.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Coach
He was our primary target. Every night it was, 'who's going to take care of that guy?' He was dynamite.

Originally Posted by Undrafted Coach
He had the skill and the ability of any player in the NHL at the time. I think it's a damn good selection. Serge Savard figures he's one of the greatest players he's ever seen, and that's good enough for me.

Originally Posted by Ottawa Citizen – Oct. 3rd, 1974
In full stride, Kharlamov delivered a perfect pass to Mikhailov, who scored a neat goal after the game was only 34 seconds old.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia
By the end of the summit series, National Hockey League scouts were drooling at the thought of recruiting Kharlamov, but during this Cold War era, no Soviet Union player was allowed to leave the country. The respect for Kharlamov's skills was so high that at the time many Canadian children named him as one of their favorite players, and in the Soviet Union he was a national hero and an inspiration for youngsters playing the game.

Originally Posted by Childlovski
His moves on the ice weren't precalculated "Red Machine" patterns but rather truly amazing moves of a hockey genius. In all there beauty and unpredictability, those were his moves. I doubt that they could have been repeated or reenacted by anyone.

Originally Posted by Childlovski
The secret of Kharlamov goals can't be figured out in a frame-by-frame replay on a tape. Undrafted Coach once outlined the key components of the game, the three speeds of hockey-the speed of moving, the speed of reflexes, and the speed of thinking. Valeri Kharlamov's play was a perfect match of all three blended with the magic of personality

more to come.........thanks to Dreakmur for the info



Valeri Kharlamov


[International Awards and Accomplishments:
IIHF Hall of Fame (1998)
Hockey Hall of Fame (2005)

2 x Olympic Gold Medalist (1972, 1976)
8 x World Championship Gold Medalist (1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
IIHF Best Forward (1976)
4 x IIHF All-Star (1972, 1973, 1975, 1976)
Izvestia Cup Best Forward (1973)
2 x Izvestia Cup Leading Scorer (1975, 1977)
IIHF Centennial All-Star

International Scoring Accomplishments:
Olympics
Points – 1st(1972), 5th(1976), 5th(1980)
Goals – 1st(1972)
Assists – 1st(1972), 1st(1976), 1st(1980)

World Championships
Points – 2nd(1971), 2nd(1979), 3rd(1973), 4th(1975), 4th(1977), 5th(1969), 7th(1970), 8th(1972), 10th(1974)
Goals – 2nd(1977), 2nd(1979), 4th(1969), 4th(1970), 4th(1973), 4th(1975), 8th(1972)
Assists – 1st(1971), 2nd(1973), 3rd(1969), 3rd(1979), 4th(1972), 4th(1978), 6th(1974)

Summit/Super Series’
Points – 4th(1974), 5th(1972), 5th(1976)
Goals – 4th(1972)
Assists – 1st(1976), 3rd(1974), 4th(1972)

Soviet League Awards and Accomplishments:
11 x League Champion (1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)
11 x European Cup Champion (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)

2 x MVP (1972, 1973)
7 x All-Star (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978)

MVP Voting – 1st(1972), 1st(1973), 2nd(1975), 2nd(1976), 4th(1969), 4th(1971), 5th(1970), 5th(1974)

Soviet League Scoring:
Points – 1st(1972), 2nd(1971), 3rd(1969), 3rd(1970), 4th(1975), 4th(1978), 5th(1976), 5th(1979), 6th(1974), 9th(1977), 10th(1973)
Goals – 1st(1971), 2nd(1972), 3rd(1969), 4th(1978), 5th(1970), 5th(1974), 7th(1976), 7th(1977), 9th(1973), 9th(1975), 12th(1979)
Assists – 1st(1972), 2nd(1975), 3rd(1969), 3rd(1970), 3rd(1978), 4th(1976), 5th(1971), 5th(1979), 6th(1973), 9th(1974), 12th(1980)

 

[EagleBelfour]

Jacques Plante

I actually wanted to do that aswell for my selection. I just wasn't able to find a picture of Harvey with the Red Wings.

And don't think I havn't read the last sentence of your bio!

 

[Velociraptor]

Sprague Cleghorn, D

Position: Defenseman
HT/WT: 5'10", 190 lbs (In his era, Cleghorn was one of the biggest players in the league.)
Shoots: Left
Nickname: "Peg"

- 3-time Stanley Cup Winner
- Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame (1958)
- 84 goals, 123 regular season points in 251 games played.
- 4 goals, 7 playoff points in 21 games played.
- 84 goals, 117 regular season points in 115 NHA games played. (assists rarely recorded.)
- Finished 2nd in 1926 Hart Trophy Voting As well as 1924.
- For what it's worth, Ultimate Hockey award Cleghorn with two retro Norris trophies. (Keep in mind the Norris Trophy was inaugurated in 1954, so these are just based on stats/accolades)

Sprague Cleghorn, who has been elected captain of Montreal Wanderers this season, is perhaps the best all-around defence player in the NHA. He can hold down either the line or defence, is fast, a fine stick-handler, and carries a grand shot. He led all defence men in scoring last season. His great forte is intercepting a pass or busting a rush and getting off to a flying break for the other end of the rink. He stands alone in this stunt. Sprague has a head as well as hands and feet.

A remarkably talented and fierce competitor, Henry William Sprague Cleghorn was admired, despised and feared during his playing days. Wherever he skated, Cleghorn served as the anchor of his team's defense or occasionally posed an offensive threat as a forward. His on-ice accomplishments and physical style of play made him a virtual archetype of the hard-nosed star of hockey's early days.

At this time Cleghorn was heavily influenced by his teammate Fred "Cyclone" Taylor. Cleghorn rushed forward with the puck in much the same fashion as the illustrious defender and was one of the earliest incarnations of an offensive defenseman.

As well known as he was for his speculative rushes on offense, Cleghorn was lauded for his play even when he didn't have the puck. Many of the game's top forwards were less inclined to venture near a net guarded by a tough defender. But Cleghorn wasn't a mere bully; he was respected for exceptional defensive play that was considered to be at the same level as such stars as Eddie Gerard and George Boucher.

Cleghorn was suspended by team owner Leo Dandurand when he attacked Ottawa defenseman, Lionel Hitchman, who described his player's actions as "befitting an animal."

Sprague Cleghorn is one of the game's all time best defensemen, but also one of the most aggressive. Perhaps too aggressive, But his on ice greatness has been forever overshadowed by his on ice antics. He played the game with vigilante vigor

Despite such actions, Cleghorn continually produced results, including helping the Habs win their first Stanley Cup as a member of the National Hockey League

Cleghorn and xxxxx xxxxx were traded to the Bruins in the 1925-1926 season, and got rowdy with Eddie Shore in practice, leading him to get repairs on his ear. But over time they became close, and Cleghorn acted as a mentor/tutor the young phenom Shore as he constantly improved into a perennial all-star defenseman.

