MLD 2015 bio thread

[VanIslander]

center Ron Sutter, the Selke finalist defensive pivot who centered the Flyers second line for most of a decade, including two trips to the Stanley Cup Finals. On the first cup run he scored 12 playoff points including a team-tying high four even strength goals despite having a shadowing defensive role primarily. He was injured at the start of their next cup run but had eight points by Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, his main job was defending against opposing top centers, like Gretzky and Lemieux. The highest drafted Sutter brother ever had a career plagued by injuries, due in part to his all-out style, but he played through them to a 1000+ NHL game career, though his eight years on Philly are clearly his greatest. He captained the Flyers for two seasons, including a Game 6 Conference Finals run, before being traded in the deal to bring Brind'amour to Philly.

... tenacity, defensive excellence and natural leadership ability

Sutter was a key member of the great Flyers teams of the 80's, and although he did not put up the offensive numbers as some of his teammates, his role was all that much greater to the team.

Sutter personified the stigma of a player that opponents most hated to play against. His tenacity and passion on the ice earned him the respect of every person in the locker room.

He was your go-to-guy whose enormous task was always to shut down the star of the other team – which he most often accomplished.

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=73298

He’s your ultimate team guy, who thought first about team stats than his personal stats. He was always willing to help teammates not just on the ice, but go that extra mile off the ice as well.

FLYERS' SUTTER READY TO FACE GRETZKY

The list has grown more formidable as the playoffs have progressed. First there was Bryan Trottier, then Peter Stastny and now Wayne Gretzky will be looking Ron Sutter in the eye.

Ron was the highest drafted Sutter ever, going 4th overall to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1982 despite missing part of his final year of junior with a broken ankle.

Ron was never expected to put up great offensive numbers, although he would put up decent numbers during his Philly days. Instead, he was the guy who would try to shutdown the opposition's top player such as Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux. Sutter's defensive excellence was recognized around the league. In 1985-86 he finished as runner up to Chicago's Troy Murray in league voting as the best defensive forward.

Because of his tenacity, defensive excellence and natural leadership ability, Ron was instantly compared to Bobby Clarke - the Flyers Legend. Those comparisons were ultimately a little lofty as Ron's game lacked offensive polish, although Ron was certainly a key member of the Flyers during the 1980s.

The Flyers had some great years in the 1980s, and twice made the Stanley Cup finals, only to fall short to the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers led by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. The Flyers had the likes of Tim Kerr, Mark Howe and later Ron Hextall in their lineup. Those were some good exciting times to be a Flyers fan.

The 1987 Stanley Cup finals in particular are most memorable. Considered by many as one of the greatest championship series ever played, the Flyers pushed Gretzky's Oilers to the limit. The series took a full seven games to complete.

Had Ron Sutter been fully healthy, the Flyers might have had just enough to knock off the dynastic Oilers. Ron missed half of the season and the start of the playoffs with a stress fracture in his lower back. Despite the debilitating injury, Sutter came back to for the playoffs and played through immense pain.

Pain was nothing new to any of the Sutters. They're all-out style of play led to many injuries. In addition to the back and ankle injuries already mentioned, some of the more serious injuries Ron had to battle through in his career include broken ribs, pulled hip flexor, right knee ligament damage, abdominal pulls, seperated shoulders and the always troublesome groin pull.

Of course none of these injuries altered the way Ron would play, which likely made it tough for Mother and Father Sutter to watch hockey.

By 1988 Ron began enjoying his best years offensively. The Flyers were starting their downward cycle and as a result there was more playing time for Ron, which meant more offensive opportunity. He played often on a line with Brian Propp and Rick Tocchet. By December Ron became captain of the team, taking over from Dave Poulin. It was a great compliment to Ron, as he epitomized what Flyers hockey is all about.

By the early 1990s the Flyers were going through their leanest years since they were an expansion team. The house was cleaned including Ron, who was traded to St. Louis in the deal that brought Rod Brind'Amour to Philadelphia.

Ron played well in St. Louis until 1993-94 when he was traded to Quebec. His stay there was brief, as was his next stop. By 1996 he found a home with the San Jose Sharks for 4 years, but was strictly a 4th liner. In 2000-01 he signed with the Flames by mid season. He was clearly not the player that he used to be, but he was a good influence in the dressing room and a good faceoff man.

Ron Sutter played 1093 games, registering 205 goals, 328 assists and 533 points, not to mention 1352 PIM.

http://broadstreetbullies.blogspot.kr/2006/05/ron-sutter.html

Click to read more...

 

[Elvis P]

Matty Norstrom played in 2 All-Star games, spent 6 years on a top pair, and was top 8 4 times in Power Play Goals On-Ice Against as you can see. He was also the Captain of the Kings and had a distinguished international career including 2 Olympics.

...Norstrom spent 6 years as a 1/2, 5 years as a 3/4...

Power Play Goals On-Ice Against
2000-01 NHL 41 (6)
2002-03 NHL 45 (1)
2003-04 NHL 35 (6)
2005-06 NHL 48 (8)

All-Star Games
1999 NHL
2004 NHL

http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/n/norstma01.html

When Rob Blake returned to Kings on 1 July 2006, for the 2006–07 season, Norström called him and offered the captaincy back to Blake. Blake refused at his presentation press conference and told the media that he regarded 'Matty' as obvious captain and the 'core and soul' of the Kings. ...

1992 IIHF – Silver medal World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
1997 IIHF – Silver medal Ice Hockey World Championship
1998 IIHF – Gold medal World Championships
2003 IIHF – Silver medal Ice Hockey World Championship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mattias_Norström

Norstrom, who has been a durable player over the years has also made himself available to his country when called upon. He is a two-time member of Sweden's Olympic Team (1998 and 2002), six-time member of it's World Championship Team (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2005) and two-time member of its World Cup Team (1996 and 2004).

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11207

 

[ResilientBeast]

Post them here

 

[seventieslord]

Marty Burke, D

- 5'8", 160 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1930, 1931)
- 5th in defensemen all-star voting (1932)
- Best defense vsx scores: 54, 41, 40, 28, 25, 23
- Played 11 full seasons in a highly competitive era with just 24-32 full-time jobs (average SRS +0.10)
- Missed just 22 games in 11 seasons

Defenceman Marty Burke played nearly 500 games in the 1920s and '30s. He was a adept at taking opposition forwards out of the play and feeding the puck up to his forwards. He could also play a nastier brand of hockey if matters on the ice required it.

The Toronto native played with the St. Mary's junior and senior squads before spending two years with the Stratford Indians of the OHA senior league. After playing the 1926-27 season with the Port Arthur Ports, Burke joined the Montreal Canadiens for eleven games then was loaned to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the remainder of the schedule. He returned to Montreal the next year and remained a member of their defensive brigade for nearly five years. He was an integral part of the club that won consecutive Stanley Cups in 1930 and 1931.

Following a trade, Burke spent the last 16 games of the schedule on the Ottawa Senators before returning to Montreal for the 1933-34 season. On October 3, 1934 he was part of a major trade that saw Lorne Chabot and Howie Morenz join him in Chicago in return for Lionel Conacher, Roger Jenkins, and Leroy Goldsworthy. Burke spent over three years solidifying the Hawks defense then returned to the Canadiens early in the 1937-38 season. Burke retired that spring then spent a year coaching the senior Saskatoon Quakers.

Like Cy Wentworth, Marty Burke very likely will never be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, because he focused strictly on playing defense. That's how it was, mostly, in the 1930s. Defenders like Burke just stayed back while the forwards strutted their stuff on offense. It was Burke's job to shut down such flashy attempts by the other team, usually in emphatic physical fashion.

Frequent mention of his fine defensive support for Chabot finally got Burke some recognition. He was as effective the following year in front of rookie goaler Mike Karakas.

In 494 career NHL games, Marty Burke scored just 19 goals and 66 points. But he was a solid defensive defenseman who was a nice part of two Stanley Cup championships.

The game ended when defenseman Marty Burke broke up a Boston attack and carried the puck down the ice. Center Pit Lepine was on his left; winger Wildor Larouchelle was open on the right. Burke passed to Larouchelle at a bad angle. The crowd rose to its feet. Larouchelle faked a shot to the far side. Tiny Thompson shifted that way. Larouchelle pulled the puck back, snapped his wrists, and picked the opening.

Burke was a rough defenseman...

Burke will likely prove a tower of strength on the defense.

Marty Burke, crack defense star who came here from Les Canadians... Will be injected into the pirate combination against the Hawks... Both McCaffrey and Burke arrived in town today. The latter played his last game at the flying Frenchmen against maroons Thursday night… Burke is certain to start with Smith on the defense… With Burke and McCaffrey in the fold the pirate followers are looking for the Bucs to come through with their first victory of the season tonight.

manager Cleghorn will likely have to get along without the services of Marty Burke, his star defenseman, who has been laid up with a severe cold since his team arrived from Chicago.

Pittsburgh Pirates, sensation of the American section of the NHL, will meet Ottawa here Thursday night… Right now pirates are trampling roughshod all over opposition. From being a doormat of the league they have become in a month the most feared team in the NHL… It all came about because of the trade that on the surface looked inconsequential... pirates were desperate and sold Charlie Langlois to Canadians and Marty Burke, who couldn't get sufficient work with the habitants, and then had the disability of not having a French name, was shunted to smoketown. Bert McCaffrey couldn't jibe with Connie Smythe in Toronto, and he figured in a roundabout trade which sent arbor to Chicago and Rodden Toronto. the two Irishmen met in Pittsburgh and they settle down to the business of stiffening up the pirate defense.… After a few games Pirates were back on the hockey map and the squalpeens that Tumbling all and sundry were Burke and McCaffrey, the Irish defenseman who were not good enough for other teams. Connie Smythe would give a lot to have McCaffrey now, and Cecil Hart must often repent of sending Burke to Pittsburgh… In any event it was a Tradewind that has blown Pittsburgh into a chance for a playoff…

Herbie Gardiner will be missing from the defence, having been sold to Chicago where he is acting as manager. In his place there will be the find of last season, Marty Burke. This youngster was loaned by Canadiens to Pittsburgh last year and twice during the season he turned back his former mates and was actually responsible for their defeat by the Pirates on their own ice. Mantha will pair with Burke on the regular defence, making one of the strongest back-lines in the major league.

Marty Burke, stellar Canadien defenseman had his right ear cut by a skate and was forced to retire for medical attention... Canadians were the better in the second session and in the third up until Burke was injured.

Marty Burke will likely be back with them against the Hawks and the defence will be accordingly strengthened. Canadiens' defence did not look any too good against Ottawa with the sturdy Irishman sitting on the bench in civvies.

An injury to Frank Boucher put the Rangers out of calculations for winning of the Stanley Cup. Frank Boucher, second high scorer in the league, and Ranger candidate for the most valuable player trophy, suffered a broken collar bone in a crash with Marty Burke, of the Canadiens.

Marty Burke started the play. He moved up the ice in characteristic weaving fashion, and as Owen met him with a crushing body check, he passed over to Larochelle on the right...Again Thompson blocked it, but this time the puck bounced out to the left, and George Mantha, hurtling in at breakneck speed, beat Oliver to the rubber...The red light flashed and the game was over. They pushed young Mantha to the dressing room with hearty thumps on the back to the tune of ringing cheers, but few noticed that Marty Burke, who had started the play was helped off in fainting condition from the smashing check he took from Owen when he passed over to Larochelle

....With the two Mantha brothers in a starring role, the remainder of the team filled feature positions. Marty Burke was a huge strength on the Canadien defence, taking men out of the play with deftness and pounding out body checks with a viciousness that approached those of Eddie Shore.

Marty Burke, regular defence star...on the ailing list.

The winning goal came after Boston's forwards neglected to chase Burke very strenuously, for the Irishman is not considered dangerous as a rusher. They paid for their mistake with the game, for Burke, stick-handling his way down the left boards, espied Larochelle way over on the right rink boards.

Just as the Bruins defense moved to check, Burke, the Irishman sent a perfect, rink-wide pass on Larochelle's blade, and the latter coasted in from the right before firing from about 10 feet out.

On the Canadien defence, Marty Burke, stood out like a beacon. For stamina as well as for effective blocking, Burke has been a standout during the playoff series. On Saturday night he played practically for sixty minutes, not spectacularly, but precisely and brilliantly.

The Habitant defense star, Marty Burke and Sylvio Mantha, with George Hainsworth in goal, did the rest, checking the fast skating Chicago forwards into submission.

On defense, Sylvio Mantha and Marty Burke repeatedly broke up the New York attack, although the Cook brothers, Bill and Bun, got past them for three scores.

"Senators trade Starr and Bourgault for canadiens' defense star" - The Ottawa president was enthusiastic over the deal, and is of the opinion that the acquisition of Burke, conceded to be one of the standout defense man of the National Hockey League, will give the Senators one of the best defenses in the Calder circuit for the drive down the home stretch. Burke is a sturdy blocker and should fit in well with Alan Shields and Harvey Rockburn.

Chicago gets a husky, hard-hitting left defenseman in Marty Burke, Toronto born veteran...Burke, not the rushing type of defense player has scored less than 20 goals as a pro.

...and an added thrill came in a third period fight between Cy Wentworth and Marty Burke.

Marty Burke, who came to the Hawks from Canadiens with Morenz and goalie Lorne Chabot, will team with big Art Coulter on the first defence line.

Marty Burke and Baldy Northcott got into a fight and also were handed misconduct tickets.

it was a wide-open contest, featured by Cude's brilliant netminding in the first period, the aggressive than smooth play of Brown, and the superlative two-way performance of Marty Burke. Burke played a sturdy blocking and bumping defensive game and added to his effectiveness by figuring into goals with assists... Burke hit Des Smith with a jolting body check in the second period Last night and sent him flying over his shoulder. Smith had to retire from action... "Guess I can't take it," Des Grinned wryly after the game. Des has proven he can take it all right. But that was an extraordinarily jarring check Burke laid into him.

 

[seventieslord]

Rick Ley, D

- 5'9", 190 lbs
- Avco Cup Champion (1973)
- Avco Cup Finalist (1978)
- WHA Top Defenseman (1979)
- WHA 1st All-star Team (1979)
- WHA 2nd All-star Team (1978)
- WHA 3rd All-star Team (1973)
- Played in all 7 WHA All-star games
- 20th in NHL Defense All-star voting with 5 voting points (1980)
- Best defense offense scores: 54, 49, 46, 41, 39, 34, 33 (includes 5 seasons converted from WHA at 0.70 rate)
- In NHL, played 22.34 minutes per game for 310 games outside of prime at age 20-23 and 31-32 (teams 4% better than average)
- In NHL, placed top-4 on team in TOI four times in seasons with 48+ games (1, 2, 3, 4)
- In NHL, killed 52% of penalties for his teams (3% below average)
- New England/Hartford captain for 6 seasons (1976-1981)
- 61 NHL/WHA fights
- 1.19 PIM per game not resulting from fights

The scrappy rookie played well for Toronto in 1968-69 and was a regular through the 1971-72 season. He rushed the puck well and played an abrasive style in his own end. In 1972 he was one of the first players lost by Toronto to the rival WHA.

Ley spent seven years in the league with the New England Whalers and was a member of the first WHA championship team in 1973. He was picked to take part in the 1974 Summit Series versus the USSR and was named to the WHA first and second all-star teams once each. After scoring 27 points and playing well at both ends of the ice, Ley won the Dennis A. Murphy trophy as the top defenceman in the WHA. He returned to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers after the leagues merged and played a regular shift in 65 games while serving as the club's captain. He retired after playing 16 games the next season.

Ley was drafted 16th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1966, and aside from 19 games in the minors in his rookie season was a regular on the Leafs defense starting in 1969. However he was never able to quite establish himself as the star defenseman like he did in junior.

After 4 years with the Leafs, Ley jumped ship to the rival league - the WHA. He signed on with the New England Whalers. He would stay with the organization throughout the entire history of the team in the WHA, and joined the team once they merged with the NHL.

Ley was a star in the WHA. As in his junior days, Ley's statistics were not as impressive as many, but his play was. He was a constant threat to win the WHA's trophy for best defenseman (Dennis A. Murphy Trophy), though he would only capture that title once - the WHA's last season of 1978-79.

"If every coach could instill Rick Ley's desire in all of his players he would fill arenas everywhere and acquire a taste for champagne in the spring" wrote famed hockey writer Zander Hollander of Ley.

Every once in a while Ley's exuberance would get him into trouble. Once such incident unfortunately scars Ley's career and one of the top international hockey events ever - the 1974 WHA-Soviet Summit Series.
Following the conclusion of the 1972 Summit Series, there was a definite yearning for another showdown between the Soviet's best and Canada's best. The NHL wasn't prepared to undergo such an undertaking. The WHA, ever the opportunist and desperate for the marketing exposure, was.

Another September, another 8 game series between the Red Army and the best Canadian born WHAers. Standing beside the grand old names of hockey like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, was Rick Ley. Ley's job was simple. To maximize his aggressive style of defense in order to intimidate the great Valeri Kharlamov, arguably the greatest of the Soviet forwards.

The first 5 games featured many smaller clashes and confrontations between the mean-tempered Ley and the slick skating Kharlamov, who also had a bit of a mean streak. However by game 6 the Soviets had a commanding lead in the series, and Canada had become frustrated and lost its composure. No one more so than Rick Ley.

Game 6 will forever be remembered for Ley's cheap and dirty play. The game was played in Moscow's Luzhniki Ice Palace, as in the 1972 Summit Series. The Soviets had the game decided long before the final whistle as they took advantage of many power play opportunities to score a 5-2 victory. With less than a minute to play in the third period, the animosity between Ley and Kharlamov intensified. Kharlamov reportedly poked at Ley and mockingly looked at him. This triggered Ley's temper. Ley dropped the gloves and immediately started pounding on the Soviet's star player. Kharlamov had never likely been in a fight before, as it simply wasn't part of Soviet hockey.

With Ley's 40 pound weight advantage, Kharlamov was left laying on ice that was redder than his jersey.

Fan reaction was outrage, in both the Soviet Union and Canada. Canadians were ashamed of Ley's lack of sportsmanship. The Soviets threatened to pull out of the tournament because of this, and even worse, called for Ley to be jailed. Remember, this game was played in Moscow during the height of the cold war.

The next day Ley came to his senses and tracked down Valeri Kharlamov and apologized to him in person. Kharlamov reportedly responded by saying "Its okay, these things happen between hockey players."

Rick (Rickey) Ley along with Brad Selwood, and Jim Dorey, was member of the Toronto Maple Leafs "Kiddie Korp" defense of the late 1960's and early 1970's. Ley, was a strong, pugnacious defenseman who made life miserable for opposing forwards in the Toronto zone. Never much of an offense player, Rickey was rock solid in his own zone.

In 1972 Ley, along with Selwood and Dorey jumped from the Maple Leafs to the New England Whalers of the brand new WHA. In that first ever WHA season of 1972-73 Ley was a key component of the Whalers championship team. Later in 1978-79 he would be voted the WHA's finest defenseman and his number was retired by the Whalers franchise.

He was named to Team Canada 74 by Billy Harris. Before the series Harris spoke to Ley and impressed upon him the need to play a more disciplined brand of hockey and above all avoid any fights. Rickey had the reputation of being a very able, and willing fighter. With the severe penalties for fighting present in International rules, Harris knew Ley would have to control himself. Ley except for one unfortunate lapse of judgment at the end of Game 6 where he attacked Valery Kharlamov and beat him brutally, followed Harris's instructions and played very solid, capable defense throughout most of the Summit.

only one problem mars the otherwise bright world of Ricky Ley, an established big league defenseman at 21. He tends to put on weight. And he's a stocky little fellow even when he's in fighting trim... last season when nursing a knee injury, he quickly ballooned over 200 and was far from his best when he did rejoin the club. Older heads on the team reminded him of Kent Douglas, a highly skilled defenseman who wound up in the minors when he kept getting heavier... the answer, in Ley's case, is work and plenty of it. He is the industrious type and very aggressive, quick to take offense when, for example, an opponent steals the puck from him.

Ricky's hustle and desire make up for inexperience.

Developed into one of the Leafs' top defensemen last season, fulfilling promise the club has held for him since picking him in a special draft at age 16... Built a lot like Bobby Baun, short and squat... tends to put on weigh if he's not careful and works extra hard in practice trying to stay trim... aggressive player.

A solid, good-rushing defenseman...

Opposition forwards have discovered recently that forays into the left area of the Maple Leaf defensive zone can be hazardous adventures. This has been more and more the case since Rick Ley began to discover the virtues of meanness. "Useless penalties can hurt a team, and I try to avoid them. But I don't have enough speed or finesse to play any other way except roughly. That's how you win respect."

Built like a fire hydrant... stubby stature has only enhanced his ability to break forwards in half with jarring checks... a low center of gravity, they say... blocks shots extremely well.

Tremendously competitive and gutsy. Rick was a Hockey News First team all-star defenseman in 1974-75. A third team WHA all-star in 1972-73, he has played in three straight league all-star games.

The huge Canadian television audience saw Ley attack Valeri Kharlamov, the Soviet scoring star, throwing punches as quickly as he could. Some Canadians thought it was shamefuk. Others applauded Ley's aggressiveness. Hockey insisders, meantime, just sat back and concluded Ley was the same as ever, fiercely competitive and never diplomatic. He plays with similar style on the Whaler blueline, never giving up and never hiding his dismay when things go badly. Each year his playmaking improves...

Built like a fireplug and extremely aggressive despite his relatively small size, Rick Ley has been known to take the gloves off with his own teammates when things get rough in practice... Rick has good speed and can skate the puck out of the defensive zone.

received consideration for the Dennis A. Murphy award for WHA's best defenseman... a belter... less attuned to the offensive game, but occasionally will risk a dramatic rush... once scored a goal while Whalers were at a two-man disadvantage...

the man is the general manager of an NHL team spent much of the spring scouting the playoffs of the WHA, establishing a line on the players from the for WHA teams that join the NHL next season. "The Toronto Maple Leafs are crazy if they don't reclaim Rick Ley from the New England Whalers. "he'd help them on defense."

Highly respected by his teammates, he plays big despite his 5'9" size. Rick is found on the ice in key game situations for Whalers.

all-star material. "I thought he was good and found out he was excellent," says Harry Neale, his coach... plays all power plays, kills all penalties and is on the ice for the first and last shift of every period... squarely built, confronts anyone and never backs down... generally undervalued...

In Toronto, the Leafs management didn't know quite what to make of him. He was too heavy and too high-strung, but they knew he could become a key performer. With New England, Ley has lived up to his potential. Consider what coach Harry Neale has to say: "When I was with Minnesota we were always trying to get Ley. After watching him in the playoffs, I can only say we didn't try hard enough. What a competitor - and a competitor with some skills. He did everything for us, kill penalties, work the powerplay, appear on big shifts and take his regular shift. He's the perfect guy as team captain because no one works harder."

bothered by a succession of groin injuries... stocky and strong and a hitter...butt of many jokes because of his short stature but he has quick retorts... always on the ice in key situations.

one of the WHA's premier defensemen... stocky belter who has the respect of every forward... feverish worker...

One of the Whalers' top blueliners, Rick was perrennial WHA all-star.

Toronto Maple Leafs received a serious setback in 1972 when Rick Ley, a highly promising 24-year old defenseman, left them and signed with New England in the WHA. Many of the Leafs' plans for the future had been built around the skills and the drive of the stocky Ley... "You just can't replace good kids like Ley. There's nothing more valuable in hockey," said Jim Gregory, Leafs' former GM.... to all his other assets has been added experience. "He's one of the cornerstones of our first NHL club," says Jack Kelley. "He's a complete defenseman and a tough cookie besides."

If he has a fault, it's that he tries to do too much... shoulders the burden of everyone, often to the point of exhaustion... hits hard and carries the puck well... reclaimed by Toronto Maple Leafs, but drafted back by Whalers.

Through the seven season history of the WHA, he was probably the league's best defenseman, a steady, reliable backliner who played in all seven WHA all-star games... team captain for the past five seasons... excellent defensively and a good bodychecker... a much-liked and respected player because of his positive attitude.

He played in only 65 games, and not at his best. "I had been looking forward to it, because 1979 had been my best year ever." Ley, sturdy and tough... was one of the WHA's best defenders.

the Whalers, like others in their situation, desperately need a break and they just might get in the return of Rick Ley, a 5 foot nine spark plug, voted the best defensemen in the WHA in the league last year… Las Vegas odds on Ley's return would be listed roughly at 5 to 1 against but that's down from 20 to 1 two months ago. there's a chance, a little on the outside, that he will play again. If he does, the Whalers will find themselves with one more good man and one less mediocre one.

"sometimes he wondered when you went to the rink how you would play or how the team would play," Pleau said. "the one thing you always knew was what Rick Ley was going to do. You knew he was always going to give 150% which meant for the other team. He was always ready to play."

"I'm proud of what Larry said about being ready to play. I wasn't a Potvin or an Orr or a Park. My game was to come to the rink and give all I have. That wasn't hard for me because I loved the game. I might not be in the record books or the Hall of Fame, but I was a guy who gave all he had to give."

While he was a credit to the game, he was also a gamer with virtually unlimited credit. "You can only give what you have," he said. "I did that."

He played with pain. He played when others would not. He asked for no quarter and gave less. He danced every dance and never failed to show. Rick Ley, who played in every all-star game that the WHA ever had, had a special thought when his jersey, #2, was lifted to the Hartford rafters. "The best part is that I don't have to worry about anybody breaking my records. I don't have any!"

He was the WHA's outstanding defenseman in 1978-79 and the Whalers' most valuable defenseman three consecutive years. But Ley's best accolades come from those who played alongside him. "He was always the guy that we looked to," winger Warren Miller said. "He was the one player who could get the rest of us going. I remember one time when he hip-checked me in practice - put me out for three weeks. I was so mad that I could have killed him. But that's the way he played. Practices, games, it didn't matter. He only knew one way. He couldn't speak a damn, but when he talked, we listened, believe me. He led by example."

...the truth is, Ley's number should have been the first to hang from the roof because he was a legitimate Whaler, a splendid labourer who punched the clock every time that he stepped onto the ice... Ley went as hard as he could for as long as he could. He left everything behind including a right knee that has been operated on twice.

 

[seventieslord]

Jack Evans, D

- 6'0", 185 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1961)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1962)
- 5th in All-star voting (1962)
- Received a few norris and all-star votes in two other seasons (1957, 1961)
- Made NHL All-Star game on merit (1961)
- Played 10.5 seasons worth of games in the highly competitive O6 era (average team SRS -.08)
- Best defense vsx scores: 40, 29, 29, 25, 24, 23

There have been few players with more raw strength than Jack "Tex" Evans, who split his NHL career between the Rangers (1948 through 1958) and Blackhawks (1958 through 1963). Tex was also renowned for his "lantern jaw" and his reluctance to speak.

known as a solid defender… Displayed raw power… Evans killed penalties and worked on the power play

a solid defender, he played on the power play and killed penalties. In those days, he recalls, fighting wasn't intimidating factor, it was bodychecking. "You throw a good body check. That's how we intimidated. There was very little fighting."

though slow of foot, Evans was a defenseman who relied as much on smarts as he did on skill and was rarely caught out of position. Durable and dependable...

Their defense was big and scary. Jack Evans is one of those quiet guys who could pound you through the boards if you didn't watch out.

we didn't know it at the time but the most telling blow of all was dealt by Jack Evans against Jean Beliveau. He was checked into the boards behind the net by the Chicago defenseman and struck his head on the glass as he was falling to the ice. The next day he was still complaining of a headache and would not be the same for the remaining games. If one check could turn a series, that was it.

we didn't have an antidote for their roughhousing. Where they could throw out Fleming, Evans, or pilote, we simply lacked an aggressive fighter to neutralize them.

the worst injury occurred during the third game of the 1962 playoffs. I was in the corner, scuffling for the puck, when suddenly the lights went out. The other Chicago defenseman, big Jack Evans, the same man who had left me with a concussion in last year's playoffs,left his post in front of the net and charged me into the boards, catching me in the head with his stick, then driving my head into the glass. Even though I dressed for the remaining games, I was finished for the playoffs.

A hard-hitting, rock'em, sock'em defenseman

RANGERS' LATEST DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH RETURNS AS POLISHED PLAYER

Who would have thought, two years ago, that this shy Welsheman would so soon return from Saskatoon to jab the Rangers' playoff hopes? At that time there was considerable concern over his future way of life. Certainly not those Ranger fans, who had seen the husky but hesitant Evans commit tomfoolery for two awful NHL seasons. They predicted he'd make a good ditch digger... Fortnately, there were two dissenting votes. One came from the Rangers, who felt they had a diamond in the rough that could, with patience and fortitude, be smoothed to perfection. The other was Evans himself. He never gave up hope that major league hockey would still be his particular cup of tea.

Although the "new" Evans wasn't recalled until December 9th, the word was around he was now ready for major league hockey any time the Rangers needed him. Frank Boucher, who'd seen Jack play a few games last year, was well aware of it. If the manager hadn't been briefed before, he certainly received irrefutable proof in this little telephone conversation with Jack Adams last September:

Adams: I could use another defenseman for Edmonton. How avout selling me Evans? You have no use for him.

Boucher: Evans? Who'll you give me for him?

Adams: Guyle Fielder. You need forwards.

Boucher: He'd help us some. But Jack, you're not serious about needing Evans for Edmonton, are you? You'd like him for Detroit, now wouldn't you?

Adams: Well, yes, I guess we would fit him in as our fifth defenseman.

Evans is not the Rangers' fifth defenseman. He is very definitely a regular worker who, since mid-December, has formed a paying partnership with Harry Howell. According to the records, they are the club's best team of defensemen.

"When Jack came up before, he was raw and crude. He lacked confidence. He was hesitant every time the occasion arose for him to pass out or carry a puck. He was very uncertain on defense and became so overanxious he made foolish penalties. He tripped and hooked and held when he should have been in position to make a good check. Evans now has confidence. He is a really fine puck carrier, and is now making most of his talent. He is still rough without being silly. He's respected by the players in this league because the word of his days in Saskatoon has gotten around fast. Jack had some terrific fist fights out West and I guess he won them all. However, as most good fighters, he doesn't go out of his way to find trouble.

Let's ask Muzz Patrick, who saw much of Evans in the WHL and who is now very happy to be coaching him. "He's become very fast and quick. He anticipates plays well now, and is always loose, relaxed and confident. He packs that puck up about as well as anyone. Potentially, I'd say he is now one of the finest defensemen in the league."

Doug Bentley, who coached Evans in Saskatoon and who appointed him captain, had an important part in Jack's development. "When he joined us in Saskatoon, Jack lacked confidence. He was getting bad penalties out there, too. We started working on him, and he soon learned. Instead of standing and clutching, he learned to turn and move with the guy coming in. He wound up as an all-star defenseman last year, and, boy, he was a good one.

Although he was a fine defenseman in Saskatoon, Evans will long be remembered in for one particular incident. He was involved with Larry Zeidel in one of the bloodiest fights in history. It happened last season in Edmonton. "Zeidel, who was the league's bad man, had been picking on a couple of our small players this night. Jack came to their rescue and before you knew it, they were swinging both fists and sticks. The officials couldn't stop it. No one could. It must've lasted from 5 to 10 min. By then, there was blood all over the ice. Jack definitely have the best of it."

"yeah, it was a pretty good scrap. But we both got hurt. Cost us $100 apiece and one-game suspension. That's the only time I've ever been fined or suspended.."

Evans will agree with every opinion that he wasn't much of a hockey player two years ago. He, too, thinks he has improved enough to play in the NHL.he says. "I guess I was overweight at 190 pounds two years ago. I'm now playing at 182, and I find I'm much quicker."

teamed up with harry Howell... records indicate they were the Rangers' best defensive team... a fine puck carrier and steady rearguard. He likes to play it rough, but clean.

ttwo players who came pretty close to being formed out this fall played a big part in painting the Rangers pretty picture to date. One of them, goaltender Lorne Worsley, has received some of his do claim. The other, defenseman Jack Evans, has gone about his business with nary a huzzah.

It is doubtful that many New Yorkers expected to see Jack Evans in Ranger livery this semester. He has had five flings with the Rangers before the season. There were times when he looked like a world beater. On other occasions he seemed to lack that extra NHL zip. when they dispatched him to Saskatoon last season everyone figured Jack had seen the last of Broadway as a hockey player.. But at last, he has returned, truly better than ever. He isn't drawing cheap penalties like the old-time. His defensive work is sound. But best of all, big Jack is making those rink length rushes in a manner that would have Wally Stanowski beam his approval.

probably the key to Evans' success is the fact that he's getting plenty of work. The Bill Gadsby and Evans combine has been a solid unit since the opening game. Jack is a natural skater, one of the fastest in the loop once he ones up behind the goal. "I told him at training camp," said Watson, "that he's free to rush whenever he feels there's a good opening. I'm not worried about getting a few penalties. That's expected. But you'll notice that Jack is playing heads-up game while not drawing the cheapies."

are we seeing things? Is it a mirage? Was it really Jack Evans who slugged Boston's Leo Labine one day and big Bobby Robertson of Providence the next? Is large Tex finally coming out of his shell to become the ruffian Ranger rooters want to see? he is and other questions about New York strong silent back liner are being asked by Gotham fandom since Evans the defenseman became Evans the fighter in recent Ranger exhibition games. They'll be answered as soon as the NHL campaign gets underway. In the meantime, Phil Watson and his charges are keeping the answer in the affirmative. Let's face it. The Ranger forward wall, as confident as it may seem, is woefully weak in the beef and fight department. To keep the opposition honest the blue defensemen must show their muscle.

Evans had a good season, but man oh man, what more he could've done without heavy body and heavy fists. This is not a proclamation suggesting that Evans go around picking fights. No one's going to say that good defenseman have to be good boxers. It just happens that Evans has the ability to do both. Ask Woody Dumart, Eric Nesterenko or Bert Olmstead. They all took the count from Evans, but only after great provocation.

"I've never seen Jack lose a fight," Andy Bathgate remarked. "It takes a lot of riling to get him mad but once he's fighting, zip, those fists fly. The guy is powerful and afraid of no one."

Watson recalls an incident in training camp last year: one thing happened out there that made me go for Evans. Fontinato was playing his usual rock 'em game and giving some of the kids fits. a face-off came with Lou on one side and one of the youngsters on the other, with the kid not too happy about it.. Evan skated over and quietly told the kid he would take over. It showed me Jack doesn't back away from anybody."

