Top-100 Hockey Players of All-Time - Round 2, Vote 9

[quoipourquoi]

Procedure

• You will be presented with 10+ players based on their ranking in the Round 1 aggregate list (10 players plus anyone with 99% of the voting points of the 10th ranked player)
• Players will be listed in alphabetical order to avoid creating bias
• You will submit ten names in a ranked order, #1 through #10, without ties via PM to quoipourquoi
• Results of this vote will be posted after each voting cycle, but the individual ballots themselves will remain secret until the completion of this project
• The top-4 players will be added to The List in Vote 1, while the top-5 players will be added to The List in subsequent voting cycles (#1-4 in Vote 1, #5-9 in Vote 2, #10-14 in Vote 3, #15-19 in Vote 4, #20-24 in Vote 5, #25-29 in Vote 6, #30-34 in Vote 7, #35-39 in Vote 8, #40-44 in Vote 9, #45-49 in Vote 10, #50-54 in Vote 11, #55-59 in Vote 12, #60-64 in Vote 13, #65-69 in Vote 14, #70-74 in Vote 15, #75-79 in Vote 16, #80-84 in Vote 17, #85-89 in Vote 18, #90-94 in Vote 19, #95-99 in Vote 20)
• A 100th player will be added to The List in Vote 21 from an expanded group of 15 candidates

Eligible Voters

• Ballots from voters who have submitted an approved Round 1 ranking of 120 players (which was used to shape the aggregate list) will have their votes tabulated in the History of Hockey ranking
• Art of Sedinery, Batis, BenchBrawl, blogofmike, bobholly39, Canadiens1958, ChiTownPhilly, DannyGallivan, Dennis Bonvie, Dr John Carlson, ehhedler, Hockey Outsider, Iceman, ImporterExporter, Johnny Engine, JoseTheodore2002, kruezer, Kyle McMahon, Mike Farkas, MXD, pappyline, quoipourquoi, ResilientBeast, Sentinel, seventieslord, steve141, ted1971, TheDevilMadeMe, TheGeneral, The Macho Man, tony d, VanIslander

Guidelines

• Respect each other. No horseplay or sophistry!
• Stay on topic and don't get caught up in talking about non-eligible players
• Participate, but retain an open mind throughout the discussion
• Do not speculate who cast any particular ballot. Do not make judgments about the mindset of whoever cast that particular ballot. All individual ballots will be revealed at the end of the project.

House Rules

• Any attempts to derail a discussion thread with disrespect to old-time hockey will be met with frontier justice
• We encourage interpositional discussion (forward vs. defenseman vs. goaltender) as opposed to the safer and somewhat redundant intrapositional debates. Overemphasizing a tired single-position argument like, I don’t know, Harvey/Lidstrom, will only be briefly tolerated before one is asked to move on to a less tedious comparison.
  
• Take a drink when someone mentions the number of hockey registrations in a given era
• Finish your drink when someone mentions that goaltenders cannot be compared to skaters

The actual voting period will open up on Friday, January 4th at midnight and continue through Sunday, January 13th at 8:59pm. Eastern time zone. I will release the results of the vote on Monday, January 14th.


Vote 9 Candidates

• Brad Park
• Charlie Conacher
• Chris Chelios
• Frank Boucher
• Henri Richard
• Ken Dryden
• King Clancy
• Paul Coffey
• Pierre Pilote
• Syl Apps
• Valeri Kharlamov
• Vladislav Tretiak

Click to read more...

 

[Michael Farkas]

I like the new recruits a lot...maybe my favorite new group, top to bottom, that we have gotten yet...

 

[VanIslander]

Geoffrion, Forsberg, Pilote... *sigh* ... patience.

Was looking forward to a Bathgate vs. Conacher discussion a few rounds from now.

King Clancy vs. Chris Chelios is prime time! Will be able to get into that.

 

[VMBM]

No Firsov, too bad.

Good to see Kharlamov, though. Not a long prime, but I think that at his peak he was so good that he deserves to be here already (certainly has a case over a Richard or a Chelios). A sort of Russian Lafleur, though not as dominant statistically vis-à-vis his teammates. And Tretiak vs Dryden should be interesting.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Some preliminary thoughts:

Glad to finally expand the list of candidates beyond 10 or 11. Even if it's only for just one round.

Glad to see we have a chance to vote Kharlamov over his contemporary Brad Park. Nothing against Park, but those two guys played at basically the same time, and it would seem weird to me not to have Kharlamov ahead.

Chris Chelios has to go this round - with Robinson gone, Chris really stands out among remaining defensemen.

This round starts with Kharlamov and Chelios as my top 2, in either order.

King Clancy has a great case for next best defenseman after Chelios. Such a fantastic two-way player, and real difference-maker in terms of his team's record.

It'll be a tough sell for me to vote for Tretiak before Firsov becomes available.

While Pilote was a good defensive player at even strength, by all accounts, we should probably take into account that his penalty killing credentials are really no better than Paul Coffey's.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Very satisfied with the new group.Henri Richard, Frank Boucher and Syl Apps all have a case against Steve Yzerman.

I will re-post the relevant part of the Ottawa Dynasty posts for King Clancy, who was certainly playing MVP or Smythe level in 1923 and 1927.Unfortunately I don't have anything to offer for his later career in Toronto, which is a good chunk of his playoff career.Maybe someone else can post about it?

 

[BenchBrawl]

THE OTTAWA DYNASTY (Part II - 1922 & 1923)

Frank Nighbor's Playoff Legacy - The Dynasty Years Part II

1922 Playoffs

OTTAWA SENATORS VS. TORONTO ST. PATS

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal & The Ottawa Citizen - Mar 13, 1922 (4-5 Loss)

@ Toronto

Lineups

OTTAWA-----TEAM-----TORONTO
Benedict-----G-----Roach
Gerard-----D-----Stuart
Boucher-----D-----Cameron
Nighbor-----C-----Co.Denneny
Broadbent-----W-----Randall
Cy Denneny-----W-----Noble

Clancy-----sub-----Dye
F.Boucher-----sub-----Andrews
Bell
Bruce

The Ottawa Journal

OTTAWAS ALL PLAYED WELL

SENATORS' GREAT PLAY

It was in the final session that Ottawa showed the class that should yet win out on the round for them.Penalty after penalty was meted out to Senators for seemingly trivial offences.First Gerard went off then Nighbor and finally Broadbent was chased for a cross check of Noble.With the score tied, four to four, and Toronto six men to three it looked like a parade.

When Frank Nighbor gets three penalties in one game, more than he sometimes gets in a season, either the Flying Dutchman was bloodthirsty or the referee too judicial.

The defence of Boucher and Gerard was magnificient.Nighbor at centre was wonderful and Punch rode into Noble with everything in his kit bag.Denneny pranced up and down left wing giving Dye a bitter battle all the way.Frank Clancy was worked twice and gave a great display of speed but had little luck with his shooting.

Ottawa Citizen

Benedict was unsteady in the early part of the game, but he had hard luck.Toward the finish ''Benny'' saved the Ottawas time after time.Some of his stops were marvelous.Boucher and Gerard were strong both defensively and offensively, while Cy Denneny and Broadbent played aggressive games on the wings.Denneny scored two beautiful goals and Broadbent had another merry dual with Noble, in which the honors were even.Ottawa called on Clancy to relieve Denneny in the first and second periods and in the third, he finished out on the defence in George Boucher's place.Clancy showed great speed and nearly tied up the game after a sensational rush in the last minute of play.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Tor) Randall
(Tor) Stuart
(Ott) Nighbor
(Ott) Cy Denneny
(Ott) Cy Denneny
2nd Period
(Tor) Dye
(Ott) Nighbor
(Tor) Dye
3rd Period
(Tor) Corbett Denneny

Game 2: The Ottawa Journal & The Ottawa Citizen, Mar 14, 1922 (0-0)

@ Ottawa

Lineups

OTTAWA-----TEAM-----TORONTO
Benedict-----G-----Roach
Gerard-----D-----Stuart
Boucher-----D-----Cameron
Nighbor-----C-----Co.Denneny
Broadbent-----W-----Dye
Cy Denneny-----W-----Noble

Clancy-----sub-----Randall
F.Boucher-----sub-----Andrews
Bell-----sub-----Smylie
Bruce-----sub-----Stackhouse

Ottawa Journal

OTTAWA LOSE HOLD ON STANLEY CUP

Conditions were terrible, and the paralyzing pace of the soft ice played havoc with the players.As a hockey game it was the worst spectacle that has been seen here in years.Puck carrying was impossible.

ALL TRIED HARD

Benedict in goal was in great form.Twice he saved the day when he raced out and spilled Dye, while the latter was striding in ready to heave a bullet-like shot cornerwards.

G.Boucher at point with his bobbing stick working fancy patterns with the puck tried all he knew.Several times over anxiety and the tripping of Cameron and Stuart beat him out of chances for goals.He used his body with telling effect.Gerard skated like a demon, hurdled and stickhandled his way through time after time only to get his stick or skates clogged in a bank of flush.

Nighbor didn't like the going and wasn't as effective as usual.Nighbor tried every minute of the way but the conditions were against him.Broadbent covered Noble to perfection.They fought, hooked and punched each other all night, and there was no kick coming on the work of "Punch".

Cy Denneny worked his head off.Cy missed many hard passes, but galloped back and forth, shooting with all the steam he could muster behind his shots, but Roach was not to be denied.Clancy worked like a trojan, but it wasn't his ice, and Frank Boucher was covered closely by Randall and Co. Denneny.

Frank Clancy and Frank Boucher worked lik Trojans.Geo. Boucher played a whale of a game, and his accurate shooting was deserving of better luck.

Frank Nighbor could never measure up to his real name.Nighbor was a sick man during the game.

Nighbor was at his best saturday and at his worst last night.He couldn't get going at all and Ottawas without his poke check to help them had to work a double shift.

"That boy Clancy is a wonder", said Charlie Querrie as Morvich shook Roach from stem to stern.

Eddie Gerard stroked his crew in spendid style and the two boats were only noses apart at the finish.

Ottawa Citizen

Every man on the ice from Benedict out played the game of his life, and there was not a weak spot in the lineup.It was unfortunate for the Senators that Nighbor was injured by a bad fall early in the second period, but Frank Clancy, who replaced the peerless center ice player, was also brilliant and was not overshadowed by any player on either team.

As already stated, Benedict had nothing like as many shots to handle as Roach, but the long fellow was never in better form.He was cool as the proverbial cucumber all through and had no difficulty in handling the shots from St. Pats's sharpshooters.Georges Boucher never played harder and the same may be said of Captain Eddie Gerard.The defence of this pair was perfect and the occasions were rare indeed when any of the St. Pats players got past them.It was not Nighbor's kind of ice, but with(?) the Pembroke boy was really brilliant while he was on the ice.He played under a heavy handicap, as he has been quite ill for some time, but his intercepting around center ice was much in evidence.Cy Denneny and Broadbent were also good.They kept up a ceaseless attack, although "Punch" received a rough ride from Noble, but it was even-stephen between the pair.Frank Boucher and King Clancy were the only Senator subsused and there was really no choice between either of them and any of the other players.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
No score
3rd Period
No score

OTTAWA IS ELIMINATED

*

*

*

1923 Playoffs

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS

Game 1: The Ottawa Journal, Mar 8, 1923 (2-0 win)

@ Montreal

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Benedict-----Goalie-----Vezina
Gerard-----Defence-----S.Cleghorn
Boucher-----Defence-----Couture
Nighbor-----Centre-----O.Cleghorn
Broadbent-----RW-----W.Boucher
Denneny-----LW-----Joliat

Darragh-----sub-----Berlinguette
Hitchman-----sub-----Malone
Helman-----sub-----Pitre
Clancy-----sub-----Bell

The Ottawa Journal

Ottawa took a firm hold on the N.H.L. title here tonight, winning by 2-0 in a game that lacked high class thrills, but which was one of the dirtiest in the annals of Canadian sport.Canadiens were forced to play a man short most of the game owing to the dirty tactics pursued by Couture and Sprague Cleghorn.

Jack Darragh was a hero alongside Cy Denneny in the game, which was nothing but a superb defensive display by the Senators.

Benedict for Ottawa played a remarkable game.Boucher was prominent on the defence, and Clancy, Gerard and Hitchman did telling work.Gerard used a hook check and broke up innumerable rushes.Nighbor was a wizard at centre ice, flying up and down like a phantom, and Denneny was always in the thick of the fray.Darragh and Broadbent played great hockey.