 

[jarek]

Earl Seibert, D

6'2, 220 lbs.
Right handed shot
2 Stanley Cups

NHL Scoring among D

2nd (1934), 3rd (1935, 1938, 1941, 1943), 4th (1942, 1945), 5th (1936, 1937), 6th (1939, 1944), 8th (1940), 9th (1932)

Playoff Scoring among D

1st (1938)*, 4th (1932), 5th (1945), 6th (1933, 1936), 7th (1944)

*3rd among all players

From 1934-1945, Seibert was 3rd among defensemen in points, with 86% of 1st place and 99% of 2nd place (7th in points per game among players who played 100 or more games, 76% of 1st place and 81% of 2nd place).

During Seibert's entire playoff career (1932-1945), Seibert was 3rd in playoff points among defensemen, with 59% of 1st place. In terms of points per game, he had only 48% of Butch Bouchard, but he compares much better with Babe Pratt (63%) and Flash Hollett (67%), but he was definitely much better all around than both of those guys. He compared very favorably to everyone else during this period, including Eddie Shore (76%), Wally Stanowski (83%), and King Clancy (94%). Clearly he was quite a good playoff performer, despite playing largely for miserable teams.

Award Voting

Hart: 4th (1934, 1944)

First Team All Star (1935, 1942, 1943, 1944)
Second Team All Star (1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941)

Joe Pelletier

... Seibert quickly developed into a star on the blue line. ...

... Seibert quickly emerged as a no-nonsense defender with a reputation as among the toughest in the game. ...

... “Let’s put it this way, no one wanted any part of ‘Si’ in a fight. Even Eddie Shore (Boston) and Red Horner (Toronto) steered clear of him, and Shore and Horner were considered the toughest guys in the League at the time," said Johnson. ...

... But Seibert was much more than just a rearguard roughian. He was a great shot blocker, and he was a far better skater and puck handler than the departed Abel. Seibert rarely gets remembered as the excellent hockey player that he was. Between 1934-35 and 1943-44, he made the All Star team 10 seasons in a row, six times on the first squad and four times on the second squad. Some old timers insist only Eddie Shore was better. ...

... Though he was intimidating and unforgiving, most of the time Seibert was very clean. ...

... He played a huge role in what was his second Stanley Cup championship in 1938. It was an unexpected, Cinderella run to the championship by Chicago. ...

Legends of Hockey

... Seibert's demeanor was always serious. On the ice, this manifested itself in mature play and tremendous leadership. ...

... It was in the Windy City that Seibert established himself as one of the best defensemen of his era. He was named to the First or Second All-Star Team each year between 1935 and 1944, a feat surpassed only by Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Bobby Hull and Doug Harvey. Seibert was generally regarded as second only to Eddie Shore in terms of skill and rugged play, and Shore once confessed that Seibert was the only man he was afraid to fight. Defensively, Seibert was one of the best shot-blockers in the game, and he could move the puck just as quickly as anyone. ...

Ultimate Hockey

... Seibert was a strong, fast skater, an intimidating force with his stick and his body. He was also one of the better shot blockers around. Family friend Joe Pompel later said of Seibert, "He has an acceletation with his second step that no one could match and he was probably the fastest skater of the 1930s." Earl also owned excellent puck-handling skills and he was almost impossible to knock off his skates. ...

... Seibert was the biggest factor in Chicago's Cinderella Stanley Cup victory in 1938 ... Kings of the Ice elaborates: "The biggest reason we won," coach Bill Stewart asserted, "was that we had Earl Seibert on our defense. The big guy played about 55 minutes a game."

... Shore later said of the only man he was ever afraid to fight: "It's lucky he was a calm boy, because if he ever got mad, he'd have killed us all." ...

The Trail of the Stanley Cup

... Over six feet tall and almost 200 pounds, he was very fast and a superb checker both with his stick and his body. He was an excellent stickhandler ...

... He drew a lot of penalties but they were largely in the line of duty and he was not inclined to enter needless battles. ...

Newspaper Quotes

"Stewart had ... an outstanding two-way defenceman in Earl Seibert ..." - Montreal Gazette, Dec. 28, 1938

"Earl Seibert remains one of the best two-way rearguards in the league. He is a powerful bodychecker, good blocker and cyclonic rusher." - Montreal Gazette, Dec. 28, 1938

"I don't think there is a better defense player in the league than Earl Seibert," he (Clem Loughlin, Hawks manager) said ...
... Seibert played a hard game at the defense position. His exhibition, in Loughlin's opinion, stamped him as "a more valuable player than Eddie Shore, Babe Siebert or Ebbie Goodfellow." ...
..."Seibert is down to his playing weight of 210 pounds right now," Loughlin said. "Although he weighs more than the defence starts I have mentioned, he can break faster and skate faster than any of them." - Leader-Post, Oct. 27, 1936

"Seibert, whose sharp-shooting eye and natural speed ..." - Telegraph, Jan. 29, 1938

"... Earl "Si" Seibert, flashy New York Ranger defenseman ..." - Montreal Gazette, Jan. 16, 1936

"Earl Seibert, probably the best defence player in the league ..." - Ottawa Citizen, Dec. 4, 1942

"Earl Seibert of Chicago Black Hawks, for instance, would be accorded high rating defensively by any impartial tribual. Offensively, the Chicago star ranks second only to Walter (Babe) Pratt of Toronto Maple Leafs. ...
... Without Seibert, the Chicago defense collapsed." - Leader-Post, Jan. 23, 1943

"Seibert emerged yesterday for a brief workout and got a broken nose when struck by a stray puck. Now he'll carry two injuries and a nose guard into the playoffs." - Vancouver Sun, Mar. 15, 1940

"Seibert, the bulwark of the Chicago club's defense for years - he has played 55 of 60 minutes - ..." - Lewiston Evening Journal, Dec. 29, 1944

"... and big Earl Seibert sparking the attack ..." - Feb. 5, 1945

"Hawks are pinning their hopes of victory on their great defensive trio of Art Wiebe, Mike Karakas and Earl Seibert, who were largely responsible for the downfall of Detroit. Karakas, former Chicago goalie recalled by the club late in the season, literally "goaled" his team into the final round, while Seibert has been both the defensive and offensive sparkplug of the squad all season." - Montreal Gazette, Apr. 4, 1944

"They are Earl Seibert, the speedy heavyweight who can score consistently ..." - Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 27, 1941

"They (Canadiens and Hawks) met in a semifinal in 1938, and Earl Seibert, still the kingpin of the Hawk defence, sparked an attack which carried the Chicagoans into the finals and on to the Stanley Cup." - Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, Apr. 4, 1944

"And finally one pillar-of-strength two-way defenseman as your spark and rallying-point (an Earl Seibert or a Dit Clapper)" - Montreal Gazette, Feb. 26, 1942 (talking about building a championship team)

"Capt Earl Seibert will be featured as a deluxe specimen of needlepoint embroidery when he appears at his usual Blackhawk defense position ..." - Chicago Tribune, Feb. 9, 1944

"... Earl Seibert turning in some scintillating hockey ..." - Montreal Gazette, Apr. 5, 1944

