Team-Season where every single player on the roster was a 'plus' (or even)?

[The Panther]

Just for fun, what historical teams are there where every single player on the roster -- no exceptions -- was a 'plus' in plus/minus, or, let's say, a 'zero' (even)?

I found a really good recent one the other day when looking up something else, but for the life of me I can't find it now...

Anyway, I thought the 1995-96 Red Wings might make it, but thanks to Stu 'The Grim Reaper' Grimson, they don't, as he was -10 in 56 games played (probably averaging five minutes per game, but anyway...).

No surprise, the 1976-77 Canadiens make it. In fact, every single skater was a net 'plus' on the season. More impressive, every skater who played 5+ games (that is, everyone except Jan Van Boxmeer) was at least +22. Crazy....

I swear, I found a relatively recent one the other day, and it's going to drive me crazy now until someone finds it....

Click to read more...

 

[MadLuke]

2000-01 New Jersey Devils Roster and Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

Scott Gomez......

 

[Brodeur]

2000-01 New Jersey Devils Roster and Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

Scott Gomez......

That Devils team was interesting. Top PP in the league (22.9%) but ranked dead last in PP opportunities. At even strength, they outscored their opponents 215-140.

 

[Vilica]

The 18-19 Lightning team is probably the one you saw. Not a single minus player on the Lightning that year in the regular season (playoffs a different matter).

2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster and Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

 

[Hockey Outsider]

The 1996 Red Wings were comically close. They outscored their opponents 228-137 looking at ES and SH situations. Everyone on the team was at least even... and Stu Grimson somehow managed to go -10.

 

[Staniowski]

The '76 Flyers.

They almost did it 3 consecutive seasons, '74 to '76.

 

[GMR]

The 1996 Red Wings were comically close. They outscored their opponents 228-137 looking at ES and SH situations. Everyone on the team was at least even... and Stu Grimson somehow managed to go -10.

56 GP
0 G
1 A
128 PIM

Shows you how GMs and coaches (even Scotty Bowman) loved enforcers back then. Imagine the best team in the league dressing a player that many games when he scores 1 point and is a -10. Fun to watch though.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

The 18-19 Lightning team is probably the one you saw. Not a single minus player on the Lightning that year in the regular season (playoffs a different matter).

2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning Roster and Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

Stamkos scores 98 points and is a meager +4.

Very Gilbert Perreault like.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

That Devils team was interesting. Top PP in the league (22.9%) but ranked dead last in PP opportunities. At even strength, they outscored their opponents 215-140.

I actually have a soft spot for that team. That was my first season I watched hockey and I hated and feared that team. Seemed like every time they played a good team in the regular season they blew them out. I think the Sabres if I remember correctly were their kryptonite.

 

[The Panther]

Ah, the Devils' reference above reminded me, thanks! It wasn't as recent as I thought, but it was the 1993-94 New Jersey Devils:
1993-94 New Jersey Devils Roster and Statistics | Hockey-Reference.com

3 skaters were 'zeroes' (one played 1 game all season), and everybody else a clear 'plus'!

 

[Big Phil]

1970, 1971 and 1972 Bruins all had one player. Two times it was Don Marcotte, well known as a Selke-caliber guy.

I just can't understand what made Grimson go -10 on the 1996 Wings. I will agree he probably wasn't on the ice in the best circumstances and he wasn't a great player skill wise, but you'd think he is a plus player just by showing up on that team.

Would you believe that the only one on the 1982 Islanders who was a minus player was Butch Goring? Again, well known as responsible two-way guy. It just shows you that those stats aren't always what you think. They don't tell the whole story.

Dick Duff is a rare player on the 1968 Canadiens who was a minus. For some strange reason he was -14. All I can say is maybe he was doing a lot of checking the other teams' top lines. Because he stands out a lot on that team.

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

56 GP
0 G
1 A
128 PIM

Shows you how GMs and coaches (even Scotty Bowman) loved enforcers back then. Imagine the best team in the league dressing a player that many games when he scores 1 point and is a -10. Fun to watch though.

I mean, if you have to dress an enforcer, you can do a whole lot worse in terms of actual ability to play the game than Kocur tho

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

Dick Duff is a rare player on the 1968 Canadiens who was a minus. For some strange reason he was -14. All I can say is maybe he was doing a lot of checking the other teams' top lines. Because he stands out a lot on that team.

Theres a story there although I dont know exactly what. Speedy player traded away by the leafs in one of Imlachs many moments of idiocy, the 67 leafs were perplexed by how little Toe Blake used him against them in the finals, given he was exactly the kind of player that would give the likes of Allan,Stanley,Horton, etc fits

 

[GMR]

I mean, if you have to dress an enforcer, you can do a whole lot worse in terms of actual ability to play the game than Kocur tho

I was talking about Grimson though in that post. Yes, Kocur could take a regular shift on the 4th line and occasionally score. No complaints though. Grimson was one of my favorites.

 

[decma]

Would you believe that the only one on the 1982 Islanders who was a minus player was Butch Goring? Again, well known as responsible two-way guy. It just shows you that those stats aren't always what you think. They don't tell the whole story.

Or it shows you that perception/reputation aren't always as accurate as you think.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Or it shows you that perception/reputation aren't always as accurate as you think.

At 32, Goring was regarded as over-the-hill (his old junker of a helmet probably added to that perception) and he copped to having a bad season and feeling worn out. He played in the Canada Cup in September, after winning the Stanley Cup in April, sending him into training camp already exhausted and distracted. I don't know the exact number of games but he went something like 2 months without scoring. He also missed 13 games with what I assume were injuries which contributed to his lack of production. Spent time on the 4th line. It was definitely not his best showing.