(Denneny was cowardly slugged in the back of the head by Couture, collapsed in the dressing room, S.Cleghorn cross-checked Hitchman and injured him, crowd threw stuff at ice and referee was assaulted, gendarmerie intervened... so on)

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
(Ott) Denneny
3rd Period
(Ott) Darragh

Game 2: The Montreal Gazette, The Ottawa Journal & The Ottawa Citizen, Mar 10, 1923 (1-2 Loss but wins the series from goals total)

@ Ottawa

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Benedict-----Goalie-----Vezina
Gerard-----Defence-----Pitre
Boucher-----Defence-----O.Cleghorn
Nighbor-----Centre-----Malone
Broadbent-----RW-----W.Boucher
Darragh-----LW-----Joliat

Denneny-----sub-----Berlinguette
Helman-----sub-----Bell
Clancy-----sub-----

Montreal Gazette (by a staff reporter)

Frank Nighbor was the mainstray of the team, his poke check being in evidence so regularly that Canadiens had great difficulty in getting past centre ice.He led the majority of attacks on Vezina, but for the most part received poor support from his wings.The Senators' defence was frequently drawn out and Joliat and Billy Boucher when they could get by Nighbor, rushed in on Benedict with terrific drives.

Ottawa Journal

...And it was Cy Denneny who won the game (series was about the most goals), after taking a pass from Nighbor in a scramble, with a blazing shot that caromed into the net.

For the winners, the work of Denneny stood out.He didn't feel good enough to take part in the preliminary practice (injured form last game), and Ottawas were confident that they didn't think they would have to call on him.

Nighbor gave a great defensive display, and his coming back and hook-cheking spoiled many a well intended Canadien attack.Darragh and Broadbent, whether over-anxious or nervous, didn't seem to have their usual success with the torpedo like Canadien wings.

Clancy didn't play much because of a broken skate, and Hitchman was only used for a few minutes.Gerard and Boucher were not as effective on rushing as usual, but when the pinch came their defence play stood out.George missed a lot of chances, and seemed to be cautious about using his body, knowing that in such a close game a penalty might prove fatal.They were not brilliant, but they were steady.Benedict in goal missed two, but he practically had to take them from right in front.He saved some that had a goal label attached.

Taken all around, Ottawas have played a lot better hockey this year, but their victory on the round was a welcome one.

Ottawa Citizen

Captain Eddie Gerard played his usual dashing game, and was very effective, and Nighbor gave his regular display of blocking at center ice, and the others have all played much better games this season, both at home and abroad.They were overconfident, that's the answer.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(MTL) Joliat
(MTL) W.Boucher
2nd Period
No score
3rd Period
(Ott) Denneny

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. VANCOUVER MAROONS

Game 1: Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver Sun & Ottawa Journal Mar 17, 1923 (1-0 win)

@ Vancouver

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Vancouver
Benedict-----Goalie-----Lehman
Gerard-----Defence-----Cook
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Duncan
Nighbor-----Centre-----F.Boucher
Broadbent-----W-----Skinner
Denneny-----W-----Mackay

Helman-----sub-----Harris/Parkes
Clancy-----sub-----Cotch/Co. Denneny

Vancouver Daily World

GEORGES BOUCHER BEST MAN ON ICE

"Punch" Broadbent, the sharpshooting right winger of the N.H.L. bosses, stowed the argument away with about five minutes to go in the last chapter.The pudgy hero had been flirting with Hughie Lehman all night and his goal was fully deserved.

Cy Denneny, who was hurt in an N.H.L. game, played brilliantly for the visitors.

George Boucher, left defence for the visitors, was the best man on the ice - probably the finest hockey player the N.H.L. can boast of.He gave the local defence men more bother than any other player.His stickhandling and skating was the big feature of the game, and time and again he got a big hand from Maroon and Ottawa supporters alike.Gerard played a strong defensive game, using his body effectively and keeping the Maroons weil out most of the time.On the attack he did not scintillate, probably because Boucher was doing the bulk of the clearing.

Broadbent played a stellar game on the wing, every one of his shots having the old label attached.Cy Denneny was in a score of fine plays, and probably was the pick of the forward line.Nighbor, at centre, played nearly all the game and turned in a passable performance, his hook checking being a help to the defence.Clancy was the pick of the subs, with Hitchman only on a couple of times.

Benedict, by reason of the fact that he had forty-three hard shots to stop as against Lehman's thirty, stood out prominently between the posts.He got in the way of everything the home folks served up, some of that he saw and others that he had a prayer on.He turned in an unbeatable game.Lehman was on all evening, excelling Benedict in clearing to his teammates.

Vancouver Sun

BENEDICT INVINCIBLE

The Ottawa outer defence proved easier to penetrate, frequently being beaten by Duncan and Mackay, but behind them Benedict was invincible.

But while Gerard and George Boucher were not so effective defensively as Cook and Duncan, they were whizz-bangs of the attack, especially Boucher.The brunette boy once more emphasized his title as the niftiest stickhandler in captivity, and he roamed through the opposition with ridiculous ease -- until he reached Cook and Duncan.His shooting was also a thing to rise up and shout about, which the fans generously did.

In fact, it was veterans' night all around.Cy Denneny, the alleged cripple, have an exhibition at left wing for Ottawa that drew cheer after cheer from the benches.Broadbent, on the opposite wing, was pretty nearly as good.Nighbor, at centre, was good when he exorted himself, but he spent a lot of time loafing around centre ice.

Ottawa Journal (by Canadian Press)

BROADBENT AND BENEDICT DIVIDE HONORS

Although all the Ottawas players appeared to be in good form, there is no doubt that the major honors for their victory should go to Benedict.The rangy Ottawa goalie stopped nearly twice as many shots as Hughie Lehman.He did it with an ease and grace which seemed the height of goalkeeping perfection.

(Hitchman's) work on the ice was not particularly effective.

Cy Denneny [...], went practically the whole distance.He was the outstanding star on the forward line.

The Vancouver goal tender, Lehman, was good, but Benedict was phenomenal.Nighbor's rushes, while not as fast as in former years, were just as tricky, and his stickhandling as deceptive as in the old daus of his appearences on the coast.Broadbent played a strong game, and backchecked well.

Frank and Georges Boucher, for the Maroons and Senators respectively, were regulars, and were given plenty of opportunity to test each other's ability.George was trickier, perhaps, but Frank showed the greater speed, and worried brother George and his fellows all evening with his hook check.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
No score
3rd Period
(Ott) Broadbent

Game 2: Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver Sun & The Ottawa Journal, Mar 20, 1923 (1-4 Loss)

@ Vancouver

Lineups (positions not given)

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Vancouver
Benedict-----Goalie-----Lehman
Gerard-----Defence-----Cook
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Duncan
Nighbor-----Centre-----F.Boucher
Broadbent-----W-----Harris
Denneny-----W-----Mackay

Hitchman-----sub-----Skinner/Parkes?
Clancy-----sub-----Co. Denneny
Helman-----sub-----Cotch

Vancouver Daily World

They (Ottawa) were simply outclassed from Benedict out.George Boucher, who was the only Barber Pole to beat Lehman, was about one-half the visiting team.In nearly every play and playing his position well, the Ottawa flash gave a remarkable exhibition, and time and again drew down tumultuous applause from the paid attendance.

Gerard played a hard game throughout, but was given a rough passage.He was checked off his feet a dozen times, but always came back for more.

Broadbent was the pick of the forwards again with Nighbor showing up better.Cy Denneny's game was below that of Friday night.

Benedict was also brilliant but his defence was unable to keep the Maroons from boring in on him.He had the misfortune to get hit in the face with the puck three minutes after the game started but this apparently did not affect his work.

Vancouver Sun

GEORGE BOUCHER PLEASES FANS

Of course there were two teams on the ice.The Senators were beaten and beaten decisively but they played hockey.George Boucher was the equal of any man on the ice with the exception of Duncan.He again pulled off a series of amazingly clever stick handling dashes, and more than once the fans screeched their approval of his efforts.Broadbent, Nighbor and Denneny turned in some beautiful hockey.Their combination at times was beautiful and their shooting was dead on the net, but they were held out too stubbornly by the Vancouver defense and checked up too closely by the forwards to get goals.

The Ottawa Journal by Basil O'Meara
(Sports Editor of The Journal)

Just when Ottawas were apparently hitting full stride in the second period Gerard had his leg cut by a skate, and had to retire for 15 minutes.Ottawas were weakened by his loss, and though Hitchman, who replaced him, did well, considerable of the Senatorial punch was taken out by the loss of the skipper.

For Ottawa George Boucher was perhaps the star.Boucher worked like a demon, and he continually tantalized the Vancouvers with a varied and assorted attack in which his super stick-work always stood out.Gerard was out of the play a lot in the second period, and was not as effective as on Friday.

Nighbor played a whirlwind game.He threw all he had into the contest, and his particular objective, Mackay, again went scoreless.

On the wings Ottawas were not quite so good.Punch Broadbent could never get his shot away, and was a trifle less effective in backchecking.Cy Denneny, the Baron of Bayswater, found Skinner a pretty hot armful.

King Clancy and Hitchman, the Ottawa subs, did well when on.The King showed as much speed as anybody on the ice, and before this series is over the classy son of Tom Clancy will make his mark.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Van) Duncan
(Van) F.Boucher (assisted by Skinner)
(Van) F.Boucher (assisted by Parkes)
2nd Period
(Van) Duncan
3rd Period
(Ott) G.Boucher

Game 3: Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Journal & Ottawa Citizen, Mar 24, 1923 (3-2 Win)

@ Vancouver

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Vancouver
Benedict-----Goalie-----Lehman
Gerard-----Defence-----Cook
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Duncan
Nighbor-----Centre-----F.Boucher
Broadbent-----W-----Skinner
Denneny-----W-----Mackay

Hitchman-----sub-----Harris
Clancy-----sub-----Parkes
X-----sub-----Cotch/Co.Denneny

Vancouver Sun

WELL-PLANNED STARTEGY

This strategy did not consist alone of lying back on the defense when they were a goal to the good.They planned their game to meet the circumstances.With only one good substitute in condition to play, they let the other fellow do most of the skating, confined the bulk of their efforts to defensive operations and now and again put a supreme effort into an attack on the Vancouver goal

BROADBENT AGAIN

Once again Broadbent's sharpshooting foiled Vancouver's hopes.The Senators' first goal was a characteristic bit of Broadbent's work.[...]This tied the count one-all, and shortly afterward Punch accepted a pass from Denneny and flipped it home in less time than it takes to bat an eyelash.Besides these efforts, Broadbent had his shots dead on the nets all evening and Lehman had to step pretty more than once from the rotund(?) sniper.

Cy Dennenny, on the opposite wing, aided and abetted Broadbent brilliantly throughout.Nighbor, while he spent most of his time on the defense, contributed some nifty poke-checking and hook-checking, and engineered a score of three-man dashes toward Lehman.He also contributed a snapshot goal when he picked up a loose puck outside the Vancouver defense and whipped it into the strings through a maze of legs and sticks that obscured Lehman's vision.His hurdling stuff failed to come off very successfully.

DEFENSE PAIR EFFECTIVE

George Boucher and Gerard were effective on the defense.Duncan being the only opponent to get through them with any frequency.The pair showed utterly no hesitation in throwing themselves in the way of opposing forwards as they dashed in exchanging dozens of spills with Duncan, Cook, Skinner and coming up for more Gerard got in wrong with the crowd for what they considered illegal tactics, but we have seen lots worse this season.Boucher, in addition to defensive work, was an important cog in the attack and his stickhandling was as amazing and as loudly applauded as in the previous games.Benedict in goal and Clancy as lone substitute both did their bit in good style

Vancouver Daily World

"Punch" Broadbent was their scoring star, getting two of the three goals.The stocky right winger was here, there and everywhere, and it was by fast following up that he secured the opportunities to test Lehman.Cy Denneny delivered his best game of the series and Nighbor was more effective in centre ice than Frank Boucher.One bright spot in the visiting lineup was young Clancy, who turned in a superb game.An unusual incident in this connection is that he subbed for every man on the regular lineup with the exception of Benedict.The youngster showed a world of speed, stickhandled magnificiently, and back-checked persistently.George Boucher was closely watched and was never allowed to get within shooting distance of Lehman.On the defence he was a bear, as was Gerard, who also delivered a strong game.

The Ottawa Journal by Basil O'Meara
(Sporting Editor of the Journal)

Geo.Boucher went after Frank Boucher as though he were a cruel landlord trying to foreclose the mortgage on the old homestead.Nighbor showed more aggressiveness than ever in his life, and he exchanged body-checks and shone to advantage.On the line Punch and Cy drilled steadily away at McKay and Skinner, and there flaming tungstens were mere sputtering candles most of the night.

For Senators, to pick out any star would be unfair.Benedict was cool, calm, and methodical in the nets, and at times positively sensational.He played back to the first game of the series.George Boucher was a stick-handling wizard, who made absolute fools out of the Vancouverites at times.George, however, missed some good chances, and was inclined to hold the disc a little too long.Gerard was the masterful tactician, not brilliant or showy, but very effective.Nighbor played one of the greatest games of his career.He went into the game smoking hot, and hurt by unjust criticism levelled at him by Vancouver fans, his long stick was stretched across the ice like a landing net, and he carried the puck with amazing skill.It was his bullet shooting that finally found the vulnerable spot in Lehman's armor.The play of Cy Denneny was not gaudy, but he did a lot of damage.Broadbent showed that he has recovered his old time shot.He has scored three of the five goals secured by Ottawa in the series.

