Players with massive outlier seasons in their careers

[blood gin]

Just goal scoring wise, what was up with Mark Messier scoring only 12 goals in 53 games in 1990-1991

45 goals the previous year, 35 goals with NYR his first year there.

Over a full season in 1990-91 Messier would've been on pace for a strange 18 goal, 78 assist season

 

[shadow1]

A memorable one within the last 10 years or so was Steve Mason, who won 33 games with a 2.29 GAA and 10 shutouts as a rookie in 2008-09 with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Though years later he would briefly re-establish himself as a starting goalie with the Philadelphia Flyers, Mason never had a sub-3.00 GAA or had another winning season as a starter for the Blue Jackets.

 

[shadow1]

Another goalie is Brian Boucher, who went 20-10-3 with a 1.91 GAA in his rookie year with the Flyers. More impressively he carried them to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals that year.

Many thought he was a rising goalie in the NHL. I remember watching a feature story about Boucher one Saturday morning when I was kid. As we all know, he turned out to be a journeyman back up goalie.

One footnote is that Boucher holds the NHL record for longest shutout streak. He had (5) shutouts in a row, and the streak was broken the sixth night in a 1-1 tie. Laughably, despite the five shutouts, Boucher's record that year (2003-04) was 10-19-10.

 

[Gambitman]

A guy that I think sort of belongs here is Bernie Geoffrian. I know he was a great player, but his 50 goal year was certainly out of the ordinary for him.

 

[alko]

Scott Bjugstad

Looking to his number of games per season, he must suffer to injuries.

 

[The Panther]

Just goal scoring wise, what was up with Mark Messier scoring only 12 goals in 53 games in 1990-1991

45 goals the previous year, 35 goals with NYR his first year there.

Over a full season in 1990-91 Messier would've been on pace for a strange 18 goal, 78 assist season

Well, that was the first season ever the Oilers in general had trouble scoring goals. Mess was seriously injured (missing 27 games) and probably a little hesitant yet to charge to the front of the net when in the line-up. The team had never not had a 100+ point scorer (sometimes they'd had four!), and that season Esa Tikkanen led the team with 69 points.

 

[streitz]

and probably a little hesitant yet to charge to the front of the net when in the line-up.

Thanks for the insider info

 

[sr edler]

One footnote is that Boucher holds the NHL record for longest shutout streak. He had (5) shutouts in a row, and the streak was broken the sixth night in a 1-1 tie. Laughably, despite the five shutouts, Boucher's record that year (2003-04) was 10-19-10.

How is that a footnote regarding Boucher? That's the only thing casuals know him for. Nice for the Coyotes having such a record, by the way, makes them a proud hockey club.

I looked up his streak on hockey-reference and apparently he faced 21, 35, 26, 27 and 21 shots against LAK, DAL, CAR, WSH and MIN. Only Dallas (only team mustering more than 30 shots on Boucher) of those teams made the playoffs. They finished 11th of 30 teams in the regular season overall standings.

 

[Nick Hansen]

David Clarkson when he scored 30 goals and was given a huge contract by TML and Nonis. He had scored 17 goals another year before in his career so maybe not 'massive' but certainly surprising.

 

[CHIP72]

Bob MacMillan, 108 points (37G, 71A) in 1978-79. His next best season points-wise was 63 points in 1980-81.

Lanny McDonald (obvious one), 66 goals in 1982-83. His next best season goals-wise was 47 goals in 1977-78. (Ironically, he and MacMillan were traded for each other in the middle of the 1981-82 season.)

Doug Wilson, 39 goals in 1981-82. His next best season goals-wise was 23 goals in 1989-90.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

 

[EpochLink]

Nothing against Olaf Kolzig's career, but his 2000 year stands out. He wins the Vezina, only has a 5th and 10th place finish outside of that. Overall he is a .500 goalie in his career but with a strong season in 2000.

Speaking of outlier seasons, Chris Simon's 29 goal miracle that season is another one.
On a team with Oates, Conchar, Zednik and Bondra...Simon beat them in goal scoring.