Perhaps Evans believes fighting will get him into the penalty box much quicker, and who needs penalties? He's a conscientious and sincere player who can do without the major sentence. However, a couple of healthy shows of sock would do Jack a world of good and make the New York defense of the most respected in the NHL.

in late September exhibition game between the Springfield Indians and the New York Rangers, forward Jack Cafferty of the Bruins was tripped by Jack Evans. Evans, a New York defenseman, slid into Cafferty playing with Springfield for the one game, cutting his feet from under him. Five weeks later Cafferty was still out of the Bruins lineup. He is recovering from a severe knee injury caused by the Evans slide. a month after that incident defenseman Leo Boivin of the Bruins was cut down in a similar fashion by evidence in again here between the Bruins and Rangers. This time the result of the evidence trip was the puncturing of Boivin's shin guard by the tip of the Rangers skate.. Boivin subsequently underwent a 75 min. operation at the hospital for repair of a split muscle and a severed tendon.

In neither case did Evans unique method of checking draw a penalty, but it is the feeling of many members of the Bruins that the method warrants a penalty. the Evans slide is a trip, they feel, and a menace to the well-being of New York opponents as well. "The rule on tripping is clear enough," pointed out the veteran Bruins forward, "but Evans has been allowed to get away with that slide for years."

"I thought for a long time that play of his is nothing but a trip," declared another Bruin, "but I've only seen it called once. the rule is in the book presumably to prevent injuries from plays like his. Why the heck doesn't the league see that the rule is used?"

they'll never called Jack Evans the best defensemen in hockey. Nor the second or third best. But he is one of those honest workmen. And if he's not the best, still, there isn't a team in hockey that would grab the big guy if he were put on the market.

"I remember when I first came up. I used to run all over the place. Don't do it as much now. I save my steps. Of course, there are guys who make the race like Leo Labine and Fleming Mackell. Their the fast puck carriers that bother me. And I'll add Gordie Howe and the rocket.

it's a trade whisper that Evans can fight with the best of them. Was it always that way? "I never made it my business to start fights. My policy is I won't bother you if you don't bother me. I'm content to play my game on defense and forget about the fighting. when I was with Saskatoon, though, I have a couple of tough ones. One time we were playing Edmonton and there was plenty of spearing going on. Larry Zeidel was doing most of it. he came at me once but before he hit me I put up my stick in a crosscheck. We both started swinging our sticks, then we broke our sticks and punched it out. it was quite a mess.. He never bothered me after that. the other time I went out of my way to get into a fight in Saskatoon game, I fell down in a scramble and Pete Durham stepped on my hand severing some tendons. I had no business being there in the first place, so after that I decided not to waste my time looking for trouble.

He is a self-confessed worrier. His coach, Phil Watson knows it. "I don't like to bawl out Evans, because he'll go into a shell." Still, Evans had a bad game last week and he was benched. it's not the first time. "It's happened before with him", said general manager Murray Patrick. "his timing goes bad. It's a slump but something he usually works itself out of."

"Yep, I'm a worrier, especially when I play a bad game. It's not so much the crowd as my own play that I worry about. I used to listen to the crowd and let them bother me. Now I hear them but it doesn't hurt the way it used to. On the road, the more they boo, the better I like it.

has become a solid citizen on the New York Rangers defense.. He'll never turn the NHL upside down,, but he does give every ounce can while playing... He's thrown some sweet bodychecks too. "there was one nice one against Bill Ezinicki... I caught him so good that King Clancy never stopped talking about it. "

"Tex" was claimed by the hawks before last season and quickly established himself as a steady bulwark of the blueline.

in 1949 and was assigned to the New York farm team New Haven in the Eastern league. Defense partner was player coach Neil Colville and he taught Jack a great deal about clearing the puck. "I didn't have the confidence to hold onto the puck in my own end. He convinced me I was big and strong and that it was the opposing forwards who should have trouble getting the puck away from me.."

Evans was a regular from 1951 1952 seasons with New York. Then, the next year in training camp,, Bill Cooke now coaching, Evans was called in by GM Frank Boucher and told he was being sent down to Saskatoon. "I asked him why he told me they had other players they thought would do the job," recalls Evans. "I was pretty disappointed and mad at New York. I thought I had been given a bad deal. I guess that's as close as I ever came to the people in the game…" so Jack Evans started long haul back to the NHL. Only it was not so long wasn't so unpleasant. In fact it was very pleasant.

Says wife Margaget: "I began to worry that Jack would relax too much. But we did like it. Jack won the award as most valuable player on the Saskatoon team first year and we had more silver spoons for star of the night than we knew what to do with. I supplied all our relatives with them."

"I kept telling myself that I was content to play out my career there. But it wasn't really true. When you aren't in the big time you can find all kinds of excuses for being where you are. If you aren't careful you lose the desire and fall into a minor-league pattern. I knew I wouldn't be happy until we made it back to the National League."

"In Saskatoon I used to carry the puck a lot. In New York they told me to the rough one and the body checker. I was always teamed with offensive or rushing defenseman. First it was Wally Stanowski. Then from 1955 to 1958 it was Bill Gadsby three seasons. In Chicago I have played mostly with Dollard St. Laurent, who does most of the rushing for us."

"at New York I got in a lot of fights and had more than 100 minutes in penalties each year. In Chicago the forwards are bigger and check harder so you don't get as many fights or get as many penalties."

Evans had three fairly good years at New York's even though he was given a rough time by some of the fans during the 1957 season. "In Boston and New York the balconies almost hang over the ice and you can hear every word the fans yell. My first year back there the fans ran Alan Stanley out of town. The next year they got on me. I'll admit it affected my play. You got so you didn't want to touch the puck for fear you would make a bad pass. I played much better on the road then in New York that season."

The next year Jack made up his mind not to let the catcalls bother him and, after a couple of weeks, they let up, and began on Harry Howell...Jack frankly tells you that his best break in hockey was being sold to the Chicago Blackhawks during the summer of 1958.. For one thing New York was on the downgrade and hasn't made the playoffs since then, while the black Hawks under general manager Tommy Ivan were on the rise. As a result Evans has picked up an extra $3000 in Stanley Cup playoff money with Chicago that he would have missed out on with New York.. But more than that is the confidence he has gained under coach Pilous.

"I've taken a regular turn here and been used in tougher spots. Rudy puts me on to kill penalties or near the end of a close game to help protect the lead. It gives you confidence and I think I've been a better player here than I was for New York. I don't rush with the puck as often as I used to. My main concern has always been to keep the other team from scoring. But I'm a smarter player now and can cover up my mistakes better."

Says Pilous: "He's a workhorse who does his best when the going is roughest. He's gained his favour among the fans the hard way, by plugging away game after game on defense while our emphasis has been on the dashing wide open play of our forwards.

During this losing streak the Black Hawks knew they had the personnel but for some reason the team just didn't mesh. The Black Hawk management put the blame on all the able bodied players. "Everybody has to share in the blame... everybody but Jack Evans," said Tommy Ivan, general manager.

Evans, at 33, is the oldest of the Black Hawks and one of the biggest. He is also the steadiest, and to date, has been enjoying his best season of the 11 he has spent in the NHL... in the past six full seasons he has missed only three games out of 420 the Black Hawks have played in regular NHL competition. "I'm 33 years old, but my legs don't know it," says big, strong, silent Tex Evans. "I don't seem to get tired no matter how rugged or fast the game gets."

"If I'm playing well this year it's because we have a good hockey club . In our end everybody works hard to get the puck out, not just the defensemen. "

While nobody questions Evans' ability as a defenseman, the big Welshman has gained somewhat of a reputation as a scorer this year. Already he has six points. This is a new dimension for the rugged defenseman who in the past three seasons with Chicago totalled only one goal and has had only 20 assists... there is a renewed interest among the fans. "After playing defensive hockey for six years with nobody paying any attention to you, I'm suddenly getting fans coming up to me in the hotel lobbies asking about my goals."

But Evans doesn't mind... nor will it go to his head. He's not the type. The important thing to a player like Tex is keeping the opponents from scoring - and having the black hawks win games as a team.

the quiet spoken rearguard from the Chicago Blackhawks is one of the most consistent rear guards in the NHL. They say Evans never plays a bad game, just, many are better than others. When the Hawks picked him up from the New York Rangers in the summer of 1958 he was regarded as a fringe player, who could never be considered a man on which to build the defense corps around. But Evans has fooled them.. He has blossomed into a star with the Hawks and one of the most able defensemen in the league. He is also something of an Ironman, since he has only missed three games six a half seasons.

blackhawks fans and management were delighted over the selection of defenseman Jack Evans to the National Hockey League second All-Star team at the halfway point in the season."A deserving reward for a man who has worked hard and long in this league and made a real contribution to our effort the season," said coach Rudy Pilous.

...always a good puck carrier but never much of a scorer... Evans has been the steadiest Black Hawk player this year in a season in which the Stanley Cup champions had more than their share of difficulties getting untracked. Not a flashy type for one to go looking for trouble, Evans is a rough, rugged checker who makes few mistakes handling the puck or covering his defensive zone.. He is a solid hockey player who, despite his 33 years, is playing with the conditioning and stamina of a man 10 years younger.

He's one of fastest skating defensemen in league.

since 1956 Evans, a big, straightforward man with a quiet intelligence and poise of maturity, has kept a book on the various phases of hockey play. He has notes on different coaching systems, the styles of play of different teams, the way players forecheck and the styles of various defenseman, how teams work the puck out of their end and how coaches handle their men.

 

[seventieslord]

Doug Jarrett, D

- 6'3", 205 lbs
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1965, 1971, 1973)
- Top-14 in All-star voting three times (7th, 11th, 14th)
- Played in NHL All-star Game (1975)
- 7th in defense scoring (1967)
- Best defense VsX scores: 63, 57, 55, 53, 49, 46, 35
- Averaged 21.53 minutes per game for 593 post-expansion games for teams 23% better than average
- Pre-expansion was a regular for 182 games in league with only 30 full-time jobs (average team SRS +0.80, 38% above average)
- Killed 44% of penalties for teams 16% better than average
- Top-4 in team TOI five times post-expansion: 3, 4, 4, 4, 4
- Top-4 in team ES TOI five times post-expansion: 3, 4, 4, 4, 4

Standing 6'3", defenceman Doug Jarrett was a handful for opposing forwards. Rather than resort to rough play, the lanky defender used his superior reach to advantage and generally stayed in position and out of the penalty box. He was also considered a clean hitter whose hip check was among the best in the league.

Jarrett began an 11-year association with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1964-65. He demonstrated poise as a rookie and appeared in eleven playoff contests as the Hawks made it all the way to the Stanley Cup final.

Jarrett continued to play sound defense over the next few years and usually contributed approximately twenty points per year. One concern early in his career was a lack of stamina caused by a lack of starch in his diet. The Hawks decided to allow him to take in more carbohydrates and starches and play a few pounds heavier. He helped Chicago win its first ever regular season title in 1966-67 and was on hand when the team reached the finals in 1971 and 1973. In the early 70s he often formed an effective and physical defensive pairing with Keith Magnuson.

While he was in the middle of his eleventh season on the Chicago blueline, Jarrett was chosen to play in the 1975 NHL All-Star Game. Early in the next season he was shipped to the Rangers for veteran netminder Gilles Villemure. He battled injuries in 1975-76 and only played 45 games... A true workhorse, he appeared in 775 regular season games and 99 post-season matches in a fine career.

soon was tagged with the nickname “chairman of the boards” because of his ability to deter puck carriers by using well-timed hip checks. He halted many an opposing forward by drifting them into the boards, firmly and legally.

“He’s very even,” said Coach Billy Reay once said Jarrett. “While Doug may not overly excel at one thing, he is able to do everything. He isn’t very flashy but he is very respected around the league.”

Because of Jarrett’s veteran presence, he was a frequent blue line partner for Keith Magnuson, a rookie right out of college in 1969. Jarrett had good size (6-1, 205 pounds) and used it effectively. But, unlike Magnuson, Jarrett did not often engage in fisticuffs because he admitted, “I can’t fight my way out of a paper bag.”

However, Jarrett occasionally had to fight his way into the rink. Reay locked the door for practice, and Jarrett frequently arrived at the very last minute.

“Dog ate your car keys again?” Reay would say.

“No, got behind a school bus and couldn’t pass,” Jarrett would reply.

Jarrett, a popular teammate, was one of several characters who kept the Blackhawks loose and laughing through good times and bad. He and Dennis Hull were close friends; whenever those two got together on a plane or bus ride, comedy ensued. Jarrett was not a comfortable flyer and when asked why he always requested the last row of an aircraft, he replied, “Have you ever seen one of these things back into a mountain?”

During his career, Jarrett noted that he seemed to tire late in games. So he adjusted his diet, adding starch, and actually played a few pounds heavy, by design. Much to Reay’s dismay, however, Jarrett never did protect his ankles, and as Hull recalled, “He would get hit there with a shot in just about every game. Doug would just crumple, throw his stick and gloves and fall into the ice, rolling around. There was so much equipment around it looked like a lawn sale.”

Known for his effective hipchecks... began eating potatoes to improve his game. He began his career with an impressive rookie season but later began to fizzle out in the middle of his career, experiencing weakening late in games and in doubleheaders... had to remedy the problem by adding starch to his diet, receiving some vitamin supplements, and playing five pounds overweight.

Although he was quite a hitter, Jarrett didn't get into fights. "I just try to check clean, and I don't think most players mind taking a good hit. It may hurt, but there's no reason to fight."

Delivered mid-ice with a shoulder or hip, a body-check is the universal symbol of Canadian hockey. Hard, clean, elemental, a punishing man-to-man contest, as it fades from our game it is more and more symbolic of glories themselves past. A lost art it is called, its practitioners-Ching Johnson, Red Horner, Bingo Kampman, Bill Ezinicki, Bill Gadsby, Leo Boivin, Bobby Baun, Doug Jarrett, and Gilles Marotte.

It is unlikely that anyone but a prospect with exceptional talents can crack the Hawks club. Doug Jarrett has just such an opportunity this season. A well-built blueliner, Jarrett tends to defense first although he has the capability to score the odd goal.

A young, strong defenseman... because of his size, the Hawks are hoping he can take over for the retired Moose Vasko as their policeman on the blueline.

Doug Jarrett may go down as the last of the "big hitters" as far as his coach Billy Reay is concerned. Billy doesn't mean that the Blackhawks' big defenseman is the only player in the league willing to dish out punishment, it's just that, in Billy's opinion, too many other bodycheckers wind up as holders, chargers or boarders.

"Doug's bodychecks usually are good, clear, hard belts. He seldom picks up a penalty. For instance, when we were in Montreal recently, Doug really caught Jean Beliveau along the boards. It was down a way from our bench but we could feel the boards shake. The fans sort of let out a groan, too, but not because they felt Doug should have been penalized. I'm sure they just felt bad for Jean. the way the game is played today, with almost every team dumping the puck into the attacks on them chasing after, it's almost impossible for a defenseman to throw solid checks. most defenseman nowadays are too busy going deep into their own zone after loose pucks. There really isn't much room left for the big slow belters.

his willingness to clout foes isn't Jarrett's only attraction, as far as Reay sees it. Billy likes his shot and ability to move with the puck, too. "he's young and relatively inexperienced and he does make the odd mistake. for instance, every now and again, he sort of handle the puck off to a four checker and you can't imagine what he has in mind when he does it. But Doug does so many other things well that he more than makes up for his errors."

so enthralled with Doug is Reay, in fact, that he was forced to ponder a bit before he could come up with a young defenseman for whom he might be interested in trading his 6 foot one, 190 pounder. "Well, there's Bobby Orr of course. but he's an exception. he's a superstar and they only come along about once every 10 years or so. But I can't think of another young defenseman around that I'd rather have then Doug. We had a little trouble getting him to start handling the puck and moving with it the way he can, but recently he's started to move out and he's been very effective. He has good moves and is a strong skater."

Chicago's Doug Jarrett took the puck away from Howe in the Detroit zone and fired a pass to Hay who skated in all alone and flicked a shot past Crozier.

Doug Jarrett has finally begun to play the kind of hockey his boss has been expecting from the start... he is simply perked up but not even he knows exactly why… His problems were general. For three seasons he's been regarded as one of the NHL's better defensemen but for much of the way this year, nothing worked... he was in trouble frequently when he had the puck in hawk ice and was unable to do much to discourage opposing skaters from threatening the peace of mind of hawk goalies... suddenly, however, Doug has begun to move. His passes and puck handling in the defensive zone have once again been crisp and professional and he's even begun to beat the odd player at the opposition blueline and move in for a good poke set the enemy netminder... Doug is at a loss to explain his play through most of the season, nor does he know why he's improved. "It's really only a matter of skating. I wasn't doing it before and I am now. Billy has been after me about it all year. He kept telling me that hockey is much easier game to play when you're moving but for some reason I couldn't get myself moving. Maybe I've got more desire right now. I really don't know, but he was right. I'm not taking nearly as much out of myself now as I was when I was trying to play the game without going all out skating.. I'm not getting caught out of position and I'm moving more freely on offense."

As far as hitting goes, it is unfortunate that Jarrett (Hawk defenceman Doug) is hurting. He has to be of the best-checkers in the entire league. He doesn't have to line you up he can belt you anywhere.

Hard hitting body checks have become his favourite weapon, as many NHL opponents can attest... Doug's baby faced look is deceiving once he steps on ice.

defense is a job that requires experience, so few rearguards can avoid a minor league apprenticeship. Doug Jarrett did, winning a first string jobin 1964... a tall 200-pounder, he first impressed Chicago management as a bodychecker who made any trip into the hawk zone a dangerous adventure. Only recently has he begun to acquire polish... he scored four times in the playoffs, always with a booming long shot.

A good mobile defenseman - that's Doug Jarrett. Combined with a preference for hard hitting and you've got a potential all-star. He looks peaceful, but on the ice, he's strictly business.

He didn't (hit) enough last season, so he found himself in Billy Reay's doghouse.

The big defenseman was a major disappointment last year while the Hawks were falling out of the playoffs for the first time in a decade. He was in almost constant trouble on the ice, whether he was trying to move the puck out of the defensive zone or impede the progress of an opposing forward. His 6'2", 204 pound frame betrayed him time and again. He didn't use it effectively as a checker and it often proved too great a burden for him, particularly in the third period.

"I told Doug last spring that he'd have to do something to toughen himself up, to build some stamina," said Reay. that Doug followed his boss's advice has been apparent since training camp opened. From the start his play showed a zip that was missing much of last year, and it was apparent that he was better able to take the tough workouts that marked the first week of training. "He told me he spent a lot of time on the bike in the summer. I sure believe him because there's no comparison between the Jarrett of last year and the guy we have with us right now. I only hope he can sustain it because we need every bit of help we can get out of the defense."

Doug Jarrett may have eaten himself into stardom. The blackhawks' big rearguard, who has been tabbed for stardom since midway in the 1964-65 season, appears, at last, to be reaching his potential in the NHL.

"Sure hope you're considering Jarrett for an all-star vote," said Bobby Hull recently. "He's making it this year. Both my dad and I picked him as a sure all-sar the first time we saw him play as a junior and he's finally coming around." Dennis Hull was quick to agree. "Doug is doing everything right this year. He's handling the puck better than ever, skating hard, hitting the way he can and staying up on the blueline to break up plays before the other team gets too deep in our end.

Another endorsement came from center Stan Mikita, who is no stranger to all-star teams. "Doug would get my vote, if I had one. The guys on other teams probably would have a better idea on the way he's going but I can say that his passing particularly, and his general play have been great so far."

Strangely enough, Jarrett may have to credit a couple of extra potatoes each week for the transformation from disappointment to potential all-star... he seldom was able to put two good performances together and was particularly vulnerable if required to come back on the second night of a double header... Billy Reay noted considerable improvement during camp but a couple weeks into the season, Doug began to flounder again. He would run out of gas after only a minute or so of a shift and at times it took him several hours to regain his strength after a game... doctors noted no serious problems but it was noted that he might be suffering from a lack of starch, caused by the dieting required to keep him at what was considered his playing weight. "I was told to start eating potatoes again with my meals and not to worry so much about my weight," said Doug. " It may have been all in my mind, I don't really know. But I feel good and I'm playing with a lot more confidence."

It's pretty obvious that the rest of the Hawks are playing with a great deal more confidence in Jarrett this year, too.

he performed to orders a bit more often last season, one of the hidden reasons the Hawks were such an improved club. "I keep telling him," says Reay, "that if you take the man out of the play, you don't have to worry about the puck because there's now ay he's going to be able to do anything with it."

Doug Jarrett didn't score a goal Thursday night. In fact he didn't even make an assist. But the big defenseman is one of the reasons the Chicago Blackhawks have taken the upper hand over the Montreal Canadien in their Stanley Cup playoff.

Jarrett, who has been virtually helpless throughout the series, turned it around Thursday to help lead the Hawks to victory. He played so well that Coach Billy Reay never even came close to using his reserve defenseman as he had in the two previous losses in Montreal.

"We were moving for a change," said Jarrett in relating his play and that of defense mate Keith Magnuson. "At least I thought I was for a change. I was so disgusted and disappointed with the way I was playing. I didn't know what to do. I guess I went out and played the game the way I should and the way I'm capable. I think it all began in the last game of the New York series," continued Jarrett. "I started thinking too much. I don't know why. I guess it was just a slump."

Jarrett hit and hit hard Thursday night and his jarring checks not only helped preserve Esposito's shutout but opened the doors for offense.

One of the bigger players in the NHL... a solid bodychecker.

So what can you do if you're Doug Jarrett? You work very hard at this business of hockey, and you have been for eight years in the big leagues, and yet you suffer from three drawbacks which are constantly staring you in the face.

Drawbacks like Bill White, probably hockey's best defensive defenseman. Drawbacks like Pay Stapleton, one of hockey's best two-way defensemen. Drawbacks like Keith Magnuson, rough and tough and the people's choice because of his charisma. So what do you do if you're Doug Jarrett? " I just go out and try to keep the other team from putting the puck in our net, and the better I do that, the more money I'll make. That's enough recognition for me. I don't mind not getting a lot of publicity."

...while White, Stapleton and Magnuson seem to reap a deserved large amount of bouquets, Jarrett has to settle for an occasional carnation... Reay says that Jarrett is one of the few remaining fellows around who will use a well-aimed hip check to jolt a foe with ideas about coming into Chicago territory. "It's something you can't do too often," Jarrett said. "You have to pick the right spots and you have to time it just right. If you don't, you can take yourself right out of the play."

This season, the Jarrett-Magnuson tandem has been of staunch character. It's a decided turnabout from last spring's playoffs, when both men were hurting a big physically and artistically. "My shoulder was giving me trouble, but that;s no excuse. I just played awful, and I can't explain it. It was worse than when I was a rookie. I was fighting the puck, and I knew if I went out there, that I'd do something wrong. Billy benched me some of the time during the New York series and I'm glad he did for the good of the team. I wasn't doing anything. I got depressed, and I kept thinking about it and it kept getting worse. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before."

Jarrett rebounded during the finals, and this season's first half probably represents the best hockey of his career... The stellar display by the Jarrett-Magnuson duo this winter stems, according to Jarrett, from both players getting to know eachother a little better.

Emile Francis thinks the real banger on the Chicago defence is Doug Jarrett, who will play more now that Magnuson is hurt.

"Jarrett hits more than those other guys," Francis says. "He can take you right out of the play."

Because he's tall and hefty, Doug Jarrett has been typecast as a hitting, bruising defenseman. And it is a fact that he uses his size to good advantage. but what many observers are prone to overlooking is Jarrett's deft puckhandling and clever playmaking.

He is often overshadowed by the many stars on the Hawks.

Chicago management has always been faintly disappointed in Jarrett, who's never lived up to the promise he showed as a newcomer in the mid-60s, a sure puckhandler who made effective use of his bulk. But there were indications last spring that Jarrett, who's 29, is ready to recapture the lost magic... was in peak form just at playoff time when Keith Magnuson was eliminated by a fractured jaw. Jarrett's playoff performance was superb, despite the pain of a broken rib, and he was playing the kind of robust defense that was so impressive when he practiced it nearly a decade ago.

Best Bodychecker - Barclay Plager (Bob Plager, Brian Glennie, Doug Jarrett)

The Black Hawks' second new Years' resolution is to obtain some recognition for Doug Jarrett, perhaps even a perch in the NHL all-star game. Results are pending, but he received some fuel during the latter stages of December when the team showed renewed interest in winning games for a change... one man in particular seemed to be thriving (in Bill White's absence): Doug Jarrett, who wasn't even supposed to be a hawk rearguard at this point in time. "Right from the first game, I heard all the rumours that I was being traded here and there.. naturally it affected me... but instead of letting it get me down, I guess it made me bear down all the more as though I had a point to prove. I asked Billy about it, and he said not to worry about it, so I just decided to forget and play as best I could."

His best has been pretty goo, too, perhaps the best of his career. "He's been great," says Dennis Hull. I'm going to Montreal with him as his valet. And if he doesn't make the all-star team, the voting is fixed."... Jarrett likely would receive some attention from voters, but he faces the traditional problem of bucking the standby names... Alex Delvecchio was probed about the possibility of Chicago prying loose Nick Libett, a talented LW, from his squad: "If they want him, they'll have to give me something worthwhile," said Alex, who noted that the Hawk bait of Jarrett was not enough because he was "on his way out". Delvecchio issued his comment with no malice aforethought... he'd just want a younger player. "how old does he think I am? I'm only 30. I heard that what he said came out differently than he intended it, but I'd still like to make Fats eat his words."

there were strong rumours that the Hawks were going to trade him... then injuries struck the Hawk rearguard corps and suddenly, Jarrett became the indispensible man. He played well, too, and says "I guess all the talk about being traded made me bear down a little more."

He was called chairman of the boards. Not for a crashing style but for his ability to control the play, angling an opponent to the dasher and tying him up. He was considered a clean hitter whose hip check was among the best in the National Hockey League.

 

[seventieslord]

Mike Ribeiro, C

- 6'0", 170 lbs
- Top-10 in Assists four times (5th, 7th, 9th, 10th)
- Top-20 in Points three times (10th, 13th, 20th)
- Best VsX scores: 86, 78, 75, 73, 72, 71, 65
- Played in NHL All-star game (2008)

worked to shed the stigma of being a subpar skater (which he did) and proved he could survive in a rugged league despite a comparitively slight physique. A terrific playmaker whose vision and anticipation are widely respected...

Slick Ribeiro is a playmaking center with terrific vision and NHL moves... to make it to the NHL full-time he's going to have to add some strength and work on his foot speed.

took full advantage of a December recall to flourish, however, his icetime declined when Sergei Berezin arrived in late January, and was subsequently demoted... a slick puckhandler with excellent offensive instincts. His play away from the puck matured significantly last season as he displayed a new-found commitment to defense, although he must continue to upgrade his good speed and overall strength... rounding out his game to complement NHL-caliber skills.

The shifty center is a magician with the puck but needs time and space to utilize his creativity in a hockey world dominated by the neutral zone trap. Furthermore, Ribeiro lacks the size to compete physically with big pivots... he is capable of scoring highlight-reel goals but is yet to make an impact in the NHL... with bigger wingers, he could put up enough numbers to offset his physical limitations.

saw limited 4th line duty after returning from collarbone injury, but suddenly took over 2nd line from a slumping Yanic Perreault and flourished over the final quarter... excellent patience and creativity, Ribeiro has vastly upgraded his defensive work habits and is now more slippery in traffic now that he has improved his upper body strength and overall quickness.

led the Habs with a breakout 65 point effort, but made enemies along the way, his feats marred by a much-publicized fight during practice with captain Saku Koivu and a childish act in the playoffs where he mocked the Bruins after faking an injury to draw a penalty... slippery puckhandler... can also be a selfish player, taking long shifts, losing focus defensively and reverting to more of an "outside" game as the physical tempo elevates... showed his arrogance and immaturity in the '04 postseason, and will have to keep his head up this time around.

Ribeiro found himself in the dog house for parts of last season raised his game after Bob Gainey took over behind the bench. The slender pivot was expected to flourish under the obstruction crackdown. Instead, he battled through lengthy scoring droughts and struggled defensively. A late-season pairing with Kovalev help spread the offensive burden, and he played his best hockey as a result. Overall, he is a patient, shifty playmaker and capable offensive producer.

was supplanted by Tomas Plekanec in preseason and dealt to Dallas, where he found a home as an offensive specialist and would up leading the Stars in scoring... filled a vital setup role on the PP, distinguishing himself with his patience and creativity... steadily more comfortable operating in high-traffic areas, though he still gets physically manhandled due to his slender build... used selectively in defensive situations as he loses focus and also labours to keep up due to his weakish skating and nominal footspeed... will likely get a larger role, but it remains to be seen if he can handle it.

Ribeiro is an artist on the ice as he can slide the puck through the smallest of openings.

the low-scoring stars would prefer to get secondary scoring from a more complete player, but they will have to settle for Ribeiro. last year, he led the club with 59 points and was a staple on the power play. However, the slender pivot did go through a 22 game goalless slump, which goal starved Dallas cannot afford. the bottom line is he is a notoriously streaky offensive catalyst. If the stars can bear to ride out the highs and lows, another 60 point campaign is certainly in order.

Broke through with a career year... backed it up with an outstanding postseason effort... the knock against him had always been his inconsistency, but last year he found a groove alongside Brenden Morrow.

stepped up to carry the offensive load for Dallas in the wake of injuries to Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards, nearly duplicating his career best... slick-handed pivot knows how to create and exploit space... senses a checker's intentions which powers his unique ability to spot vulnerable holes in coverage... talented puckhandler both patient and unpredictable in possession... masterful at finding passing seams... gets his body set in strong positions in support of the puck... could be more assertive as he still passes up some prime shooting chances... tied for 3rd in the league with 6 shootout goals on 11 tries - including a cheeky circus shot on the final weekend, the type of showboating that has dissipated with age and maturity... did a better job last season of getting to the net without the puck... increasingly more comfortable in traffic, aided by impressive gains in overall strength, skating and conditioning... still can lose focus and enthusiasm defensively albeit he has matured away from the puck and ranked among the league's top-20 in both giveaways and takeaways... prime time in this town.

Ribeiro proved that his brilliant 07-08 season was no fluke, racking up 78 points to easily lead the Stars in scoring. He carried the offense while other frontline talent were injured. Ribeiro has arrived as an elite setup man.

Many playmakers have high shooting percentages because they prefer to pass rather than shoot, which means they only shoot when presented with an outstanding scoring chance. Mike Ribeiro took that model to quite an extreme in 2007-08 when he posted a 25.2% shooting percentage. That mark ranks just 42nd on the official all-time list, but that does not reflect the changing environment over the past three decades. None of the seasons above Ribeiro came after 1991-92, and Ribeiro is two full percentage points ahead of Alex Tanguay, who holds the next highest percentage from the past decade. Scoring on one out of every four shots against modern goalies requires a combination of very accurate and selective shooting, as well as a good deal of scoring luck.

At first glance, his 53 point season appears disastrous. But over 82 games, he would have totaled 66 points. That's still subpar, but more palatable.

lost some of his edge last season and was further set back by an accidental stick to the throat in January...showed bright flashes after returning.

Mike Ribeiro tends to get ignored when it comes time to discuss the league's best centers; for example, in a recent Puck Daddy ranking, he wasn't even mentioned as one of the 30 best in the NHL (though Dave Bolland was). He's a high end offensive producer when he isn't playing against the best in the league, and he's still an out-scorer when he does. Ribeiro is the single biggest reason why the Stars can remain at least somewhat sanguine about 2011-12 after losing Brad Richards.

The slippery center silenced his doubters with a fine bounce back effort... Ribeiro remains a premier NHL playmaker.

overcame a frustrating start in which he failed to score in the opening 16 games while dealing with the fallout of a public intoxication charge in the opening week... masterful at controlling pucks in close to his body and finding passing seams... selectively courageous about going into the corners and driving to the front of the net... ranked among the top-15 in both giveaways and takeaways... regained some swagger late in the season.

A purely offensive player... a well-below average faceoff man, consistently losing more than half his draws, Ribeiro was only once in the past five years started less than 50% of his shifts in the offensive zone. With so much time near the opposing nets, one would expect his possession game to be rather impressive. that used to be the case, but last year he finished with a negative relative Corsi despite 53.7% offensive zone starts.

reached 60 point plateau, but it was largely a wind-aided achievement... reaped prime icetime and quality wingers, but fell short of filling the Brad Richards void... turned in some flat performances at key junctures over the course of the season - not to mention a few critical errors over the final furlong... patient and unpredictable... loss of focus can lead to careless mistakes and undisciplined penalties...

Though he did produce as expected, his overall body of work was uneven last year. He needed a furious post all-star pace just to reach 60 points. In fact, he was partially to blame for the Stars' NHL-worst PP. If he's not putting up numbers, he's not helping.

Consistency has never been Ribeiro's trademark but it could be argued that he was Washington's best player from start to finish last season. Enjoyed his second most productive NHL campaign, but like many of his teammates, struggled in the postseason.

Mike Ribeiro's spotty defensive play and disinclination to shoot the puck can be frustrating to watch at times, but as a PP specialist, there were not many who were better in the league last season... led the league with Alexander Ovechkin with 27 PP points apiece... Ribeiro's playmaking skills and creativity with the puck still make him dangerous on the PP with more open ice, but is a different story at even strength. He has a tendency to get caught in his own zone for long periods of time, and it showed last year, with a relative Corsi score well in the red.

The Mike Ribeiro experience in Phoenix could not possibly have gone any worse than it did. Not only did he have his worst offensive season since his early 20s, but he found himself a healthy scratch late in the season with the team fighting for a playoff spot. He never seemed to be a fit with the team or to gain the trust of the coaching staff. After the season, the Coyotes decided to buy out the remaining three years of his contract due to what GM Don Maloney referred to as "behavioural issues".

It was a difficult year in the desert... skated in 60% of the Coyotes total PP time, scoring only 15 points. His PP points per 60 minutes sat at 3.15, down from his three year rate of 5.51... trademark playmaking ability didn't materialize with a first assist per 60 minutes rate dipping to 0.97 from a three year average of 2.11... failed to capitalize on a heavy offensive zone start bias (an NHL high of 71.1%)... lack of effort was evident when relegated to the press box as a healthy scratch while the desperate coyotes were trying to stave off missing the playoffs... bought out in June citing "behavioural issues"... hasn't shown any major signs of physical decline... something to prove this season.

Ribeiro was supposed to be part of the solution to the Coyotes' scoring woes, since he had previously played for Dave Tippett in Dallas. This time around, however, Ribeiro struggled under Tippett. He registered the worst +/- rating among Coyotes forwards last season and didn't produce as expected.