Clancy played the game of his career.He was bumped around like a cork, but always came up smiling and hungry for more.In the last palpitating minute of the game he hooked the puck away from Cook and sailed goalward, only to have Lehman effect a marvelllous stop.

The aggressiveness of Nighbor was feature of the game, and he handed Duncan a bodycheck that sent the big fellow spinning.

Eddie Gerard was the old boy of old.The Duke of Rockliffe shattered the Maroons with his heavy body checks and did enormous damage on the attack.

Ottawa Citizen by Ed. Baker
(Citizen Sports Editor)

GERARD GREAT LEADER

Captain Eddie Gerard went into the game feeling unwell and a severe jolt from Duncan in the early stages of the play did not increase his effectiveness any, but the Senators Captain have a brilliant display even after being badly injured sticking ot his guns, under heaviest fire and directing his players most effectively.Good as Gerard's game was tonight it was not a particle better than anyone of the others.Geo. Boucher received round after round of applause from the big gathering on his serpentine rushes.At times his elusive stickhandling made the Vancouver players look silly and the brunette defenseman was all-powerful when it came to slowing down the opposing forwards or any other goal seekers.

NIGHBOR A STAR

Nighbor was at his best, turning in his greatest game of the season.The Pembroke peach hurdled and body-checked in surprising fashion and as in the opening game of the series, he overshadowed his opponent (Frank Boucher).

WINGS WORK WELL

Both Cy Denneny and Broadbent, the other two regulars, stood an unmerciful pounding throughout the match, but they gave back a receipt for every thump they took.The shooting of these two was deadly.At different times Lehman was staggered by shots from the stick of one or the other.Cy did not score a goal but was largely responsible for the second and last goals obtained by the Senators.

King (Clancy), it might be remarked, played the game of his life.Had he been less courageous the Senators would probably not have been in the lead as they are now in the present series, and Tommy Gorman attributes tonight's victory to this good son of a famous father.

Clancy was used for relief purposes, the youngster going alternately to relive Gerard, Boucher and Denneny.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Van) Skinner (assisted by Duncan)
(Ott) Broadbent
(Ott) Broadbent (assisted by Denneny)
2nd Period
(Van) Mackay
3rd Period
(Ott) Nighbor

Game 4: Vancouver Daily World, Vancouver Sun & Ottawa Citizen, Mar 27, 1923 (5-1 Win)

@ Vancouver

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Vancouver
Benedict-----Goalie-----Lehman
Gerard-----Defence-----Cook
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Duncan
Nighbor-----Centre-----F.Boucher
Broadbent-----W-----Skinner
Denneny-----W-----Mackay

Hitchman-----sub-----Harris
Clancy-----sub-----Parkes
X-----sub-----Cotch/Co.Denneny

Vancouver Daily World

Benedict was the big noise on the Easterners' lineup.He kicked' em out from all angles.Hard ones, easy ones, bounders and bullets all looked the same to him and he took the sand out of the locals by his great exhibition.George Boucher was again a shining beacon, skating like a streak of lightning and uncorking rushes which abounded with dazzling stick work.Gerard took care of everything which came down from left wing and notched the second goal by a spectacular rush.

The two wing men, Broadbent and Denneny, played in sparkling form and every one of their shots was driven home like bullets."King" Clancy was probably the second best man on the ice.Like George Boucher, he grabbed the spotlight frequently and had the crowd cheering hustily for him.Nighbor showed his best form to date, his defensive work being a valuable asset to his team.Hitchman was used little, but showed dashes of good hockey.

Vancouver Sun

A long shot by George Boucher from the left boards, away out by the blueline, that Lehman touched with his arm but failed to stop, put Ottawa one to the good seven minutes from the start.Ten minutes later Gerard got another when he poked the puck through after it had dropped right on the line from Eddie's shot.

GERARD DISLOCATES SHOULDER

The victory was a costly one for the winners.In the second period Captain Eddie Gerard, who had turned in the best game he had shown in the series, was badly injured in a tangle with Corbett Denneny, sustaining a double dislocation of the shoulder that will keep him out of hockey till next fall.

BENEDICT BRILLIANT

The biggest single contributor to the Ottawa's success was Clint Benedict.The Bytown goalie gave even a better exhibition than in the first game of the series.Had he been off form, Vancouver might easily have had a flock of goals.He was particularly brilliant in the final period, when he dived out three or four times when a Maroon forward had him alone to beat, and blocked the shot before it got started.

OTTAWA DEFENSE SHINES

Georges Boucher and Gerard were again baffling on the defense, and effective on the attack.Incidentally they scored the first two goals of the game.Boucher sent the fans crazy with his famous stickhandling, and Gerard was almost as good.After Gerard was rendered hors de hockey, young Clancy took over the job and showed class enough to catch a place on any man's hockey team.Nighbor, Broadbent and Denneny again combined smartly on the attack and their back-checking and general defensive work was better than in any of the previous game.

Ottawa Citizen - by Ed Baker
(The Citizen Sports Editor)

At one stage of the match in the third period there were only Geo. Boucher and Frank Nighbor in front of Clint Benedict, but this trio manipulated the play without a score against them until relief came from Broadbent, who had been penalized, and Denneny came in place of Hitchman, who had also been penalized.

***WHOLE SERIES COMMENTARY (OTTAWA CITIZEN MAR 27)***

EVERY MAN A STAR

It would hardly be fair to the Senators as a whole to mention anyone in particular.From Benedict out every player, and there were really only seven of them all told, gave his very best except in the second match of the series, when the whole team seemed more or less disorganized.

Benedict in the nets gave a wonderful exhibition of goal tending, although his test in the final game was the hardest of the entire series.

Captain Eddie Gerard and George Boucher on the defence were solid as the Rock of Gilbraltar.They used their heads when danger threatened and reserved their strenght for the opportune moments knowing full well they were woefully short on substitutes.

NIGHBOR USES BODY

Frank Nighbor at center played like a demon all through the series relying not alone on his famous poke-check but jumped into his opponents repeatedly with telling effect.

On the wings Cy Denneny and Harry Broadbent just would not be held in check, the latter's five goals during the series speaks for his effectiveness, while Denneny stands out as the possessor of hockey knowledge.Cy did not shine as a goal getter, but his persistency was equally effective, as his ceaseless plugging brought his much larger opponents down to his own size, and he was indirectly responsible for several of the Senators' tallies.

UPSET THE DOPE

Before the series opened hockey enthousiasts of the entire west and coast freely predicted that Vancouver would win with ease, taking into consideration naturally the weakened condition of the Senators, but overlooking apparently the bulldog tenacity of the National League champions.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Ott) G.Boucher
(Ott) Gerard
2nd Period
(Ott) Broadbent
3rd Period
(Ott) Clancy
(Van) Harris (assisted by Duncan)
(Ott) Broadbent

1923 Stanley Cup Finals

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. EDMONTON ESKIMOS

Game 1: Edmonton Journal, Vancouver Sun, Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Journal, Mar 30, 1923 (2-1 Win)

@ Vancouver

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Edmonton
Benedict-----Goalie-----Winkler
Clancy-----Defence-----Simpson
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Trapp
Nighbor-----Centre-----Keat
Broadbent-----W-----Gagne
Denneny-----W-----Arbour

Hitchman-----sub-----Campbell/Morrison/Sheppard

The Edmonton Journal (special to Edmonton Journal)

EDMONTON OUTPLAYS THEIR OPPONENTS FOR 50 MINUTES AND YET EASTERNERS WON

That long shot of Hitchman's which beat us was distinctly flukey.But it came to Hal through a maze of waving legs, arms and sticks, and he cannot be blamed for losing it.

Comparing the two teams it would be fair to say that Edmonton have in Gagne, Arbour, Trapp and Simpson, four men who can skate half as fast again as any man on the Senators' line but Clancy.

On the other hand it is doubtful if the Eskimos have the collection of brainy strategists at all comparable to Ottawa.They are too foxy for this day and age.Their generalship is wonderful.Frank Nighbor is the master strategist.He knows every move in hockey and when he seems to be loafing he is merely gathering his forces for another raid.

[...]

Frank Patrick believes that Ottawa will win the series.He figures Simpson went better last night than he ever saw him go before and he perfers Nighbor to Keats as a centre man.

GORDON KEATS: "Tough luck! That's the answer.We're a better team.I am sure.Didn't we outplay them? I'll say we did.You can't beat a hockey team that's just about as good as we are when their goal keeper is surrounded by seventeen lucky little devils, and their defence is the whole team.We can outskate them and we can work in on their goal.They can't do that to us.All their shots came from our blue line and I have figured out a plan of attack which I think will send us into next week on even terms.Tell the Edmonton folks we're not beaten.Not by a darn sight."

JOE SIMPSON: "We had it on them like a tent.How we lost after all is still puzzling me.We were not over-confident and I think the game just ended proves that what confidence we had in our ability to outplay them was justified.Ty Arbour was our individual star, Clancy was theirs, and otherwise we stacked up sixty-forty in our own favor.That sounds like bunk, perhaps; but it's my honest opinion.Home folks, we'll beat'em Saturday night as sure as the Lord made little apples.

[...]

SENATORS BEST IN OVERTIME

In the overtime period Ottawa was all over the Eskimos.Winkler dtopped five hard drives in quick succession before Cy Denneny beat him.Benedict stopped only a weak drive from Bob Trapp.

[...]

The checking was hard but clean.Georges Boucher played under a severe handicap.His ankle has been bad since Monday's game and his rushes were far below par although next to Clancy he was probably the star of the match for Ottawa.

Vancouver Sun (by Bill Steedman)

With only one substitute and a battered one at that, and with two of their regulars limping from injuries through most of the journey, the easterners played defensive hockey most of the time, husbanding their energies for use when breaks came their way.

NIGHBOR WINS DUEL

Speculation as to the relative merits of Keats and Nighbor as claimants to the title of centre-ice emperor was definitely settled, as far as this writer, at least, is concerned, in favor of the Ottawa performer.Keats skated a lot more than Nighbor, and did some fancy stick-handling, but the latter made every stroke of his blades and every motion of his stick count.Known as the greatest defensive forward in the game, he was the savior of the Ottawa citadel times innumerable, when he poked, batted or kicked the robber away from danger in front of the nets.His hook-check was the breaking-point of countless Edmonton rushes, and also nipped the Edmonton combination in the bud with heart-breaking regularity.He was also more finished in his organization of the Ottawa attack when it got under way.

The player who caught the eyes of the fans more than any other on the ice was Joe Simpson, Edmonton's clever defence star.Joe was taking nobody's dust.At body-checking he measured up just as high as Boucher and Clancy.

BENEDICT AGAIN EXCELS

For Ottawa, Benedict was more the white-haired boy in goal, and came through with another exhibition that stamped him as the equal of anything ever seen in these parts.Boucher, after taking a crack on the foot in the first session that swelled up his trilby like a pumpkin, showed great gameness, continuing for the full route and maintaining the reputation he made against Vancouver.With Clancy instead of Gerard beside him, he stayed more on the defensive than usual, but when he did go down he was usually good for a hot shot dead on the nets.Clancy, subbing for Gerard, did most of the rushing, and once more displayed his right to be classed as a regular.Broadbent worked hard and back-checked effectively, but his shooting lacked a little bit of the precision that has recently marked it.Hitchman showed himself a capable defensive player, using his big frame effectively.On the attack he looked clumsy, but he was fortunate enough to score the tieing goal.

But honors on the attacking side of Ottawa's game go to Denneny.Cy carried the attack all alone for the greater part of the game, and his shooting was marvellously accurate.From the boards or from the middle of the ice his shots rattled on Winkler's pads like hail on a tin roof, and it was coming to him that he should have the honor of finding the hemp(?) with the shot that broke up the argument.

Eddie Gerard, despite his dislocated shoulder, appeared in uniform, but presumably his presence was meant for moral effect, as he did not break into the game.

Ottawa Citizen by Eddie Baker
(Citizen Sports Editor)

It was quite apparent that had Eddie Gerard been in condition to play Ottawas would have little difficulty in beating the Edmonton team.

In the final period George Boucher's foot pained him fearfully and it was only with the greatest difficulty that he could skate.

Ottawa Journal

The game had only been under way ten minutes when George Boucher was corked and he limped badly through the rest of the period.A skate ripped through his boot, and he was cut almost to the bone.Boucher held on grimly, contending himself with defensive play, but finally he forgot hurt and all after Hitchman scored, and he took chances on permanent injuries by his work.