"If and when a hockey "Fall of Fame" is established in Canada - one guy who would seem to richly deserve entry is Earl Seibert, currently starring on defense for Detroit Red Wings. The swashbuckling Seibert has a brilliant 14-year record in the National Hockey League behind him and experts claim he's every bit as good today as at any stage of his sparkling career. Earl is 33 years of age and, barring accidents, has many good years of hockey left in him. A deadly shot and noted as one of the most solid bodycheckers in the business, Seibert is among the few remaining defencemen who can carry the puck from end to end. He spurns modern methods of hurling the rubber into a corner and chasing it." - Maple Leaf, Feb. 10, 1945

"It is more than likely that the defensive strength added to the team by old Professor Adams when he secured Earl Seibert is the real cause of the improvement in the work of goalie Lumley." - Montreal Gazette, Jan. 12, 1945

"Boston's Arthur Ross is just one of the many well-versed hockey men who believes Detroit Red Wings traded themselves to a Stanley Cup when they obtained Earl Seibert...Toronto's Conny Smythe backs up the Ross claim and looks upon Red Wings as the club to take it all...even Montreal isn't so sure but what they're right...they all agree Seibert will be a damaging fellow in the playoffs now that he isn't carrying a whole team around on his back, which was his chore at Chicago...even goalie Frank McCool of the Leafs gets in a plug for Seibert when he remarks that massive Earl is the most fearsome sight in the whole NHL when he comes charging over the blue line..."you just hope somebody gets him before he blasts you, net and all, right out of the rink," ..." - Leader-Post, Jan. 11, 1945

"The club is solid at the blueline with such stalwart defenders as Jack Stewart, Earl Seibert, Flash Hollett and Bill Quackenbush to stop the advancement of opposing forwards." - Montreal Gazette, Nov. 23, 1945

"Earl Seibert, who has been accalimed as one of the outstanding rearguards during the past five years, will be back as captain ..." - Montreal Gazette, Nov. 8, 1944

"Thompson still has four experienced men for his defence positions. They are Earl Seibert, the speedy bruiser who can score consistently ..." - Edmonton Journal, Oct. 25, 1941

"Look who's one of the best defencemen in the NHL now - Earl Seibert. And why? Because, although he's getting old and slow, he knows what to do and he lays his passes where they count." - Calgary Herald, Jan. 5, 1944

"As for the other three (All Star positions), Earl Seibert, Art Coulter and Ebbie Goodfellow you could just about put their names in a hat and take whichever one you happened to pick. We took Seibert becasue he is still the backbone of the Chicago team - a whale of a defenceman and a dangerous puck carrier." - Windsor Daily Star, Feb. 25, 1941

The following are detailed play by plays of Seibert's work in specific games.

Chicago's defence, featuring big Earl Seibert, again was air-tight and told much of the story. - Montreal Gazette, Mar. 31, 1944

The Bruins tried a five-man rush and, when it was broken up by Earl Seibert, that big defenseman put a long pass on Allen' stick and Allen was unchallenged as he went in to beat Courteau from ten feet out. - New York Times, Feb. 2, 1944

Earl Seibert stood out on the Hawk defense, among the best exhibitions made by the club this year. In the second period the defenseman gave a demonstration of body checking that had a crowd of 12,306 persons yelling for more. - New York Times, Mar. 21, 1941

Two of the Hawks' goals came when they themselves were shorthanded. Earl Seibert defence man who accounted for the first two scores, rode alone from the middle of the ice to beat Tiny Thompson for the first goal after intercepting a pass. - Montreal Gazette, Dec. 23, 1938

Earl Seibert, who played a whale of a defense game for New York ... - Border Cities Star, Jan. 3, 1934

Earl Seibert's three solo rushes taxed the fatigued Americans so much that Trudell was able to skate around Jerwa with the puck and Dahlstrom had no trouble (cuts off here) ... - Chicago Tribune, Apr. 2, 1938

With Earl Seibert taking a big part in the attack, the Blue Shirts charged savagely, and swept into American ice often. - New York Times, Dec. 13, 1933

The mighty defensive of Ching Johnson and Earl Seibert in the second half smothered the American rushes time and time again, and a shutout victory loomed for Aitkenhead as the period closed. - New York Times, Dec. 9, 1932

Earl Seibert ploughed through the Boston defense to test the goalie with hard shots. - New York Times, Dec. 3, 1933

Ching Johnson and Earl Seibert, the regular Ranger defense pair, saw to it that the younger Rangers were used only for occasional relief duty. - Chicago Tribune, Jan. 20, 1935

Again Earl Seibert and Paul Thompson, main designers of Thursday's shutout in Chicago, played leading roles. Seibert fired the tying counter and Thompson, top scorer in the American division, won the game with a steaming shot from the left wing. - Calgary Daily Herald, Mar. 28, 1938, playoffs against Canadiens

Rangers' big shot was Earl Seibert, who sailed down the ice with the greatest of ease like the daring young man on the flying trapese and then sailed back again with equal effectiveness, in a great two-way display. - Montreal Gazette, Feb. 16, 1934

... big Earl Seibert getting two sensational "billiard shot" goals ... Seibert, fast-skating defenseman ... Seibert scored on two brilliant solo dashes ... - New York Times, March 25, 1938

With the score deadlocked and a teammate, Marty Burke, serving a penalty, Seibert, husky Hawk defense man, grabbed a loose puck, outraced several Americans and scored unassistsed, feinting goalie Worters out of the net before ramming the dist into the net. - New York Times, Dec. 21, 1936

With Earl Seibert starting most of the plays ... At this stage Ripley and Dillon charged into Boston ice and the latter passed to Seibert, who fought his way up to the net. ... Both teams put on the pressure, but finally Seibert drove down the right side, went around the net as Shore and Smith charged and then passed out to Cox, who knotted the count 3-all. ... After gambling desperately for seven minutes, the Rangers deadlocked the game for the third time on Boucher's shot. The speedy Seibert started the play and passed to Bun Cook after breaking over the Boston line. A minute later, on another play started by Seibert, Bun Cook split the Boston defense and caged a close-up shot that put the Rangers on top, 5-4. - New York Times, Feb. 14, 1934

... and in the third frame Earl Seibert clinched the victory with a thrilling solo tally. - New York Times, Feb. 19, 1934 ... Seibert interrupted one of their advances to snare the puck, dashed well into Boston ice and beat Thompson with a straight shot in 4:49. - New York Times, Feb. 19, 1934

In the middle chapter the Wings tried desperately to keep the play in Ranger territory, but sterling defensive work by Ching Johnson and Earl Seibert Aitkenhead out of danger. In addition to breaking up several Detroit advances, Seibert made a number of dashes into the visitors' zone and came close to scoring. - New York Times, Nov. 17, 1933

So efficient were the Ranger defensemen, particularly Ching Johnson and Earl Seibert, that Aitkenhead was called upon to make a total of only nine saves in the first two periods. - New York Times, Mar. 27, 1933

Seibert makes no secret of the resentment he feels over the trade which removed him from among Lester Patrick's Blue Shirts, and it is expected his defense play will be particularly keen. - New York Times, Jan. 21, 1936