 

[seventieslord]

Marian Stastny, RW

- 5'10", 195 lbs

NHL:
- Best VsX scores - 64, 64, 44, 43 (on pace for 87, 69, 52, 49)
- 9th in NHL points per game (1983)
- Played in NHL All-star game (1983)
- 294 Points in 322 games from age 29-33

Czech League:
- Placed 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th in Czech league scoring
- Best Czech league Vs2 scores: 132, 93, 86, 74, 70
- League Championship (1979)
- Top-15 in Golden Stick voting 5 times (13th-1975, 5th-1977, 8th-1978, 2nd-1979, 15th-1980)
- Two-time league all-star
- 322 points in 238 games
- 41 points in 33 playoff games

International:
- 54 points in 57 major international games in 7 tournaments
- Top-10 in scoring three times: 9th in 1977 WEC, 8th in 1978 WEC, 5th in 1980 Olympics
- Won 3 golds, 3 silvers
- 8th in Golden Hockey Stick voting for top player in Europe (1980)

Marian is the oldest of the three Stastny brothers who terrorized the NHL in the early 1980's when they formed one of the most feared lines. Middle brother Peter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. Both Anton and Peter always insisted that Marian was the most talented of them all. A talent that he displayed briefly in the NHL.

Marian was born in Bratislava, Slovakia where he played for Slovan Bratislava between 1970-80 (and a half season for Dukla Jihlava). He scored 236 goals in 369 league games and represented Czechoslovakia 122 times, scoring 54 goals. He represented his country in the 1971 and 1972 World European Junior Championships and the World Championships between 1975-79. He also played in the 1980 Olympics and 1976 Canada Cup. During that time he was a two time World Champion (1976 & 77) as well as a league champion in 1979.

His brothers had defected to Canada in 1980 during a tournament in Austria. Marian helped arrange his brothers defections but had to remain behind when they left. Marian stayed because he had his family left in Czechoslovakia. Quite heroically, he assumed the inevitable iron-curtain indignities as punishment for his brothers escape. He was banned from all hockey, both on the national team as well as club hockey. He was also banned from working anywhere in the Soviet-bloc country. Marian attempted to lure government officials into believing that he wasn't interested in following suit and defecting to North America. He publicly denounced his brothers in ruse for their escapes and he continued to make structural improvements for his home. He later vacationed in other East Bloc countries with his wife, Eva, and three children until they finally managed to skip into Austria. From there, the family took a jet and officially defected to Canada.

Quebec Nordiques' fans anxiously anticipated Marian's arrival. This to the background that Peter's and Anton's play during their rookie seasons was a tremendous success. Peter set a rookie record with 109 points, his 70 assists is a NHL rookie record. Anton had a very impressive 85 points, a rookie record for left wings. Marian didn't disappoint, scoring 89 points, at times reunited on a line with his brothers. Peter exploded for 139 points, and Anton had 72 points. All in all the trio combined for 300 points. The Stastny's continued their terrific pace in the playoffs making it to the semifinals before finally losing to the eventual champions NY Islanders.

Marian's sophomore season in 1982-83 began at a torrid pace. After 33 games he was second in the league in points only behind Wayne Gretzky. Marian had 58 points, 26 goals and 32 assists. He cooled off significantly, and then had his season end in Quebec's 60th game of the season. Skating at home against the defending champions NY Islanders Marian's two goals gave the Nordiques to a 4-1 3rd period lead. While carrying the puck into the Islanders zone, he was crunched to the boards by Greg Gilbert. He remained on the ice, in a lot of pain. Later on, in the dressing room, he learned that he had suffered a badly dislocated shoulder that would sideline him for the remainder of the season. His dream season was over with 36 goals, 43 assists and 79 points in only 60 games.

Marian never recovered fully from the shoulder injury and slowed down considerably in 1983-84, scoring 52 points. (20 goals and 32 assists) in 68 games. The Stastny line was broken up and Marian saw less and less ice time in 1984-85. He was gradually squeezed out of the lineup.

Stastny was placed on waivers by the Nordiques in the summer of 1985. Toronto, Montreal and Pittsburgh expressed interest in the 31-year old forward. The Canadiens wanted Marian badly but couldn't guarantee him a spot on the team, so he eventually decided to join the Leafs.

Marian was a good addition to the Leafs team with his savvy and ability to play on all three forward positions. Marian formed a line with countrymen Miroslav Frycer and Peter Ihnacak. The trio got a total of 173 points. with Marian picking up 53 of them, including 23 goals, in 70 games. Marian could have played at least one more season in the NHL but opted to finish his playing career in Switzerland and HC Sierre (1986-87). He was Sierre's trainer the following season.

Marian didn't make his debut in the NHL until he was almost 29-years old and on the downhill of his career, but despite that he managed to score almost a point per game. He had 294 points (121 goals and 173 assists) in 322 regular season games and 22 points in 32 playoff games.

According to those in the know, Marian is the most talented of the brothers. Says Anton: "He's the best of us. You'll see next season." Peter says, "he's a more natureal skater than Anton and me. He's also very aggressive and very strong. He's not afraid to go into corners and he doesn't mind when the play gets physical."

Gilles Leger: "Any guy who has the guts to go ahead with the escape he just pulled has got to be somebody special. Opposing NHL players will quickly find that out. They're going to be less audacious with peter and Anton. He won't let his brothers get pushed around."

Michel Bergeron, the feisty little man who coaches the Nordiques, broke up the Stastny brothers early in the season, inserting Michel Goulet on Peter and Anton's right flank. "The Stastnys had a good game or two as a line during the exhibitions but when the season started, they didn't work too well together. pass, pass, pass. That's all they were doing and not shooting enough. He seemed to be trying to feed Marian all the time to help him get some goals. There's no doubt that the Czechs are great players with much skill but there is an adjustment they have to make to be good NHL players."

the book most NHL teams have on the Stastny boys says the same thing: when they're on the ice, try to play in the Nordiques zone as much as possible because they're much better on your turf than they are on their own. The frank, outspoken Bergeron spares no words and stated that the Czechs must master the NHL style in the Nordiques zone. "in Europe, where the ice surfaces are so big most teams move the play up in the middle of the ice when they're coming out of the zone, well, in the NHL, you don't have the luxury of wide-open spaces and we get the puck out much of the time by playing it off the boards. The defenseman we have especially the veterans we've added, all played on teams that used the boards a lot. The Czechs aren't used to the puck coming at them or to them off the boards and it's a whole new skill they must learn. I don't have much doubt that they will learn it as they go along because they're good athletes. but until they do, there are times when they'll have problems in our end."

Marian Stastny has played very little hockey in the past season and a half. His brothers' defection meant exile in his own country last season. "Yes, there is a difference in moving out of your zone in Czechoslovakia. There, the defensemen give you the puck right on your stick. Here, they play the puck off the boards. There's a great difference for a forward... The NHL hockey is harder and the players are stronger. In Europe, we played a much more technical style of hockey. There is not so much hooking or slashing or high sticking... yes, the ice here is smaller but we will all adjust. It's all hockey and all very good in its own way."

wings coach Wayne Maxner was impressed by what he saw of the Stastnys, especially on the power play: "I wonder how well the Nordiques would be doing in the standings without them. They are awesome on the power play, and whatever the Nordiques are paying them they should double it because they're worth it."

"Marian is improving all the time and I can see it, noted Peter. Marian has been scoring with regularity lately. "I am pleased with my goal production, pleased but not surprised. We are starting to play better as a line together and adapting more to the NHL style.

Professionally, they have had to adapt to the grueling NHL season and the rougher North American style of play. Marian in particular seems amazed by the brawling ("They only fight two or three times a year in Europe"), but Nordique officials expect him to catch on quickly. "A man who has the courage to endure what he's been through," says one, "has to be a very special person. Marian won't stand for any baloney on the ice." Off the ice, of course, there are moments of loneliness, and of longing for a life that is now left behind. "Sometimes," says Marian, "I still feel like I'm playing for Czechoslovakia. I've played all over the world, but this time I can't go home."

played well in first round upset of Montreal...

All the time they were dazzling NHL defenses in 1980-81, Anton and Peter Stastny kept saying, "just wait until our brother gets here and then you'll really see something."... despite the layoff, managed to make a huge impression. As promised, he was a polished flanker who combined neatly with the other two.

MARIAN STASTNY'S STATISTICS EVIDENCE OF SCORING TOUCH

...what is even more remarkable about Marian's statistics is that he did not play hockey in 1980-81, while he waited to come to Canada after being dropped from the Czech national team because of the defection of his brothers, Peter and Anton. Marian has been right behind Wayne Gretzky in scoring more of the season... his 22 goals and 29 assists led the Nordiques in scoring after 27 games. " I am happy with my scoring and I am satisfied, but I can't say that I am surprised. I often led my team in scoring back in Czechoslovakia and I knew I could do well in the NHL. I don't like the fighting and the rough stuff because you can't score from the penalty box, but you never know what to expect in a hockey game. That is one of the reasons I love this sport so much."

Peter has been saying all year that Marian has always been the natural scorer on their line, and now Marian is proving him correct. "I have not seen a better line since I have been playing in the NHL," said Mike Milbury.

Just when the Nordiques were rolling merrily along, they got a dose of bad news, news that could ultimately put a crimp in their high flying offense... high-flying Marian Stastny suffered a shoulder injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season... he had scored twice before taking a hard check along the boards from Islander forward Greg Gilbert. Following the hit, which coach Michel Bergeron termed "a mixture of crosschecking and boarding,", Marian lay on the ice for a few moments. He went to the dressing room and did not return in the period.

A skating clone of brothers Peter and Anton... uses speed and puck control and has adapted quickly to playing North American style game on rinks smaller than in Europe... perhaps a trifle slower and slightly less skilled than his brothers... can play a checking game... opponents find him difficult to check because he knows how to slip free from opponent shadowing him... works beautifully with brothers on Nordiques PP.

Injuries in each of the last two seasons have limited his effectiveness... most effective in free-flowing, skating game... moves well through traffic to confuse opponents' checking patterns... like brothers, a sharp passer, clever stickhandler and respected for his accurate shot from any angle or area inside the blueline.

The fact that no NHL team picked him up came as little surprise to anyone. At 32, he is considered past his prime in a league which accents youth. Although he dressed for 50 games, he saw little ice time. he scored only 7 times and added 21 assists. Time and again, the Quebec management praised his attitude but coach Michel Bergeron preferred to go with younger players who would give a two-way effort for 60 minutes. Although in a humbling situation, Marian continued to practice with the team and tried to do his best to keep up team spirit. He was never the type of player to complain regularly through the media.

Wintertime rumours that suggested Marian would return to Europe to end his career in Germany now deserve consideration. but Marian's admirable attitude, plus the fact that his brothers remain with Quebec, might help him maintain his association with the club.

Marian Stastny's year in exile is over... but not forgotten. beneath the satisfaction born out of renewed accomplishment lies simmering resentment towards the Quebec Nordiques, who last season decided that he no longer fit the role of an NHL regular. Accordingly, his position was not so much right wing as right bench... the end to a glorious career seemed imminent, but the Toronto Maple Leafs rescued the 33-year old in August... the minimal investment has had many happy returns. "I just want to prove to the people. They benched me last year. They thought I was not good enough. I want to prove I am still a good hockey player or I can play a couple of more years and score quite a lot of goals."...

he has been a surprisingly useful acquisition. After a year of inactivity, nobody expected much... Stastny's revitalization is helping to wash away the pain of his final season in Quebec. "I didn't expect it from them because we did a lot for them. If they didn't want me, they should tell me... to be honest, I didn't know if somebody would pick me up because I didn't play almost all year and I had bad cold all the time because I was dressed and sitting close to the ice. It was like to be in Siberia. It was a punishment to me."

Stastny is a good skater and, while he has lost some of his mobility, still retains good lateral movement and agility. He is not a fast skater, but is smart, and Marian knows where the openings will be and how to get there. Like his brothers, he has good control skills and is able to handle the puck well, either carrying it or passing it. He likes to work a lot of give-and-gos with his teammates on passes from the corners once over the blueline.

Stastny is not bad defensively, paying attention to his check back into the defensive zone, but he is anxious to get an outlet pass and head up ice. Stastny is fairly tough and he can do the work in the corners. He'll hold his own there, but is losing the one on one battles more and more because of his decreasing strength. He will go to the front of the net and take his punishment there to make plays.

A disappointing playoff, diminishing skills, maybe a little uncoachability - all might add up to a Stastny-less future for the Leafs. He played only three games in the playoffs, a sure clue that something is missing in his performance... may have been no more than a patch for the Leafs, a veteran whose usefulness no longer outweighs that of a good rookie.

 

[seventieslord]

Emile "The Cat" Francis, Coach

- Member of the HHOF (Builder)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1972)
- THN coach of the year twice prior to introduction of Jack Adams Award (1967, 1972)
- In the first 8 seasons of Jack Adams Award (1974-1981), THN winner also won Jack Adams 6 times and was runner up once (in other words, Francis almost certainly deserves credit for two Jack Adams awards)
- 388-273-117 (.574) in the regular season
- 39-50 (.438) in the playoffs
- Twice tried to leave coaching but had to step back to turn around the team following a mediocre showing under a new coach. The team was .561 with the other coaches and .664 after Francis took over

-The NY Rangers made the playoffs every season he was coach
-4 straight trips to the Conference finals from 71-74, including a loss to the Orr/Esposito Bruins in the Cup finals in 72 and a 4-3 loss to the Broad Street Bullies in the Conference finals in 74
-Before he coached the Rangers, they only made the playoffs in 4 of the previous 16 seasons and never past the first round.
-The Rangers missed the playoffs the two seasons after he left
-Innovation as a player: Francis invented the catcher's glove that all goalies use today

Biographical stuff:

Emile Francis is the winningest coach in New York Rangers history. Scrappy, cerebral, inventive, innovative, insightful, and determined: Francis brought life and light back to the eyes to Rangers fans from 1965-75 and helped keep NHL hockey in St. Louis during an extremely difficult period in Blues franchise history.

And amidst an NHL career, re-building three troubled franchises – the New York Rangers, the St. Louis Blues and the Hartford Whalers – it should come as no surprise to those who know Emile Francis that the pinnacle of his hockey career was helping youngsters develop a passion for hockey while building the game in his community.

Long recognized as one of the outstanding minds in hockey

Emile Francis played goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers during the 1940s and 1950s. It was Francis, who played multiple sports in his youth, who got the idea of combining a baseball first-baseman’s glove with a hockey glove. The end result is the catcher’s glove that goalies all over the world use today to catch pucks (Francis never thought to patent his invention).

Known as a strict disciplinarian while eliciting fierce loyalty from his players.

Emile is a guy I really respected. He was just very fair but tough too. He had a hardness about him but I liked him. The guys really liked Emile and respected him but they didn't hesitate to (play jokes on him)... we were on a road trip in LA and we were getting ready to go on the ice and Dale Rolfe gets a hold of Emile's goalie skates and he's just rubbing them on the cement floor. He says, "It won't make any difference. he skates the same all the time." Sure enough, Emile came out on the ice and skated around and his skates had to be as dull as dull could be.

-Rebuilding a the moribund Rangers:

When his playing career ended Francis worked for the Rangers in their front office developing their farm system. Many of the prospects he signed would later play key roles when he coached the Rangers. He became the Rangers GM in 1964 but by 1965 he was doubling as their head coach too.

The Rangers had been in the doldrums since the end of World War Two, making only six playoff appearances since 1942. Their last Stanley Cup final had been in 1950 when Francis was still a reserve goalie for Chuck Rayner.

The Cat told me in an interview that he made comprehensive changes in the Rangers organization; not just with personnel but also with the team’s facilities.

Instead of using the inadequate practice rink at the old Madison Square Garden, Francis had a brand new practice facility built in Long Island. Vic Hadfield writes in his diary of the 1972-73 Season that Francis made sure that the traveling and hotel conditions were “first classâ€.

-Coaching philosophy:

Francis told me that he expanded the team’s scouting corps and he wanted to beef up the offense, saying, “I believed in speed; people who could skate, win 60% of face-offs. I kept track of everything: giveaways, takeaways…using films as a coaching tool.â€

It wasn’t just speed Francis emphasized. It was physicality too.

Francis told me his philosophy was “play the manâ€.

“The more hits you had the more shots on goal you could get,†he said. “I wanted my teams to have a minimum forty hits per game.â€

To encourage contact Francis had a bounty system of $5 per hit (back then with low salaries $5 was a lot of money) and the Cat told me with a chuckle that there were considerable arguments among the Rangers players about who got the most hits after each game.

-Effect on the Rangers:

His changes paid off when the Rangers made it to the 1967 Stanley Cup playoffs. Although they were swept in four by Montreal (“we didn’t have the depth!†Francis laments) all four games were hotly contested affairs.

“Year by year, we kept getting better,†Francis said.


Indeed, offensively, from 1970-74 the Rangers were always among the top four teams in goals scored, power play goals and power-play percentage. Defensively from 1969-74 the Rangers were always among the top five in defense and penalty-killing.

Francis coached and/or developed many of the greatest players in New York Rangers history: Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, Brad Park, Eddie Giacomin and Harry Howell all earned Hall-of-Fame honors after playing for Emile Francis. Gilbert remains the all-time Rangers goal-scorer and was a two-time NHL All-Star. Ratelle was a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner.
...
Sadly, despite his efforts, Francis never won the Stanley Cup. The Rangers did make four consecutive Stanley Cup final four appearances from 1971-74 (no other Rangers coach has done this since that time); and in 1972 they made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals only to be beaten in six games by the Boston Bruins. In 1974 they came within an ace of making it to the finals again but were edged out by the Philadelphia Flyers.

-Ahead of his time:

In many ways Francis was ahead of the curve among his fellow hockey coaches and GMs.

When the present NHL Players Association began in 1967, Francis (unlike Punch Imlach of Toronto) saw the writing on the wall and dealt honestly and fairly with the new union, maintaining peace and harmony with his players. When the World Hockey Association in 1972 made inroads on the NHL, luring away top players with huge salary offers, Francis (unlike Harry Sinden of Boston) promptly renegotiated his contracts with his prime players and thus prevented any major defections to the new league.

-Post-Rangers:

When new ownership took over the Rangers in 1974 and began interfering with the Cat’s leadership, Francis endured it for one season, was fired and moved on to the St. Louis Blues.
...
The Cat left the frying pan and landed into the fire. Francis as GM, coach and part-owner of the Blues waged a desperate eight year struggle to keep the Blues franchise operating. The reason why the Blues remain in St. Louis today is because of Emile Francis’ unstinting efforts.

After 1983 Francis left the Blues and became GM of the Hartford Whalers (now the Carolina Hurricanes) until 1989.

Good articles from throughout his career:

FRANCIS RETURNED BLUES TO PLACE OF HONOR IN NHL

Emile Francis was named coach of the year by the hockey news, a nomination few observers could, or would quibble about. Under Francis' mercurial coaxing, the Rangers lifted themselves from the NHL cellar to the loftier regions of the league and, for a time, made serious overtures about finshing 2nd. This didn't exactly startle Francis, but it did come as a surprise to a few hundred thousand hockey fans who saw very little to excite them in the Ranger lineup last October... Early in Novemner, when Giacomin seemed to have shed all confidence - and ability - Francis elected to keep him in goal. "He's got guts," Emile told me, "and he's going to be a helluva goalkeeper." that was turning point one.

So, Francis managed to restore his goaltender to life. Then there was the Geoffrion case. Unlike many critics, Francis refused to interpret the Boomer as a clown. He was to supply the pride, the inspiration that was so sorely lacking since the days of Doug Harvey... and he did. That's two big pluses.

Francis was crafty enough to corral Orland Kurtenbach and Red Berenson, two capable centers, in the draft... Berenson excelled in the opening month. When he was injured, Kurtenbach stepped in and comported himself so professionally he never lost his starting assignmen. that's plus three.

Plus four comes in an assortment of miscellaneous extras. Francis infused a spirit and pride in the athletes. He nursed Rod Gilbert through another back crises, kept the explosive Reg Fleming reasonably under control while extracting a number of goals from him, and managed to squeeze a half season of good hockey out of Arnie Brown.

Strategically, he earned another plus. Just past the midseason mark his club began wavering. They still were within striking distance of the second division clubs and were confronted with a doubleheader weekend engagement... Francis deposited Hicke in Baltimore and imported ye olde Ken Schinkel. Schink scored a couple of goals that weekend and as much as anyone, was instrumental in helping execute the Black Hawks twice!

That leaves us with a healthy helping of pluses. But there were minuses too. They concern themselves with the use, or misuse, of Berenson, Maniago and Hicke, the failure of the club to hold second or third place, and its swift departure in the semifinal playoff round... the Blues blew a three goal lead to Montreal in the third period of the opening game. Some sort of plot, or stall might have been tried - new checkers - the players were culpable - and so was the coach. that game killed the Blues. But Francis didn't let them die in the next three games. They fought valiantly in defeat. Francis produced a Ranger team that no rational New Yorker should kick about.

FRANCIS EXPECTED TO REMAIN AT HELP OF RANGERS DESPITE BOOMER'S RETURN

As you read this, the three week rest and recuperation period for New York's rookie coach Bernie Geoffrion will have come to its conclusion. Most Ranger fans do not expect the Boomer to return this season. This is just a feeling and nothing has been said about it by Emile Francis, who is filling in so ably. Francis says, "When Geoffrion is ready to come back, I will step aside." Whether or not this would be a popular move at this point is questionable. It is pure fact that under Emile, the fast sinking Blueshirts righted themselves as they were going down for the count and are right now in 3rd place... one veteran Ranger fan said, "The club has responded for Francis and seems to be hitting once again. It wasn't doing this for the Boomer and a change could now confuse the players." This is true and even in the rather poor effort against Philadelphia the Blueshirts banged out 52 hits...

FRANCIS' COACHING ACUMEN CARRIES RANGERS THROUGH BRUTAL CLOSING SCHEDULE

What Francis does not mention is, that the above record has been compiled by New York since Francis took over from the sickly Boom Boom Geoffrion on January 18. The Cat used four lines against the Montrealers and has constantly juggled his personnel in the last three weeks due to injuries... he personally patted every player on the back in the dressing room after the supreme effort against Montreal... Emile is becoming something of a legend in the NHL. He protects his players... for example, Rod Seiling has been hearing the boo birds of recent games. Against Montreal, Rod had the misfortune to have a puck hop over his stick on the blue line. When the crowd hopped on him and the press tried to rap Seiling for poor play, Francis defended his man vehemently. "Rod is playing a fine game, every game now. Early in the season he was off a bit due to injuries, but heck that puck just took a bad hop. It could happen to anyone."

Under Francis, the non-hitting defense of the early part of the season has once again become the youthful wonder workers of last season...

FRANCIS' WHIP, RANGERS' BOUNCE SPUR BLUESHIRTS TO PEAK IN NHL

In a horse race, the leading jockeys are those who know just when to apply the whip, if ever so lightly. The league-leading NY Rangers felt Emile Francis' whip and responded with a tremendous must win over Boston and a second success over Los Angeles... "we never touched the puck in the workout," said Jim Neilson. "We just skated back and forth and back and forth again."... when the smoke had cleared, the Rangers had left Boston for dead with an 8-1 thrashing.. Francis' strategy had worked...Francis' players responded in proper spirit... The role of Francis as the Rangers lone superstar may eventually be usurped by sophomore center Walt Tkaczuk, but for the nonce, The Cat is the man...

The New York Rangers have attempted to head off early elimination for the East's #1 spot by inserting Emile Francis back into the coaching box. Francis takes over for the stumbling Larry Popein... the Rangers have not responded under Popein's handling and recently slid into fourth place behind Buffalo. The Rangers have been a disappointment and it will again be the Cat's job to turn the club around. He may also have to quell rumblings of discontent among his high-salaried ice stars, who have been openly critical of Popein's coaching tactics.

RETURN OF FRANCIS WAS INEVITABLE, CAT STILL CHERISHES DREAM OF CUP

any way you look at it, the return of Emile Francis to coaching was inevitable. He is the one man who is both respected and, to some extent, even feared if that is possible in 1974 hockey, by his players. And, secretly, Mr. Francis has never relinquished his cherished dream of directing the Rangers to the Stanley Cup.

When the Rangers blew apart in the 3rd period January 10th... Francis made up his mind. "I'll get to the bottom of this problem," was his comment. In today's crazy world of the overpaid, undermotivated player, Larry Popein never had a chance. He did not really hit it off with his players right from training camp. He is introverted, very serious and almost sphinx-like in non-talk. He didn't establish rapport with his men.

Under Francis they popped to and beat vancouver 6-1 and California 6-2. This put them in better shape to hold off the challenges of Toronto and Buffalo for the last two playoff spots. "They had better make the playoffs," said Francis, ominously. Realistically, he has nowhere to go but up. He has kept New york in the playoffs for seven straight years, a record not even Boston and Montreal can match. The only blot on the Francis escutcheon is the failure to win the Cup... "If the guys can't do it for Emile, they can't do it for anyone," said Popein. This is probably true... in the past, many felt the Rangers, under tough disciplinarian Francis, were worn down by playoff time, and unable to win because they had little left. Having coasted for part of the season, this might work out in their favour this time... long range, some Blueshirt watchers feel Francis should bail the situation out

ST. LOUIS CAN EXPECT TO PLAY MORE DEFENSE IN FRANCIS' TAKEOVER

Emile Francis has swept into control of the St. Louis Blues... the Salomon family has staked its future n the slim but sturdy shoulders of Cat Francis, respected for many years throughout the NHL... the way was clear for someone to take full control of the Blues' operation. Francis, longtime GM of the Rangers, is one of hockey's experienced executives who can probably succeed in such an assignment... Francis was reminded that, when he was with the Rangers, he said he would never coach again. "That's not quite true," he answered. "I said I would never coach the Rangers again. But I enjoy coaching and I'll be happy to do it again.

Francis has put the blame squarely on himself if the Blues falter in any respect.

FRANCIS MOLDING BLUES INTO HIS KIND OF TEAM

The 1976-77 Blues are definitely the hockey team of Emile Francis. He didn't put the team together. But the Blues are a team Francis will mold and shape into the precise form he wants. He swept into St. Louis several months ago and has taken complete control of the Blues' operation. He is a coach, GM, VP, a member of the board of directors and part-owner. The blues, therefore, are Francis' team. He will gain credit for their successes and take blame for their failures. The man's competitive spirit and energy are such that he is determined to be worthy of more credit than blame... with Francis coaching the team and running the entire show the Blues are likely to have a stability they haven't experienced at any time in the previous nine years of the franchise.

FRANCIS SHAKES UP THE BLUES, UNGER REMOVED AS CAPTAIN

Emile Francis knew his St. Louis Blues would not have an easy time in the playoffs. So, in the final week of the regular season he shook up his team with a series of moves. First of all he put the Blues on a training camp schedule of two practices a day. He also spoke some stern words to his athletes and told them quite clearly that any success in the playoffs would come only with a full effort from each man on the team. And Francis made two startling changes involving individuals. He removed Garry Unger as captain and asked Barclay Plager, player-coach at Kanses City, to rejoin the Blues.

The Blues had been running comfortably ahead of the 2nd place Chicago Black Hawks, and Francis said, "competition is always healthy, that's what brings out the best in a player. We didn't have anyone pushing us for the last month or two. We'd probably have had more points in another division just because of the competition."

Asked whether his players were responding to the harsh treatment, Francis said, "they either respond or they're going to be fired."... stripping Unger of his captaincy was not primarily a disciplinary action for Unger... it was intended to relieve him of some pressure. Francis made the move after he heard grumbling from other players about the captain's responsibility for the team's losing. "I'd given it a lot of thought, because there was an inclination on the part of some to point the finger at the captain."

Francis began using a designated captain for each game...Francis didn't explain fully why he called on Plager...

Annual tidbits:

The reluctant coach. That's Emile Francis, who thought his bench career was over when he appointed Boom Boom Geoffrion at the start of the season... but when the team went sour and seemed in danger of missing the playoffs, and when Geoffrion fell ill, there was nobody to take over but - you guessed it - Emile the Cat. And he did so well, and the athletes performed so efficiently under his supervision, that the front office made it plain there was to be no tampering with a very successful arrangement.

He'd like to give up coaching... the problem is, though, that Francis happens to be an excellent coach, too... The Ranger owners insist that he continue in that capacity...

According to Ranger boss Emile Francis, the key to success in today's NHL is the use of four lines instead of three. "It's wise even if you have to play a spare defenseman up front or give a center an extra shift. So often now, we have to play four games in five days. That extra line will give you a terrific edge and then when you travel across the country you've got tired men because of the time difference and you want to change lines every 45 seconds or so."

Rangers haven't been worse than fourth and their story has been one of steady advancement...

one of the very few ex-goalies to turn to coaching…

Men like Emile Francis are members of a disappearing breed; few people today think it's possible to serve as GM and coach...delegating some work to assistants enables Francis to function as coach, running the workouts and operating the team from behind the bench. And he is one of the good coaches in the NHL, as he demonstrated last spring in juggling his lines following an injury to Jean Ratelle...

"There's no unique formula to figure out. Good goalkeeping, a strong defense with good puck carriers, three big centers, wingers who'll check, a couple of penalty killers, a powerplay that can do some damage. You don't have to be a great hockey man to figure that out." Perhaps, but to put that knowledge into operation, to find the right ingredients and fit them together, maybe it takes a great hockey man to do that, as Emile Francis has done.

only man in NHL to hold down dual jobs of coach and GM. Delights in keeping busy and seems constantly in motion…

One of the few goalies ever to break into the coaching ranks, Emile is known for his colorful, fiery style behind the bench. Among the current coaches, only Chicago's Billy Reay has served longer as a coach.

Credited with building Rangers into strong contender… players believe in him, which is why he returned to the bench last season… “Francis got us playing the way we should be playing,†says Brad Park… shrewd, fiery coach… considered old fashioned and conservative, but shows signs of changing by signing colorful Derek Sanderson.

A firm believer in discipline and fundamental hockey… saved Blues organization from extinction… one of the most respected men in the game…

Highlights of interviews from Jay Moran's "The Rangers, the Bruins, and the End Of an Era": Note, in order to save dictation and typing time, player's answers are paraphrased to include enough relevant info from the interviewer's question so there's less back and forth.

I personally really respect the man, I really liked the man... I liked his discipline... but I grew up in an era where you didn't even talk to coaches... there was a different kind of respect... you rarely talked to him. The only person that would say anything was the captain, but that was good, that was just cause you respect, therefore you're going to perform. If he says something, it's gospel and you go through the end of the boards for a person like that. You can't be friends with a coach.

I think he's a very honest, devoted man to hockey... he was a great believer in a defensive hockey game and you played the way he wanted you to play to a degree...he set up a system, and I mean you worked the system because we needed it because we didn't know, when Red Sullivan coached and things, we were just kind of running around, but he put in a system that we all knew what our jobs were and he stuck by it, hell or high water... In many ways I think that it affected people positively and some negatively.In some ways it was a negative influence to their natural ability... if you all of a sudden have to do this and this and this, ok, rather than just your freewheeling thing... he believed that there was only one boss and that was the coach and you did what you were told. And I think it might have helped a lot of people and it might have stifled a lot of people... a system is great, you gotta have one, but an athletically blessed guy sometimes has to go outside the system, in the sense of making the big play, or take a chance on beating someone when you should've passed and everything turned out right... but I don't know why exactly we did well in the season but you'd have to say that in the playoffs we were less than successful... yes, he was a player's coach. He was very fair.... he was great with me...he was a humanitarian and a good guy in that way... I look back and can't put my finger on it, but we didn't really get to what our potential was. And I don't think he can either if you spoke to him.

He was a very good player's coach... actually, he had more respect than I think any other coach now or ever, especially for me. I'm talking for myself but I really respected him, I'd do anything for that guy because of the way he treated me... he treated you right and you wanted to do things and win for him... he was the type of guy that if he told you something, it was true... he could build you up and make you feel like you did something on the ice... if you did things right he'd give you a pat on the back and if you did things wrong, he'd tell you but not in a real harsh way, cause you knew you were wrong... he had a lot of respect for me and I think just about everybody that played for him... on the bench he'd get quite loud but you wouldn't hear him too much. Yeah, he was a motivator alright. It sure would have been nice to win the cup for him... he was just something else in my book. The best coach I've ever had anyways.

Absolutely he was a player's coach. He was fair for everybody, and treated us all the same way and very, very well.

He was kinda ahead of his time in some ways... He had everybody prepared to play the game and what he wanted them to do... it was more of a structure thing that he really knew what he wanted out of everybody and I think it simplified a lot of jobs for players... they knew what their roles were and I think in some ways he was ahead of himself because he had to fit players into different positions... the motivation part for Emile was that he was such a competitor himself that he hated to lose, like everybody does, but he could get himself going pretty good. He didn't like to lose and he let you know if you weren't doing your job, it didn't matter who it was, he didn't take sides whether it was Ratelle or Park... he was just a really good competitor and that came across, just the way he handled everything, right from his practices to his preparations for getting the team ready for games... yeah, everyone knew where they were supposed to be. And for a lot of players, some good systems, things like coming out of your own end, a lot of those things, and some teams weren't built like that. they let their talent take over. But he definitely had a structure of how he wanted everybody to do things and you'd better do 'em or you probably wouldn't be playing... if you didn't think you had to work hard every day, you wanted to take nights off, then I don't think you could play for Emile Francis because that isn't the way he looked at the game and the way he wanted to play. And there was only one boss and he was the boss. There was no question, there was no going to somebody else. He was the man.

He was probably not a player's coach like Sid Abel who I had in Detroit, who was more easygoing... but Emile was along the same lines, just probably a little less close to the players... just different personalities. Emile was more serious, I think and he worked at the game all the time. Nobody worked harder at the game than he did and spent more time getting it done, from the practices on the Island then back to MSG and back out to the Island. He just put in a lot of time. He went into the game, that's just his makeup.

He was great... as an ex-goaltender, he was more cerebral... he knew how to handle the personalities... he could handle all those big egos... He wrote a book about hockey. He would talk about that stuff... I had a lot of respect for the guy anyway because he was pretty famous by the time I got there and whatever he said went. But he wasn't a screamer and yeller and that kind of thing. He'd come in the locker room between periods and he might give you a tongue lashing but it was done very faintly... he was very methodic and understood what he was doing... I don't think you had a big ego problem in New York, maybe because of Cat.

Excellent coach. Excellent motivator. Treated everybody equally. Everybody was the same, there was no "this guy because he was there seven years or because he was better, he was treated better" or anything. The Cat was one of the finest men I ever met in my life. He was very good and it was too bad we couldn't win the cup for him...

Emile was very upfront with me and you knew where you stood... I thought I was treated fairly.

Great guy. Boy, great, an honest man, a legitimate honest guy. When he told you something it was the truth. He was one of the most, a great coach, a great man, a great hockey man, knew his stuff... You'll never hear a bad word said about him... he's a man's man, stand up guy. He never told a lie.. and he he used to say ok, once more. He'd have no pucks at practice and be mad at you, you knew he was mad at you... I loved him... I had nothing but respect for him. He backed you up. You got in a jam, he wasn't afraid of a jam at any cost. He protected his players. The Cat's the best.

He had a good background in the game and he worked us hard at times and he let up at times. He was just plain old good, let's put it that way. He got along with the players but he was the boss.

