Keith Acton ? Help ! My memory fails me.

[Michel Beauchamp]

Just saw that Keith Acton led the Canadiens in scoring in 1981-82, with 36 goals and 52 assists.

I almost fell down from my chair.

Who was he playing with ?

Click to read more...

 

[Normand Lacombe]

It appears Acton was paired mostly with Lafleur and Shutt or Gaston Gingras by watching a few youtube highlights. With Shutt only playing 57 games that year, perhaps Mark Napier filled in at LW as well. Maybe @Canadiens1958 would know more and correct me.

 

[Michel Beauchamp]

It appears Acton was paired mostly with Lafleur and Shutt or Gaston Gingras by watching a few youtube highlights. With Shutt only playing 57 games that year, perhaps Mark Napier filled in at LW as well. Maybe @Canadiens1958 would know more and correct me.

So he basically had his Rob Brown/Kevin Stevens moment ?

 

[Normand Lacombe]

So he basically had his Rob Brown/Kevin Stevens moment ?

That's one way to look at it. To be fair to Acton, he played 15 years in the NHL and was a good, feisty player who could get under opponents skins.

 

[Pominville Knows]

That's one way to look at it. To be fair to Acton, he played 15 years in the NHL and was a good, feisty player who could get under opponents skins.

Plus that Stevens was no bum on his own. Matbe later after the face smash and drugs got a hold of him.

 

[The Panther]

He was with Edmonton in 1988 briefly, and he certainly did have some skill (fun fact: he scored 2 goals in the '88 playoffs, and both were game winners). A long time with Minnesota before that.

The thing with Montreal in 1981-82 is that they were so defensively focused. With Lafleur missing games, somebody had to lead them in scoring... might as well be Acton!

 

[Thenameless]

Plus that Stevens was no bum on his own. Matbe later after the face smash and drugs got a hold of him.

I'd say he was up there with Neely for best power forward of the time, until Lindros arrived. Too bad so many unfortunate things happened in his life.

 

[FerrisRox]

It appears Acton was paired mostly with Lafleur and Shutt or Gaston Gingras by watching a few youtube highlights. With Shutt only playing 57 games that year, perhaps Mark Napier filled in at LW as well. Maybe @Canadiens1958 would know more and correct me.

Hard to give Gaston Gingras much credit for Acton's success. He didn't even play half a season and as a defenseman, wouldn't have been exclusively paired with Acton even when he did.

 

[VanIslander]

The change in Ricci's game was compared to Acton's back when Mike had to play behind Sakic & Forsberg, going from offensive to defensive role and embracing the change.

 

[tony d]

Quite interesting. Usually when you think of Keith Acton you think defense but the guy, as shown here had an offensive game as well. Overall he had a good career mainly as a defensive forward.

 

[Canadiens1958]

It appears Acton was paired mostly with Lafleur and Shutt or Gaston Gingras by watching a few youtube highlights. With Shutt only playing 57 games that year, perhaps Mark Napier filled in at LW as well. Maybe @Canadiens1958 would know more and correct me.

Yes mainly Lafleur and Shutt as his wingers with Houle and Napier as injury fill-ins. After Larouche was traded before Christmas. Acton's PP time increased. Arguably his best PP season. Played well with Gingras manning one of the points

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

a lesser ken linseman?

 

[crobro]

Acton was one of the best skaters I’ve ever seen

 

[Normand Lacombe]

Plus that Stevens was no bum on his own. Matbe later after the face smash and drugs got a hold of him.

Every team in the league would have taken Stevens to be on their team. Wasn't disrespecting him at all.

 

[Normand Lacombe]

Hard to give Gaston Gingras much credit for Acton's success. He didn't even play half a season and as a defenseman, wouldn't have been exclusively paired with Acton even when he did.

Ferris, thanks for the correction.