The New Yorkers made their strongest bid in the second when they rattled sixteen shots at the Northerns' cage. Earl Seibert, the big defense star, played a large part in the Rangers' offensive in this session, and several times sent blistering shots that looked too hot for the Senator goalie to handle. - New York TImes, Dec. 22, 1933

And Ching Johnson and Earl Seibert, the New Yorkers' defensive stalwarts, evinced an eagerness for savage, bone-crushing contact that made it almost perilous, indeed, for the Canadiens who essayed to advance. - New York Times, Dec. 8, 1933

Earl Seibert and Ott Heller of the Rangers shared honors, with Eddie Shore and Babe Siebert as defensive standouts. They accorded their respective goalies considerable help in fending off powerful, well organized enemy attacks. - New York Times, Feb. 25, 1935

A penalty to Hal Cotton, for high sticking Brydson, opened the way for Chicago's first counter. Earl Seibert made a thrilling dash through the American defense, to get off a shot that bounced from Worters' stick. Paul Thompson took the rebound and handed the puck to Gottselig, who beat the New York goalie with a short drive in 14:05. - New York Times, Feb. 14, 1936

A crowd of 9,387 saw the Leafs offense disorganized by a strong Chicago attack led by Earl Seibert. - New York Times, Nov. 6, 1938
As effective as the Ranger attack was it was their defense that caught the fancy of many of the onlookers. Ching Johnson and Earl Seibert turned in their best performances of the local season and their relief men, Ott Heller and Harold Starr, spelled them commendably. - New York Times, Jan. 21, 1935

Detroit had big Earl Seibert, recently obtained in a swap for three players from the Black Hawks, in its line-up. Seibert, of course, turned in his usually dependable game ... - New York Times, Jan. 5, 1945

Fine defensive work by Earl Seibert marked the start of the second session. He was called upon twice to stop Detroit rushes and each time carried out his assignment brilliantly. - New York Times, Mar. 31, 1933

 

[EagleBelfour]

With our first selection, the 4th overall in this year All-Time Draft, the Detroit Falcons are proud to select, Monsieur Douglas Norman Harvey

Nickname: Dallying Doug
Height: 5'11''
Weight: 187 lbs
Position: Defense
Shoots: Left
Date of Birth: December 19, 1924
Place of Birth: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Date of Death: December 26, 1989 (Age: 65)

Stanley Cup Champion (1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
Stanley Cup Finalist (1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1968)
Memorial Cup Participation (1944, 1945)
Allan Cup Champion (1947)
NHL First All-Star Team Defence (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962)
NHL Second All-Star Team Defence (1959)
Played in NHL All-Star Game (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1969)
AHL Second All-Star Team Defence (1963)
James Norris Memorial Trophy (1953*, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962)
Team Captain (1960-1961)
Canada Sports Hall of Fame (1975)
Pantheon des Sports du Quebec (1995)
Hockey Hall of Fame (1973)
#2 Retired by the Montreal Canadiens (26th of October, 1985)

- #6 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (1998 edition)
- #9 on History of Hockey list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (2008 edition)
- #6 on History of Hockey list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players (2009 edition)
- Voted #1 defensive defenceman of All-Time by Hockey's 100
- Voted best passer of the 1950's by Ultimate Hockey
- Voted finest athlete of the 1950's by Ultimate Hockey
- Voted best Defensive Defenseman of the 1950's by Ultimate Hockey
- Voted smartest Player of the 1950's by Ultimate Hockey
- Voted on the 1950's Decade All-Star Defence

Seasons|GP|G|A|PTS|PIM
20|1113|88|452|540|1216

Top-20 Scoring (11th, 13th, 17th)
Top-20 Assist (2nd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th, 12th, 13th, 13th, 17th)
Top-10 Penalty minutes (3rd, 3rd)
Top-10 Scoring Among Defence (1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th, 7th, 8th)
Top-10 Goalscoring Among Defence (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 10th)
Top-10 Assist Among Defence (1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 7th, 8th)
Top-10 Penalty minutes Among Defence (2nd, 2nd, 6th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 10th)

Playoffs|GP|G|A|PTS|PIM
15|137|8|64|72|152

Top-10 Playoff Scoring (5th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 10th)
Top-10 Playoff Goalscoring (4th)
Top-10 Playoff Assist (2nd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 7th)
Top-10 Playoff Penalty minutes (4th, 8th, 8th, 10th)
Top-5 Playoff Scoring Among Defence (1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 4th)
Top-5 Playoff Goalscoring Among Defence (1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd)
Top-5 Playoff Assist Among Defence (1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 5th, 5th)
Top-5 Playoff Penalty minutes Among Defence (2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 5th)


Awards Nomination:

James Norris Memorial Trophy:
The James Norris Memorial Trophy didn't existed in Harvey's first five seasons in the NHL. He was a first All-Star Team member in 1951, 1952 and 1953, which mean he would of probably been a Top-2 Norris finalist in those 3 seasons.

1953-54: 2nd position (Red Kelly) (-64.8%)
1954-55: 1st position (+34.6%)
1955-56: 1st position (+62.2%)
1956-57: 1st position (+73.6%)
1957-58: 1st position (+22.2%)
1958-59: 4th position (Tom Johnson) (-47.8%)
1959-60: 1st position (+67.5%)
1960-61: 1st position (+67.9%)
1961-62: 1st position (+53.9%)

Hart Memorial Trophy:
1954-55: 5th position (Ted Kennedy) (-79.1%)
1955-56: 5th position (Jean Beliveau) (-88.3%)
1956-57: 5th position (Gordie Howe) (-84.7%)
1957-58: 3rd position (Gordie Howe) (-61.0%)
1958-59: 2nd position (Jacques Plante) (-36.2%)


Professional Career:

- In 1947-48, he started his NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens
- In 1960-61, he joined the New York Rangers as player-coach
- In 1966-67, he played two games with the Detroit Red Wings, more than four years after his last game in the NHL with the New York Rangers
- Harvey began the 1967-68 schedule with the Kansas City Blues of the CPHL before rejoining the NHL with expansion St. Louis for the playoffs. He played another full season with Blues before retiring for good
- In 1969, Harvey remained in hockey as the assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings, and later that year the head coach of the Laval Saints in the QJMHL.
- In 1973, he became an assistant coach and scout with the WHA's Houston Aeros
- In 1985, he was offered a scouting position with the Montreal Canadiens

Doug Harvey was unquestionably the top defenseman of his era. Along with Eddie Shore and Bobby Orr, he probably had the greatest impact of any player at that position. His dramatic rushes and superior defensive work allowed him to dominate the game. In a franchise deep in heroes, Harvey gained an immortal place in the storied history of the Montreal Canadiens. His role the Habs' record-setting five straight Cup wins from 1956 to 1960 was paramount.

His talent on the ice was matched by unqualified loyalty to the team.

Harvey proved to be an exceptionally talented and versatile player for the Habs. He quarterbacked the power play, set the tempo for the transitional game and the counterattack, defended tenaciously, blocked shots and intimidated the opposition by merely stepping on the ice. As much as any skater before or since, he was the complete player who meant everything to his team.

