Edmonton Oilers Legends

Wayne Gretzky

2011-11-21T23:04:00.003-08:00

Brantford, Ontario used to be best known as the place where inventor Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. However that began to change on January 26, 1961 as Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born. Brantford would soon become known as the birthplace of hockey's greatest player.

Two years after birth, Wayne took his first steps to hockey stardom. Walter Gretzky, Canada's most famous hockey dad, took the youngster down to the local rink and began teaching him how to skate. It wasn't much longer after that before novice league coaches realized that the kid was a Good One, although they had no idea he was the Great One in the making. Soon enough a young Gretzky was playing in leagues with kids 3 or 4 years older than he was.

The first major article about Gretzky found its way into the Toronto Telegram on October 28, 1971, when reporter John Iaboni was sent to cover the Nadrofsky Steelers' blossoming star.

At the end of the game an eight-year old spectator approached Iaboni and asked, "'Are you going to write a book on Wayne Gretzky? He's good you know.'"

While the book idea was a little farther off, his greatness was already shining through. Gretzky finished that season with 378 goals in 68 games.

By the age of 17, he was tearing up the Ontario Hockey League, scoring 182 points in 64 regular season games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhouds.

For most of his childhood, Gretzky had worn Howe's No. 9, in honor of his hero, Gordie Howe, then the NHL's all time scoring leader. It was Greyhounds GM "Muzz" McPherson who convinced Wayne Gretzky to wear the unconventional number 99 on his jersey, since No. 9 was unavailable.

A year before he would have been eligible for the NHL draft, 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky signed up with the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA in 1978 for an unprecedented $825,000. After just 8 games, however, the hotshot prospect found himself traded to Edmonton, along with Peter Driscoll and Eddie Mio, in exchange for cash. The Racers were in deep financial trouble, and the move had to be made.

In the WHA's last season Gretzky led the Oilers to the championship finals, where they lost to the Winnipeg Jets. Gretzky finished third in league scoring with 110 points. Remember, most kids his age are in high school, and this guy was challenging for the scoring race!

Edmonton was one of four WHA franchises that were absorbed into the NHL in 1979. And in his first season in the National Hockey League, Gretzky became the youngest player ever to crack the 50-goal barrier. He equaled Marcel Dionne's 137 points. While he was deemed ineligible for the Calder trophy because of his affiliation with the WHA, Gretzky locked up the Hart trophy for the most valuable player.

In the 1981-82 campaign, Gretzky obliterated the record for goals in a season with an unthinkable 92 and points in a season with 212. No one else had ever broken the 200-point barrier, or even come close, but Gretzky would do it three more times. Even more impressive was his breach of hockey's mythical 50-goals-in-50-games barrier. Only two other players had ever achieved that milestone — Rocket Richard and Mike Bossy — and it took both the full 50 games to do it; Gretzky scored number 50 in the 39th game of the season.

Teaming up Gretzky with the Finnish finisher, Jari Kurri, on the first line and Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson on the second, combined with offensively-gifted defenseman Paul Coffey, coach Glen Sather could send waves of offense at opposing teams the likes of which the NHL had never seen. Propelled by four 100-point scorers, Edmonton tallied an unprecedented 424 goals in the 1982-83 season.

The high flying Oilers made it all the way to the 1983 Stanley Cup finals where they faced the 3 time defending Cup champs, the New York Islanders. The Oilers were about to be taught a lesson - losing in 4 straight games as the Isles made it 4 straight Cup victories.

In the next year's rematch, however, the Oilers defeated the Islanders in five games, ending one dynasty and starting one of their own. The momentum spilled over into the 1984-85 season when they demolished Philadelphia in just five games to take their second Stanley Cup.

It seemed like no one in the league could defeat Gretzky's Oilers of the mid-80s, except themselves. A wayward pass by Edmonton defenseman Steve Smith into his own net sent the team home early during the 1986 playoffs, interrupting what should have been a five-year championship dynasty, as the Oilers would redeem themselves with the 1987 and 1988 championships.

And throughout the Oilers' glory years, Gretzky kept re-writing the record books. During the 1985-86 season, Gretzky set the current mark with 215 points, including a record-shattering 163 assists. In fact, Gretzky won the Art Ross trophy as scoring leader every year between 1981 and 1987 and two more times after that.

Gretzky of course was no stranger to international hockey competition either. Representing Canada in 4 Canada Cup tournaments, the 1978 World Junior championships, the 1996 World Cup and the 1998 Olympics, but his greatest performance on any stage came in the 1987 Canada Cup.

Gretzky captained Team Canada against the mighty Soviet Union - led by the vaunted KLM line — featuring Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov and Vladimir Krutov. Gretzky led all scorers with 18 points while playing what he himself admitted was the best hockey of his career.

August 9, 1988 is considered by many Canadians to be the lowest day in the country's history. On that date, the Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky, along with Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first round picks and cash.

The major reason for the trade was the cash. Struggling financially, Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington jumped at the $15 million that Kings owner Bruce McNall showed him.

As Canada mourned, Los Angeles partied. Gretzky - and Hockey -had gone Hollywood. By the end of Gretzky's 7 1/2 season tenure with the Kings, the Great One had brought enough popularity to hockey in Southern California to blaze the trail for two more teams, the San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. In reality Gretzky brought the game to such a high level in the American sunbelt that the NHL also saw teams in Dallas, Miami, Tampa Bay and countless minor league teams throughout the USA.

Gretzky's greatest moment as a King came in 1993 when he carried the Kings to the 1993 Finals. That playoffs also saw Gretzky play what he called his greatest game in NHL competition. In Game 7 of the conference finals, Gretzky scored a hat trick, including the game winner, in a 5-4 victory over the heavily favored Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the Kings couldn't continue their magic in the Finals, falling to the Montreal Canadiens.

While Gretzky never got his named etched on the Cup as a member of the Kings, he did continue to rewrite the record book. On October 15, 1989, Gretzky surpassed Gordie Howe's NHL-record 1,851 points. It took Howe 26 years to accomplish that. It took Gretzky less than 11. Fittingly the record was surpassed in Edmonton. Even Howe's record 801 goals weren't safe: Gretzky scored number 802 against the Canucks on March 23, 1994.

By the middle of the 1995-96 season, it was obvious that the Kings didn't have the talent to make the playoffs, let alone contend. Gretzky asked to be traded and received his wish. He found himself playing alongside good friend Brett Hull, on the St. Louis Blues.

Gretzky was also initially happy to be reunited with Mike Keenan, with whom he had great success in the Canada Cup tournaments. However by this time the tyrannical Keenan had gone over the edge in his drive more power, and soon turned Gretzky, like Hull and many more, against him. During one playoff game, Keenan embarrassed Gretzky in front of his teammates in between periods. Gretzky went on to tally five assists the next game, but the Blues were still eliminated from the playoffs.

Gretzky left St. Louis, largely because of Mike Keenan, as a free agent. He took his greatness to the New York Rangers, where he was reunited with his old buddy Mark Messier.

The much celebrated reunion was short lived. After just one season, Messier left for bigger bucks in Vancouver. Gretzky however stayed in New York, quietly signing an extension with the team for less than market value.

Although it wasn't a storybook script, Gretzky fulfilled a lifelong dream in 1998 when he represented Canada in the 1998 Olympics. However Gretzky was not the Gretzky of old by this point. In fact Gretzky wasn't even named as team captain. Canada ran into the best goalie in the world, the Czech Republic's Dominik Hasek, in the semifinal game. Canada finished without a medal; Gretzky finished without a goal.

During these otherwise unspectacular Ranger seasons, Gretzky hit two more major milestones. On October 26, 1997, Gretzky recorded two assists in Anaheim to raise his career total 1,851, more than Gordie Howe — the second highest total in NHL history — had points. Then in March of 1999 he scored his 1,072nd goal as a pro, surpassing yet another Gordie Howe record. Suddenly there weren't any records left to shoot for.

The man who once scored 92 goals during the 1981-82 season, however, could only manage nine during the 1998-89 campaign. And when Gretzky was sidelined by a painful neck injury, the Rangers went 6-3-3 and temporarily moved back into the playoff race. Fans bombarded call-in shows suggesting that the Great One should retire. For the first time in a career built on proving naysayers wrong, Gretzky started to listen to his detractors.

Gretzky was clearly but a shadow of his former self, yet he was still better than most. He showed moments of greatness that no one else could. In the 1999 All Star game Gretzky recorded a goal and two assists and was named as the game's MVP. In his first and only game in Nashville he showed a rare sellout crowd the wonders of Gretzky by scoring 5 assists.

No. 99 left the game after 20 seasons, taking 61 NHL records with him. Among them: 92 goals in a single season, 163 assists in a single season, 215 points in a single season, a 51-game points streak that's every bit as impressive as Joe DiMaggio's 56-game mark in baseball, 2857 career points, and 1, 072 professional goals. He won every Hart Trophy from 1980 to 1987 (and another in 1989) as the league's MVP and took home ten Art Ross Trophies as the league's scoring leader. While captaining the Oilers to four Stanley Cups, Gretzky also took home two Conn Smythe trophies as the most valuable player in the playoffs.

Until Wayne came along, we didn't know how great great could be. #99 redefined greatness. But is Wayne Gretzky the greatest athlete of the 20th century?

Needless to say, hockey fans think so! No athlete in any sport has dominated the way Gretzky has. Need proof? Then consider this:

Gretzky's 92 goals in 1981-82 topped Phil Esposito's previous record by 16, and his 212 points that season eclipsed Esposito's old mark by 60. Gretzky's 163 assists in 1985-86 surpassed Bobby Orr's standard by 61.

The Elias Sports Bureau has determined his 212 points in 1981-82 are the equivalent of 85 home runs -- 24 more than Roger Maris hit in 1961 or 14 more than Mark McGuire in 1998; a 2,941-yard NFL rushing season (Eric Dickerson holds the record with 2,105 in 1984) or 67 touchdown passes by a quarterback (Dan Marino holds the standard at 48, also in '84). Wilt Chamberlain dwarfed previous NBA scoring leaders, but arguments raged during his day as to whether he or Bill Russell was the more dominant player.

A case can be made that no one ever has done in any sport what Gretzky has accomplished in hockey. And when you consider the wider impact of one player's career upon a sport, only Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan rank with Gretzky.

In hitting 59 home runs with a livelier ball in 1921 and raising the record by a staggering 25, Ruth also drastically elevated standards of excellence and excitement. The Babe, too, was the object of a blockbuster transaction: The Red Sox sold him to the Yankees for $100,000 and a $300,000 loan. His magnetism helped baseball recover from a betting scandal and inspired the building of a stadium twice the size of others in that era. He was the dominant player on baseball's dominant team, winning four World Series and seven American League pennants.

Michael Jordan is universally hailed as the greatest athlete of the 20th century, but realistically he doesn't deserve to be on the same level as Wayne. Yes, Michael was perhaps the most gifted and talented athlete of our time, but you could easily say he wasn't the greatest basketball player let alone athlete. Wilt Chamberlain's hoop exploits dwarf that of Jordan's.

Picture Hank Aaron as not only baseball's all-time home run leader, but its single-season homer king and all-time hits leader as well. That's Gretzky's place in hockey.

When it comes to debating who is the best hockey player of all time, it generally boils down to one of three players: Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Gordie Howe.

Orr revolutionized the way defense could be played and established significantly higher statistical standards for excellence at that position. It can be argued that Orr carried the puck more than Gretzky and broke up a lot of rushes, making him a more effective all-around player than The Great One. But Orr's career, cut drastically short by knee injuries, produced just 915 points.

Unquestionably, Howe played the majority of his career in a much tighter checking era. But the fact that jobs were more competitive in the six-team league doesn't necessarily mean the level of play was, too. Bigger, faster, and better athletes, and the influx of European- and American-born players, and equipment advances make today's NHL just as competitive -- but higher scoring -- than the pre-expansion league.

Mark Messier

2011-11-21T23:04:00.002-08:00

Old time fans will unequivocally insist the greatest player of all time is Gordie Howe. Not Gretzky. Not Lemieux. Not Bobby Orr. The problem for several recent eras of fans is we never saw "Mr. Hockey." The primitive video that is archived is from late in his career. We never got to see the man who could do it all - score, pass, skate, hit, and fight. With the puck he could be as beautiful as any player from any generation. Without the puck he could be as robust and as happily nasty.

No, modern fans did not get to see that. But we were blessed to see the closest incarnation since: Mark Messier.

Messier played the game in Howe's image. Both embodied hockey in its most passionate form -- competing hard, winning at all costs and exhibiting a mean streak that only added to effectiveness. But that passion and the physical prowess never overshadowed the raw skill sets of either - the explosive speed, the uncanny creativity, the constant threat to score. Messier was very much Gordie Howe 2.0 - with Rocket Richard's piercing eyes thrown in.

While the NHL game has changed significantly on a few occasions in the league's storied history, the definition of the "ideal" hockey player never has. Gordie Howe embodied that description for the longest time. Mark Messier is the closest player to join "Mr. Hockey" as an equal in hockey's grand history.

What makes it all the more amazing is the fact that Messier was very much a long shot to accomplish anything in the NHL.

Messier was the definition of a "coach's project" when he started out. He had a few things going for him though. He was as strong as an ox and wasn't afraid to show it; he had blazing speed; and he had Glen Sather's guidance.

Mark was only 17 when he turned pro with Indianapolis of the World Hockey Association. He split 52 games between Indianapolis and Cincinnati in his rookie year, and was far from sensational. In fact he only scored one goal. There was little to suggest he would go on to become the only man named to the NHL's first all star team at two different positions, become the only man to captain two franchises to Stanley Cup championships, or become the man heralded as the greatest leader in not only hockey but in all of professional sports.

When the WHA merged with NHL, Messier was still eligible for the entry draft, and that's when Edmonton Oiler GM Glen Sather drafted the hometown boy in the second round (1979). Under Sather's guidance and confidence, Messier became a monster.

He scored a respectable 33 points as an 18 year old in his first year in the NHL, and followed that up by a 63 point campaign. But it was in 1981-82, Messier blossomed into a 50 goal scorer and the Oilers exploded into an NHL powerhouse.

Messier played under the shadow of Wayne Gretzky for many years, but one can argue that the Oilers didn't reach the top until Messier put them there. With Gretzky's wizardry and offensive firepower and Messier's physical dominance and leadership, the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup final in 1983. However Messier's shoulder was quickly injured limiting his effectiveness. The Oilers were soon blown away by the dynasty New York Islanders.

The next year the Oilers returned to the finals, and again faced the Isles. This time Messier was healthy, and the Oilers gained their first Stanley Cup and at the same time ended the Isle's four year reign as champions. In the pivotal game 3 of the series, it was Messier's spectacular goal that sparked to Oilers and they never looked back. Messier was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoffs most valuable player.

Gretzky and Messier and the Oilers would enjoy their own dynasty, winning 3 more Cups. After Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles in 1988, Messier was named Oilers captain. He enjoyed his most productive season in 1989-90, scoring 129 points, and winning the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP. He would then lead the Oilers to a somewhat surprising 5th Stanley Cup in 7 years. Surprising only because Gretzky had left only 2 years earlier.

However, Messier's days in Edmonton were numbered, just like Gretzky ahead of him. Changing economics forced the Oilers to dismantle perhaps the greatest team of all time. At the start of the 1991-92 season Messier became known as "the Messiah" as he was traded to the New York Rangers. His leadership qualities and all around play inspired the Rangers to acquire him to fulfill a mission: to bring the Stanley Cup back to Manhattan for the first time since 1940. In doing so he became Manhattan's favorite son. Remembered as much as a Ranger as he was an Oiler, he is immortalized in sporting history like very few hockey players before him.

Even though Messier's career, and the fortunes of the Canucks, who he joined in 1997 and the Rangers, who he rejoined in 2000, would slide into decline, his legendary status would only grow with Howe-like longevity.

His stellar career that featured 694 goals, 1,193 assists and 1,887 points in 1,756 games. He surpassed Gordie Howe's once untouchable career scoring feats, ending his career as the NHL's second highest scorer all time behind his buddy Wayne Gretzky. Thanks in large part to the NHL lockout of 2004-05, Messier fell one season shy of equaling Howe's record of 26 seasons played, and finished just 11 games behind on the games played list.

Glenn Anderson

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With blazing speed Glenn Anderson became a dangerous clutch goal scorer playing on Mark Messier's right wing with the Edmonton Oilers and later the New York Rangers. He also played with the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues.

Anderson was a big part of the Oilers dynasty during the 1980’s, collecting five Stanley Cup rings. He picked up a 6th ring while playing with Messier and the New York Rangers in 1994. Glenn scored a career total of 498 goals, just falling shy of the magical 500 mark. "Andy" also added 601 career assists for 1099 points in 1129 games. Included in his totals were two 54 goal seasons and 3 100 point seasons.

Anderson was a skating contradiction. He played with reckless abandon, fearlessly crashing the net, doing whatever it took to score a goal. Yet at the same time there were periods of time where he was criticized for being lazy and uninterested. His mind would drift during regular season games, but he was all business come the playoffs. In addition to his 6 Cup rings, Anderson scored 93 career playoff goals (5th best in NHL history), 121 assists for 214 points (4th best in NHL history) in 225 playoff contests. Seventeen of his playoff goals were game winners.

Glenn briefly played Major Junior Hockey in the WHL, and spent a year with the University of Denver of the WCHA. But most of his pre-NHL training came with the Canadian National Team in 1979-80. Like most players on the national team the youngster with speed to burn was a little known prospect at that point. The team however did feature future NHL standouts Paul MacLean and Randy Gregg, as well as serviceable future pros Tim Watters, Jim Nill and Kevin Primeau.

Long before NHLers participated in the Olympics, the national team of prospects represented Canada's hopes against the "amateur" powers such as the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia. Canada played well in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, and with a little more puck luck could have staged their own Miracle on Ice. Unfortunately the record book's 6th place finish does not adequately reflect that. Anderson scored 2 goals and 4 points in thattourney.

Anderson made his NHL debut the following season and instantly drew two comparisons to big name celebrities. One was Guy Lafleur. A early newspaper report had a Oilers scout quoted as comparing Anderson to the most electrifying player in hockey at that time, although the Oilers management was quick to dismiss the comments as they didn't want to place extra pressure on the youngster. They insisted the comment referred to his skating ability.

Anderson also had an uncanny resemblance to popular Hollywood comedian Robin Williams. His teammates called him 'Mork' after the famous Williams TV character. However Anderson hated that nickname and grew a beard to shed himself of the resemblance.

Number Nine let his play do the speaking as his rookie season rolled on. He excelled and finished the year scoring 30 goals in just 58 games. The Hockey News named him as the player of the week late in the season, and his teammates stopped calling him Mork and just called him Andy.

Tim Burke of the Montreal Gazette became a big fan of Anderson's and even published an article comparing him to Rocket Richard. As if Guy Lafleur skating comparisons weren't tough enough, even being mentioned in the same breath of Rocket Richard is quite numbing.

While no one has or likely ever will come close to being what Rocket Richard was, the comparison had good merit in that Anderson would be a poor man's Richard. Anderson was a great player from the blueline in. He had a flare for scoring exciting and big goals and was at his best in big games, especially the playoffs. He played a similarly reckless style - yet no one can be compared to Richard.

Glenn took his fine rookie season to the next level in the following years. He scored a career high 105 points (38 goals and 67 assists) in 1981-82. He nearly equaled that in 1982-83 when scored 48 times and had 104 points. He also was a strong part of the Oilers fantastic first run at the Stanley Cup - scoring 10 goals and 20 points in 18 games while falling just short to the New York Islanders.

Glenn just missed the 100 point level in 1983-84 when he scored 99 points but he did set a career high with 54 goals. That spring the Oilers captured their first Stanley Cup. Anderson played a nice role in that victory - scoring 6 goals and 17 points in 19 games.

After a strong showing in the 1984 Canada Cup, Anderson got off to a slow start in the 1984-85 season. He finished the season strong but by season's end his scoring totals slipped to 81 points (including 42 goals) in 80 games. He had perhaps his strongest playoff in the spring of 1985 - scoring 10 goals, 16 assists and 26 points in 18 games as the Oilers repeated as Stanley Cup champions.

Anderson, who was best known as Mark Messier's right winger although he spent a lot of time in his early career on the left side as well, missed 8 games in the 1985-86 but he equaled his career high 54 goals and added 48 assists for 102 points. However his Oilers stumbled in the playoffs and were out in just 10 games. Andy had 8 goals in those 10 contests!

Anderson scored 35 and 38 goals in the following two years, both of which saw the Oilers win the Cup. However in 1988-89 - the first year without Wayne Gretzky - Anderson fell to just 16 goals and 64 points. It was an unusual blip for Anderson, who continued to play with his usual linemate Mark Messier.

Anderson returned to his usual form in 1989-90 - scoring 34 times and collecting 72 points. The Oilers went on a bit of an unexpected playoff run and won the Stanley Cup for the 5th time in 7 years. Anderson played a big role - scoring 10 goals and 22 points in the 22 post season games.

Anderson spent 12 years for the Oilers before he was traded with star goaltender Grant Fuhr (and Craig Berube) to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Vinnie Damphousse, Peter Ing, Scott Thornton, Luke Richardson and cash. The Oilers were being forced to dismantle as economic woes hit them hard. Toronto's new GM Cliff Fletcher wanted Anderson for his veteran leadership and playoff savvy.

Anderson's scoring tailed off once he left Edmonton. He only cracked the 20 goal level once and often spent more time in Europe or with the Canadian National Team than in the NHL. Late in 1994 he was traded to the New York for Mike Gartner. Andy played thirty-five games as a Ranger and went on to win a Stanley Cup with them. After playing with the Canadian Nats and teams in Germany and Finland, Glenn spent a brief time in St. Louis in 1995, before he left to play in Germany. He wanted to finish his career with the Vancouver Canucks, who were a strong contender and also Glenn's hometown. The Canucks signed him but first he had to pass through waivers. Glen Sather upset Canucks boss Pat Quinn by taking Anderson. Rumors persisted that Sather was returning a jab at Quinn who earlier in the decade snapped up the Oiler's Randy Gregg from waivers. Anderson reluctantly returned where he played 17 games in his second Oiler stint where he was then put back on waivers and claimed by the St Louis Blues.