 

[Big Phil]

One footnote is that Boucher holds the NHL record for longest shutout streak. He had (5) shutouts in a row, and the streak was broken the sixth night in a 1-1 tie. Laughably, despite the five shutouts, Boucher's record that year (2003-04) was 10-19-10.

I remember when that record was being set. Was it Tony Esposito who held that record from 1970 or so? Either way, I remember thinking "oh no, he's actually going to eclipse it." It is just one of those records that makes you squirm a little bit because even at that time Boucher wasn't playing the good teams either. It just seemed..............off. Reminded me a bit of the Columbus Blue Jackets and their 16 game winning streak in 2017. Yes they had 108 points that year, so they had a good year, but this team surpassed the 1982 Islanders' streak of 15 games and was eyeing the Penguins 1993 record of 17 games. It just didn't feel right. That's why I am glad the Capitals beat them 5-0 to keep them from tying it. Columbus is a franchise that has never won a playoff series - the only one in the NHL who holds this honour (including Vegas) - and they've won 5 playoff games to their name. It just seemed wrong.

Boucher falls into that category. On a positive note, I always remember him by making that save with his glove lying on his back in the 2000 semis vs. New Jersey.

A guy that I think sort of belongs here is Bernie Geoffrian. I know he was a great player, but his 50 goal year was certainly out of the ordinary for him.

It is the raw numbers that look off. But Geoffrion leading the NHL in goals was not a big deal. He had done it before his 50 goal season. He was just the only other player outside of the Rocket to hit 50 at the time.

 

[Tweed]

Rob Scuderi. He was pretty consistent at scoring a goal every couple hundred games, for most of his career. But in 2010-2011 he potted 2 goals. TWO... in the SAME SEASON. An explosive offensive output from him that nobody saw coming. And then he fell off a cliff, returning to his normal form thereafter.

 

[GlitchMarner]

View attachment 183349

Who's that?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Who's that?

nolan baumgartner, drafted 10th overall with one of the picks from the sundin/clark/lefebvre trade. picked just before jeff friesen and future teammate mattias ohlund. otoh, also picked almost exactly between brett lindros and the late wade belak.

 

[Iron Mike Sharpe]

Al MacAdam hit 42-51-93 at 27 years old for the North Stars in 79-80. His next best season he hit 63 points (twice).

North Stars defender Brad Maxwell was 19-54-73 in 83-84, getting significant PP time while Craig Hartsburg was injured. If you take away that season and average out his points per season during the rest of his career, he was a 43-point guy.

 

[Iron Mike Sharpe]

Jean Pronovost - 52-52-104 in 75-76, next best season 75 points the previous year
Vic Hadfield - 50-56-106 in 71-72, next best season was 73 points
Tim Young - 95 points as a 21-year old sophomoire in 76-77, next best effort tops out at 74
Warren Young - career minor leaguer/28 year old rookie scores 40 goals and 72 points skating with rookie Mario Lemieux, only other full NHL season hits 46 points
Ron Sedlbauer - AHL calibre one dimensional player sets Canucks record for goals with 40 in 78-79, adding 16 assists for a whopping 56 points; next best season he went 18-20-38

 

[c9777666]

Nothing beats Jacques Richard in 1980-81.

The NHL has so many awards that they should have created the 'NHL Jacques Richard Outlier Award'.

Even some of the other big time outlier seasons had decent follow up in their next best year. His career highs outside that year: 27 goals, 48 points! Not even a 50 POINT season save for that outlier.

Even Rob Brown, another notable one year wonder, had a comparatively better 33 goals and 80 points in 1989-90

Cheechoo had 28 and 37 goal years sandwiched around the 56 goal season.

Juneau's 100 point season in 1992-93? 85 points in 1993-94.

Gary Leeman had 30 and 32 goal seasons before his 51 goal explosion of 1989-90, so you could say he was progressing.

Al Secord's 50 goal season? Sandwiched by a pair of 40 goal seasons.