Dick Irvin very quickly discovered Harvey's greatest skill – the ability to control the temp of a game. Methodically, Doug carried the puck, at his own speed, surveying the ice landscape before he committed to any play. At first, it drove his coach and teammates to distraction, until they learned that there was method to Harvey's madness – the other team couldn't score if Doug controlled the puck.

In the 1953 Stanley Cup final, Montreal won Game Four by a 7-3 count, with Maurice Richard collecting a hattrick. The tandem of Butch Bouchard and Doug Harvey was particularly effective.

In the playoffs on 1968, St. Louis was playing Philadelphia in the seventh game of their quarter-final playoff series. Paired with veteran Al Arbour, Harvey and his partner played more than 40 minutes each in a 3-1 victory to clinch the series.

Against the Canadiens, the veteran kept the flying Habitants off balance with his knowledge of angles, clearing the puck unerringly and setting up St. Louis forays with his beautifully-timed passes.

Doug Harvey was the first defenseman in NHL history who ''quarterbacked'' his team. Playing from the blueline, Harvey would orchestrate the Canadiens’ style of ''fire wagon hockey'' with his ability to frame accurate passes. Not only was his passing a sight to behold but he could control game as he pleased.

Doug Harvey was the best defenseman in hockey during his heydays, and he ranks among the greatest of all time. He could check, block shots, rush the puck, stickhandle, and pass, but what made him truly unique was the way he could combine his skills to control the pace of the game.

Defenseman Douglas Harvey was so laconic in style, so calmly sure of himself, that he executed plays of extreme complexity with consummate ease.

He was a consummate craftsman, perhaps unmatched among defenseman for a union of style, wisdom, and strength.

Harvey was the Habs’ general, directing play, controlling pace, passing with uncanny accuracy, and busting the head of anyone who got in the way of him or his teammates.

Doug Harvey and Eddie Shore were cut from the same hockey cloth – tough, talented, unsentimental players who faced their opponents without pity.

Harvey could skate with anyone, had great puck-handling skills, and was rock solid inside his own blueline.

He wasn't the biggest or strongest or fastest, but he was likely second best in every category, making him the finest all-round defenceman by a country mile.

There is little doubt that Wayne Gretzky is the greatest playmaker ever. But have you ever considered who should be second?

How about Doug Harvey. He was the key to the Flying Frenchmen's fire wagon hockey that saw them win an unparalleled 5 consecutive Stanley Cups in the 1950s. In doing so Harvey revolutionized hockey with the introduction of transition offense.

While the Habs had a collection of Hall of Famers that were compiled to form arguably the greatest team in history, Doug was the key to their attack.

The first key to Doug's success was he was a flawless defender. Doug was so superb in one on one defensive battles that he would routinely steal the puck off the attacker as though he were picking cherries. He would rarely be beaten, and his teammates knew it.

Even more impressive was Doug's ability with the puck. He would rarely simply dump the puck out of the zone. He would be able to gain control of the puck and never give it up. At first he would drive fans and coaches crazy, as he wandered in front of the net with fore-checkers zooming in, but more often than not he would remain calm, and in an unhurried fashion spot a streaking forward with a pinpoint pass. Because of t his uncanny ability Montreal's superstar forwards could afford stay high and loosen up on their backchecking duties.

Harvey was also the quarterback of such a devastating power play that it was decided in 1956 to change the rules and allow a player to return to the ice if his team surrendered a power play goal.

Unlike a Bobby Orr or Paul Coffey, Doug wouldn't rush the puck out of his own zone. His thinking was the puck can move faster than any player on the ice, so why not utilize that as a tactic? He had this unique ability to draw in a forechecker which would then open up more ice for his teammates. [...] Harvey would plant a perfect pass to one of his forwards, creating an odd-man rush. In doing so, Harvey controlled the game perhaps better than any player in history. More often than not he would rag the puck to slow the game down, but he also knew exactly when to catch the other team by surprise with a perfectly placed pass into an open lane.

Doug Harvey is perhaps the greatest all-around defenseman of all time. He was not as offensively gifted as Bobby Orr but controlled in much the same degree if only a contrasting style. He was not as hard hitting as Eddie Shore, but he was known as one of the most physical yet clean defenders of his time.

Harvey controlled the game like Orr did, but where Orr controlled it by carrying the puck, by acting as a forward, Harvey would slow the pace down, then pick it up. He could control the game and was the epitome of the brilliant general on the blueline.

Harvey was the key to their attack. Most impressive was his ability with the puck. Doug’s flawless defensive style resulted in repeated turnovers, as he proved almost impossible to beat. Having picked the oncoming forward’s pocket for the puck, he would maintain control, ragging it, waiting patiently for a forward to break loose upon which he would hit him with a pinpoint pass creating another odd man rush. With his ultra-calm manner and surgeon like passing precision he single-handedly changed the game.

Not only is Doug Harvey arguably the greatest defenseman in Canadiens history, but he also changed the way the position is played for blue-liners who followed him. As the game’s first truly offensive rearguard, Harvey’s puck-control style helped pace the Habs’ offense during the 1950s, spawning a future generation of NHL power-play quarterbacks.

Big, strong and with a pronounced mean streak when the situation called for it, Harvey kept his side of the rink unwelcome territory for oncoming forwards, who quickly became reluctant to pay the price for trespassing.

A dedicated team player, Harvey passed up numerous scoring opportunities of his own, opting to pick up assists while helping teammates who had financial incentives tied to their goal production take home their bonus money.

His masterful stickhandling allowed him to control the puck for as long as he wished. It was often to the dismay of fans, coaches and opponents, who watched helplessly as the defenseman took chances that others dared not take, rarely being caught out of position or making a costly mistake.

Adept at speeding up the game with unerring passes that always seemed to find their target, Harvey could also slow things down if need be, taking the wind out of his opponents’ sails and allowing his teammates to catch their breath.

Among the greatest players to ever lace up skates, Harvey was invariably the smartest man on the ice.

Quotes:

- ''I'm not throwing any pucks away. I'm trying to do what's best for the team. That's why I take my time and make the play." - Doug Harvey, on his style of play

- ''I'm running them into the boards and banging them around one minute and because we win the Stanley Cup, that's going to change? I don't really like them anyway. Why should I shake their hands?'' - Doug Harvey, refusing to shake hand with the Boston Bruins after the 1953 Stanley Cup Final

- ''I think almost every team had a tough fella you had to be careful of. Not necessarily for fighting, but for bodychecking. Pierre Pilote. Fernie Flaman. Leo Boivin. Bobby Baun. Doug Harvey in Montreal. - Andy Bathgate on the toughest competitor in his time

- ''He was great, always willing to help.'' - Maurice Richard

- ''The greatest defenceman who ever played the game.'' - Jean Béliveau

- ''He was cool and deliberate.'' - Milt Schmidt

- ''If the game was 8-2, Doug Harvey might have a goal and an assist. If the score was 3-2, he'd have 2 or 3 points.'' - Hal Laycoe

- ''He was so good that he played mind games with the opposition. If he had Orr's legs, he would of been in that class - he was anyway, but he couldn't accelerate like Orr. Doug was more like a Mack Truck.'' - Howie Meeker