Anderson had always expressed an interest in playing hockey in Europe, which is where he returned to in 1996-97 for one final season of hockey. Anderson's speed was a big asset for various Team Canada squads in International events. Anderson participated in the 1980 Olympics before joining the NHL. He also participated in 2 Canada Cup tournaments, 2 World Championships, and Rendez Vous '87. He had once stated he would like to have played in the Soviet Elite Leagues.

Glenn Anderson was a very nice player on a very strong team. In some ways that helped his status in the hockey world, but in other ways it kept him in the shadows and from greater individual acclaim.

After waiting several seasons, Anderson was finally rightfully inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008, although his former Oilers co-horts couldn't understand why he was not inducted earlier.

"I don't even think there should be a debate about him," said Glen Sather, the Oilers architect.

"I was there for most of his accomplishments and he's achieved many more huge results than guys that are in the Hall. It kind of astounds me that every time I've seen his name mentioned that he hasn't been one of the guys who have been elected automatically."

"He was the kind of player who, the bigger the game, the better he performed. Just based on his credentials in the playoffs alone I think he's a guy who really qualifies."

Former teammate Kevin Lowe was also critical that Anderson did not sharea place in the hallowed hall along side Wayne Gretzky, Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Mark Messier much sooner.

"Those five guys, to a man, would say it's ridiculous that Anderson is not in the Hall because they all view him on the same level as themselves," said Lowe. " When I sat in that dressing room with all those great players, when I looked around the room and we were in a big game, the one guy I thought would score the big goal was Anderson, and to his credit he did.

"Maybe, to his fault, a lot of the lesser games were less important to him. He would have scored 600 goals had they been. But anyone who has won championships recognized that Anderson was one of those big-game players. He has all the stats to support it."

Paul Coffey

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The first thing everyone thinks about when the name Paul Coffey is mentioned is his skating ability. Wearing skates several sizes too small, this guy was simply amazing. In a couple of strides he was able to glide through the neutral and offensive zones faster than those dogged checkers chasing him. He was every bit as silky smooth as he was lightning quick.

Scoring exploits are also always remembered. He retired as the 10th highest scorer in NHL history, even though he was a defenseman. Coffey tallied 396 goals and 1,135 assists for 1,531 points in 1,409 regular-season games. He added 196 points, on 59 goals and 137 assists, in 194 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He eclipsed the 100-point mark five times in his career, and set the single-season goal-scoring record for defenseman with 48 goals in 1986.

Given the green light to play offensively from the blue line while skatinging alongside the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier and Steve Yzerman allowed him to attain such lofty career numbers. The three time Norris trophy winner and eight time All Star was a brilliant passer, often triggering transition offense with amazing and instinctive breakout passes. While everyone will remember him for his skating and his puck rushing, Coffey may have been the best first-pass defender in league history.

The Oilers drafted Coffey 6th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. It took a little patience, but soon Coffey was a key member of hockey's last great dynasty.

"Joining the Oilers was a great opportunity for me to get a chance to play on a young team that had a lot of talent," Coffey said. "I was always a good skater, but I was not as offensively oriented as a junior as I was as a pro. That was the style Glen Sather wanted me to play. My first partner was Gary Lariviere and he gave me a lot of confidence. I had the green light every time I was on the ice. Then, working with Charlie Huddy, we took it to another level. He allowed me to play the way they wanted me to play. Charlie was a very good defenseman and we had a lot of fun playing together."

"It was exciting to be on the ice with him and watch the way he could skate," Huddy said. "The great thing was he would take a few strides and then he'd just glide most of the time. He would glide by people, which is fairly unusual. He was such a powerful skater that it was fun to watch. He could come out of our end and find guys in the middle of the ice and the pass would be right on the tape. There weren't very many times that it wasn't right on the tape.

"His ability to see the ice and make those kinds of plays was remarkable. You know, it was something different every game. You never knew what was going to happen. It was exciting for me to be part of it."

The Oilers exploits need no introduction. With Coffey on the blue line the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1984, 1985 and 1987. In 1985 he set playoff standards for all defensemen with 12 goals, 25 assists and 37 points in 18 playoff games.

Following a contract dispute, Coffey was traded to Pittsburgh after the Oilers were eliminated in the 1986 Playoffs. It was a blockbuster deal that gave Pittsburgh a top-notch offensive defenseman and Edmonton a good scorer in Craig Simpson.

"Going to Pittsburgh was a great opportunity and great challenge for me," Coffey said. "GM Eddie Johnston acquired me and that was awesome. I saw him play with the Bruins and the Maple Leafs and now I was getting a chance to play with a superstar in his own right in Mario Lemieux, but we didn't know how to win yet. I went from a team that was a perennial Stanley Cup champ to a last-place team, but one with all the right people in place. They didn't know quite how to get to first-rate status. My first week there I realized what a big challenge this was for me. I was thinking, 'What the heck have I done?' I kept my nose to the grindstone and management kept acquiring players until we had a team that could win."

Coffey would get a lot of credit in turning that franchise around, helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 1991. But a lot of people forget that Coffey was actually traded prior to the Penguins successful Stanley Cup defense in 1992. Late in that season Coffey was moved to Los Angeles where he would be reunited with his old Edmonton running mates Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri.

His stay in California was short, just 60 games spread over parts of 2 seasons. Before the Kings went on their magical march to the 1993 Stanley Cup finals, Coffey was traded to Detroit where he played strongly for four seasons.

Coffey became a vagabond player after that, playing in stints with Hartford and Philadelphia, Chicago and Carolina and finally in Boston in the 2000-01 season. Though he was a shadow of his former self, his experience and leadership undoubtedly proved to be valuable assets.

Coffey had his share of detractors - he did play with some awfully great players to help pad his stats, he wasn't the greatest defensive player, and outsiders labelled him as a difficult personality in dressing rooms. These suggestions may all have some merit to them, but at the same time I think are somewhat exaggerated. But for whatever reason, Coffey isn't quite considered with Doug Harvey or Ray Bourque or even Niklas Lidstrom as the best defenseman in NHL history not named Bobby Orr.

Watching Coffey speed through the neutral zone and penetrate the offensive zone and carry that puck to the net was a great treat. For me he will always be an Oiler, and I was glad to see he and the organization patched up their relationship and had his jersey #7 retired.

I will also always think of Paul Coffey as a legend of Team Canada. He starred in the 1984, 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups in particular, he was also part of the 1990 world championship entry and the 1996 World Cup team.

Most people will remember Coffey's magnificent 1984 blocked pass on a Soviet 2-0n-1 break and his subsequent transition on the offense to set up Mike Bossy for the overtime winning goal. It's funny how his defensive play was considered spotty in the NHL, but with his amazing speed he was a key defender for Canada against those powerful Soviet teams in the 1980s.

Jim Corsi

2011-08-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

The Edmonton Oilers have had some great goaltenders in their existence - Grant Fuhr, Andy Moog, Bill Ranford and Curtis Joseph. Jim Corsi was not a great NHL goalie, but he was one of the Oilers' first goalies.

Jim played 26 games in the Oilers inaugural NHL campaign in 1979-80 Jim shared duties with Ron Low and Dave Dryden. Jim, a Montreal native, won 8 games while losing 14 and tying 3. He let in 83 goals for a goals-against-average of 3.65. He also spent 28 games in the Central Hockey League with the Houston Apollos/Oklahoma City Stars. It was his last season of pro hockey in North America. Jim also spent time with the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL and later the Quebec Nordiques of the WHA.

While Jim wasn't the greatest goalie in the NHL, he was one of the most interesting. Jim attended Concordia University where he studied engineering he graduated magna cum laude.

Prior to his stint in the NHL, Jim showed off his athletic ability by playing with the Montreal Olympics of the North American Soccer League. He played a few games in the late 1970s.

Jim's greatest accomplishments in hockey came in Italy. He moved Italy the summer after playing in the NHL to become one of the greatest goalies in Italian hockey history. He represented Italy in 8 World Championships from 1981-1990. He was named the top goalie (B Pool) in 1986 and was a two time IIHF tournament all star. In all Jim appeared in 147 international matches for Italy.

Jim played for HC Cortina and HC Varese in the Italian hockey league.

In the new millenium Corsi became a goaltender coach for the Buffalo Sabres. He also became famous among hockey statistics geeks for creating "Corsi Numbers." Essentially it was a way to measure team defense, by monitoring shot differential while a player was on the ice. Shots include goals, saves, blocked shots, goal posts - any shot whatsoever. Corsi believed it was a better indicator of a team's play or a line's play than simply goals for and against.

Here's much more on Corsi and Corsi numbers courtesy The Edmonton Journal.

Don Jackson

2011-08-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

One of the forgotten members of the Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup dynasty years is Don Jackson.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota born Jackson was 3rd pairing defenseman with the Oilers (often paired with Randy Gregg) from 1982 through 1986. Twice he sipped champagne from the Stanley Cup (1984 and 1985) and played in another Cup final (1983) while with the Oilers.

Jackson was physical presence on the Oilers blue line, but not to be mistaken as a goon. He fought if he had to, but mostly he provided solid defense. Unlike so many of the famous Oilers, Jackson was not particularly skilled in terms of puck or skating skills, but he could make a strong breakout pass if given some time.

Jackson actually started his NHL career with his hometown North Stars in 1977, after graduating from the University of Notre Dame. He never regularly played with the Stars, though. And he almost quit hockey to pursue a career in real estate in 1982. Had he followed through with his brief retirement from the game he would have missed out on his chance to win the Stanley Cup and play with Wayne Gretzky!

He rounded out his NHL career with the New York Rangers in 1986-87 season, but a degenerative hip condition forced him into retirement.

Jackson then stepped behind the bench in the minor leagues and later in the NHL. Twice he made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

In 1995, with the Atlanta Knights of the IHL, he scaled the glass behind the bench to attack the Cincinnati Cyclone's mascot, who had infuriated the coach by making fun of him. Jackson was suspended for 10 games.

In 2000-01 he was fired by the Chicago Blackhawks just 8 games into the season. The Hawks experimented with the NHL's first European coach, a Finn named Alpo Suhonen. The two did not get along, although it is unclear if it was personality differences or more about cultural differences.

Risto Siltanen

2011-08-14T20:02:00.000-07:00

When the Edmonton Oilers entered the NHL in 1979, they embraced players from Finland more so than other organizations. They had great success with Jari Kurri, and also with the likes of Matti Hagman and Risto Siltanen.

The St. Louis Blues actually drafted Siltanen in 1978, but he remained in Finland until joining the WHA Edmonton Oilers later in the year. The Blues retained his NHL rights upon the Oilers merger with the NHL, but traded him to Edmonton before the season started. Siltanen was in the lineup for the Oilers first ever NHL game.

In the Oilers early days prior to Paul Coffey's emergence, it was Siltanen who assumed the offensive dman's role. One of the earlier European imports, Risto Siltanen was a very good offensive presence from the blue line. He was an excellent skater both in terms of speed and agility. He liked to rush the puck out of the zone, as his passing game was only average. He was a terrific stickhandler, though he could be pressured into holding the puck longer than he should have. He was reluctant to give up or dump the puck out of his zone without making a play.

In three seasons in Edmonton Siltanen emerged as a defenseman who could be counted on for about 15 goals and 50 points a season - not too shabby. However he was not a notable physical player or defensive presence. He had excellence strength in his tiny frame. Teammates dubbed him a few variations of Hulk, usually "The Littlest Hulk." He really only benefited from his upper body strength when unleashing his powerful shot. He was never shy to fire that cannon, often with the offense setting him up for one-timers.

The Oilers traded Siltanen to Hartford in 1983 in exchange for Kenny Linseman. Linseman would play 2 seasons in Edmonton, helping the Oilers win their first Stanley Cup in 1984. Siltanen meanwhile would spend the better part of 4 seasons in Hartford, being named as the team's top blueliner in his first year. Ultimately though he was underrated, player barely noticed by the rest of the league.

Siltanen returned to Canada late in 1986, traded to Quebec in exchange for John Anderson. He spent the full 1986-87 season with the Nordiques before returning to Finland. Interestingly, in one of his final NHL games Siltanen's Nordiques were playing the Whalers in the playoffs. Siltanen had a monster game, registering 5 assists, tying a NHL record! He tended to have occassional big games like that. Earlier that season he scored 2 goals and 2 assists in a single game. He was also the first Edmonton defenseman to score a hat trick.

Siltanen returned to European, initially playing a season in Switzerland before spending 4 seasons with Ilves Tampere (where he set several team records) and another 4 seasons with Tuto Turku. He rounded out his career with a final campaign in Germany, retiring in 1997.

Risto Siltanen was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998. His NHL career consisted of 562 careers games with 90 goals, 265 assists for 355 points. He also represented Finland at the 1981 Canada Cup and the 1983 world championships.

Todd Marchant

2011-07-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

Todd Marchant spent 17 season in the National Hockey League - 9 in Edmonton and 6 in Anaheim, most notably. He actually started his career in New York but after just a single game was traded to Edmonton in exchange for veteran checker Craig MacTavish.

Speed was the key to his game. Marchant was as a quick a player as there was in the NHL in his day. Offensively he was known as a strong one on one player on the rush, using his speed to to the outside of a flat-footed defender then driving to the net. He never had the hand skills to be much of a goal scoring threat. Only once did he reach the 20 goal mark in a season, though his speed generated plenty of chances.

Defensively he is used his speed and his fearless tenacity to excel on the penalty kill, where he was a threat to score, and as a strong forechecker, where he often launched his small body into larger defensemen. His grittiness and effectiveness made him frustrating to play against. He quickly settled into the third line center's role, taking big faceoffs, killing key penalties and neutralizing the opponents top players.

When all was said and done Todd Marchant played in 1195 career NHL games, scoring 186 goals, 312 assists and 498 points with Edmonton, Columbus and Anaheim.

His career highlights?

"Certainly my first game against Chicago with the Rangers, scoring a Game 7 overtime-winner against Dallas when I was with Edmonton, winning the Stanley Cup in 2007 with Anaheim, playing in 1,000 NHL games - those are the kind of things that stand out for me as highlights of my career," he told AnaheimDucks.com.

As an Oiler, who can forget that goal against Dallas in 1997:

He also elaborated more on the Stanley Cup victory in 2007.

"What I will remember is my teammates and how much we had to sacrifice all year long. There were ups and downs. We had a great start, a mediocre middle and a great finish. Once we got in the playoffs, we were a different team. We just seemed to take the next step every round and every game as a group. I was sitting back after we won and thinking about how special it was for guys like Brad May, Sean O’Donnell, Teemu Selanne, Rob Niedermayer and me. We had been in the league for 13-14 years and never had a chance to win the Cup. I’ll never forget that."

Josef Beranek

2011-05-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Josef Beranek never seemed to fulfill the destiny his on-ice presence suggested. He was big, imposing player who had a good understanding of positioning, which always kept him in the action. But outside of a 28 goal campaign early in his career with Philadelphia and maybe 49 point campaign later in his career with Edmonton, Beranek never seemed like he was going to breakout.

A big reason for that was his pass-first mentality, a common trait of European players, especially in his era. He possessed a very accurate wrist shot, but often passed up scoring chances to try to force a pass to a teammate.

Beranek also maddened a few observers with his failure to keep his feet moving. That's a tough criticism because he had a long stride and good sense of where he should be so he did not often have to hustle to get into position. Yet he was a lumbering skater who could have really benefited from a more explosive first couple of strides.

Physically, Berenak did not contribute. Defensively he was underated.

A very versatile forward in that he could play any of the three positions comfortably, Beranek found lots of interested teams intrigued by his potential, but he never really found a NHL home. He played with Edmonton (twice), Philadelphia, Vancouver, and Pittsburgh (twice) before heading home to the Czech Republic in 2001 to play with Slavia Praha HC for another decade.

In 531 NHL games Beranek scored 118 goals, 144 assists and 262 points. He never won a Stanley Cup, but he was part of the Czech Republic's gold medal winning Olympic team in 1998.

Mike Toal

2011-04-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

Mike Toal was part of Glen Sather's expansion plans when he created the NHL's Edmonton Oilers in the 1979 Entry Draft.

Toal was Edmonton's 5th choice, 105th overall. The Red Deer, Alberta native played the previous season as an overaged junior with the Portland Winterhawks, where he easily had his best junior season (121 points in 71 games).

Toal was drafted in large part because of his age. He wasn't an overly sought-after prospect but with the Oilers building almost from scratch, they needed to draft overaged players in order to fill out a minor league roster more than anything.

Toal immediately played with their farm team in Houston of the CHL. He had a surprisingly good offensive season, scoring 31 goals and 75 points in 76 games. As a reward, Toal got called up for a 3 game stint but never registered a point and only had one shot on goal.

Toal was sent to the AHL's Rochester Americans to start off the 1980-81 season but struggled terribly before being sent back to the CHL this time as a member of the Wichita Wind. Toal would play two seasons with the Wind but continued to struggle to fin his form he had in Houston.

Toal retired after the 1982 season. He was drafted to fill a minor league roster spot for a couple of years, and basically that's what he did. For a brief time it looked like the 6''0" 175lb center might have been a diamond in the rough, but unfortunately it just never worked out for Mike or the Oilers.

Kerry Ketter

2011-04-01T16:49:00.000-07:00

At the end of the 20th century, many media outlets were debating the greatest athletes of all time.

The Vancouver Province newspaper however took a different angle however - they ranked the 50 worst athletes of all time.

For the record, British ski jumper and Calgary fan favorite Eddie the Eagle was named the worst athlete of the century. The list was made up primarily of basketball and baseball players, but named two hockey players - Morris Mott and Kerry Ketter.

Neither desevered to be there. Mott, a terrific skater and penalty killer, represented Canada in 3 World Championships and 1 Olympics where he helped the nation win a bronze medal before playing a minor role with the NHL's California Golden Seals.

Ketter, on the other hand, was just another nameless, faceless skater, who was probably as good
or as bad as hundreds of others who had a cup of coffee at the NHL. So why did they pick Ketter out of all these players to be named as the worst of all time?

The article said little of Ketter's career, but only mentioned that he "was the first expansion pick of hockey's first, obviously misguided try in the deep south, playing for the Atlanta Flames." In reality Ketter was actually picked in the 15th round of the expansion draft, so the article is far from accurate. The poorly written article also emphasized Ketter's full name - Kerry Kenneth Ketter - as if his initials were some sort of controversial political message in the deep US south.

Ketter was a big, immobile defensive defenseman. Born in Prince George BC, Ketter played his junior hockey in Edmonton. Originally a prospect of the Detroit Red Wings, Ketter spent some time in the low minor leagues of the Montreal organization before being claimed by Atlanta in 1972. Ketter spent half of one season with the Flames - scoring just 2 assists in 41 games. He wwas claimed by the expansion Kansas City Scouts a couple of years later, but was soon cut. He toiled in the minor leagues until resurfacing in Edmonton with the WHA Oilers in 1975.

The Oilers traded the replaceable defenseman to the New England Whalers in February, 1976. However Ketter didn't want to leave Edmonton, and refused to go to Hartford. He was suspended by the league for failing to report. Ketter opted to retire at this point of his career.

Selmar Odelein

2011-02-24T17:37:00.000-08:00

This rawboned farm kid from Quill Lake (150 miles north of Regina) was selected by Edmonton in the 1st round, 21st overall in 1984. Selmar Odelein was delighted that he was chosen by the Stanley Cup champions but at the same time realized that it would be tough to earn a spot on the teams strong blueline that included guys like Paul Coffey, Kevin Lowe and Charlie Huddy.

Edmonton's Western scout at that time, former NHL'er Lorne Davis, was the guy primarily responsible that Edmonton picked Selmar in the 1st round. Davis had watched Selmar for four years, ever since Selmar had attended a hockey school that Lorne Davis was running. Selmar's strength at that time was his good all-around play. He moved the puck well out of his zone and was capable of doing everything required by an NHL defenseman. His strongest asset was his defensive play in his own zone.

Selmar played for the Regina Canadians (SJHL) and Regina Pats (WHL) being the rookie of the year for the Pats in 1983-84. Selmar also represented Canada in the 1985 and 86 world junior championships, winning the Gold in 85.

He never managed to earn a full time job on the Oilers blueline and only played a total of 18 games for the Oilers during a three year span. He played mostly in the AHL for the Nova Scotia / Cape Breton Oilers. A severe knee injury followed by serious surgery derailed his NHL dreams.

After four years in the Oilers farm system Selmar decided that it was time to try something else, so he toured with the Canadian national team during the 1989-90 season and then looked at options of playing in Europe. He finally got a good offer from Austria and the Innsbruck team. He spend two years in Austria before heading to Great Britain where he finished his career in 1994.

Selmar never lived up to the high expectations and his NHL career was brief and disappointing. His younger brother Lyle had a lot more success in the NHL although being drafted in the 8th round, 141st overall.

Scott Metcalfe

2011-02-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

Scott Metcalfe is a member of the Edmonton Oilers first round draft pick flops club. Unfortunately, that's not a very good thing. Other members include Selmar Odelein, Kim Issel, Peter Soberlak, Francois Leroux, Jason Soules and Scott Allison. Not a very elite group.

The Oilers have traditionally had trouble with many of their first rounders. After strong drafting in the first 2 or 3 years in the NHL, the Oilers were forced to pick near the end of every round because of their dynastic success. While its hard to find superstars when you are constantly picking 19th, 20th or 21st in the first round, you'd think the players they drafted would have been good role players at least.

