Great seasons by mediocre players

[VMBM]

Disclaimer: please don't take the word 'mediocre' too literally (alternatives: non-legendary, good but not great etc.)

Not being really an expert in NHL history, it was totally new to me that a player like Dennis Maruk had one monster season (1981-82), when he scored 136 points. He never hit even 100 pts before or after that.

Can you name some other examples of these kind of seasons, and maybe your analysis why it happened - if there's any rational explanation. Another player I can think of is Vic Hadfield in 1971-72 (106 pts, usually a 50-70 point scorer), much thanks to Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert.

Click to read more...

 

[BostonAJ]

Rob Brown's name is all over this thread.

1988-89 68GP 49G-66A-115P with Mario Lemieux. Never came anywhere near that again.

 

[unknown33]

A recent example: Jonathan Cheechoo

 

[matnor]

Bernie Nicholls seems like a given considering he is 5th on highest scoring single season.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Adam Graves and his 52 goals in 1993-94

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Probably several goalies in this one who looked unbeatable before the league figured them out.

Start with Jim Carey and Jose Theodore during their Vezina years and add Andrew Raycroft during his Calder year.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

if we're talking about career offensive years by players who never came close to those totals again, brent sutter's big year with mike bossy comes to mind.

 

[matnor]

Biggest gap between highest and second highest point scoring seasons (minimum 80 points):

Name | Points highest | Points 2nd highest | Difference
Jacques Richard |103| 43| 60
Pat LaFontaine |148| 105| 43
Dennis Maruk |136| 97 |39
Bernie Nicholls |150| 112 |38
Bob MacMillan |108 |71 |37
Herb Cain |82 |45 |37
Blair MacDonald |94 |57| 37
Rob Brown |115 |80| 35
Brent Sutter |102 |68| 34
Wayne Babych |96| 63| 33

Biggest gap between highest and second highest goal scoring seasons (minimum 40 goals):

Name | Goals highest | Goals 2nd highest | Difference
Scott Bjugstad |43| 11| 32
Wayne Babych |54| 27| 27
Jacques Richard |52 |27| 25
Teemu Selanne |76| 52| 24
Bernie Nicholls |70 |46| 24
Blair MacDonald| 46 |24 |22
Rick Kehoe |55 |33 |22
Bob Carpenter |53 |32 |21
Alexander Mogilny |76 |55| 21
Craig Simpson |56 |35 |21

Biggest gap between highest and second highest assist scoring seasons (minimum 60 assists):

Name | Assists highest | Assists 2nd highest | Difference
Pat LaFontaine| 95| 51| 44
Bob MacMillan |71| 39| 32
Wayne Gretzky |163| 135| 28
Tim Young |66 |43 |23
Daniel Briere| 63| 41| 22
Brent Sutter |60| 38| 22
Kent Nilsson |82 |62| 20
Rob Brown |66| 47| 19
Evgeni Malkin |78 |59| 19
Sergei Zubov |77| 58| 19

As you can see Gretzky is clearly a one hit wonder.

Obviously some of the other guys don't belong here either. For instance, the infamous 92/93 season is causing the spike for Selänne, Lafontaine and Mogilny. Anyone care to fill us in on the story of Jacques Richard? The difference from 103 to 43 points is dramatic.

Edit: From wikipedia:

Jacques Richard had a spectacular junior career with the Quebec Remparts, scoring 186 goals and 213 assists for 399 points in only 169 games. Playing with Guy Chouinard and Andre Savard he was a significant component of a devastating trio. At the time Richard was considered by some to have equal, if not more, pro potential than teammate Guy Lafleur.

Seems similar to Jimmy Carson. His 103 point season came from playing with the Stastnys. Was he in any way related to Maurice and Henri (of course Richard is a common name)?

Edit2: Removed Gionta (scored 28 goals this season, his previous second high was 25 goals).

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Rob Brown's name is all over this thread.

1988-89 68GP 49G-66A-115P with Mario Lemieux. Never came anywhere near that again.

A number of guys that had one season riding the wing with either Lemieux or Gretzky would qualify.

Wendell Young (Lemieux) comes to mind... 40G 32A 72Pts

 

[skeena1]

A number of guys that had one season riding the wing with either Lemieux or Gretzky would qualify.