- ''And of course Harvey, we always thought that without Harvey on that team we could beat Montreal because he really was controlling the puck back on that blueline. He'd pick it up and take his time, get it out, move it out, get the guy in the open and throw it to him and away they'd go. To me, he was one of the greatest defenceman to ever play.'' - Martin Pavelich

- ''He was the best defenceman of our day. I never played with him, so I never knew him personally, but he was well respected.'' - George Armstrong

- ''One of the greatest player in the history of the game.'' - Pat Burns

- ''Harvey did what was expected of him. He was nobody’s fool. He was a smart player, someone tough who didn’t mind mixing it up. We all knew we had to bring our best to have a chance of beating him.'' - Dick Duff

- ''No player put my heart in my mouth like as often as Doug, but I learned to swallow in silence. His style was casual, but it worked. He made few mistakes, and, ninety-nine percent of the time correctly anticipated the play or the pass.'' - Toe Blake

- ''He could have played center, he could have played left wing, he could have played goal. There was no part of the game he couldn't do.'' - Tom Johnson

- ''All I know is that the son of a gun came out of nowhere to become the biggest thorn in the side of the Leafs in our glory days. He was an early Bobby Orr, except he did it at semi-slow motion. You always knew what was coming - you could see it happening - but you couldn't do anything about it.'' - Howie Meeker, remembering how his teammate came to fear Harvey's ability to control a game

- ''Doug played defence in a rocking chair.'' - Toe Blake

- ''He changed the whole game.'' - Bernard Geoffrion

-'' I would say Doug Harvey was tremendous. He was a great defensive and offensive player and he did everything with [ease]. He used to get the puck in front of the goaltender and Irvin would warn him that if he ever had the puck taken off his stick and it went in the net it will cost him $500. Dougie would irritate Irvin quite a bit [laughing] as he was standing there with the puck.'' - Elmer Lach, when asked which Hall of Famer he admired the most

- ''Doug Harvey was the greatest defenseman who ever played hockey, bar none. Usually, a defensemen specializes in one thing and builds a reputation around that, but Doug could do everything well. His style was casual, but it worked. He made few mistakes, and 99% of the time correctly anticipated the play or pass.'' - Dickie Moore

- ''It's like playing against (Wayne) Gretzky and (Bobby) Orr. It didn't matter what they did, they always beat you.'' - George Armstrong, comparing Doug Harvey to Gretzky and Orr

- ''No slight to Bobby Orr but Doug Harvey was the best defenseman ever to play the game.'' - Ted Lindsay

- ''As far as I'm concerned, Harvey's far and away the best defensemen ever." - Toe Blake


Biography & Personal Life:

Douglas Norman Harvey was born in Montreal's Notre Dame de Grace neighbourhood on December 19, 1924. A natural athlete from the time of his youth, Doug began playing organized hockey at the age of 13. First, as a goaltender: put there because of his diminutive size. He disliked being stuck in goal, so he was moved to centre. It was only later that he would be placed on defence, a position he would later revolutionize.

While Harvey excelled at hockey, many will argue that as great as he was on the ice, he was even better on the baseball diamond and the gridiron playing football. In 1942-43, as a member of the Montreal Navy, Harvey was recognize as the most valuable player in the Quebec Rugby Football Union. That squad won football's Grey Cup in 1944, although without their star halfback, Harvey, who was serving his country during the Second World War.

During World War II, Harvey was a gunner for a merchant ship in the north Atlantic. Upon his return from the war, Harvey served in the Navy. In the 1944-45 season, Harvey played hockey at the same time with the National Defence League's Donnaconas and also played football with the Montreal Hornets, the predecessor of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

In 1945-46, Doug graduated to the Royals' senior team, and helped the team win the Quebec Senior Hockey League championship. The next year, the Royals went all the way and collected the Allan Cup as Canada's premier senior hockey team. The same year, Doug also played semi-pro baseball with the Ottawa Nationals of the Class 'C' Border League. Harvey, a third baseman, missed much of the end of his baseball season as it took place at the same time as the Montreal Canadiens' training camp.

In his first training camp with the Canadiens, Harvey made quite an impression with his new club. The Montreal Gazette had this to say on the young defenseman: ''Doug Harvey can skate with the best of them, is big enough to horse around with any of those NHL hard guys, handles his stick expertly and has a head on his shoulders.''

Doug Harvey made the Montreal Canadiens, replacing Frank Eddolls, who had been traded to the New York Rangers. Doug was even given Eddolls' number 2 to wear with the Habs. Harvey joined a defence corps that included Butch Bouchard, Glen Harmon, Roger Leger and Ken Reardon. It took Doug a few seasons to assert himself as one of the league's premier defencemen, but by 1951-52, he was selected to the NHL's First All-Star Team for the first of ten times.

With Montreal, his skating ability and puck control skills combined with his shot blocking prowess and toughness were unequalled. Unlike modern defenceman of the like of Niklas Lidstrom and Bobby Orr, Harvey could dominate the game physically as well as with finesse serving up crunching body checks and open ice hits to the opposition when the situation dictated it.

At the offseason of 1956, Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey formed the first player’s union to fight for player’s rights. The league at that time was infamous in its disrespect for even the stars of the time. Both were furious that the owners had not matched the 900.00$ per year pension contributions as promised. The contribution by the owners came from All-Star Game tickets and a surcharge on playoff tickets, and not from their own pockets. Harvey and Lindsay, who had fought bloodied battles on the ice, joined forces to organize the players: ''We figured we could do better by the pension plans if we had an association and our own legal advisors,'' explained Harvey. Surprisingly, every players but one kicked in the 100.00$ necessary and the union was started. In 1957, Jimmy Thomson, the veteran defenceman and representative of the Toronto Maple Leafs, was the first to get traded for his involvement in the players union. A couple of years later, both Ted Lindsay and Doug Harvey, all-star players of their respective teams, got traded: all three, for little return. By 1960, the owners succeeded to scuttle the first attempt to form an union.

While the Montreal Canadiens organization argued that Harvey's trade was motivated by his age and flagging skill-set, Doug was never convinced. "It had to do with union activities," he stated firmly. "I was a First Team All-Star and won the Norris that year. You don't give away a player like that!" It would take another decade before the players finally gain control of their association.

Harvey then played two season with the New York Rangers. In 1961-62, he was named player-coach and with a 26-32-12 records, was able to squeeze his team into a playoff spot. This was the first time since 1958 and the last time in the Original Six era that the New York Rangers were able to obtain a playoff spot. Moreover, for his effort on the ice, he received his seventh and last James Norris trophy. The 1962-63 season was far less memorable for Harvey and the Rangers. In the fall of 1962, Harvey worked out an arrangement with the management where he could go home between games and didn't even have to practice. The Rangers finished 21 points out of a playoff spot and Harvey was left unprotected by the team.

