The Difference Between Winners And Losers

Sun Media's Robert Tychkowski has a perceptive rant in today's paper on late season rent a players such as the newly Predatored Peter Forsberg. He writes:

"Does Peter Forsberg really deserve a Stanley Cup ring this year? Does Todd Bertuzzi? Or Keith Tkachuk?"

"They've accomplished nothing for their teams, aside from getting a couple of coaches fired, but now, thanks to the NHL's Rent -A-Player System, they are perfectly situated to win a championship."

(Note - Bertuzzi and Tkachuk have yet to be dealt. Robert)

"Deadline deals will always be a part of hockey, and it's incumbant on any GM to bolster his team for the playoffs, but I lose a lot of respect for the $5 million veteran who "wants to go to a contender." The reason his team paid him $5 million in the first place was to make them a contender."

"Tkachuk hasn't won a thing since....ever. Would going to Anaheim for a Cup of coffee suddenly make him a winner?"

"No. Just like going to Carolina last year doesn't make Doug Weight a winner. He has a ring with an asterisk on it, and if Forsberg, Bertuzzi, or Tkachuk get a ring this year, theirs will too."

Pointed words, to be sure. I agree for the most part, except that the Stanley Cup isn't won in the regular season. These Rent-A-Players do make valid contributions. Tychkowski is right in the sense that it is kind of like falling into bed with Rosie O'Donnell and waking up with Jessica Alba.

In another corner of Tychkowski's 2 page Sun spread, he relates this little ditty:

"Vote Early, Vote Often"

The Hockey News appears to be the latest victim of internet nerds having fun with a vote. How else do you explain the hideous Carolina Hurricanes sweater winning the coolest jersey in the eastern Conference poll, by a 12,000 to 700 margin over the second place Montreal Canadiens?

Said THN's web editor Ed Fraser: "I think we've been Rory Fitzpatricked!"

Fresh Blood For The Canadiens

Canadiens GM Bob Gainey announced Saturday that right-winger Duncan Milroy has been recalled from the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.

Milroy, 24, has played in 52 games of the Bulldogs' 54 games so far this season. He leads the Bulldogs in goals and scoring with 23 goals and 29 assists for a total of 52 points. The Edmonton native is playing in his fourth season with the Bulldogs. In his AHL career, he has played in 255 games, scoring 58 goals and adding 76 assists for a total of 134 points.

Milroy, a 6-foot-1, 196-pound right-winger, played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League from 1998 to 2003, with the Swift Current Broncos (1998-2001) and the Kootenay Ice (2001-2003). In 264 career games, he collected 287 points, including 132 goals (132-155-287). In 2001-02, he led Kootenay to a Memorial Cup championship, thanks to 17 goals and 37 points, both league-highs, in 22 playoff games. He added four points, including three goals, in four Memorial Cup games.

Milroy, who has yet to play a game in the National Hockey League, was the Canadiens’ third pick (second round – 37th overall) in 2001.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau has stated that the recently called up Jaroslav Halak would see game action in one of two weekend games, most likely Sunday's matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

While it remains to be seen how long Cristobal Huet will be out with a left hamstring injury suffered Wednesday, Halak isn’t just in Montreal as an observer.

"I don’t know much about him but [Hamilton Bulldogs head coach] Don Lever has told me good things about him," said head coach Guy Carbonneau. "He’s not here as a tourist, that’s for sure."

Even if he’s only played in 41 Bulldogs games since February 2006, Halak has still found the time to add his name to the franchise record books with nine shutouts.

His call-up didn’t surprise Maxim Lapierre, who witnessed firsthand what the Canadiens’ No. 41 is all about during his time in Steeltown.

"He looks big in the net," noted Lapierre, who was fortunate or unfortunate enough to face Halak during the goalie’s junior days with the Lewiston MAINEiacs. "He was really good when I was in Hamilton earlier this season and last year. He’s a big part of the Bulldogs’ success this season."

Celebrating The 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs - Part 2

Tonight's the big night for members of the 1967 Stanley Cup Champions Maple Leafs, who are being honoured before tonight's matchup with the the Edmonton Oilers.

Too bad it wasn't fittingly celebrated with the Habs in town!



















There is some speculation that Matt Stajan may take it upon himself to honour Leaf great and former captain Dave Keon by removing his number 14 jersey along the course of celebrations. While MLSE has a jersey honouring policy only, comments bt team president Richard Peddie stated unequivocally that no hasty ceremony in regards to Keon's number has been planned.

It is the wish of many Leafs fans to see the team retire jerseys rather than honour them. Keon would be a great place to start!



























I'm quite pleased to see talk of this, as I'd mentioned of few days back that Stajan ought to do just such a thing. Joe at Legends, who has the '67 Leafs covered from Armstrong to Walton, also agrees.

All taken together, it should be a most memorable night for Leaf Nation as MLSE has appeared to finally be setting about getting things right with their oldtimers. It has surely made this Habs fan take note - up my respect for the organization a few notches.























In my previous post, "Celebrating The 1967 Maple Leafs", I've added a huge cluster of link to articles on the internet and in media that cover almost every aspect of the 1967 team. There are also profiles of each team member, courtesy of the aforementioned Legends Of Hockey Network. Scanning through today's available resources, I've added to this post a dozen more that I found deeper and more interesting that the previous ones. There is lots of focus on Keon, are all in my opinion, must reads. Check 'em out!





















I am planning two more posts in the coming days on this legendary team. One will be an examination on how the team was dismantled, where those players went, and who arrived in return. Another post will be slightly more ambitious - I'm planning to upload the entire pre-game celebration, perhaps in three or four parts, to the site. It'll be tricky, but worthwhile I am sure. I might even check out some YouTube clips to see if they have anything pertinent from 1967.

Keep checking back for more updates from forty years ago.

From the Sporting News, Canadian Press, Stajan Would Give Up 14 To Honour Keon

From Sun Media, No Surprises For # 14, by Lance Hornby

From Slam Sports, A Tale Of Unrequited Love, by Steve Simmons

From Metro News, Keon Happy To Be Part Of '67 Honours




























From the Ottawa Sun, A Restless Leaf Nation Relives The Glory Of '67 by Wayne Scanlan

From the Tornto Star, '67 Redux by Paul Hunter



















From the Globe And Mail, Fans Finally get A Chance To Show Keon Their Love by Dave Shoalts

From the Edmonton Sun, Turning Over a New Leaf by Terry Jones



















From Sun Media, The Forgotten Men Of '67 by Lance Hornby

From Sun Media, It All Went Downhill After Cup by Lance Hornby


























From the Hamilton Spectator, Forty Years by Neil Stevens

From the National Post, Larry Jeffrey - A Crutch Player by Joe O'Connor

A Dynasty Undone - What Became Of The Seventies Canadiens

With the trade deadline fast approaching and the Canadiens fortunes slipping by the day, my attention soon turned to the teams soon to be UFA's, namely Markov, Souray, and Rivet on defense. While I'm becoming more indifferent to Markov by the day, I'm hoping more and more than GM Gainey finds a way to make big Sheldon happy. From there it's Rivet, only at the right price.

For someone who has watched the hockey landscape evolve over the decades, free agency still doesn't sit well with me. I've always felt that a team losing a player to free agency should be in some way compensated.