Very demanding, a real disciplinarian and a very good coach. I would have to say my best coach in the NHL... stuck to the basics and he had good systems and you had to play them and good ideas and he was well-prepared, well-respected from the layers and upper management as well. I have nothing but good things to say about Emile. He' a good people's person, he cares about people and as a matter of fact, even though he's out of the game now, still does. I know he's gone to bat for some players that have had some problems after they retired. No, he's a wonderful person... his system was very good and he had a good reason for it, too.

Yeah, he was different from Red Sullivan... what I remember more than anything is that when he took over I was playing regularly and then I didn't play as much... he liked the defensive players, his whole system was more defensive, Red was a little more offensive.

great to play for, he was a player's coach, as long as you played hard for him, he respected that. He got a lot out of his players, he was a great guy to play for.

I think most guys would have went through the wall for him... he was a gruff little guy but he had a heart of gold.

A player's coach, everybody loved the guy and he had a system. It's not like, "go go guys", he had a system and everybody listened to him and we played very well for 3-4 years... we didn't get lucky because of injuries, but he had a very good system, offensively and defensively.

The only thing that bothered me was I wish he had come in ten years before... when he came in, it became a professional organization. His favourite line was "if you guys don't do what I tell you, I'll send you so far away The Hockey News won't find you... but he's business first, and boy, when he set up a system, you did it... the big difference was Emile treating it strictly as a business. that's what he did and that's when the team got better... Shortly after he got there in the early 60s, he made Donnie Marshall and I assistant coaches and we were still playing. And he would ask opinions, how are the players feeling, that kind of stuff. Everything positive. So I enjoyed that and the players seemed to like it too... the systems worked. Like we got the puck out and good players were always made and the good players were allowed to play. In the old days, if you lose the puck, everybody's on defense instead of going to the puck. When Emile was there, if you're an offensive player, do something offensively. If you're defensive, you work hard in your own end. And it paid off, cause the team improved a great deal.

I played for some good coaches through my years and I never had any more respect than I did for Emile Francis... if I tried to emulate anyone as a coach, it was him.. there's a lot of things that he did that just stuck in my mind and that I respected him for. And one main thing was that he never embarrassed or centered out one player. If you made a mistake on the ice, he would go over in betwene periods and you'd lnow who he was talking about but he didn't point his finger at you, even if they knew it was you, he was still speaking as a team... other than that he was just a pure gentleman and a classy guy.

Just the same as Punch Imlach. Utmost respect for him. It's remarkable how he ran the whole Ranger organization out of a suitcase. He had a head for figures and a real good head for ockey and real gate voice for presenting a game plan or talking to you or getting you stirred up emotionally. He was a phenomenal guy.

He was a no-nonsense, black and white kind of guy. You knew when he was not happy. He had systems and regimens that were very predictable... we used to joke that you could play against the Rangers with your eyes closed because they were so predictable in how they attacked. Like the old Green Bay packers, everybody knew what was coming but they executed so well they couldn't be stopped... back then, coaching didn't have the impact on the game that it does today. I would rate Emile Francis as one of the best coaches of his era. But it's nothing compared to the thoroughness that they coach with now.

I liked him and had a lot of respect for him.

I always liked Emile, certainly my type of coach. He was a player's coach, that's for sure. His problem was maybe that he was so nice a guy, sometimes you have to be... a little like Punch but not as much as Punch did but to be successful... I enjoyed playing for him.

you want a coach that is always prepared and Emile was always very well-prepared. His teams were well-practiced and they were well-schooled, they were well-coached... he was smart enough to know he could motivate and prepare a team, but he had to have the tools to get there, and I think that's a credit to his hockey knowledge...

I think Emile was a very shrewd guy, I think he treated everybody evenly, very fairly and I think he recognized the strengths they had... he was one of the first guys to develop a system in terms of coming out of your own zone, looking after your zone, and I think when you get in your offensive zone, a lot of that has to do with creativity, and you either have that or you don't. And defensive aspects you can teach as a coach. If you've got a hard working club, you can stay in every game. So it was fun to play...

He was just such an honest guy. He was a likable guy. He treated you with total respect. I don't know of anybody who's ever played for Emile Francis who has got a bad word to say about him, I really don't... my biggest regret is that we never won a stanley cup for him.... the determination, the dedication, the work that he put in was just terrific. Here are the rules, follow the rules and that was it... he'd sit around a couple of times and tell stories and just be part of us, you know?... he worked us, we didn't adjust maybe to certain situations. His basic philosophy was, if we do what we're supposed to do, we're gonna win. And I think at times we shoulda thought, hey, you know, what we're doing is not working, maybe we should change. But certainly, of all the years that I've been involved in hockey, Emile Francis has to be one of the more respected people that I had. He's just a tremendous human being... I was never in his doghouse so I was pretty fortunate. If you didn't play well he'd put you down there for a while, but I never had any difficulties with him...

I think he was a player's coach. He was very loyal to the players he had.

He was a very approachable type. And you could discuss things with him and he would listen and take everything in, all your comments, and he liked the way we did things and listened. I liked that he had a system which he worked on and kept at it all the time. He never spoke against any players, he always tried to impress his thoughts with them and he respected the guys. This is why we played as well as we could for him... he was really honest with all the players and he never had a bad word to say about anybody. He always tried to help players more than anything else in more ways than one... every practice there was a routine, we had to keep following it because you applied it in the game automatically.

He was very strict, his hero was General Patton... he had a good hockey mind. He was a taskmaster to say the least, and drove you from the first day of training camp to the last day of hockey, perhaps too hard sometimes. That's when, especially, late in the year, when perhaps there needed to be time to take a bit of a breather to regroup... we had regular practices even during the playoffs. From the first day to the last.

Emile was the best coach I ever played for. Everybody knew what do do,and where to go and it was easy to come out of your own end... Emile was a great man, I really enjoyed playing for him. Very, very smart coach, very great hockey man and very nice person.

He was very well respected... if anyone deserved to win a cup, it was him... he's still pretty feisty... he wasn't much of a yeller, he didn't really swear, he'd get a little upset behind the bench once in a while, but you knew when he was upset

I think Emile ran a very tight ship. He was the boss and he let people know that. The stars on the team weren't going to get any better treatment than anyone else. He was a bit of a disciplinarian... this is the way we do things, this is the way we practice, this is the way we play the games. I think he was reasonably fair... did he give everybody a chance to play? Probably not. Did he run the team in the manner that he thought would get the most wins? Yes. His job is not to provide ice time for the fourth line, it is to win games. I think he ran a team to win games.

I was scared stiff before I met hum, I had no idea who he was or anything like that but the scouts had built him up to be this person that was frightening, like don't mess with this guy...The first thing he said to me was how much money you got on you? I said I got twenty bucks. He said well, here's a hundred, you're going to need more than that in New York...he did all the personable things first and that's my first memory of him, his compassion for me as a family man... what I found as a coach was Emile was very disciplined and structured. I could tell you every minute of a practice right now from 20 years ago. That didn't change, the whistle blew when he came on the ice and you just reacted to whistles pretty well for that whole hour...he was very focused, you didn't mess around down there, you knew what you were going to do... he didn't put up with guff on the ice, if he felt the practice wasn't going right, he would just stop it and give it to us type of thing. But very organized, so I remember that very vividly... our style of hockey was more discipline, it was up and down, up and down... God forbid you got off your wing, cause you'd be sitting on the bench... in that time it benefitted us cause when you got out on the ice you just reacted to that so you didn't have to worry about what you were doing or what your teammates were doing cause you just knew they were supposed to be there... everybody was given a role there and I knew what my role was...we all respected eachother for the job.

He was probably one of my biggest influences on me. he was very punctual in everything he did... he had a system that he wanted to play and the system was that everybody played as a unit. And it wasn't an individual person, everybody had to work together as a team... he treated everybody the same and made everybody feel important and there was a reason why this person was on the team, that's why they would go through the wall for him... he was absolutely a player's coach, you wanted to play for yourself but you wanted to play for him, that's the type of person he was.

He was very autocratic but I respected a lot of the things he did in terms of the way he disciplined the team and his energy... If you're with Emile and you're not battling with him, you know, he's a wonderful hockey guy, but we didn't agree so there were problems. But hey, it happens... if you were on his side he was a great guy to have as a coach... Nobody's perfect and he is in the hall of fame, he did a lot of good things, so that's it.

A writer once asked me what I would like to see put on my tombstone. I said two words: "He competed." that's what it's all about... I would work for hours with our goalkeepers to teach them how to move and handle the puck. they'd be like another defenseman out there... it was unreal how we'd have so many injuries, and always right around March, the crucial time of the year, and you couldn't make a deal to replace them, it was too late...

 

[seventieslord]

Johnny Mowers, G

(credit to TheDevilMadeMe for the majority of this bio)

- 5'11", 185 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1943)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1941, 1942)
- First Team All-Star (1943)
- Third Team All-Star (1941)

Summary: Mowers was considered one of the "big 3" goaltenders in the early 40s, along with Frank Brimsek and Turk Broda. He had a brilliant 3 year run.

Then he went off to serve in World War II for three years. When Mowers returned, it was opined that Bill Durnan would finally have competition for his awards (Brimsek and Broda returned late the previous year and weren't considered in form yet). Mowers was 31 by this time, and wasn't able to beat out future HHOF Harry Lumley (who had taken over during the war) to reclaim his starting job.

When Mowers returned from the War, writers were excited that "the last of the old Big 3" was returning and that Durnan would finally have competition for his awards:

With the return of Johnny Mowers, completing the old "Big Three" of National Hockey League netminding, Goalie Bill Durnan of the Stanley Cup Montreal Canadiens may as well prepare now for a first-class struggle to defend his stranglehold on the Vezina trophy for these last three years
...
The other two of goaltending's big three, Frankie Brimsek of Boston and Walter (Turk) Broda of Toronto Maple Leafs rejoined their clubs late last season and this will be their first full test. Now Manager Jack Adams of Detroit Red Wings has decided that the 31 year old Mowers is "ready to go".

-The Calgary Herald, Oct 23, 1946

Before coming back from war, Mowers was considered among the great all-time goalies:

Bill Durnan, says Coach Dick Irvin - who should know or who should be prejudiced, depending on which way you look at it, is "the best goaler in 20 years in the National Hockey League."

The coach of the Montreal Canadiens admits he's taking in a wide territory with that "20 years" business, but adds that he has formed his opinion while fully aware of the merits of such stars as Charlie Gardiner, Frank Brimsek, Johnny Mowers, George Hainsworth, and Turk Broda.

-Ottawa Citizen, Dec 7, 1945

YEAR BY YEAR:

1940-41 ---

- Second in Calder voting.

-Third in All-Star voting behind Turk Broda and Frank Brimsek (Source)

- A few months into his career, Mowers was already considered "a star in every game" and "one of the chief reasons for Detroit's success":

Johnny Mowers' brilliant puck stopping is one of the chief reasons for Detroit's success in the National Hockey League wars this season. The new Red Wing goal-tender has been a star in every game played by Jack Adams' club[/B] and latest achievement came at the expense of the Maple Leafs last night in Detroit. He yielded two first-period goals, then shut the Toronto team out during the remainder of the game while his mates went about nosing out the league leaders.

-Ottawa Citizen, Dec 26, 1940

- An article on Jan 3 was titled, Johnny Mowers Is Backbone of Red Wings

- Deciding between Brimsek, Broda, and Mowers for the All Star Team was a tough choice for one writer:

It is a long time since the N.H.L. had as many high calibre performers as are parading their wares this winter.

First you try to pick a goalie. My gosh! You say to yourself, there is Boston's Brimsek and Detroit's Mowers and Toronto's Broda.
...
Then there is Johnny Mowers, a kid just a year out of amateur ranks who is improving so fast, you marvel at his agility, his poise each time you see him.
...
(The writer picks Brimsek for First Team All Star and Mowers for Second Team)
...
However, we must admit it was a tough decision to make. Mowers, for a kid of his limited experience, is wizard, and he's going to be one of the really great goalies of all time or we'll be disappointed. Broda, who has always appeared awkward and in past years permitted too many "soft" goals, this year has been nothing short of sensational. He may still appear awkward but certainly hasn't given away any counters as in years gone by.

-The Windsor Daily Star, Feb 25, 1941

- Reached the Stanley Cup Finals

1941-42 ---

- Full All-Star voting isn't available, but it's highly likely that Mowers was 3rd behind Brimsek and Broda, since he was still considered in the same tier as them as a goalie:

The Quebec Senior Hockey League team had no luck against Frank Brimsek. If the latter isn't the best goaltender in the major circuit, he will do until Turk Broda and Johnny Mowers are seen here

-Ottawa Citizen, Nov 6, 1941 (After Frank Brimsek and Boston shut out the QSHL Ottawa team in an exhibition).

- Reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row

1942-43 ---

- Won Vezina Trophy and was voted First Team All Star over Brimsek (and Broda).

- When he signed a new contract at the beginning of the season, he was credited with "carrying" Detroit to the finals the previous two seasons:

Fast moving Johnny Mowers, whose agility in the nets has twice carried Detroit to the Stanley Cup finals, is equally quick at the cashier's cage

The Calgary Herald, Oct 19, 1942

- Won the Stanley Cup

- At least one writers considered him the star of the playoffs:

Star of the playdowns was goalie Johnny Mowers who climaxed a season in which he won the Vezina Trophy (for lowest goals scored on him) by blanking Boston with two shutouts on successive nights and these action pictures from Boston demonstrate how Mowers dominated the finals games.

-The Calgary Herald, Apr 13, 1943

- He was the first goalie since Tiny Thompson in 1929 to come up with back to back shutouts in the playoffs (doing so in the final two games). Thompson, however, did it in the first round, not finals.(Source).

When Carson Cooper saw Mowers tending goal in Niagara Falls, he knew the kid was a winner. He signed him to a pro contract in 1939, and he began a meteoric rise that saw him become the best goalie in the NHL for about three years... but just as he was at his prime, he enlisted in the RCAF, and by the time he was discharged, a chap named Harry Lumley was in goal. He played a year in the minors but was overcome by back problems and retired...

He was brilliantly stingy in the clinching game, blanking the Bruins once more. "One shot he stopped with his head in a tumultuous third period", reported John Walter to Detroit News readers. "Blood poured from a gash under his eye. Mowers refused to delay the game to be sewn up. He tended goal the last five minutes with blood streaming down his face...

Johnny Mowers concluded a ten year service with the Detroit Red Wing organization last month when he wired his resignation in... a desire for a steadier position that would permit more time with family was given as the reason... Mowers, a product of local ponds, had an impressive major league career... he succeeded Tiny Thompson in the Wings' goal and played there steady until 1943 when he enlisted with the RCAF...

 

[seventieslord]

Jason Allison, C

- 6'3", 210 lbs
- Top-20 in Goals Twice (9th, 16th)
- Top-10 in Assists 4 Times (2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th)
- Top-20 in Points 4 Times (4th, 9th, 14th, 16th)
- Best percentage scores: 99, 91, 82, 71, 57, 34
- Top-15 in Hart Voting Twice (9th, 15th)
- Top-6 in All-Star Voting Among Centers Three Times (4th, 5th, 6th)
- Career Adjusted +83
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (2001)
- Boston Bruins Captain (2001)

the Bruins think he could blossom into an offense of force. We just hope you won't become an offensive farce. Too talented to write him off yet… Offensive player, although it has yet to translate into anything at the NHL level… A very slow skater who doesn't seem to care. Doesn't use his size to his advantage..

will likely not be missed by his former employers… His star has steadily fallen. Unfortunately for him, the NHL caliber puck skills he received didn't come equipped with skating instructions. He simply doesn't move quick enough to compete at this level and it has led to questions about his work ethic.

Allison completely dominated nearly every game he played last season. He is strong on the puck, skates well, has excellent vision and sure, soft hands to put the passes where they need to go. Allison is the complete package offensively. He faced top checkers every shift and still excelled. He didn't play with any strong offensive players in Boston simply because there weren't any. Rookie Sergei Samsonov didn't start firing until after the first few months of the season, and when he was teamed with Allison they achieve the pleasing chemistry. But until that point, and even after it, Allison carried the Bruins attack. In nearly every game the Bruins won, he was one of the three best players.

The puck follows Allison around the rink. He has great patience, uncanny hockey sense and was one of the top 10 centers in the league. While his game is predominantly offense, he was often put on the ice to protect leads late in games, so his defense is hardly suspect. Allison is not quite as strong or tough as some of the league's best power forwards, but he goes through traffic and makes plays despite the checking attention focused on him. He is hungry to score and will pay the price to do so. Scouts say Allison tends to be a bit on the lazy side, and because of his extraordinary breakout season couldn't fathom why coach Pat Burns Road him so hard. That attitude could be a red flag.

flourished in his new surroundings under coach Burns' demanding reign. Great size and slick puck handler, he uses his incredible strength to fend off opponents while swoops in the scoring positions.

Allison is capable of completely dominating games… He makes players on his line better, and has established good chemistry with Anson Carter in particular. Allison is night in and night out one of the best forwards on the ice whenever the Bruins win.… Allison wants to get even better, and worked with the speedskater in the off-season to step up his foot speed… He showed an edge in a fight with Keith Tkachuk last season. Allison plays through pain. He didn't miss a game despite a sore wrist in the second half that frequently prevented him from taking draws.

he is the Bruins go to guy. His skating has been a weakness, but he worked on over the summer. Allison has a great shot, but seems hesitant to use it at times. Has been known to get too cute with the puck. He's being counted upon to be the Bruins only legitimate offense of center.

rewarded with a massive payraise following his breakout season, talented pivot failed to reach the same heights last year despite posting 76 points and was subjected to a heated verbal post playoff assault from GM Harry Sinden. Showed only brief moments of his outstanding strength and skill before being hampered by a badly sprained wrist late in the season and then struggling linemates in the playoffs.. Underwent an intense off-season power skating program and has vowed to improve.

one of the top 10 centers in the league when he is at the top of his game… He soldiered on for nearly half the season with an injury that eventually required surgery. If his injuries are behind him, he's poised for a big season… Allison was criticized for his dedication by coach Pat Burns, which is probably why he kept trying to play despite his injury

was hobbled by injuries throughout the first half and was finally sidelined for good in January to surgically repair first his thumb, and then a torn forearm… The heart of Boston's attack, this highly skilled playmaker has excellent instincts and is very tough to knock off the puck due to his great size, strength and reach however his below-average skating remains an ongoing project.

a leader who is capable of dominating games while facing the opposition's number one checking line, Allison's a great playmaker with a knack for finding the open man. That being said, last season was nothing to write home about. Hampered by injuries all year, Allison played through pain as best he could before undergoing season-ending thumb surgery.

restored to good health after missing nearly half of the previous season with wrist problems, Allison reaffirmed his status as a player capable of dominating games. He has established good chemistry with Bill Guerin, who was acquired during the season… Allison is, night in and night out, one of the best forwards on the ice, especially on the power play. He excels with his download playmaking...Allison gets little attention around the league because the Bruins have had so little postseason success. He gets a lot of attention from the opposition, although rival teams have a tough call since Joe Thornton gives Boston a deep one-two punch at center.

new Bruins Captain bounced back from a pair of operations that ruined his previous season to establish career best totals and finished fifth in league scoring… A spirited, all around power pivot and superb playmaker, Allison has matured into one of the league's most dominant down low forces due to his prodigious strength on the puck and gifted stickhandling abilities, while his determined efforts to advance his once suspect skating added a deceptive burst of speed to his arsenal.

Allison once again proved to be a special teams menace by a cumulative 44 power-play points… He also centered one of the most potent lines in the league for much of the year. An excellent playmaker, especially deep in the offensive zone, with good size and reach, shooting accuracy and leadership skills. Over the years, Allison has also become a far more consistent performer… Only 26, Allison's best days are still ahead.

Allison is among the best players in the league from the top of the circles in. He isn't flashy, he isn't brawny, but he is savvy, resolute and highly skilled.… He seems to adjust to whatever linemates are on his flanks. He moved from East Coast to West and didn't miss a beat.… Not only that, but he was top 10 in the league and face-offs… Allison hates to lose, and that gives them great competitive edge… Allison was the Kings MVP but suffers from the team's lack of depth at center.

despite missing most of October as an unsigned restricted free agent, Allison produced great numbers after the Kings acquired him from Boston… Allison was the driving force in turning LA's season around, leading them to the postseason after an atrocious start. The big center lacks foot speed but always produces points. He uses his size to shield opponents or for leverage down low. Few can match Allison in playmaking skill.

instantly galvanized the Kings attack after arriving in a blockbuster deal… Turned in an inspired playoff showing, dragging himself onto the ice for the Colorado finale despite a severe Charlie horse… It is his competitiveness and determined bids to upgrade his skating and first step quickness that put him over the top

Allison had become one of the best centers in the NHL, and one of its most underrated, but the injuries he suffered last season were major and the cast doubt as to whether he can rise to that level again.

Allison is a prototypical NHL number one center with good size and great offensive instincts. What he lacks in skating ability he makes up for with soft hands and intuitive passing skills. When healthy he is the type of player team can build around. Unfortunately, Allison was hurt more often than not last year and his prolonged absence all but killed the king's playoff hopes.

missed over two thirds of the season to first-half knee problems and a concussion that cost him the final 33 games… Despite not being the prettiest skater, has worked diligently to refine his first step first… Staying healthy is the primary concern as he's not the kind of player to take the cautious route

prior to getting injured, ranked among the top down low forces in the game… Give him time to regain his sharpness having only played 26 games over the past three seasons.

if the new NHL is based on speed, Allison is definitely considered "old school". Extremely creative with the puck, he is still an impact player on the power play.

 

[seventieslord]

Gary Dornhoefer, RW

- 6'1". 190 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1974, 1975)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1976)
- Best percentage scores: 79, 71, 58, 53, 51, 48, 47
- Played in NHL All-star game (1973, 1977)
- 42 NHL Fights

Fans of old-fashioned, gritty, hard-working hockey players loved the style of Gary Dornhoefer, who will be forever remembered as one of the key figures on the famed "Broad Street Bullies" with the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1970s... Dornhoefer combined a rough-and-tumble style of play with a degree of talent that made him a very effective performer for the Flyers... In that first year with Philadelphia, Dornhoefer played 65 games, and had 13 goals and 43 points while accumulating 134 minutes in penalties. Two years later he reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his career, ending the season with 26. By 1971-72, the Flyers organization was clearly looking to enhance its rough style, and that was echoed in Dornhoefer's increase in penalty minutes. He sat for 183 minutes in the box that year. Playing a more physical style of play had its advantages and Dornhoefer noticed he was being given more room to move around in front of the opposition's goal. In 1972-73 he had the best offensive year of his NHL career, averaging better than a point per game, when he potted 30 goals and 49 assists for 79 points in 77 games.

The Flyers, called goons by some hockey observers, could also play hockey, and that was what made them special. The pieces all came together for the Flyers in the 1973-74 season when they upset the heavily favoured Boston Bruins in the 1974 Stanley Cup finals. Many credit the goaltending heroics of Bernie Parent for the championship, and Dornhoefer would not disagree. A year later, Parent was again the difference as the Flyers won their second straight Stanley Cup, shutting down the Buffalo Sabres and the famed "French Connection" line of Perreault, Martin, and Robert in six games.

The Flyers advanced to the Cup finals again in 1976, looking for their third consecutive title, but the Montreal Canadiens were in the process of building yet another dynasty, and with Ken Dryden once again tending goal for the Habs, the major Flyers advantage -- goaltending--was nullified. The Canadiens won what would be their first of four consecutive Cups that spring. Dornhoefer would play another two years with the Flyers, before hanging up the blades at the conclusion of the 1977-78 season at the age of 35.

"If you hear somebody say 'that guy is a Dornhoefer-type player,' that's a helluva compliment. He was a player who gave our team character every time he stepped on the ice." That's what Philadelphia Flyers legend Bobby Clarke had to say in a 1978 interview. It sums up Gary Dornhoefer as a player pretty nicely.

Dornhoefer epitomized the Philadelphia Flyers glory teams of the 1970s - otherwise known as the Broad Street Bullies. With the likes of Clarke, Dornhoefer, Hound Dog Kelly, Moose Dupont, and Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, the Flyers were a rough and tumble team that almost literally fought their way to two consecutive Stanley Cups. Dornhoefer was as gritty as any Flyer, playing with reckless abandon as he headed into the boards, usually with his elbows just a touch high. He thrived in the corners and along the boards. Although he wasn't a great fighter, he willingly dropped the gloves. He played full out at a high tempo, giving everything he had on most shifts.

Because of his crash and bang style of play he endured lots of pain in his career, missing many games. Had he been able to play more, perhaps Gary would have gotten more respect for his hockey skills. Five times he scored over 20 goals, including 30 goals in 1972-73. That year he added 49 assists for a career high 79 points. For his fine season Gary was selected to play in the mid season All Star Game.

Gary was perhaps at his best in the playoffs. His unequaled work ethic and body checking is most valuable in the post season, but Gary scored some big goals in the playoffs - none bigger than in the seventh game of the 1975 semi finals against the New York Islanders. His goal just 19 seconds into game 7 deflated an upstart New York Islanders team. The Flyers won the Cup that year, and in 1974 as well. Gary put up respectable totals in those Cup runs too, scoring 11 points in 14 games in '74, and 10 points in 17 games in '75.

Another memorable goal scored by Gary is forever immortalized outside of the Philadelphia Spectrum in the form of a statue. The statue depicts a Flyer goal, specifically the 1973 overtime winning goal against the Minnesota North Stars in the Stanley Cup quarter finals by Dornhoefer. The series and score were tied at two. After over eight minutes of overtime, he exploded through the North Stars’ defense and backhanded the game-winner past Cesare Maniago before tumbling into the stunned Minnesota goaltender. The goal is widely considered to be the Flyer's first step towards respectability as true Stanley Cup contenders.

But it was the physical game that Gary loved to play best. ""He enjoyed the physical part of the game more than the finesse part," Bobby Clarke said. "He really paid the price physically to play the game. He received more satisfaction from a good body check than from scoring a goal."

"Dorny" had quite the effect on Clarke, who was said to greatly admire him when he first broke into the NHL. Rick MacLeish and Reggie Leach also are quick to credit Dornhoefer with helping them reach the heights they achieved. Dornhoefer is still held in high regard in the Flyers franchise, and is a member of the Philadelphia Flyers Hall of Fame.

...While his goal totals may not have been prolific, the gritty right winger had a knack for coming through in clutch situations. “Dorny” authored some of the most important goals in team history, including the game winning goal in the seventh and deciding game of the 1973-74 Stanley Cup semifinals against the New York Rangers... fitting that Dornhoefer played such a pivotal role in lifting the club to the next level in successive years...

Dornhoefer was an original Flyer in every sense of the term. After starting his career with the Boston Bruins, Dorny was selected by the Flyers with the 44th pick of the 1967 expansion draft. Through sheer hard work, Dornhoefer carved out a niche in the starting lineup He survived frequent injuries and the growing pains that any expansion club experiences. Among the forwards enshrined in the Flyers Hall of Fame, Dornhoefer may have had the least amount of natural ability, but he made himself into a solid goal scorer by paying the price in heavy-trafficked areas around the net. “Dorny worked hard as hell,” said fellow original Flyer Joe Watson. “He was exactly the kind of player you wanted on your team, and hated to play against.”

Dornhoefer was one-third of an outstanding second line, with MacLeish and 25-year-old left winger Ross Lonsberry... MacLeish exploded for 50 goals and 100 points, while Dorny posted a career-high 30 goals and 79 points while dressing in 77 games. Lonsberry had 21 goals and 50 points. Dornhoefer, the recognized sparkplug of the line, earned his first of two trips to the NHL All-Star game... Along with Lonsberry, Dornhoefer faced the challenge of helping motivate MacLeish. On an every-game basis, Dorny led by example. He dug pucks off of the boards, screened goaltenders, and jostled with defensemen to create room for MacLeish to operate... Dornhoefer was never shy about needling MacLeish verbally to get him to pick up the pace when necessary.

Dornhoefer, who is unfailingly modest about his own accomplishments, has always humorously downplayed the significance of having his likeness replicated in bronze.

An original Philadelphia Flyer in every sense of the term, Gary Dornhoefer embodied the work ethic, competitive drive and personal integrity the team has valued from the time of its foundation in 1967. "Dorny" held nothing back on the ice, playing a gritty, fearless style that set a winning tone for the hockey team, both at home and on the road. Off the ice, he has always been a man of dignity, humor and compassion. He has endured tremendous pain in his life – both physical and emotional – and emerged with his spirit intact.

...Dornhoefer carries with him the hard-earned wisdom of someone who has spent four decades in and around hockey. A true student of the game, he possesses a deep understanding of how the little things – a player's positioning, puck support from a teammate, a second effort to dig free the puck on the boards – add up to wins and losses. As much as his physical play, Dorny's hockey sense helped him overachieve.

...Although he was frightfully skinny, Dornhoefer loved the physical contact of games. Using his pointy elbows to create space, Dorny made his office down low in the offensive zone, battling on the boards and screening goaltenders. He had his share of fights, losing as many as he won, but never backing down from an opponent.... Dornhoefer understood there were no guarantees of a starting spot in Flyers' coach Keith Allen's lineup. He'd have to earn it. Dornhoefer's work ethic and competitiveness quickly made a believer of Allen. "Right from our first training camp, Gary Dornhoefer was one of our hardest working players. He played the game the right way every night. It all came from the inside; the kind of things you can't teach."

Dornhoefer's physical play and willingness to do the dirty work in front of the corners and net paid dividends for the hockey team..."They try not to let it bother them, but some guys get so occupied trying to move me out of their way, they forget about the game," Dornhoefer said of his effect on opposing goaltenders and defensemen in the book Full Spectrum. "I'd never miss a game if I went out on the ice and didn't go near anybody. But that's no accomplishment. Hockey is a game of hit-and-be-hit. I'm not going to tippy-toe around just so I can say I played 78 games. You get hit in front of the net, sure, but you get rewarded, too. You take a lot of sticks in the ribs, but it's all worth it when your team scores a goal," said Dornhoefer in the book The Broad Street Bullies.

In 1971-72, under first-year Head Coach Fred Shero, Dornhoefer led the Flyers in penalty minutes with a career-high 183. Although his goal production dropped, Dornhoefer immediately won the coach's trust. "Give me fifteen Gary Dornhoefers on my team and I don't have a care in the world," Shero once said.

If ever there was a self-made star of the Flyers it was Gary Dornhoefer... studying him carefully, a hockey critic would not expect to find a man who would become as vital to his club as a Bobby Clarke, Rick MacLeish or Bernie Parent... he did not skate with the lyrical grace of a Guy Lafleur. His shot hardly had the potency one would associate with Eric Lindros. Nor did he seem especially intimidating in spite of a relatively strong physique. Vim, vigor and vitality were the trademarks that most endeared the gangly forward to Spectrum fans... he developed into one of the west division's finest two-way players...by 1972-73 he had become a dependable leader to whom youngsters such as Bobby Clarke went to seek for advice and guidance, both on and off the ice.

"Gary was somebody to look up to," said Clarke. "He worked hard all the time, rarely drank or swore and was a good family man. He had all the qualities you look for in a person."... "Gary became a leader," said Shero. He encouraged the other guys. They looked up to him and they liked him. When we needed a lift he'd go in and work twice as hard... "Gary came a long way," said former flyer Larry Zeidel. "He polished his game and developed a more accurate shot. One of his problems had been frustration that led him to take bad shots. He became a smarter hockey player and a good competitor."

Checking never was a problem for Dornhoefer. "He enjoyed the physical part of the game more than the finesse part," said Clarke. "He really paid the price physically to play the game. He received more satisfaction from a good bodycheck than from scoring a goal."... "Gary was a character guy," said Keith Allen. "He paid the price to play the game. He took a lot of punishment and never backed off. I knew he would succeed because of his determination and drive. Anyone who played with him had a lot of respect for him."

After the 1973 Montreal series, Shero called Dornhoefer "the best, most competitive player on ice"... the intangibles - not to mention the tangibles - contributed by Dornhoefer enabled them to reach the 1974 finals and everyone connected with the team praised him for that... his assets were many but Gary always saw things clearly and saw them whole. "when I played with the Flyers, the team concept was very evident." Nobody articulated that concept better than Gary Dornhoefer.

He consistently provided the offensive play necessary to win - scoring goals and screening opposing goalies while trying to stay healthy enough to play...

Through most of his 14-year career in the NHL, Gary Dornhoefer's main goal was to get through one season injury free. For Gary was the kind of player, perhaps more than any I've ever seen, who consistently sacrificed his body for the good of the team, usually by screening the opposition's goaltender for a teammate's shot - a custom which made him the target of every defenseman (and goaltender) in the league, save his own. Gary was tall for a forward, but he was mostly skin and bone, and at some time or another, everything on his being had been broken, except, that is, his competitive spirit, which was immense.

Like the Moose, Dorny was almost as well known for his acerbic wit as for his razor-sharp elbows. We used to joke that Dorny was in the dressing room between periods sharpening his elbows... Dorny was a fan favourite as well as an athlete's athlete. He was the first Flyer to be given a "night" when retirement was within sight, a night to honour his contributions as a team man... Dorny had to leave and be welcomed back many times during his years with the Flyers, and he regretted not being on the ice for some of the team's finest moments. But during the year in which he was able to play almost every game, he scored the biggest goal of them all. For that he will be remembered as long as his bronze statue continues to shine.

developed into a young player who was tough as nails, playing on the most reviled, dirtiest and least talented team to win the stanley cup... a tough player who preferred the boards to the slot and a fight to a slug of water, Dornhoefer was frequently injured. During his career he broke both legs, both cheekbones, both ankles, a wrist, a shoulder, a knee, everything imaginable.

Bob Clarke, former teammate: "as a player he was really hard-nosed and very skilled. Keith Allen, former GM: "He was the type that set a good example for younger players."

The collection of skeletal remains that made up Gary Dornhoefer was good at rattling goalies. This thin-as-a-ghost right wing would climb into the crease and haunt the netkeeper's attic. "If I was a goalkeeper and had to battle someone like me, I would be frustrated as hell. I'd end up being thrown out of the game because I'd blow my cool."

At the same time Dornhoefer was practicing sadism, he was indulging in masochism. There was little to him but elbows and a desire to make the most out of his limited physical assets... "I've seen him play some nights when you wonder how he gets out of bed looking the way he does," said Ross Lonsberry, Dornhoefer's longtime linemate.

"I would have bet every cent we would win that series (in 1975)," Dornhoefer recalls. "We loved going against Perreault's line. We even outscored them, which was very gratifying." Fans shared his satisfaction watching Dornhoefer put everything into his work. "I loved the contact, and I played in an era that was perfect for me."