It was the beginning of a tumultuous time for Doug. In 1963, Harvey signed with the Quebec Aces of the American Hockey League, where he spent two seasons. In 1965-66, Doug signed as a free agent with the AHL's Baltimore Clippers. Just before Christmas of 1966, he was traded to Providence of the AHL, but exercised a clause in his contract that allowed him to become a free agent if he was traded by the Clippers. In doing so, Harvey joined the Pittsburgh Hornets, the AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. During that 1966-67 season, he found himself back in the NHL for 2 games with the Detroit Red Wings.

During the summer of 1967, the newly-formed St. Louis Blues hired Doug to coach their affiliate franchise in Kansas City. Harvey was once again a playing-coach, and the team made the playoffs. But once they were eliminated, the parent Blues called up several players for their playoff run, including Gary Veneruzzo, Don McKenney and Doug Harvey. He also played the entire 1968-69 season with the Blues, but then, at the age of 44, retired from professional hockey.

During his hockey career and after, Doug Harvey was a troubling personality. He drove his teammates and coaches crazy with his tardiness, stubbornness and often berating ways. Years later, it would be determined Harvey was suffering from bipolar disorder, a manic-depressive disease. Back then, not much was known about the illness. During his playing days with the Montreal Canadiens, Harvey was a dedicated team player, but as the years passed, it was becoming harder and harder to put up with his heavy drinking.

Decades after his retirement, hard-living had taken its toll on Doug. In the mid-80's, Ronald Corey, who was at the time the president of the Canadiens, was informed of Doug's personal situation and hired him as a part-time scout. Indeed, one of hockey's greatest heroes was living in a railway car, a mobile living unit once used by prime minister John Diefenbaker, at an Ottawa-area race track drinking his life away. ''I go to those games anyway, and I'm sure I can help,'' later said Harvey, on his new job.

Unfortunately he would spend much of his last few years battling alcohol and mental illness. In 1988, Harvey was diagnosed with liver disease. ''It was just such a strange thing for us to see our father needy,'' admitted Darlene Petsche, the oldest of Doug's daughters. ''All his life he'd been a big, strong, athletic guy who could do anything.'' During the last weeks of his life, when asked about his life, he didn't regret a thing: ''If I had to do it over again,'' he said, ''I wouldn't have changed a thing.''

On December 26, 1989, reduced to a shell of his former robust self, Doug Harvey died of cirrhosis of the liver in Montreal General Hospital. He had stopped drinking three years before he passed away, but at that point it was too late. He had just celebrated his 65th birthday. If only Harvey had receive some help, perhaps he could of lived much longer. But, as Jean Beliveau pointed out, there is little that could of been done since Harvey didn't admit to needing help. Maurice Richard, a teammate and also a good friend of Harvey, said after Harvey's death: ''Everyone tried to put him on the right path, but there was nothing to be done.''

Although his behaviour at time was eccentric and erratic, Harvey was a beloved character by both his family and his teammate. Fans will always remember Harvey not for his latter years, but rather as one of the greatest defencemen of all-time.


Fun & Interesting Facts:

- In 1946, Doug played with the Montreal Royals alongside his brother, Howard, who played goaltender. They won the league championship that year.
- In the fall of 1947, Harvey declined an offer to play for the Boston Braves of the MLB, because the date interfere with the one of the Canadiens training camp
- On October 16, 1947, Harvey started his career with the Canadiens in a 2-1 loss to the Rangers
- In 1954, Harvey scored a Cup-losing own-goal when he tipped the puck with his glove, after a deflected shot by Tony Leswick of the Detroit Red Wings, past goalie Gerry McNeil
- On November 29, 1956, Harvey almost killed New York Rangers Red Sullivan, when he ruptured his spleen with a vicious spear
- For the 1957-58 season, Harvey was unanimously voted on the First All-Star team defence, a feat only achieve once before him, and four time since then
- In late-1959, Andy Bathgate wrote a controversial article, mentioning Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson, Fern Flaman, Pierre Pilote, Ted Lindsay and teammate Lou Fontinato as spearing specialists: ''None of them seems to care that he'll be branded as a hockey killer.'' (Bathgate was fine by the NHL for writing the article)
- In the 1961-62 season, Harvey became the only player to win a major individual playing award (James Norris Trophy) while coaching
- In 1962, with the New York Rangers, Harvey was the highest paid player in the league, with a salary of 30 000$
- With the Detroit Red Wings, Harvey wore the #5, as Gary Bergman played with the #2. It's the only time in his NHL career that Harvey wore a different number than his beloved #2
- Harvey is the only player in the history of the league to win a major individual award in consecutive years with different teams
- On October 1970, Harvey was unsuccessful to be elected to the Montreal city council
- Harvey was unanimously elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973. When invited to his own Hockey Hall of Fame Induction, the free spirited Harvey decided instead to go fishing
- Harvey is said to have played a key role in luring the Howe family to play with the Houston Aeros
- In 1984, fans of the Montreal Canadiens selected an all-time All-Star Team. Jacques Plante was chosen as goaltender, the forwards were Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore and Maurice Richard while the blueliners selected were Larry Robinson and Doug Harvey
- The government of Canada honoured Doug Harvey in 2000 with his image placed on a Canadian postage stamp
- One of Harvey's favourite pastime was fishing. His fishing trip included the like of Maurice Richard, Toe Blake and Gerry McNeil to name a few

Miscellaneous:

- ''As a kid I played my hockey in Notre Dame de Grace Park, Doug’s home base. He was playing in the Forum by then but came out at least once a week, put on his skates, threw a puck on the ice and challenged all of us to get it off him. I will always remember how we scrambled around as he deked in and out of the ten or twelve of us laughing the whole time, as we never did get that damn puck away from him. - Kevin Hunter

- ''I remember visiting him in the hospital and he was usually in good spirits. One time I was in the corridor and I heard laughter coming from his room. Inside, Bobby Orr and Don Cherry were there cheering up my dad.'' - Doug Harvey Jr.

- Always modest about his ability, Harvey once said he couldn't rate himself as a player because: ''I've never seen myself play''.


Signing &Trades:

June 13, 1961: Traded to the New York Rangers by the Montreal Canadiens for Lou Fontinato (NHL)
November 26, 1963: Signed as a free agent by the Quebec Aces (AHL)
June 10, 1965: Signed as a free agent by Baltimore Clippers (AHL)
December 23, 1966: Traded to the Providence Bruins for cash (AHL). He activated a contract clause that allowed him to become a free agent if traded by the Baltimore Clippers (AHL)
January 6, 1967: Signed with the Detroit Red Wings, but except two games, played with the Pittsburgh Hornets (AHL)
June 1, 1967: Signed as a free agent with the St-Louis Blues and named playing coach of the Kansas City Blues (CPHL)

Coaching:

Season|Position/Team|League|G|W|L|T|Outcome
1961-62|Player - Head Coach|NHL|70|26|32|12|4th in standing
| New York Rangers | Playoffs |6|2|4|| Lost semi-final vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
1967-68|Player - Head Coach|CPHL|70|31|29|10|2nd North Division
| Kansas City Blues | Playoffs |7|4|3|| Lost semi-final vs. Fort Worth Wings
1969-70|Ass. Coach|NHL|||||
| Los Angeles Kings ||||||
1969-70|Head Coach|QJMHL|16|4|12||
| Laval Saints ||||||
1973-74|Ass. Coach|WHA|||||
| Houston Aeros ||||||
1974-75|Ass. Coach|WHA|||||
| Houston Aeros ||||||