Losing players for little or no return reminded me of the late '70's, early '80's period for Montreal, where greats retired with no dividend to the team. While I'm all in favor of great players playing their entire career for one team, the Habs were somewhat decimated by a whole roster of uncashable assets from the '70's dynasty.

Towards the end of the Canadiens four Cup run in 1979, Genaral Manager Sam Pollock retired and coach Scotty Bowman, upset at not being handed the GM's job, fled to Buffalo. Neither position was ably filled.

I've chosen a group of 28 players who participated in 5 Cups wins between 1973 and 1979 to illustrate what happened to the Habs dynasty. The lack of talent continuity is obviously apparent as diminishing returns prevented the Canadiens from maintaining previous heights. Although they managed 2 more Stanley Cups in the interim, the depth has never been replaced.

The group of 27 players, divides itself a first group of 13 and a second one of 14. The first group are players that the Cana diens received no dividend from as they all retired due to different scenarios. While some were simply destined to retire as career long Canadiens, other reasons played into it as well.



























The second group of 14 includes players the Canadiens were able to get some return on, however small they were. Eight players descending from that group were members of Cup teams in 1986 and 1993.

It is interesting to note that backup goaltender Michel "Bunny" Larocque, two trades later, parlayed into Patrick Roy by sheer great luck. The return on Roy, as you will see detailed below, was equally dismal.

Jacques Lemaire
Jacques Laperriere
Mario Tremblay
Bob Gainey
Serge Savard
Frank Mahovlich
Pierre Mondou
Rejean Houle
Bill Nyrop
Henri Richard
Marc Tardiff
Ken Dryden
Guy Lafleur



























14 players, including 9 Hall of Famers with no return value to the team.
Richard, Laperriere, Savard, and Gainey retired due to their age.
Cournoyer, Tremblay, Houle, and Mondou retired due to injury.
Mahovlich and Tardiff went on to the WHA.
Dryden, Lemaire, and Nyrop retired with much hockey left in them.
Guy Lafleur was forced to retire as the Canadiens would not exercise his wish for a trade.
Tardiff returned to the NHL with Quebec Nordiques.
Savard and Nyrop made brief returns to the NHL with other teams.

Larry Robinson (FA Los Angeles)
Steve Shutt ( for future considerations to Los Angeles, reaquired at same price)
Guy Lapointe ( for St.Louis' 2nd rd pick, 1983 - Sergio Momesso)
Michel Laroque ( to Toronto for Robert Picard )
Doug Risebrough ( to Calgary for 2nd and 3rd rd picks '83,'84 - Todd Francis, Grahame Bonar)
Doug Jarvis ( with Englom, Langway, and Laughlin to Washington for Ryan Walter, Rick Green)
Brian Engblom ( with Jarvis, Langway, and Laughlin to Washington for Ryan Walter, Rick Green)
Rod Langway ( with Englom, Jarvis, and Laughlin to Washington for Ryan Walter, Rick Green)
Pete Mahovlich ( with Peter Lee to Pittsburgh for Pierre Larouche, Peter Marsh)
Pierre Larouche ( to Hartford for 1st rd pick '83 - Petr Svoboda)
Yvon Lambert ( claimed by Buffalo in '81 waiver draft)
Rick Chartraw ( to Los Angeles for 2nd rd pick '83 - Claude Lemieux )
Mark Napier ( to Minnesota with Keith Acton for Bobby Smith)
Pierre Bouchard ( claimed on waivers by Washingston)



























Of the second group of 14, only these 7 were in the organization in the '84-85 period. Five of them were on the '86 Cup winner, if you exclude Roy, who had just been drafted. The final piece falling into the lineup was Brisebois, who would be on the '93 Cup winner.

Sergio Momesso ( to St. Louis with Vincent Riendeau for Jocelyn Lemieux and 2nd rd pick '89 - Patrice Brisebois)
Robert Picard ( to Winnipeg for 3rd rd pick '83 - Patrick Roy )
Ryan Walter ( FA Vancouver)
Rick Green ( to Detroit for Brad Layzell)
Petr Svoboda ( to Buffalo for Kevin Haller)
Claude Lemieux ( to New Jersey for Sylvain Turgeon)
Bobby Smith ( to Minnesota for 4th rd pick '92 - Louis Bernard

From the 7 assets above, only Roy, Brisebois, and Haller are descendant players from the '70's dynasty that won in '93.

Jocelyn Lemieux ( to Chicago for 3rd rd pick '90 - Charles Poulin)
Patrice Brisebois (FA Colorado)
Patrick Roy ( with Mike Keane to Colorado for Jocelyn Thibeault, Andrei Kovalenko, Martin Rucinski)
Kevin Haller ( to Philadelphia for Yves Racine)
Sylvain Turgeon ( claimed by Ottawa in expansion draft)

After the trading of Roy in 1995, the returns dimished at an even thinner rate. The 3 players received for Roy were turned over for a total of 12 players in 8 seasons. No assets remain from the descendants of the Roy deal.

Jocelyn Thibeault ( with Dave Manson and Brad Brown to Chicago for Jeff Hackett, Eric Weinrich, Alain Nasreddine, Chris Dyment)
Andrei Kovalenko ( to Edmonton for Scott Thornton)
Martin Rucinski ( with Benoit Brunet to Dallas for Donald Audette, Shaun Van Allen)
Yves Racine ( waivers San Jose)

Jeff Hackett ( to San Jose for Niklas Sundstrom)
Eric Weinrich ( to Boston for Patrick Traverse)
Alain Nasreddine ( to Edmonton with Igor Ulanov for Christian Laflamme, Mathieu Descoteaux)
Scott Thornton ( to Dallas for Juha Lind)
Donald Audette ( FA Florida)
Shaun Van Allen ( FA Ottawa)

Patrick Traverse (FA Dallas)
Niklas Sundstrom ( FA )
Juha Lind ( FA )
Christian Laflamme ( FA St.Louis)

As a result of the Roy deal, two successive goaltenders stopped pucks for the Canadiens, Jocelyn Thibeault, and then Jeff Hackett.

While Hackett was traded away due to the emergence of Jose Theodore, Thibeault is presently the backup goalie with the Penguins.

Only Thibeault, Thornton, Rucinski and Brisebois, remain active NHL'ers.

All in all, a sad return on a glorious dynasty.

Top 10 Things Fans Can Do When Canadiens Losing Streak Stretches To 5 Games

I found this strange query looking through my site meter this morning. Seems somebody wants to call up Bob Gainey in regards to the Habs woes. It's at the point where there is little a fan can do but laugh.

With that in mind, I came up with this list for those fans of a more serious bent, who refuse to find anything funny. See the list below.

Domain Name pdlt.net (Network)
IP Address 210.213.251.# (Philippine Long Distance Telephone)
ISP Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Location
Continent Asia
Country Philippines
State/Region Quezon City
City Ermitao
Lat/Long 14.6106,121.0308
Distance 3,030 miles
Language English (United States) en-us
Operating System Microsoft WinXP
Browser Internet Explorer 6.0Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1; SV1)
Javascript version 1.3
Monitor Resolution 1024 x 768, Color Depth 32 bit
Last Page View Feb 16 2007 10:16:46 am
Visit Length 12 minutes 42 seconds
Page Views 4 Referring URL http://search people
Search Engine search.peoplepc.com
Search Words telephone number of mr. bob gainey in montreal canada
Visit Entry Page http://wwwrealityche...eprize.blogspot.com
Visit Exit Page http://wwwrealityche...h/label/Laura
Out Click 0 commentsTime Zone UTC+8:00
Visitor's Time Feb 16 2007 11:04:04 pm
Visit Number 14,457


1 - Toss out the Kovalev and Samsonov kewpie dolls - they're not working in our favor.