Jim Carey? Vezina finalist and Calder runner-up the year BEFORE his Vezina win.

Glen Murray already had a 41 goal season the year before his 92 point year.

There are a lot of outlier season, but the 2nd best season for a lot of these guys are a lot better than Jacques Richard.

 

[kaiser matias]

nolan baumgartner, drafted 10th overall with one of the picks from the sundin/clark/lefebvre trade. picked just before jeff friesen and future teammate mattias ohlund. otoh, also picked almost exactly between brett lindros and the late wade belak.

His draft pick was also one of the three the Flyers sent to Quebec for Lindros.

He got in so many games that year because the Canucks had massive injury troubles on defence (which hasn't really ever ended). Led defencemen in scoring that year, too, though when Mattias Ohlund and Bryan Allen are the only others to play 75+ games, its not to difficult (Baumgartner had one more point than Ohlund).

 

[wetcoast]

Why are you taking that year from Gilmour?

My point was about Fedorov having an outlier year: his only all star season, only 50 goal season, only serious Hart contention. Take that away and he is not clearly equal to Gilmour or several other non-1st-ballot HHOFers.

I am not saying Fedorov doesn't deserve to be in the Hall, just that his accomplishments that ONE season was crucial to taking away any doubt, that without it his induction might be criticized like several others have been (Dino, Nieuwy, Federko, etc).

I guess one could or might make that argument but almost all of that argument also would fail to account for scoring levels during his career and how proficient he was defensively and how Bowman treated him as well.

Even without that season he would still have quiet a bit on a current guy most think is on track for the HHOF in Patrice Bergeron.

 

[wetcoast]

Jean Pronovost - 52-52-104 in 75-76, next best season 75 points the previous year
Vic Hadfield - 50-56-106 in 71-72, next best season was 73 points
Tim Young - 95 points as a 21-year old sophomoire in 76-77, next best effort tops out at 74
Warren Young - career minor leaguer/28 year old rookie scores 40 goals and 72 points skating with rookie Mario Lemieux, only other full NHL season hits 46 points
Ron Sedlbauer - AHL calibre one dimensional player sets Canucks record for goals with 40 in 78-79, adding 16 assists for a whopping 56 points; next best season he went 18-20-38

You must be of my vintage looking at the list above.

Sedlbauer was an extremely lazy and soft player, it was increible that he had such a fluke year.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

His draft pick was also one of the three the Flyers sent to Quebec for Lindros.

He got in so many games that year because the Canucks had massive injury troubles on defence (which hasn't really ever ended). Led defencemen in scoring that year, too, though when Mattias Ohlund and Bryan Allen are the only others to play 75+ games, its not to difficult (Baumgartner had one more point than Ohlund).

oh right, bomber was one of the lindros picks too.

what a crazy deadline. cloutier, jovo, and salo all out for the stretch run. nonis trading two 2nds, a 3rd, and a 4th for keoth carney, eric weinrich, sean brown, and mika noronen... only to miss the playoffs anyway.

even if the remaining d corps after ohlund and allen, was bomber, steve mccarthy, sven butenschon, and rookie bieksa, it doesn’t exactly show a lot of confidence in baumgartner does it?

 

[Caps8112]

It wasn't really a massive season but Devin Setoguchi's 65 points in his sophomore season was pretty impressive. I thought for sure that he would be a long time Shark and have a long career in the NHL. His next highest season was 41 points.

wasn't he derailed by Alcoholism not hockey talent?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

wasn't he derailed by Alcoholism not hockey talent?

i think he could have had an okay career without the substance abuse issues.

but i don't think he was star material. he was the RW on a line with thornton and marleau that year. similar to rookie steve bernier scoring at a point/game clip in the last month of the '06 season with marleau and michalek, getting easy matchups behind the ekman/thornton/cheechoo line. good players with some skill producing way over their heads in ideal situations.

after the sharks picked up heatley and seto lost his spot on the big line, he became what he was, a soft 20 goal/40 point winger, basically mason raymond without the defensive ability.