Ottawa played cautiously during the first two periods.They had to husband their ressources for the final spurt, and they set out systematically to check the western whirlwinds into submission.The incessant pouding along the rail of Broadbent and Denneny, and the calculated playing of Nighbor, which, while not flashy, was very effective, helped Ottawas to take down the verdict.

Art Gagne was rendered ineffective by the playing of Denneny; Broadbent kept after Ty Arbour, who really had a great game, and Nighbor made Keats and Simpson his study.Keats never was given such a mauling, and he was frequently forced off for relief.

Frank Clancy turned in his usual stellar game on the defence, when he subbed for Eddie Gerard.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
(EDM) Morrison (assisted by Simpson)
3rd Period
(Ott) Hitchman (unassisted)
OT Period
(Ott) Denneny (unassisted)

Game 2: Vancouver Daily World, Ottawa Citizen, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Journal & Vancouver Sun, Apr 2, 1923 (1-0 Win)

@ Vancouver

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Edmonton
Benedict-----Goalie-----Winkler
Gerard-----Defence-----Simpson
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Trapp
Nighbor-----Centre-----Keat
Broadbent-----W-----Gagne
Denneny-----W-----Arbour

Hitchman/Clancy/Helman-----sub-----Campbell/Morrison/Bostrum

Vancouver Daily World

GERARD BACK AGAIN

Eddie Gerard, whose dislocated shoulder must have become "located" again very suddenly, appear on the ice and played practically the entire game.He took all kinds of chances and performed in a stellar manner.George Boucher's ankle was bothering him and he was not called upon to play.Helman, the diminutive substitute who was out of the game after the first encounter with the Maroons, was rushed into the fray in the third period, getting his first taste of the world's series hockey.He was not on long enough to show much.Young Clancy was again the best man the Senators had, although Nighbor had a good night, smothering Keats effectively.The latter, however, was considerably more troublesome than in the first game.

Ottawa Citizen

KING CLANCY SETS UNIQUE RECORD OF PLAYING EVERY POSITION ON TEAM, TAKING BENEDICT'S JOB WHEN GOALER IS RULED OFF

FRANK NIGHBOR AGAIN TURNS IN BRILLIANT GAME AT CENTER

EVERY MAN A STAR

There were no stars on the Ottawa team.As already stated, Benedict was at his best, and that tells the story as far as he is concerned.Eddie Gerard did not attempt to do much beyond coaching his players, but at that he could not refrain from making a few dashes into enemy territory.He received a bad fall in the second period, and had to be helped off the ice but pluckily returned to the fray.

Frank Clancy completely won the hearts of the Senators supporters and the plaudits of the seven thon sand spectators, by his great exhibition.The youngster took up the burden laid down by George Boucher, one of the game's greatest players, and came through with flying colors, turning in a game that any seasoned veteran would envy.Peter Green's Man O'War blocked, back-checked and rushed like a demon carrying his speed much further than Joe Simpson, the Edmonton star.

Around center ice, Frank Nighbor, for the second time in as many games, made Duke Keats look like a cheap selling player in a stake race.Pembroke's favorite citizen gave an exhibition of finished hockey.He was called upon to do more than his usual shave of defensive work, but still found time to give the Esks' defence some anxious moments, and also rattled the odd shot around Winkler.

Denneny and Broadbent, never spectacular, were always effective.They played their position to perfection, and gradually wore down their opponents.As in the case of Nighbor, both Cy and "Punch" were called upon to give more attention to the Senators' defence than usual.This they did well and their persistent back-checking had its effect.

Hitchman also did well but a bad tumble slowed him up perceptibly.At that the big fellow bothered the opposition not a little.Helman was on for a short time only.

TRIBUTE FROM PATRICK (entire series)

President Patrick and all the Vancouver team remaining here also congratulated the winners, and secretary Gorman had to work overtime shaking hands with a throng eager to extend congratulations.

"They're a great team and they deserve the honors." said President Frank Patrick, to the Ottawa Citizen Sports Editors, after tonight's final in the Stanley Cup series."Ottawa really has a (inedible) of super-stars.Your defensive system cannot be beaten.Nighbor showed himself to be the most valuable man in hockey, while Benedict excelled both Lehman and Winkler.Until they were injured Gerard and Boucher looked immense.Denneny was one of your strongest men, and Broadbent played the finest hockey of his career.Hitchman is a splendid prospect.The hero of the series, to my mind, was young King Clancy.Tommy Gorman turned the tide in Ottawa's favor in the third game against Vancouver when he threw Clancy in and out of the play ten or fifteen times.He transformed Clancy from a mediocre substitute into another superstar; and thus saved Ottawa.Gorman deserves great credit.

TOMMY GORMAN COMMENTARY

George Boucher shot cocaine into his injured foot at seven o'clock, laced some airtight bandages around it, gritted his teeth, and declared that he was going to play.When Boucher got out on the ice he found that he could not move his foot, let alone go through a struggle for the hockey championship, so he skated over to our bench and actually groaned as he tumbled in beside us.

Eddie Gerard, despite a dislocated shoulder, laced on his elastic bandages and elected to take place of the crippled Boucher.

[...]

Eddie Gerard actually played for the greater part of the game, notwithstanding his injuries.Twice he went down with a crash and three times with the shoulder, and after each occasion he skated over to the bench, groaning under the pain, but refusing to retire."Pull that shoulder back", he would shout to Trainer Dolan."I'm getting back into that game if it kills me."

And Gerard went back.In the last period with Hitchman showing singals of distress, Gerard fought his way out of our arms and back onto the ice to lead his team.It was a physical torture to skate and he could not shoot or handle the stick, yet he blocked with all his old time effectiveness, and steadied his team at critical moments.The Ottawa captain gave the greatest exhibition of pluck and endurance ever seen in Vancouver.

George Boucher tried to get into the game in the closing stages, but his injured ankle refused to support him and he slid helplessly back into the arms of Sammy Webber with hot tears streaming down his face.

[...]

The only solid (healthy) men in the Ottawa squad were Benedict, Clancy, Nighbor and Broadbent.

[...]

Benedict gave a magnificient exhibition in the nets, Denneny and Broadbent checked their men to a standstill, combined for winning goal, and they played such a grea tdefensive game that the Eskimos were held scoreless.

Nighbor again eclipsed the great "Duke" Keats.He went the full sixty minutes, playing Keats in suc ha way that on three occasions the Edmonton captain skated over to the side and begged for relief."That man is not human, that's all," Keats shouted to Manager McKenzie, "for God's sake stop Nighbor, I can't"Dutch refused to be stopped.

And "King" Clancy, the outstanding peer of the World's series of 1923, lived up to the remarkable reputation he had made in the previous games.

The Edmonton Journal by Andy Lytle
(Sporting Editor Vancouver Province)

When Ottawa came west without Jack Darragh, their first string utility, they brought Cy Denneny with a hole in the back of his head and a swollen arm.Then Smoky Harris' skate cut a hole in the back of his leg.Hitchman, potential hockey star and policeman in the capitol city, was nursing a sore head.Benedict was out twice for the count in the first two games from flying pucks; Eddie Gerard tore his shoulder ligaments, and finally George Boucher, their star player, injured his foot so badly that he did not figure at all in the final game with the Eskimos.

Edmonton Eskimos Manager Kenny McKenzie: "We lost through sheer hard luck.If I really believed in the black arts I would honestly think that someone had put the Indian sign on us.We quite well deserved to win both games.Reports will say that it was brains against speed, but that is pure bunk.We sure were outlucked, but the boys did play wonderful hockey.I never was so proud of the Eskimos as in this series, especially the last game, which was a grand exhibition of a great offensive team playing a great defensive team.I really think that they are the two best teams in the world today, and the people of Vancouver sure think the world of our team.Simpson was really wonderful Saturday night.Armour and Morrison were the next best.Ottawa's goalkeeper (Benedict) was unbeatable and Nighbor is the greatest defensive player I ever saw."

The Ottawa Journal

WINNER BECAUSE NIGHBOR THERE: COACH PETE GREEN DISCUSSES FAMOUS DEFENSIVE TACTICS OF WORLD'S CHAMPIONS.

TELLS WHY OTHER TEAMS DON'T DUPLICATE SUCCESS.

Playing the odd man back on the defence, invariably it has been Frank Nighbor, the Pembroke star, has won for the Ottawa team the championship of the world.Other clubs have endeavored to copy the Ottawa system, but according to Pete Green, coach of the team for four years, the imitators failed simply because they could not bring out a man who was as skillful defensively as Nighbor.

"BARRING THE DOOR"

Mr. Green stated this morning that a defensive game like Ottawa has been playing would be an impossibility without Nighbor."He is the cog of the Ottawa machine" he said, "and no matter who leaves the defence, Frank can be counted upon to fill in the breach and check the attacks.They simply can't get through the defence when Nighbor is there.Other teams have tried to copy our "Kitty-bar-the-door-system", but none of them could trot out a player as good as the Pembroke boy.Therefore they failed."

SYSTEM OF DEFENCE

The Ottawa defensive system is no puzzle, Mr.Green stated.The usual practice has been to send down two forwards, the odd man playing back with the defence.This had been the rule for practically all games.The nthe opponents rush practically every man towards the Ottawa goal, then the champions would change their system and uncork a three-man rush.The champions have had to open up their play only on a few occasions, and the results have been satisfactory.Mr.Green said the Ottawas were not a high scoring team, but enough goals were scored to win when necessary.The players have used their heads and have waited patiently for the opening that would permit a successful thre-man rush.Generally the break came late in the game, and invariably Nighbor has been in the play that won the game.

"Nighbor is a quiet, unassuming player, but it is almost impossible ot get past him," Mr.Green stated."I have handled a lot of hockey teams but the 1923 team is the greatest hockey machine that has ever gone on ice."

ALL STARS (about whole series)

Benedict has lived up to expectation and in my opinion, Roach, Forbes and the others are not in it with him.Clancy is the oyung wonder in the game today.The work of Gerard, Boucher, Denneny and Broadbent has been spectacular.All the boys did themselves proud.The people of Ottawa can thank Tommy Gorman also for the great victories.He is a great general." - Green.

Vancouver Sun (Apr 1)

George Boucher was in uniform, but did not play.

From goal to center Ottawa shone with even distributed brilliance.On the Edmonton side Simpson was the star.

Vancouver Sun (Apr 2)

(Nighbor text unreadable, seems to say he dominated Keats, titled KEATS OVERSHADED)

Both Denneny and Broadbent played remarkable defensive hockey along with Nighbor, and between the two of them they did most of the attacking.

Gerard, despite the bad shoulder, proved practically impassable to the Eskimo forwards.He took his bumps uncomplainingly and although forced to retire and rest his injured joint at times, came back for more, holding his end as steadily as if he had been in the finest of shape.Clancy who took the other defence job in place of Boucher gave another nice exhibition.His trenuous body checking was a feature of the game, and his rushes, while they seldom carried him past Simpson and Trapp, were always good for a thrill.Hitchman looked clumsy on his rushes, but he used his long frame effectively on the defence and showed himself game to the core on a couple of explosions when he hurled himself full lenght on the ice to block a shot.

BENEDICT UNBEATEN

Behind all these was Benedict in goal.Benny was better than ever.He handled long shots gracefully and effectively, he outguessed the Eskimos on short ones, always seeming to anticipate where the shot was coming and either hopping in front of it or plunging out to smother it before it got started.He has his share of luck, but every good goalie always has.Once he put his team on a dangerous situation when he drew a penalty for chopping at Simpson's feet, btu Gerard, Nighbor, Broadbent and Denneny rose so brilliantly to the occasion that young Clancy, who went behind the gas-pipes, was not called on to stop a real shot while Benny was on the bench.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Ott) Broadbent (assisted by Nighbor)
2nd Period
No score
3rd Period
No score

OTTAWA WINS THE STANLEY CUP!

 

[BenchBrawl]

THE OTTAWA DYNASTY (Part III - 1924, 1925, 1926 & 1927)

Frank Nighbor's Playoff Legacy - The Dynasty Years Part III

1924 Playoffs

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS

Game 1: Montreal Gazette - Mar 10, 1924 (0-1 Loss)

@ Montreal

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Benedict-----Goalie-----Vezina
Hitchman-----Defence-----S.Cleghorn
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Coutu
Nighbor-----Centre-----Morenz
Broadbent-----RW-----W.Boucher
Denneny-----LW-----Joliat

Clancy-----sub-----O.Cleghorn
Darragh-----sub-----Bell
Finnegan-----sub-----R.Boucher
X-----sub-----Cameron/Mantha

(poor ice condition, slush)

Montreal Gazette

Ottawa was not the finished machine which usually gives such stellar battles against the Canadiens.Benedict was a veritable fort in the nets; George Boucher, while he had lapses, was fairly consistent and his stickhandling produced the customary breath-taking episodes.But Hitchman was off color alongside him.Frank Nighbor battled tenaciously, but Broadbent and Denneny were too closely marked to show their most effective form.