2 - Inquire as to whether Maurice Richard was chryogenically frozen.

3 - Watch the replays of 1993 Stanley Cup, always on heavy rotation on NHL Network.

4 - Beg Patrick Roy to come out of retirement.

5 - Hope Gainey makes a dressing room trip, rattles some European cages, signs Souray long term, trades Kovalev for a team psych.

6 - Pray to Finnish Gods that Saku Koivu finds his mojo.

7 - Expect miracle that Jaroslav Halak is a reincarnation of Ken Dryden, or at least Steve Penney.

8 - Go on a Joe Louis hunger strike until David Aebischer learns not to play half the game on his knees.

9 - Engage in a voodoo ceremony jinxing all teams above themin the standings.

10 - Drink more Molson's

Forsberg Goes Twang!

Peter Forberg is headed of to Nashville, without his much needed foolproof right skate boot, but clutching a lyric sheet for "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" firmly in hand.

For Forsberg, the Flyers aquire F Scottie Upshall, D Ryan Parent, a first and third round pick in the 2007 draft.

Talk about rolling the dice on a deal.

For the Predators, it's all about winning Stanley and nothing else - as it should be. Gambling on a high risk player such as Forsberg with his chronic foot ailments could work wonders for Nashville, who were considered a Stanley Cup favorite even before pulling the trigger on the deal. Their risk is somewhat minimal in that their worst case scenario is that they don't win it all, they do not gain credibility so desperately needed in a city that seems to be indifferent to their success, and the four assets traded become key members of the Flyers.

The Predators could look foolish should Forsberg resign with the Flyers in July - a scenario that has been mentioned by both the team and Forsberg. They could also be hearing "I told you so's" and "should have known better's" should the the injury prone Forsbrg crap out.

It could be hefty price for a rental player, especially if it doesn't cash out.

The Flyers meanwhile, took the best deal on the table. Ryan Parent and Scottie Upshall are decent young players with an interesting upside. They should be able to make more of a contribution to success in Philly than they have with the Predators. The late first round pick received is almost inconsequencial. Should they resign Forsberg, the Flyers come out looking very smart. Not getting a solid sure fire NHL'er in the trade is about the only knock on them. A top six forward in return might have been better than a first round pick.

Predators GM David Poile, who was once described by a colleague as "a sheep in sheep's clothing" had this to say about the Predators big gamble for elite team status.

Bob McKenzie, who was all over the deal up until it happened, weighs in with his usual insight.

Considering what was given up, I think the Montreal Canadiens could have easily bested this deal. They likely didn't, seeing as their first round pick for next season could well turn out to be Angelo Esposito, currently rated 10th in prospects. If the Habs continue to drop in the standings, atop pick could be a consolation.

I'm actually surprised that the Flyers weren't more patient in upping the selling price. Perhaps they chose not to wait due to Forsberg's injury status.

Anonymous Commenters Hall Of Fame Tag

After reading through the post and comments on the "Anonymous Bloggers Hall Of Fame" at James Mirtle, I thought it would be a great idea for a tag. Check out the comment at James' site - it's hilarious. It's also a great example of what bloggers must content with from time to time.





















I had my own experience with deviant anonymous commenters a few months back. After posting a particularly viscious rant following some terrible David Aebischer performances, I got hit with dozens of these misspelled drunken grammar bombs.

It started like this:

"your a fucken cock scuker and u know nothing about hockey..aebischer plays a unique butterfly style and got to play behind the best goalie in history..take a look at his career numbers ...100 wins 66 losses,for a colroado team that worried abotu offense and left it up to him back there to do everything he has a .914%.career which speaks for itself on how good he is.sorry buddy but your plain fucken dum..aebischer played the game of the year against toronto to..stoning them 50 times wut was his team doing in front of him..obviusy huet is playing with the top nhl goalies right now seasonw as young...abby needs a bunch of games in a row ..but he didnt get that..and if he woulda he would have eben playing the majority" Read it all! It actually gets better as it goes along.

This grammatically challanged type bombed me for days until I put up a wall and he left. I kind of asked for it. I told him he must be sleeping with guy to feel the need to defend him so valiantly. He then went on a I-am-not-gay-and-I'll prove rant -I wish I'd saved that one as well.

I got the notion to get this going as a tag after seeing the hand drawn pick by Mike at Covered In Oil. I am not a frequent reader at Mike's blog (so many good blogs, so little time!), I hope he doesn't mind me using his brilliant doodle to head my post.

So, the tag challange is being offered to Waiting For Stanley, Jes Globez, and Eric at Off Wing. Let's see the best of the worst nominee's for the Anonymous Commenters Hall Of Fame. Don't hold back!

Have fun.

Celebrating the 1967 Maple Leafs

(NOTE - Mired in my own teams 5 game losing streak / freefall, I have not jumped the bandwagon, rest assured. This post on the arch rival Maple Leafs is included on this blog purely because it is a compelling story.)

In 1967, I was barely five years old. I possibly knew what a puck and hockey stick were, had heard the name Bobby Orr, and could name two or three NHL hockey teams. The game captivated me around the ages of seven, eight, and nine, never to let go.

I remember Canada`s Centennial Year. Celebrations were everywhere and there was plenty of talk about Expo `67 and something called Man And His World.


Dave Keon,
Conn Smythe Trophy Winner















Growing up a hockey fan soon there after, I heard many forgotten tales of a Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs rivalry that never did materialize in my lifetime. Hearing my father`s stories, I longed to experience it, hardly realizing the Original Six era was done with, and that game would never be quite the same.

Kids in my day, around these parts, seemed to be either Habs fans or Bruins fans, with a sprinkling of Leaf supporters that were becoming a quieter bunch by the year. On TV, there were the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. The Canadiens won Stanley Cups while the Maple Leafs floundered for reasons I did not fully understand then. I made my choice easily.

Frank Mahovlich


















I could never exactly explain why, and still can`t, but resentment grew towards the Leafs. Perhaps I subconsciously disliked them for not showing up with great post seasons at the time. I always wanted to live those battles my father spoke so fondly of.

But enough about me and my Habs fan perspective. Suffice to say that I hated hating the Leafs. They seemed to never do anything right. When they finally did, in the 1990`s, I sensed a notion of the atmosphere that would permeate hockey fans Canada wide should the Leafs win or appear in the Stanley Cup final.


Punch Imlach and his famous blackboard message




















But enough about me and my Habs fan perspective. Suffice to say that I hated hating the Leafs. They seemed to never do anything right. When they finally did, in the 1990`s, I sensed a notion of the atmosphere that would permeate hockey fans Canada wide should the Leafs win or appear in the Stanley Cup final.

I must say, I never felt more alive than I did in the spring of 1993. Imagine being thrilled and ultimately disapointed all at once!