Metcalfe was never expected to be a superstar. He was drafted because he showed good grit and work ethic with decent skating and scoring ability with the Kingston Canadians and Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He was also a very responsible defensive forward for a player at the junior level. Oilers scouts figured that he could one day replace rugged Oiler third/fourth liner Dave Hunter - a very solid and capable, though underappreciated NHLer.

Obviously things never panned out for Metcalfe. He dressed for just two games with the Oilers before being traded to Buffalo. He spent 3 1/2 years in the Buffalo organization, mostly in the minors. He was recalled for 17 games over the duration of his stay with the Sabres. He scored 1 goal and 2 assists whil picking up 13 PIM.

Metcalfe would embark on a long career in the minor leagues and in Europe.

Don Cutts

2011-01-09T19:28:00.001-08:00

Don Cutts was a journeyman goaltender - playing on 6 minor league teams and in Finland in his 8 year pro hockey career. He got his big break on January 12, 1980 when the Edmonton Oilers signed the native Edmontonian to a contract for the remainder of the year. Cutts appeared in 6 games - going 1-2-1 with a 3.57 GAA.

Cutts did make an impression on the Oilers that year though - more for his personality than his play. Kevin Lowe, a rookie that year, called Cutts the most unusual goaltending personality he ever met.

"The best way to describe Cuttsy would be to call him a goaltending beatnik. He looked like he had come to us directly from the Woodstock festival, and to add to that, he was a drummer on the side," remembered Lowe.

"Cuttsy prefaced every sentence with the opening 'Hey, man....' He used it for any and all occasions and was quite popular in his short time that he played with the Oilers. But we did get the impression that he meant to go to Woodstock and somebody dropped him off at the rink instead!"

Cutts' 6 game NHL appearance was by most standards unnoticable. 6 games, a losing record, an inflated 3.57 GAA. As Kevin Lowe put it - "Not bad for a drummer."

Bryon Baltimore

2011-01-09T17:40:00.000-08:00

Bryon Baltimore is one of only three people born in the Yukon to play in the National Hockey League. Peter Sturgeon (who played 6 games with the Colorado Rockies) and Hazen McAndrew (who played 7 games with the Brooklyn Americans) were also born in the Canadian territory.

Like Sturgeon and McAndrew, Bryon Baltimore saw action in only a handful of NHL games. The Whitehorse native, who was as strong as an ox, only got into two games, both with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979-80. However unlike Sturgeon or McAndrew, Baltimore did manage to play several years of big league hockey. While they were almost strictly minor leaguers, Baltimore played in the World Hockey Association for 5 years.

Baltimore, who attended the University of Alberta from 1970-1972 studying to become a teacher before joining the AHL Springfield Kings on a minor league contract, was signed by the defense weak WHA in 1974. He played that first year with the Chicago Cougars, where he enjoyed his best major league season - scoring 8 goals and 20 points plus 110 PIM in 77 games. He then proceeded to bounce around the WHA from 1974 through 1979 as a journeyman defenseman. He went to the Denver/Ottawa Civics the following before splitting the rest of his career with the Indianapolis Racers and the Cincinnati Stingers. In 331 WHA games, he scored 18 goals, 72 assists and 90 points.

The WHA folded for the 1979-80 season, and 4 of its member teams merged with the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers claimed the little-noticed role player in a special WHA Dispersal Draft. He would spend the next two years playing for the Oilers affiliates in the CHL with Houston and Wichita, and also got called up for a brief 2 game appearance in the NHL.

A hard worker who often was banged up and bruised, Baltimore loved to relax at his cottage in Stettler Alberta when he wasn't playing hockey. That's when he was recovering from surgery though, which was more often than Bryon would have liked. He had a long list of nagging injuries over his career, most notably to his knees, wrist and groin.

Baltimore, whose wife skated with the Ice Capades, later became a player agent, representing NHL talent including Jay Bouwmeester.

Kim Issel

2010-12-12T11:29:00.000-08:00

The price of success for NHL teams is poor draft position in the following summer's Entry Draft. Quite often prolonged success results in poor drafting. The highly successful Edmonton Oilers went through a period of 9 years of drafting 1st round picks that didn't pan out. From 1984 through 1992, only 1988 draft pick Francois Leroux saw any considerable time in the NHL. The Oilers drafted names like Selmar Odelein, Scott Metcalfe, Peter Soberlak, Jason Soules, Scott Allison, Tyler Wright and Joe Hulbig. In 1986, the Oilers used their 21st overall pick to select Kim Issel.

Issel was a towering right winger, standing at 6'4" and almost 200lbs. A good skater for his size, Issel's downfall was he wasn't nearly physical enough for a man of his size. He shied away from physical conflicts when he had the size to dominate it. Issel played 4 season of junior hockey with the Prince Albert Raiders. He was drafted at the age of 18 after his strong play in the Memorial Cup.

Issel turned pro with the Cape Breton Oilers in 1987, scoring only twice while adding 25 assists. The following season he emerged as an AHL scoring threat. He also had his only cup of NHL tea, seeing very limited action in four NHL games. Issel returned to Cape Breton the following season and split the 1990-91 season between Cape Breton and the Kansas City Blades of the IHL.

The kid from Regina Saskatchewan left North America to play professional hockey in Europe. He played 4 seasons in Austria where he had some nice success. He briefly had stops in Italy and Great Britain before splitting much of the rest of his hockey career in either Slovenia and Germany. Unbeknownst to most NHL fans, Issel retired officially in 1999.

Mike Zanier

2010-12-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

Here is a little known fact that surprises many people. On the night when the Edmonton Oilers won their first Stanley Cup, Grant Fuhr was not between the pipes. In fact, he was not even dressed.

At the 52 minute mark of game three of the finals against the New York Islanders, Fuhr had to leave the game with a shoulder injury. He would be done for the series.

It did not matter, as the very capable Andy Moog took over and won games 4 and 5, and clinched the Oilers first Stanley Cup championship.

So the question now becomes - who backed up Moog in games 4 and 5 of the 1984 Stanley Cup finals?

An unknown kid named Mike Zanier dressed as the back up those two games. Zanier had never played in the NHL prior to that evening.

Zanier was the property of the Oilers after signing with them as a free agent on October 4, 1983. The Trail, BC native played for five different junior A teams in the WHL including four in one season

During the 1983/84 season he was with the Moncton Alpines, the Oilers affiliate in the AHL. The highlight of his career had to be on May 19, 1984 he found himself on the bench in game five of the Edmonton Oiler, New York Islander Cup finals. At the end of the night he was living every Canadian's dream by sipping champagne out of the Stanley Cup with fellows named Gretzky, Messier, Coffey and Kurri.

Despite backing up two games in the Stanley Cup finals, Zanier did not get his name on the Stanley Cup.

Zanier went on to play a total of three games for the Oilers the following season but never was able to make it back to the show. He went on to play throughout Europe, including in Britain, Austria, Sweden, Germany, and most famously Italy. He actually represented Italy in two world championships and the 1992 Albertville Olympics.

BJ MacDonald

2010-12-02T20:58:00.000-08:00

BJ MacDonald is best known as Wayne Gretzky's first right winger.

BJ actually joined the Oilers in 1973 when the team was in the World Hockey Association. He spent 4 1/2 seasons with the WHA Oilers plus another 1 1/2 seasons with the Indianapolis Racers. BJ always possessed a quick and accurate shot but never really had a quality centerman to set him since his junior days.

Until 1978-79 that is.

BJ spent a lot of time on the right wing with a 17 year old phenom named Wayne Gretzky. BJ posted 34 goals and 71 points but the two really clicked in the playoffs. BJ had 8 goals and 18 points in 13 games as the Oilers nearly captured the Avco Cup championship from the Winnipeg Jets.

When the Oilers merged into the NHL in 1979, they had already been assured that they could keep Gretzky, but only would be able to keep a couple of others. One was goalie Dave Dryden, while MacDonald was also protected.

NHLers liked to slam WHA stars, including MacDonald. Vancouver Canucks scout Larry Popein went on record saying "MacDonald won't be able to score in the NHL."

A NHL rookie though major league veteran, (BJ was one of the older players on the Oilers inaugural team, and was named as an alternate captain as a result), BJ proved Popein and all doubters wrong. Teamed with Gretzky and Brett Callighen on left wing, MacDonald had the season of his life - scoring 46 goals and 48 assists for 94 points, including 13 power play goals and 6 game winners, while picking up just 3 minor penalties!

However after that great season, MacDonald would run into problems with coach/general manager Glen Sather. As in most player/management disputes, BJ was after more money, looking to cash in after his fantastic season. "Slats" disagreed with MacDonald's position, and told BJ he had to produce over a longer period of time before he would offer him the kind of money he wanted.

BJ returned the following season. Obviously he was upset about not getting a new, fat contract, but he would soon be disappointed by his position on the team. A young Finnish rookie named Jari Kurri stepped in and soon was paired with Gretzky. Kurri was a better shooter and playmaker than MacDonald, and provided Gretzky's line with a much needed defensive consciousness that BJ failed to supply. BJ was demoted to a lesser line and his scoring totals went down the drain - 19 goals in 51 games.

On March 10, 1981, BJ was traded to Vancouver, the same team that scouted MacDonald and concluded he couldn't play in the NHL. The Canucks looked foolish for saying that in 1979-80, but ultimately they were right. After 88 games over 3 seasons in Vancouver, BJ accomplished little and was soon demoted to the minors. BJ quit hockey in 1983 but resurfaced in Austria a year later.

One would have to wonder how BJ would be looked upon if he had not crossed a young Glen Sather. His days became numbered for his defiance, and if he had just kept quiet for another year or two, he could have really developed into a league sharpshooter on Gretzky's wing. Ultimately BJ's days along side Wayne were numbered as Gretzky and Kurri displayed a connection few others have in NHL history.

Pat Hughes

2010-10-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

Pat Hughes, a native of Calgary, is a three time Stanley Cup champion best known as a role player with the high flying Edmonton Oilers in the mid-1980s.

Pat first made a name for himself while attended the University of Michigan. The Montreal Canadiens noticed Pat during his sophomore year, and drafted the speedy winger 52nd overall in 1975. Pat turned pro in 1976-77, but spent the first two years playing in the Montreal farm system.

By 1978-79 Pat made the Canadiens, although his ice time was limited as the rookie right wing on a deep and talent squad, the year ended on a very successful note. Pat got into 8 playoff games and got his name on his first Stanley Cup.

With the retirement on goaltending great Ken Dryden following the Cup victory, the Habs traded Hughes to Pittsburgh to find a new goalie in Denis Heron. Hughes benefited from more ice time on the much weaker Penguins, and scored 18 goals and 32 points. The pesky Hughes also helped the Penguins make the playoffs that year.

1980-81 was a frustrating year for Hughes. Playing behind Rick Kehoe, George Ferguson and Peter Lee, he struggled on the score sheet and was traded to Edmonton in exchange for Pat Price late in the season.

That move turned out to be a great thing for Pat, joining the Oilers just in time for their famous playoff series with the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal was the heavy favourite, but Edmonton pulled a major upset and swept the best of 5 series 3-0. Although the Oilers didn't win another game in the playoffs, their upset victory over Montreal was a key step in their development. Hughes 5 assists in 5 games aided that cause.

Over the next three years Hughes played a nice role on the Oilers third line. In addition to his abrasive play and tight checking, Hughes chipped in nicely with some offense. From 1981-82 through 1983-84 Pat scored 24, 25, and 27 goals and 46, 45 and 55 points respectively.

The Oilers were a team known for scoring goals. With the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Glenn Anderson they scored lots of goals. On a couple of nights at least, Pat Hughes joined that elite company with famous goal scoring outbursts.

The first game of note was against St. Louis on Jan. 11, 1983. On that night he set a NHL record (since bettered) by scoring two shorthanded goals just 25 seconds apart, bettering teammate Wayne Gretzky's record of 27 seconds, set just one season prior.

Nearly a year later, on February 3rd, 1984, Hughes lit up the Calgary Flames with 5 goals in one game, joining Gretzky (who did it three times) and later joined by Jari Kurri for the Oilers team record.

1983-84 saw the Oilers win their first Stanley Cup. Pat picked up 13 points in the 19 game playoff run and played a quiet but important role on the team's success.

The Oilers followed up that Cup victory with a second win in 1984-85, but then Hughes was involved in a three team trade with Pittsburgh and the Sabres. Pat ended up in Buffalo where it was hoped his experience with the Oilers and Canadiens would help bring along a struggling Sabres team. Hughes in turn struggled too with just 4 goals and 13 points in 50 games as the Sabres missed the playoffs.

The Sabres exposed Hughes in the waiver draft in 1986 where the St. Louis Blues picked up the 6'1" and 180 pound penalty killer. He scored just 1 goal in 43 games with the Blues, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers. He played just 2 regular season games and 3 playoff games before retiring.

In 573 NHL games Pat Hughes scored 130 goals, 128 assists for 258 points. He added 8 goals and 33 points in 71 playoff contests.

Hughes, the brother in law of Mark Napier, worked in marketing departments of both the Edmonton Oilers and Molson breweries in the hockey off-seasons.

Brett Callighen

2010-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

When mastermind Glen Sather was building the Edmonton Oilers into one of the most powerful teams in NHL history, Brett Callighen was once considered a "key" player.
Callighen, who joined Edmonton part way through the 1976-77 season when the team was still in the WHA, was a fast and feisty player, despite not being one of the larger players on the ice. He was nicknamed "Hummingbird" because of the way he would dart in and out of traffic. He was good along the boards and in the corners, and his trademark was his all out hustle.

Callighen actually quit playing hockey at the midget level. He didn't pick up the game again until attending Centennial College where he was studying restaurant management. He not only made the school team, but caught the eye of Chicago's scouts. They invited him to their minor league try out camp in 1974. Playing on defense, he started the year with the CHL Black Hawks, but spent most of the year with the IHL's Flint Generals and Kalamazoo Wings.

He returned to the Wings in 1975-76, but was moved to center and had a strong year, scoring 25 goals and 58 points. He caught the eye WHA New England Whalers coach Harry Neale who invited him to camp. He split his first year in "the bigs" with 33 games in the WHA and 22 in the AHL.

Brett joined the Oilers late in the 1977 season on a loan from the Whalers. Later a trade between the two teams made the deal official. Brett was an Oiler. After two strong years with the Oilers, Brett was protected by the team as the franchise was merged into the NHL in time for the 1979-80 season.

Brett of course was best known as Wayne Gretzky's first left winger. With right winger BJ MacDonald, the trio became known as the GMC Line.

Brett was having a strong first year in the NHL - scoring 23 goals and 58 points in the first 59 games. However Brett suffered a serious eye injury when he was struck by Brad McCrimmon's stick on February 24, 1980 in game vs. Boston. He missed rest of 79-80 season, and first 25 games of 1980-81 campaign. Having developed a cataract in the eye, Callighen opted for eye surgery on November 15, 1980. When he came back he donned a face shield, making him one of the earliest NHL players to do so.

Placed back on Gretzky's left wing and now with a young Jari Kurri on the opposite side, Callighen finished the year strongly, scoring 25 goals and 60 points in 55 games. He did this despite continuing to have problems seeing out of his injured eye, a fact that he tried to hide from team doctors for fear he'd lose his job.

Early in the 1981-82, Brett broke his collar bone and stretched shoulder ligaments in game vs. Calgary (November 25, 1981). He missed six weeks of action, but when he came back he had trouble cracking the lineup on a full time basis. It proved to be Callighen's final NHL season.

Anatoli Semenov

2010-07-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

Anatoli Semenov emerged as Russian star in 1979-80 when debuting with club team Dynamo Moscow. Over the following decade he would become an elite Soviet all-star, participating in three world junior championships, two Canada Cups, 1 world championships and the 1988 Olympics.

For most of Semenov's career in his homeland, the thought of playing in the National Hockey League was little more than a far-off dream. The "Cold War" however would thaw over the course of his career, and soon enough Soviet stars would be granted their own form of "Glasnost," and were eventually all given the right to pursue careers in the National Hockey League.

The Edmonton Oilers drafted Semenov 120th overall in 1989, based largely on his play in the 1987 Canada Cup. Centering a dangerous third unit, the lanky Semenov scored twice and set up 5 other goals in 9 contests that September. One television commentator was so impressed with Semenov that he compared the tall and elegant Russian to one of the true legends of the game - Montreal Canadiens's superstar Jean Beliveaus!

Semenov didn't make his NHL debut until the end of the 1989-90 season. He got into two playoff games but otherwise was a spectator as the Edmonton Oilers captured their 5th Stanley Cup in 7 seasons. He would become a regular in Edmonton shortly thereafter. He enjoyed one of his best seasons in the NHL as a member of the Oilers when he notched 20 goals in only 59 games during the 1991-92 season. Unfortunately for Oilers fans, Semenov was claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 1992 NHL Expansion Draft.

Semenov played only 13 games with the Lightning before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Dave Capuano and a fourth round draft pick. Semenov played really well in Vancouver. He had the large task of replacing his former Soviet national team teammate Igor Larionov as the Canucks skilled pivot. He showed he was capable of the task, and looked well playing with Pavel Bure at times.

Anatoli's stay in Vancouver wasn't long, as he only finished the season in the beautiful west coast city. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks quickly snatched him up in the 1993 Expansion draft. The center enjoyed parts of two seasons with the Ducks, before he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Milos Holan. Semenov had a strong 1995 playoffs with the Flyers, but otherwise was reduced to a journeyman's role in the "City of Brotherly Love" until a trade returned him Anaheim late in the 1996 season.

The Buffalo Sabres gave Anatoli a one year contract for the 1996-97 season. Like so many other members of the Sabres that year, Semenov's season was decimated by injuries. He got into only 25 games, scoring 2 goals and 6 points to end his career on a very quiet note. He played only 8 more games after that season, all with a team by the name of Avtomobillst Yekaterinburg back in Russia.

Semenov left the NHL with a career record of 362 games played, 68 goals and 126 assists for 194 points. Anyone who saw him play in Russia or in his earlier years in the NHL will remember Semenov as a skilled and intelligent skater who set up his teammates nicely. He had a funny NHL career in that he was routinely sought after by NHL teams to replace an injured top line center, and he often filled in nicely although briefly. When the player returned completely healthy, he had trouble finding much ice time and was reduced to a 3rd or 4th line role. He never complained and was always willing to do whatever his coaches asked of him.

Currently, Anatoli Semenov has been involved in numerous hockey-related ventures such as developing ice skating rinks in conjunction with some former Soviet star players and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Dimitri Yushkevich. Semenov is also involved with a hockey school in his adopted hometown of sunny Anaheim, California.

Edmonton Oilers Greatest Players

2010-07-04T01:35:00.000-07:00

Glenn Anderson
Kelly Buchberger
Paul Coffey
Dave Dryden
Lee Fogolin
Grant Fuhr
Martin Gelinas
Adam Graves
Randy Gregg
Wayne Gretzky
Matti Hagman
Al Hamilton
Doug Hicks
Charlie Huddy
Dave Hunter
Petr Klima
Mike Krushelnyski
Jari Kurri

Ken Linseman
Kevin Lowe
Dave Lumley
Craig MacTavish
Dave Manson
Kevin McClelland
Marty McSorley
Mark Messier
Eddie Mio
Andy Moog
Craig Muni
Jaroslav Pouzar
Bill Ranford
Reijo Ruotsalainen
Glen Sather
Dave Semenko
Craig Simpson
Steve Smith
Esa Tikkanen

Adam Graves

2009-11-18T21:27:00.001-08:00

In an era when the NHL was being dominated by hockey's version of globalization, Adam Graves was the traditional Canadian hockey player.

"He's very physical, he will do anything to get his team geared up," said one NHL coach "He plays the game every inch of that ice. He wants to command, and he commands a lot of respect out there. He's a total player. He's a spark. He's an inspiration. There's an m.v.p. guy, let me tell you. He's just an outstanding player and an outstanding person."

"Adam was always the type of kid you wanted to make it," Colin Campbell, his former coach said. "He is conscientious, nice, hard-working, respectful. And usually those guys don't make it. Adam is the milk-drinker who goes through hell for you."

He plays a rugged, aggressive game of hockey, with a mean streak that enhances his talent and inspires his teammates. He parks his often bruised body in front of the net, especially playing on the power play. Graves is a willing fighter, often known as Mark Messier's bodyguard, both in Edmonton and later New York. Kevin Lowe, team-mate of both in both cities, calls Graves "the sheriff" for his willingness to defend fellow Rangers.

Graves was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings out of the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He finished the 1988 season with the Wings after leading the Spitfires to the OHL championship. He split the 1988-89 season with the Wings and their AHL affiliate. He was quickly traded in the beginning of the 1989-90 season in a huge trade. Graves, Petr Klima, Joe Murphy and Jeff Sharples were all moved to Edmonton in exchange for Michigan-born Jimmy Carson and long time Oiler tough guy Kevin McClelland.

Graves filled a similar role to McClelland while in Edmonton, but possessed much promise which never really was tapped in the City of Champions. He played 2 seasons with the Oil, scoring 15 goals in 139 games. He teamed with Martin Gelinas and Joe Murphy to form the Oilers version of the "Kid Line." The trio combined speed and youthful enthusiasm in a supporting role in the Oilers 1990 Stanley Cup Championship.

The New York Rangers plucked Graves away from Edmonton in 1991 via the free agency market. It was in New York that Graves blossomed into a star. He blossomed in 1991-92 to score 26 goals, more than doubling his career total. The next year he improved to 36 goals and by 1993-94 he joined Vic Hadfield as only the second New York Ranger in history to score 50 goals. In fact Graves' 52 goals better Hadfield's then-team record by 2. Graves of course would add 10 goals and 17 points in 23 playoff games to help bring Lord Stanley's Cup back to Broadway for the first time since 1940.

Graves would have trouble reaching the same plateau again. Playing in pain but rarely missing a game, he became a consistent 20 goal scorer in the years following.