Indicative of the heavy checking was the fact that several times Sprague Cleghorn was spilled to the ice by George Boucher - and it takes a hefty bump to take the local defence man off his feet.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
(MTL) Howie Morenz
3rd Period
No score

Game 2: Ottawa Journal & Ottawa Citizen - Mar 12, 1924 (2-4 Loss)

@ Ottawa

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Benedict-----Goalie-----Vezina
Hitchman-----Defence-----S.Cleghorn
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Coutu
Nighbor-----Centre-----Morenz
Broadbent-----RW-----W.Boucher
Denneny-----LW-----Joliat

Clancy-----sub-----O.Cleghorn
Darragh-----sub-----Bell
Finnegan-----sub-----R.Boucher
Campbell-----sub-----Cameron/Mantha

Ottawa Journal

KISS THE STANLEY CUP GOOD-BYE FOR 1924

Ottawas went down fighting, but they were most of the time a badly disorganized team.Three of the goals that beat Benedict were scandalous counters.He was in his poorest form, and his clearing left a lot to be desired.His mates were nervous and jumpy, and only in flashes did Ottawas' system stand out.

[...]

The defence, with Hitchman wide open, and Benedict shaky, had to be manned on all points by George Boucher, who gave his best; but that couldn't stem the Dervish rushes of Joliat and Bill Boucher, coupled with the smashing individual attacks of Morenz.

Ottawas' attack did not co-ordinate.The same jinx that always follows presentations hovered around Frank Nighbor after he was presented the Har ttrophy.Nighbor couldn't get going.Morenz made him look very ordinary, and it was noticeable that the slim fellow gave the Canadien defence a wide berth, and his hook-check was locked up for the night.He only went in flashes, and then tried a lot of work of individual stuff.Broadbent and Denneny were given a lot of work in trying to hold the elusive and eel-like Joliat and B.Boucher.Time after time Ottawa players failed to get the pass to Denneny, but tried to storm through on their own.This was noticeable in the case of Hitchman.

Joliat outplayed Broadbent, Morenz outclassed Nighbor.

Ottawas threw Clancy into any breach that cracked wide open, and he played centre, the wings and defence with a daring and abandon that deserved goals, but the supporting cast could not measure up to him in speed.

GEORGE BOUCHER OUTSTANDING: George Boucher alone of Ottawas stood out, and his brave and Herculean efforts to pierce the Canadien defensive cordon sapped his strenght, and while he showed all his great stickwork , Canadiens took no chance with him up, and slowed him up with telling body checks.

Ottawas acknowledged defeat to a superior team.Had Benedict been in his usual form, and Nighbor played with his wonted skill, there might have been a different tale to tell.

George Boucher played a determined game and mixed it freely with Brother Billy.

Note on retiree Gerard: Gerard's generalship was sadly missed by Ottawa.[...] Only Boucher, Denneny and Clancy held their own.

Ottawa Citizen

In the writer's opinion, only Hitchman and George Boucher were up to form on the Ottawa team.Denneny and Broadbent did not seem to get going at their best, although Cy did account for the ex-champs' two goals.The left winger received a bad shaking up in the opening period when he fell heavily against the boards and that apparently slowed him down somewhat, but he kept trying.Benedict and Nighbor were both below their usual good form.Nighbor's poke-check was working well but the league's most useful player (was honored the Hart trophy before the match) appeared to lose his expected aggressiveness after the jab early in the opening period (clipped over the eye by Morenz).Along toward the end of the fracas Nighbor began to step in, but the day was lost at that time.

Manager Gorman used King Clancy frequently to relieve Denneny and Hitchman, and the youngster tried hard but his accustomed dash was lacking.Still the King played a much better than an ordinary game.Campbell and Finnegan were also in action in the final period but neither was able to make much headway.Finnegan appeared the better of the two as Campbell was frequently ahead of the play and consequently off-side.

Note on Morenz/Cleghorn: The star of the Canadien team and the best player on the ice was Howie Morenz.[...] Sprague Cleghorn played a masterful game (for the Canadiens).

(it appears Nighbor had a wrist injury for most of the end of the season)

SUMMARY

1st Period
(MTL) Morenz
(Ott) Denneny
2nd Period
(MTL) Morenz
(MTL) Joliat
(Ott) Denneny
(MTL) W.Boucher
3rd Period
No score

OTTAWA IS ELIMINATED


*

*

*

1925 Playoffs

Missed the playoffs


*

*

*

1926 Playoffs

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. MONTREAL MAROONS

Game 1: Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Journal Mar 26, 1926 (1-1 Tie)

@ Montreal

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Connell-----Goalie-----Benedict
Clancy-----Defence-----Noble
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Stewart
Nighbor-----Centre-----Phillips
H.Smith-----RW-----Broadbent
Denneny-----LW-----Siebert

Kilrea-----sub-----Dinsmore
Finnegan-----sub-----Carson
Gorman-----sub-----Holway
A.Smith-----sub-----Munro
Duggan-----sub-----Rothschild

Ottawa Citizen

(by Ed Baker, Sports Editor)

CLANCY RISES TO STARDOM WITH GOAL TRHAT SAVES GAME AT CLOSE OF HARD STRUGGLE

GEORGES BOUCHER AND FRANK NIGHBOR LEAD SENATORS IN BRILLIANT UPHILL BATTLE ON MONTREAL ICE.

In the first period Frank Nighbor, Ottawas' wonder center ice player, was badly injured, and it was not until the third period began that he fully recovered (received a puck).

ALL OTTAWAS GOOD

It would be difficult to pick out an Ottawa star on the Senators' team, for they all played excellent hockey except in the second period, when the line appeared somewhat demoralized, but once they all got in their stride they were able to a little more than hold their own.Alex Connell gave a good exhibition regardless of the long shot that beat him, and the defence of Clancy and Boucher could hardly be improved upon.Frank Nighbor, after recovering from his injury, was one of the outstanding players on the ice in the last period.Hooley Smith and Cy Denneny, on the wings, worked incessantly, each repeatedly laying in wicked shots at Benedict, shots which bothered the long fellow considerably.Alex Smith turned in a magnificient game while he was on the ice, and the big, rangy lad looks like one of the best prospects in hockey.

Ottawa Journal

(by "Bas" O'Meara)

For Ottawa, Clancy by virtue of his goal was the star.He played one of his greatest games and never stopped trying.Boucher worked like a demon but was a marked man and was apparently singled out for a lot of stray butt-ends, but his work was sound throughout.

Though Connell was beaten by a long shot which he didn't see, he played a three-star game and couldn't be beaten.Nighbor, in the third period, overshadowed both Stewart and Phillips, who appeared to be his masters in the initial sessions.Though badly hurt he never stopped trying.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
(Mtl) Broadbent
3rd Period
(Ott) Clancy

Game 2: Ottawa Journal - 29, 1926 (0-1 loss)

@ Ottawa

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Connell-----Goalie-----Benedict
Clancy-----Defence-----Noble
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Stewart
Nighbor-----Centre-----Phillips
H.Smith-----RW-----Broadbent
Denneny-----LW-----Siebert

Kilrea-----sub-----Dinsmore
Finnegan-----sub-----Carson
Gorman-----sub-----Holway
A.Smith-----sub-----Munro
Duggan-----sub-----Rothschild

(by "Bas O'Meara)

For Ottawas Clancy and Connell starred and in fact the whole defence shone with their hard and capable play.There was no doubt that Connell saved Ottawa, notably when Broadbent and Stewart were through twice.His was a great game, and no blame can be accorded him on missing Seibert's terrific shot.

Clancy was a brave figure all through the night.Backed by body checks, fatigued almost to the point of exhaustion by constant rushing, he wore himself down, and onlu his lion heart carried him through the final 10 minutes, and then it was only by a hair's breadth that he missed tying up the game.

Nighbor worked like a trojan, but he was given a rough passage, and Phillips once reefed him over the neck, and he was subjected to a gruelling barrage.Nighbor tried all he knew, and finally he started to retaliate in sheer desperation.He was watched like a hawk, and failed only because he never could get an opening for one of his flashy plays

Boucher was another who was hammered hard and often.His twining rushes were repelled inside the Maroon defence, and Noble tumbled him over his head several times."Buck" gave his best, and went down fighting to the last.A little luck in his shooting might well have turned the tide.

Along the wings it must be admitted that Ottawas were outplayed.In the first period Denneny was hit by a flying puck in the nose, and a cartilage was broken inside.He was forced to retire, and had to be patched up in the intermission.He was in pain all night, and his plight was accentuated by the pounding that Broadbent gave him along the boards.

On the other wing Hooley Smith played away below his usual game, and his gfour penalties had a disturbing influence on the team.Hooley is essentially a puck player, but Saturday he elected to use his body with the result that he was very ineffective.He tried hard and gave a game display, but just couldn't seem to do anything right.

Alex Smith on the defence gave a fine account of himself.He was right through onceb ut a little over anxiety in shooting probably lost a score.Smith has been a find and he worked splendidly.Kilrea and Finnigan did their utmost to turn victory Ottawa's way, but they were thwarted by the strong defence of Montreal.

Aftermath (series commentary)

The superhuman efforts of Frank Clancy to wrest victory from the brink of defeat wrung tributes of admiration from even the most rabid Maroon fans.Clancy was relentless in his attacks on the Montreal citadel.King had the heart of a lion, and is one of the finest adornments of the pro game.

Alec Connell came through the series in great style.Defeat certainly cannot be attributed to him.Alec was immense in the nets in both games.

Out in front of Connell, Captain George Boucher played as if his life depended on the outcome.George repeatedly carried the puck into Montreal territory, and was subjected to a battering that only a player of his grit and courage could have withstood.

Frank Nighbor did not take kindly to the close-checking game.Try as he would, Frank seldom succeeded in breaking away for a close-in shot.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
(MTL) Siebert
3rd Period
No score

OTTAWA IS ELIMINATED


*

*

*

1927 Playoffs

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. MONTREAL CANADIENS

Game 1: Ottawa Journal - Apr 4, 1927 (4-0 win)

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Connell-----Goalie-----Hainsworth
Clancy-----Defence-----Gardiner
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Mantha
Nighbor-----Centre-----Morenz
H.Smith-----RW-----Gagne
Denneny-----LW-----Joliat

Kilrea-----sub-----Cooper
Finnegan-----sub-----Lepine
Gorman-----sub-----Hart
A.Smith-----sub-----Larochelle
Adams-----sub-----Leduc
Halliday-----sub-----Palangio

Ottawa Journal

ALL WERE STARS

For Ottawas all shone radiantly.To pick out a standout performer of that clockwork combination might appear a trifle unfair.Without wishing to discriminate it must be said that Hooley Smith seemed to be the star of the Ottawas.

Smith has played some great games in his career and his exhibitions against Maroons in particular have been gems of hockey in the main - but he never excelled his exhibition against Canadiens.

He flew into action business bent from the start, and played flashing hockey all the way.He pinioned Joliat with his far reaching stick and his leaning body-checks took all the speedy movement out of the clever swiss.

At centre he made the great Morenz look just ordinary as did Nighbor.There is no discounting Morenz as a wonderful player.He is one of the ten greatest in the game and to outplay him a player has to be almost perfect.That was what high spirited Hooley did Saturday.

Following Hooley came Clancy whose speed was a tremendous factor in Ottawas' success.Clancy gets credit for two assists, as he helped in two Ottawa goals in the first period.

Nighbor played smart, heady hockey, and his goal was the crowning piece of the night.

Buck Boucher played a perfect game.When Ottawas went two men short he performed prodigies of stickhandling, and he rose to great defensive heights.In the third period he did a lot of useful rushing, and while a bit timid about his knee at the start looked like the skipper at his best at the finish.

Cy Denneny was right at the peak of his game, and his craft was handy in emergency.He whisked in the puck for the first goal in an efficient manner, and he had no difficulty handling Gagne.Kilrea, too, played a smart game.His speed was invaluable, and his goal, whether a fluke or not, was timely and invaluable.

Finnigan went well, and had hard luck on two efforts.He, too, had Joliat in a quandary most of the time.

Adams played a hard, useful game."Boots" Smith, the other distinguished Smith of the team, played an able relief role.Connell had an easy night of it but when danger threatened he broke the back of some well meant Canuck rushes.

GAME COMMENTS

Nighbor was perfect, he handled his position like a general, and sped round like a two-year-old.He wasn't even blowing hard at any stage of the game.

Hooley Smith played the game of his career.He toyed with Joliat, who was in bad temper most of the night.His bouts with Morenz gave him a distinct edge over that flashy player.