Dornhoefer was a warrior in every sense of the word... his role was to do the dirty work, to get the puck on the forecheck and then cause trouble around the net, Few players of his era had a more distinct reputation for getting in the goaltender's way. Pucks would deflect off of various body parts and into the net, and he wouldn't mind because in the box score it would look like a blistering slap shot... of course, such a style of play is accompanied with a stiff price. Thus, all of his many aches and pains. Dornhoefer wouldn't let them stop him, however. "When we got injured, it was still difficult to get us out of the lineup. If it wasn't broken, we played. There was no such thing as taking time off. If you had a sore groin, you taped it up and went out there and played. It was as simple as that. If the trainers and doctors could figure out a way to get you through a game, you played. You didn't think about how you were going to feel the next day or even ten years down the road."

He is remembered for his ability to overcome injury. He's remembered for his serious approach. Sometimes his actual contributions as a hockey player in the truest sense are overlooked. After all, he did play in a couple of NHL all-star games in a career that netted him 214 goals and 542 points...his clutch goal scoring should always be considered when his career is remembered... he was 32 when the Flyers won their second cup. He was clearly one of the veteran elements on the club. Yet he was still a very productive member of the team in the two years after the championships... a competitor. That is Gary Dornhoefer in a nutshell.

Dornhoefer says the leg is no handicap, and his spirited play since taking Williams' place on a line with Murray Oliver and Johnny Bucyk backs up his statement... Said the Bruns' coach, "He's only a youngster with a long way do go, but he has some real assets. One thing I like about him is that he's in the game. He's alert and he knows what's going on. And he has good poise. Another thing, he makes good moves with the puck. So far he has been taking the shots he should be taking and making the passes he should be making. It's a little early to tell, but he may be a first class player. Then he stays on his wing, and he comes back on defense. After his first three games I sat down and thought things over and decided he worked well with them. I'd say he may be the type who can work with other players with different styles, besides.

Dorny most impressed with his defensive work as he went up and down his wing like clockwork.

A skater drawing attention around the AHL these days is Gary Dornhoefer, whose jarring checks would do justice to a blocking back in the ranks of pro football... He has been termed a "real hitter" by coach Frank Mathers. "Gary's a big strong skater and he takes care of himself pretty well," said Mathers. "He's done a fine job for us since he came back from Boston." Mathers uses the strong 185-pounder on the point when the power play's on and he has shown the ability to keep the puck in play. There's little doubt that when the NHL expansion comes, he stands a good chance of hooking on with one of the new clubs. He has all the equipment and another year of seasoning should polish his assets for a whirl in the big time...

"They just weren't the same club without Dornhoefer," admitted Kings' defenseman Larry Cahan. "He made a difference in their 3-1 win the week before and things might've been a lot different in this game if he were in the lineup."... Dornhoefer is a scrappy individual... "we're going to miss him, that's for sure," said coach Keith Allen. "It's pretty tough when you have to go without a player of Dorny's caliber for more than a month."

The about face by the Flyers this season may mystify some people but there's no wool being pulled over Gary Dornhoefer's eyes. "We're not going anywhere because we're not winning the big games. That was our strong point in our season a year ago. Whenever we were faced with a must situation, we hardly ever lost. This year has been a complete reversal. We haven't won a big game yet. What this means is we keep making it harder on ourselves."... Dornhoefer was playing on the point in addition to his regular shift on the Flyers' power play because of the Flyers' dissatisfaction with Simon Nolet in that capacity.

he fractured a leg during the 1968 playoffs and it was abvious all last winter that he hadn't recovered completely.

likes to play it rough. He's a solid checker and scores regularly, if not spectacularly.

One reason for the Flyers' success this season has to be Gary Dornhoefer, who is proving a perfect example that guys can score a lot of goals without a bushelful of good shots... the veteran right wing is primarily a checker whose job usually is to "shadow" the best left winger on the other team and keep him from scoring. Therefore, any goals a checking line registers are considered sort of an unexpected bonus. "it just shows that if you're in the right position, you're going to turn on the red light"... Dornhoefer has developed a knack for being in the right place at the right time, which means stationing himself in the vicinity of the opposing net. Most of his goals have come from close range.

He had just scored his 25th goal of his greatest season when he collided with Red Hoganson of the Kings, and Gary Dornhoefer sank to the ice, grabbing at his knee and cursing. He tried to get up but it was hard, and then with help he hobbled off the ice and into the dressing room... "every damn year it's something else. I haven't played a full year without being hurt."... he says he worked harder this past summer than any other offseason to come to camp in shape. He's 6'1" and 175 pounds and loses weight during the season and no matter how much he eats he can't gain pounds. "But he handles the puck well and shoots it well and is afraid of nothing," Stasiuk says... under Stasiuk, Dornhoefer has become the player a lot of people always thought he someday would be before they gave up on him.

his hockey stock took a definite surge forward when he scored a career high last season of 26 goals and 29 assists... Dornhoefer plays the game aggressively... "I enjoy a good, tough game," he said. "Sometimes it takes a hard check to wake you up and really get you in the game."

a solid checker, Gary is at his best when the going is rough.

His 183 PIM were the highest total for any forward in NHL last year...

Dornhoefer also enhances his hockey value with checking and skating that make him a good defensive man - he got three goals while Flyers had penalties last season - and he is aggressive, having served 621 PIM in the five seasons he's played in Philly.

he's a tough man to move off the puck

Dornhoefer was aiming at the all-time NHL record f goals in ten straight games... the streak finally came to an end in a slightly controversial manner against Boston... some people feel he should have gotten credit for Philadelphia's final goal with 12 seconds remaining. That would have made it eight games...

Tough LW who likes to intimidate rivals... his skating ability and checking skill make him a valuable two-way player...

He never hesitates to throw his weight around and his penalty totals are usually high. He's a good playmaker.

Dornhoefer did his part to make the Flyers a team other clubs hated to face.

scoring slipped, but not his determined, reckless play... hardworking, but injury-prone winger... has pair of NHL's sharpest elbows...

He was outstanding in the playoffs, camping in front of the goal crease, proving just about impossible to move away.

DORNHOFER HAS UNCRACKABLE SPIRIT

His body has been cracked - often - but his spirit has never cracked. He began the season as Philadelphia's #2 all-time scorer, yet propelling pucks in nets is not his biggest asset... if you want someone who typifies the Stanley Cup Champions it is he... he has had almost as many broken bones as Evel Knievel... on the ice, he is one of hockey's great competitors, even before the Mad Squad developed its rowdy reputation, Dornhoefer was crashing into opponents, home and away...even before his goal total escalated to double figures, Dorny was helping rejuvenate the Rick MacLeish - Ross Lonsberry line. "This may sound phone, but goals and points don't mean much to me. Lately our line hasn't been giving up many goals. There was a time when we weren't going well. And when I came back from the fractured cheekbone I had some really bad games. A player knows when he's going bad."

Dornhoefer rarely "goes bad" for an extended period, a fact Flyers' opponents have acknowledged. Said the Rangers' Derek Sanderson, "Gary Dornhoefer is one of the unsung guys in hockey. He never gets enough ink. You can hit him 15 times and he'll always come back and hit you 15 times."

old-fashioned type who risks bodily harm every game... perhaps biggest nuisance to goalies in the league... Said Vancouver GM Phil Maloney, "Dornhoefer's been standing in the crease since he was 10 years old."... has scored some big goals for Flyers...

He plays a rough style of hockey and because of that, has been injured often... In 17 playoff games, he produced ten points, including two in the final series where his prime responsibility was holding Rick Martin to the same - two goals in six games. "Dorny is an example of what I mean by courage," says Fred Shero. "He's not afraid to take a lot of punishment to get possession of the puck or stand his ground in the slot."

RECKLESS DORNHOEFER EXAMPLIFIES FLYERS' CONSISTENCY

As much as anyone, Gary Dornhoefer exemplifies the Flyers' consistency. Dorny is off to a splendid start offensively and is a vital part of the Macleish-Lonsberry line, a fact that is more noticeable even when the veteran right winger's shooting radar isn't functioning. Watch Dornhoefer recklessly hurl himself at opponents. Watch him turn his back to goaltenders, trying to distract them... Dornhoefer's self-described "lean, mean and invisible" body reveals the man has had enough broken bones to make a surgeon richer. Which brings us to a touchy question. How much more punishment can the man take?... don't get the idea he is already easing into retirement. On the ice he continues to rank among the league's fiercest competitiors. Friends have suggested that his elbows be sent to the HHOF... "Dorny has to be the best in the league at standing in front of the goalie," said Assistant coach Mike Nykoluk. "It takes a lot of courage to stand there - you know you'll get knocked on your butt and the puck can do strange things when someone is shooting at you."... when Dornhoefer does retire, the NHL will be losing one of its premier "heart" players.

An original Flyer whose value isn't found in the scoring statistics... was a "hitter", especially on the road, before Flyers' development of tough style... one of league's most effective players at harrassing goalies... might lead the league in broken bones.

Montreal goalie Ken Dryden calls Gary Dornhoefer "Philly's designated workhorse". He could have added - he has good reason to know about it - that Dorny does more to make life miserable for opposition netminders than anyone else. When the puck is in the enemy zone, Dornhoefer can usually be found in front of the net, obstructing the goalie's view and disturbing his concentration. And he stays there, despite the punishment he has to take. "When I'm not scoring, I feel I have to do other things to help the team. I've found that by bothering the goalie, you pick up a lot of points."

One of the most respected players in the NHL. He's aggressive, has a good shot and scores often.

Rick MacLeish attracts the most attention on the line because he is one of hockey's most talented players... when they were winning consecutive cups, MacLeish led all playoff scorers but barely received a vote for the conn smythe trophy. Such is life on a team with Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent... in his own way, Dornhoefer, the right hand man on this line, is exciting. Not to goaltenders, but to people who appreciate a grinder, a man who makes up in determination what he lacks in natural talent... plays like a 24-year old, crashing into corners with elbows high, or hurling his bruised body at an opponent when many other players would merely skate by... when he needs a rest, he simply leans against the opposing goaltender... the Spectrum faithful have appreciated his reckless devotion to duty... he stands for everything the Flyers have meant to Philadelphia...

The player who was indroduced as "Cary Corndoefer" on the Flyers' first visit to Atlanta is receiving some recognition he deserves. A salute from the Philadelphia chapter of the WHWA hardly compares with the Hart or an all-star honour. However, the "Class Guy" award won by Gary Dornhoefer is significant because the writers who work with him on a daily basis know him better than anyone next to family, teammates and coaches... and what the writers know is that Dornhoefer is always a cooperative, candid gentleman. The scribes also know that on the ice, Dornhoefer, Philadelphia's Masterton trophy nominee, is the type of player every successful team needs... his willingness to risk bodily damage by barging into the corners or propping himself in the opposing goaltender's lap has helped them win two cups.

Listen to Rangers' coach John Ferguson: "I really admire Dornhoefer. He works every game, taking it and giving it back. He even played that way in the all-star game... writers aren't always right, but no one was criticizing their selection of Dornhoefer as a class guy.

underrated two-way RW who can score goals as well as stop rival wingers from scoring... at his best digging for puck in corners or along boards... respected but disliked around league by rival goaltenders for poaching in front of goal crease to set up screens and take goalie's concentration off puck... "He's one of the best there is at it. You have to admire his courage because of the physical punishment he takes," says Detroit's Eddie Giacomin... aggressive style of play is reflected by his average of 80-183 PIM per season...

As usual, his hockey career was in jeopardy last spring as he had to undergo surgery for the removal of bone chips in his right knee... however, he's been through all that. because he plays a hitting game and always takes up a position in the enemy's goalmouth, he has had plenty of injuries throughout 14 campaigns as a pro. He hardly knows what it's like to be free of physical problems. Actually, he has only missed one game over the past two seasons, and because he's been in relatively good health, he's been able to show what an excellent right winger he really is.

INJURY-PLAGUED DORNHOEFER RETURNS TO STANDING OVATION IN 700TH GAME (AS A FLYER)

The fans stood and cheered, realizing just how important Dornhoefer has been to their success...

SPECTRUM FILLED WITH WARMTH FOR TRIBUTE TO DORNHOEFER

the people who have paid to see Gary play for 11 seasons stood to cheer the man who is retiring... Doenhoeer's worth to the Flyers - and hockey - has been chronicled many times, but the man deserves one last review. Fans in other cities have despised him for the way he throws his sharpened elbows and the rest of his lean, battered body at opposing players... The 35-year old is annually voted most disliked by the NHL goaltenders union for the torment he inflicts upon them...

" I don't think you'll ever find another quite like Dornhoefer," said Bobby Clarke. "He wasn't just another winger who scored 25 goals. He was a player who gave our team character every time he stepped on the ice."

"I never saw a player who was so reckless with his body," Orest Kindrachuk said. "There isn't a defenseman in the league who doesn't respect him. I see it in their faces. they'll be in the corner and see Dorny coming and they'll say, 'Oh no, not him again."

"He's supplied us with a lot of heart," says Jimmy Watson.

Paul Holmgren grew up in Minnesota, watching the Flyers on TV. "Dorny was the guy I liked most. We played the same position, but I liked the way he always took the body."

I'll never forget him playing in Boston when the Bruins were the league's villains. Time after time Dornhoefer crashed into Boston players, who would return the hit to the fan's delight. But Dornhoefer never altered his style - and he has the bruises to prove it.

During Rick Martin's first several NHL seasons it's amazing he ever saw a Flyers' goaltender because Dornhoefer continually harrassed the Buffalo winger. Once, an infuriated Martin vowed to destroy him before the season ended.

"the only way to keep things even when he is on the ice is to make sure he's playing against someone he respects," said Montreal coach Scotty Bowman.

Gary Dornhoefer gave Flyers fans a Stanley Cup full example of courage and dedication. Perhaps the best tribute is - he was one of a kind.

 

[ResilientBeast]

Milan Lucic

How would you describe Lucic as a player and what will he bring to Los Angeles?

Miccoli: Lucic is a passionate player who could be a game-changer if highly motivated.

Marraccino: Lucic is a big body at 6’3 and will bring an element of toughness to the Kings. He was wildly popular for the way he played in Boston and will be a force with a new team.

Vance: Lucic is a physically imposing player with a nose for the net.


Marraccino: Lucic will play the role of personal protector against two valuable Kings commodities in Kopitar and Gaborik. Teams will have to respect Lucic’s presence and can chip in offensively by parking his frame in front and scoring the dirty goals off rebounds.

Vance: Kopitar will shield Lucic defensively, while Gaborik will carry more of the goal scoring duties than most of the RWs Lucic has played with recently. His size and strength are big assets in terms of maintaining puck position and in the cycle game.

http://thehockeywriters.com/an-insiders-look-at-milan-lucic-and-what-he-brings-to-la/

The Bruins turned a few heads when they drafted bruising power forward Milan Lucic in the second round. At 6’2 204 lbs, he has the size to play an aggressive, physical game, and he uses that to his advantage. From delivering a jarring body check, to dropping the gloves, Lucic knows his role, which is to throw the other team off their game, and to get his team riled up. He completed his first full season with the Vancouver Giants in 2005-06 with a total of 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists), a +4 and 149 penalty minutes in 62 games. Perhaps most telling as to what piqued the Bruins’ interest, is that Lucic is a tireless worker with a terrific attitude. The energy the winger brings with each shift is an intangible that cannot be measured in stats.

“He really sets the tone on our team with his work ethic,†Giants coach Don Hay told Hockey’s Future during the week of the MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament. “[He] finishes his checks and when he hits people he hits them hard. He’s not afraid to change the game with dropping his gloves or going to the net and making things happen.â€

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/8930/bruins2006_draft_review/

 

[ResilientBeast]

John Bouse Hutton, G

Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
10th Goaltender inducted into the HHOF
Stanley Cup Champion : 1903 and 1904
CAHL Champion : 1901
Retro Vezina Trophies : 1900, 1901, 1902

1899 Season

Team| Player | GP | GAA
Victorias|Gordon Lewis|3|2.3|
Shamrocks|James H. McKenna|8|2.6|
Montreal |Herb Collins|6|3.2|
Victorias|Frank Richardson|4|4.0|
Ottawa| John Bouse Hutton |2|5.5|
Quebec|Frank Stocking|4|6.0|
Ottawa|Fred Chittick|5|6.4|

So in the 1899 season, Hutton was sharing the goal with Chittick who was among the good goaltenders before the turn of the century. Ottawa finished 3rd in the 5 time league behind the Shamrocks and Victorias but ahead of the Montreal Hockey Club and the Quebec Hockey Club. Amongst the leading scorers there was only one Ottawa team member to crack the top 10 in the 9th position with only 6 goals. Trihey lead the league with 19 goals in 7 games.


1900 Season

Team| Player | GP | GAA
Montreal|Gordon Lewis|4|2.75|
Ottawa| John Bouse Hutton |7|2.8|
Shamrocks |James H. McKenna|7|3.7|
Montreal|Fred Munro|4|6.3|
Quebec|Frank Stocking|8|6.5|
Victorias|Thomas Powers|8|6.9|

Hutton comes into his own this season and becomes one of the premier goalies in the league. amongst "full time" goalies he crushes the competition and is barely behind Gordon Lewis in GAA despite playing in 3 more games. Quite an impressive feat. Ottawa still hasn't become the offensive juggernaut the Silver Seven would become. Bruce Stuart of Ottawa cracked the top 5 in scoring but is the only Ottawa player in the top 10. Hutton now Ottawa's starter impressively led his team to another third place finish. However Ottawa had the lowest goals for total but also had the lowest goals against by 7 goals over the Shamrocks. An impressive feat to say the least.

1901 Season

Team| Player | GP | GAA
Ottawa|Fred Chittick|1|0.00|
Victorias|Archie Lockerby|1|2.0|
Ottawa | John Bouse Hutton |7|2.9|
Shamrocks|James H. McKenna|8|3.1|
Quebec|Mark O'Meara|1|4.0|
Victorias|Fred Munro|8|4.3|
Montreal|Billy Nicholson|8|4.6|
Quebec|Frank Stocking|7|5.4|

Ottawa is finally starting to gain some traction offensively and finish first in the league winning the CAHL title and are second in goals for while again finishing first in goals against with only 20. Shamrocks are the next closest in goals against with 5 more. Ottawa had 3 scorers in the top 10 this year and one in the top 5. Russel Bowie led with 24 goals lapping the field doubling second place Lorne Campbell.

Although Ottawa won the league championship, the Shamrocks had lost their challenge to Winnipeg and Ottawa would not be awarded the Cup. At first, Ottawa was intending to challenge Winnipeg for the Cup, but on February 27, 1901 announced that they would not do so that winter.[1] According to Coleman(1966), Ottawa did not issue a challenge due to the "lateness of the season."[2] The Ottawa Journal as reported in The Globe suggested that the Ottawa club was wise in their decision, as they were in "racked condition in which they are, as a result of the immensely hard exertions put forth by them in all their games this season".[3] The Ottawa Hockey Club did not challenge the following season, either.

The Shamrocks lost the cup both games by only a goal, and had it been Ottawa in there place with similar offensive firepower and slightly better goaltending Ottawa might have been able to defeat the Winnipeg squad.

1902 Season

Team| Player | GP | GAA
Montreal|Billy Nicholson|8|1.7|
Ottawa| John Bouse Hutton |8|1.7|
Victorias|Archie Lockerby|6|2.5|
Quebec|Paddy Moran|8|4.3|
Victorias|Fred Munro|2|5.0|
Shamrocks|P. O'Reilly|8|7.8|

Tied in GAA Nicholson and Hutton are both awarded a retro Vezina trophy for their performances this season. Hutton turned in a strong performance again thus year leading Ottawa to a second place finish in the standings. Tied for first in goals against and a goal short of second place in goals for, Ottawa, MHC and the Victorias were the class of the league this year. Ottawa had 3 forwards again in the top 10 including 2 in the top 5.

1903 Season

Team| Player | GP | GAA
Victorias |Archie Lockerby|3|2.0|
Montreal |Billy Nicholson|7|2.7|
Ottawa | John Bouse Hutton |8|3.3|
Victorias |Jim Nichol|5|5.4|
Quebec |Paddy Moran|7|6.6|
Shamrocks|Patrick O'Reilly|8|7.0|

Hutton was beaten thus year for the Retro Vezina by Nicholson, but Hutton got the last laugh by winning the CAHL championship and playing for the Stanley Cup. Ottawa was both second in goals against and goals for this year. Ottawa had 4 top 10 scorers this year including second place scorer Frank McGee.

Ottawa and the Victorias played a two game total goals series with the first game ended in a one one draw, Ottawa blanked league scoring leader Russel Bowie and his Victorias in game two with an 8-0 shutout win. For their win the Ottawa team earned a silver nugget. Thus the Silver Seven Moniker was born. This was also the season that Ottawa's first won the Stanley Cup.

1904 Season

Team| Player | GP | GAA
Ottawa | John Bouse Hutton |4|3.8|
Victorias |J. Nichol|8|6.0|
Quebec |Paddy Moran|6|6.2|
Montreal |O. Waugh|5|6.4|
Montreal |Fred Brophy|1|8.0|
Shamrocks|Kenny|4|8.8|

The season started out with Ottawa winning their first four games. However, in their third game against the Victorias, the Ottawa team arrived 1½ hours late. The game was called at midnight, with Ottawa ahead 4–1. After a game where the Shamrocks arrived late in Ottawa, the League levied fines against the Shamrocks and Ottawa, and ordered the Ottawa-Victorias game to be replayed. Despite a threat from Mr. Dickson of Ottawa that Ottawa would resign if the game was to be replayed, the League continued to demand that the game be played. The Ottawa club offered to play it if it had a bearing on the league championship, but this was not acceptable to the league. In the end, Ottawa resigned from the league and the league considered the final four games to be forfeits. This overshadowed a great season from Quebec, which won the CAHL season with a record of 5–1 (plus two wins by forfeit).

Ottawa won the Stanley cup again by successfully defending it from a challenge by the Winnipeg Rowing Club. In the best of three series Hutton let in 7 goals (including one shutout) while the opposing net minder let 13 get passed him.

Hutton was on a tear this year until Ottawa resigned, he was clearly leading in GAA and had the team not forfeited had a solid chance at repeating as CAHL champions. In four games Ottawa scored 32 goals and only let in 15. Roughly estimating they keep that pace they'd have easily held the lead in GAA which would've earned Hutton his 4th retro Vezina. Despite playing only 4 games Frank McGee was 5th in league scoring and teammate Alf Smith was close behind at 9th.

Quotes

Hutton, a goaltender, then took the reigns by playing in 7 of the team's 8 games in 1900, completing the season with a 2.71 goals against average which was second best in the CAHL. He would go undefeated in 1901 with a 7-0-1 record to carry Ottawa to the league championship while lowering his goals against average to 2.50 to lead the league.

Having retained possession of the cup despite leaving the CAHL, Ottawa would easily turn back the challenge of the Toronto Marlboros 6-3 and 11-2 in their best-of-three series in late February. A week later a two-game total goal series was arranged against the Montreal Wanderers. Regulation time of the first game ended 5-5, Montreal refused to play an overtime, demanding the game be considered a no-contest and requested the series start over as a best-of-three. When that proposal was turned down, Montreal abandoned their challenge and Ottawa not only retained the cup, but were also named champions of the Federal Amateur Hockey League (the league the Wanderers were members of and Ottawa was scheduled to join the following season after leaving the CAHL) despite never having played a game in the league at the time!

The Silver Seven had one more challenge to face that season, this from the Brandon Wheat Cities club, whom Ottawa would easily handle 6-3 and 9-3. Hutton's record in Ottawa's cup challenge games was 6-1-1 with a 2.90 goals against.

http://thirdstringgoalie.blogspot.ca/2011/10/1903-ottawa-senators-bouse-hutton.html

John "Bouse" Hutton stands as the only man to the win the Stanley Cup, the Canadian football championship, and the Canadian lacrosse championship in the same year (1904). He is perhaps better known, though as the"go-to" goalie of Ottawa's Silver Seven championship teams in 1903-1904.

Hutton was possibly the first acrobatic goalie, as he eschewed the rigid stand-up style so common in his day. It's said he sometimes resembled a jumping jack in the cage when the going was hot. A true entertainer.

Tommy Gorman, the prominent Ottawa sportsman and eventual manager of the Ottawa Senators, thought Hutton was the best goalie he ever saw, choosing him over the likes of Georges Vezina, Hugh Lehman and Charlie Gardiner,

Ottawa Citizen: - The Ottawa Hockey Club will be short at least two good men this winter. Jim McGee helped the team out of many a tight corner last season and Bouse Hutton's place in the nets in one which it will be almost in impossible to fill with the same degree of satisfaction which his wont give. Experience counts, and Bouse had years of it, but they say the C.L.A does business to openly to suit the gentlemen who are supposed to govern amateur sport in the east.

In fact, the Ottawa team included several outstanding athletes. Goalie Bouse Hutton excelled at hockey, lacrosse and football. Defenceman Harvey Pulford was amateur heavyweight boxing champ of Eastern Canada and rowed in the English Henley Regatta. But McGee stood out. Even Wayne Gretzky's records pale in comparison. In 22 Stanley Cup games, he scored 63 goals!

Do you admire Deion Sanders for his ability to play two sports? Well how about a guy named Bouse Hutton. He has two different cards in the lacrosse sets. Amazingly, back in 1900, Hutton played on three championship teams: the Ottawa Silver Seven in hockey; the Ottawa Capitals in lacrosse; and the Ottawa Rough Riders in football.

In the days when hockey included a rover, the Ottawa players were so good they were called the Silver Seven. Bouse Hutton, Arthur Moore, captain Harvey Pulford, one-eyed Frank McGee, and the three Gilmour brothers (Dave, Bill, Suddy) were peerless. Ottawa was the first hockey dynasty, claiming the Cup in 1903, '04, and '05.

In 1904 the Ottawa Hockey Club, later the Senators and also known as the Silver Seven, were the defending Stanley Cup champions and considered the premier hockey team in Canada. Ottawa had a reputation as a rough team and featured such stars as the Gilmour brothers, Bouse Hutton, and Frank McGee.

In the first game for the Stanley cup and the hockey championship of Canada here last night, the Winnipeg Rowing Club was defeated by the Ottawa hockey team, by a score of 9 to 1. The Westerners player a good game, but their shooting and combination work was poor. Ottawa showed up in good style."

Arthur Moore and Harvey Pulford on the defence simply refused to allow the Montreal anyways near Bouse Hutton. They body checked hard and after the first few minutes dickie boons forwards were content to shoot at long range. Both lifted well too, and kept their forwards well fed. Hutton was in hard luck. He stopped numerous difficult shots and then kicked the puck into the net for Montreal's only tally

Ottawas looking for a new goalkeeper. Finnie is good, but not quite good enough for the cup team and efforts will be made to get Bouse Hutton back into the game again.

The Ottawas have not closed with either Lesueur or Hutton and although Lesueur was was the rink he declined to get in the nets saying he had not been invited to play.
....
The officers are still after Bouse Hutton for the nets and it is possible that he will be out for Thursday's practice.

While it has been said that Ottawa was the more effective in close quarters it must not be imagined that the Ottawa defence had any holiday and even Bouse Hutton had to take care of some snappy shots.

In any event the Ottawas will miss Jim and Frank McGee, Bouse Hutton and Dick O'Leary

It was one of those occasions that was made to for "table-hopping". There were more big hockey "names" on hand than pipefitters at a plumbers convention. There was Frank Boucher, a Rangers great and no with Saskatoon, or is it St Paul?

There was the evergreen Bouse Hutton, one of the two surviving members of the famous Silver Seven, still hale and hearty:

Morin in goal is a good man, but Hutton is better. On the forward line McCarron was easily the star. He plays a dashing brilliant game, and scored most of the games. Hutton in goal for Ottawa was played his usual All Star game, and blocked some red-hot shots.

 

[seventieslord]

Bob Murray, D

- 5'10", 183 lbs
- Received a few scattered all-star votes (1980, 1981, 1983)
- Top-15 in Defense scoring three times (11th, 12th, 13th)
- Best defense VsX scores: 79, 70, 70, 62, 59, 58, 53
- Played in NHL All-star game (1981, 1983)
- Averaged 22.41 minutes per game (17.1 at ES) for 1008 games, for teams 2% below average
- Averaged 17.1 ES minutes per game in career
- Averaged 24.6 minutes per game (18.75 at ES) in 8-year prime, for teams 2% better than average
- Top-4 in TOI on team 12 times (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4)
- Top-4 in ES TOI on team 11 times (1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4)
- Killed 52% of penalties for teams exactly average on the PK
- 56 Points in 112 playoff games
- Chicago Blackhawks Captain (1986)

A skilled athlete, Bob Murray was known for his determination and skill as a player. In an article from March 3, 1993 in Hockey Digest, Murray expressed his feelings on his playing days. "I was a steady player. I could skate and move the puck. I read the play very well. My only problem was my size. I had trouble with certain teams that were bigger. I had trouble with the bigger guys, and that's how it's always going to be with the smaller defensemen." In the article, Murray also described the one thing about his career that bothers him to this day. "The nagging thing from my career is that I got to the semifinals several times, but never got to the finals. It bothers me that the group of guys I was with didn't take that step. We can make excuses. We hit Edmonton during their dynasty, and they were the best teams, no doubt about it. The fact of the matter is that we didn't do it. I'd call us underachievers. I have some close friends from that group, and it really bothers me that we didn't win the cup."

Billy Gardner, a former teammate, gave the following description: "Murph was a really difficult guy to get to know unless you were able to really get to know him, and I was one of the few who was able to. I got along with Bob and I think he was sort of like the father figure in my time. I think he appreciated people that could understand the game, which I thought I could, and had extensive talks about what was going on in situations... As a player, he was always there, played the same way every game, was very good, very steady. He was another guy who probably wasn't appreciated enough by his teammates, but game in, game out he was always there and look where he is now, his knowledge of the game is obviously very good."

If yu are surpsised that Bob Murray has cracked the vaunted Chicago defense, then you are not alone. "I, too, am surprised. I knew this club had a lot of defensemen plus I saw that they didn't make that many changes in the offseason... I was really figuring on returning to Dallas... I saw in the paper where Billy Reay said that I was going to get a good look... I thought maybe he was just saying that and was trying to push the other defensemen a little harder..."

Good enough to join the ranks of Bill White, Phil Russell, Dick Redmond, Dale Tallon and Doug Jarrett as one of the more highly-regarded rearguards in the NHL... "I kind of thought that when I survived the final cut, that I'd be doing a lot of sitting while the most experienced players played. But I've been getting a lot of shifts in."

"But I still find myself making a lot of defensive mistakes in my own end. I like to carry the puck a lot like Dick Redmond, so I have to be extra careful that I don't get caught. I don't consider myself a hitting type of defenseman but I think that in time I'll be doing more of it."... Murray exhibited some vigor in mid-october when he delivered an authoritive jolt to Detroit's Bill Hogoboam... he had scored two goals before Murray's message late in the second period, but skated somewhat more softly thereafter. It was somewhat akin to the way Chicago's smaller forwards are treated by ogres around the league.

He's a fundamental and steady type of player.

Bob is known for his all-out honest type of play.

Credit Bob Murray with high marks for candor when he tells you that last year selfishness was his most important product and that Blackhawk victories, rare as they were, didn't always wipe that scowl off his face. "In fact, it was so bad that there were times I would almost hope the team didn't do well. I wasn't playing and I had a terrible attitude, and I figured that maybe if the team would lose, I would get a chance to play. It was a completely wrong way to think. I was a little kid and I'm sure some of the other guys were unhappy about it and had to wonder about me. But that's the way I was. I was a loser, I was pouting all the time... I would come to the rink 20 minutes before practice, coast through it for an hour - and then get dressed and leave. Didn't really care about anything, and there were times when I wasn't even sure whether I wanted to play hockey for a living anymore. I was very frustrated and depressed."

But at this point in time, with the Blackhawks a respectable team again, the only thing down about Murray is his weight, which is 178. Otherwise, the latent talent which always seemed to be there somewhere at last has been tapped, and he has burgeoned into one of the club's most important players, especially with the puck in tow. "My game in the minors always was carrying the puck. But since I came here, I never really had the confidence to do it, and I never really had that much ice to develop my confidence... Billy Reay gave me my first break by bringing me up from Dallas three years ago. But there were times when I would only play a shift a game, or a little at right, or not at all. I think he believed that was the way to bring along young players, and maybe it was the best thing for me. This year, ever since I've been playing a lot, Bob Pulford hasn't once told me not to carry the puck. It's like the runner on first base who always has the green light to steal second on his own if he thinks he can. I mean, if Pully thinks we should be dumping the puck in more, he'll tell you. But he hasn't discouraged me from carrying it, and that's my game. I'm not big, and I don't play as physical as some other defensemen. Moving the puck is my strength."

The biggest noise Murray made last season was during the playoffs when he openly complained about how the Hawks were locked out of the stadium because of a concert. As a result, they had to play their entire opening round series against the Islanders in new york. "I felt we got shoved in the background a little by management, but some of the guys didn't seem to care either way. They just wanted to get the thing over with and head to the gold courses or their summer cottages. This year, I don't think you'll see that kind of attitude here."

Has shown outstanding ability with the Hawks... possessor of a right handed shot, he's an extremely hard worker and has good shot from the point... with additional experience he's sure to become a top-notch player for years.

a hard-hitting checker and a good skating playmaker, Bob is always around the puck. An extremely hard worker, he has an outstanding shot from the point. Bob can fill in at wing.

Possessed with the ability to play wing as well as defense, Bob steadily improves... has an excellent shot from the point.

Growing into fine all-around player... has made his mark in only three full seasons... used extensively on the PP... has also been used at wing... a hard worker who earned his chance... not afraid to check... not as feisty now and doesn't have to be... could be ready to blossom.

Bob Murray can move the puck, skates well and can shoot better than a lot of people give him credit for. Ask some goalies.

Has made steady improvement in six-season career with Hawks...Now among premier backliners in NHL, knocking on all-star door...Good rusher and key man on Hawks' power play...Shot among hardest in league...Spent rookie pro season with Dallas in Central League...Has been a fixture on Hawks' defense ever since.

Missed close to half the 1981-82 season with a knee injury...Returned to be key man in playoff success...Slowly matured into front-line player...Excellent rusher, strong puckhandler with a good shot... Goalies claim he has one of the hardest shots in NHL.