Though not known for using a stick in flagrant ways, one of Graves' most infamous moments involved a stick foul against the Pittsburgh Penguins' star Mario Lemieux in the 1992 playoffs.While killing a Pittsburgh power play, Graves swung his stick and broke a bone in Lemieux's right hand, putting him out of the series. Graves received a suspension that kept him off the ice for the rest of that series, and the Rangers, regular-season champions then, as they are now, were eliminated by the Penguins.

Gravy is also one of the NHL's nicest guys. The 1994 King Clancy Memorial winner, Graves participated in many activities involving under privileged kids in New York.

Doug Hicks

2009-06-29T22:10:00.001-07:00

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.

Craig Simpson

2009-05-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Steve Smith

2009-03-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

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.

Lee Fogolin

2009-01-11T06:23:00.000-08:00

Like father, like son is a phrase that fits Lee Fogolin Sr. and Jr. perfectly.

Although they played in very different eras, they played an almost similar style. Both were hard hitting defensemen who made up what they lacked in grace with an abundance of heart and leadership. Both were journeymen who specialized in the physical game and were excellent shot blockers. Poise and dedication were also commonly mentioned attributes of both player's games. Father Lee played in the rough and tumble post-World War II era with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. Lee Jr. played during the high scoring, and high flying 1980s.

Lee Jr. was born in Chicago where his father spent most of his career, but grew up in rural Ontario. By 1972 he was skating for the junior Oshawa Generals and capturing critical acclaim for his exuberant play. By the time he became draft eligible in 1974, he was a top selection of the Buffalo Sabres as he was selected 11th overall.

Lee made the jump to the NHL immediately. He played somewhat sparingly, however, over his first two NHL season because of his lack of experience. Even at that early age he was considered to be the strongest man in professional hockey.

While Lee was too good to play in the minors, ultimately he was rushed into the Sabres lineup. He got caught up in the Sabres blue line depth chart and often saw little ice time and even skated as a penalty killing forward. After 5 seasons in Buffalo he was surprisingly left exposed by the Sabres in the 1979 expansion draft, and was quickly snapped up by the Edmonton Oilers.

It is in Edmonton where Lee is perhaps best remembered. He served as a team captain before handing that honour to Wayne Gretzky. He would quickly establish himself as one of the league's best defensive defensemen and most unheralded players while playing the run-and-gun Oilers team. One of the reasons the Oilers could play that all-offense system of theirs was because of players like Lee who would stay back and do the dirty work.

Lee enjoyed 8 seasons in Edmonton, including 2 Stanley Cups. Ultimately the emergence of young behemoths like Steve Smith and Jeff Beukeboom made a veteran Fogolin expendable in 1987. He was traded back to Buffalo late in the season. He would put in just 9 more games of NHL work before deciding to retire at the end of the season.

Lee Fogolin played in 24 regular season NHL games, scoring 44 goals and 239 points plus 1318 penalty minutes. In 108 playoff contests he scored 5 goals and 24 points plus 173 penalty minutes. But every player who ever played with (or for that matter against) Lee Fogolin will agree that no statistic could ever measure the value of this rock-steady defenseman.

Dave Manson

2009-01-09T10:52:00.000-08:00

When a player is affectionately known as "Charlie" Manson, it comes as no surprise he was one of the most feared NHL tough guys of his era. But he could play too, a terrific package of terror and talent.

The pride of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the former hometown Raiders star Dave Manson played in over 1100 NHL games, most notably with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also played well in Edmonton, Winnipeg and Montreal before toiling with Toronto and Dallas late in his career.

Manson quickly established himself as a rough and tumble customer. He had nearly 2800 career penalty minutes, including a Chicago single season record (since broken) of 352 penalty minutes in his third season, 1988-89.

The following season he would have bettered his own record if he was not suspended three times - twice for pushing a linesman and returning to fights, and once for biting the hand of Scott Stevens.

With his rugged approach to the game he was an obvious fan favorite in the Windy City. He had some real battles in that old Norris Division, and Chicago had some long time rivalries. Bob Probert and Joey Kocur were in Detroit. Basil McRae in Minnesota. Todd Ewen and later Scott Stevens in St. Louis.

That Stevens bout was quite the classic. Let's take a look:

Manson backed down from nobody, and you can not accuse him of having a bark worse than his bite. You see, Manson often had to let his physical play send messages for him, as he his voice was reduced to a raspy whisper courtesy of Sergio Momesso, then with Vancouver. Big Momesso punched Manson right in the throat during one altercation, and Manson contracted a permanent case of laryngitis. Even after two major surgeries, Manson still talks very softly and gravelly.

Despite the nickname and impressive pugilistic resume, one should not be too quick to jump to the conclusion that he was simply a goon. No, in fact he was also an offensive defenseman who twice played in NHL all star games.

Remember that '88-89 season where Manson sat in the penalty box for 352 minutes? The defenseman also registered 18 goals and 54 points that year.

Blessed with a heavy shot, Manson was a natural on the power play. He loved to tee up one timers but was also smart enough to change up his shot now and again. And he was never afraid to pinch up and surprise the penalty killers with his straying from the left point.

That year Manson really put it altogether. There is not a coach in the league that would not want a defenseman with Manson's scary combination of physical aggression and offensive intimidation. He was always playing on the edge, but he constantly struggled to keep that right balance.

The problem was Manson was never able to maintain the right mixture over any length of his career. This was due to discipline and hockey sense.

First and foremost was discipline, but with penalty minute totals like his that comes as no surprise. Too often he would unnecessarily engage in scrums after the whistle instead of just concentrating on hockey. He would often throw himself off his own game as he ran around out of position and taking bad penalties. With his well-established reputation as one of the most feared men on ice, he did not need to do this. He needed to learn let his reputation do a lot of the intimidating for him, and just concentrate on playing hockey.

Discipline in hockey also refers to playing the game smartly and patiently. This is also known as hockey sense.

At times Manson was too over-exuberant in his offensive game too, making bad pinches, impossible passes, and plenty of turnovers. He was very much a gambler with the puck, and he got burned many times. This only led to a significant number of minor penalties, for hooking and tripping, because he did not have the superior foot speed to make up for his gaffes.

Had Manson learned to be more patient with the puck and just make the safe if unspectacular play, he would have been one heck of a defender. He might not have been as noticeable on the ice if he played more conservatively, but given his turnover history that might have been a good thing.

Defensively he could be an adventure, too. Certainly the opposition did not like to put the puck into his corner, given the likelihood he would try to put you into the first row of seats. But the opposition knew Manson would stray too far from his optimal position to make a big hit or to unnecessarily help out his defense partner. Poor reads by Manson led to wide open scoring chances for attackers too often.

Manson may have been a big city star who lasted over 1100 wars in the NHL, but he never forgot his hometown roots. He was always a Saskatchewan boy at heart, proud of his hometown of Prince Albert where he led the WHL Raiders to the Memorial Cup in 1985. Following the conclusion of his NHL career, Manson returned to Prince Albert and became involved in coaching with the Raiders.

Martin Gelinas

2008-07-30T22:58:00.001-07:00

"I feel so happy. I know it is the biggest trade ever in the sport.''

- Martin Gelinas

As if being a high NHL draft choice is not already more pressure than we should probably expect 18 year olds to handle, weeks later Martin Gelinas had found himself in the unenviable position of being traded for the game's greatest player, Wayne Gretzky.

Gelinas certainly made a name for him in 1987-88 season, playing in the QMJHL with the Hull Olympiques, who, interestingly enough, were owned by none other than Wayne Gretzky.

Gelinas was the Quebec League's prize rookie that year, turning in an impressive 63 goal, 131 point season that earned him CHL rookie of the year honours.

More importantly, he was selected by the Los Angeles Kings 7th overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. He was drafted directly ahead of the likes of Jeremy Roenick, Rod Brind'Amour and Teemu Selanne.

Gelinas must have been fairly excited. After all, he was a top 10 NHL pick and heading to California.

Except the only time he donned a Kings jersey was at the draft in Montreal. Weeks later he was included in the biggest trade in hockey history, perhaps all of sporting history.

Wayne Gretzky, along with Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley, was unthinkably traded to the Los Angeles Kings. Any Edmonton fan will tell you they were sold, as the key to the deal was the $15 million US that Oilers owner Peter Pocklington desperately needed to stop the financial bleeding his empire was suffering. From a hockey stand point, the Oilers were getting a slew of faraway draft picks and two players: Jimmy Carson and the recently drafted Gelinas.

Before he even attended his first NHL training camp, Gelinas found himself traded for the greatest player in the history of the game.

Talk about enormous skates to fill.

Gelinas made a splash in 1987–88 with the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL with a 63-goal, 131-point campaign. His season made the CHL Rookie of the Year the 7th overall choice by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.

Fortunately for Gelinas, he was able to escape the close scrutiny somewhat. Aside from 6 games, he was returned to junior hockey for the 1988-89 season. In 1989-90 the Oilers had already gone through they're transformation minus 99, and they were still a very strong team, as evidenced by their Stanley Cup win that spring.

Gelinas was able to slide into the revamped Oilers lineup scoring 17 goals in 46 games. He actually led all Oilers gunners in shooting percentage that year, too.

He was joined by Joe Murphy and Adam Graves on the fast skating, hard hitting and extremely popular energy line known as The Kid Line. They would play a significant role in leading the Oilers to their 5th Stanley Cup in 7 years.

He played six games for the Oilers in 1988, before being sent back to the Olympiques. In his first full season in 1989-90, Gelinas had 25 points in 46 games, and won his only Stanley Cup as a member of the Oilers, beating the Boston Bruins. Along with Joe Murphy and Adam Graves, he was made up a popular Oilers' forward line known as 'The Kid Line.'

That is how Martin Gelinas will forever be remembered in Edmonton, despite sputtering after the 1990 championship. He scored 20 goals a year later, but then he showed up for one training camp far too bulked up, thus throwing off his game noticeably.

He went on to Quebec where his play was so poor that the Nordiques put him on waivers. The Vancouver Canucks plucked up Gelinas. It was in Vancouver that Gelinas, along side close friend Trevor Linden, really found his game. He was able to mesh his speed and physical game with a couple of 30 goal seasons.

Though those two were the heart of the Canucks, Mike Keenan and Mark Messier made sure of their exile from BC. Gelinas was off to Carolina where he continued his strong play for 5 seasons. He would round up his career with stints in Calgary, Florida and Nashville.

Though he was never the scorer that many predicted he would be coming out of junior, Martin Gelinas had a real nice career in the NHL, playing nearly 1300 games and scoring over 300 goals and 600 points. Perhaps he will still add to those totals as he had yet to announce plans for the 2008-09 season.

Moreover, 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. He was no Wayne Gretzky, but he was a player any team would loved to have on their side.

Mike Krushelnyski

2008-06-25T21:58:00.000-07:00

Mike grew up skating on frozen ponds in and around his hometown of Montreal. It was there that he learned the fundamentals of the game that led him to an NHL career of almost 900 games.

Mike was a big boy by the time he reached the NHL, playing at 6'2" and anywhere from 200 to 215 pounds. His long stride made up for his lack of natural speed. That compensation helped to make him one of the better skaters in the league. He had a powerful stride and good balance made him very agile for such a large player.

Mike also was very gifted with his hands. A good faceoff man, he was a good puckhandler who could dance the puck past a defenseman. He had good vision and anticipation and a long reach to aid him in his goal scoring pursuits.

His teammates nicknamed "Krusher." It was a play on his name and not his bone crunching body checks. Despite his good size and skating abilities, the physical game was approached reluctantly by Mike. He preferred to stay away from the corners and slot. Although he'd take a hit to make a play, he generally didn't enjoy the physical game. It's too bad. With his speed and shooting abilities, not to mention his incredible supporting cast in Edmonton, he could have been a really good power forward.

Krushelnyski was originally drafted by Boston in the eighth round of the 1979 Entry Draft. He spent two years in the organization before he joined the Bruins full time in 1982-83. He scored 23 goals and 65 points in his rookie season and quickly became regarded as one of the best young players in hockey.

Mike slipped to 45 points in his following season. He did improve to 25 goals but otherwise he was considered to be a victim of the dreaded "sophomore jinx." Yet that didn't keep the Edmonton Oilers away. They offered speedy veteran Ken Linseman prior to the 1984-85 season and the Bruins jumped on the one-for-one swap.

In his first year with the Oilers, Krushelnyski enjoyed a banner season. He recorded career-highs in goals (43), assists (45) and points (88) and was third in the NHL with a plus-56 rating. He even played in the 1985 All-Star Game. He also helped the Oilers capture the Stanley Cup championship that year.

The Oilers had hoped Krushelnyski would be the guy who could play on the left side of Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri, a hole that was never really filled until Esa Tikkanen arrived in the late 1980s. "Krusher" was given as good a shot as anyone to play with #99 and #17, but as the season wore on it became more and more obvious that Mike wasn't the right guy on that line either. He spent most of the Stanley Cup playoffs on other units, particularly as a third line shutdown center.

"(Krushelnyski) has a lot of skill, in addition to his size and strength," said John Muckler, Glen Sather's co-coach. "But there are psychological problems involved in working with Gretzky. You have to do things on blind faith, assuming he'll get the puck to you, and that's hard to do. A lot of times, Krush was so astounded by what was happening that he'd fail to react. He couldn't believe the pass he'd just received so there'd be no shot at all."

As Mike's true value to the Oilers became obvious as a third line checker and grinder, his offensive numbers went down. He scored only 16 goals in each of the next two seasons, and 40 and 51 points respectively. He upped that to 20 goals and 47 points in 1987-88 - his final season in Edmonton.

Despite his lack of scoring "Special K" remained a solid contributor to the Oilers success as the Oilers won the Cup in both 1987 and 1988.

Prior to the 1988-89 campaign, Krushelnyski was part of the biggest trades in NHL history. On August 9, 1988, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings with Gretzky and Marty McSorley for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, and Los Angeles’ first-round choices in 1989, 1991 and 1993.

Krushelnyski played parts of three seasons with the Kings before he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1990-91 season in exchange for John McIntyre. The Kings were hoping McIntyre could be a younger version of Krushelnyski at that time, while the Leafs were looking for Mike's experience and leadership. He was with Toronto for four unspectacular seasons before signing for one year with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent during the summer of 1994.

in 1995-96 Mike played in the American Hockey League with the Cape Breton Oilers. He finished his career in 1996-97 after a two game stint with HC Milano in Europe.

Over his NHL playing career, Mike scored a nice 241 goals, 328 assists and 569 points in 897 regular season games. In 139 playoff contests, he totaled 29 goals and 72 points. He was a solid contributor in other ways than just scoring, although it is likely most people will always wonder what happened to Big Mike after his 43 goal, 88 point season.

Marty McSorley

2008-06-25T11:32:00.001-07:00

Marty McSorley worked hard to rid himself of his reputation as a goon early in his career. He worked hard to improve himself as a player, and became very well respected throughout the entire league, both for his on ice play and off ice class.

However that all changed on February 21, 2000.

With less than five seconds left in regulation time and the Canucks cruising to a 5-2 victory over the McSorley's Boston Bruins, the hulking defenseman closed in on fellow tough guy Donald Brashear and took a two-handed swing at the Vancouver forward's head, connecting with his right temple. Brashear dropped like a rock, hit his head on the ice and lay twitching on the ice. Brashear, who was then carried off on a stretched with blood flowing from his nose, suffered a severe concussion but could have suffered much worse.

McSorley, who has a short fuse and a history of violence, crossed the line of what is considered to be "acceptable" acts of violence in a hockey game. The Vancouver RCMP continue to look into assault charges.

McSorley was genuinely apologetic following the game, though that was not enough.

"I'm in shock with what I did," said a contrite McSorley. "That's not the way I want to be remembered as a hockey player.

"I have to reflect upon what I did. I have to come to terms with what I did.

"I've done that with so many guys, so many times, but I don't know what happened," he said. "There's no excuse. I got way too carried away. It was a real dumb play."

McSorley's act was probably the worst act of violence at the NHL level since Rocket Richard attacked Hal Laycoe and a linesmen back in the '50s. For his despicable act, Richard was suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the entire playoffs, sparking the now infamous Richard Riots in Montreal.

No one will be rioting now, but McSorley too got kicked out for the rest of the year. He was banned officially for 23 games plus the playoffs, the harshest penalty handed out by the NHL for an on ice incident to that point in history.

Its an unfortunate exclamation mark at the end of McSorley's career. No one should ever condone what he did, but it is important to tell the story of the rest of McSorley's career as well.

Marty McSorley went undrafted after playing junior hockey with the Belleville Bulls. The Hamilton, Ontario native signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1982 and made the team in 1983-84 as simply a goon. He record 224 penalty minutes. However Marty would spend most of the next season in the minors.

In 1985 he was then traded to the Edmonton Oilers with Tim Hrynewich and later Craig Muni in exchange for goaltender Gilles Meloche. McSorley was brought into Edmonton with the idea that he could be Dave Semenko's eventual replacement as Wayne Gretzky's "bodyguard."

The move to Edmonton proved to be a great move for Marty as he would be part of back to back Stanley Cup championships in 1987 and 1988.

Then came "the trade." Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski and McSorley were shipped to Los Angeles for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and $15 million. McSorley was supposedly a throw in in the deal but some sources say that Wayne Gretzky insisted that his good friend Marty be included.

McSorley brought his bruising physical style to Los Angeles where he became an instant fan favorite. He racked up a 350 penalty minutes his first year and 322 in the following year. But Marty also became a really good player while in Los Angeles. He scored 15 goals and 36 points in 1989-90. 1990-91 saw McSorley tie Theo Fleury with a +48 rating, tops in the NHL. Marty even recorded a six point game against the Vancouver Canucks.

In 19 92-93 McSorley set the Kings record for penalty minutes with 399. It was also the season of the Kings Cinderella run into the Cup Finals. It was the franchises first time in the Finals. Though Marty had a great year and incredible playoffs, McSorley may most be remembered for happened in Game Two of the Finals. With the Kings in position to win and go up 2-0. Montreal coach Jacques Demers took a gamble and won big by asking the referee to check if McSorley was using an illegal curve on his stick. The move paid off for Demers, as the curve was indeed illegal. On the ensuing power play, Montreal scored to send the game into overtime, where they would win the game and tied the series at 1 game apiece.. The call turned the series in Montreal's favor, who would eventually down the upstart Kings to win the Stanley Cup.

Before the 19 93-94 season began, McSorley was traded back to Pittsburgh. Marty had earned a big pay raise and the Kings didn't want to pay the bill, so they sent him packing. It signaled the start of the downfall for LA as the Kings lost their emotional leader.

He played 47 games in Pittsburgh, but struggled. Much to Marty's relief he was traded back to Los Angeles later in the year. Oddly enough Shawn McEacheran was also involved in both trades. Upon his return to La-la-land he set the Kings franchise record for career penalty minutes. He also made a nice pass to Wayne Gretzky on Gretzky's NHL record breaking 802nd NHL goal.

McSorley was traded by the Kings again, this time March 1996 to the New York Rangers. McSorley was a free agent at season's end, so the Rangers were effectively using him as a rental player for the playoff run. As it turned out McSorley would only play 13 games for New York, including just 4 playoff contests.

After that, he signed on with San Jose as a free agent, but was used sparingly due to his lack of foot speed and defensive blunders. McSorley returned to the Edmonton Oilers in 1998-99, and signed with Boston for the 1999-2000 season.

TH will be remembered for his hideous assault on Donald Brasher, which is unfortunate. Marty McSorley was more than a goon. He started out as a goon in Pittsburgh who went on to become Dave Semenko's replacement as Gretzky's bodyguard in Edmonton and later Los Angeles. But a funny thing happened a long the way - McSorley worked his butt off and he turned himself into a fine player, especially during his first tenure with the Kings. In fact, in my opinion, McSorley was the second most dominant LA King in the 1993 Cup run, after of course Wayne Gretzky.

Though he was an awkward skater, Marty learned to play within his limitations, and as soon as he did that he thrived. Originally a winger, Marty is best known for playing defense where he cleared creases and intimidate attacking opponents on a nightly basis. He did possess a heavy shot.

Marty earned great respect around the league for his hard work, his fine team play, and his articulate intelligence off the ice. That all changed because of a sick stick swinging incident that even left McSorley shocked.

"He'll have to live with this for the rest of his life" said Canucks GM Brian Burke. "That's quite a burden."

Kelly Buchberger

2008-06-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

"Take 'em wide, Bucky!"

The Edmonton Oilers have had a lot of great players over the years. Wayne Gretzky. Mark Messier. Paul Coffey. Jari Kurri. Grant Fuhr. Kevin Lowe. Glenn Anderson. Ryan Smyth. I could go on.

Through sheer determination and hard work, Kelly Buchberger achieved immortalizing fame in the city of champions, far eclipsing his athletic ability and his tenure with the less than great times in the later 1990s.

Yet he is very much an Oilers legend and a fan favorite. No one, not the Oilers and most certainly not Buchberger himself, could have ever imagined that when he walked into the Northlands Coliseum for the first time.

Born in Langenburg, Saskatchewan, the wide eyed youngster can recall his first NHL game with special clarity. He was called up from the Moose Jaw Warriors and inserted into the Edmonton line up in the 1987 Stanley Cup finals! He would play three games in those finals, helping the Oilers knock off the strong Philadelphia Flyers. Buchberger would get his name on the Stanley Cup, the first of two such engravings in his career.

The kid must have been in great awe back then. The 188th overall draft pick from 1985 was suddenly playing for the Stanley Cup. His teammates were named Gretzky and Messier. It was every western Canadian kid's dream come true in the 1980s.

And Buchberger was living that dream, though he must have been in so much awe that he probably was certain he did not belong. But as was his trademark throughout his career, he was determined to somehow prove he did.