Allan Stanley
















On Saturday, the Maple Leafs will be honouring its last championship, the 1967 Cup winning team. It is a 40th anniversary of sorts, but more importantly, it is being seen as a bonding with past greatness, and perhaps the mending of fences from days gone awry.

Even the most die-hard of Leaf Nation subscribers has to admit that many things in the past 40 hockey seasons could have been managed much better. Hopefully, in the near future, Leafs organizations will be more aware of their fans committment to the team. Maybe they will pay more attention to their history, regardless of missteps. Maybe former players will be held in higher regard, despite not bringing home a Stanley Cup. Maybe they will be celebrated for their spirit of competition, their accomplishments, and their giving of themselves to an ever more demanding hockey public.



Terry Sawchuk














I say this without sarcasm, but if the Leafs want to be considered Canada's team, act like it. Over the past 40 years, they simply have not.

Wouldn't it be great for fans of the team, to see former players such as Wendel Clark, Paul Henderson, Dave Keon, and Felix Potvin, but to name a random few, partake in team functions, be it as simple as dropping the puck at a ceremonial faceoff on a particular night.

Eddie Shack


My wish for Leafs fan and former players revolves around the famous Ray Bourque / Phil Esposito moment in Boston years ago. I wish to see Matt Stajan go up to Dave Keon, and remove his jersey to reveal a new sweater number. I wish to see Mike Peca and Andrew Raycroft follow suit.

Is this asking too much?

General Manager John Ferguson Jr., whose father was a great player among Montreal Canadiens legends, could well appreciate such gestures.

All in time.

On the subject of Saturday's ceremony, many a good piece has been written. What I have been able to find are listed below, and I will add to them as they come in. There should be plenty!

Joe Pelletier at Legends Of Hockey has ambitiously been updating his Maple Leafs legends to include all member of the "Over The Hill Gang" from '67. You can read each players profile by clicking on their names, or simply scoot over to Joe's site and lose yourself for a few hours. Just tell the wife you're going to get some bread and milk!

From the Toronto Sun, View From The Ice by Dick Duff and Johnny Bower (Must Read!)

Globe And Mail.com, Telecast Of Maple Leafs Cup Win Holds Up Well by William Houston

From the Vancouver Sun, Original Six Largely Left In The Ditch by Cam Cole

From the Toronto Sun, Keon's Leaf's Homecoming Still Tastes Bitter by Steve Simmons

From NHL.com, Leafs Set To Celebrate The End Of An Era by James Murphy

From CBC.ca, Leafs Oldtimers Gather For Two Special Nights To Celebrate 1967 Title by Neil Stevens

From the Ottawa Sun, '67 Leafs - One For The Ages by Lance Hornby

From Canada.com, Pappin Credited For Winning Goal In Leafs Stanley Cup Clincher in 1967 by Neil Stevens

From The Toronto Sun, The Punch Line: Celebrating the 1967 Leafs by George Gross

From the National Post, January 17, 2007, A Matter Of Honour by Joe O'Connor

From the Toronto Star, '67 Leafs: We Had A Shot At More Cups by Kevin McGran

From Simcoe.com, Ellis Happy To See Keon Back In Fold by Jim Barber

From CBCsports.com, Keon Set To Return To Toronto by Scotty Morrison

From Toronto Maple Leafs.com, A Chance To Say Thanks... by John Ferguson Jr.

From Toronto Maple Leafs.com, The Chief Looks Back At '67 by Mike Ullmer

From the Hockey Hall Of Fame, the 1967 Stanley Cup Champions

For an abundance of Leafs history and information, visit this Wiki link

For an overview of the entire 1967 hockey season, Wiki has it covered here

Members of the '67 Leafs are:

George Armstrong: Longest serving captain in Leafs history wins fourth Stanley Cup.

Bobby Baun: Saw little action in the final and did not attend parade out of pride.

Johnny Bower: At 42, the oldest goalie to win a Cup. Allowed only 3 goals in 3 games of final.

Brian Conacher: Scored 2 goals to eliminate Chicago and join uncles Roy and Lionel also on the Cup.

Kent Douglas: Did not appear in playoffs for the Leafs.

Ron Ellis: Scored first goal in finals deciding game.

Aut Erickson: Appeared in game 1 only, serving a TMM penalty.

Larry Hillman: Claimed from Boston in 1960 intra-league draft, won 2 more Cups with Montreal.

Tim Horton: Birth name is Miles G. Horton, but mother liked calling him Tim. Milesbits, anyone?

Larry Jeffrey: Played every minute of semi-finals but did not play against Montreal.

Dave Keon: "Turn the Keon" was a familiar chant in '67.

Red Kelly: Last of his 8 Cups, retired to coach the Los Angeles Kings.

Frank Mahovlich: Had his worst season in Toronto and was dealt to Detroit the following year.

Milan Marcetta: Appeared in only 3 playoff games for the Leafs.

Jim Pappin: Led post season scoring with 15 points, including 4 goals against Montreal.

Marcel Pronovost: Was motivated by a remark from the Canadiens predicting a Cup win.

Bob Pulford: Won 4 Cups with the Leafs. Scored OT winner at 28:26 in game 3.

Terry Sawchuk: Went 2-2 in finals with 12 goals against.

Eddie Shack: After a 26 goal season, went scoreless in final.

Allan Stanley: Played 10 seasons with the Leafs.

Pete Stemkowski: First "K" in surname is engraved backwards on the Cup.

Mike Walton: Like Mahovlich and Pappin, was one of Imlach's whipping boys.

Other players dressing for the Maple Leafs in 1967 but not appearing in the playoffs or named on the Stanley Cup were John Brenneman, Wayne Carleton, Bruce Gamble, Dick Gamble, Brent Imlach, Jim McKenny, Duane Rupp, Brit Selby, Al Smith and Gary Smith.

Non players named on the Stanley Cup are:

Punch Imlach, coach and general manager.
King Clancy: Won first Cup with Ottawa in 1923 and last this season as assistant coach.
Stafford Smythe, son of Conn Smythe, and one of the teams three owners.
Harold Ballard, president and owner.
John Bassett, chairman of the board and owner.
Bob Davidson, scout.
John Anderson, publicity.
Bob Haggert, trainer.
Tommy Naylor, assistant trainer
Karl Elieff, physiotherapist
Richard Smythe, mascot

Hockey Buzz? - BUZZ OFF!!!

To be blunt - I hate hockey trade rumours!

People who write them assume that people who read them are dunces - plain and simple.

Trade rumours are created for the gullible sports fan, those susceptible to believing that there is in fact a source, who upon hearing of transactions brewing, will run to call their media favorite scribe, sports call in show, or annonymous blogger, and report the slightest ripple of innuendo.

Give your head a shake! It just doesn't happen that way.

If I'm bringing this up now, it has much to do with blogger credibility, and pieces that have been written here, here, and here concerning it.

So called "hockey insiders", is a totally misunderstood term - misused in fact. An insider would refer to a person of employ inside an organization. Persons of such priveledge would never divulge priveledged information to sources that would immediatly leak half truths to media outlets.

Montreal Canadiens financial adviser Julien Brisebois would be a hockey insider - Bob Gainey's right hand man when dealing with the intricacies of contract negotiations. I fully doubt someone of the like needs the meager bucks a scripe would forward to pay for a snippet of behind the scenes knowledge.