Wendell Young (Lemieux) comes to mind... 40G 32A 72Pts

I think you might mean Warren Young.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Jacques Richard

Biggest gap between highest and second highest point scoring seasons (minimum 80 points):

Name | Points highest | Points 2nd highest | Difference
Jacques Richard |103| 43| 60
Pat LaFontaine |148| 105| 43
Dennis Maruk |136| 97 |39
Bernie Nicholls |150| 112 |38
Bob MacMillan |108 |71 |37
Herb Cain |82 |45 |37
Blair MacDonald |94 |57| 37
Rob Brown |115 |80| 35
Brent Sutter |102 |68| 34
Wayne Babych |96| 63| 33

Biggest gap between highest and second highest goal scoring seasons (minimum 40 goals):

Name | Goals highest | Goals 2nd highest | Difference
Scott Bjugstad |43| 11| 32
Wayne Babych |54| 27| 27
Jacques Richard |52 |27| 25
Teemu Selanne |76| 52| 24
Bernie Nicholls |70 |46| 24
Brian Gionta |48 |25| 23
Blair MacDonald| 46 |24 |22
Rick Kehoe |55 |33 |22
Bob Carpenter |53 |32 |21
Alexander Mogilny |76 |55| 21

Biggest gap between highest and second highest assist scoring seasons (minimum 60 assists):

Name | Assists highest | Assists 2nd highest | Difference
Pat LaFontaine| 95| 51| 44
Bob MacMillan |71| 39| 32
Wayne Gretzky |163| 135| 28
Tim Young |66 |43 |23
Daniel Briere| 63| 41| 22
Brent Sutter |60| 38| 22
Kent Nilsson |82 |62| 20
Rob Brown |66| 47| 19
Evgeni Malkin |78 |59| 19
Sergei Zubov |77| 58| 19

As you can see Gretzky is clearly a one hit wonder.

Obviously some of the other guys don't belong here either. For instance, the infamous 92/93 season is causing the spike for Selänne, Lafontaine and Mogilny. Anyone care to fill us in on the story of Jacques Richard? The difference from 103 to 43 points is dramatic.

Edit: From wikipedia:



Seems similar to Jimmy Carson. His 103 point season came from playing with the Stastnys. Was he in any way related to Maurice and Henri (of course Richard is a common name)?

Jacques Richard - lifestyle choices. Did time for importing. Deceased.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Wayne Babych was just starting to blossom when he suffered the shoulder injury that basically destroyed his ability to play at a high level. He had the 54 goals and 96 points as a 22-year-old, then was injured the next year during the preseason.

 

[reckoning]

Jacques Richard's career is one of the saddest stories in NHL history. A reminder of how easy it is for a young pro athlete to succumb to bad influences from the wrong crowd. Who knows how great he could've been if he was drafted by another franchise who might've forced him to shape up.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Atlanta

Jacques Richard's career is one of the saddest stories in NHL history. A reminder of how easy it is for a young pro athlete to succumb to bad influences from the wrong crowd. Who knows how great he could've been if he was drafted by another franchise who might've forced him to shape up.

Atlanta drafted him but the problem was going back to his home town, Quebec City and the old neighbourhood.

 

[Big Phil]

Atlanta drafted him but the problem was going back to his home town, Quebec City and the old neighbourhood.

Ah, was that the reason? The Darryl Strawberrry factor. Too bad.


A couple of other players I can think of:

Blair MacDonald - if you've never heard of him you just made the point of anyone proving that Gretzky could inflate a fire hydrant's totals

Anyone else wonder how Daniel Briere got 95 points?

Bronco Horvath although he had a couple good years with Bucyk but never as good as his 80 point year

Herb Cain wouldn't have been heard of if not for WWII

Jean Pronovost put up good numbers playing with a young Pierre Larouche. 104 points to be exact. Never more than 75 any other time.

Tim Young, 95 points in 1977

 

[Canadiens1958]

A Few.............

Garry Leeman, one great year with the Leafs.

Kjell Dahlin, faded after an impressive 1/2 season with the 1985-86 Canadiens.

Phil Roberto 1970-71 Canadiens looked good playing mainly with F. Mahovlich and Beliveau.

Randy Cunneyworth with Mario.

Gary Aldcorn with Detroit mainly with Howe and Delvecchio. Parker MacDonald likewise.

Erroll Thompson with the Leafs - Sittler and McDonald.