Bucky was a kamikaze forward who pursued pucks with vigour. Strong on his skates with a growing but never truly perfected ability to read plays, his checking was relentless and insistent. He was a very physical forward, not afraid to drop the gloves though he was far from a NHL heavyweight.

He was not much of a player with the puck, relying on his speed to drive to the net and bang at loose pucks. He was far from gifted with vision and hands to make plays or score the prettiest of goals. His true value to his team, especially the strong Oilers teams of the late 1980s, was as a ground soldier who opens up space for the better players.

More importantly he inspired teammates with his reckless energy and never-say-die attitude. He played every shift like it was game seven of the Stanley Cup finals, even in pre-season. He was the perfect example for younger players.

It was almost as if Buchberger was never completely certain he'd earned that magical Oilers jersey. And he damn sure never took it for granted. He played every night like somebody might take it away from him at any moment.

Years later they stitched the 'C" on the front of his #16 jersey. Just prior to the 1995-96 season, Buchberger as named as the ninth captain in franchise history. Like his entire career, you could tell he was totally awed, and genuinely honoured and surprised.

But it was a surprise to few others. By the mid 1990s he was the last link to the great dynasty teams of 1984 through 1990. His work ethic and passion, his courage and Oilers pride set great examples for teammates and rookies, and made him the obvious choice to wear the "C."

Former teammate Craig MacTavish was an especially big fan of Bucky.

"It just shows you what heart, determination and unselfish play can do for a career in terms of longevity. He's surpassed everybody's expectations in terms of what he's got out of himself. That's his story.

"The thing that stands out when I think of Bucky and his career is regardless of his accomplishments, the Stanley Cups, he viewed his contribution based on what he did on a nightly basis.

"He wanted to justify his position in the lineup every game, and it's that type of work ethic and mental toughness that has distinguished him in his career."

Former teammate and Oilers GM Kevin Lowe compared Buchberger favorably to another OilerslLegend.

"He was as much a team player as I've seen, as close to Mess as anybody I've seen. He put anything personal second to the accomplishments of the team. He's one of the great Oilers.

When Buchberger left Edmonton for Atlanta in the 1999 expansion draft, new Oilers captain Doug Weight credited his former captain for teaching him about what it took to be a leader.

"Everything he did, on and off the ice, was about being a leader," Weight said. "The way he played the game, the way he prepared, the way he treated his teammates and their families. He had respect for not only the authority of the coaches, but the organization. He was very loyal. As a fan, you could see his game, the blocking shots, his will to win, but I saw leadership in every aspect of his life. Every young player who played with him not only had the utmost respect for him, but learned a lot."

Buchberger, who finished his career in 2004 after stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix and Pittsburgh, credited the great Oilers before him for his success.

"Playing with those great players, it made me a better player," he said. "Watching how they played, the way they worked and carried themselves, it was an honour to watch and learn from them. Those guys made me the player I am."

Craig Muni

2008-04-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Quietly, Craig Muni developed into a rugged, defensive stalwart who earned his name on the Stanley Cup three times in his 12 years in the NHL.

Muni, best known as a hard hitting, stay at home defenseman, was used in all defensive situations. A strong one- on- one player, Muni was a regular penalty killer, especially on 5- on- 3 advantages. He also developed a reputation as a controversial hitter. He was one of only a handful of players who excelled at the old fashioned hip check. However the controversy was that Muni would use his open ice hip checks like missiles, blowing out more than a few knees along the way. In one playoff series between the Oilers in Kings, Muni put both Tomas Sandstrom and Bob Kudelski on the shelf with low and controversial hits.

As solid as he was defensively, he was a one trick pony. He had little finesse game to speak of. Saying he was an average skater would be a stretch, and he had no offensive output at all. A weak shooter and poor puckhandler, Muni made a living as a 5th, 6th or 7th d-man.

Born in Toronto, he was drafted by his hometown Maple Leafs 25th overall in 1980. However he never panned out in Toronto, largely because of his skating. In 6 years in the Leafs' organization, he appeared in 19 games and was written off as a bust.

However Glen Sather saw something in Muni and in the summer of 1986 signed Craig as a free agent. Muni immediately stepped into the mighty Edmonton Oiler's blue line corps and played regularly and well. In his first 4 seasons with the Oilers he was part of three Stanley Cup championships and was a +142!

Muni continued to play with the Oil until late in the 1992-93 season when he was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks who were looking for some veteran leadership on their blue line. His stay in the Windy City was very short. He played in 9 games with the Hawks that season, and 9 games with them in the following season before he was traded to Buffalo where he joined former Oilers coach John Muckler.

Craig played 3 years in the blue collar New York town before finishing his career bouncing around the NHL with Winnipeg, Pittsburgh and Dallas.

Reijo Ruotsalainen

2008-02-16T14:14:00.001-08:00

With his alphabet soup name and his unbelievable skills package, Reijo Ruotsalainen is impossible to forget for anyone who ever watched him play. I always felt that if he was placed in the right situation, he could have been one of the top 3 defenseman of his time.

Routsalainen joined the New York Rangers in 1981, unable to speak much English but with a hockey resume that spoke for him. The son of a coach back in his native Finland, Ruotsalainen was sought after by top professional Finnish teams from the age of 14. At the age of 16, coach Kari Makinen finally convinced Reijo and his parents to join Karpat Oulu. Although he was now playing against men 4-10 years older than him, within a couple of months he became the top defenseman on the team, and was well on his way to becoming one of the best Finnish players ever. Over the next six years he'd represent his country at 4 world junior championships, 2 senior world championships and the 1981 Canada Cup. After joining the NHL he'd add 3 more worlds, 1 more Canada Cup and 1 Olympics to his impressive international resume. Rangers scout Lars-Erik Sjoberg, a very similar defenseman who starred in Sweden and the WHA, was one of his biggest fans and convinced the Rangers to select him 119th overall in 1980.

When he arrived in New York he was instantly paired with defenseman Barry Beck. The hulking Beck would take care of the physical game, as the diminutive "Rexi" quarterbacked the offense. In his rookie year Routsalainen scored an impressive 18 goals and 56 points. He followed that campaign up with seasons of 16 goals and 69 points and 20 goals and 59 points. His best season came in 1984-85 when he scored 28 goals and 73 points, though a significant portion of that season saw him skate on a forward line with Mark Pavelich and Anders Hedberg.

Paul Coffey was Ruotsalainen's most comparable peer. Like Coffey, Rexi's skating ability was simply phenomenal. He had an incredible set of wheels, blessed with great speed and the ability to get into gear within a step. And he skated backwards and laterally equally as well, perhaps even better than Coffey. In fact he could skate better in reverse than most forwards could skate forward! He effortlessly drifted across the ice as the opposition skaters strained to keep up. It was nothing short of beautiful, and perhaps only equaled by a Scott Niedermayer or a Katerina Witt!

Also like Coffey, Routsalainen loved to rush the puck, often bursting down the left wall, or sneaking off the point and into the slot. He was an excellent stickhandler, able to cradle the puck at any speed. His passes were soft and on target. And his shot was almost as good as his skating. He had an absolute rocket from the point. It took him a bit to learn to keep his shots on net, but once he did he may have been the best one-timer in the league.

Where Coffey and Ruotsalainen differed was in their size and physical ability. While Coffey was big and sported a physical nature, Ruoutsalainen was just too small to be effective. At just 5'8" and 170lbs, Ruotsalainen didn't shy away from the physical play, but he would stay away from the big battles and try to defend from the outside by using his smarts and skates.

So why didn't Routsalainen create a bigger NHL legacy? Under coach Herb Brooks he thrived in New York, but he did not get along with new coach Ted Sator. Rather than return to the Rangers, Ruotsalainen left for Europe, joining SC Bern in Switzerland where he remains a legend.

Seeing the obvious comparison's to Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers GM Glen Sather desperately sought Ruotsalainen's services. He made a complex trade to acquire his NHL rights, but he could not buy out his contract from SC Bern. Instead he waited until after the Swiss season for Routsalainen to join the team. The Oilers would win their third Stanley Cup that spring.

Ruotsalainen opted not to stay in Edmonton, but return to Europe again the following season. The big draw was the 1988 Olympics, something Ruotsalainen had yet to participate in. With NHL participation not guaranteed back then, Ruotsalainen opted to play for a Swedish club team as well as the Finnish national team. The Finns surprised many in those Olympic games, winning the silver medal.

Rexi returned to SC Bern in 1988-89, but joined the New Jersey Devils in 1989-90. By the end of the year the Oilers came knocking again, making another trade for Ruotsalainen's services for another successful Stanley Cup run. By this time the nickname "Rental Rexi" was firmly part of Ruotsalainen's image. So much so that even to this day when the Oilers need help on defense sports casters often joke that the team is inquiring about Ruotsalainen's availability.

Though he probably still can skate better than many NHLers, Ruotsalainen is no longer available as he retired back in 1998. After spending much of the 1990s with SC Bern, he finished his career off where it started, spending two more seasons with Karpat Oulu.

Eddie Mio

2008-02-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

Eddie Mio was a colorful, wisecracking goalie. He wasn't the best goalie in the league, but he was perhaps the wittiest.

Eddie was playing in Indianapolis of the WHA when he first met Wayne Gretzky. At the time Gretzky was a 17 year old phenom about to make his professional debut.

"How you gonna feel, playing with a star like that?" a reporter asked Mio.

"Ask HIM," he sniffed, "how he's gonna like playing with Eddie Mio."

The answer to that question was Gretzky liked it very much. The two became best friends.

It seems like everyone in hockey is Gretzky's best friend, so it must have been hard for The Great One to pick a best man for his wedding right? Mark Messier? Kevin Lowe? Jari Kurri? Dave Semenko? Glen Sather? Nope. Gretzky chose Eddie Mio.

Eddie Mio recently described his relationship with #99 in an interview with NHLPA.com

“The relationship over the years has grown I think from our first day into, I would almost think, as the big brother he never had."

Mio actually thinks the friendship grew stronger once the two were separated when Mio left the Oilers.

"The relationship I think built more and was a little bit more solid after I had left Edmonton where we kept the relationship going as far as friendship in trips during the summer and just visiting him. Just all in all, I think it grew after I left Edmonton."

Gretzky and Mio don't get to spend as much time together as they'd like, even though both are now retired.

" We don’t talk every week. If we don’t hear from each other for about two weeks or maybe three weeks, one of us will pick up the phone and it doesn’t mean I’m always picking up. He’ll call out of the blue or I’ll call but we both respect how busy we are even after he’s retired and he knows that I’m on the road a lot. He’s always checking in. He likes to hear what my young guys are doing so he’s very interested in the hockey world even though he’s retired.”

The young guys Mio refers to are his clients. Mio is now a player agent

Eddie started his hockey career by playing collegiate hockey at Colorado College of the WCHA. During his four years in Colorado, he received several honors including being named to the WCHA Second All-Star Team in 1975 and the WCHA First All-Star Team in 1976. He was also selected to the NCAA West First All-American Team in both 1975 and 1976.

After a year in the minors Mio made his major league debut in 1977-78 when he joined the Indianapolis Racers for his first year in the World Hockey Association.

During the 1978-79 campaign is when Mio first met Gretzky. They were teammates on the Racers for a brief period of time before one of the most historic trades in hockey history took place in November of that season as Mio and Peter Driscoll were dealt along with Gretzky to the Edmonton Oilers for cash.

Mio loves to tell the story of the day they were traded.

Eight games into the season, financially troubled Racers owner Nelson Skalbania decided to fold the team. However since Gretzky was on a personal services contract, he first had to trade the teenage phenom.

Skalbania had two deals going, one with the Winnipeg Jets and one with the Edmonton Oilers. Both deals also involved Mio and Peter Driscoll. things were moving so quickly that all three were put on a private jet and headed to western Canada, though they didn't know where the plane was going to land.

Needless to say the pilots were as confused as the passengers. They wanted to know who was paying for the flight.

"Who's paying for this flight?" they asked.

They looked at one another. Gretzky had lots of money in the bank, but was too young to have a credit card. The other two were broke.

So Eddie Mio reached into his pocket, pulled out his VISA card with the $300 limit, and signed for a $10,000 trip on a Learjet.

Somewhere in midair, the pilot got the word: They were Oilers. They landed in Edmonton. Mio of course was more concerned about his credit card

"Hey," he demanded. "Who's gonna cover this credit card?"

Mio finished the season in the WHA with Edmonton and remained an Oiler in 1979-80 when the club joined the NHL

Mio spent two more seasons in Edmonton with Gretzky and a roster of blossoming stars, playing in 77 games with the Oilers and posting a record of 25-28-14,

Playing with such a talented group of youngsters was a highlight for Eddie.

“Well, the first couple seasons, we made the playoffs, we made the 16th spot in our first year into the league. We got beat a lot but we were a bunch of young kids … actually, I should say they were a bunch of young kids, I was already 26, but we had an older squad back then. Guys like Stan Weir, Claire Alexander, Al Hamilton, Peter Driscoll was older, Ron Chipperfield, Bret Callighen.

" What the great part was watching guys like … the first year, I think Kevin Lowe was with us in ’79, Mark Messier was with us in ’79, I think Dave Lumley was also there. But Gretz elevated everything. I mean even Ace Bailey was there. So you see that we weren’t that young. And then the following year, Glen Sather made a few more changes. That’s when Coffey came in and then Charlie Huddy and a few more young guys were coming in. And those two years, it was fantastic watching how the team was really developing. And my third year there was even better because now you saw really the young guys take over. And they had Glenn Anderson in there and watching these guys play, I remember a time when we beat the Montreal Canadiens, 9-2, and playing net that night, watching these guys skate was unbelievable. It was great."

Mio didn't mind playing for a team with a reputation for only being interested in scoring goals.

" We gave up a lot of shots. I mean in that game, it was 9-2 and I was first star in the game because I had something like 41 shots. But it was exciting as far as my point of view of watching everything unfold. I had seven assists in 1980, all I had to do was give the puck to Paul Coffey! So watching these guys develop and then obviously being traded in ’81 to New York and watching them really take off," said Mio in the same NHLPA.com article.

Eddie was traded to the New York Rangers for the 1981-82 campaign. Mio played two years in New York and it was with the Rangers that he enjoyed his best NHL season as he tied his career-high in wins with 16 while also posting two shutouts and a 3.45 goals-against average.

After his two seasons in The Big Apple, Mio played his final three NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings before opting to retire from hockey after the 1985-86 season.

Over his NHL career, Mio appeared in 192 games, posting a record of 64-73-30, while recording four shutouts and a 4.06 goals-against average.

Aside from all the great friends he made as a result of hockey, Mio counts his first game as a career highlight.

“Obviously anytime you got a shutout in those days was memorable. But I would have to say my most memorable highlight was that first NHL game that I played in. And it happened to be against the Detroit Red Wings and I grew up in Windsor so it was a big part of my life. And we tied them, 3-3, in 1979 and it was the first game that I had played. We had just come back from Chicago and Dave Dryden played that game and I played the first game at home. Channel 50 was broadcasting the game back home at the time and my parents got to see it."

Matti Hagman

2008-02-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

While names like Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne are household names in North America, Finnish hockey fans are quick to point out Matti Hagman as one of the best players the small Scandanavian country has produced.

Hagman was a scoring superstar in Finland, playing in Finland's highest league with HIFK Helsinki when he was just 17 years old. In his first 4 seasons with his hometown team he scored 95 goals in 119 games. He also participated in the 1975 World Junior Championships, the 1975 and 1976 World Championships and the 1976 Olympics in Innisbruck, Austria.

Hagman was a 6th round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 1975. After representing Finland in the first ever Canada Cup tournament in the fall of 1976, Hagman joined the Bruins and had moderate success, scoring 11 goals and 17 assists. Only 15 games into his second NHL season, the Bruins traded away the Finnish wonderboy to the WHA's Quebec Nordiques, where he finished the season.

Hagman returned to HIFK Helsinki for two seasons after his North American try-out. He also started working as a fireman while continuing to play on the ice. However he refused to believe he wasn't good enough to play in the NHL, and on September 11, 1980, he got his chance to return to the league. This time it was a much better fit as his high flying style would fit in nicely with a very young Edmonton Oilers team.

It proved to be a tremendous move by Oilers GM Glen "Slats" Sather. Hagman would play 2 full seasons with the Oilers, scoring 41 goals and 112 points, modest numbers on a team known for incredible output. But Hagman's presence (along with Risto Siltanen's) helped a young Jari Kurri adjust to North American life. Kurri couldn't speak a word of English at the time but due to their presence Kurri, unlike many Europeans especially in those days, became very comfortable with life in North America went on to become one of the greatest right wingers ever.

"I thought I'd need more experience back home, but Matti was a big reason I decided to come the first year,'' recalled Kurri. One would have to wonder how Hagman would have done had he had a mentor like that a few seasons earlier while in Boston.

Matti also helped Kurri score the first of his more than 600 goals.

"Matti passed and I one-timed it from the high slot,'' remembers Kurri. "It went in and out, play went on, but the referee (veteran Ron Wicks) saw that it was in.''

Hagman returned to Finland permanently in 1982, although he did play the 1985-86 season in Germany. Hagman's career ended in 1992 as one of the greatest players in Finnish history. In 513 Finnish League games he scored 288 goals and 462 assists for 750 points. He also played in 104 international competitions for the Finnish National Team, scoring 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points. Those games include 4 World Championships, 3 Canada Cups and the aforementioned 1976 Olympic Games.

Ken Linseman

2007-10-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Ken Linseman was a real effective hockey player, but he was not much of a finisher. I mean that two ways. Though a good offensive presence, he was not a goal scorer. And secondly, he was real shit disturber with a reputation for causing a lot of trouble that he rarely stuck around to see the end.

Yes, Linseman's reputation will always be that of a dirty hockey player. He was a physical player in all zones of the ice, but at 5'11" and 175lbs he was anything but a heavy hitter. He did hit hard though, often taking a couple more strides than he should have, and often using his arms and elbows to hit high. In a pre-obstruction crackdown NHL he was well versed in other uses for the hockey stick. He would slash, cross check, and spear an opponent, and he was a clutch and grab specialist.

Making it even worse was Linseman's mouth. He was so yappy on the ice that he drove many an opponent crazy listening to him. He was like your little brother or sister who would tease you into a fury until you got in trouble for throwing the first punch. Linsemen drew many penalties by being a super pest.

Linseman was down right dirty at times. In fact, not many people remember that in junior hockey he was charged and convicted of assault for kicking an opponent in the forehead with his skate.

It's actually too bad that Linseman chose to play this way, because he was actually quite a decent hockey player. He was an excellent defensive player and face-off expert, and as such he was given important responsibilities late in games. He would doggedly pursuing the puck to no end, but he had good anticipation and vision to make the job much easier.

Though he lacked great straight ahead speed, Linseman was a wonderful skater. He had tremendous lateral movement. He was as shifty a player as I've ever seen, and with a single step he could change direction and never be out of the play. He skated with very bent over, which led to his nickname "The Rat," not his antagonistic style.

Offensively he was a nice presence. He was a good stickhandler and a solid playmaking pivot. Blessed with excellent vision, he could feed pucks to teammates at the same time holes opened up.

As mentioned previously, Linseman was not a goal scorer. He did not possess an especially accurate or powerful shot. Instead he relied on crashing the slot looking for deflections and rebounds.

In 1978 Linseman joined the Philadelphia Flyers organization, and was being groomed to be Bobby Clarke's replacement on the ice. In many ways he was similar to Clarke though not nearly as good offensively or even defensively. He would spend 4 seasons on the Rat Patrol line with Paul Holmgren and Brian Propp but would wear out his welcome.

Linseman joined the Edmonton Oilers in 1982-83, forming an effective line with Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson. Linseman was part of the Oilers 1984 Stanley Cup championship.

The following year, Linseman was traded to Boston where he put in more than five seasons. By the turn of the decade he had lost some of his steam. He would round out his career with brief return appearances in Philadelphia and Edmonton as well as Toronto.

Linseman's reputation may forever be as a super pest, but his greatest legacy will be for his role in redefining the draft.

When Linseman was starring in junior hockey with the Kingston Canadiens, he attempted to sign as an under-aged player with the Birmingham Bulls of the WHA. At the time both the NHL and WHA excluded anyone under the age of 20 from the draft and from playing. But Linseman figured at 18 he was old enough to vote and go to war, so why couldn't he earn a living?

The attempt unexpectedly exploded into a full-blown legal bout that was eventually settled only when Linseman secured an injunction against the WHA and was allowed to join the Bulls.

Linseman's successful bid created quite the groundswell, and changed hockey forever. Soon the WHA was raiding junior hockey of many top young players, including Mike Gartner, Michel Goulet, Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. The NHL came on board too, dropping the draft age to 18.

The lowering of the draft age has made drafting future NHL players a very uncertain task. Suddenly grade 12 kids, many of whom were rushed into junior hockey and away from their family's home that much earlier, faced a lot of pressure to perform. Aside from the elite talents, many kids are not able to live up to expectations.

Al Hamilton

2007-07-29T20:59:00.000-07:00

If you ever are lucky enough to attend a game in Edmonton, be sure to take a moment and soak up some history and great memories by looking up at all those retired jerseys hanging in the rafters.

#99 Wayne Gretzky, of course. #11 Mark Messier, the hometown hero. #7 Paul Coffey. #17 Jari Kurri. The goalie, #31, Grant Fuhr. #3 Al Hamilton.

Who the heck is Al Hamilton?

You came to the right place.

Al Hamilton barely played in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers. Instead, he joined the team in their inaugural WHA season in 1972, back when the team was known as the Alberta Oilers. He stayed with the Oilers throughout the WHA's rocky history, and was part of the inaugural NHL team in 1979-80 before packing it in.

Hamilton put up some decent offensive numbers in his day, scoring 53 goals and 311 points in 455 WHA games. He was solid in his own zone too, blessed with fluid skating and good size, and the knowledge of how to best use both to his advantage. He managed to overcome a serious eye injury to help the Edmonton Oilers reach the 1978 Avco Cup championship finals.

