Rick Middleton

[Jim MacDonald]

Hi guys and gals

Hope everyone is having a good Labor Day weekend here in the states and a good weekend to my hockey homettes and homies in other countries!

I wanted to learn a bit about Rick Middleton. The reason for it is kinda interesting. In one of my roller hockey games a few years ago the two referees during a stoppage in play brought up Middelton's name (in a context I can't recall) and had some chuckles with each other. I know Middleton played for the Bruins, what kind of player was he? Do you guys/gals like him? Does he have a landmark/great moment or a fall-on-your-face moment? Look forward to the knowledge/opinions! -Jim

Click to read more...

 

[Staniowski]

Holiday here north of the border also. Only difference is it's "Labor" Day in the States, and it's "Labour" Day in Canada!

Middleton played with Gretzky and Goulet in the '84 Canada Cup. Put up some good points playing with Gretzky.

Talented guy, acquired the nickname "Nifty".

 

[Iapyi]

Middleton was a very good player and had "Nifty" hands. Seems to me he took a pretty bad cheap shot once, pretty sure it was unsurprisingly by a Montreal player.

 

[rfournier103]

I caught the very tail end of his career. This Bruins are retiring his #16 this season.

 

[Claude The Fraud]

Am I wrong or Middleton is the player Phil Esposito said in his book that had to be ship out of New York because he had gotten in trouble with the wrong peopple?

 

[rfournier103]

Am I wrong or Middleton is the player Phil Esposito said in his book that had to be ship out of New York because he had gotten in trouble with the wrong peopple?

Never heard that one, but sounds like a very interesting story...

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Am I wrong or Middleton is the player Phil Esposito said in his book that had to be ship out of New York because he had gotten in trouble with the wrong peopple?

That does sound familiar.

Went from an all offense player to an excellent defensive forward under Don Cherry.

Played for Canada twice in Canada Cups.

Lady Byng winner, had 175 PIMs in 1005 games.

Great stick handler, "nifty" moves. A real treat to watch.

Had a couple great playoff series.

 

[rfournier103]

Glad he finally got the Canadiens monkey off his back in 1988 before he retired.

 

[Killion]

Toronto Boy. Came up through the Wexford Raiders organization, right out of the box blowing peoples doors off. Speedster, Fancy Dangler. Underrated by the Scouts Big Time coming out of Junior after seriously lighting it up in the OHA.... Guy just never got the full respect he deserved beyond Boston, amongst those who know the game & caught his career, absolutely should have been inducted into the HHOF years ago, not too late, hopefully it gets done.

 

[GlitchMarner]

He's one of the better NHL wingers of the 1980s.

Among modern players, maybe Marchand would be a good comparable (not necessarily stylistically)?

 

[streitz]

He's one of the better NHL wingers of the 1980s.

Among modern players, maybe Marchand would be a good comparable (not necessarily stylistically)?

How in the world are Middleton and Marchand a good comparison?

 

[tony d]

Was a tremendous player in his time, should be in the Hall of Fame as well.

 

[GlitchMarner]

How in the world are Middleton and Marchand a good comparison?

They're both smaller guys who have finesse skills and are good defensively? Which current winger would you compare Middleton to?

 

[streitz]

They're both smaller guys who have finesse skills and are good defensively? Which current winger would you compare Middleton to?

Middleton wasn't small, he was 5,11 which was average height for the time.



Have you ever seen Middleton play?

 

[GlitchMarner]

Middleton wasn't small, he was 5,11 which was average height for the time.



Have you ever seen Middleton play?

Have you ever seen Marchand play?

Middleton retired a few years before I started watching hockey (he retired in 1988 - I watched my first game in 1993), but I've seen highlights of his and know what kind of player he was.

 

[Chief Nine]

Middleton was a very good player and had "Nifty" hands. Seems to me he took a pretty bad cheap shot once, pretty sure it was unsurprisingly by a Montreal player.

Yeah that was good old Chris Nilan who butt ended Middleton in the mouth

 

[Howie Hodge]

Toronto Boy. Came up through the Wexford Raiders organization, right out of the box blowing peoples doors off. Speedster, Fancy Dangler. Underrated by the Scouts Big Time coming out of Junior after seriously lighting it up in the OHA.... Guy just never got the full respect he deserved beyond Boston, amongst those who know the game & caught his career, absolutely should have been inducted into the HHOF years ago, not too late, hopefully it gets done.

One of the great thefts of the 70's, Rangers wanting Espo's man Kenny Hodge, and dealing Middleton to Boston to acquire Birmingham Kennny....

Hodge had once decent season with The Rangers before flaming out. Shifty took a couple seasons to find his high gear in Boston, but once he did he had 7 great seasons there before he slowed down at about the same age Kenny had in NY.....

 

[streitz]

Have you ever seen Marchand play?

Middleton retired a few years before I started watching hockey (he retired in 1988 - I watched my first game in 1993), but I've seen highlights of his and know what kind of player he was.

Well if you think Middleton was "small" you clearly don't.

 

[jj cale]

Dandy player that seems largely forgotten today unfortunately, as has been said here ..................great hands.



Theres lots of great goals in this but that one starting at 1:25.................whew!! what a beut!!

He was a tough son of a bitch too.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Middleton wasn't small, he was 5,11 which was average height for the time.



Have you ever seen Middleton play?

He may have been listed at 5'11', but in reality he wasn't.

 

[streitz]

He may have been listed at 5'11', but in reality he wasn't.

Even if he was a bit smaller then 5,11 he was average height for the time.

 

[Jim MacDonald]

Thank you everyone for your knowledge/opinions!.....to learn this guy was not a schmuck by any means, had a cool nickname "nifty" (and the highlight package jj posted exemplified that which was awesome). Right hand shot, right winger...….dude had some skill! I love the History of Hockey forum.

 

[BobbyAwe]

He may have been listed at 5'11', but in reality he wasn't.

I think he was about 5'10? A lot of listed heights (and weights) are spurious, not only in today's game but historically. Park, for instance, was originally listed at 6'0, if true he must have shrunk quite a bit, because in team photos if you see him next to some players whose height was pretty well established, he looks closer to 5'9.

 

[BobbyAwe]

Thank you everyone for your knowledge/opinions!.....to learn this guy was not a schmuck by any means, had a cool nickname "nifty" (and the highlight package jj posted exemplified that which was awesome). Right hand shot, right winger...….dude had some skill! I love the History of Hockey forum.

He was good enough to have THREE nicknames...

Nifty
Wheels
Tricky Rick

The thing with Middleton is he was a bit better than just his offensive stats would indicate as he was very good defensively and was also used as a penalty killer. Perhaps the truest way to evaluate a player is by the opinions of those who played with or against said player. I don't think many of his contemporaries would have a problem with him being in the HOF?

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

With just a Lady Byng as hardware, he might have to pay admission.