Just as the blackhawks have become a far better team than they used to be, so have their fans become more discriminating. They don't boo Bob Murray anymore. Why they booed him in the first place was a mystery, because from the late 1970s through the early 80s, Murray was one of the best defensemen on teams that were mostly mediocre. The consciousness change on the part of fans seemed to come after Murray tore ligaments in his left knee. absence and an escalating goals against average made the heart grow fonder. For the first time, Murray was out of the lineup for an extended period. The fans lost their scapegoat and the Hawks started losing a lot of games... when Murray returned to the ice last March, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, and rightfully so... "The way he worked to make it back shows a lot of guts and class", recalled trainer Skip Thayer...

since he returned a year ago, seldom has there been heard a discouraging word from the crowds, even though he is having his least productive season since 1978... but his 35 points only skim the surface of what he means to the team. Murray has the best +/- of any hawk defenseman, "Murray is my kind of hockey player," says former Boston coach Don Cherry. The 28-year old Murray's responsibilities include working the PP and he is finding himself taking extra shifts late in the game. "It shouldn't be taken as a reflection of the other defensemen," said Murray. "we have the experience, and that means we should be less suceptible to making mistakes. Someday the guys who are now sitting will be the ones who are out late in the game... defensive players have to work together and it was difficult for me to adjust. I think I made it mentally hard on myself. Doug and I are both basically offensive defensemen and, at first, I was trying too hard to be more defensive. But after playing with Doug for most of the season, I realize I don't have to play that way and lately I haven't. That has helped to open things up. The most satisfying thing about this season is to finally be a consistent winner. The pressure is on every night now, but I enjoy it."

Front-line defenseman who is good at all areas of the game... Very efficient defensively...

Solid, reliable backliner who was one of the few Hawks regulars who had a plus figure in 1983-84... Good defensively and a fine rusher...

Murray is underrated as a defensemen, but he knows how to play his defensive angles well and he reads rushes well too, making him an above average defenseman. Because he's not big and forwards will sometimes beat him on strength, Murray has adopted a smart approach that works very well for him. He is an average skater but is losing a step of his quickness so, not coincidentally, he has toned down his offensive instincts from earlier in his career. He does't rush the puck and he doesn't try to be a fourth offensive attacker as much as he once did. Murray still has a good slapshot from the right point and switches to the left side on the PP. If point coverage isn't good, he'll pinch to the top of the faceoff circle for a shot.

At 5'9", Murray doesn't have a big frame and will not make the play in the corner on strength alone if he runs into a strong, hardworking forward. Vision and ability to move the puck quickly to teammates are Murray's assets here. Because of his strength (or lack thereof) the opposition would like to get Murray isolated in front of the net, where he'll be unable to hold off big forwards... Dependable and consistent, Murray should settle into his 30s nicely with the Hawks because he knows his limitations and plays by them... a very straight shooter of a fellow who knows what he can and can't do. He moves the puck very well and can rush on occasion but doesn't do it much anymore.

Bob Murray is probably one of the most underrated - and DEFINITELY one of the most underappreciated - players in the NHL... he is an above average skater... offensive instincts are still intact, thank you very much. so he's a fixture on the hawk PP... Bob sees the ice very well and can still get the puck to his teammates. He reads the openings and knows when to go for them himself, and when to hang back.

Like old man river, Bob Murray just keeps rolling along. He is dependable and consistent, and plays the game smartly and within his limitations. He's the kind of guy youngsters like Nylund, Bergevin and Manson should be learning from.

Solid, dependable, consistent and unknown: that's Bob Murray. He doesn't do anything fancy, he just gets the puck and moves it out of the Hawks zone quickly, efficiently, and correctly. Murray plays his defensive angles as if he were writing a textbook, and he has to do that because of his size. He reads the offensive rush and anticipates its ramifications very well.

Bob remains an outstanding skater, but he doesn't have the quickness he once had, so he doesn't rush the puck as he used to - at least not when partner Doug Wilson is healthy. When Wilson is out, Murray opens up his offense to compensate. His offensive instincts are very good and that's why he's a fixture on the power play.

He sees the lay well in both zones and gets the puck to his teammates in the opening. He'll pinch in prudently at the blue line and he uses a good slap shot from the point as a scoring weapon.

Murray is a direct contradiction to Darwinian principle of only the strong surviving. Rather, he embodies the theory regarding the inheritance of acquired characteristics: He learned how to be smart, how to play the body when the situation is in his favor, how to make the most of what he has...Murray counters his lack of strength by holding and interfering smartly...

Murray is almost a throwback to those days of strictly defensive defensemen - not that he's always been that way, but 15 NHL seasons will take some starch from your play... he's still a good skater though slow, but Murray makes his skating work by playing his defensive angles smartly. He steps up when he can, but always forces the opposition wide and into the boards. He doesn't put himself into situations from which his skating cannot extricate him; he prudently pinches at the blueline. As such he's unlikely to contribute much by way of offense, but Murray can still turn a play around well from his end with a quick and intelligent pass. He can still find the open man and retains his good instincts, so he'll see some power play time because of that. His slap shot from the point is his scoring weapon...

Murray's physical play is actually a credit to his brainwork. He learned early on that direct confrontation may not best serve his defensive purposes, so he forces the opposition to compete on his terms rather than vice versa. Murray plays the body and ties up his man's stick, but he also uses his hockey sense to amplify his physical play... playing an off-the-bench role for the Hawks now, contributing when he can.

 

[seventieslord]

Murph Chamberlain, LW/C

- 5'11", 165 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1944, 1946)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1938, 1939, 1940, 1943, 1947)
- Best Points Percentages (by the seventies system that discounts WW2 years): 59, 57, 51, 50, 47, 46, 44
- Top-10 in playoff scoring 3 times: 6th(1939), 8th(1944), 9th(1946)
- Top-4 in PIM six times (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4), retired 13th in PIMs all-time
- Retired 19th in NHL playoff points (31), 12th in games (66), and 5th in PIM (96)
- Allan Cup Champion (1937)

They didn’t come much tougher than Murph Chamberlain. He played 12 NHL seasons with four different clubs and was one of the hardest hitters in the league, no matter what team he suited up for.

Chamberlain did not disappoint. Stretching 165 pounds over a 5-foot-11 frame, his ferocious competitive drive made him a feared adversary in bush league rinks from Sudbury to South Porcupine. Skilled offensively, the young forward could skate, shoot and carry the puck. He could also handle the heavy going, be it legally or outside the rules.

Chamberlain’s best years were spent with the Habs. So were his most enjoyable. Always popular the brash and outspoken “Hardrock” was usually at the thick of things. On the ice he maintained his reputation as one of the NHL’s best brawlers. Off the ice he was one of the hubs of the Habs social life. From time to time he took a raw recruit under his wing, initiating him to delights of Montreal’s nightlife.

Playing a solid second-line role, Chamberlain had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for a second time in 1946, another year that saw him play a clutch postseason role.

In 510 NHL regular season games Chamberlain scored 100 goals and assisted on 175 others. He was also a successful playoff performer with 14 goal and 17 helpers in 66 postseason games. Perhaps the best measure of the Chamberlain’s contributions to team successes is that only once in his 12 NHL years did his team’s season end with the conclusion of regular season play.

When Dick Irvin took over the reins of the Canadiens in 1940-41, he felt that his Habs were not tough enough to make it to the top of the NHL pile. Irvin found his man in Erwin Graves Chamberlain, who had previously played under his orders for three seasons in Toronto. It proved to be $7500 well spent as the 5-foot-11 forward, known to everyone but his parents as “Murph”, policed the ice at the Forum for most of the next decade.

An outgoing dressing room favorite, Chamberlain spent the better part of two seasons as a rugged two-way forward in Montreal before being traded for Brooklyn American Red Heron. Each player’s rights, however, remained with their original team through the end of the 1941-42 schedule.

The next season, Chamberlain was rented to the Boston Bruins where he enjoyed his most productive season to date before being repatriated by the Canadiens prior to the 1943-44 campaign. The gritty forward played alongside Ray Getliffe and Phil Watson on a trio that soon picked up a moniker of its own.

“The Gabby Line”, as valuable as it was voluble, provided solid secondary scoring as Chamberlain, who was perennially among the NHL’s 10 most penalized players, reinforced the team’s toughness. He was also good for morale. Quick with a quip and always ready for a good time, life in dressing rooms, hotel lobbies and railroad cars was never boring when Chamberlain was with the team.

”Murph” is one of the best defensive forwards to break into the NHL in several years… Right now he’s as good as any rookie in the league, and, with the exception of Apps, I think Chamberlain is as good at this stage as any to come up during the last few seasons… Chamberlain’s defensive ability more than makes up for any lack of offensive strength.

Chamberlain and _______ are not for sale. We need them for those gruelling games on the road.

His crude checking, which brought numerous penalties in the season’s first games, has been smoothed.

It’s not often Chamberlain’s name is seen in the scoring summaries. So far he’s only assisted on six goals and scored none himself. But primarily he is a checking center, flanked by Nick Metz and _______ on a line usually sent out to duel with the opposition’s first stringers.

Manager Jack Adams of the Red Wings must have done considerable growling last night as he watched Drillon and Chamberlain dancing around his defensemen… Young Chamberlain was a member of the Allan Cup champions last winter, and was spotted as a future Red Wing by scout Carson Cooper. Somewhere along the fast-moving hockey trail, Chamberlain got away and landed with the Leafs.

Murph Chamberlain, battling centre ice player…

Irvin… showed enthusiasm when he said that “Toe Blake and Murph Chamberlain were the first on and the last off the ice (at practice).” Blake has been practically a one-man gang for the lowly Habitants during the past couple of seasons, while Chamberlain, noted for his scrappy play, was picked up at the end of last season.

The Boston hockey writers did a great job of rabble rousing with their accounts of the first two games in this series in Montreal. They painted Murph Chamberlain as a cross between John Dillinger and Al Capone, blaming him solely for the dents, abrasions, sprains and gashes worn by the noble Bruins… the moment Canadiens appeared, everybody was looking for Chamberlain, and the fans were yelling for their heroes to take old Murph apart. Murph played a hard and effective game and stayed on the ice except for one incident where he and Milt Schmidy were fenced for fighting, and Milt was the aggressor in this case.

WILL TO WIN IS ONE REASON THAT HARDROCK GETS FROM SKIPPER OF THE CANUCKS. CHAMBERLAIN IS LAUDED BY COACH DICK IRVIN ON AGGRESSIVENESS

Like a good wine, Murph "Old Hardrock" Chamberlain of the Montreal Canadiens seems to improve with age. More than one hockey follower sniffed disdainfully when the Habitants took Murph into the fold at the start of the 1944 season. But the scoffers, who had insisted that he was all washed up, had to eat their words as Murph turned into one of the mainstays of a club that has established a brilliant record in the last four seasons... not a little credit for the four league titles must go to the fighting Irishman who doesn't know what the word "quit" means.

Murph hasn't got a hard shot; a lot of players are faster and skate better. But Murph doesn't yield an inch when it comes to aggressiveness. He's the type of player who is likely to come through with a goal while lying flat on the ice after a stiff bodycheck. He's always in there trying and many of his tries pay off... the nickname "hardrock" is a natural. First he plays a slam-bang, devil-take-the-consequences type of game... Coach Dick Irvin makes no bones about the fact that he likes to have men like Chamberlain on his club... Irvin was coach of the Maple Leafs when Chamberlain was there and he knew Murph to be the type who is a real sparkplug. So Irvin didn't hesitate a minute in giving his approval when Canadiens had a chance to pick him up in 1943. "Chamberlain has so much get-up-and-go that he's a valuable man to have on your team. He's a good backchecker, he scores a lot of important goals and he's always trying. That last factor is important. I don't want men on the club who admit defeat. They've got to be out there giving all they've got whether we're taking a licking or winning the game."

Irvin also figures that a player like Chamberlain is good to have around to keep the morale of the team high. Chamberlain and Reardon engage in so many verbal duels that there's never a dull moment and the Canadiens are always in good spirit. In the dressing room, they liven the procceings with their banter, heckling eachother continuously...

HARD ROCK CHAMBERLAIN DURABLE AND COLORFUL

During the long years of pro hockey, there have been any number of rough and tumble players. As time passes, these individuals have become fewer. Today in the NHL, one of the most durable is Murph Chamberlain, better known as Hardrock. At 34, Murph is still going a good lick for the Canadiens, as a throwback from the rugged days of hockey. More than one opponent has spent time following a game against Chamberlain counting the bumps which the aggressive Hardrock has planted. Always full of color with his vigorous form, Murph has exchanged blows with most of the players in the NHL. He doesn't win 'em all, but he's willing to stand up and slug it out regardless of the results.

Chamberlain is a good solid workman. He's not known so much for ability to stickhandle and weave, but more for his flamboyant spirit and intense desire to win. When the chips are down, there's not a more dangerous man in the league. Many a time his last minute goal has turned the tide in favour of his club. Wiry, red-headed Murph has had more than his share of injuries. They range from broken legs to slight cuts. He moves in on anybody without fear and is ready to battle for what he thinks are his rights... he's no appeaser and makes it clear where he stands. He usually is to be found carrying his stick high and loves to mix it up... he was with Toronto for three seasons when they let him go because he was "too tough to handle"... blessed with a rare sense of humour, Murph is well-liked by most. They respect his flaming spirit. Even at his age, he seems to have plenty of sound, good hockey still left in him.

Murph Chamberlain, scrappy Canadien veteran...

And now it’s Murph Chamberlain, the grizzled hardrock of Montreal Canadiens, bowing out of hockey… “I guess I’m about washed up from hockey as a competitor. After 12 years in the big league I’ll be ready to call it a career.” Never a brilliant star such as Lach or Blake, Chamberlain nevertheless is a hard-working, give-all type of player who could inspire any hockey team. When the going became rough, the grinning Irishman would take it all in stride – and come back for more… He acquired the “hardrock” appellation when playing senior amateur hockey with Frood Mines… Murph played in only part of the current playoff series with Detroit because of an injured hand. “That ice can get awfully hard. Three years ago playing against Detroit I tumbled on my head, hard. I came back and played. I played in the next game too. But I didn’t know much of anything for four days.”

Chamberlain's decision to retire came mostly because of advancing age. He's an ancient 34 years old now, and has been making it rough on his opponents for the past 12 seasons... always a colorful character, Chamberlain added a dash of spice to any game he played in, and proved a good man to have around when the stars were out of action as they have been on many occasions during the past couple of seasons.

Murph's role on the best checking line in hockey:

Peters usually skated on the Habs' defensive line with Murph Chamberlain and Ken Mosdell....

The famed pony line was sent against Billy Reay, Jimmy Peters and Murph Chamberlain of the Candiens who checked them closely all night and it was seldom indeed when they could get a shot away

They also have the best checking line in hockey in Kenny Mosdell, Murph Chamberlain and Jimmy Peters. It has been pointed out that none of this line has scored many goals, but the fellows who have played against them have scored even less. And they have been assigned to most of the high-scoring lines in the league.

For the post-season series cagey Dick Irvin, Canadiens coach, lined up Billy Reay, Murph Chamberlain, and Jimmy Peters against the Bentleys-Mosienko trio and his strategy paid dividends.

 

[seventieslord]

Geoff Courtnall, LW

- 6'1", 204 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1988)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1994)
- Placed 4th, 7th, 9th in LW All-star voting
- Best percentage scores: 73, 68, 63, 58, 57, 57, 55
- 109 points in 156 Playoff games
- Never missed the playoffs in 15 years, advanced past round 1 nine times

Geoff was an exciting hockey player, combining great speed and enthusiastic physical play. He was also a streaky scorer who tallied an impressive 367 goals in his career, and a good playmaker, collecting 432 assists for 799 points in 1048 NHL games. His younger brother Russ also played in the NHL, and for a short time the two played together on the Vancouver Canucks.

Russ was a highly thought of prospect when he broke into the NHL, being selected 7th overall in the 1983 Entry Draft. Geoff on the other hand had to scratch and claw his way into the league. Despite being bigger and more physical than his brother and despite posting 114 points in his final year of junior, Geoff was never drafted. Instead he signed as a free agent with the Boston Bruins as a 20 year old in 1983.

After spending most of his rookie pro season in the minors, Geoff cracked the Bruins lineup in a limited role in 1984-85. That year, and in 1985-86 and 1986-87, he played a largely a third or fourth line role, excelling as a forechecker and agitator. By 1987-88 Geoff finally had the opportunity to display his goal scoring abilities. He made a name for himself by lighting the lamp 32 times in 62 games while continuing his high speed, hard hitting style of play. The rest of the league, and for that matter the Bruins, finally noticed that Geoff was a very good player.

When people realize you are a good player, they naturally want you to play on their team. Geoff's name suddenly popped up in trade rumours as many GMs were interested in energetic and streaky left winger in Beantown. The strongest rumour turned out to be more than a rumour however. Much speculation had Geoff being part of a package heading to Edmonton in exchange for unhappy goalie Andy Moog. On March 8, 1988 that deal went through as Moog went to Beantown for Courtnall and a young goalie named Bill Ranford..

Courtnall added 4 goals and 8 points in 12 games to finish the year with 36 goals and 66 points. However come playoff time the Oilers played him in a minor role en route to the Oilers 4th Stanley Cup, Courtnall's first and only. He collected 3 assists in 19 games of very limited ice time, but he still counts that as his career highlight..

Geoff's stay in the Alberta capital city was brief however, as he was was traded to Washington ...Geoff went on to two strong seasons in Washington, scoring 42 and 35 goals respectively. It was important for Geoff to register good numbers because he had a reputation as a streaky scorer. This gave him 3 solid seasons and recognition as one of the league's upper echelon left wingers.

Washington was looking to shake up their lineup by 1990 however, and Geoff was traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Peter Zezel. Geoff was on pace to score 30 goals in St. Louis but before the end of the season he was traded to Vancouver along with Sergio Momesso, Robert Dirk, and Cliff Ronning.

That trade proved to be very beneficial for the Canucks, as all players would play well and the Canucks became a league powerhouse. Geoff scored over 30 goals in a Vancouver uniform just once in 4 years, but continued to be an offensive force, scoring 77 points in 1992-93, and 70 points in 1993-94. More importantly Geoff was a top player in the playoffs for the Canucks. He scored a very respectable 61 points in 65 playoff games with the Canucks, and was a major part of the team's 1994 Stanley Cup finals run, scoring 9 goals and 19 points in 24 games.

In his final season in Vancouver, the Canucks acquired his brother Russ. For the first time the duo played on the same team, and at times even on the same line. Both players called it a dream come true, but the dream was short. Geoff left the Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 1995, opting for the big money that the St. Louis Blues were offering.

Geoff's return to St. Louis proved to be his final stop in the NHL, as he enjoyed 5 seasons in the Gateway City. At first it looked like the Blues had overpaid for a declining player. Courtnall struggled at times, scoring just 40 points in his first season back, and more importantly just 3 assists in 13 playoff contests. In 1996-97 he improved to 57 points, but had just 17 goals. In 1997-98 Geoff returned to form strongly, notching 31 goals and 62 points and adding 10 points in 10 playoff games. Despite being 35 years old, Geoff had his best season in years.

1998-99 was a year to forget for Geoff, and quite possibly he doesn't remember all of it. He played in 24 games, scoring five goals and adding seven assists. Then on November 27, 1998 Courtnall's season was stopped immediately when he suffered a severe concussion. In the coming weeks he would still feel after effects of the concussion, better known as post-concussion syndrome. Geoff missed 57 games but returned late in the season and for the playoffs.

Perhaps foolishly, Geoff returned to the league for the start of the 1999-2000 season. He had doctor's clearance to play but it wouldn't take much to jar his head and cause another concussion, perhaps leaving him severely injured for life. Geoff took that chance, and just six games into the season suffered another concussion, and was forced to retire.

Geoff was a favorite wherever he played. His energetic hustle, his aggressive fore-check and his tendency to score key goals will be missed.

Courtnall played his best career years as a Canuck but more importantly he was a straight up playoff warrior.

He put up 61 points in 65 playoff games for Vancouver, 19 of those in 1994. He had a couple of big moments during that run including the the game 5 OT winner against Calgary that sparked the trio of overtime comebacks that still might be the Canucks’ greatest claim to fame against the Flames.

In Game 6 of the Finals, with the Canucks up 3-1, Courtnall had a beautiful chance late in the third only for the puck to hit something by the net allowing the Rangers to take it back up ice and get a Messier goal to claw back.

Luckily, this was the first season the NHL implemented video review and it was quickly determined the puck had hit the back crossbar and bounced out.

A 3-2 nailbiter was now a 4-1 slamdunk.

At least during this time Geoff was able to play a handful of games with his brother Russ in a Canucks uniform.

Courtnall, like many on that team, tapered off after that run and eventually was traded back to St Louis in the summer of 1995. He played with the Blues for five seasons until concussion issues forced his retirement.

He established himself as a timely scorer and pesky opponent during stints with Washington and St. Louis...combined scoring ability, speed and an aggressive style that tended to infuriate opponents... But Geoff was at his best in the playoffs, showing a knack for timely goals and producing extremely well under pressure.

"Since we told him he might be put on waivers or things may be happening for him," said Goring, "he's become a different hockey player. He's not making the same mistakes he was making earlier. He's still skating as hard as he always has. He's checking as hard. The mistakes he made were critical mistakes. He's not doing that anymore."

"We were torn between keeping him and sending him down," said Sinden. "He was to be our last out. But there was no point in sending him down if we weren't 100% sure. The feeling was that maybe we should keep him and see what happens." What happened was that he scored 6 points in the Bruins first 8 games. By December 10, however, he had once again fallen into disfavour and was dispatched to Hershey. This time, he retired to go back to school and run his fledgling construction business in Victoria. The retirement lasted one week. "Some of the players talked to me and told me they thought I had a career ahead of me and I was throwing a lot out if I didn't go to Hershey. It was tough but I'm glad I made the decision."

"I said earlier in the year the flow wasn't really working for Middleton and Pederson. Geoff Courtnall on the left wing seems to be good for them. that extra speed on the left side seems to help them out."

Courtnall is an excellent skater, strong on his feet and with good acceleration and that's his problem. He has too much speed and the rest of his skills are not at a level where he can perform at top speed. Courtnall would be much better off, first of all, if he were to moderate his speed and give the opposing defensemen something other than full throttle to look at. He must develop a change of pace. If he were to do so, then his stickhandling (which is good) would come into play more. Courtnall can get the puck to teammates and doesn't have bad hands. He also has a decent view of the play in front of him, so he can take advantage of his teammates - but only if he slows down. He likes the bottom of the faceoff circle to shoot from and he has a hard shot with - what else? - a lot of speed.

Courtnall, like most Bruins, is a physical player. He will hit in the corners and will take hits to make plays and doesn't back down in any situation. He could be more effective defensively if he were to bump his man coming back and stay in his way all the way into the defensive zone... with literally a period left in his Bruins' career, Courtnall went out and worked hard and turned around his attitude and his game... if he learns to control himself, to temper his speed and use his good stickhandling ability, he will become a very tough scorer.

Former Bruins coach Butch Goring kept a spot on the roster open for Courtnall, and the youngster seemed to respond enthusiastically... he talked about the confidence Goring gave him and then backed up his play with a sizzling first month, yet by Christmas time had stalled once again. He was spotted in and out of the lineup for the remainder of the season... his speed is both a strength and a weakness. He has not developed his other finesse skills to match his skating, particularly in the puckhandling and anticipation departments. As such, he cannot be said to play the game at NHL speed. Courtnall must develop those skills, just as he must learn to throw something other than full throttle at opposing defensemen, who know that Courtnall operates at just one tempo - fast.

Courtnall's other outstanding asset is his physical game. He is a great hitter, definitely playing to his size. He eagerly hits in the corners, and will take hits to make plays without backing down in any situation... his inability to anticipate betrays him defensively... hockey is a confidence game and Courtnall operated through most of last season without any. He works hard on the ice and is continually learning the game, but must develop his weaker skills.

He was placed on waivers and nobody claimed him, not even the talent-hungry Red Wings or Kings. He was another 23-year old player headed for early retirement. But now, 10 months later, Courtnall was tabbed as one of the team's top three left wingers as the Bruins entered the season. And six games into the schedule, he was leading the team in scoring with 10 points... the main rap against Courtnall in the front office has been his inconsistency. "He's a very, very streaky player," said GM Harry Sinden. "One moment you're ready to pack him in and the next you're ready to give him a raise. We put him on waivers and no one picked him up. Then we had injuries, otherwise he'd be in Moncton. We let him stay and he was great. For a guy who was not on the power play, 20 goals is a reasonably good year."

"I'm hoping he's not going to be a streaky player anymore," said Goring. In training camp, he showed a great consistency to perform practice in and practice out, game in and game out. He's just doing a lot more things than he used to do. He's making the plays at the right time. He's shooting at the right time. He's not giving up the puck like he was before." Courtnall feels that confidence, concentration and involvement are the keys to the revival of his flagging career. "I came into training camp a lot more confident. The second half of last season, I finished strong. Things started happening for me. Butch told me over and over about mistakes I'd make, especially in our end. When you start to feel confident, you don't make those mistakes. I think I'm concentrating on what I'm supposed to be doing a little more. I've really been working on my shot in practice. I've been out after practice shooting all the time, trying to score. The more you score in practice the more you feel you can score in a game."

eagerly hits and doesn't back down from a challenge.[/B].. consistency has never been his hallmark. ]

Courtnall is an excellent skater, strong on his feet and with good acceleration for breakaway speed. By learning to moderate his speed (he used to be all out, all the time), Courtnall has become a powerful offensive force. Where previously he always charged full throttle at the defense, now Courtnall keeps the play in front of him instead of out-racing it. Because of that, his on-ice vision has improved and he makes plays to get the puck to his teammates. And, because they no longer had to keep up with his feet, Geoff's hand skills also improved. After his dynamic speed gets him into the open, Courtnall has time to shoot the puck (his shot is very good, very hard and very quick to the net). But he only gets open now because he's no longer so straight-line predictable. Because of his shot and ability to get open, Courtnall has become a PP mainstay. His defensive play has also improved, with Courtnall showing better understanding of the opposition attack and then using his great speed to break it up.

He's in great shape and has the strength to match his conditioning, and Courtnall hits hard when he checks - his leg power gives his checks extra oomph... he also takes hits to make plays... we told you last year that last season was the most important of his career, and he came through with flying colors. His scoring consistency had been questionable, but Geoff showed well in that area last season. The main thing in his improvement is ice-time and confidence from the coaching staff. He got ntime but no confidence in Boston, and none of either in Edmonton, but Geoff rewarded the Caps' faith in him. He does all the right things to succeed in the NHL, and we think he'll continue to do so.

skating and shooting are Courtnall's claims to fame, and they are the assets that power his NHL game. He has blazing speed to the outside and he's most likely to use his speed to break up the wing and blast the puck home, but Courtnall can also claim a fair degree of agility and change of pace. So while he can drive the defense off the blueline he can also make better use of the immediate ice vacated in front of him. His shot is the second ingredient that makes him a good scorer, and the fact that he shoots often and from anywhere demonstrates this skill. He has good touch and gets to the net's tougher areas, and he also has the strength to drive the puck past the goalie from a distance. Courtnall is very dangerous on the power play. He is primarily a shooter, but Courtnall has amplified his game so as to at least make an attempt to use his teammates. his puckhandling lags behind his skating when he's at full speed, but at a slower clip he demonstrates a fair degree of skill... his defensive play has also improved, with Courtnall showing better understanding of the opposition attack and then using his great speed to break it up.

Courtnall has good size and strength and is willing to use them when checking. In fact, he can stun some people because of the strength generated by his legs.... he is a better open-ice player than he is a mucker... an enthusiastic player, the kind of guy well-liked by his teammates and coaches. He's shown he can succeed as a scorer if given the opportunity and confidence from the coaching staff, and he's become an important part of the Capitals.

a talented offensive player who uses his speed and quick shot to his advantage... "we wanted to get Hull some affiliates," said St. Louis GM Ron Caron. "Courtnall can score and he's a good two-way player."

Geoff has played for five NHL teams over the past four seasons, but he's contributed wherever he's been... he scored some dramatic goals down the stretch to help the canucks earn a playoff berth.

If you want blazing speed, if you want just about the NHL's top release from the left side, if you want a shot that can overwhelm a goalie's glove from the inside, you'll get it from Geoff Courtnall... Courtnall skates, Courtnall shoots, Courtnall scores. He does not do a great deal else. Not many shadows can keep up with him; Courtnall knows how to use his speed to get open up the flank, and once he gets the puck, he is gone. He can be a marvelous give-and-go player if a center on his team is capable of a good lead pass. The other key is to complement him with a checking RW or a substantial, mobile defenseman. Courtnall has an idea about defense and certainly has the speed to get back on the play, but doesn't get it done all the time. There are times where he may be the first man back, pressuring a defenseman, but if that defenseman's first pass gets past him, somebody else better be there to prevent a break.

Courtnall simply is not a physical player. For a player of such speed, his legs do not seem to carry him as fast when they are heading towards contact situations. At the same time, he is not a player who will be intimidated to any great extent... There are two ways of looking at why he continually puts up numbers and never stays with a team very long. One way: he's a problem in the dressing room or infuriating to coaches because he has no interest in anything that doesn't involve scoring. Another way: he's a LW who has speed and who scores, there aren't more than a dozen or so of those in the league, thus teams want him or will put up with his lack of physical presence.

Despite struggling all season against the effects of chronic fatigue, Courtnall continued to be an offensive weapon with good speed and a blistering shot off the wing. He remains a prototype give-and-go player who will make a sharp first pass, burn for the hole, then blast from the faceoff circle for the majority of his goals. At the same time, Courtnall is shifty enough on occasion to beat the first man coming out of the zone. He is a good neutral zone player, a better attacking-zone player and only a fair-to-average defensive zone player. He has a nice handle on the puck. He can finesse it (he makes a nice touch pass) or he can muscle it under the crossbar from the circle or slot. Courtnall simply flicks out his stick for deflections, and solid hand-eye skills make the play pay off regularly.

Although a decent sized player, Courtnall always has used the stick, rather than the body, to keep opponents at arm's length. He chops away, and will, at times, shoulder a player at the boards. He doesn't do it often, but he does it just often enough that opponents never know for sure whether he is going to finish a check on them or not.

Funny guy, that Courtnall. He missed training camp last year with mononucleosis, then played with it all year until taking 10 games off late in the season to rest up for the playoffs... it was at the same time that the doctors discovered a chronic prostate infection, which also helped to slow the fleet forward. Every time he'd have a good streak, he'd pronounce himself rid of the mono, but after a 3-4 game slump, he'd complain that it was back. Courtnall is a one-way hockey player who possesses a good knack for scoring goals. He apparently doesn't know there's another blueline on the ice; his own. While he's a defensive liability, Vancouver has so far worked around that by teaming up with decent defensive players...

Courtnall is a streaky scorer, and when he's hot he uses a variety of shots to pepper the net... he has good hand-eye coordination to play up front on the power play. He doesn't stand in front of the net to take punishment, but instead times his moves in for deflections with his stick... has never had much of a physical element to his game. He goes to his stick first when he is trying to intimidate an opponent or battle along the boards for the puck. He will sometimes use his body, but not consistently, although he did a better job of it last year.... started the season hungrier and more motivated, apparently disappointed by previous season and eager to atone. He has to maintain that edge.

armed with great speed and a tremendous shot...

Courtnall is an outstanding skater, combining quickness with breakaway speed. He can skate through traffic with the puck and take a knock without losing his balance or his composure. Earlier in his career he was known for his blazing speed but questioned for his inability to blend the tempo of his own game with that of his teammates. he has since grown into a good - if not great - playmaker, a smooth performer who can be counted upon to finish his plays.

He likes to play a moderately physical game - he can hit with the best of them, but doesn't make a point of crashing the boards on every shift. At times his enthusiasm to chase the enemy in the offensive zone results in his being caught out of position if the puck is headmanned quickly. He's no defensive liability, but he could improve his concentration... for a guy with so much pure talent, Courtnall has worn out his welcome in a lot of towns... he's back on friendly turg now... clearly his arrival in Vancouver helped launch the canucks into title contention after years of also-ran status.

WILL - win with speed
CAN'T - become a superstar
EXPECT - hard-nosed play
DON'T EXPECT - any scoring records

throughout his career, he has been a streaky scorer... he finds the holes... if opponents come at him hard enough early in the game, Courtnall will mail it in the rest of the game... should be a consistent 30-goal scorer, but that consistency continues to elude him.

A feisty player, Courtnall can turn a game around with a key goal. Geoff's fleet feet key his blazing speed and agile skating.

EA ratings (/5)
Speed: 5
Shot power: 3
Shot accuracy: 3
Checking: 1
Offensive awareness: 4
Defensive awareness: 3
Passing: 4
Stickhandling: 4
Agility: 5
Stamina: 3

Courtnall is a natural goal-scorer with a good shot, a nose for the net, and quick moves. He is an accomplished playmaker, but will shoot first and look for the pass second. Courtnall is an inconsistent player, usually scoring in clumps and suffering droughts that affect his entire approach... has the size to play a more punishing physical style, but much of his physical play is derived from hacking on opponents and laying on the lumber... a couple of bad seasons have cast a shadow on his reputation, but Courtnall remains one of the Canucks' most potentially damaging offensive weapons.

WILL - be an offensive gun
CAN'T - expect stardom
EXPECT - a chippy style
DON'T EXPECT - all finesse

unpredictable and yet consistent goal scorer... fast skater with an excellent shot... erratic performances underline his streaky scoring habits.

A natural scorer with good shot, above average skating skills, and shifty moves... in recent years he has been a reliable clutch scorer... allows scoring slumps to get him down. He has sporadically shown the punishing style that his size suggests could be a constant element... during the run to the Stanley Cup finals he showed his value in the clutch.

WILL - be a gamer
CAN'T - shake rep for stickplay
EXPECT - Pts and PIMs
DON'T EXPECT - to push him around

veteran journeyman and master of the one-timer... fast and unpredictable with a booming slapshot, his streaky offense is guaranteed.

when he's cold, he's frigid... needs a coach to stay after him.

A natural goal-scoring threat. He possesses a variety of weapons: a nose for the net, superb skating skills, and many smooth moves. A fairly good playmaker, he's more apt to shoot than look for a pass... after signing a big free agent deal in St. Louis, he was a categorical disappointment. When he's at the top of his game, he's a hard nosed player who's no fun to play against; when he's slumpng he forgets to check, forgets to hit, forgets to get involved... you never know which player Courtnall is going to be.

WILL - be a speedy sniper
CAN'T - afford streakiness
EXPECT - a chippy winger
DON'T EXPECT - a defensive ace

fast skater who is superb at one-timing shots, he was starting to produce with regularity before breaking his hand.

Doesn't finish as well as a player with his speed and skill should... when he is involved, his forechecking speed is intimidating and he forces turnovers...consistency continues to elude him.

was a big factor in the second half surge of Hull and Turgeon... his play noticeably picked up after the hiring of Quenneville whose first move was to reinstate him on the top unit. At his best, he can terrorize defenses with his speed and forechecking but he isn't always in the mood. He's been a streaky scorer throughout his career and last year was no exception.