Hamilton was the Oilers undisputed leader back in the WHA, and a true team player. His contributions off the ice were equally valuable as his contributions on the ice. His infectious love of the game made everyone around him better.

Author Ross Brewitt remembers Hamilton well in his book "Into The Empty Net."

"I always remembered Al Hamilton as one of those people who enjoyed hockey more than others because it all seemed so natural. He enjoyed the games, the practices and most of all the heckling and banter, the inside jokes that are a facet of the game that outsiders usually underestimate.

Born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Hamilton had a taste of his own future when he headed west to play junior hockey with Bill Hunter's legendary Edmonton Oil Kings. Hamilton was a puck rusher sometimes compared to Bobby Orr. The Oil Kings made it to three consecutive Memorial Cup finals in 1964, 1965 and 1966, knocking off Orr's Oshawa Generals in the final year to at long last capture junior hockey's cherished championship.

Hamilton pre-dated the NHL Amateur Draft system. By joining the Oil Kings he became property of the New York Rangers. With the likes of Rod Seiling, Jim Neilson, Arnie Brown, Brad Park and Tim Horton in New York, Hamilton never really got a chance to play in The Big Apple. He spent most of his time playing in the minor leagues with the Buffalo Bisons.

His minor league stop proved to be good foreshadowing of his future yet again. In 1970, the NHL expansion Buffalo Sabres made Hamilton their 2nd pick in the expansion draft. In essence, Al Hamilton was the first Buffalo Sabre selected when they stockpiled their inaugural team back in the 1970 expansion draft. The Sabres actually selected Tom Webster with their first draft selection, but it was part of a pre-orchestrated deal which saw the Sabres flip Webster to Detroit for goaltender Roger Crozier. The Sabres used their second selection to take Al Hamilton.

Hamilton was regarded by the Sabres as the best young defenseman available in the expansion draft. Finally Hamilton was given an opportunity to play lots, often manning the point on the power play. Sabres boss Punch Imlach hoped that this castoff who liked to carry the puck would fulfill his potential if he was given a chance. Ultimately Imlach would be proven right, but it wouldn't happen in a Sabres uniform.

Hamilton put in two good years in Buffalo before he, like so many others, bolted to the World Hockey Association. In 1970-71 Al proved he belonged in the league. Even though the Sabres were weak, especially on the blue line, Al acquitted himself with a 2 goal, 30 point season. Although his +/- rating of -23 is not impressive, it needs to be taken in context. Al was often used against the other team's top players, which is an especially trying task with an expansion team. The fact that his coaches felt he was reliable enough for such situations speaks louder than his poor +/- ranking. Al stepped his play up nicely in 1971-72. His 4 goals and 34 points led all Sabres rearguards, and placed him 4th overall among Sabres scorers. his +/- improved to -12, and, in a usual show of confidence among young defensemen, he played a more physical game, picking up 105 penalty minutes.

In 1972-73 Al jumped to the rebel league. He joined the Alberta Oilers, who were renamed the Edmonton Oilers the following season. The Oilers were owned by a familiar face to Hamilton, Bill Hunter of Oil Kings fame. Though it wasn't the NHL, Hamilton jumped at the chance to return to the west. Of course, the decision was made a lot easier when the WHA was offering three times as much as the Sabres.

Al would remain in Alberta's capital city throughout the entire life of the WHA. He emerged as an all star defenseman, scoring an impressive 53 goals and 311 points in 455 career WHA games.

In 1978 Hamilton's career should have to an end after taking a puck to the eye. The damage was severe, but, perhaps foolishly, Hamilton managed to fudge a mandatory eye exam and play out the 1978-79 campaign. He returned in time for the playoffs, and helped the Oilers go to their only Avco World Trophy Championship series, which they eventually lost in six games to the Winnipeg Jets.

When the WHA folded and the Edmonton Oilers merged with the NHL in 1979, Al accompanied the team to NHL. Injuries limited his play to just 31 games, yet he still contributed 4 goals and 19 points, and helped the Oilers make the playoffs in their first NHL year. He retired at the end of the year. His career NHL totals were 10 goals and 88 points in 257 career games.

When you think of great Edmonton Oiler defensemen you think of Paul Coffey, or maybe Kevin Lowe. But WHA fans are quick to point out Hamilton. His supporters simply have to point out that it was Hamilton who was the first Edmonton Oiler to have his jersey retired.

Petr Klima

2007-03-31T16:54:00.000-07:00

Edmonton Sun reporter Terry Jones perhaps said it best about Petr Klima when he said "Petr Klima is 32 years old, played 12 years in the NHL and has never broken a sweat."

Klima was a tremendously talented left winger who played in 773 NHL games, scoring 312 goals and 260 assists for the Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite his breathtaking skating ability, marvelous hands and cannon-like shot, Klima was a lazy player who was too satisfied with decent offensive numbers when he could have posted superstar statistics.

Klima defected from his native Czechoslovakia in 1985 at the age of 21. In honor of gaining his freedom from the Iron Curtain in that year, Klima wore jersey number 85 throughout his NHL career. However Klima, who grew up in relative poverty in communist Czechoslovakia, quickly became enthralled by life in North America. With big money contracts and fast cars, Klima had achieved greater freedom than he may had thought was possible when he was a kid. Perhaps his new found freedom distracted him from focusing completely on hockey. Klima has always been criticized for being too laid back and even lazy to achieve the status that his god given talents should have gotten him.

Klima, who wore a very unusual helmet which Don Cherry insisted was designed to protect his fancy hair-do, played his first 4 seasons in the Motor City with Detroit. He was a consistent 30 goal man in his tenure with the Wings, with his best year being 1987-88 when he scored 37 times. He would also explode in the playoffs to lead the Wings with 10 goals in just 12 games.

Klima would score a career high 40 goals in 1990-91 as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. Late in 1989 Klima was packaged in a significant deal that saw Klima, Joe Murphy, Adam Graves and Jeff Sharples traded to the Oilers in exchange for Detroit native Jimmy Carson and long time Oiler Kevin McClelland.

With the exception of an injury shortened 1991-92 season, Klima continued to be a consistent 30 goal threat. However come playoff time Klima was used sparingly. The Oilers felt that his fragile body wasn't conducive to NHL playoff conditions and he was, as always, a defensive liability. However Klima's biggest moment came in the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals, specifically game 1. The Oilers were facing ex-Oiler Andy Moog and the Boston Bruins and the all important opening game went into double overtime. Even as the game reached the second overtime, Edmonton coach John Muckler kept Klima sitting on the bench for almost the entire game. Klima finally got a chance to play in the second overtime as the Oilers were forced to use him in order to get some fresh legs on the ice. Klima proceeded to wire a shot past an off-balanced Moog. The Oilers won the first game and went on to defeat the Boston Bruins in 5 games to capture their 5th Cup in 7 years.

Klima was traded to Tampa Bay where he played for 3 seasons before bouncing around the league and the minors his last two seasons. He made a 16 game comeback with the Oilers in 1997 and tried to make a comeback with the Red Wings in 1998-99 but failed to make the team

Klima also played hockey in Germany following is NHL days. He first got a taste of hockey in Germany during the lockout-shortened season of 1994-95 when the talented winger lit up German Second Division with 27 goals in just 12 games. Klima found Germany's best league a little tougher however. In 38 games with Krefeld Peinguine Klima scored only 7 goals and 19 points.

Petr made a comeback of sorts in 1998-99. Klima signed a minor league contract with the Red Wings and played 15 games in the AHL. Klima did get a recall for 12 NHL games while the Wings battled some injury woes. Klima stepped in and scored 1 goal in those 12 games.

Kevin Lowe

2007-02-10T19:08:00.000-08:00

Kevin Lowe was the original NHL Edmonton Oiler, drafted by Glen Sather in the first round of the 1979 Entry Draft, 21st overall. His play was a quiet force and a defensive genius on a dynasty that was known for outscoring the opposition.

Lowe had outstanding hockey sense and vision which game him a superior advantage by understanding the defensive breakdown of the oncoming attack. An agile though not fast skater, Lowe used his anticipation to relieve the opposition of the puck. He would then safely move the puck up to one of his many outstanding forwards. It is safe to say that the Oilers forwards couldn't have cheated offensively like they did if they didn't have a defensive stalwart like Lowe to break up plays and spring the forwards loose with great transitional passes.

A rugged but intelligent physical player, Lowe played with fire and determination, hating to lose. While he never got the recognition of that his Oiler or Ranger teammates did, he was without doubt an integral part of 6 Stanley Cup championships.

"Kevin was never getting the headlines or setting the records for scoring goals," said Oilers' GM Glen Sather. "He was the consummate team guy who helped keep everything together when things got a little bit scratchy."

While "Vish" didn't get the recognition he deserved from the media or fans, those on the ice knew just how great he was.

"In all those Islanders-Oilers games, I thought Kevin was the guy who really held the Oiler defense together," said former Islander Mike Bossy. "You always knew he would take somebody out of the play; he'd take a hit; he'd block a shot. He never played on the fringes."

Lowe, who married 1988 double bronze Canadian Olympic skier Karen Percy, played in seven NHL All-Star games. He joined Team Canada in their 1984 Canada Cup victory. A natural leader, he was the alternate captain for most of the Oilers' Dynasty, and became the Oilers' fifth Captain in the 1990-91 season. In 1254 regular season games he scored 84 goals and added 347 assists for 431 points. He played in 214 playoff contests, scoring 10 goals and 48 assists. Lowe has dressed for more games as an Oiler than anyone else.

In 1990 he was named the King Clancy trophy winner for his dedication to the game, and also won the Bud Man of the Year Award for his contributions to the community of Edmonton. He was particularly fond of the Edmonton Christmas Bureau and James Bell Sports Foundation.

Following his retirement as a player, Lowe returned to Edmonton, first serving as coach and later general manager, vice president and alternate governor. He also served beside old buddy Wayne Gretzky on the Team Canada management team for entries at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics and 2004 World Cup.

Lowe is the answer to a popular Edmonton trivia question too. He, not Wayne Gretzky, is known for scoring the Oilers' first NHL goal, a power play marker against Chicago goaltender Tony Esposito, on October 10, 1979.

Dave Dryden

2006-12-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Mention the name Dryden and it is quickly associated with one of the greatest goaltenders of all time - Ken Dryden of the Montreal Canadiens. But Dave Dryden, Ken's older brother, had an interesting although less spectacular career.

Dave played hockey at the junior hockey level because he loved the game, not necessarily because wanted to play in the NHL. He was hoping to earn a scholarship to a major US college as Dryden aspired to become a teacher.

That changed when he attended a Toronto Maple Leafs - New York Rangers game in Toronto on February 3, 1962. New York Rangers goalie Lorne "Gump" Worsley was felled with an injury and could not continue the game past the first period. In those days teams didn't have backup goalies, so in order to continue the game both teams agreed to use the junior goalie sitting in the stands - Dave Dryden. Dryden played well, giving up 3 goals in 40 minutes in a 4-1 Rangers loss. It was a neat experience but ultimately it would kill any hope Dave had of receiving an athletic scholarship because he was now considered to be a professional.

Dave opted to attend a Canadian university (the University of Waterloo) while playing in an Ontario Senior hockey league. Dryden had three years completed in his schooling when the Chicago Black hawks offered him a chance to finish the season with their farm team - the Buffalo Bisons. Dryden gave up just 6 goals while going 4-0 in his stint in the AHL.

The Black Hawks were impressed enough to offer Dave a contract. By this time it was becoming common for NHL teams to carry a backup goalie, which was Dave's designation. He played in just 11 games over the first two years as he was stuck behind "Mr Goalie" Glenn Hall. By 1967-68 Hall had moved on to St. Louis, allowing Dave a chance to participate in 27 games in 1967-68 and 30 games in 196869, but he was still considered to be the back up to Denis Dejordy.

The Hawks attempted to send Dryden to the minor leagues in 1969-70 but aside from 2 games he refused to report and sat out the entire season. The dispute wasn't resolved until the Hawks sold his playing rights to Pittsburgh and later the Buffalo Sabres.

It was in Buffalo that Dave enjoyed his finest NHL moments. Dryden split his first season with the Sabres and their farm team. The highlight of the season came on March 20, 1971. That night marked the first time two brother goaltenders played against each other as Dave played against his brother Ken. Ken at the time was a late season rookie call up who would later that year go on to lead the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup.

Buffalo coach Punch Imlach wanted a brother-against-brother match up right from the opening faceoff. His reasoning was that Dave had more NHL experience than Ken, and would give his team an edge against the powerful Habs that night. However Montreal wanted no part of that and started veteran starter Rogie Vachon instead. Upset at Montreal's unwillingness to allow NHL history to happen, Imlach made a late change and started Joe Daley in net instead of Dave.

With the Habs leading 2-0 in the second period, Vachon had to leave the game due to an injury. Of course Ken Dryden had to go into replace the injured veteran. Before the referee could drop the puck to resume the game, Imlach surprised all in the Forum by pulling Daley, and replacing the healthy goalie with Dave Dryden. Finally Imlach, always a showman, had the showdown he wanted from the beginning.

The game ended with Montreal winning 5-2. Ken allowed 2 goals on 13 shots, Dave allowed 3 goals on 20 shots.

While Dave never came close to the fame that Ken would reach, he did enjoy 4 solid seasons in Buffalo. He even played in the 1973-74 NHL All Star Game.

By 1974 Dave jumped to the World Hockey Association. He played one years with the Chicago Cougars before joining the Edmonton Oilers in 1975. He would remain with the Oilers throughout the remainder of his career. The Oilers have always had great goaltending, and Dave was one of the earliest goaltending stars. He was especially hot in 1978-79 when he led the WHA with 41 wins in 63 appearances and a 2.89 GAA. In what proved to be the final season for the fledgling league, Dave was named as the WHA's top goalie and league MVP

The following season, 1979-80, the Oilers merged with the NHL. Dryden was protected by the Oilers but only played in 14 games before calling it quits. He finished the year as Glen Sather's assistant coach.

Dave played in 203 NHL games, with a 66-76-31 record and a career GAA of 3.19. He picked up 112 wins in 242 WHA contests as well.

During his time as a pro he continued to complete his education and returned to teaching and later became a high school principal. He also doubled as a goaltending correspondent for the Detroit Red Wings.

Dave Dryden now works for the National Hockey League as an equipment advisor. It's a suitable job for Dave, who was very innovative with goalie equipment, particularly the goalie mask. The "birdcage" mask that most NHL goalie wear nowadays (the fibreglass mask with a cage covering the facial area) was introduced by Dave in the mid-1970s. It took a decade for it commonly replace the helmet and cage combo mask as the best piece of face protection in hockey.

Glen Sather

2006-11-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Everybody knows who Glen Sather is. He is the mastermind behind perhaps the greatest team in the history of the National Hockey League. He is considered one of the greatest coaches and general managers in the modern era of the NHL. He is also an astute businessman, and a self made millionaire outside of hockey.

But did you know he used to play hockey too? He wasn't exactly a great hockey player, but got into 658 NHL games and scored 80 goals and 193 points. The man who had the brains to acquire and teach names like Wayne Gretzky, Glenn Anderson, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Andy Moog, Kevin Lowe - the list is seemingly endless - was pretty much a third or fourth line plumber for nine NHL seasons. Of all the great players Sather has coached in Edmonton, Sather the player could best be compared to a Dave Hunter or a Kelly Buchberger - a useful, heart-and-soul grinder.

Born in High River, Alberta, Glen first became prominent in hockey in junior hockey when he played, somewhat ironically, in the city of Edmonton with the Oil Kings. Those Oil Kings were a power house in junior hockey. They played in 7 consecutive Memorial Cups from 1959 to 1966 - but only came away with the big prize in 1963 and 1966. Sather arrived in 1961-62 and departed after the 1963-64 season, so obviously he was part of the 1963 championship. That 1963 team coached by Buster Brayshaw had learned the lessons of the 3 previous Oil Kings teams that fell just short. They brought what was described as "the eastern style of play" in order to be successful against the eastern representatives from Niagara Falls. Some other members of that Oil Kings championship team include Pat Quinn, Bert Marshall and Roger Bourbonnais

After junior hockey, Sather graduated to the Central Professional Hockey League for three seasons before the Boston Bruins finally gave him a shot in 1967-68. He played well in a 4th line left wing role. He worked hard in a typical Boston Bruin fashion and became a favorite of the "gallery gods" - the nosebleed section of the old Boston Garden. He scored 8 goals and 12 assists in 65 games.

Sather also became a favorite of coach Harry Sinden.

"He's a handy guy to have around. If anyone gets hurt he can player either wing and he's always hustling. He's a good man on the ice killing penalties. It's true you can't call him a goal scorer but he is strong on defence," said Sinden in an interview with The Hockey News back in 1968.

Sather played a second full season for the Bruins in 1968-69, scoring 4 goals and 11 assists before the Pittsburgh Penguins selected the winger in the Intra-League draft on June 11, 1969. It was both good and bad for Sather. Good because in Pittsburgh he had a chance to further his career but bad because the Bruins went on to win 2 of the next 3 Stanley Cup championships, something that Sather would have loved to experienced as a player.

"Slats" played 1 and 1/2 seasons in Pittsburgh before he was traded to the NY Rangers in exchange for Syl Apps Jr. Syl Jr. was a pretty good skill player, so the fact that he was traded in return for Slats suggests Slats comparative value even if it was a different style

Sather enjoyed his longest tenure in New York, spending parts of 4 seasons with the Rangers. He of course provided his rugged brand of hockey but other than an 11 goal, 26 point 1972-73 campaign provided little in terms of offense.

Ironically, Sather was traded to St. Louis following his best year as a Ranger, just 2 games into the 1973-74 season, Sather enjoyed his best season offensively. He scored 15 goals and 44 points in 69 games.

Despite his strong season, Sather was once again on the move in the summer of 1974, this time to Montreal where he played one season. He was traded to Minnesota for the 1975-76 season, his last in the NHL.

In 1976-77 the Edmonton Oilers of the World Hockey Association acquired Sather, perhaps the most important acquisition in Oiler history, including the day they got Gretzky. Sather filled in for one season as a hard nosed left winger before he became the coach the following season.

In his first full year as a professional coach in 1977-78 he guided the Oilers to the playoffs where they lost to the eventual Avco Cup finalist New England Whalers.

Sather played an instrumental role in the purchasing of 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky from the Indianapolis Racers. That year Edmonton finished atop the WHA regular-season standings before losing the Avco Cup finals to the Winnipeg Jets. Following the 1978-79 season, Edmonton, Quebec, Winnipeg and Hartford all joined the NHL.

Under Sather's tutelage, the Oilers became the highest scoring offensive machine in history. By 1980 he was named as the Oilers general manager as well. Already with the game's budding superstar in Wayne Gretzky, Sather had an eye for some incredible raw talent. In his first entry draft Sather chose Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Andy Moog. The following year he added first-round draft pick Grant Fuhr. Youngsters Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson also blossomed all at the same time.

Sather guided the Oilers to their 1st Stanley Cup just 5 years after joining the league and basically starting from scratch. Before you know it the Oilers became a dynasty, winning 5 Stanley Cups over the following 7 years.

Sather's coaching record is remarkable. In 842 regular season games he guided the Oilers to a 464-268-110 record. That's a .616 winning percentage! Yet somehow the Oilers were even better in the playoffs under Sather. The Oilers upped their winning percentage to .705 thanks to 89 wins in 127 games with Sather behind the bench.

Sather's status as one of hockey's top executives was heavily reinforced when he guided Team Canada to the 1984 Canada Cup championship. Later he provided experience with Team Canada's management team at the 1987 Canada Cup and served in the same capacity for the NHL during the 1987 Rendez-Vous exhibition series versus the Soviet All-Stars. He was also instrumental in the 1991 Canada Cup and 1996 World Cup Team Canada teams. He also played a role in the 1998 Olympic team.

Sather had to dismantle his own dynasty as the Edmonton Oilers simply couldn't financially afford to keep the team together. Player salaries were just beginning to skyrocket and Oilers owner Peter Pocklington couldn't afford to compete. Eventually all of the big names from the dynasty days were traded. Sather skillfully stocked up on prospects and kept the Oilers competitive. However salaries kept getting higher and higher while the Canadian dollar plummeted, making it all but impossible for Canadian teams to compete financially in the NHL. The Oilers though young and talented were too cash strapped to go the the next level.

Sather remained with the Oilers until 1999 as he served most of the 90's decade strictly as general manager and president of the Oilers. After an ownership change cramped Sather's style, Glen surprisingly left the city he practically owned. He went from small budget Edmonton to the deep pockets of the New York Rangers.

Sather's place in hockey history was forever immortalized in 1997 when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder. Sather joked that he should be in the Hall as a player, not a coach. Now you know Sather was a useful player before becoming one of the all time great coaches and general managers in the history of the National Hockey League.

Dave Lumley

2006-11-15T21:59:00.000-08:00

Glen Sather did a fantastic job building the Edmonton Oilers into the most exciting and perhaps best team in NHL history. The exploits of Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, Fuhr, Coffey and Anderson are well told. But Sather also realized that his team needed great role players and dressing room leaders in order to make this collection of great talents gel. In that sense, Dave Lumley played an integral role in the formation of the dynastic Oilers teams.

Sather probably saw a lot of himself in Lumley the player. Affectionately known as "Lummer" by his teammates, Dave was an energetic third or fourth line winger for much of his career. He was never one to complain if he sat on the bench for all but a few minutes of the game. Instead of sulking he'd make the best of his usual 10-12 minutes on the ice, using spirited enthusiasm to use his precious few shifts wisely. Often he was thrown out on the ice only when Sather felt the Oilers needed to change the tempo of the game if things were not going the Oilers way.