General managers, team scouts, and anyone involved in a player transaction process, from financial advisors to player agents, are pretty much sworn to dealing in secrecy.

Seldom is this truth deviated from, and for many reasons. Agents will offer up the odd slice about a particular client, but they aren't sitting in with the GM's as they phone 29 other teams.

I say seldom, because GM's may tell each other what other teams are looking at, who they are offering up and who they called asking about. In all the years I have read about potential trades, it hasn't occured often that any of them came true.

Hockey players on the trade market are always an obvious collection of underperformers, brooding stars, and soon to be free agents. With those notions as a staring point, anyone can make anything up that can sound reasonably sensible.

In order to protect the integrity of a possible trade, there is a practical code of silence among GM's that respects the lives involved, families, sometimes wives and children, not to mention that player evaluations between teams competing for an on the market player can jeopardize the potential return value on a player.

If a player is rumoured to have been offered league wide, the return has just bottomed out.

Simply put, GM's just don't feed sources. The sources don't feed the media. Most media trade hacks simple make the bull up.

Whenever I see any writer, be it in print or in a blog, suggest a trade is brewing, their credibility, in my eyes, takes a substancial hit.

This was how I saw it in 1989 when Al Strachan, who ought to know better, suggested that the Canadiens were willing to part with Claude Lemieux and Shayne Corson, sending both to the Leafs in exchange for Wendel Clark.

Al Strachan is an excellent writer. On occasion he redeems himself, but I can never truly forgive that piece of blatant pandering to the lowest form of hockey gossip readers.

For perspective, Lemieux and Corson were both under 25 at the time. With their contributions, the Canadiens reached the finals in '89, losing the Cup to the Flames. That season, Clark had played but 15 solid games with the Leafs, due to mounting injuries that were a concern at the time. Nevermind that a one for one trade would have been a risky proposition, Strachan saw fit to print that Habs GM Serge Savard, a cautious and patient man, was set to pull the trigger on this doozy.

Of course it never did happen. It was never even real.

What was true, was that the Canadiens upper management (read team president Ronald Corey) were not pleased with the off ice conduct of three players in particular, Lemieux, Corson and Chris Chelios.

Now to take a grain of truth and stretch it to such extremes doesn't take much imagination.

Look around the league today at overpaid players who underperform and make up your own rumour. You don't need to be Einstein or Sam Pollock to realize it's quite easy to formulate your own, somewhat truthful looking rumour.

Next time you read about a trade that you find believable, think about it for a second. Is it believable because you can understand it. Is it more belivable now that someone has printed it.

Each week I get a kick out reading Bruce Garrioch's columns in the Sun media. Actually I skip through them quite quickly. What I do is count the inferences to sources. It makes me ragingly indignant, but it's all just a joke. You'd get the idea Garrioch's cell rings constantly with info the remainder of the hockey world doesn't have. It's as if many people, call them hockey insiders if you want, can't quite contain themselves, and have an almost fatal need to jeopardize their own job by putting their career on the line just to ring up someone as irreputable and dubious as Garrioch and spew forth to him the latest trade rumblings.

What Garrioch is doing on a hockey beat, I don't know. He has no hockey insight whatsoever and reads as thought he has never played the game. His renderings in the Ottawa Sun are almost devoid of any constructive criticism. He's the ultimate homer, waiting for Harry Neale's job.

His columns are peppered with lines that start like, "sources are saying", "whispers are", "an insider has said", "word around is" and "talk suggests".

Of course he won't compromise that source or name anyone outright because it would expose him as the liar he is. If you don't trust your politicians, and look sideways at the used car dealer who just just scammed you, why trust the trade rumour mongerer, who never has to face you.

I use Garrioch as my example, as he is the one I am most familiar with. He has essentially replaced Strachan on the Sun chain rumour mill. He makes himself irrelevant weekly by not having an ounce of scruples. Behind the scenes, even his cohorts mock him.

Earlier this week, a Garrioch headlined column stated that the Bruins Brad Stuart would be imminently dealt. No kidding! The whole world knew that Stuart would not resign in Boston. It was no scoop. In fact, the paper actually went to press likely an hour after the trading of Stuart was made with Calgary.

Any reader waking up that morning would assume Garrioch has one hell of a good crystal ball. It would seemingly give him the ounce of credibility he will never otherwise attain. More than likely, most readers might not have known the trigger on the deal had already been pulled.

Nice try!

As we approach this years trade deadline in two weeks time, keep in mind that most of what you will be reading is about as credible as the National Enquirer.

You might recall that last season's biggest blockbuster, Joe Thornton to San Jose, occurred with out a hint of a whisper. Think about that while you ponder each trade scenario you are baited with in the next 13 days.

Keep score, just for fun! Of the hundred rumours fed by sources, two might actually happen. If you translated that to a hockey stat, let's say shooting percentage, that player would be scoring at a 0.02 rate.

And he'd be sent to the minors!

Sidney Crosby's Bonus Clauses

In addition to Sidney Crosby's base salary of $850.000 (maximum 3 year entry level contract), there are a bundle of bonuses that add up to some interesting numbers. Some are team structured while others are league sponsored performance bonuses. Here is a breakdown of possible monies headed Crosby's way.







$850,000 base salary
$850,000 team bonuses (reaching 100 points, offensive categories of goals, assists, points, games played)
$250,000 Hart Trophy
$250,000 Art Ross Trophy
$250,000 Maurice Richard Trophy
$250,000 Selke Trophy

All four awards pay out $200,000 for a second place finish, and $150,000 for a third.

$100,000 for best PPG average
$100,000 for 1st team All-Star
$150,000 league bonus for most goals
$150,000 league bonus for most assists
$150,000 league bonus for most points

If one assumes that he is out of consideration for most goals on his team and in the league, and that a Selke and Maurice Richard won't happen this year, Sidney will be taking home quite a loot. Using a calculated guess of $500,000 in team bonus money, Crosby would pocket a grand total nearing $1.5 million in bonus dough for a total of $2.350,000.00 in hockey earning alone.

Figure that he's pulling in as much if not more by shilling for Reebok, Tim Horton's, Framework Sports Marketing, and Gatorade, and we have one wealthy young man.

Not a bad haul at 19 years old.

Kostitsyn Brothers Tearing It Up

London Knights' forward Sergei Kostitsyn was the OHL Player of the Week for the week ending January 14, 2007. Kostitsyn, a prospect of the Montreal Canadiens, scored three goals and added seven assists for 10 points in three games. He is the brother of Andrei, who was chosen 10th overall by the Canadiens in 2003. The younger Kostitsyn now has 89 points in 45 games.













The American Hockey League announced today that Andrei Kostitsyn of the Hamilton Bulldogs has been named the AHL Week for the period ending February 11th, 2007.

Kostitsyn, 22, registered eight points (5-3-8), a plus-1 rating and 13 penalty minutes in four games last week, helping the Bulldogs post a record of 3-0-1-0 and extend their point streak to a season-high 10 games.

Children Cheer On Struggling Habs

From Pat Hickey, Montreal Gazette:

If the Canadiens needed some positive reinforcement, they received it yesterday at the Bell Centre.