Boucher worked some flashy stickwork at times.He wisely contented himself with defensive play most of the time, and let Clancy do the rushing.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Ott) Denneny
(Ott) Kilrea
(Ott) H.Smith
2nd Period
(Ott) Nighbor
3rd Period
No score

Game 2: Ottawa Journal - Apr 5 (1-1 Tie)

@ Ottawa

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Montreal
Connell-----Goalie-----Hainsworth
Clancy-----Defence-----Gardiner
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Leduc
Nighbor-----Centre-----Morenz
H.Smith-----RW-----Gagne
Denneny-----LW-----Joliat

Kilrea-----sub-----Cooper
Finnegan-----sub-----Lepine
Gorman-----sub-----Hart
A.Smith-----sub-----Larochelle
Adams-----sub-----Mantha
Halliday-----sub-----Palangio

OTTAWAS WERE BETTER

Clancy led Ottawas in many individual rushes and his blocking was effective and his checking convincing.Nighbor gave Morenz a taste of his quality when he campted on his trail and wrapped his poke check around him and kept brushing away Canadien pucks from Ottawas' defensive section.Hooley Smith rampaged up and down his wing and at centre and again showed a smart hockey game.His poke check and his body checks were pronounced factors in Ottawas' favor.On the line, however, the work of Finnigan from a spectacular standpoint was outstanding, and Kilrea with his dazzling speed wasn't far behind.It was Finnigan who imparted a freshness and vigor into Ottawas' play.His bumping body checks were calculated to take a lot of steam out of his opponents - and they did.Finnigan hasn't played better all year, and his goal was a beauty.

Kilrea showed a lot of class, as much speed as Morenz, and he found the Canuck defence an easy task to penetrate.Boucher played a smart, cautious game.With men short he rose to the occasion and his stickhandling was a treat to watch."Boots" Smith again showed to advantage and his goalward rushes boded danger to Canuck hopes time after time.Adams played smart hockey while on.

GAME NOTES

Any argument as to who is the boss goalie of the league was settled last night.Connell was sensational and he made many saves during the last two periods that were miracles.Alex had one of the best nights of his career.

King Clancy was a brighter star for the Senators.The iron-jawed Celt was a tower of strenght on the defence, and his blazing shots had even the cool headed Hainsworth nervous.The King had hard luck and deserved a couple of scores.

Frankie Finnigan was back in form on the wing.Finnie deserved the tally he nailed and his nifty stickhandling made him a standout performer on the night's play.

Hooley Smith and Frank Nighbor were in a class by themselves.All night their sweeping sticks broke up well meant Canadien rushes and their smart dashes on the Canuck net wrung cheer after cheer from the huge throng.Hooley took a hard ride but came right back for more and didn't slow up at all.

Buck Boucher made the Flying Frenchmen look foolish with some plain and fancy stickhandling."Ole Buck" kept his head and played straight hockey.George took a lot of steam out of the Canuck forward with well directed body checks.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(MTL) Mantha
2nd Period
(Ott) Finnigan (assisted by Kilrea)
3rd Period
No score

1927 Stanley Cup Finals

OTTAWA SENATORS vs. BOSTON BRUINS

Game 1: The Boston Globe, Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Journal, Apr 8, 1927 (0-0 Tie)

@ Boston

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Boston
Connell-----Goalie-----Winkler
Clancy-----Defence-----Hitchman
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Shore
Nighbor-----Centre-----Fredrickson
H.Smith-----RW-----Oliver
Denneny-----LW-----Galbraith

Kilrea-----sub-----Cleghorn
Finnegan-----sub-----Coutu
Gorman-----sub-----Herberts
A.Smith-----sub-----Stuart
Adams-----sub-----Meeking
Halliday-----sub-----W.Boucher

Boston Globe

The Bruins outplayed the Senators, Harry Oliver, Eddie Shore and Hitchman being the men who stood out in the efforts of the Bruins to score.George Boucher and Connell easily excelled for the Senators.Hec Kilrea was even more dangerous than Hooley Smith or Frank Nighbor.The latter had little chance to feed his wings, but defensively he was a power.

Each team scored a goal, but the officials ruled both were illegal, which only forced the action to continue to the unsatisfactory ending (Denneny and Galbraith scored the illegal goals).

Connell, too, had many anxious moments, but being a clever guardian of the strings he saw to it that Harry Oliver who seemed to be the greatest Boston threat was stopped.The smart left wing was able at times to work through the Ottawa defense only to be stopped by the smart checking back of the Senators' forwards.

Ottawa Citizen

(by Fred Hoey)

SENATORS DISPLAY SUPERIOR HOCKEY

[...]

CLEANLY PLAYED GAME

The game was extremely mild for a championship event and this fact disappointed the Boston fans, who had been educated to rough and tough hockey by the Bruins.

Standing out in tonight's game for Ottawa were Hec Kilrea, George Boucher and King Clancy.Kilrea was like a streak, while the defence pair upset Boston's attack all night.

GAME REPORT

Bruins were credited with the best of the offensive play, but they found Alex Connell showing one of his really great games in the net.And Alex is very seldom off his game.

The Bruins showed a powerful defensive but Ottawas' brilliant defence was equal to the occasion."Buck" and "King" gave Alex (Connell) great protection in front of the cords.Alex Smith was also good on when Dave Gill threw him into the struggle.

Frankie Finnigan and Hec Kilrea, Ottawas' two young wing stars, were given plenty to do and they kept the Senator attack going at top speed.Kilrea was dashing around like Charlie Paddock.Finnigan tested Winkler with some wicked drives from the side and backchecked.

Ottawa Journal

GAME REPORT (special to the Journal)

Clancy took the house by storm with his sensational rushing.He and Shore were indefatigable in their rushing.Clancy howeever passed the puck in timely fashion.Shore didn't and had a disposition to go it alone.

Boucher kept to his knitting and was sound defensively.His experience was a big help.He is an old timer in these Stanley Cup events.

Al Smith and Adams worked hard for Ottawas when on.They used their weight and bodying ability to advantage.Adams saved a goal when he uplifted Herberts when the latter was set to shoot.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
No score
3rd Period
No score

Game 2: The Boston Globe, Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Journal - Apr 11, 1927 (3-1 Win)

@ Boston

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Boston
Connell-----Goalie-----Winkler
Clancy-----Defence-----Hitchman
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Shore
Nighbor-----Centre-----Fredrickson
H.Smith-----RW-----Oliver
Denneny-----LW-----Galbraith

Kilrea-----sub-----Cleghorn
Finnegan-----sub-----Coutu
Gorman-----sub-----Herberts
A.Smith-----sub-----Stuart
Adams-----sub-----Meeking
Halliday-----sub-----W.Boucher

Boston Globe

As has been said often, a player cannot score goals when he is in "jail", as was Eddie Shore.He lost 30 minutes playing time by being penalized five times, four in the first period.One of the three goals was made while he was in the hands of the "sheriff", while the first one was made just after he was liberated, and thus in a measure may be attributed to him.

Ottawa Citizen

GAME REPORT

The old Master, Frank Nighbor, made it tough for the Bruins while he was in there.Cool and steady, his poke-check was very damaging to Boston's game.

Hooley Smith was a bear for work.The exasperating Frank Nighbor never looked better.Young Hec Kilrea, Cy Denneny and Frank Finnigan were at the top of their game and the irrepressible King Clancy and the eagle-eye Alex Connell gave their best, whcih Boston fans believe is the last word in effective hockey.

Ottawa Journal

(by Stanley Woodward of the Boston Herald)

Thereafter the Senators were adamant and the fiercest of Boston attacks came to grief against the poke checking of Frank Nighbor and "Hooley" Smith, both of whom were tremendously effective as defensive centres, the staunchness of the Ottawa defence and the pads of Alex Connell.

Outstanding in the Ottawa victory were Clancy, Nighbor and Smith.Nighbor was rested considerably in the second period, and part of the third, but came back to add stability to the Capital defence at the finish.Kilrea and Finnigan were effective on the wings and the defensive trinity was very unreasonable in smothering Boston rallies.

GAME REPORT

(special to the Journal)

This boy Finnigan, of Ottawas, played all over Galbraith.He has an elusive way of going around checks and his goal clinched matters.

Senators introduced another stickhandling defensive star in Alex Smith.This player who looked like unfinished business in his previous efforts, gave an eat display of stickwork quite worthy of George Boucher who is rated all over as one of the flashiest birch wielders in the sport.

George Boucher played canny hockey and his stickwork was always impressive.Bruins tried to draw him into battle but he kept his head in good style.Boucher wouldn't let himself be swayed from his purpose.Bruins had a definite plan of baiting him but it fell flat and Boucher pursued the even tenor of his way thhough he was molested time after time with nudging butt ends.

Connell was repeatedly cheered for his smart work of kicking out close shots.He wung across his nets several times to shove aside piping hot shots.

Nighbor and Hooley Smith demonstrated the art of poke-checking at its best.Both made life miserable for Boston forwards.

Adams saved the situation when he spoiled a menacing Boston rush.His experience and steadiness was a big help to Ottawas.

Hooley Smith has lost much of the crudeness and showiness that he formerly displayed, Smith has become a part of the machine and is more given to co-operation than formerly.Playing as he did last night Smith is destined to become a really great player.He and Nighbor worked well together.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Ott) Clancy
(Ott) Finnigan
2nd Period
No score
3rd Period
(Bos) Oliver
(Ott) Denneny

Game 3: Boston Globe, Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Journal, Apr 12, 1927 (1-1 Tie)

@ Ottawa

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Boston
Connell-----Goalie-----Winkler
Clancy-----Defence-----Hitchman
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Shore
Nighbor-----Centre-----Fredrickson
H.Smith-----RW-----Oliver
Denneny-----LW-----Galbraith

Kilrea-----sub-----Cleghorn
Finnegan-----sub-----Coutu
Gorman-----sub-----Herberts
A.Smith-----sub-----Stuart
Adams-----sub-----Meeking
Halliday-----sub-----W.Boucher

Boston Globe (Apr 13)

by John J. Hallahan, Apr 12

The Bruins are not downhearted (of trailing in the series).They feel they were outlucked more than anything else last night and that Alex Connell, the clever goalie, more than any other Ottawan, was responsible for Boston's failure to win than any other member of the Senatorial team.

Ottawa Citizen

There was not much to choose between the two teams on last night's play, although the Senators, besides the goal registered in their favor, scored two others which were disallowed by the officials.To offset this, only a most wonderful save by Alex Connell in the second overtime period, kept the score on the round from being a tie.

CLANCY AGAIN STARS

Outstanding in the game was the marvellouys performance of Frank "King" Clancy, who hurled his terrific speed towards the opposing net from the start until the final gong sounded.Towards the end, this courageous player was practically "out on his feet" as they say in boxing circles.He gave his best as he always does, and it was no fault of his that the Senators did not win by three or four goals.

George Boucher and Alex Smith, Ottawas' other defensemen, played cleverly.The former received a couple of bad tosses which slowed him up, considerably, but his defence was sound, and he rushes through repeatedly on clever stickhandling jaunts for shots on the Boston nets."Big Alex" played a rugged game, and was always dangerous in his forward sallies.

Frank Nighbor, who became a proud father of a bouncing boy yesterday, celebrated the occasion by staging a brilliant performance.He poke-checked the Bruins into exasperation, and he also gave back lusty bodychecks in return for a number received by himself.

Hooley Smith also gave a grand exhibition of poke-checking, and he was a source of worry to the Bruins defencemen.

Hec Kilrea and Frank Finnigan, the youthful stars of Saturday night's game in Boston, continued their good work last night.Kilrea gave an exceptional display, and the veteran Cy Denneny with his one counter and many more well-directed shots, was at his best.Of the other members of the Ottawa team, only Jack Adams got into the fray, and he also played well.

Ottawa Journal

It was the calculating Connell who undoubtedly in a number of instances saved the day.Steady as a rock, calm as a prelate, vigilant as a sheriff he kept steady watch and guard on his balliwick and several times he rushed out to stop incoming forwards and bat the puck to safety.

Fronting Connell the old guard of Boucher and Clancy reveared their best hockey.Clancy was a sensation on attack, and a Gibraiter on defence.Boucher was adamantine on defence.Once he picked the puck off Herberts stick when the latter was sweeping in on Connell much as Nighbor does after forwards think they have evaded his long stick.He met Boston forwards head on and regardless of consequences.

Clancy was a streak on skates and the fastest man on the ice though Shore on the opposite end was also exceptionally speedy.Clancy played himself into the ground.

In the mid-ice a smashing duel was waged between Nighbor and Fredrickson and the latter and Hooley Smith.Nighbor wearing his nowhonor, that of daddy of a bouncing boy, used his poke check to advantage.The Boston viking was a blonde threat all night and his rip tearing attacks on the goal coupled with the speed and ingenuity of Herberts were threats that could not be denied for efficiency in a hockey way.Fredrickson kept both Nighbor and Smith busy defensively, but these two rose to the occasion in great style.They worked their hook checks to the detriment of Bruin attacks, and both cruised aorund pestering Winkler with solid drives after individual rushes that were neat and gaudy in their execution.