Streaky scorer who won't always take the beating it takes to score a goal...

starting to decline, easing down in a pool of money... good hand-eye coordination down low. Very good at the give-and-go. Decent passer and skater. When he's on a hot streak he can be tough. As streaky as they come. Has the size but not the will to play physical. If hit early and often, he disappears for the rest of the game. Takes dumb penalties.

he showed determination in the playoffs... he can be irritating to play against, since he is a bit of a yapper...

with a vast array of shots, Courtnall can attack the net with a backhand, a snapper in stride or a rebound from the front of the net. He loves the give-and-go... when he's hot, he always finds ways to score and is the type of player you want on your side.

"Contract year" for wily veteran and ended Brett Hull's run as the club's leading goal scorer... still capable of exciting end-to-end bursts, and his tidy defensive game has long been overlooked. Singlehandedly steamrolled the Kings in opening round of the playoffs with a six point game in the series opener - mugging goalie Jamie Storr for good measure - but wasn't much of a factor against Detroit.

at 37, there's not much left in the tank although he still has the good speed and hands.

Courtnall has played his heart out so long that he may not have anything left... his game's always been to crash the net and look for loose pucks in the crease. He's as nasty as he is feisty and usually gets under the opposition's skin with relative ease.

 

[ResilientBeast]

Art Gagne, RW

​

WCHL Second All-Star Team (1922)
WCHL First All-Star Team (1923)
WHL First All-Star Team (1926)

1921-22 4th in Team Scoring
1921-22 7th in League Scoring

1922-23 - 1st in Team Scoring
1922-23 - 1st in League Scoring

1925-26 - 1st in Team Scoring
1925-26 - 3rd in League Scoring

Pre NHL
1st in Consolidated Assists (1923)
3rd in Consolidated Points (1923) - Ahead of Mickey MacKay, Duke Keats and Cy Denney

2nd in Consolidated Goals (1926)
10th in Consolidated Assists (1926)
2nd in Consolidated Points (1926) - Behind Nels Stewart, but ahead of Bill Cook and Cy Denney

His two years in Regina seem to have cost him his shot at the HHOF - Though Iain Fyffe from HockeyHistorysis seems to think he should still make the cut.
http://hockeyhistorysis.blogspot.ca/2012/03/maybe-meritorious-men-of-1920s.html

NHL - Starts at age 29

1927-28 6th in Goals
1927-28 7th in Assists
1927-28 6th in Points

Best NHL seasons

14, 19 and 20 Goals
5, 10, and 11 Assists
17, 30 and 30 Points

Quotes

Art Gagne was a well travelled, 5-foot-7, 160-pound right winger. Described as a scrappy forward, Gagne was best known for playing in Montreal in the late 1920s alongside linemates Howie Morenz and Aurele Joliat. He also played in Ottawa and had brief stops in Boston and Detroit.

By 1926 the 29 year old joined the Montreal Canadiens. He was one of nine new faces brought in to help out the Habs. He was described as a sensational star from Western Canada, and the best of the nine newbies which also included XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, and XXX.

Art Gagne came into possession of the rubber behind his own blue line. He was off in a cloud. Zig-zagging his speedy way through the entire Regina team he let fly an ugly shot that didn't give Laird a chance. It was a beautiful play and the goal was timely.
....
Art Gane had a field day. He was all over the ice back checking like a fiend and attacking superbly.

Gagne was as lightning. Time and time again his speed and stick handling drew rounds of applause

Gagne also was having a big night, he showed all his class of last year

Gagne Was Good

While Briden was in the limelight through his great scoring ability Gagne, the French-Canadian whirlwind who played right wing for the Eskimos was probably the hardest working player on the ice. He skated like a fiend offensively and defensively and obtain results he assault Briden to score two of his goals.

The Eskimos were playing like a well oiled machine, teaming together and breaking away fast. They passed the puck at will and were skating like fiends. In this respect Gagne known more commonly as "Cyclone" was the shining light. The well known French Canadian puck chaser was (...) and thereabouts there bel(...) let up to he is skating whenever he was on the ice. It was really his back checking that broke up the Tigers attack and made it easy for Simpson and Dea to break away with the puck.

Picks all Star Team From Western Leagues
By Deacon White

Lehman - Vancouver - Goal
Simpson - Edmonton - Right Defence
Clem Loughlin - Victoria - Left Defence
Frederickon - Victoria - Center
Gagne - Edmonton - Right Wing
Hay - Regina - Left Wing
Keats - Edmonton - Sub Center
Mackay - Vancouver - Sub Right Wing
Riley - Seattle - Sub Left Wing
Cook - Vancouver - Sub Defence

....

Gagne the Choie for Right Wing on This Mythical Team

Art Gagne at right wing for the Eskimos is the third man in the above all-star group, over which his selection there is little room for argument. his record of 22 goals and 21 assists which tops the the Western Canada League and all the right wingers of the Pacific Coast Loop which is almost sufficient evidence to give him the call for this position. But when it is considered that he is a better two-way player than any of the other right wing candidates his margin of superiority is increased. In speed Gagne can burn up the ice with any of them, and his a beautiful graceful skater with rare stick-handling ability, capable of giving and receiving passes in finished style....

Art Gagne was the hardest worker on the ice. He scored four of Edmonton's goals and was credited with assists on two others.

Name|VsX7|VsX5
Nikolai Drozdetsky|73.8|67.9
Art Gagne|73.0|65.3
Real Cloutier|70.0|73.4
Marian Stastny|66.1|69.8
Vyacheslav Kozlov|65.9|67.6
Carson Cooper|65.4|69.0
Alexander Semin|64.1|69.2
Geoff Courtnall|61.7|64.0
Rick Kehoe|60.3|64.2
Mickey Redmond|59.6|74.0
Alex Shibicky|59.3|67.4
Jamie Benn|58.6|74.4
Grant Warwick|58.1|62.4
Gary Dornhoefer|58.1|60.8
Craig Simpson|54.1|59.8
Ulf Dahlen|53.7|56.8
Gerard Gallant|52.3|62.2
Don Lever|51.9|54.4
Red Hamill|50.7|59.4
Shayne Corson|50.6|53.6
Adam Deadmarsh|49.4|54.2
Nick Mickoski|48.9|52.2
Rabbit McVeigh|46.4|49
Wally Hergesheimer|46.1|60.6
Ran McDonald|45.9|52.6
Jimmy Gardner|33.1|35.6
Art Farrell|23.7|33.2
Scotty Davidson|18.0|25.2
Billy Gilmour|12.3|17.2
Fred Scanlan|12.3|17.2

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=105365993&postcount=311

 

[seventieslord]

Shayne Corson, LW/C

- 6'1", 202 lbs
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1989)
- Canada Cup Champion (1991)
- Best percentage scores: 60, 59, 51, 50, 48, 45, 41
- 20 Points in 29 games in 4 international tournaments (including two best-on-best)
- Edmonton Oilers Captain (1995)
- St. Louis Blues Captain (1996)
- Montreal Canadiens Captain for most of the season due to Koivu injuries (2000)
- Killed 27% of penalties for teams 3% better than average on the PK
- 87 Points in 140 Playoff games
- 169 NHL Fights with a remarkable record of 83-18-36 (.737)
- Played in NHL All-star game (1990, 1994, 1998)

Corson scored 26 goals for the Canadiens during the 1988-89 season, a year the Canadiens went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. The next year Corson hit the 30-goal plateau and hit a career high with 75 points. Prior to the 1991-92 season Corson was named to Team Canada for the '91 Canada Cup, a tournament Canada won, thanks in part to Corson's five assists in 8 games. However, that season and the next one his production tailed off and the Canadiens, in need of a consistent scoring presence traded him in the summer of 1992 to the Edmonton Oilers.

With the Oilers Corson filled a large leadership role, eventually becoming the team's captain as well as providing steady offense again hitting 25 goals and 54 point in 64 contests during the 1993-94 season.

The St. Louis Blues, under new General Manager Mike Keenan were in need of a gritty power forward and Keenan, who had coached Corson in the Canada Cup, knew he was the player to provide it. The Blues signed Corson as a free agent in 1995 and Corson delivered the goods, chipping in 18 goals while providing a physical presence on the power play and along the boards. In the playoffs that spring Corson led the Blues with 8 goals and registered 14 points in 13 games.

Despite his success in St. Louis he was on the move early the next season in a blockbuster trade with his former club, the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens, in need of grit and defense traded slick center Pierre Turgeon along with farm hands Rory Fitzpatrick and Craig Conroy in exchange for Corson and blue liner Murray Baron.

Following an injury plagued 1996-97 season, Corson bounced back strongly the next season though, driving the Canadiens power play with 14 goals and managing 55 points in 62 games on the Canadiens top line with Saku Koivu and Mark Recchi. Corson was rewarded with a spot on Canada's Olympic Team at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Corson was unable to build on his success and his point totals dipped in each of his next two seasons with the Canadiens.

A free agent in the summer of 2000 Corson signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Maple Leafs Corson was reunited with Darcy Tucker, a former teammate with the Canadiens who had married Corson's sister. The brother in-law's provided much of Toronto's physical presence and made up a big part of the Leafs checking core. With the Maple Leafs Corson was no longer depended on to provide offense, instead he often drew defensive assignments and was often counted on to shut down the top line of the opposition.

Trouble seemed to seek Shayne out even under innocent circumstances, and at the worst of times trouble out and out flattened him... at 17, he was charged with assault in an incident involving bikers... in 1988 he and teammates broke curfew and drove into a hydro pole... in 1991 Corson and two others got into a fight outside a winnipeg bar... In 1992 at a Montreal bar, he once again became violent... that same May he got into a fight at another local bar with a football player... as a veteran he continued to prove his worth as a scorer, fighter, checker and team man.

A combination of scorer and enforcer, Shayne corson often had positive adjectives such as "tough", "tenacious" and "talented" attached to his name during his career. However, as a victim of high expectations and problems off the ice, the power forward also had some troubled seasons in the NHL. Still, Corson usually landed on his feet after adversiy, acting as a leader for his teams in the NHL and internationally... Corson was big, and with his speed and playmaking ability he could play all three forward positions... "on his best nights, Corson can be one of those guys who can be extremely valuable even when he doesn't pick up a goal or an assist," Montreal head coach Pat Burns said of his tough left winger. "I guess the best way to sum it up is that a right winger on another club wouldn't look forward to going out on the ice and skating opposite Corson. He'd know he was in for a rough night... Corson was made captain of the Oilers in 1994 but clashed publicly with coach George Burnett over the direction the squad was taking. Burnett was later fired because of the controversy and Corson was stripped of the captaincy. "I like Shayne, but he and Burnett were both wrong in what happened," said Oilers GM Glen Sather....Mike Keenan, St. Louis' GM, had long coveted Corson for his rugged two-way play... In 1997-98 Corson had one of his best overall seasons and was selcted to the team that represented Canada at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. He was a role player on the team and earned praise for his all-out effort... since joining the Leafs, Corson has without a doubt been one of the teams clubhouse leaders and his willingness to defend the smaller players on the team has made everyone play with more confidence. In fact, it's been most often Corson who has answered the call when a tussle with an opposing team's heavyweight became a necessity.

Corson has good finesse skills in terms of skating and anticipation. He is a strong skater in terms of balance, and that aids him in his physical game. He also has good speed and can get up and down the ice fairly quickly, though he is not very agile. Corson combines that skating skill with good anticipation and hockey sense to become an effective checker and a good penalty killer... he is a smart, heady player with a good understanding of the NHL game, and those smarts obviously help him in his play. They tell him when to force a play offensively, and when to fall back defensively. Corson can handle the puck when he carries it, but he has a tendency now to take himself to his backhand, and his passing skills are not strong enough to make him effective that way. Shayne will succeed as a scorer now by being around the net to force turnovers, and then by pounding on the loose pucks he forced.

Corson showed toughness no one expected last year. He handles himself well physically and applies his body to his checking effectively and consistently. He can hit hard now and his balance helps him in his physical game by keeping him upright after collisions...a pleasant surprise for Montreal last year, in that they never expected him to play with such points right off the bat. He is a nice player and will improve because he has the determination to succeed, as evidenced by his un-rookie like intensity.

Corson is a good skater, bordering on very good at the NHL level...also has good speed and power... accelerates well... he's a straight ahead player, not a fancy one... his smarts have helped him to improve his offensive game... he has improved his playmaking ability by staying open to the center of the rink and keeping his head up. He likes to carry the puck over the blueline, rather than dump it, whenever possible... Corson is a physical player who likes to hit. He checks consistently and in all areas of the ice and he is a hard hitter... he is also a willing fighter, but is not anyone's worst nightmare pugilistically... works hard on the ice, playing with a lot of intensity...

strength is the hallmark of Corson's game... his above average skating strength gives him some speed and acceleration ability... he has good foot speed and balance, but not sufficient to be labeled an agile forward... he's not a fancy puckhandler, but since he's more inclined to skate over the defense instead of around it that's okay; Shayne can carry the puck at top speed, but he's not likely to finesse the puck through traffic to a teammate... he's especially effective plugging the net on the power play... Corson is a very aggressive player, sometimes too aggressive for his own good. His temper often gets the better of him, and he's not mature enough to take a check and keep playing - he's going to go right back at the guy that hit him. That's bad, because it distracts Corson from the game. His skating strength makes him a hard hitter, and he plays that style consistently... temper is one intangible, but that trait reflects his on-ice intensity.

Corson is a pretty intense young man, but he does need to be reminded to do the things that will allow him to succeed, to keep his intensity at consistent levels at all times and to always use his physical ability. When he doesn't do those things, he's a pretty ordinary player. When he does do those things he can be an exceptional NHLer.

Corson really came into his own last year, producing offensively without sacrificing other aspects of his game... Corson is very tough, and is developing a deft touch around the net. He is coveted by opposing general managers.

A solid two-way performer who is one of the Canadiens' most physical players. Shayne has become an offensive threat... tough at both ends of the ice.

Corson's game comes down to basics. He works up and down his wing with nothing creative, but he uses his skating strength and speed to clear a path for himself. He sees the ice well, is aware of his best play options and he has the skills to follow up. He doesn't like to play dump and chase (he's really not crazy about crashing into the boards after a puck, although he will). He likes to carry the puck in and run over people, since he lacks the agility to get around them. He will head for open ice or pass off to a teammate down low. He forechecks well and forces turnovers. Corson has very good hands and has the patience to wait for a good opening. His shot is quick and accurate, and he is a finisher who takes his punishment to score a goal... has a mean streak a mile wide and his opponents know he can be goaded into taking bad penalties - meaning that Corson often goes off with a player of lesser ability and hurts his team because of it.

Shayne's exactly the type of player NHL teams crave - a bruising two-way winger with a good scoring touch. An intense competitor, he loves to throw crunching bodychecks along the boards.

Shayne is the type of hard-nosed player who would rather skate through trouble than around it. He can score, stickhandle and skate adequately, is a solid penalty killer and is a force in front of the net. With Corson, what you get is much greater than the sum of his parts. He is a smart player, especially when he remembers to keep his temper under control.

Top forechecker. A strong skater who's very tough to knock over.

Corson is an above average skater with good power and balance, but not much agility. He seems to have all the qualities of a good power forward, yet Corson hasn't always put that kind of game together. There are too many nights when he seems happy being a perimeter player, and his finesse skills are not good enough to let him succeed without playing a physical game. Corson has good skills, though, and good hockey sense. He reads plays well in both zones. A basic player when it comes to playmaking, he prefers to work a short passing game with none of the fancy trimmings. As a scorer, he will drive to the net, using his skating ability to keep him upright, bouncing off of checks and through traffic. Most of his goals come from short range. He will use his body to screen the goalie and set picks, and then scramble for rebounds. He has strong arms and can fish out a puck one-handed for a shot. He is a good penalty killer and works the power play as well because of his work in front of the net.

Corson is tough and aggressive when involved. He's not always smart-tough either, as his suspensions indicate. Corson often lets his emotions get away from him, and for a player of his experience and talent, that is a serious flaw. When he's involved he is one of the hardest hitting forwards around. He derives great strength from his skating ability, but he was woefully inconsistent in this category last season... he is as erratic in his play as he is in his off-ice behaviour. Corson does not come to play every night, and as a result, his effort falls far short of its abilities. He has about worn out his welcome in Montreal, even with a coaching change.

Shayne has been used in many different roles by Canadiens. He's a powerful bodychecker and a solid defensive player, but also knows how to score. An intense competitor, he kicks it up a notch around the goal, pouncing on loose pucks and sweeping them home. Shayne's often sent out on Montreal's top scoring line to forecheck defenders and create turnovers around the crease.

He's a fiery winger who likes to crash the net.

Known around the league for his dangerously accurate shot, Shayne is a valuable ingredient in Montreal's disciplined style of hockey. He's a capable offensive threat, but is most respected for his ability to play the physical game.

Corson gets his goals mucking around the front of the net, and he's an above-average mucker in that he has hands around the cage. He can play wing or center. He can pick up a lot of rebound goals if he gets on a line with people who throw the puck to the net, because he will go barrelling in for it. He's freed up to play that style more on the left wing than on center, but he also has some nice playmaking abilities when put in the middle. He won't do anything too fancy but is intelligent enough to play a basic short game... he works on both special teams. He does his dirty work in front of the net for screens and deflections, and he has the hands to guide hard point shots. Although most of his shots are made from close range, he can be a wildly inaccurate shooter... Corson can be used on draws and uses his strength to neutralize opposing forwards.

His longest suit is his play along the boards, but because he was a center most of the season, that effectiveness was neutralized. He can lose it once in a while and take some bad penalties. Corson doesn't give up on his checks, but he needs to develop more consistent focus and concentration in all areas of the ice.

Corson is a rugged skater with excellent offensive talent. He is effective as a power forward, crashing the enemy goal and creating havoc for retreating defensemen. He can also develop scoring chances with strong, accurate headman passes. He skates well and covers the ice with powerful strides, but isn't particularly fancy. His physical aggressiveness provides another valuable dimension to the Oilers' attack... problems and personal concerns away from the rink proved his undoing in Montreal... there is plenty of ore to be mined with Corson. He's still young and has proven he can compete and be successful in the NHL... he has will and a mean streak that make him particularly important to the team.

WILL - play aggressively
CAN'T - get distracted
EXPECT - continuing maturity
DON'T EXPECT - a quitter

Able to score, check or take the body, Shayne is the type of forward who can help his club in a variety of ways.

He was more consistently smart and aggressive last season, a promising trend.

Hard-nosed and determined, Corson is fearless and nasty. He will play a tough game, banging his way up and down the wing, and also unleash a decent slapshot on net. A strong player on his skates, he is particularly useful on the PP, camping in front of the net and knocking home rebounds from point shots. Not the fighter he once was, but he still provides a physical presence that assures his mates won't be out-muscled... has re-emerged as the power forward he had once been in Montreal...

WILL - be a leader
CAN'T - play timid
EXPECT - Pts and PIM
DON'T EXPECT - 40 goals

Power forward bounced back after three forgettable seasons to guide both the team and Jason Arnott... a strong skater with an aggressive and sometimes nasty streak - has finally matured both on and off the ice and become one of Glen Sather's favourites.

Corson makes a lot of things happen by overpowering people around the net. Like Bob Probert in his prime, he has surprising scoring ability for a player who is considered a mucker. People give Corson an extra foot or two because of his muscle, which allows him extra time to pick up loose pucks out of scrums and jam his shots in tight, or lift shots over a goalie's stick... he played more wing than center last season, a continuing trend and one that makes the best use of his size and willingness to fight for the puck... on off-nights when he is not winning his duels around the net, he is a non-factor... Corson is tremendous along the wall. He has grit, and plays tough and hard every shift. He is dangerous because of his short fuse. Opponents never know when he will go off, and since he's strong and can throw punches, few people want to be around when he does. He inspires fear. He hits to hurt, and because he is unpredictable he earns himself a lot of room on the ice... he is a valuable player.

strong skating power forward with good touch around the net, was accused by teammates of selfish, contract-inspired play.

Corson is fearless and nasty. No player is more determined to win... he is very important on the PP, swiping at rebounds and redirecting point shots... once a promising scorer, he seems to have lost his touch... off-ice family worries may have been at the root of many of his problems... has the talent and tenacity to be a squad leader in the trenches as well as a scoring leader on the charts. With the oilers making a dramatic youth movement, Corson's veteran leadership will be an invaluable tool. He's legitimately tough and can score some big goals.

WILL - offer tough leadership
CAN'T - let emotions run wild
EXPECT - Pts and PIM
DON'T EXPECT - to intimidate him

Corson can win draws outright on his backhand... had a very strong postseason.

Strong, tough and intense, with hands that can do the job. A well-rounded player most teams would like to have playing on their first line. He can protect the stars, go into corners and help out offensively... Corson's short fuse creates space out there on the ice. His opponents seem to give him more room than some of the other players. If Gretzky and Hull stick around, Corson will have an important roll to fill on this team... he is a valuable player who could be used as trade bait to rejuvenate a dying team.

Last summer's expensive signing repaid the Blues with a splendid playoff performance... aggressive power forward with excellent speed, he does however have trouble maintaining his intensity for an entire schedule and tends to get involved only when the mood strikes... with his personal problems apparently behind him, he will be looked to by coach Keenan for more than just his leadership and physical presence this year.

a hard-hitting forward who'll drop the gloves now and then... no player is more tenacious... a strong skater... uses his tremendous determination and hand-eye coordination to fight for position in the slot and bat pucks out of the air. A once formidable gun fighter, he doesn't go looking for trouble much anymore. But he won't shy away from fisticuffs if necessary... although he did almost everything the Blues wanted, there's no doubt that Corson has to score more goals to be his best. He can be a leader. He has to light the lamp as well, however... has matured into a steady winger who won't cost you any games with glaring errors and whose leadership will make his teammates dig down deep for their best efforts... he's as hungry as anyone in the game.

WILL - play hard
CAN'T - forget to shoot
EXPECT - a quality leader
DON'T EXPECT - finesse goals

Montreal used him frequently on defensive zone draws... the fact that he as able to play at all in the playoffs is a tribute to his perseverance... the team like the Rangers could use a player of his size up front; Corson would look pretty good alongside Wayne Gretzky.

With his terrific strength and soft hands, Shayne was a powerful force on the power play.

had a huge step back in production last season, hampered by health woes and wear and tear... overrated, hard-hitting, four-time 20-goal scorer... forechecking force when the desire strikes him... average skills. Carries the image of an emotional warrior, but NHL warriors are not invisible on the ice, as he was too often last season... needs to play his role to be effective.

he was a far cry from the belligerent crease-crasher he once was. If healthy, is good production for Koivu.

Has become a question mark due to injuries, but is an effective player when healthy.

power winger bounced back and was the club's best player during the first half, but a hip flexor in late January and then a groin injury prior to Olympics left him at less than 100% for the playoffs. Strong and intense, he wins the battles in the corners and has excellent straight away speed.

From 8-10 feet around the net, he can't be moved when he puts his mind to it... the way Corson is successful is by fighting for his ice in the slot area, which he has to start doing again with consistency. He creates second chances for himself and his teammates... injuries again took a big toll on him. Last year was a big step back, and he has to re-dedicate himself to being the best player he can be.

Corson personified his team's frustration late in the season when he levied a questionable hit on Ed Jovanovski, then went to Canucks' dressing room to provoke Jovanovski... one of Montreal's tougher players. A prototypical power forward. He scores more of his goals near the goalmouth. Add up the length of his 12 goals last year and you'd be lucky to reach the blueline. Injury prone.

Habs' elder statesman held out for two weeks of training camp to secure an $8.5M contract extension, but instead responded with a mediocre campaign... tough, aggressive and versatile with decent skills, he can be an intimidating, scoring power forward at the top of his game...

Gritty veteran shook off an early season flare up of ulcerous colitis and despite playing underweight, did an admirable job as acting captain during Saku Koivu's frequent absences while flourishing as coach Vigneault's go-to defensive forward... best offensive days are behind him but he still provides strong leadership and is a reliable two-way performer.

Despite declining production, Corson has been on several opponents' wishlists for years. The muscular forward brings a lot of intangibles to the table, namely strong leadership skills that have improved over the years and a defensive conscience. Furthermore, Corson is good on faceoffs. However, it's been five seasons since he put up numbers worthy of a first line power forward, the role many observers initially felt he would excel in throughout his career. Has a lot to prove this season, especially from an offensive standpoint. In reality, he is now best suited for the role of a rugged third line checker.

He has become more of a defensive force now... he takes an absolute beating around the net, setting screns and distracting the goalies... Corson was a smart investment for a Leafs team that needs his grit and fire.

If Leafs fans were expecting offense from the free agent acquisition, they were disappointed. What Corson did bring to the team, however, was a defensive presence. Former Sens center Alexei Yashin found out the hard way, as he was checked into submission during their first round series... one thing the veteran should consider is dropping the gloves less. He seems to love scrapping but the Leafs need him on the ice more than in the box... Corson will once again be able to concentrate on what he does best - checking. He'll be used both at center and on the wing.

dipped to the worst goal totals of his career, but was forgiven after a standout postseason that saw him neutralize Ottawa's Alexei Yashin in the first round and suffocate whatever line he shadowed against New Jersey... rugged, hardworking and versatile, Corson doesn't possess an overpowering shot nor is he a gifted puckhandler but he does play tough defense and is more than willing tobe a middleweight enforcer (was ultra-confrontational during the first half last year).

Corson has developed into a player who willingly applies himself to the defensive side of the game. In the playoffs, he will be given an assignment like checking the other team's top center and go at it like a demon... was an important addition both on and off the ice.

Shayne is a physical forward who combines excellent defense with a stellar offensive game, especially on the power play.

Corson is at his best when covering a scoring forward. Like a pit bull on a postman's leg, the veteran latches on and refuses to let go. He also drives opponents to distraction with running commentary on the ice. Offensively, he has been on the decline since 1997-98. He's bounced back and forth between LW and center with Toronto, as well as from line to line. However, he's versatile enough to be able to handle the constant shuffling... an aging warrior who doesn't have a lot of hockey years left. He'll continue to play a defensive role this season.

was a defensive standout all season... once again proved his worth in the playoffs, doing a fine job containing both Alexei Yashin and Daniel Alfredsson in the first two rounds. A rugged, strong-skating forward, Corson backchecks with gusto, especially when given special assignments, and is always willing to enforce out of the middleweight division.

Corson finally succumbed to the twin hexes of anxiety disorder and dwindling playing time last year, quitting on the Leafs on the eve of the playoffs. Injuries limited him to 46 regular season games, leaving his future very much in doubt. A reputed leader, he has become a major distraction to any team he plays for.

 

[seventieslord]

Jimmy Peters Sr., RW

- 5'11", 165 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1946, 1950, 1954)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1947)
- 8th in Goals (1953)
- Top-20 in points twice (13th, 18th)
- Best VsX scores: 58, 58, 58, 52, 52, 47, 43

... a scrappy winger who was known as a "Fighting Irishman"...

In the early years, Peters usually skated on the Habs' defensive line with Murph Chamberlain and Ken Mosdell and sometimes with Billy Reay. In that context, Peters excelled as an effective checker and a nifty stickhandler with a respectable shot. The rap on his game was that he tended to lack confidence in his own prowess.

During the finals of his first big-league season, Peters and his defensive corps were instrumental in shutting down the Bruins' Kraut Line of Schmidt, Bauer, and Dumart. The end result was a Stanley Cup victory for the Habs.

He played an important role in the Wings' championship season.

Peters' solo goal came at 16:55 of OT and broke up a fast, thrilling contest. Peters snared a loose puck in the Boston zone and raced in to beat Frank Brimsek with a low, tricky shot.

The famed pony line was sent against Billy Reay, Jimmy Peters and Murph Chamberlain of the Candiens who checked them closely all night and it was seldom indeed when they could get a shot away...

The Max Bentley-Bill Mosienko-Doug Bentley trio again squared off against Billy Reay, Murph Chamberlain, and Jimmy Peters of the Canadiens, and figured no more prominently than in the previous game

For the post-season series cagey Dick Irvin, Canadiens coach, lined up Billy Reay, Murph Chamberlain, and Jimmy Peters against the Bentleys-Mosienko trio and his strategy paid dividends.

They also have the best checking line in hockey in Kenny Mosdell, Murph Chamberlain and Jimmy Peters. It has been pointed out that none of this line has scored many goals, but the fellows who have played against them have scored even less. And they have been assigned to most of the high-scoring lines in the league.

Since he was traded to the Bruins for Joe Carveth in mid-december, Jim has been playing an improved brand of hockey and his play on right wing has greatly aided the injury-riddled Bruins...

Legs and heart. Can you take those qualities in a Canadian youngster, mold them into hockey form, and make a major leaguer out of him? The answer is YES, and here is Jimmy Peters as a solid example. The boy with the buzz-saw legs and the fighting heart, Peters simply refuses to fall into the category of a so-called typical hockey player. He isn't spectacular. He rarely gives a one-man show. He doesn't class as a scoring threat. Nor, is he destined apparently ever to enjoy rave notices from the hockey experts. Still, here's Peters in his sixth season as an NHL player, secure in his job with the Red Wings, and certainly one of the most valuable performers in the Wings' drive to the NHL title and Stanley Cup last year.

The slender Verdun native who specializes in stamina-play certainly is an underrated performer. And, the strange part of it is that he has been just as guilty as the others in this underrating. Had Peters had his own way a few years back, he would have never seen the lights od the NHL cities... he had to be persuaded that he was good enough for the big-time. that, however, is getting slightly ahead of the story of the fidgety, nervous right winger who now ranks as one of the finest defensive forwards in the game.

Peters had made his reputation with his defensive work. Rival left wingers will testify to that dogged checking which they've come to know is unescapable when Peters is on the ice. All his coaches have recognized that, too, for Peters long has filled that assignment handed defensive experts - penalty killing. Now that certainly isn't the most glamorous job in hockey. Killing off penalties calls for a lot of work, continuous sustained effort, and there aren't many rewards. But, Peters likes it and honestly believes it makes him a better hockey player. "I've always found out that the more work and more skating I get in any game, the better I go," he explains. "There's nothing like killing penalties to get heated up."

In searching for a nickname for Peters' current line with Jim McFadden and Marty Pavelich, the name "Pepper Line" came up as a natural. There's plenty of pep where Peters is concerned, for no one can question his drive and spirit.

"I told Tommy Gorman that I didn't think I was good enough for pro hockey - that I had decided to give up the game and go into business," Peters recalls. "He talked me into giving it a try, and two hours later I was on the Forum ice skating for almost the first time in two years. Three days later I was convinced that I wasn't any worse than before, so I signed. And a couple of nights later, there I was playing in the NHL."

In his first four seasons, it became evident that Peters never was to become an offensive star... that's when Adams stepped in to steer Peters' fate. He had been interested in Peters since watching him play with Montreal Army, and had been waiting for the opportunity to add him to the Detroit organization. It was a big deal, sending an all-star defenseman in Bill Quackenbush, plus Pete Horeck, to get Peters, Clare Martin and Pete Babando. At the time Adams stated that Peters in particular, was the man he was after. In view of Peters' light scoring record, the question of why seemed to be a good one. The answer lay in the fact that Peters had the requirements of an Adams type of hockey player. that tireless skating ability, driving spirit, sound checking and two-way play fit the Detroit style.

Adams has received good mileage out of Peters since the trade. He is on the #2, or checking line for the Wings, working against the top scoring units of the opponents. In addition, he is a regular penalty killer. For a man who likes that kind of hard work, Peters is getting plenty. Possibly it's his spirit that makes him one of the best-liked members of the squad. Jimmy is high on spirit. He's a "want to win" guy, and looks it. A chatterbox on and off the ice, Peters isn't the type who can hide his feelings very well. It's no secret that he's one of the most nervous hockey players. Even his rugged assignment doesn't release all the pent-up emotion, a fact which has earned him his regular nickname of "shaky".

Jim's moving around so often wasn't due to the fact that he was a good swap material. The truth of the matter was that he was always a much-coveted item with other teams and when attractive offers were made they were often hard to resist... Adams later told Detroit writers he'd sold Peters and the others to make room for younger players, but it's doubtful he really wanted to weaken the Red wings to that extent... he has never been an offensive star, but his work this far has prompted Bill Tobin to remark, "He'll definitely hit at least 20 goals. A big favourite with the fans, he's constantly digging and working hard out there. We won't regret this deal with the wings.".. the peppy forward has proven his net-denting ability...

Some NHL players have the quaint faculty of being highly effective and yet managing to remain virtually unnoticed by the fans. Such a player is James Peters... he has remained in the background while others have taken his place in the spotlight, but always the hardworking Peters has been one of the best puck carriers, checkers and skaters on his club... Sid Abel considers him one of the main cogs in his plan to lift the Hawks out of the NHL basement. Peters hasn't let him down... His play has been steady all season, not as spectacular perhaps as some of the other players, but always highly effective. He is one of the men Abel throws over the boards when the Hawks are a man shy due to a penalty. Not a loud type of player, Jim is still short of "take charge" guy out there on the ice, a policeman...a real hustling Hawk!

Jittery Jimmy Peters, now pushing 31, is looking toward the coming season with an attitude usually confined to the eagerest of newcomers. A veteran of eight seasons with four clubs, he now surprisingly finds that he can't afford to retire. It's not a matter of finances, but rather one of pure and simple logic. Last season turned out to be the best he has ever experienced in any pro league and he definitely wants to prove it was no accident... a year ago this time, the Peters future in hockey was of somewhat lesser brilliance... after the Hawks had ended a distrous campaign a few months earlier, he had been quick to reveal that he planned to call it quits. The change int he picture came when Sid Abel was brought in to see if he could coach Chicago's skaters out of their doldrums. Even though he was still set on retirement Jimmy realized that he owed a certain amount of allegiance to his old Red Wing associate and close friend...Abel requested that he come back and give it another try and it was hard to refuse... onceback on the ice, he was glad to find that he still had the urge to go when a puck slithered near... after a couple of weeks, his steady work as a penalty killer and utility performer overshadowed the work of several younger players and he was moved back into a regular spot. "Shakey" has missed only five regular season games since breaking into the NHL in 1945. He attributes this amazing record to a constant desire toward keeping in peak physical condition.

RED WINGS WILL UTILIZE PETERS' ADEPT CHECKING

of all the places to find help, look where the first place Detroit Red Wings picked up their newest player - from the last place Chicago Blackhawks. The Wings rescued Jimmy Peters... a question to puzzle the fans was how a 31-year old veteran from the floundering Hawks was supposed to help the high-flying wings. Manager Jack Adams answered that Peters definitely should strengthen the club, especially in "those tight checking games with Montreal and Toronto." Which was strong tribute to Peters' noted checking ability. In addition Adams figured he had gained expert help in the penalty killing department.

"When the chance came to get Peters, I talked it over with some of the older players and they agreed that it would be a smart move," Adams revealed. Sentiment was involved also. A nervous, fidgety little scrapper known as Shaky by the players, Peters was extremely popular in Detroit. Adams once assured him that he always could get a chance in Detroit if the other NHL teams passed him by. That time had come. Peters was next to go, headed for the minors or retirement...