Abbreviation:

AHL: American Hockey League
CPHL: Central Professional Hockey League
MLB: Major League Baseball
NHL: National Hockey League
QJHL: Quebec Junior Hockey League
QJMHL: Quebec Junior Major Hockey League
WHA: World Hockey Association

Youtube Videos:


Other Videos:
http://video.stars.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=21742

Internet Sites:
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Lege...jsp?type=Player&mem=P197301&list=ByName#photo
http://www.sihrhockey.org/member_player_sheet.cfm?player_id=4925
http://www.sportshall.ca/accessible/hm_profile.php?i=249
http://habslegends.blogspot.com/2006/06/doug-harvey.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Harvey_(ice_hockey)#cite_note-0
http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Doug-Harvey
http://thehockeywriters.com/doug-harvey-greatest-of-them-all/
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/12/27/o...65-hockey-defenseman-in-the-hall-of-fame.html
http://denniskanemontrealcanadiens.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/remembering-doug-harvey/

*Retroactive Award attributed by Ultimate Hockey

 

[Dreakmur]

Andy Bathgate was a hockey stylist--an athletic, graceful skater who handled the puck with skill and flash. Known for his blazing, accurate shot, he was one of the first men to use the slapshot to overpower goaltenders. Bathgate was a creative playmaker on the ice and often did the unexpected, throwing off opposing defenders with imaginative feints and passes.

Despite the team’s record, Bathgate – who led the Rangers in scoring for eight straight seasons – proved to the archetypal all-around player. The Hall of Famer was a smooth skater, deft puckhandler, gifted playmaker, hard shooter and fierce competitor.

Whether stationary at the point or on the fly, Bathgate had one of the hardest slap shots in the game, but he also possessed an effective, accurate wrist shot and passed the puck with precision. As a stickhandler, his skill level brought to mind the dexterous stars of earlier eras.

Bathgate was a clever playmaker who always seemed to find the right spot on the ice to work his magic. His hard shot was also compared to that of Bobby Hull and Bernie Geoffrion.

Andy Bathgate was a strong skater, slick stickhandler, powerful shooter, and skilled playmaker.

Bathgate’s shot made him a threat to goaltenders around the league…. Although capable of playing a tough physical style, Andy was outspoken in his opposition to violence in hockey… in the 1964 Stanley Cup finals, Bathgate was outstanding.

Superb stickhandler. Superb shot. Great game strategist. Played for years and always played well.

He’s an expert on the power-play, where the Leafs need help, and he has an excellent shot.

Though truly an individualist on the ice and off, he always placed the team above his own accomplishments and was disappointed with the Rangers’ consistently poor performances.

The big right winger, who was as graceful as future star Wayne Gretzky and as physical as Rocket Richard was simply unstoppable…

Andy Bathgate at first appeared too much the pacifist for the NHL jungle. But he raised his dukes when necessary, licking such notorious hockey cops as Howie Young, then of the Red Wings, and Vic Stasiuk of the Bruins. By 1954-55, Andy was in the NHL to stay, and soon was being favorably compared with the greatest Ranger right winger, Bill Cook.

He was known as a smooth-skating playmaker who, through the ten years from 1955 to 1965, was among the most prolific forwards in the National Hockey League, despite playing with the struggling New York Rangers… Yet, surrounded with a lineup that often looked like it was held together with bandages and hockey tape, Bathgate was able to shine.

Bathgate was not a little guy – he was a big powerful man. They didn’t tangle with Andy Bathagte because he was big and strong, and if they tried to get smart with him, he’d answer them back. He wasn’t reluctant to, you know, hit back, but he didn’t feel that it was necessary. He’d rather score a goal than take a penalty.

Like Howe, Bathgate could play the physical game and was known as a fierce fighter when the occasion warranted it.

Bathgate didn’t go looking for trouble, but as the Rangers’ top gunner he was often the target of enemy bullies. He provided his own protection. The same lightning reflexes that served him as a goal-scorer ad play-maker made him equally quick with his fists. When Detroit’s bad boy, Howie Young, wouldn’t stop tormenting him with his stick, Andy ripped the lumber out of Howie’s hands, dropped his gloves, and cleaned Young’s clock. Hulking Vic Stasiuk of the Bruins challenged Bathgate with his fists in the first and third periods of a game and came off second best on both occasions.

Andy Bathgate !!!​

Awards and Achievements:
Stanley Cup Champion (1964)
Hart Trophy Winner (1959)
2 x First Team All-Star (1959, 1962)
2 x Second Team All-Star (1958, 1963)
8 x All-Star Games (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964)

Hart Voting – 1st(1959), 2nd(1958), 3rd(1957), 5th(1962), 8th(1956)

Scoring Achievements:
Points – 1st(1962), 2nd(1963), 3rd(1958), 3rd(1959), 3rd(1960), 4th(1957), 4th(1961), 4th(1964), 5th(1956), 17th(1968), 19th(1955), 19th(1965)
Goals – 3rd(1959), 4th(1963), 5th(1958), 6th(1961), 6th(1962), 8th(1957), 9th(1960), 12th(1955), 13th(1956)
Assists – 1st(1962), 1st(1964), 2nd(1956), 2nd(1958), 2nd(1959), 2nd(1960), 3rd(1957), 4th(1961), 4th(1963), 11th(1968), 14th(1965), 14th(1966)

5 Year Peak (1959 to 1963)
1st in Points and 2nd in Points per Game (Jean Beliveau)
2nd in Goals and 5th in Goals per Game (Jean Beliveau, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Frank Mahovlich)
1st in Assists and 2nd in Assists per Game (Jean Beliveau)

10 Year Peak (1956 to 1965)
2nd in Points and 3rd in Points per Game (Jean Beliveau and Gordie Howe)
3rd in Goals and 8th in Goals per Game (Jean Beliveau, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Frank Mahovlich, Maurice Richard, Bernie Geoffrion, Camile Henry)
1st in Assists and 1st in Assists Per Game

Play-off Points – 7th(1966), 8th(1964)
Play-off Goals – 1st(1966), 4th(1964), 5th(1958)

Play-off Scoring Review:
1956 – 2nd on team in Points, Goals, and Assists.
1957 – 1st on team in Goals.
1958 – 1st on team in Goals and Points. 2nd on team in Assists.
1962 – 3rd on team in Assists.
1964 – 2nd on team in Goals.
1965 – 4th on team in Goals.
1966 – 1st on team in Goals.

I always felt that making good passes was more important than how many goals you could get. At certain levels, you'd score, but when I played a year above my age range, I learned early that you move the puck and get in the open. I really enjoyed that and I built my career around puck movement rather than trying to be a big goal scorer.

Management wins Stanley Cups. Players can only do their best. You've got to bring the right ingredients to make a Stanley Cup winner and if the manager is not doing his job, the players can only do so much. You produce and do what's right, but if you don't have the talent there, you're not going to win many games.