On the wings, Finnigan and Denneny worked hard, and were harassed by hard body checks.Both missed an umber of opportunities, but they were given little leeway by the Bruins defence.

Al Smith and Adams worked hard while on.Smith didn't hesitate to use his body, and he rushed well.

GAME REPORT

King Clancy again stood out for the Senators and gave a great display.The Clarence street comet raced up and down the ice with the speed of an express train and his owkr defensively drew many cheers from the fans.

"Hooley" Smith turned in another swell game.The fiery right winger traded body checks with everyone, and his long stick worked like a charm about centre.

The long stick of Frank Nighbor was poison ivy to the Bruins.

"Boots" Alex Smith was again much to the fore, enlivened his work wit ha little joust with Shore, and the rush end gave him an ovation every time he came on.

Captain George Boucher strutted his stuff in smart style.George's flashy hickory carried him through the Bruin defence many times."Buck" was great defensively and applied the body with great gusto.

Hec Hilrea again turned in a speedy game.The blonde kid worked like a beaver, and was on every rebound.

Frankie Finnigan starred for Ottawa.Finny's excursions down the right boards generally ended in a hot shot at Winkler and the Shawville kid sent out two or three nice passes from the corner.

SUMMARY

1st Period
(Bos) Herberts (assisted by Oliver)
2nd Period
(Ott) Denneny (assisted by Clancy)
3rd Period
No score

Game 4: Boston Globe, Ottawa Citizen & Ottawa Journal, Apr 14, 1927 (3-1 Win)

@ Ottawa

Lineups

Ottawa-----TEAM-----Boston
Connell-----Goalie-----Winkler
Clancy-----Defence-----Hitchman
G.Boucher-----Defence-----Shore
Nighbor-----Centre-----Fredrickson
Finnigan-----RW-----Oliver
Kilrea-----LW-----Galbraith

Denneny-----sub-----Cleghorn
H.Smith-----sub-----Coutu
Gorman-----sub-----Herberts
A.Smith-----sub-----Stuart
Adams-----sub-----Meeking
Halliday-----sub-----W.Boucher

Boston Globe

It was again Alex Connell who did more to defeat the Bruins than any other Senator.His work, which has been of the sensational kind, all the way made him the hero, but the Bruins gave him a tough time ,and went down fighting.

Ottawa Citizen

SENATORS SCORE DECISIVE WIN FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

As in previous games during the championship series which closed last night, every member of the Senators played splendid hockey.Last night, as already stated, they outmatched the boys from Beantown in speed and their system of play was again superior to that of their opponents.

Alex Connell lived up to his previous reputation of being a marvellous net guardian.His work was faultless and throughout the trying game not once did he lose composure.

The defence of King Clancy and George Boucher was fully up to its highest standard each playing a superior brand of hockey.Clancy's famous rushes were very much in evidence and while he is not credited with an assist in any of the goals scored by his team, there is no doubt that the speed of the "King" and his wicked shooting had much to to with wearing down his opponents.

Frank Nighbor, the veteran of the team, never played better than he did last night.His famous poke-check which has been imitated by many other players in hockey, worked to perfection and broke up innumerable rushes that were headed toward Connell, and Nighbor's play was not strictly defensive last night.He repeatedly took the offensive and repeatedly worked his way in for clever shots on the Boston net.To him much of the credit for Ottawas' victory is due.

Another veteran, Cy Denneny, with his two counters, again reached the highest rung of the hockey ladder of fame.Cy may not be as speedy as he was a few years back but his stick had lost none of its cunning and if anything, his shot is more accurate and more deadly than it ever was in previous years.

The youngsters of the team, Frank Finnigan and Hec Kilrea, fairly excelled themselves.They played their best hockey of the season when it was needed most.Kilrea displayed blinding speed which bothered the fast skating Bruins more than a little, and his backchecking was superb.Finnigan, while not as fleet-footed as Kilrea, was not outfooted by any of his opponents, and like the blonde left winger, he backchecked like a fiend.His goal, the first of the game, was the result of quick thinking and clever stickhandling.

Hooley Smith was not used as much as usual owing to the exceptional performances of Finnigan at right wing and Nighbor at center, but he gave a good display nevertheless, foiling the Bruins time after time before they could get out of the center ice section.It was regrettable that Hooley should have marred his splendid play by thoughtless action near the end of the game.

Jack Adams got into the struggle in the dying moments and fully held up his end.

Regrettable Occurences

Unfortunately, an otherwise splendid series was marred by a couple of incidents near the close of last night's game.The feud which had existed between Lionel Hitchman, an Ottawa boy who is a member of the Boston team, and Hooley Smith, right wing and center player of the Senators, broke out when there was but five remaining, and after the two players slashed at each other along the left boards near the Ottawa net, they suqared away to finish the affair under the Marquis of Queensmary rules.Captain George Boucher, of the Ottawas, went to the assistance of his teammate and he and Hitchman exchanged wallops for which they were banished by Referee Jerry Laflamme for the remainder of the game.

This squabble was soon settled and each team, a man short, renewed the contest but it was apparent that there was considerable ill-feeling among the players of both teams.This culminated in Hooley Smith jabbing Harry Oliver in the mouth, putting the Bruins wing player down and out.The action on the part of Smith was entirely uncalled for, but was doubtless the result of the offender completely losing control of his temper.Shore then took a clout at Hooley and both were sent off for the balance of the game.

The worst offence of all came after the game was finished, when Referee Laflamme was shamefully assaulted (by manager Art Ross, Coutu and other Boston players).

GAME NOTES

The "insiders" got a rude jolt last night when the two men who were supposed to be "done" at the beginning of the season stood out as three-star heroes in the Senatorial triumph.Captain George Boucher led his Senators in brilliant fashion, while the antics of one, Cy Denneny, were a treat to behold.How the veteran did lay those two goals away, just when they were needed!

Hooley Smith's bad shoulder kept him on the bench and Finnigan started on right wing.Kilrea started on the port flank, Cy Denneny staying on the bench.

Ottawa Journal

The veteran Cy Denneny, one of the smoothiest and most effective sniper in the league, got two of the Ottawa goals.The two wing youngsters (Finnigan and Kilrea) backed by the cyclonic Clancy carried the brunt of the attack.With Nighbor's masterly poke check operating at full capacity in mid ice, an almost impassable barrier for the Boston attacks to surmount, and back of this Alex Connell in his regularly brilliant form Senators struck a high pitch of efficiency, and won the game and series on their merits.

Crafty Dave Gill pulled a smart move when he started Finnigan and Kilrea on the wings with imperturbable Frank Nighbor at centre.This gave him a chance to send in Smith and Denneny at a time when Bruins had no reserves, with which to really match the new Ottawa men.

OTTAWAS ALL GOOD

For Ottawa all played smart hockey.Connell was a veritable fortress in the nets.Boucher was spectacular, and played heady hockey.His bout with Hitchman was really a minor affair, and the incident looks worse than it really was.He showed to advantage at all times.Clancy, a veritable tornado on attack, led Ottawas in inspired fashion.He was tireless and he was spent and weary boy as he trudged off the ice - the sensation of the series.

Cy Denneny deserves vast praise for his sustained shooting.His last goal was a thoughtful bit of work.

SUMMARY

1st Period
No score
2nd Period
(Ott) Finnigan
(Ott) Denneny
3rd Period
(Ott) Denneny
(Bos) Oliver

OTTAWA WINS THE STANLEY CUP!

 

[ChiTownPhilly]

To no-one's surprise, I think BOTH Russians deserve serious consideration for field-promotions this round. The availability or unavailability of other nominees is utterly immaterial to my perspective that Tretiak is the next best Goaltender available, and I believe entirely worthy of a podium-spot.

King Clancy has the next best case for breveting. With all of the quality remainders, is it enough?!

Think I'd like to left-swipe all those new Centers. I don't even consider Boucher the next best 'Frank.'

 

[ted2019]

Lets see, my 33rd , 37th, 39th , 44th , 46th, 47th , 49th ,50th ,51st , 52nd, 56th , 61st , 66th players are up.

 

[ImporterExporter]

Love this crop of players.

Going to be quite a bit of variance.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Hart trophy shares - minimum 5% threshold

Player	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th+	Total
King Clancy			2	1	2		2	7
Syl Apps		3	2		1			6
Henri Richard				2		1	1	4
Ken Dryden		1		2				3
Charlie Conacher		1		1				2
Steve Yzerman			1	1				2
Paul Coffey				2				2
Frank Boucher				1	1			2
Brad Park					2			2

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

I have some free time this afternoon, so I'll provide more commentary than usual:

There were no Hart trophy winners in this group. Only five of the 13 players were finalists even once.

Syl Apps' record is impressive - he was a finalist five times in a span of six years, then joined the Armed Forces during WWII. (The counter argument is he missed a ton of time for a Hart finalist - he played in just 27 and 29 games during two of those years, back when the season was 48 to 50 games).

Two of King Clancy's rankings here pre-dated the NHL's consolidation with the WHL in 1926-27. But they were 7th and 8th place finishes. Even if those are excluded entirely, he'd still have among the most impressive Hart trophy results here.

Obviously the Soviets who never played in the NHL (Kharlamov, Tretiak) are excluded.

There was some discussion about how it would have been useful to compare Cook and Boucher to each other. At least based on Hart voting, Cook is clearly ahead (he was a two-time runner-up, and that excludes all of his years in the WCHL).

Pilote, as far as I can tell, never received a single vote for the Hart during his entire career (hard to be "most valuable" when your team has three of the top thirty players of all time). Chelios received votes in three different seasons, but never broke the 5% barrier, so he's not listed. (He had bad luck that perhaps his best season was 1989, when the three-headed monster of Gretzky, Lemieux and Yzerman absorbed almost all of the votes on the three-vote ballot).

 

[Hockey Outsider]

VsX summary

Player	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	7YR	10YR
Charlie Conacher	121.3	120.9	100.0	96.0	95.0	75.0	65.1	52.3	52.3	46.8	96.2	82.5
Frank Boucher	102.3	100.0	100.0	95.7	90.7	89.7	87.5	79.5	72.5	70.0	95.1	88.8
Steve Yzerman	111.5	98.4	93.9	92.6	88.8	84.0	83.3	79.2	78.0	77.9	93.2	88.8
Syl Apps Sr	113.6	100.0	100.0	90.9	88.3	77.8	75.9	69.8	66.7	55.6	92.4	83.9
Paul Coffey	104.1	97.9	89.6	82.9	81.3	80.9	79.8	77.4	64.2	62.0	88.1	82.0
Henri Richard	112.7	91.3	90.1	78.6	78.2	75.6	70.1	67.9	62.7	61.4	85.2	78.9
Brad Park	90.1	72.5	67.0	63.8	51.0	49.6	48.9	48.9	47.9	47.1	63.3	58.7
Pierre Pilote	74.3	71.1	67.9	56.3	50.0	46.2	44.6	44.0	42.3	38.9	58.6	53.5
King Clancy	65.1	64.5	59.4	56.8	51.7	48.8	44.7	42.9	38.0	37.5	55.9	50.9
Chris Chelios	60.0	55.7	54.3	52.5	50.0	49.3	48.3	47.4	46.6	46.2	52.9	51.0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

There's fairly little separating the top four forwards in terms of VsX. Although Richard is a distant 5th among the forwards in terms of overall offense, that's at least partly due to role. He received hardly any powerplay time (relative to other forwards of his calibre). If you look read this old thread (Even-strength VsX), you'll see that Henri Richard was an elite even-strength scorer (basically on par with Sakic, Dionne, Lindros and Trottier). He's only slightly behind Yzerman in even-strength offense (I don't have numbers for the other forwards). Each voter will have to decide how much they want to take into account Richard's role in his (comparatively) lower production.

Conacher probably has the fastest drop-off of any player that we've seen so far. He has five goal-scoring titles (he finished 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th and 4th in scoring those years), and basically nothing else of significance outside that. I've criticized short-peak players like Lafleur and Sawchuk, and I'll do the same here. But, at the same time, I want to highlight just how dominant he was in his best five years. Conacher has the 14th highest five year VsX score - he's within two points in either direction of Beliveau, Crosby and Lindsay.

This is a bit of a technical note, but keep in mind that VsX compares players to the league leader (not their position as a whole). This hurts defensemen who played prior to Orr. For example, Clancy has a score closer to Chelios than Park, which feels wrong. (The same is true for Pilote, but to a lesser extent). This because defensemen as a whole were less involved in offense prior to Orr.

 

[The Macho King]

This may be a pretty easy round for me. Chelios, Yzerman, and Kharlamov are easy top 5. Clancy definitely makes it at 4 or 5. Fifth spot is tight but I dont expect my top 4 to change much.

 

[Dr John Carlson]

-Great chance that three new names will be in the top 3 on my ballot, joined by Chelios and Yzerman.