The Habs were booed as they left the ice after a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators Saturday night. But, a little more than 12 hours later, there was nothing but cheers as a near-capacity crowd watched the Canadiens' annual open practice.

The audience was largely composed of youngsters, whose critical instincts have yet to surface. They cheered their heroes without reservation as the players ran through a series of drills, a shootout competition highlighted by a Sidney Crosby-like move from Garth Murray and a 3-on-3 tournament that had less intensity than a National Hockey League all-star game.

Captain Saku Koivu put the exercise in perspective as he told the more than 20,000 fans that it was good to be greeted by a sea of smiling faces as the Canadiens tried to put the events of Saturday night behind them.

READ MORE

Emery Gets His Due

The NHL has suspended Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery for three games following his slash to the face of Maxim Lapierre during last Saturday's game.

Emery seemed genuinely sorry for the deed.

In speaking with Senior VP Colin Campbell, Emery said "I told him I realized I made a mistake and that it was not my intention to hurt anyone and I was glad that I didn’t," Emery said after practice today. "I made a mistake and now I’m paying for it."

I am kind of surprised at the length of the suspension. I'm not saying the action didn't deserve three games, only that I'm surprised the league found it deserved as much. It's hard to get a handle on what the NHL deems worthy of suspension.

The 10 games handed out to the Predators Scott Nichol for a suckerpunch to what should have been a suspecting player earlier in the year, still throws me off.

So a punch to the head is worth 10, and a paddle to the side of the face is worth three. I honestly don't know what is sensible anymore.

My question is why is it that the action only warranted two minutes during the game?

The You Tube link for the video clip is here. It has already added up 52 comments.

Martin Gerber will get the call between the pipes for games against the Panthers, Thrashers, and Oilers.

Douglas Orr, Father Of Bobby, Passes Away At 82

Douglas Orr, the father of hockey great Bobby Orr, has died. He was 82.

His daughter Patricia confirmed his death to the Canadian Press on Saturday, but would not offer any further details.

"This has been a tough day for me," said Don Cherry, his usually boisterous personality dulled by the news of the death of a close friend. "He had a great hockey career at one time, but gave it up to go in the Second World War as a sailor. He was a great guy."

Douglas Orr excelled in track at Parry Sound High School and also in hockey, earning a long look from the Boston Bruins.

He declined an offer from the Bruins to play minor league hockey in the U.S., however, and enlisted in the Canadian navy.

Following the war, he settled back in Parry Sound with his wife Arva. The two had five children, Pat, Ron, Bobby, Penny and Doug Jr.

Orr and wife Arva welcomed their third of five children, Robert Gordon Orr, on March 20, 1948, in Parry Sound, Ont.Orr, who worked in a munitions factory after the war, encouraged sons Ron, Douglas Jr. and Bobby as they each played several sports.

Barely a teenager, Bobby Orr's hockey prowess attracted interest from NHL clubs Toronto, Detroit and Boston, with the Bruins signing the young defenceman.

The Orrs allowed their 14-year-old son to begin playing with Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League in 1963

Four years later, he was the Calder Trophy winner with the Bruins, the beginning of one of hockey's most sensational careers.

Orr revolutionized the position with his end-to-end rushes into the offensize zone and passing ability, while utilizing his tremendous speed to get back to his own end.

He won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenceman seven times and became the first at the position to lead the league in scoring, in 1970.

He helped guide the Bruins to two Stanley Cups but was forced to retire at the age of 31 during the 1978-79 season. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame immediately.

In 2000, Arva Orr died at the age of 78 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The couple had been married 53 years at the time of her death.

Three years later, the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame opened in Parry Sound.

"It's exciting," Doug Orr said of the new facility.

"I'm sure Bobby will be very proud of this. I sure am."

Mr. Orr was closely involved in the community working alongside the Junior ‘A’ hockey team the Seguin Bruins, the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 117 and many other organizations.

Details have not yet been released as to when or where the funeral will be held, however a spokesperson for Logan’s Funeral Home said the funeral for Mr. Orr will most likely be held in the middle of the week.

Canadiens Dropped Again Despite Spirited Effort

Some random notes in random order on tonight's Canadiens loss to Ottawa.

As things continue downhill for the Habs, I must admit to not being terribly fond of doing an in depth game analysis. Since my friends at Theory of Ice and Current Habs are doing such a bang up job, I choose not to be redundant, and would prefer to swing readers there on a continual basis. Add these blogs to your favorites list - it's well worth it. In fact Matt, at CHH was at the game, and was excited to learn that his favorite player, Steve Begin, was returning to the lineup. Hope he didn't wet himself when Begin's goal got the Canadiens going!

I for one, thought the Habs owned this game, having outshot the Senators 40-30. They outchanced Ottawa big time, and if it were not for the acrobatics of Ray Emery the Canadiens would have won the game. He was simply spectacular when he needed to be, while the Swiss cheese at the opposite end let the team down more than once with some soft goals getting by him.

And to think, I was finally just starting to like Aebischer!

Why he comes out way too far to cut down a two on one is beyond me. Especially when the D plays the shooter, in reference to the Spezza gift.

Alex Kovalev and Janne Niinimaa got doghoused and earned it. RDS is saying that Kovalev smashed sticks in the dressing room after the game. I hope they were his own.

Begin and Komisarek were sparkplugs tonight.

Chris Higgins cannot buy a goal despite his efforts. He was one of the better Habs tonight,but came up empty.
Ray Emery will have two highlight reel saves to brag about, in addition to the paddle slap to the face he gave Lapierre. He robbed Francis Bouillon on a fluttering knuckleball shot close in and stoned more than one Hab in similar fashion.

His unglued moment had something to do, I am sure, with his not being selected one of the 3 stars of the game.

For those who missed it, Emery struck Lapierre in the face with his stick after the Canadiens forward crept in for a possible rebound. Nothing Lapierre did warranted the action. Emery was given a 2 minute penalty, as Lapierre was not cut. It clearly deserved a 5 for attempt to injure. Sens commentator, and former goalie Greg Millen, agreed the call was not dealt with properly. The Canadiens will be sending the film clip to the league in protest.

NIce hit by Komisarek on Chris Neil to open the game. These two are developing a history with a promising future. The antics that went on between both from opposite penalty boxes were quite humourous. Seeing the goings on, one just knew they would tangle before the game was over - and surely they did.

Coach Guy Carbonneau was upset that Neil did not receive an instigator call on the tilt. The camera zoomed into the Habs bench and showed an animated and gesturing Carbonneau unhappy with the call.

I was slightly caught off guard by what happened next.

Was it a flipped bird that quickly turned into a two digit peace sign?

Does Carbonneau have a tendonitis-like delay in his index finger?

I for one, thought I was seeing things, and shook it off as old age eyesight until it was offhandedly mentioned later in the broadcast. RDS commentator Yvon Pedneault told of hundreds of calls coming into the station regarding complaining of what it appeared to be, as they showed a slomo version that had the one finger morphing, it seemed, into two. Oddest of all, the two finger holdup came from the back of Carbonneau's hand rather than the palm. Pedneault actually attempted to purvey a reading of the coaches lips to explain that he was in fact complaining about a 2 minute penalty not being called.

It'll be curious to see if a big deal is made of this.