 

[arrbez]

Biggest gap between highest and second highest point scoring seasons (minimum 80 points):

Name | Points highest | Points 2nd highest | Difference
Jacques Richard |103| 43| 60
Pat LaFontaine |148| 105| 43
Dennis Maruk |136| 97 |39
Bernie Nicholls |150| 112 |38
Bob MacMillan |108 |71 |37
Herb Cain |82 |45 |37
Blair MacDonald |94 |57| 37
Rob Brown |115 |80| 35
Brent Sutter |102 |68| 34
Wayne Babych |96| 63| 33

Biggest gap between highest and second highest goal scoring seasons (minimum 40 goals):

Name | Goals highest | Goals 2nd highest | Difference
Scott Bjugstad |43| 11| 32
Wayne Babych |54| 27| 27
Jacques Richard |52 |27| 25
Teemu Selanne |76| 52| 24
Bernie Nicholls |70 |46| 24
Brian Gionta |48 |25| 23
Blair MacDonald| 46 |24 |22
Rick Kehoe |55 |33 |22
Bob Carpenter |53 |32 |21
Alexander Mogilny |76 |55| 21

Biggest gap between highest and second highest assist scoring seasons (minimum 60 assists):

Name | Assists highest | Assists 2nd highest | Difference
Pat LaFontaine| 95| 51| 44
Bob MacMillan |71| 39| 32
Wayne Gretzky |163| 135| 28
Tim Young |66 |43 |23
Daniel Briere| 63| 41| 22
Brent Sutter |60| 38| 22
Kent Nilsson |82 |62| 20
Rob Brown |66| 47| 19
Evgeni Malkin |78 |59| 19
Sergei Zubov |77| 58| 19

Any idea what the biggest differences are on a percentage basis? Total points obviously skews towards modern players, specifically those from the 80's.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

I think you might mean Warren Young.

Yes, Warren Young... so mediocre that I couldn't even remember his name properly

 

[matnor]

Any idea what the biggest differences are on a percentage basis? Total points obviously skews towards modern players, specifically those from the 80's.

Sure, here's the list:

Biggest gap between highest and second highest point scoring seasons in percentage (minimum 80 points):

Name | Points highest | Points 2nd highest | Difference in %
Jacques Richard |103| 43| 140%
Herb Cain |82| 45 |82%
Blair MacDonald |94| 57| 65%
Chuck Lefley |85| 54| 57%
Wayne Babych| 96| 63| 52%
Bob MacMillan |108 |71 |52%
Brent Sutter |102| 68| 50%
Brian Gionta |89| 60| 48%
Errol Thompson |80 |54| 48%
Al MacAdam |93 |63| 48%

Biggest gap between highest and second highest goal scoring seasons in percentage (minimum 40 goals):

Name | Goals highest | Goals 2nd highest | Difference in %
Scott Bjugstad |43 |11 |291%
Wayne Babych |54 |27 |100%
Jacques Richard|52 |27| 93%
Blair MacDonald |46| 24| 92%
Dit Clapper |41| 22| 86%
Warren Young| 40 |22| 82%
Chuck Lefley |43| 24| 79%
Brian Bradley |42| 24 |75%
Ron Sedlbauer |40 |23| 74%
Cooney Weiland |43|25 |72%

Biggest gap between highest and second highest assist scoring seasons in percentage (minimum 60 assists):

Name | Assists highest | Assists 2nd highest | Difference in %
Pat LaFontaine |95| 51 |86%
Bob MacMillan |71 |39 |82%
Brent Sutter |60|38| 58%
Daniel Briere |63| 41| 54%
Tim Young |66 |43| 53%
Ron Schock |63 |44| 43%
Rob Brown |66 |47 |40%
Paul MacLean |60 |44 |36%
Bill Barber |62 |46 |35%
Andrew Cassels |64 |48 |33%

Apart from throwing out Gionta, this does not include this season in which case Stamkos would be on the list (but he doesn't fit the topic anyway).

 

[tarheelhockey]

Anybody got the story on Bjugstad?

 

[Hoser]

Anybody got the story on Bjugstad?

Neal Broten, Dino Ciccarelli, Brian Bellows and Kent Nilsson.

 

[RECsGuy*]

Bernie Nicholls seems like a given considering he is 5th on highest scoring single season.

*1245 GP - 517 G - 806 A - 1323 PTS

No. 43 on the NHL's all-time career points list

Bernie Nicholls: not mediocre

Zip it, mongoloid.


*reg. seas./ playoffs combined

 

[Fire Sweeney]

I'd like to know how Rob Brown can be considered mediocre when he scored 76 goals and 212 points in a single season in the WHL. The guy clearly had skills.

 

[matnor]

*1245 GP - 517 G - 806 A - 1323 PTS

No. 43 on the NHL's all-time career points list

Bernie Nicholls: not mediocre

Zip it, mongoloid.


*reg. seas./ playoffs combined

As the OP stated the player need not be mediocre. But I think it's safe to say Nicholls is not the fifth best player of all time.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'd like to know how Rob Brown can be considered mediocre when he scored 76 goals and 212 points in a single season in the WHL. The guy clearly had skills.

Youtube or it didn't happen