Doug Hicks

Cold Lake, Alberta's Doug Hicks was a hot commodity in 1974. After three years with the WCJHL Flin Flon Bombers, two of which were standout seasons, Doug was drafted in the 1st round, 6th overall by the Minnesota North Stars. He was selected ahead of the likes of Doug Risebrough, Pierre Larouche, Mario Tremblay and Bryan Trottier.

Hicks did not have a memorable career like many other fellows drafted that year, but he had a good career. He was able to step directly out of junior hockey into the NHL without looking too out of place. He would go on to a lengthy NHL career spanning 561 games.

While it was not un common in the 1970s to see a forward step out of junior and find relatively early success at the NHL level, it was almost unheard of a defenseman being able to make the big jump back then, let alone in any era. But Hicks gave the North Stars great hopes after playing solidly for the promising though still struggling team.

"Usually you figure on one or two seasons in the minors at least for the kind of defenseman Hicks is," said North Stars general manager Jackie Gordon. "And here we've got a kid, just turned 20, with a full NHL season under his belt. What an asset he's going to be."

Unfortunately for Gordon, Hicks leveled off rather than continued to increase to other levels over the rest of his career. He became a dependable depth defenseman, and a key contributor to team morale and chemistry.

Doug's off ice contributions are best documented with young Edmonton Oilers of the early 1980s. After 4 seasons with Minnesota and two with Chicago, Doug was picked up by the Oilers in the 1979 expansion draft when the Oilers merged with the league from the World Hockey Association. Hicks was brought in for his experience and leadership, and although he was gone long before the Oilers dynasty reign, he left a lasting impression on the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri and, perhaps especially, a young defenseman named Kevin Lowe.

"Although Hicks has long been forgotten by most fans," wrote Kevin in his great autobiography Champions, "those of use who had the good fortune to play alongside him remember him well. Doug was a season pro by the time he reached Edmonton and knew the meaning of teammanship."

One of the reasons behind the Oilers dynasty was how close the team was, and how they grew from young boys to world champions all together - be it on the ice or off.

"One of the first bits of business he initiated was 'The Original Team Beer,' " explained Lowe. "Dougie decided that every couple of weeks it was mandatory for everyone to go to a certain place, have a steak sandwich, and a couple of beers. It was like a fraternity bash where we could unwind, hash out any problems and, most of all, cultivate the team spirit that would very soon be evident on the Edmonton Oilers."

It may seem like a simple thing, but it was these intangibles that Hicks was valuable for .He had an infectious attitude that the youngsters looked up to. He helped to guide the young Oilers in their infancy.

Hicks was dealt away at the trading deadline in his third season in Edmonton. He went to Washington where he only played 20 games over two years. he spent most of the 1982-83 season in the minor leagues. He quit playing after that, and turned to Alberta where he took up coaching with the AJHL' St. Albert Saints for a season.

Hicks loved to play hockey though, and he jumped at an opportunity to return to the game in 1984-85. He headed over to Europe, where he play until 1988 in Germany and Austria.

Doug, who is the brother of fellow NHL alumni Glenn Hicks, is still playing the game these days - often appearing in old timer charity games such as the Legends of Hockey tour.

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Edmonton Oilers Greatest Players

	Glenn Anderson - Reckless and explosive - just two words the describe the clutch play of Glenn Anderson.
	Kelly Buchberger - No Edmonton captain, not even Wayne Gretzky or Mark Messier, played with as much courage and heart as Kelly Buchberger, captain from 1995 through 1999.
	Paul Coffey - Aside from Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey is the most prolific offensive defenseman in NHL history.
	Dave Dryden - Ken Dryden's brother was best remembered as an Edmonton Oiler in the WHA, but also found success in the NHL with the Sabres.
	Lee Fogolin - Veteran player was a calming leader for the young Oilers when they entered the NHL
	Grant Fuhr - The spectacular goaltending of Grant Fuhr landed him many Stanley Cups, world titles and in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
	Martin Gelinas - Martin Gelinas earned a lot of respect for his hard working, honest game. He showed up every night, gave it his all and was a great teammate..
	Randy Gregg - Randy Gregg, a full fledged medical doctor when he played in the National Hockey League and the Olympics, was one of hockey's most interesting lifetimes.
	Wayne Gretzky - Once an Oiler, always an Oiler. The Great One lived up to his nickname, and may be the greatest athlete ever.
	Matti Hagman - In Finland the name Matti Hagman ranks amongst the greatest hockey players of all time.
	Al Hamilton - His jersey number hangs in the rafters with the likes of Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Fuhr and Coffey. Who the heck is Al Hamilton?
	Charlie Huddy - An oft-forgotten key cog of the Oilers dynasty, Huddy truly was Edmonton's unsung hero.
	Dave Hunter - An unheralded utility player during the Oilers dynasty, Dave Hunter was a rugged customer and solid defensive player.
	Petr Klima - Blessed with mouth-dropping talent, Petr Klima lacked the work ethic to become a true superstar.
	Mike Krushelnyski - When Mike Krushelnyski potted 43 goals in 1984-85, the Oilers thought they finally found a LW to play with Wayne Gretzky.
	Jari Kurri - "Gretzky to Kurri....scores!" was a call heard 429 times in Edmonton. The game hasn't seen quite as dynamic of a duo since.
	Ken Linseman - The Rat was a good defensive checker with a decent offensive pop. Unfortunately he was far more offensive as a super pest.
	Kevin Lowe - A tremendous leader and defensive presence on a team known strictly for offense and victories, Kevin Lowe was very much overlooked but nonetheless extremely important.
	Dave Lumley - The popular agitator known as "Lummer" once scored in 12 consecutive games. However his biggest goal came in the 1984 playoffs
	Craig MacTavish - The cerebral Craig MacTavish overcame the darkest of days to become a top player and coach with the Edmonton Oilers