As an aside to this incident, Carbonneau was traded away from the Canadiens in 1994 after Le Journal De Montreal ran a picture of Carbonneau flipping a bird at reporters from a golf course shortly after the Canadiens elimination by the Rangers. Habs management didn't take kindly to the press the story received, regardless of intent.

I will try to YouTube the clip in the coming days to add it here if I can - no luck so far!

Forsberg To Canadiens Rumours Gain Traction

During the intermission of tonight's Habs - Senators game, commentator Yvon Pedneault stated that very reliable sources were saying that Peter Forsberg would only waive his no trade clause for three teams - Detroit, Anaheim, and Montreal.

The first two would obviously quench Forsberg's thirst to be on a Stanley Cup contender, while Montreal keeps him close to the Bauer skate manufacturer he frequently visits to assist with his most nagging injury.

For the record, Pedneault usually doesn't deal in the rumour treadmill, well connected as he is. He was one of the few journalists / commentators listed on THN top 100 most influencial people in hockey. When he talks of such things, there is always an abundance of substance behind that of which he speaks.

Some other plusses to Forsberg heading to Montreal is that he would become to the teams number one center overnight and play a prime role in a resurgence of offense that is badly needed. Candidates that would quickly benefit from Forsberg presence would include Michael Ryder, Chris Higgins, Guillaume Latendresse, and Alex Kovalev.

On the Philly side of the deal, Montreal has roster players to offer, prospects to spare, and are willing to part with a number one pick should Forsberg show an interest in signing beyond this season. Another bonus for the Flyers is that trades with Montreal have often worked well in Philadelphia's favor. Over the years they have aquired John Leclair, Eric Desjardins, and reaquired Mark Recchi for Dainus Zubrus, stemming from the original deal.

Anaheim GM Brian Burke has stated that he will not sell the farm to aquire Forsberg, and is obviously weighing the risk factor. Detroit are very much Cup contenders, and may also be unwilling to surrender as much as the desperate Habs.

The bottom line may well be that the Canadiens mounting losses are making the Forsberg risk seem less and less minimal.

The Canadiens are in need of a desperate boost, and aquiring Forsberg would simply set the city on fire.

I've spotted a few rumblings concerning Montreal, that without Pedneault's nod, I wouldn't normally give creedence to.

The most detailed account of something in the works was at Spector's Rumours, where I found this quote:

....reported scouts from four NHL teams were in attendence at Thursday's Philadelphia Flyers game, and Flyers director of player development Don Luce was seen talking with Montreal Canadiens scout Doug Gibson.

"Scouts from Vancouver, Florida and Atlanta also were in attendance", reports Gormley, who also writes the Habs are one of a dozen teams believed interested in Peter Forsberg.

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Age No Barrier For Net Ace

Montreal West goaltender Jack Dunn, 76, who plays on average 150 games a year, will tend goal for Team Canada at the 65 and over international tournament in Sweden.

(Note - This article by John Meager will be appearing in the Febuary 11th, Montreal Gazette.)

Life begins at 50, so the boomers like to say. At least that's what Jack Dunn has been telling anyone willing to listen since he first donned a pair of leather goalie pads - piano-heavy by today's standards - for a friendly father-and-son hockey game at Montreal West Arena in 1980.

"We needed someone to go in nets and I was helping the coach," Dunn recalled of his improbable half-century old debut. "I couldn't skate that well, so I said yes."

Dunn, now 76 going on, oh, 47, has been saying yes ever since.

Three nights a week, 12 months a year, you'll find him stopping pucks from guys half his age.

"I'd say I play about 150 games a year, not including tournaments," he said.

This spring, the late bloomer will take to the crease as part of Team Canada at a 65-and-over international tournament in Sweden.

"It's like the World Cup of hockey for old guys," Dunn said with a laugh.

Surprisingly, perhaps, wearing the red Maple Leaf is not the fulfillment of a boyhood dream for Dunn, who was consumed by baseball while growing up poor in the east end of Montreal.

"I never played hockey as a kid. I had weak ankles," said Dunn, the son of a street peddler who dropped out of high school after Grade 8 to go work for Canadian Pacific Railway.

"Besides, we couldn't afford hockey equipment, and I was always a baseball fanatic," Dunn said. "We all were back in those days."

He still is, in fact.

The former Expos season-ticket holder attends baseball fantasy camps every year, playing first base and rubbing shoulders with former major-leaguers. But hockey is the game that brings out Dunn's competitive nature.

"I'm a very competitive person," said Dunn, who immersed himself in minor hockey many years ago and rose to become a Level 5 certified coach. "Whatever I do, I want to do to the best of my ability.

Dunn's competitive nature also helped him succeed in business. The street smarts he honed as a youngster running telegrams in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve came in handy when he launched his own business in 1954, Classique Alouette. Almost every Montrealer, at one time or another, has probably played on a billiards table or a pinball machine that Dunn's company arranged to be there.

As Dunn's business prospered, he and his wife, Edith, who passed away five years ago, raised three children in Montreal West. He has two daughters - Marilyn is a veterinarian, Carolyn a pediatrician - and a son, Jimmy, who is an accountant in the family business.

Dunn has played international hockey once before, in 2003, albeit for the visiting Moscow Dynamo alumni team, featuring stars from the 1972 Summit Series, against the Concordia University alumni.

"Concordia coach Kevin Figsby asked me to bring my goalie equipment to the rink just in case," Dunn recalled. "Then he leads me down the arena corridor and into the Russian team's dressing room."

Entering the sombre visitor's room was another world for the outgoing Dunn.

"The Russians don't talk or laugh before a game like we do," he said. "They're so regimented. When one guy goes to the bathroom, three guys go with him. It was very strange."

The Russians won the game 7-4 and Dunn played one period, yielding a goal to Stinger ringer Sergio Momesso, the former Canadiens forward.

At 5-foot-8 and 165 pounds, Dunn relies on quick reflexes to make most saves, although he admits he has a tendency to drop down too early.

"I'm trying to be more of a stand-up goalie," he said. "I'm always looking for new lighter equipment."

Dunn doesn't know how much longer he'll continue playing recreational hockey, but he's keeping game-fit. He often gets teased by beer-leaguers because he abstains from alcohol, preferring a postgame soft drink instead
"I work out every day for 30 minutes, play hockey three times a week, and go to the gym once a week and I have a personal trainer," he said proudly.

"You have to stay active at my age. You see it right away with guys who are not."

But there's one thing that might cause the longtime Canadiens season-ticket holder to retire from old-timers hockey.

"I've had the same pair of skates since I started," he said. "If something ever happened to them, I'd pack it in."

Psst ... don't tell the Russians.

NHL Amateur Draft Database

In the listings below is contained an amateur draft database from Hockey Draft Central (1963-1984) and Wikipedia (1985 to present). Between the hyperlinks of each section, you will find access to information on every player drafted since 1963. The search drop boxes in either site are extremely useful and can bring up much valuable and interesting information on various players and draft years.

For simplification, I have noted each year in reverse order along with the #1 picks. The names in brackets feature players who were also chosen in the same year. Those players were chosen here on a criteria of next best, or better than the first overall picks themselves.