-How much were the 1939-1943 years weakened by WWII? Apps finished top-3 in Hart voting in all of them before leaving for the war.

-For 'star power' people, Conacher was generally seen as the second biggest star in the league behind Morenz, correct? I won't be considering that very heavily though, just too few all-time great seasons on his resume.

 

[BenchBrawl]

This may be a pretty easy round for me. Chelios, Yzerman, and Kharlamov are easy top 5. Clancy definitely makes it at 4 or 5. Fifth spot is tight but I dont expect my top 4 to change much.

Why Steve Yzerman over Frank Boucher? The way I see it, Boucher was a better playoff performer, was just as good defensively and combined his top offense and defense simultaneously, was a playmaker in an era where some assists might not even be recorded yet still outperforms Yzerman in VsX, owned the Lady Byng trophy in an era where the Byng's prestige was arguably not much lower than the Hart's (and Boucher owning the Byng might (purely speculatively) punish him in Hart voting, as in "he has that trophy, we'll vote for someone else for the Hart"), and his star power was more or less the same as Stevie Y.He also has strong longevity.

I understand Steve Yzerman didn't have a Bill Cook on his line in his best offensive seasons, but I don't feel it's a strong point against Boucher because there's no doubt he was a top talent himself.

 

[The Macho King]

Why Steve Yzerman over Frank Boucher? The way I see it, Boucher was a better playoff performer, was just as good defensively and combined his top offense and defense simultaneously, was a playmaker in an era where some assists might not even be recorded yet still outperforms Yzerman in VsX, owned the Lady Byng trophy in an era where the Byng's prestige was arguably not much lower than the Hart's (and Boucher owning the Byng might (purely speculatively) punish him in Hart voting, as in "he has that trophy, we'll vote for someone else for the Hart"), and his star power was more or less the same as Stevie Y.He also has strong longevity.

I understand Steve Yzerman didn't have a Bill Cook on his line in his best offensive seasons, but I don't feel it's a strong point against Boucher because there's no doubt he was a top talent himself.

I'd like to point out that this isn't a point to gloss over. We have definitely docked people in this for their linemates/teammates, and that is a factor for me.

That being said, Boucher is currently slotted at #5 for me so I obviously don't see a ton of separation between them.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I'd like to point out that this isn't a point to gloss over. We have definitely docked people in this for their linemates/teammates, and that is a factor for me.

That being said, Boucher is currently slotted at #5 for me so I obviously don't see a ton of separation between them.

Fair enough, but Frank Boucher was a disciplined, clean, great stickhandler, great poke-checker, great playmaker, great passer.He also had the reputation of being very talented, it ran in his family.Not exactly the type of overall skillset in a player you'd suspect he was coasting on his linemate's talent.

Here's a quote from 1936 from Ottawa when he's seen as belonging in Nighbor's and Morenz's tier:

Column: In the Realm of Sport by Walter Gilhooly

HOWIE MORENZ BACK WITH CANADIENS.

So Howie Morenz goes back to the Canadiens, where he really belongs, and the club he should never have been permitted to leave.The Flying Frenchmen fell on evil days even before Morenz departed for Chicago, but they seemed to become steady occupants of the bread-line without him.He's brought back, not perhaps because the Canadien management imagines that he is the famling meteor of old, but because it knows that the move will be popular with the French fans and popular favor and patronage is what is being courted today.

Whenever hockey players gather and the worth of centre ice stars is argued, three names are invariably raised.They are Frankie Boucher, Frank Nighbor and Howie Morenz.Once the discussion eliminates the others it can go on far into the night or, more frequently, late in the morning claiming this and that for one or other of the trio.

Regardless of what may be contended for any of the three, and irrespective of the fact that such an argument will never be settled to general satisfaction, there can be no denying the claims of Howie Morenz to greatness.

In any case, between 1926-27 and 1934-35, the nine relevant years when they played together in their prime, they ended up with almost the exact same total of points:

Bill Cook: 344
Frank Boucher: 350

But who knows what went on with the shady assist-recording business.Maybe Boucher should have more points (assists).Regardless, this is as close as it gets.If Boucher gets punished for playing with Cook, Cook gets punished for playing with Boucher.I get that Cook proved himself more prior to their reunion, so that's the major point in his favor, but that's not a proof of anything that happened in New York.Cook has a better Hart record, but not that much better neither.Boucher has the Byng going for him.And Boucher stepped up with it was time to win the cups.Both had intangibles; Boucher great defensively and disciplined, Cook a power forward captain.This seems dead even to me.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

Why Steve Yzerman over Frank Boucher? The way I see it, Boucher was a better playoff performer, was just as good defensively and combined his top offense and defense simultaneously, was a playmaker in an era where some assists might not even be recorded yet still outperforms Yzerman in VsX, owned the Lady Byng trophy in an era where the Byng's prestige was arguably not much lower than the Hart's (and Boucher owning the Byng might (purely speculatively) punish him in Hart voting, as in "he has that trophy, we'll vote for someone else for the Hart"), and his star power was more or less the same as Stevie Y.He also has strong longevity.

I understand Steve Yzerman didn't have a Bill Cook on his line in his best offensive seasons, but I don't feel it's a strong point against Boucher because there's no doubt he was a top talent himself.

I'll have to give some thought to Yzerman vs Boucher, but there are two good points here that I want to elaborate on.

The first is on the status of the Lady Byng trophy. If you read about the NHL trophies in newspapers from the 1920s and 1930s, you'll see that the Byng was valued far more than it is today (when, at best, it's considered a minor accolade or, at worst, a confirmation that a player is "soft"). The amount of prominence that was given to the Byng back then was just below the Hart or the scoring title. Boucher had such a stranglehold on the Byng (seven trophies in eight years) that the league let him keep the original trophy. It's only speculation that Boucher's Byng success hurt him when it came to the Hart, but even if that wasn't an issue, the fact that he literally owned a major trophy is a good argument in his favour.

The second is the value of assists. Since Boucher was a playmaker, playing in an era when assists were given out much less liberally than today, he's at a disadvantage when it comes to points (and also VsX). For example, from 1927 to 1935, he was first in the league in scoring, but it was basically a three-way tie with Morenz and Stewart (he was about 1% and 2.5% ahead of them). Hockey-reference's adjusted stats (which are flawed, but have some use) show him as by far the best scorer of his era, ahead of those two by 10% and 25% margins. Like I said, we know that their adjusted stats are imperfect, but what's relevant is Boucher was by far the best playmaker in an era when assists were under-counted, which placed him at a disadvantage relative to others. The fact that he still led the league in scoring, and has such a strong VsX, while facing and uphill battle due to how assists are recorded, is impressive.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I'll have to give some thought to Yzerman vs Boucher, but there are two good points here that I want to elaborate on.

The first is on the status of the Lady Byng trophy. If you read about the NHL trophies in newspapers from the 1920s and 1930s, you'll see that the Byng was valued far more than it is today (when, at best, it's considered a minor accolade or, at worst, a confirmation that a player is "soft"). The amount of prominence that was given to the Byng back then was just below the Hart or the scoring title. Boucher had such a stranglehold on the Byng (seven trophies in eight years) that the league let him keep the original trophy. It's only speculation that Boucher's Byng success hurt him when it came to the Hart, but even if that wasn't an issue, the fact that he literally owned a major trophy is a good argument in his favour.

The second is the value of assists. Since Boucher was a playmaker, playing in an era when assists were given out much less liberally than today, he's at a disadvantage when it comes to points (and also VsX). For example, from 1927 to 1935, he was first in the league in scoring, but it was basically a three-way tie with Morenz and Stewart (he was about 1% and 2.5% ahead of them). Hockey-reference's adjusted stats (which are flawed, but have some use) show him as by far the best scorer of his era, ahead of those two by 10% and 25% margins. Like I said, we know that their adjusted stats are imperfect, but what's relevant is Boucher was by far the best playmaker in an era when assists were under-counted, which placed him at a disadvantage relative to others. The fact that he still led the league in scoring, and has such a strong VsX, while facing and uphill battle due to how assists are recorded, is impressive.

First, I agree with your entire post.

Bolded: The fact he was an all-around puck-controlling playmaker, the best of his era like you say, is also relevant when defending him against the criticism that he was riding Bill Cook's coattails (to whatever extent).I have a bias in favor of playmakers vs. goalscorers when it comes to who is benefitting from whom the most, if an asymmetry exists at all.

 

[BenchBrawl]

It must be emphasized, and I strongly encourage everyone to CTRL-F "Clancy" in my Ottawa Dynasty posts above, especially starting from Game 3 of the Ottawa vs. Vancouver series in 1923, just how crazily consistently King Clancy is the star or "a star" of the game in every single game in 1923*, 1926 and 1927.This must be one of the greatest playoff stretch for any defenseman ever.Even with all-time greats like George Boucher or Eddie Gerard from the same team, both considered great playoff performers, you don't have that impression of absolute and nonestop domination from game to game like you do with Clancy.

*Starting from game 3 of the OTT vs. VAN series, which is the birth of his stardom.

 

[kruezer]

VsX summary

Player	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	7YR	10YR
Charlie Conacher	121.3	120.9	100.0	96.0	95.0	75.0	65.1	52.3	52.3	46.8	96.2	82.5
Frank Boucher	102.3	100.0	100.0	95.7	90.7	89.7	87.5	79.5	72.5	70.0	95.1	88.8
Steve Yzerman	111.5	98.4	93.9	92.6	88.8	84.0	83.3	79.2	78.0	77.9	93.2	88.8
Syl Apps Sr	113.6	100.0	100.0	90.9	88.3	77.8	75.9	69.8	66.7	55.6	92.4	83.9
Paul Coffey	104.1	97.9	89.6	82.9	81.3	80.9	79.8	77.4	64.2	62.0	88.1	82.0
Henri Richard	112.7	91.3	90.1	78.6	78.2	75.6	70.1	67.9	62.7	61.4	85.2	78.9
Brad Park	90.1	72.5	67.0	63.8	51.0	49.6	48.9	48.9	47.9	47.1	63.3	58.7
Pierre Pilote	74.3	71.1	67.9	56.3	50.0	46.2	44.6	44.0	42.3	38.9	58.6	53.5
King Clancy	65.1	64.5	59.4	56.8	51.7	48.8	44.7	42.9	38.0	37.5	55.9	50.9
Chris Chelios	60.0	55.7	54.3	52.5	50.0	49.3	48.3	47.4	46.6	46.2	52.9	51.0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

There's fairly little separating the top four forwards in terms of VsX. Although Richard is a distant 5th among the forwards in terms of overall offense, that's at least partly due to role. He received hardly any powerplay time (relative to other forwards of his calibre). If you look read this old thread (Even-strength VsX), you'll see that Henri Richard was an elite even-strength scorer (basically on par with Sakic, Dionne, Lindros and Trottier). He's only slightly behind Yzerman in even-strength offense (I don't have numbers for the other forwards). Each voter will have to decide how much they want to take into account Richard's role in his (comparatively) lower production.

Conacher probably has the fastest drop-off of any player that we've seen so far. He has five goal-scoring titles (he finished 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th and 4th in scoring those years), and basically nothing else of significance outside that. I've criticized short-peak players like Lafleur and Sawchuk, and I'll do the same here. But, at the same time, I want to highlight just how dominant he was in his best five years. Conacher has the 14th highest five year VsX score - he's within two points in either direction of Beliveau, Crosby and Lindsay.

This is a bit of a technical note, but keep in mind that VsX compares players to the league leader (not their position as a whole). This hurts defensemen who played prior to Orr. For example, Clancy has a score closer to Chelios than Park, which feels wrong. (The same is true for Pilote, but to a lesser extent). This because defensemen as a whole were less involved in offense prior to Orr.

HO have you ever considered doing a defensemen only VsX? Not sure how easy that would be or if there are potential pitfalls about it I am not thinking of, but I’d be curious to see it.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

HO have you ever considered doing a defensemen only VsX? Not sure how easy that would be or if there are potential pitfalls about it I am not thinking of, but I’d be curious to see it.

I've tried but the problem is I don't have accurate positional data for a bunch of players (ie defensemen are incorrectly coded as forwards). I'll see if I can put something together quickly over the next few days (as a rough estimate is probably better than nothing).

 

[kruezer]

I've tried but the problem is I don't have accurate positional data for a bunch of players (ie defensemen are incorrectly coded as forwards). I'll see if I can put something together quickly over the next few days (as a rough estimate is probably better than nothing).

That makes sense, do you use nhl.com data?

 

[Hockey Outsider]

That makes sense, do you use nhl.com data?

It's been compiled from a bunch of sources over the years. I never prioritized getting the correct positions for players at first and now it seems like a massive undertaking to go back and add it in. I have some ideas on possible shortcuts (to at least get the F/D split), but I'm not sure if it'll work - something to try in the new year.