Dave Manson - Dave "Charlie" Manson was one of the most feared players - and better players - of his era.

	Kevin McClelland - Kevin McClelland is remembered for scoring the only goal in game one of the 1984 Stanley Cup finals. The goal gave the Oilers the confidence they needed to knock off the New York Islanders.
	Marty McSorley - Popular Marty McSorley worked hard to shed his goon image and become known as a good player. Then he blew it.

	Mark Messier - The hometown boy was the the passion and intensity of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty
	Eddie Mio - Eddio Mio was the best man at Wayne Gretzky's wedding.
	Andy Moog - After backing up too often in Edmonton, Andy Moog had a stellar career with Boston and Dallas.
	Craig Muni - Hard hitting Craig Muni overcame poor skating to become an effective NHLer.
	Jaroslav Pouzar - Czech veteran was brought in to play left wing on a line with Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri.
	Bill Ranford - Spectacular Bill Ranford filled the huge skates of Grant Fuhr for both the Edmonton Oilers and Team Canada. .

	Reijo Ruotsalainen - Rental Rexi was a Paul Coffey clone
	Glen Sather - Glen Sather was the mastermind coach and architect general manager of arguably the greatest team of all time.
	Dave Semenko - Best remembered as Wayne Gretzky's bodyguard, "Sammy" was an important part of the Oilers 1980s dynasty.
	Craig Simpson - Craig Simpson was a power play specialist acquired in exchange for Paul Coffey. He was instrumental in the 1990 Stanley Cup win.
	Steve Smith - Steve Smith overcame the worst moment in franchise history to become a very good defenseman..
	Esa Tikkanen - The Grate One was one of the peskiest defensive stalwarts of recent memory. He was also a clutch playoff performer with 5 Stanley Cup rings.

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Craig Simpson

Craig Simpson was the best junior player available in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft after a splendid two years at Michigan State University. The 6'2" 190lb left winger scored 45 goals and 141 points in just 88 games with the Spartans.

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked first overall and were highly interested in the London, Ontario native, but the feeling was not mutual. Craig had told the Leafs that he would never play for them. The Leafs decided to take tough defenseman (who would be moved to left wing later) in Wendel Clark, leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins to snatch up the clever goal scorer.

Craig left university to immediately join the Penguins. Success did not come right away for Simpson. He scored just 11 goals and 28 points in his rookie season. He improved to 26 goals and 51 points in year two.

Craig's third year in the league would prove to be his finest. He started out strong by scoring 13 goals and 26 points in 21 games with the Penguins. However, the pivotal moment in his career came on November 24, 1987. He was involved in one of the biggest trades of the decade when he was packaged with Dave Hannan, Moe Mantha and Chris Joseph in exchange for Paul Coffey, Dave Hunter and Wayne Van Dorp. Simpson would come to Edmonton and instantly become part of their high powered power play. He finished the season by scoring 43 goals in 59 games with the Oil. In total that season, Craig scored 56 goals and 90 points - all career highs. Craig, at best an average skater in every regard, spent much of his time on the left wing with Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson. He added 13 more goals in 19 playoff games as the Oilers won the 1988 Stanley Cup.

Simpson's offensive performance would dip following his career year. He fell off to 35 the following year and 29 in 1989-90. However the 1990 playoffs proved to be Simpson's finest moments. The Oilers, without Wayne Gretzky, won the Stanley Cup. While much of the credit went to team captain Mark Messier and goaltender Bill Ranford, it was Simpson that led all playoff shooters in goals (16) and points (31).

Simpson's production would gradually slip to the point where he was a 20 goal scorer as opposed to a league leader in that category. Part of the reason was Simpson's style of play. He often parked his body in front the opposition's net and absorb punishment given by monstrous defensemen who would hack and whack at his body. His back would eventually go out and cause him to retire prematurely.

The Oilers traded Simpson to Buffalo in 1993 for Josef Cierny and a draft pick. The trade was partly due to his injury problems and the fact that the Oilers were dumping salaries.