2006 Erik Johnson - St. Louis Blues (#2 Jordan Staal - Pittsburgh Penguins, #3 Jonathan Toews - Chicago Blackhawks, #5 Phil Kessel - Boston Bruins)

2005 Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins (#5 Carey Price - Montreal Canadiens, #11 Anze kopitar - Los Angeles Kings, #29 Steve Downie - Philadelphia Flyers, #44 Paul Stastny - Colorado Avalanche, #45 Guillaume Latendresse - Montreal Canadiens)

2004 Alexander Ovechkin - Washington Capitals (#2 Evgeni Malkin - Pittsburgh Penguins, #15 Alexander Radulov - Nashville Predators, #21 Wojtek Wolski - Colorado Avalanche)

2003 Marc-Andre Fleury - Pittsburgh Penguins (#2 Eric Staal - Carolina Hurricanes, #5 Thomas Vanek - Buffalo Sabres, #9 Dion Phaneuf - Calgary Flames)

2002 Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets (#2 Kari Lehtonen - Atlanta Thrashers, #7 Joffrey Lupul - Anaheim Mighty Ducks, #14 Chris Higgins - Montreal Canadiens, #25 Cam Ward - Carolina Hurricanes)

2001 Ilya Kovalchuk - Atlanta Thrashers (#2 Jason Spezza - Ottawa Senators, #13 Ales Hemsky - Edmonton Oilers)

2000 Rick DiPietro - New York Islanders (#2 Dany Heatley - Atlanta Thrashers, #3 Marian Gaborik - Minnesota Wild)

1999 Patrik Stephan - Atlanta Thrashers (#2 Daniel Sedin - Vancouver Canucks, #3 Henrik Sedin - Vancouver Canucks, #26 Martin Havlat - Ottawa Senators, #210 Henrik Zetterberg - Detroit red Wings)

1998 Vincent Lecavalier - Tampa Bay Lightening (#2 David Legwand - Nashville Predators, #12 Alex Tanguay - Colorado Avalanche, #64 Brad Richards - Tampa Bay Lightening)

1997 Joe Thornton - Boston Bruins (#2 Patrick Marleau - San Jose Sharks, #4 Roberto Luongo - New York Islanders, #12 Marian Hossa - Ottawa Senators)

1996 Chris Philips - Ottawa Senators (#24 Daniel Briere - Phoenix Coyotes, #56 Zdeno Chara - New York Islanders)

1995 Bryan Berard - Ottawa Senators (#2 Wade Redden - New york Islanders, #11 Jerome Iginla - Dallas Stars, #91 Marc Savard - New York Rangers)

1994 Ed Jovanovski - Florida Panthers (#51 Patrik Elias - New Jersey Devils, #87 Milan Hedjuk - Quebec Nordiques)

1993 Alexandre Daigle - Ottawa Senators (#2 Chris Pronger - Hartford Whalers, #4 Paul Kariya - Anaheim Mighty Ducks)

1992 Roman Hamrlik - Tampa Bay Lightening (#2 Alexei Yashin - Ottawa Senators)

1991 Eric Lindros - Quebec Nordiques (#3 Scott Neidermayer - New Jersey Devils, #6 Peter Forsberg - Philadelphia Flyers, #16 Markus naslind - Pittsburgh Penguins)

1990 Owen Nolan - Quebec Nordiques (#5 Jaromir Jagr - Pittsburgh Penguins, #20 Martin Brodeur - New Jersey Devils)

1989 Mats Sundin - Quebec Nordiques (#19 Olaf Kolzig - Washington Capitals, #53 Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings, #74 Sergei Federov - Detroit Red Wings, #113 Pavel Bure - Vancouver Canucks)

1988 Mike Modano - Minnesota North Stars (#8 Jeremy Roenick - Chicago Blackhawks, #9 Rod Brind'Amour - St. Louis Blues, #10 Teemu Selanne - Winnipeg Jets, #67 mark Recchi - Pittsburgh Penguins)

1987 Pierre Turgeon - Buffalo Sabres (#2 Brendan Shanahan - New Jersey Devils, #15 Joe Sakic - Quebec Nordiques, # 44 Mathieu Schneider - Montreal Canadiens, #166 Theoren Fleury - Calgary Flames)

1986 Joe Murphy - Detroit Red Wings (#2 Jimmy Carson - Los Angeles Kings, #7 Vincent Damphousse - Toronto Maple Leafs, #9 Brian Leetch - New York Rangers)

1985 Wendel Clark - Toronto Maple Leafs (#2 Craig Simpson - Pittsburgh Penguins, #27 Joe Nieuwendyk - Calgary Flames, #28 Mike Richter - New York Rangers)

1984 Mario Lemieux - Pittsburgh Penguins (#2 Kirk Muller - New Jersey Devils, #51 Patrick Roy - Montreal Canadiens, #117 Brett Hull - Calgary Flames, #171 Luc Robitaille - Los Angeles Kings)











1983 Brian Lawton - Minnesota North Stars (#3 Pat lafontaine - New York Islanders, #4 Steve Yzerman - Detroit Red Wings, #9 Cam Neely - Vancouver Canucks, #207 Dominik Hasek - Chicago Black Hawks)

1982 Gord Kluzak - Boston Bruins (#2 Brian Bellows - Minnesota North Stars, #5 Scott Stevens - Washington Capitals, #134 Doug Gilmour - St. Louis Blues)

1981 Dale Hawerchuk - Winnipeg Jets (#4 Ron Francis - Hartford Whalers, #15 Al McInnis - Calgary Flames, #40 Chris Chelios - Montreal Canadiens)












1980 Doug Wickenheiser - Montreal Canadiens (#6 Paul Coffey - Edmonton Oilers)

1979 Rob Ramage - Colorado Rockies (#8 Raymond Bourque - Boston Bruins, #48 Mark Messier - Edmonton Oilers)

1978 Bobby Smith - Minnesota North Stars (#2 Ryan Walter - Washington Capitals)

1977 Dale McCourt - Detroit Red Wings (#15 Mike Bossy - New York Islanders)

1976 Rick Green - Washington Capitals (#7 Bernie Federko - St. Louis Blues)

1975 Mel Bridgeman - Philadelphia Flyers (#24 Doug Jarvis - Toronto Maple Leafs)

1974 Greg Joly - Washington Capitals (#22 Bryan Trottier - New York Islanders)

1973 Denis Potvin - New York Islanders (#8 Bob Gainey - Montreal Canadiens)

1972 Billy Harris - New York Islanders (#4 Steve Shutt - Montreal Canadiens)

1971 Guy Lafleur - Montreal Canadiens (#2 Marcel Dionne - Detroit Red Wings)











1970 Gilbert Perreault - Buffalo Sabres (#8 Darryl Sittler - Toronto Maple Leafs)

1969 Rejean Houle - Montreal Canadiens (#17 Bobby Clarke - Philadelphia Flyers)












1968 Michel Plasse - Montreal Canadiens

1967 Rick Pagnutti - Los Angeles Kings (#16 J. Bob Kelly - Toronto Maple Leafs)

1966 Barry Gibbs - Boston Bruins (#2 Brad Park - New York Rangers)

1965 Andre Veilleux - New York Rangers (#5 Pierre Bouchard - Montreal Canadiens)

1964 Claude Gauthier - Detroit Red Wings (#14 Ken Dryden - Boston Bruins)

1963 Garry Monahan - Montreal Canadiens (#2 Peter Mahovlich - Detroit Red Wings)