 

[seventieslord]

Pavel Kubina, D

- 6'4", 258 lbs
- Stanley Cup Champion (2004)
- Best defense points percentages: 65, 64, 63, 62, 58, 54, 51
- Top-4 in team TOI 13 times (1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)
- Top-4 in team ES TOI 12 times (1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4)
- Averaged 21.97 minutes per game (16.12 ES) for 970 games (teams 14% below average)
- Killed 37% of penalties for teams 7% below average on the PK
- Played in NHL All-star game (2004)
- 27 points in 54 Major International games in 7 tournaments (including 3 best-on-best)

One of the most impressive rookie defensemen in 1998-99, Kubina didn't attract much attention because he played on such an awful team. And he played a lot for said team. He was first among rookies in average ice time, logging more action than many veteran defensemen... he is a good skater for his size. He generates power from his legs for his checks. His offensive instincts are also good. He passes well and has a decent shot from the point. None of his skills are elite, but coupled with his size they make a solid package... has very good size and uses it well. Wwas third in hits amont NHL rookies. Has a bit of an edge to him... is going to get a heavy workload again this season... needs to pay more attention to his conditioning.

Last season's biggest surprise was the emergence of Czech rearguard... although shut out of the calder race thanks to a -33 rating, he often faced the opposing team's best players... has shown signs of star potential.

one of, if not the best, Lightning player last season... got a lot of icetime for such a young defenseman... a big man who knows how to look after his own zone, but can also play with the puck. Good hard, low shot... will get a lot of PP time.

Not only does Pavel log a ton of ice time as one of Tampa Bay's top defensemen, the 23-year old has loads of offensive potential... he is especially effective on the power play. Pavel is not afraid to utilize his ample build to take the body but is also composed with the puck.

Kubina's size is a huge plus in Tampa's defensive zone. He cuts off passing lanes and is able to poke the puck away easier than most other players. He moves well for a big man and gets the puck up the ice in rapid fashion... he isn't shy about letting one rip toward the net on the power play.

talented sophomore made significant gains in his overall game despite a nagging heel injury that bothered him all year... big and highly skilled, Kubina has displayed the puckhandling and passing abilities to be a top blueline producer if he can upgrade his skating and defense.

A gifted offensive threat with a low, hard shot, Kubina has had his share of differences with a coaching staff that wishes for more consistency from his part... when on his game, plays with poise well beyond his years... can log enormous ice time... despite his mood swings, Kubina progressed last season.

Kubina is one of the most exciting young defense prospects in the league. He has continued his steady progress since his solid rookie season and Tampa Bay has placed a lot of confidence in him. If he makes a mistake (and he does), the Lightning put him right back out to keep learning... Kubina isn't a great skater. He is big and somewhat upright in his stance, and he takes short strides. He lacks lateral quickness, though he has shown improvement. He is very strong on his skates. The key to his game is his passing. He has fair offensive instincts, though he doesn't have a good shot. And he gets significant power play time. His puck skills and his composure are advanced for such an inexperienced player. He received a lot of ice time and a lot of responsibility, often facing other teams' top lines, and has grown with the challenge. He is Tampa's best shot blocker... all in all, a solid package.

A big, hard-shooting workhorse with slick puckhandling skills... has steadily become a more conscientious defender, although he must continue to refine his skating and positioning to reach the next level... has some maturing to do before he can realize his full potential.

The inconsistent czech defender has the potential for stardom... Kubina led all lightning players in blocked shots... sometimes makes bad decisions and gets burned by shifty forwards from time to time, however, he has all the tools to become a perrennial all-star. He needs to mature but should eventually become a #1 defenseman for many years to come... going to see plenty of action on special teams once again.

Prior to last season, Lightning GM Rick Dudley lavished high praise on Pavel: "He has a big shot from the point, good instincts, he's as strong as an ox and he can hit." Kubina also proved ultra-tough. One night, he played almost the entire game with a lacerated thigh that took 53 stitches. Yet at laest until Adrian Aucoin arrived, he was also by far the team's most productive rearguard.

He stumbled a bit last season, but Tampa Bay maintains a lot of confidence in him...

elevated his game after appearing in the Olympics... a strong, skilled workhorse, Kubina is a talented puckhandler with a cannon of a shot, but still gets caught out of position at times taking unnecessary risks and must continue to upgrade his skating and defensive zone coverage.

has established himself as Tampa Bay's #1 defenseman. workorse routinely logs over 23 minutes a night... blessed with the total package and is finally starting to fully utilize his vast talent... ready to join the upper echelon of NHL defensemen.

he has fair offensive instincts. He has a big shot, but not a great one. Because his shot is so heavy, he has been given some PP chances in the past, but he lacks the lateral movement for the slide along the blueline that makes those kind of shots harder to block or save... Kubina struggled defensively last season. He receives a lot of icetime and a lot of responsibility, but the coaching staff seemed to lose faith in him and often gave the tougher assignments to other defensive pairings... did not continue the progress he had shown through his first few sink-or-swim seasons... was a healthy scratch on several occasions... went from being a crowd darling to being bood, which had to dent his confidence.

Hulking Czech overcame a sloppy start, includng a two-game benching, to deliver solid defensive effort over the second half and playoffs, where he did a superb job containing Jaromir Jagr... isn't the fleetest of skaters, but is learning to keep his feet moving in the defensive zone and slowly refining both his positional and one-on-one play.

Until Dan Boyle erupted, this skill Czech was the lone offensive blueliner in Tampa. While Kubina can play an important role on the PP due to his hard, accurate shot, his defensive work still needs polishing. Despite his size, he's only physical when he feels like it. He struggled badly in all facets of the game during the postseason... he has something to prove this time around. Can he finally put it all together and become a true #1 rearguard?

Vitkovice captain missed nearly half last season to torn knee ligaments, but was a feared force when healthy and especially vicious in the playoffs, prior to filling a rugged two-way role on the Czech gold medal world championship team... exploded for 17 goals in 03-04 to lead all NHL defensemen, however it as his playoff transformation into defensive juggernaut that earned the most accolades as he shut down Keith Primeau and Jarome Iginla in successive Game 7s... a skilled workhorse with a thundering shot... finally uses his massive frame as a physical deterrent and, though not the fleetest of skaters, has learned to stay active and alert away from the puck, which has translated into better positional and one-on-one play... didn't rest on his laurels.

he's a huge man that isn't afraid of the rough going, but is also prone to mental lapses that cost his team dearly... owns a big blast from the point.

struggled miserably under the weight of last summer's excessive 4-year, $20-million contract, though started to find his game in January after being paired with Tomas Kaberle... heavy, accurate shot... won the target shooting contest at the team skills competition, yet didn't score his first goal until three months into his Leafs' debut... funny skater - not the fleetest nor the most agile... bravely defends his crease, but tends to play the puck rather than the body, even at the most inopportune times, relying heavily on his deft pokechecking skills... aggressive by nature, will overcommit and get turned inside-out - and is too fancy moving the puck occasionally... can be very effective when he thinks safety first and intelligently uses his massive frame as a physical deterrent.

got off to a rocky start as injuries and high expectations hurt his game... he settled down in the second half... gives the Leafs quality minutes.

last year he improved his level of play exponentially... a good shot blocker, he had 67 more than anyone else on the team.

appeared to wear down from a tough workload... big competitive workhorse with a strong, quick shot... smart point shooter... packs a heavy, accurate shot yet will vary delivery speeds looking for tips and deflections... funny laboured skater... slow pivoting and will let pucks get in behind him defending the rush... then must rely on deft pokechecking and positioning to box out opponents from getting to the net... deserves credit for making steady headway in his 1-on-1 defending abilities... used to overcommit and get turned inside-out on occasion, but has learned to consistently play the body... still pinches too aggressively at times and will sacrifice positioning... good top-four defender, just not a great one.

The all-around defenseman possesses a dynamite slap shot, which he uses a lot. The durable blueliner logged more PP time than any other maple leaf last year...

has carved out a niche for himself as a top four defenseman... logged the most minutes on the Thrashers blueline and played significant minutes on the PP and PK. He can move the puck out of his own zone, block shots and throw his body around... has posted at least 35 points in five of the last six seasons, so his overall value should not be understated.

laboured with pace after Olympics... quick, strong stick... slow moving backwards and pivoting...gets angled the wrong way and can be turned inside-out by shifty opponents... showing signs that he may be losing a step.

wound up leading the Thrashers in ice time... often criticized for not doing more but he is a reliable all-around defender.

Still big and still skates like he has cement in his shoes... played some PP time and contributed modest totals. At 34, look for his role to be lessened.

Once a solid offensive defenseman with a physical side to his game, Kubina seems to have left his best years behind him... physical game still exists, but he has become slightly passive.

desperate for defenders, Flyers traded for the aging Kubina, hoping he could provide some of the offensive punch lost during Pronger's absence. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way. The beefy Czech struggled at both ends, compiling only 4 assists in 17 games while failing to help in the possession game. After a lackluster showing in the first round against Pittsburgh, he was a healthy scratch throughout the second round loss to New Jersey.

Pavel Kubina, a Stanley Cup champion, All-Star, and three-time Olympian announced his retirement today from the NHL after 13 seasons... Internationally, Kubina represented the Czech Republic in every major hockey championship... In the 2004 playoffs, Kubina played 22 games, recorded four points and averaged 22:54 of ice-time while helping the Lightning win the franchise’s first and only Stanley Cup...

“I would like to congratulate Pavel Kubina for his 14 years in the NHL, what a great accomplishment,” said Vincent Lecavalier, Philadelphia Flyers forward. “Pavel has always been a great teammate on and off the ice. I had the pleasure of playing with and becoming a great friend and roommate of Pavel’s during his nine years with the Lightning. I had the chance to watch him become a top defenseman in the league..."

“Pavel was one of the best defencemen I played with during my NHL career. More importantly he was a great teammate and friend. I will always care about Pavel as one of my best friends,” said Mats Sundin, NHL veteran of 18 seasons.

“I will always look at Pavel from two angles: as an opponent and also like a teammate from spending a couple months together playing with the Philadelphia Flyers. The most important thing was our battles, when we stood against each other. He was on top of his hockey career when he won the Stanley Cup with Tampa,” said Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey Devils forward. “I have great memories from when we played together on the national team at the Olympics, and also the World Championship in 2005, which we won. It is sad that the Czech Republic is losing another great defenseman in the NHL, as he was a very experienced, quality hockey player.”

Assets: Had size and was incredibly strong. Possessed a heavy, thunderous shot from the point and could be a solid point producer. Could also log plenty of minutes, if need be.

Flaws: Struggled against speedy wingers and occasionally made critical mistakes in the defensive zone. Lacked consistency in all facets of the game. Declined quickly.

Career Potential: Big, strong defenseman with all-round ability.

 

[seventieslord]

Tomas Plekanec, C

- 5'11", 198 lbs
- Best VsX scores: 70, 65, 64, 58, 58, 54, 49
- Best ES scores: 70, 68, 62, 60, 47, 47, 46
- Top-15 in Selke Voting 4 Times (7th, 13th, 15th, 15th)
- Received Selke votes in two other seasons as well
- Killed 35% of penalties for teams 14% better than average
- Since 2007-08, Relative Corsi of just -1.0 despite 45% offensive zone starts and 0.64 QoC

Plekanec won't win a scoring title but big things are expected nonetheless... enjoyed a nice rookie season and there's still plenty of untapped potential. A jack of all trades type, Plekanec has the skill and hockey sense to play any forward position, although he's best suited in the middle. He reads the play well and has the quickness to pounce on scoring chances or cover up defensively. Plekanec appears poised for a bigger role offensively but not necessarily this season.

enters his third NHL campaign with a lot of momentum... delivered an outstanding performance at the World championships...a solid two-way performer with emerging confidence in the offensive zone... lack of NHL size is holding him back from achieving greater heights.

persevered through a bumpy start to suddenly carry the offense for the habs, a prelude to a breakout second half... turnaround coincided with the demotion of linemate Sergei Samsonov, whose struggles had initially been attributed to Plekanec... a spunky playmaker with impressive vision and creativity... fast, fluid skater and poised puckmover... works tirelessly away from the puck... a crafty short passer who makes the right play in even the tightest spaces... underwhelming physically in the defensive zone, relies more on anticipation and skills to defend... starting to bear down harder in scoring areas and capitalize on more of the chances his speed and hustle create, though still passes up golden shooting opportunities

one of the biggest reasons for Montreal's turnaround was the emergence of Plekanec as a go-to pivot. He finished 2nd on the team to Kovalev in most of the important statistical categories, and proved his durability by appearing in 81 regular season games - plus 12 in the playoffs. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in hockey smarts and drive. His speed, two-way savvy and explosive shot should keep Plekanec on the top line for some time to come.

The speedy Czech center, like many of his Canadiens teammates, struggled badly in 2008-09... needs to turn things around, since his reputation for soft play is gaining steam.

crashed back to earth and labooured much of the season to regain the stellar form of his startling 69-point breakout in 07-08... talented skater... fast and fluid in all directions... underwhelming along the boards... not a natural sniper either, even if he does possess a quick release... really struggled to cope with the physical intensity of the playoffs... rebound candidate if he can get back to playing a brave and instinctive game

coming off a career-best 70 points, but still seeks consistency... he's a very good two-way performer but has struggled in the playoffs. He's a little undersized and needs to learn how to step up in big games.

rebounded strongly from a disastrous 08-09... a tenacious playmaker with impressive vision and creativity... poised distributor... his production and effectiveness tailed off once the checking got tighter in the 2nd round of the playoffs... expected to work on his consistency and big game play - namely stepping up in pressure situations.

Montreal's leading point-getter with just 57, Plekanec wore down as the season progressed. perhaps overuse can explain why. the speedy czech veteran has struggled a bit in the playoffs the last two seasons. He does it all for the Canadiens but needs a better supporting cast around him to maximize his two-way capability.

carried the attack for a bulk of the campaign in support of a second straight team scoring crown... demanding workload began to take a toll... gained steadily through the postseason culminating in a strong game 7 that featured a clutch shorthanded goal... developing as a reliable shutdown pivot... positions himself effectively in his own zone... could be more resolute about driving to the net... makes an impact when playing a brave, spunky game... proved capable of stepping up in pressure situations

On the surface, it was a typical Plekanec season in 2011-12... However, the veteran failed to generate the offense expected of him on a nightly basis. He logs heavy minutes for Montreal and is used in all game situations. Also, his work rate is exemplary and he's durable.

saddled with a heavy defensive menu including a grueling shorthanded load, logging 3:13 per game, 2nd in the NHL among forwards... also took 3rd-most faceoffs in the league...

In many ways, Plekanec represents Montreal's conscience. he almost always plays the hard minutes for whoever is coaching the club, usually plays with consistency and is a big factor on special teams... look for him on the ice with the game on the line.

whether he produces points in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, or 70s, Plekanec remains invaluable to the cause... he's well-respected.

underrated center whose importance to the habs is critical in many ways... few players in the league, let alone with an offensive role, started as low as 38.0% offensive zone starts - against the toughest the opposition can offer... tied for 2nd on the team with 38 takeaways... skated the most icetime of any forward including almost 3 minutes killing penalties... exiting his prime scoring years and maturing into a defensive specialist - and almost too important to the Habs in that role.

 

[seventieslord]

Jason Pominville, RW

- 6'0", 185 lbs
- Best VsX scores: 75, 75, 69, 63, 60, 60, 60
- Best ES scores: 81, 76, 73, 68, 67, 65, 60
- Buffalo Sabres Captain for three seasons (2011-2013)
- Played in NHL All-star game (2012)
- Killed 28% of penalties for teams 5% better than average on the PK
- Has received scattered Selke votes in 6 seasons
- Very durable player who has missed just 9 games in the past 9 seasons

Assets: Has great on-ice vision and offensive creativity. Can beat defenders one-on-one. Is equally adept at finishing off plays or setting up linemates. Is defensively responsible and a good team leader.
Flaws: Lacks ideal NHL size and strength, which somewhat hinders his ability to perform at an even higher level. Can also wear down over the course of the season. Doesn't hit the net enough with his shots.
Career Potential: Versatile scoring winger and leader.

Pominville was recalled after lighting it up for Rochester, where he registered 19 goals in 18 games... he would score more if he could add a little more muscle to his smallish frame. Has a nose for the net.

more than doubled his point totals in a breakout sophomore campaign in which he scored 34 goals, including 30 at even strength, one short of the league lead... crafty, opportunistic winger with quick, soft hands and deceptive toughness... plays a feisty and involved game in spite of a slender build... displays a knack for finding open space and unleashing his wicked shot that features a lightning release and uncanny accuracy... not an explosive skater, but still smooth and agile with steadily improving strength on his feet... proved an ideal fit on the top line alongside the playmaking talents of Daniel Briere and Jochen Hecht, though floundered in the playoffs when Briere was moved off his line... made impressive strides defensively last season which should help guard against any major backslides.

used on all special teams, Pominville has exceptional two-way ability. He is blessed with excellent hockey sense, which allows him to always be in the right place at the right time.

Pominville wasn't a first liner when 2007-08 began, but when he begins to produce every time he steps on the ice, he gets moved up the depth chart in a hurry... also sees time on the penalty kill.

at his best when confidently controlling and making plays as he possesses soft hands and good patience... gave up possession too readily at times last season... also plagued by ineffective defensive zone play such as weak clearances and poor positioning...

continued to underachieve and fail to push his game over the top... led the club with five shootout goals... doesn't consistently make smart decisions moving the puck... his intensity routinely sags... did make a concerted effort to upgrade his intensity in the postseason, yet still came up short against the Bruins...

he is somewhat miscast on the first line and is at his best on the second line when the opposition hones in on other players. The "Mayor of Pominville" is adept at killing penalties but lacks a physical edge.

Jason Pominville should be a fixture on Buffalo's top line for several years to come... they will never be the best line in the league, but it's a line that should produce 60-80 points for each player per year.

misses a fast first step... smooth and agile, however... makes quick pivots and moves well laterally... shows better structure and defensive positioning - stays in his lanes and does a solid job of disrupting puck carriers... not as many intensity lapses last season either... rediscovered the brave, energetic style needed to rise above the ordinary... elevated his play when Derek Roy was sidelined, and was having a strong playoff until his leg was cut by a skateblade.

A durable winger capable of putting up impressive totals, Jason Pominville is actually a jekyll and hyde performer offensively. Year after year he puts up great totals at even strength, and year after year he's one of the Sabres' poorest power play performers. That said, his leadership is invaluable to the sabres.

Buffalo's lone all-star, Jason Pominville had a terrific season, playing all 82 games and leading the team with 2.24 ESP/60... he was also exceptional on the power play, netting 26 points there, and logged the most shorthanded time among the forwards... his defensive and penalty killing game is solid enough to make him a valuable top-6 forward even if he wasn't scoring at quite the same pace.

re-established himself during a strong first year as captain... helped fill in some of the blanks with a steady high level of play... stronger and fitter last season, and noticeably more visible in the neutral zone, rediscovering his short passing game and igniting the transition game.

named captain prior to the season, Pominville definitely led by example, notching a team high 73 points. For his efforts, the veteran was voted MVP by is fellow players... they'll be leaning on Pominville again for offense and leadership.

The Wild paid a hefty price for him... while he was having a solid season for the Sabres, he elevated his play in Minnesota... before a Dustin Brown elbow knocked the wind out of his season. He routinely faces the team's toughest competition, is a big contributor on special teams, and his 2.05 ESP/60 rate makes him a valuable addition to a Wild roster that struggled with its even strength production.

One of the most popular players in Buffalo the last eight years... a PP staple (and can even man the point) and is leaned on as one of the leaders on this young team.

“He can do it in so many different ways,” NBC analyst Pierre McGuire said Monday. “He’s a 5-on-5 scorer, he’s a power-play threat, both from the top of the circle and also up by the blue line because he’s a great distributor and he can also shoot the wicked one-timer.

“You put it all together, and he might be the most well-rounded player on their team in terms of being a pure scorer, a really good defensive player and a special teams specialist. There are other guys that are flashier — Koivu, Parise. But Jason Pominville just does his job all the time. He’s like a good defenseman — you don’t notice him until you see his stats at the end of the night.”
...
“It was overlooked the time when Zach and Mikko went out,” Yeo said. “There was obviously a void in the skill level and the talent level that we were putting on the ice. He stepped up big time at that time. But it was also a void in terms of our leadership at that time. I really saw him take his leadership to another level.”

Pominville said that maybe he was a little more vocal, but he did nothing different from what he normally does.

“Maybe people just took more notice of it because the big guns were out,” Pominville said in his soft-spoken manner.

As good a player as he is, he seems to be an afterthought in the hockey community when recognizing the upper crust off the sport. For instance, he was left off the US Olympic orientation camp roster as the US braintrust instead opted for LA 4th line center Trevor Lewis... led the Wild in both points and even strength points. Also put up robust possession numbers, displaying patience with the puck and soft hands when driving the net. He owns a powerful shot and can score from a distance or around the paint... he is a skilled passer and has the ability to make plays in high traffic areas.

claimed his second career team scoring crown - the first with Minnesota... played the point on the power play at times...can't be expected to carry such a load for the next season... traditionally a fast starter who tapers off, yet remains at the top of the scoring standings... solid shooter with strong work ethic.

equal parts shooter and playmaker... lack of finishers on the team makes him stand out like an ice fishing hut on a snow-covered lake. He always catches his limit.

 

[seventieslord]

Pete Stemkowski, C

- 6'1", 196 lbs
- Stanley Cup (1967)
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1972)
- Top-11 in playoff scoring 3 times (2nd, 11th, 11th)
- Best points percentages: 81, 63, 59, 58, 50, 49, 44
- Best ES points percentages: 100, 71, 68, 63, 62, 62, 59
- Post-expansion, killed 29% of penalties for teams 2% below average on the PK

Quietly Pete Stemkowski had a solid NHL career that lasted 14 years. A useful and aggressive forward, "Stemmer" always took a back seat of attention wherever he played... Pete Stemkowski played six strong seasons in New York. Despite 3 20+ goal seasons as a Ranger and some fine team play, Stemkowski never again sipped champagne from Lord Stanley's Cup. The Rangers came oh so close to the Stanley Cup three times, however it was not meant to be.

Stemkowski was also adept at verbally skewering opposing centers, a distinct advantage when he lined up for a faceoff.

"Believe me, that stuff worked," Stemkowski recalled years later. "It's not that hard to throw a guy off guard, especially on faceoffs, by getting on his nerves."

Stemkowski got the winning goal to put us up 3-2 in the 1967 finals against Montreal...

a lot of the reason we'd won the cup was Pete Stemkowski. He had been centre on our best line for the whole playoffs, with Bob Pulford and Jim Pappin. I remember Gordie Howe talking about that line the previous spring - "nearly 600 pounds of them , and they use every ounce when they're checking", he said. Anybody who saw that series in the flesh or on TV knows how good Stemkowski was. He stood there in the other guy's end with his arms and stick out and dared them to try and get by him. They stop looking at him and bash, they're down. He is six feet, 200 pounds and when he was cruising, everybody on the other team better keep his head up. He'd had a pretty good season for us, but in the playoffs he'd been even better: 5 goals, 7 assists, eating up the heavy going and the pressure as if he revelled in it.

All right. This game (the game the Leafs died) was only an exhibision game and some people have the attitude that exhibition games don't mean anything. They mean something, don't fool yourself. they can mean a hell of a lot.

Right then Stemkowski was playing the same way as he'd been playing in the Stanley Cup. He wasn't picking any soft spots. He nailed Vic Hadfield in our zone and Hadfield nailed him right back. Then down in the Ranger end Stemkowski really reefed Rod Seiling. The play came out of there fast and went down to our end but in the meantime two or three Rangers ganged up on stemkowski to retaliate for the Seiling hit. They got him on the ice. They're kicking the living so-and-so out of him. Of course, the play had gone to our end and at first our guys couldn't see what was happening. But when they did come back, Geoffrion, Hadfield, Seiling, Kurtenbach, and Brown are all taking turns whaling the hell out of Stemkowski, sometimes two or three at a time, and our guys are there as peacemakers! Not doing any damn fighting at all! Finally, Pete fell to the ice with a couple on top of him, and in the melee somebody stepped on his hand. Blood started pouring out of a cut that later needed seven stitches. And still our other boys are standing around saying "now, now, boys..." or some damn thing... anytime four guys from one team have enough free time to have a vendetta with one guy from another, that second team is in trouble, and I should have seen it. I should have known right then... what happened with that hockey club I should have seen in the Stemkowski incident in the preseason.

regarded as one of the better face-off men in the game...

Scouts like his size and his willingness to play at both ends of the rink.

Stemkowski may not pile up quite as many honors as Hicke, but veteran hockey men feel he is one of the best NHL prospects to show up in the AHL in a number of years... he does everything. He skates exceptionally well for a big man, handles the puck well, shoots with the best and passes deftly. And he uses his size to his advantage - both for spilling opponents and for camping himself in front of the enemy's net... Joe Crozier doesn't hesitate to throw him out in a penalty killing role, either.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when Bathgate, Armstrong and the others recover. Dislodging the rangy stemkowski is going to be a difficult challenge. It's noteworthy that Ellis, Stemkowski and Selby play textbook hockey, always in the right position, always flawless on defense...

ROOKIE TOO GOOD TO BE SENT BACK TO MINORS, SAYS IMLACH
STEMKOWSKI INSTANT HIT WITH MAPLE LEAFS

The Leafs promptly began a six-game unbeaten streak and Stemkowski fit in so neatly that Imlach decided to keep him... "he's just what we needed. As you know, I've always thought our strength at center ice had a great deal to do with our three straight Stanley Cup wins. We have Bob Pulford, Dave Keon and Red Kelly, with Billy Harris as the best extra center in hockey. Well then, the situation at left wing got so bad, Ihad to move Kelly there. And that left us much weaker at center. I tried Andy bathgate there for a while, then George Armstrong. But Stemkowski is the answer. He had to stay once I had a look at him."

"Stemmer has matured tremendously", Gregory adds. "Whoever worked on him in Rochester did a good job. He's a major leaguer now... Stemmer seems to be just the sort of co-worker the Big M needs - rangy and fast and an intelligent playmaker. In addition, he is so rangy that he forechecks effectively.

STEMKOWSKI MAKES FUTURE SOLID WITH AGGRESSIVE PLAY FOR LEAFS

...an industrious, aggressive centerman whose excellent work during the past month has created a glimmer of optimism with the Leafs... he was a pretty ordinary plodder until Leafs recalled another young center called Mike Walton from their AHL team in Rochester. Suddenly Stemkowski realized that his NHL job was by no means secure and he began to produce in a big way. And it is he, not Walton, who is the talented center in the Leafs' future. "During our 10-game losing streak, Stemkowski was my best forward," says Punch Imlach. "That has to be considered impressive, when he keeps fighting through a bad slump like that. You also have to like the way he dug in when he saw what Walton's arrival could mean to him. He's one of the few forwards we have who'll step into the other guys and make his presence felt."

He is plenty large enough to play the belligerent, forechecking style of hockey he practices. He hits like a young Bob Pulford... Stemkowski doesn't mind being the butt of dressing room chatter, because he's a nonstop joker himself.... one of the more aggressive forwards in the NHL today... likes to throw his weight around on the ice. His inspired play in recent weeks has been one of the big factors the Leafs are moving again in the league race.

The playoffs of 1967 are liable to haunt Pete Stemkowski all his life. His muscular play at center ice and his 12 points were prime factors in Toronto's Stanley Cup victory, and his failure to continue that output last season was a grave disappointment to his Toronto bosses. "He can be the best center in the league," says Punch Imlach, "because no defenseman can hold his ground when Stemmer throws those 200 pounds of his around. But we can't wait."

"The magnetic Pole" is a husky forward... a good hard hitter.

Stemmer has a fine mobility for his size, and he has fit in quite well with the wings.

everything you look for in a big league center is to be found in Pete Stemkowski - size, strength, speed, a good shot and a trace of truculence... last season's results indicate the Leafs may have made a mistake trading him.

Spurred by Stemkowski's hard hitting, the line became Detroit's best...more important than his scoring was his body work... when he was wearing a helmet it seemed he wasn't as aggressive.

STEMMER PUTS NEW LIFE IN WINGS

there was a time earlier in the season when the Wing management was unhappy with Pete Stemkowski... it wasn't the first time that happened to him. He has his ups and downs when he worked for Punch Imlach... Stemkowski's Toronto reputation was that of a defensive player that that was primarily what Detroit had in mind when he was included in the huge deal with the Leafs... the Wings needed a husky center who could do some muscling. Stemkowski has done that, although not as much perhaps as the Wings would like, but he's also shown a scoring touch that broke through only in the 1967 playoffs... despite his recent scoring burst, Stemkowski is probably the most underrated of Red Wing forwards. If he keeps this up, that won't last much longer.

Aggressiveness is Pete Stemkowski's main asset as a hockey player... he is convinced of that after what happened last season. When a few raps on the skull produced persistent headaches, he was advised to begin wearing a helmet. Result: he slumped, because, as he now puts it, "I'd stopped going after people.".. he quickly regained the old touch - just about the time he discarded the helmet and resumed the belligerent brand of hockey his 6'1", 205-pound physique fits him for.

Stemkowski is a robust individual who should put muscle into the Rangers offense.

Proved big man for the Rangers in the playoffs last season.

"well," said coach Emile Francis, "we're lucky we found out so early. We've got to be stronger and tougher." Accordingly, Francis went out and got the strongest, toughest center he could find, Detroit's Pete Stemkowski. Normally, a player such as he would never be available. He was only 25, large and rugged, and had just contributed 46 goals to the Detroit cause in two seasons. But he did not get along with the new Detroit coach Ned Harkness, at all. That gave Francis his opportunity. "You don't have a chance in this league without muscle at center, especially against Boston, and we're well off now..."

big and strong... proved a valuable pickup, finishing with 18 goals while playing on the checking line... scored two playoff goals, both OT winners...

The most popular hockey player in MSG is Pete Stemkowski, the Polish Prince, and he repaid the fans' affection with the greatest output of his career, plus the Rangers' best playoff production. "I'm not really a scorer, though. Some years you get a lot of points because things break for you. But I see myself mainly as an up-and-down guy, doing a good defensive job and creating opportunities for myself and other players... Wings dealt him following a famous practice incident in which coach Ned Harkness caught him imitating a college cheer (gimme a C, gimme an O, gimme an R). Harkness had just come from Cornell and he reacted to Stemkowski's burlesque by trading him...

Pete is one of those players who could produce to the limit in crucial situations such as the playoffs. His defensive ability is considered his strongest area and he often has the task of facing the top guns on the other team.

STEMMER PICKS RANGERS UP WHEN INJURIES GET THEM DOWN

Pete Stemkowski couldn't have found a better time to get hot...

Stemkowski, a burly center…

Stemmer lights spark in Ranger turnaround

The Polish Prince played with Ron Stewart, Rangers' new coach, at Toronto and they share the same outlook concerning hockey. They see it as a defensive game in which everything good springs from checking.

Pete has acquired a well-deserved reputation for scoring big goals during his career that has covered stints with Toronto, Detroit and the Rangers. Good faceoff man and an outstanding penalty killer. Stemmer can play LW as well as center.

while some of his teammates and opponents have been catching most of the headlines with spectacular goals, Pete Stemkowski has been busy in his own way by being consistent… Long rated as one of the NHL's top man in the face-off circle, Stankowski's consistency has paid off for New York Rangers. So much so that coach Emile Francis has described him as one of the best clutch players in the NHL today. "Stemkowski is not the flashiest skater in the league," Francis conceded, still marveling at the centers Tuesday night performance in Montréal. "But he's been our top face-off man." The 6 foot one Winnipeg native was instrumental in New York's 3 to 2 overtime victory in Montréal Tuesday night, a victory that earned the Rangers a 3 to 2 lead in their best-of-seven Stanley Cup quarterfinal against the Canadiens. Stemkowski, who played the fifth game despite a severe throat infection, won a key face-off from Henri Richard in the final minute of regulation play, a decision that led indirectly to Bruce McGregor's tying goal. He also won the draw from Montréal's Pete Mahovlich to set up *** ******'s winning goal at 4:07 of the sudden-death overtime. Since the Rangers acquired him from Detroit Red Wings in 1970, has figured in three straight overtime victories by the Rangers.

Known as one of the best clutch players in the game, Peter excelled in last year's playoff games against Montral and Philadelphia. He can play LW as well as center, and he's a most reliable man on faceoffs. Smart with the puck, Pete is also a good playmaker and can be used to kill penalties as well. He has a smooth, steady style.

Dependability, sense of humor are two of his biggest assets...At his best during playoffs...Scored goal in triple overtime that lifted Rangers past Chicago in 1971 Cup semi-finals...With Detroit, he once led a "Cornell" cheer for former GM Ned Harkness, who showed up during the chant...Not long after, "Stemmer" was traded to New York...Says teammate Brad Park, "His sense of humor keeps us loose, but on the ice he's a money player."...Plays center or left wing.

Players Poll

Most Underrated Player:
Pete Stemkowski, 6th

Best on Faceoffs:
Pete Stemkowski, 4th

valuable man to have around...

excels as playmaker and on faceoffs... ranks #3 all-time among Rangers' playoff goalscorers (editor's note, he had been with the team for just 6 of its 47 years)

known for his ability to score important goals, Pete is a reliable type of center who can also play left wing when needed.

He never could skate. He's not great with the stick. But he's good at faceoffs, digs in the corners, gets the puck and isn't too proud to pass it on. Primarily a defensive center and left winger, the 6'1" 215 pounder says, "I use my body. That's my game. I'm a checker and digger. I'm not fancy. I guess they wanted a big forward." playing behind three small centers, he has been working well the odd shift with the fourth line and killing penalties effectively.

...he became known as an opportunistic scorer... "I hope to have more chance here. I'm a big guy and I get soft sitting around. I have to play regularly to play well. My lefts still feel good and I think I can play regularly.:

It was 19 years ago that Toronto Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks met in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Leafs, with Bob Pulford and Jim Pappin playing prominent roles, bounced the Hawks in six games, enroute to their most recent Cup triumph.

"I remember our line getting all the goals in that series," said Pulford as he reminisced about that series. "Well, Jim and Pete (Stemkowski) did the scoring not me-I didn't get any. We were put together to check Stan's (Mikita) line and ended up doing most of the scoring," added Pulford. Pappin led the playoffs in scoring that year with seven goals and eight assists with Stemkowski right behind him.

How Would You Like To Be Remembered: "I really did give it everything. My reputation may have been like a happy-go-lucky, prankster type of guy. But believe me, when it came to playing I was all business. Never gave me greater satisfaction than to win. Always tried to excel in the playoffs. I feel that's what people remembered about you. Be remembered as someone who scored in the clutch, when it was important. Was a team player that contributed to any success that we had. Loose, dropped the jokes. But as soon as they dropped the puck, I was a pretty serious player."