Simpson's stay in Buffalo was less than memorable. Because of his serious injuries, Craig only play in 46 games over two years before calling it quits. He scored just 10 times in Buffalo.

When Craig retired he left the NHL as a veteran of 634 games. He scored 247 goals and 250 assists for 497 points. He also battled in 67 playoff wars, scoring 36 goals and 32 assists while earning two Stanley Cup rings.

I will always remember Simpson as a tireless, fearless worker, sacrificing his body to score goals. After all, he was a power play specialist, with 37% of his career goals coming with the man advantage But in actuality he was an excellent passer, too. On the Edmonton power play he was basically restricted to the front of the net because he his amazing hand-eye coordination made him one of the best in the business in terms of tip-ins and deflections. But he had great vision and hands, and on most other teams he would have been the go to guy with more complimentary assist totals.

Simpson later became a coach and a popular Hockey Night in Canada colorman.

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Steve Smith

It never mattered how good of a defenseman Steve Smith became. And he became a very good one.

But he will always be remembered for this:



It is one of the most famous goals in Stanley Cup playoff history, if only for all the wrong reasons. Smith accidentally puts the puck in his own net in the third period of a tied game seven, putting his team on the brink of elimination. The two time defending champion Edmonton Oilers never recovered, and are knocked out of the playoffs by their arch rivals, the Calgary Flames.

Smith was just a rookie then. Such a devastating occurrence could easily have wrecked many a young defensemen's career. While most people will remember Steve Smith for the mistake, people should remember him for his resolve and becoming one of the better defensemen of his era.

Never Came Easy

Success in hockey never came easy for Smith.

He was never drafted by a junior team. He grew up out of the scout's radar in the tiny town of Cobourg, Ontario. When his teams traveled to tournaments, scouts were unimpressed with the gangly kid who found his big body too awkward to be effective.

Smith stuck with the game, and by age 17 he grew to 6'3" and 180lbs, enough to catch the attention of his hometown London Knights. Smith, who was actually born in Glasglow, Scotland of all places, made the team, though played the first half of the season as the 4th line right winger.

By his NHL draft year he filled out to 225lbs, and played regularly on the blue line. Despite his promising skill set, he was a mid round draft pick, selected 111th overall by the Edmonton Oilers.

Smith was not even the highest selected Steve Smith of his draft class. Taken in the 1st round, 16th overall by Philadelphia, was another Steve Smith, this one of Sault Ste. Marie.

That Steve Smith was supposed to be more of a sure bet, but he only played in 18 career NHL games.

Meanwhile the Oilers Smith went on to become one of better defensemen of his era, playing in 804 games, scoring 72 goals, 303 assists, and 375 points while winning three Stanley Cups and a Canada Cup.

We would be remiss to not mention his career 2139 penalty minutes, which is amazing given that he was not a noted fighter. Smith was an intimidating monster back on the blue line, not afraid to impose his 6'4" 220lb body on any incoming forward.

Blessed with balance and agility on his skates and ridiculously long reach, Smith was tough to beat one on one. He was also very good at reading the oncoming plays and was always in good position to defend.

Smith was much more than just one dimensional shut down defenseman. He had surprising mobility, able to cover more ice and maximize his physical impact. He could rush the puck out of the zone when needed, but more often than not relied on an effective first pass out of the zone to key the transition offense.

Smith had a solid offensive game, relying mostly on slapshot from the point. His shot was not particularly overwhelming, but he had a good knack to get the shot through traffic and on net.

Smith persevered after the playoff disaster to become one of the Oilers best defenders. When the Oilers recaptured the Stanley Cup in 1988, captain Wayne Gretzky immediately handed the silver chalice to young Smith.

As the dynasty became dismantled over the next few years, Smith became the Oilers top defender. At the same time he became a bit a whipping dog for coach John Muckler. Muckler obviously recognized Smith's resolve and used that continuously prod him. He recognized Smith's unique package of skill and size, and wanted used old-school coaching techniques to see Smith reach his potential.

Like so many of the Oilers Stanley Cup stars, contract disputes forced Smith out of town. In October 1991 the Oilers moved Smith to Chicago in exchange for Dave Manson and a draft pick used to select Kirk Maltby. Smith had sat out the Oilers training camp and was prepared to sit out the beginning of the season in search of a new contract.

In the first two seasons with Chicago Smith became a steady standout along side Chris Chelios in Chicago. Injuries derailed Smith's career over the final four years in Chicago. Twice Smith broke his leg, and he constantly battled a bad back. Smith would miss more games than he would be able to play in.

The Blackhawks did not in 1998. The back injury scared all teams away except for, of all teams, the Calgary Flames.

Smith joined the Flames and put in a yeoman's effort, playing through the pain to participate in 69 games while providing a badly needed veteran presence.

Smith's back would give out though. Combined with a severe concussion suffered against Minnesota, Smith would appear in only 33 games over the next two seasons, eventually being forced into retirement and behind the Flames bench as an assistant coach.

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