While his on-ice attitude was important, it was his off-ice contributions that truly helped the great Oilers gel. Lummer's natural enthusiasm, charisma and leadership abilities helped concoct one of the strongest team chemistries the league has ever seen. He always had a story to tell or a prank to pull that kept the team loose. He just had that intangible ingredient which every team needs, particularly a young team like the Oilers were.

Lummer was a long shot to make the NHL to begin with. He took the then-unconventional route to the NHL with the ECAC's University of New Hampshire, where he also played varsity lacrosse. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1974, but was the team's 17th selection, 199th overall.

He turned pro in 1977 and spent the next two years in the Habs' minor league team in the AHL. He did play well, and was rewarded with a 3 game appearance with the Habs in 1978-79.

Lumley and fellow farmhand Dan Newman were traded to the Edmonton Oilers in June of 1979 in exchange for a 2nd round draft pick in 1980 Entry Draft. Montreal went on to select Ric Natress with that selection.

Lummer immediately stepped into the Oilers line up in 1979-80 - the first year of the Oilers in the NHL. Lumley even chipped in offensively with 20 goals and 58 points, not to mention his 138 PIM.

Lumley slumped badly in 1980-81, but rebounded with a career year in 1981-82 with 32 goals and 74 points despite playing in just 66 games. Needless to say Lumley's career year was greatly aided by Wayne Gretzky, who he played with much of the season. The highlight of the season was a 12 game goal scoring streak, just 4 shy of the NHL record, in which he scored 15 goals.

Following that year Lumley settled into his lesser role on the third and fourth lines as names like Kurri and Anderson blossomed into NHL talents. It also marked the first time that the Oilers would win the Stanley Cup. Lumley played an important role in the 1984 Finals against the New York Islanders. Lumley's job was to distract Isle's starting goalie Billy Smith. At every opportunity Lumley would take small shots at or "accidentally" collide with the goalkeeper. He would also verbally abuse him too, in order to keep the goalie off of his game. It worked as the Oilers won their first Cup, and ended the Isle's 4 year reign as champs. Lumley even scored what proved to be the Cup clinching goal in the final game.

By 1984-85 the Oilers exposed Lumley on the pre-season waiver draft and he was claimed by the Hartford Whalers. Later in the season the Whalers waived Lumley, and the Oilers eagerly snapped up their energetic leader just in time for another Stanley Cup ring.

Lumley retired during the 1986-87 season. While his name will never hang in the rafters of Edmonton's arena like so many others will, but he will always hold a special place in the hearts of that team, and of their fans.

Dave Hunter

2006-10-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

Dave Hunter came from one of hockey's greatest families. Three brothers from Petrolia, Ontario all made it to the NHL - Dale, Mark and 3 time Stanley Cup champ Dave. (Tim Hunter, a long time rival of Dave's in the old Battle of Alberta, was not related to the three brothers.)

Dave Hunter was a role player par excellence. In fact, if you were to look up the term 3rd or 4th line role player in a hockey dictionary - it would say See Dave Hunter. Dave - in typical Hunter fashion, was a mean, extremely physical and effective player along the boards, wearing down the opposition with tenacious forechecking and physical contact. Yet despite his aggressiveness, Hunter usually part had small PIM totals. That shows his true value as a smart and controlled energy player. He was particularly effective on the road.

Though not a graceful player in the finesse sense, Dave combined decent skating speed and good balance with excellent vision and anticipation to make him one of the top defensive forwards of the 1980s. One of the biggest reasons for his defensive excellence is he was such a good positional player.

An original draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens (17th overall in 1978), Hunter actually signed as an underage junior with Edmonton when the Oilers were still in the WHA. In 1979 the Oilers joined the NHL and obtained Hunter's NHL rights in the Expansion Draft.

Hunter might have made the Habs regret letting him go. In the post season of 1981, the young Oilers served notice that they had arrived when they upset the heavily favored and legendary Montreal Canadiens. Hunter was assigned to cover Montreal's top offensive weapon Guy Lafleur, and he did a masterful job. The Flower picked up only a lonely assist in that series.

Hunter enjoyed 8 1/2 seasons in the City of Champions where he was a quiet though nice piece of the Gretzky-led dynasty. Hunter was a consistent 35-40 points a season but his true worth was his defensive contributions on a team not known for playing defense.

At the height of his success, Dave had to fight some personal demons. In 1985 he was convicted three times for drunken driving and refusing to take a breathalyzer test. A mandatory 28 day prison sentence was upgraded to a 4 month detention period, which he was allowed to serve after the hockey season.

In 1988 Hunter was part of the big Paul Coffey deal that landed the two ex-Oilers in Pittsburgh. Hunter's stay in Pittsburgh was brief (59 games) before he was returned to Edmonton in October 1988 as compensation for Pittsburgh's claiming of Dave Hannan from the Oilers. However the exact same day the Winnipeg Jets selected Hunter from Edmonton as the Oilers were unable to protect him in the pre-season waiver draft.

After playing 34 games in Winnipeg, he was again exposed on waivers. This time the Oilers quickly picked him up. Hunter finished the season, his last in pro hockey, with the Oilers.

In all, Dave Hunter scored 133 goals and 190 assists for 323 points in 746 NHL games. The oldest of the three Hunter brothers to play in the NHL, Dave probably had the least offensive talents in the family but Dave ended up with three Stanley Cup rings compared to Mark's one and Dale's none.

Wayne Gretzky vs. Mario Lemieux

2006-10-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

With all the talk of the rise of hockey’s new era, with the soon to be epic battle of Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin already topping the card, it is pretty easy to day dream about the last great hockey duel – Wayne Gretzky vs. Mario Lemieux.

For much of my youth, that comparison always was there. It was impossible to avoid. For a decade there had been only two choices. And you had to choose.

Growing up on Canada’s west coast, I was born to be a Gretzky fan, even though I cheered on the sad-sack hometown Vancouver Canucks. It was impossible to not witness the glory years of the Edmonton Oilers, though. Always on TV in the west, I cheered on The Great One more than any other player in my lifetime. I continued to enthusiastically cheer him on during the Hollywood years, hoping against fate that he could capture another Stanley Cup down there. And of course, time and again he brought glory to our country.

You could definitely suggest that the reason that I, as an impressionable youngster, became the rabid hockey fan I am today is Wayne Gretzky.

Sadly, I never gave Mario Lemieux the same chance.

Part of it is due to the time zone differences and not having access to many Penguins games on TV back in those days, but largely it was because I was a Gretzky fan.

Right or wrong, most definitely wrong with the hindsight of adulthood, that’s just the way it was. As much as you secretly appreciated both, a true fan had to choose one or the other.

I chose Gretzky, largely because of west coast bias and the fact he was long established before this distant easterner who dared to challenge his greatness arrived on the scene. But I also chose Gretzky because he was personable. You could not help but want the guy at the top of hockey’s food chain, setting the standards not only for future hockey stars, but your children and for yourself.

For much of Lemieux’s career, he was dubbed as cold, indifferent and aloof, although it turned out he was just misunderstood. Later in his career he finally became the charming prince everyone wants the top player in hockey to be, the impossible standard that Gretzky set.

My attitude towards Mario Lemieux changed briefly after leading the nation to victory at the Canada Cup in 1987 and again after his amazing comeback from a difficult bout with cancer. My mindset on Lemieux had changed, but somehow it was always more about appreciation of him than love for him, and more respect for his abilities than admiration for his ways.

As a result, I ended up not truly experiencing Mario Lemieux’s greatness, a greatness that surpassed Gretzky’s. I saw the highlights on TV, and the two Stanley Cup finals on CBC, but I missed so much. The guy battled through chronic back injuries, and cancer for Christ’s sake, and I never warmed up to him because I was a Gretzky guy.

So heed my advice, hockey fans. While I watched Gretzky play hockey as if he were conducting his orchestra, I missed Lemieux’s one man band of equally epic shinny music. Don’t be silly enough to think you must choose between Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Take in everything they have to offer. Don’t just appreciate them, admire them.

Share Your Memories of Gretzky vs. Lemieux using the comments section below!

Jaroslav Pouzar

2006-09-18T00:27:00.001-07:00

When Jaroslav Pouzar was brought over to the Edmonton Oilers from his native Czechoslovakia, much fanfare was made about the Oiler's newest gunner.

Pouzar came over in 1982, and was expected to finally fill the whole on Wayne Gretzky's and Jari Kurri's left wing.

"When he came over in 1982, they made a big deal out of it in Edmonton, boasting they had brought in this great, strong left winger from Czechoslovakia who was going to score 50 goals with Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri" said Gretzky.

However there was a small problem. Pouzar, who was a veteran of international hockey at age 30, had trouble adapting to the Oilers style of play, which differed greatly from his many years of training in Czechoslovakia.

"I always tell people that Jaroslav Pouzar brought the left-wing lock to the NHL" jokes Gretzky. "With the Oilers we always forechecked the first two guys in, the third guy high. This guy (Pouzar) came to our team, and we had no sense of where he was going to be. It took us 40 or 50 games to realize that the reason he was in the positions he was in was that he was playing in a Czechoslovakian left-wing lock. It took us a whole year to catch on to this!"

Pouzar also had tremendous difficulty adjusting to North American life as well. He spoke next to no English and was undoubtedly homesick for much of his stay in the NHL.

That first year in the league Pouzar, who Gretzky described as "the physically strongest player I ever played with," scored 15 goals and 33 points. He had a similar season in 1983-84 when he chipped in 13 goals and 32 points before an injury plagued 1984-85 season limited him to just 4 goals and 12 assists in 33 games.

Pouzar returned to Europe for the 1985-86 season, playing in Germany, where he would stay until finishing his career some 6 years later.

Pouzar did make a brief reappearance in the NHL in 1987. At the completion of the German League schedule, Pouzar rejoined the Oilers for their Cup run. He played in 12 games plus 5 more in the playoffs.

All told, Pouzar played in 186 games scoring 34 goals and 82 points, while playing in 29 playoff contests, earning 6 goals, 10 points and 3 Stanley Cup championships. Add to that a legendary pre-NHL career in Czechoslovakia including 6 World Championship appearances, 2 Canada Cups, and 2 Olympic tournaments.

Pouzar would return to the Czech Republic in retirement and remain active in various hockey posts. He was diagnosed with leukemia in 2004.

It's too bad that Jaroslav didn't have an opportunity to come overseas earlier in his career. He was a special talent who we didn't get to see enough of to truly appreciate.

Charlie Huddy

2006-07-12T16:13:00.000-07:00

Charlie Huddy quietly was a big part of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the 1980s. While he didn't get the attention of the Gretzkys, Messiers, Kurris or Coffeys on the team, Charlie was a versatile player who was able to fill any role that coach Glen Sather asked him to.

Easily distinguishable by his big black moustache, Huddy was one of those players who was solid at every aspect of the game, but not great at any of them. His hockey sense was his most outstanding skill. Defensively he was able to read the oncoming rush very well, often forcing the puck carrier to stay on the perimeter of the ice. His anticipation helped him offensively too. He was very smart about pinching in from the point, as well as joining rushes as a trailer.

Although he had good size, Charlie was not a physical player really. He held his own in the corners or in front of his own goalie, but often was paired with a more physical partner, such as Jeff Beukeboom. A willing shot block, Charlie relied on his strong skating game and brainy approach more than brawn.

Despite a 20 goal year in 1982-83, Charlie wasn't really considered to be a true offensive defenseman but put up respectable numbers during the glory days in Edmonton. Charlie was often used on the power play unit in Edmonton, teaming up with Paul Coffey to man the points. Charlie was a solid puck handler with a hard, accurate slap shot from the point, perfect for crease-crashing forwards to tip and deflect. However Huddy was more or less the defensive conscious of the Oilers explosive power play. Huddy would often sit back and let Coffey jump up into the slot. Huddy was by no means a great power play catalyst. Once Coffey left Edmonton Huddy was unable to be nearly as effective as he was with Coffey.

A popular player among the Edmonton faithful, Charlie spent parts of 11 seasons in the northern Alberta city. Never drafted by an NHL team, Charlie actually signed with the Oilers out of his hometown OHA Oshawa Generals in 1979. After 2 1/2 seasons in the minors, Charlie proved everyone wrong by enjoying a 16 year NHL career, including 1017 games played, 99 goals, 354 assists and 453 points. Twice he was named as the Oilers best defenseman, and twice as the team's unsung hero.

In addition to his 5 Stanley Cups he was also a solid contributor the 1984 Canada Cup championship for Team Canada.

In the summer of 1991, Huddy was reunited with Wayne Gretzky as he joined the LA Kings. He played 3 1/2 seasons as a King before short stints in Buffalo and St. Louis.

Craig MacTavish

2006-06-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

Craig MacTavish was Boston's 9th choice 153rd overall in the 1978 Amateur Draft. The London, Ontario native was in the midst of playing two years of NCAA hockey with the University of Massachusetts Lowell, from 1977 to 1979, but he would leave school early to turn pro in the Bruins' farm system.

MacTavish spent the next several years splitting time between the Bruins and various AHL teams. He finally made the Bruins for good in 1982-83 and played two full seasons with them.

He was just coming into his own in Boston when he was involved in a tragic incident in January of 1984. MacTavish's 1983 Datsun collided with a 1976 Ford Pinto station wagon driven by 26-year-old Kim Lea Radley of West Newfield, Mass. Immediately falling unconscious, Ms. Radley died of her injuries three days later. In May of 1984, MacTavish plead guilty to vehicular homicide, a crime which carried a mandatory year in prison without parole. He also faced a $10,000,000 civil suit from the Radley family. That case was settled out of court.

After missing the 1984-85 season and due to circumstances surrounding the accident, MacTavish and Bruins agreed it would be impossible for him to continue his career in Boston. MacTavish simply couldn't attempt to play in the city where he was convicted for vehicular homicide. Considering the seriousness of MacTavish's offense the Bruins really had no choice but to release him because of it. The publicity of having him stay with the team would have been extremely negative. So Bruin's boss Harry Sinden did him a big favor by releasing him. The move effectively gave MacTavish a second chance because it allowed him to start his career again.

Despite his off ice behavior it was pretty obvious that MacTavish was still considered to be an NHL caliber player. However because of the bad publicity involving the accident, many teams shied away from the crafty center. Craig finally did get his second chance, with the Edmonton Oilers in 1985.

"Mac T" proved to be an irreplaceable asset for the Oilers as he pivoted the checking line for close to 9 seasons and 3 Stanley Cup championships. He was also named as the Oilers captain from 1992 until 1994. Although his job was to do check the opposition so guys like Gretzky and Messier could light up the scoreboard, MacTavish posted some pretty decent numbers too. A strong skater, he scored 20 goals in 4 different seasons. MacTavish was a strong body checker, shot blocker and a great face-off specialist.

Late in the 1994 season, Craig was traded to the New York Rangers. He was an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season so the Oilers were glad to trade him to New York in exchange for a young kid named Todd Marchant. The Rangers were glad to pick up the savvy veteran for the playoff run. MacTavish joined several ex- Oilers including Mark Messier, Kevin Lowe and Adam Graves en route to helping the Rangers win their first Cup in over 50 years.

MacTavish took full advantage of his free agent status in the summer of 1994 when he signed with the Philadelphia Flyers where he played a season and a half before he was traded to St. Louis in 1996 in exchange for Dale Hawerchuk in what amounted to a salary dump for the Blues. MacTavish completed the 1996 season and also played the 1996-97 season before he retired from the National Hockey League.

Upon his retirement, Craig instantly became the answer to a popular trivia question. Who is the last player to play in the NHL without a helmet? Craig was the last player prior to the NHL rule change that made helmets mandatory to retire from the NHL.

The London, Ontario native retired having played in 1093 games. He scored 213 goals and 267 assists for 480 points. He participated in 193 playoff games, scoring 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 post season points.

An obsessed student of the game, MacTavish turned to coaching after hanging up his skates. His teams definitely featured that MacTavish flavour. His teams were always diligent defensive players, strong on face-offs and selfless shot blockers. The fiercely loyal and very successful coach returned to Edmonton where he returned the Oilers to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006.

MacTavish has said that he lives with the vehicle accident every day. He became very active in charitable work after his prison sentence, including aiding police efforts to curb drunken driving in Edmonton. He has also served as honorary chairman of Northern Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.

Kevin McClelland

2006-05-21T22:50:00.000-07:00

After the Edmonton Oilers suffered their 1983 setback at the hands of the mighty New York Islanders, most agreed that the Oilers were just about ready to win the Stanley Cup. Thus, coach and general manager Glen Sather did not tweak with his lineup very much that summer. But one of the few moves he made was to trade Tom Roulston to Pittsburgh in exchange for rugged Kevin McClelland.

The move was almost unnoticeable at the time. "Mac" played in just 72 games in the previous 3 years, scoring just 8 times and adding 12 assists. At one point, he was even demoted to the minors. But McClelland quickly found a home on Edmonton's checking line, and played a bigger role in the franchises championship success than most have given him credit for.

A strong skater with a good burst of speed, McClelland had next to no offensive skills to bring to the Oilers. But he excelled at the physical game. One of the strongest players to ever play in the NHL, Kevin loved to hit. He'd hit anyone anywhere, and was literally fearless. His yeoman effort in the NHL trenches was crucial to the Oilers success. His hard work and enthusiasm made him a natural leader on 4 Stanley Cup championship teams. He would do anything to win, and was a willing and able fighter. Along with Dave Semenko and later Marty McSorley, Kevin was a policeman on the ice, though he was never considered to be a true heavyweight.

Kevin played a big role in the Oilers first Cup, by contributing with a rare goal. The Oilers, who lit up their opponents in all their playoff rounds, were being shutdown in the 1984 Finals by their old nemesis - Billy Smith and the New York Islanders. McClelland took advantage of a rare Islanders mistake to score the opening goal of the Finals. It proved to be only goal of the game, and was a great confidence booster for the young and inexperience Oilers. Not only did they gain confidence by defeating the Isles after being swept by them in the previous year, but they played an "Islander style" game as opposed the high scoring Oilers game. Defeating the Islanders in this fashion was like lifting a huge weight from the Oilers shoulders. The Oilers of course went on to convincingly win the Cup, but it was McClelland's goal that got them started.

For McClelland it was his 4th goal of those playoffs, exactly half of his entire regular season total. He would never score another goal as important. Kevin played another 6 years in Edmonton but his highest single season goal output was just 12 in 1986-87. He did provide four consecutive seasons of 200 plus penalty minutes. In fact McClelland is the second highest penalized Oiler in history, trailing only Kelly Buchberger.

McClelland was traded early in the 1989-90 season, the last year of the Oiler's dynasty. The Oilers went on to win their 5th Cup in 7 years, while McClelland played a bit role in Detroit. It proved to be his last full year in the National Hockey League as well. He played 5 more years of pro hockey, making short appearances in the NHL with the Wings, Maple Leafs and Jets, but spent most of his time in the American Hockey League.

Kevin McClelland played in 588 NHL contests, scoring just 68 goals and 112 assists for 180 points. He added 11 goals and 29 points in 98 playoff games as well. Realistically statistics can not accurately portray Kevin McClelland. Two of his more telling stats were his 1672 PIM (plus another 281 in the playoffs) and his 4 Stanley Cup rings.

Kevin turned to the world of coaching once his playing days were over.

Esa Tikkanen

2006-05-21T21:23:00.000-07:00

"How many Cups you've got?" That is Esa Tikkanen's favorite question, no matter what language he's speaking.

Esa, who spoke in the multicultural tongue of Tikkanese - a combination of Finnish, Swedish and English all at once plus a few words he made up himself - has five. Not too many people can equal that.

Tik was one of hockey's most colorful characters. He was one of those guys you love to have on your team, but you can't stand playing against him. He's a pest, an aggravator and a troublemaker, yet at the same time an electric teammate who brought tons of life to a team. He shadowed the opposition's best forwards and at the same time came up with big goals himself.

He was perhaps as perfect a defensive specialist who ever played in the NHL. An aggressive forechecker with great anticipatory skills, Tik literally shadowed the opposition's superstar on a nightly basis. Not only did he successfully smother that player, but he aggravated the hell out of him too. He would do almost anything - yapping his not-always-clean mouth, using his stick in a unceremonious fashion, or physical abuse bordering on mugging charges. He hounded his assignment relentlessly. The better the name, the better Tik played. Not only did this get the superstar off of his game, but it got the whole opposition off of their game. The team became more worried about protecting their superstar and getting even with Tikkanen. Tik thrived in that role, and so did his team, who would then proceed to take apart the opposition offensively. While Tik never won the Frank J Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, he was a finalist on 4 occasions.

Tikkanen was a good offensive player for most of his career as well. A three time 30 goal scorer, Tik play all forward positions plus the point on the power play (although he was best known as a LW). He was a good skater early in his career, but a bad knee slowed him down and eventually cost him his NHL job. Tikkanen provided grit, leadership and energy, as well as timely goals and big wins.

Esa initially took an unconventional route, for a European anyways, to start off his hockey career. He left Finland at the age of 16 to come to Saskatchewan where he played in Regina with the SJHL's Capitals. He also appeared in 2 games with the WHL's Pats He returned to Finland after that season as he was quite homesick and he dominated the Finnish junior ranks.

Tik was the 82nd overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1983 Entry Draft. However he didn't arrived in the NHL until the end of the 1985 Finnish League schedule. Amazingly his first NHL game was in the Stanley Cup finals! That is only fitting as Tik became known as a great playoff player.

Before long Tikkanen found a permanent home on Wayne Gretzky's left wing. The Gretzky-Jari Kurri combination never really had that perfect left winger until Tikkanen came along. He had the speed and offensive savvy to keep up with Gretzky and Kurri, but also was more than willing to sacrifice and do the dirty work by going into the corners and playing defensively responsible hockey.

When Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles, Tikkanen, a veteran of just two years at the time, became a household name. During Kings-Oilers games and playoff series, Tikkanen became Gretzky's shadow. He was quite effective, often agitating The Great One. He also became a big part of the Oiler's post-Gretzky success. He scored 13 goals and 24 points in 22 playoff games in 1990 to help the Oilers capture the Cup despite not having Number 99.

His robust style of play was bound to catch up with him, and by 1991-92 injuries (namely his shoulder in this season) really started to bother Tikkanen, and he only played in 40 games. He was never quite the same offensive player after that, only scoring more than 20 goals once since.

Yet he remained a clutch player. Tikkanen would developed a reputation as strictly a playoff player and a poor regular season player. Because of his injuries he had slowed down considerably and didn't play full out every game. Instead saving himself for only the big games. Tik had basically become a part time player who had a knack of turning it up come playoff time. More often than not his goals came at crucial times or in crucial games. Eleven of his 72 career playoff goals were game winners.

In 1993, Tik was traded (for Doug Weight) to the New York Rangers, and, with a host of former Oilers like Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Kevin Lowe, Glenn Anderson, Jeff Beukeboom and Craig MacTavish, helped the city of Manhattan to celebrate their first Cup in over 50 years in 1994.

Tik bounced around the league wildly after the 1994 Cup, playing for 5 teams in 3 years. Tik went to St. Louis as compensation for the Blues signing of Mike Keenan, and then was traded to New Jersey. The Devils kept him for nine games before shipping him to Vancouver. Tik stayed there until last season, when the Rangers once again grabbed him for the playoff run. After the season, he signed on with Florida. Tik was shipped to Washington towards the end of the season where his veteran leadership helped take the Capitals to their first ever Conference Championship and Stanley Cup appearance. Unfortunately, the Caps lost and Tik was denied a sixth Cup.

Tik returned to the Big Apple in 1998-99, signing a one year contract with the Rangers. However by mid-season he was placed on waivers. There was a clause in his contract that would have paid Tikkanan a large amount of money had he remained on an NHL roster past the half way point of the season. Tik had only 3 assists in 32 games and was basically a mere shadow of his old self. The Rangers didn't want to pay the big bucks for the washed up player and no one else did either as Tik went through the waiver wire untouched.

Tikkanen finished his career in his native Finland with Jokerit and the with the bronze medal Finnish national team for the 2000 World Championships. The proud Finn was no stranger to international play as he represented his country on numerous occasions. He played for Finland in three World Junior Championships (1983, '84, '85) and five World Championships ('85, '89, '93, '96 and 2000). He also participated in two Canada Cups ('87 and '91). He helped Team Finland knock off Canada for the bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.

Tikkanen tried to make a comeback with the Oilers in 2001 on a try-out contract. While Tik's knee wouldn't let him play anymore, it is somehow fitting that he was able to end his career in an Edmonton Oilers uniform.

Jari Kurri

2006-05-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Anyone could play along side Wayne Gretzky and score the odd goal here and there if you just kept your stick on the ice.

But it takes an extraordinary athlete to be able to excel with Gretzky that way Jari Kurri has.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not easy to play on the wing of a superstar like Wayne Gretzky. You have to be thinking on the same level as he is, or at least close to that level. Very few players can achieve this level of hockey sense and anticipation. Only a true superstar can. A true superstar like Jari Kurri.

Jari Kurri has teamed with Wayne Gretzky to form one of sports' most dynamic duos. Montana-Rice, Kareem-Magic and Canseco-Maguire have nothing on these guys.

For most of the 1980s, hockey fans in Edmonton enjoyed the Gretzky-Kurri magic on a nightly basis - the Great One's feathery passes complementing the flying Finn's finishing touch. In fact the duo teamed up for 429 goals while in Edmonton. Not bad for what coach Glen Sather described as "a hunch" as to why he teamed the two together in the first place.

With 601 career goals and 1398 career points, Kurri retired the highest scoring European in National Hockey League history. (he has since been surpassed by Jaromir Jagr.) On four occasions he scored at least 50 goals, and tallied at least 40 three other times. The five time all star also had six 100 point seasons.

In 1984-85 Kurri established a record for goals in a single season by a right winger with 71 (since surpassed by Brett Hull, Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne) on way to a career-high 135 points. He added a NHL record-tying 19 goals (tying Reggie Leach in 1976) in 18 playoff games. He recorded four hat tricks in that playoffs, including one four goal game, to help Edmonton capture the second of five Stanley Cup titles during his playing days in the City of Champions.

Jari Kurri played his best hockey in the playoffs. He almost singlehandedly destroy the myth that European players are soft and disappear in the heat of NHL playoff competition. Jari has 5 Stanley Cup rings. He led all playoff performers in goal scoring in 4 different post seasons. The Oilers won the Cup each year Jari led the way in goals.

Overshadowed by superstar teammates Gretzky, Mark Messier, Grant Fuhr and Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri was described by Edmonton chief scout Barry Fraser as "by far our most complete player." An excellent skater blessed with speed and agility, Kurri always knew how to dart into openings for Gretzky's deft passes. He rarely had the puck long if he was in scoring position. His release was quick but deadly accurate.

"Jari had a great shot and he had a great ability to find holes and to find openings out on the ice," said Mike Gartner. "Playing with a guy like Gretzky for a good part of his career where Wayne could get him the puck and there weren't too many guys who were ever better at finding those holes on the ice than Jari was."

Kurri was also a strong defensive presence which allowed Gretzky to concentrate on offense. He was never considered a physical player, but was unafraid of the corners and sacrificed his body to make a play.

When #99 departed for Hollywood, some people though that Kurri's production would plummet. That was definitely not the case. In the first Gretzky-less season in Edmonton Kurri was named the Oilers’ team MVP. In the 154 Oilers regular-season games Kurri played following Gretzky's departure, he registered 195 points, well more than a point-per-game average. His 25 playoff points were third highest on the team when the Oilers captured the Stanley Cup just two season's after Gretzky's goodbye.

A contract dispute saw the seven-time all-star spend a year in Italy before rejoining Gretzky in Los Angeles in 1991. The magic was somehow never rediscovered during the regular season, but the dynamic duo almost celebrated another Cup victory together, getting the Kings to the 1993 final before falling to Montreal.

Kurri remained in Los Angeles through 1996, though his ice time and role were reduced to that of a defensive specialist. Kurri would also spend time with the New York Rangers, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche before retiring in 1998.

One of the game's classiest men was a shoo-in for the Hockey Hall of Fame when he first became eligible in 2001. In addition to his impressive regular season totals (601 goals, 1398 points) his 106 career playoff goals in 200 career playoff games rank third all time, behind fellow Oiler legends Gretzky (122) and Messier (109). Likewise his 233 career points are third best behind Gretzky (382) and Messier (295).

"It is a great honor (to be inducted) since so few players are able to make it to this level," said Kurri. "To be the first Finnish player elected is especially gratifying.

"I had the chance to play with a great team and great players like Wayne (Gretzky), Mark (Messier), and on and on. A lot of good memories."

Bill Ranford

2006-05-18T22:20:00.000-07:00

The Boston Bruins selected Bill Ranford with their second round pick in 1985. Despite playing solidly in 41 games in the 1986-87 season, it wasn't until he joined the Edmonton Oilers in late 1988 that he got a real chance to play.

Up until 1988-89, Ranford spent most of his time apprenticing in the minor leagues. Touted as a premier goaltending prospect, the Oilers coveted the young Brandon, Manitoba native when they were forced to deal contract hold-out Andy Moog. Moog - one of the best goalies of his era - was traded to Boston on March 8, 1988 in exchange for Ranford and left winger Geoff Courtnall. The moved helped the Oilers win the Stanley Cup that year - though Ranford backed up starter Grant Fuhr the entire way and Courtnall played a 4th line role.

Ranford again backed up Fuhr for most of the 1988-89 season, playing in just 29 games. It was beginning to look like Ranford would be destined to be backup goalie forever.

1989-90 was a different story altogether however. Fuhr suffered a serious shoulder injury that ended his season after 21 games. How would the Oilers be able to compete without their acrobatic superstar goalie? That question was quickly answered, as Ranford proved himself to equally as acrobatic and entertaining. It seemed as if Ranford's ability to raise his level of play so high infused the Oilers, giving them tremendous confidence. The Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1990, due largely to Ranford's brilliance. His 2.53 GAA in 22 post season games made him the unanimous choice for the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoffs most valuable player. And to make Ranford's second Cup championship even sweeter was the fact that it came against the man he was traded for and his old team - Andy Moog and the Boston Bruins.

Ranford was among the elite goalies in the league for the next few years after that. In 1990-91 he had the lion's share of the workload only to have Fuhr return from injuries late in the season. Coach John Muckler opted to go with Fuhr in the playoffs over the red hot Ranford. The move did not result as well as Muckler had hoped, as the Oilers were bounced from the playoffs.

1991-92 was another great season for Ranford. He regained his status as the Oilers number one goalie and almost got them back to the Cup finals, falling just short in the conference finals. And the season started off incredibly as Ranford was arguably Canada's best player in the 1991 Canada Cup. He was named MVP as Canada went undefeated en route to their 4th Canada Cup victory in 5 tries.

The Oilers fell on hard times as the mid-1990s approached. Financial restraints such as a low Canadian dollar and small market revenues forced the Oilers to trade off many of their remaining talents. Ranford remained a constant until 1996 though. His numbers would be greatly inflated over that time period, but he was spectacular and easily the best player on a weak Oilers team.

Perhaps Ranford's biggest highlight during that period was again in International Hockey. In both 1993 and 1994 Ranford was Canada's goalie at the World Championships. 1994 was especially sweet as Ranford back stopped Canada to their first gold medal finish in over 30 years.

By mid season 1995-96, the Oilers opted to trade Ranford. He was easily their biggest asset but he too became priced out of small-market Canada. The Oilers traded him back to the Bruins in exchange for a slew of prospects - Marius Czerkawski, Sean Brown and a first round pick which turned out to be Matthieu Descoteaux. Boston was desperate for goaltending help. Ranford turned in a very solid regular season for the Bruins, but was unable to get the team far in the playoffs.

Things started going downhill for Ranford from there on. He struggled with a weak Boston team in 1996-97 before being traded in a blockbuster to Washington. Joining Ranford were fellow veterans Adam Oates and Rick Tocchet while Jim Carey, Anson Carter, Jason Allison and a draft pick headed to Bean town.

Ranford never really got untracked in Washington. Soon Olaf Kolzig would emerge as the number one goalie there.

The hockey world began to write off Billy after he backed up Kolzig in Washington's thrilling ride to the Finals in 1998. Then he was released and jumped around a bit - Tampa Bay, Detroit and finally back to Edmonton where he backed up Tommy Salo for the 99-00 season - his last in the NHL.

"It was a great thrill to be able to finish my career where so many of my highlights happened" said Ranford.

Ranford did not leave any hints as to what he was going to do with the rest of his life at the time of his retirement, although he has been involved in a bar-and-grill chain restaurant in British Columbia.

Ranford also tried his glove hand at Hollywood. Ranford was asked to perform the goaltending scenes in Kurt Russell's movie "Miracle" which honoured the 1980 United States Olympic team that upset the mighty Soviets.

"Here's the weirdest thing," stated Ranford in a article for The Hockey News. "Having played for Canada on five different occasions, putting on the USA jersey was just bizarre."

Grant Fuhr

2006-05-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

Grant Fuhr was the best goalie in the world in the second half of the 1980's. He struggled once departing from Edmonton, but late in his career resurrected his profile to elite status once again with St. Louis.

Grant Fuhr was a highly talked about junior goaltender when Glen Sather used his 1st round (8th overall) draft pick in 1981 to select him. Fuhr was labeled as a can't miss prospect and the goalie of the '80s. His 78-21-1 junior record spoke for itself. Sather knew he had to have a great goalie in order to take his team to the next level. He had Wayne Gretzky to score goals, but he needed someone to stop them.

For the first few years, there was a bit of goaltending power struggle in Edmonton. Fuhr and Andy Moog would split the work, but Fuhr became the go-to guy once the playoffs rolled along.

The playoffs was when Fuhr was at his best.

It has often been said playing goal for the Edmonton Oiler dynasty of the 1980's must have been an easy job and that even an average goaltender could have done well. While it is true that the Oilers held on to the puck the majority of the game and would often give Fuhr large leads to work with, but they were also guilty of not supporting their goalie with as much defensive help as most champions, especially in the earlier years during the regular season. During his prime, Fuhr's GAA ranged from a low of 3.43 to 3.91, which is extremely high for someone who is supposed to be the "best goalie in the world." But considering the Oilers' run and gun style and Fuhr's lack of support on many nights, those numbers are very respectable.

Fuhr's best season came in 1987-88 when he led the league in minutes played (4304), wins (40), shutouts (3.43) and then won 16 more games in the playoffs en route to the Stanley Cup. He also was named to the NHL's First All Star Team and won his only Vezina Trophy. He finished second to teammate Gretzky in voting for the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player.

The season started with the 1987 Canada Cup. Many believe that that was the strongest Soviet national team ever assembled. Many agree that it was the greatest hockey Wayne Gretzky ever played. It also marked the emergence of Mario Lemieux as a superstar like no one before him. It was a new generation's 1972 Summit Series. It might have been the greatest hockey ever played.

And Grant Fuhr stood on his head! The Russians swarmed and swarmed but Fuhr continued to turn away shot after shot after shot. Remember right before Mario Lemieux's famous goal on a drop pass from Wayne Gretzky? There was mad scramble in front of the Canadian net, Fuhr kept the puck out. The results of the 1987 Canada Cup could very easily have been reversed had it not been for Grant Fuhr.

While Fuhr received little respect for his regular season play, he became recognized as the world's greatest goaltender because of his international play and the Stanley Cup playoffs. Spectacular sprawling saves were the norm in Edmonton during their Cup years. While most people give Gretzky and Messier the credit, it is highly unlikely the Oiler's would have been as successful as they were without the caliber of play Grant Fuhr supplied them.

Fuhr fell on hard times towards the turn of the decade. An addiction to an cocaine followed by the dismantling of the Oilers found him in Toronto. After one spectacular season he found himself backing up rookie sensation Felix Potvin the next year. He then moved to Buffalo just as Dominik Hasek evolved into the dominant goalie of the 1990s. Then he went to Los Angeles but things just didn't work out there either.

Fuhr, an excellent golfer, returned to form once he landed in St. Louis. He looked like he was 23 again, thrilling fans with his acrobatic style and is stealing games for the Blues which they have no business winning. It was great to see the living legend between the pipes back on top after most people had written him off.

So strong was Grant's play that many thought the Blues could go far in the 1996 NHL playoffs. However the Blues' playoff hopes ended when Toronto Maple Leaf's forward Nick Kypreos controversially crashed into Fuhr as the goalie was trying to cover a loose puck. Many suspected Kypreos deliberately ran the goalie with the intent of seriously shaking up Fuhr, and that's exactly what he did as Fuhr twisted his leg awkwardly. Fuhr's season was done, and so too was the Blues'.

Though he continued to play strongly in the following season, he was never able to repeat his excellence in year one in St. Louis. By the 1998-99 season, Fuhr began to show his age. Injury problems riddled Grant's performance and the Blues started looking for a replacement for the aging wonder. When they acquired Roman Turek from the Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars, Fuhr and his big salary became dispensable.

In the summer of 1999, Fuhr's career took a dramatic turn.

Fuhr's playing rights were acquired by of all teams the Calgary Flames - the team that Fuhr had so many memorable battles with during his prime. Although its not Grant's fault, it seems so weird to see him tending the nets of the hated Flames. Can you imagine Gretzky in a Flame's jersey? Or Messier? Fuhr had to undergo knee surgery during the season, which limited him to just 23 games in what proved to be his final season.

The Spruce Grove, Alberta native finished his career with 868 games played, with a 403-295-114 record. He posted 25 shutouts and a career 3.38 GAA, though under the circumstances his inflated GAA is largely irrelevant. In the playoffs Fuhr went 92-50 with 6 shutouts and 4 Stanley Cups, good enough for the Hockey Hall of Fame. Grant also holds the records for most points in one season by a goaltender - 14 in 1983-84 (all assists).

Though it is now overly celebrated, Fuhr was the first true black superstar in the NHL. Adopted by white parents when he was just two weeks old, Fuhr generally refused to talk about race, saying colour was not an issue for him nor would he let it be for anyone else.

Dr. Randy Gregg

2006-05-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

Randy Gregg enjoyed one of the most interesting hockey careers, and it all started almost by accident.

Though he played hockey during his childhood, he didn't consider himself to be a very good player. He played just because he loved the game, even though he was far from the best player even as a midget or juvenile.

So when Randy got accepted into medical school at the young age of 16, he promised his family that he would forget about his past time of playing hockey and concentrate on his scholastics. Only one problem. Randy showed up at the tryouts for the University of Alberta Golden Bears hockey team.

"I knew it would be impossible to do medicine and hockey, too. But I also knew that I'd be cut from the team long before it made any difference or before my brother found out."

But it didn't quite work that way. As Randy put it: "In a nutshell, two or three practices became ten, then twenty, then we had exhibition games, and, well, four years of university hockey later......"

And what a four years it was for Gregg. He led the Bears to two national championships. In his final season he was named the Canadian Intercollegiate Player of the Year. Randy attributed that title to the fact that he was a medical student who starred at hockey, not because he was the best hockey player in the CIAU.

Gregg likely figured his hockey days would be over once school was done, and he'd focus on his medical career. However things didn't quite work out that way. During one of his final games in his final year, Gregg was approached by Father David Bauer - the legendary hockey coach who created the Canadian National Team program. Bauer was looking for players for the 1980 Olympic Games.

"I was extremely intrigued by him" said Gregg. "He'd already identified some players that he felt might work out in the program and I was lucky enough to be one of them."

Gregg decided to postpone his medical internship and even passed on a $250,000 contract offer (over 2 years) from the New York Rangers to be a part of the Olympic program. For Randy, he had no regrets.

"I wouldn't trade any of it for anything else I could have been doing. We traveled Europe, to Japan; we were incredibly close and we had the benefit of working under a terrific coach, Clare Drake, and under Father Bauer, the team's general manager. The guys played the entire year for $4000!!"

Father Bauer played a huge role in Randy's life.

"Father Bauer's emphasis was on character development, the whole person, not just athletics. When we traveled, he'd encourage us to go to museums, art galleries, to interact with the people around us. There was very little emphasis on winning for its own sake. Which of course just made you want to win all the more for the guy."

However the team didn't win, and finished a disappointing 6th in the 1980 Olympics. But Randy was so excited about the Olympic experience that he wanted to play in the 1984 Olympics. He passed up on more professional offers and went to Japan where he played with the Kokudo Bunnies. He did this in order to keep his amateur status so he could play in the Olympics. The Olympic program as it had existed however was wiped out after the 6th place finish and replaced with a whole new program headed by Dave King.

As a result of the change in direction, Gregg began to think about returning home. When Glen Sather offered him a contract he jumped at it. Although Calgary and the Rangers also made offers, Gregg wanted to play in Edmonton, the town where he was born and raised. So after two years in Japan, Gregg flew across the Pacific and debuted in the playoffs, appearing in 4 games. Gregg's timing wasn't great in the sense that Edmonton would be upset by the Los Angeles Kings in those playoffs.

Gregg had a solid first rookie season and helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup finals before bowing out to the dynastic New York Islanders. But his second year was a year to remember for Randy. He had a career best 13 goals and 40 points and helped the Oilers win their first of 5 Stanley Cups in the next 7 years. In the autumn of '84, Gregg was part of Team Canada at the Canada Cup.

However Gregg's Canada Cup experience wasn't a highlight of his career. He was invited because Team Canada wanted a well rounded team and not just a lineup of superstars. Gregg not only was a big defensive d-man but he had loads of international experience. Despite this the media cried Oiler favoritism (Glen Sather picked the team) and often asked why all star Scott Stevens wasn't there and why Gregg was. Despite this, Gregg earned a Canada Cup championship, but admitted to feeling out of place in that situation.

Randy, a stubborn and principled man, retired for the beginning of the 1986 season because of a contract hold out. Remember at this time players of Randy's stature were getting paid around $125,000. Randy asked for a raise of $5000 and the Oilers refused. Randy quit and intended to move on with his medical career where he could earn comparable and perhaps better money! Gregg's retirement lasted 6 weeks before he and Sather patched up their differences, and it wasn't long before Gregg was helping the Oilers win their 3rd Cup championship in 1987.

However a funny thing happened to Randy following the 1987 championship. Having grown tired of the business side of pro hockey, he retired to concentrate on his medical career once again. He applied for the residency program in orthopedic surgery at the University Hospital in Edmonton. Two days after he was accepted, the International Olympic Committee announced the former professional hockey players would be allowed to complete in the 1988 Olympics. Of course Randy had very fond memories of his 1980 Olympic experience and quickly withdrew from his residency program and concentrated on the Olympics in Calgary.

Canada finished 4th in the Calgary Olympics but for Randy it was a disappointment. He had hoped to recapture the magic of Father Bauer but found Dave King's Team Canada to be too much like the pros. "It turned out the organization was focused almost exclusively on winning with absolutely no interest in the sort of character development we'd seen under Father Bauer."

Following the Olympics Randy rejoined the Oilers and helped them win the 1988 Stanley Cup. It was Randy's 4th Cup ring. He also played the 1989-90 season in Edmonton as well.

In 1990 Randy retired, for a third time, though this time it appeared to be for real. He founded a non profit organization called Funteam. Funteam was built in the spirit of Father Bauer, and offered an alternative to traditional kids sports organizations that focused strictly on the on ice or on field development. The Oilers figured this time Gregg had indeed called it quits and exposed him in the waiver draft. Gregg told all the other NHL teams not to select him because he didn't want to play in any city other than Edmonton and wouldn't report. Despite this, the Vancouver Canucks selected Gregg.

The Canucks were looking for a veteran d-man to help turn their fortunes around and once they selected Gregg they offered him a large amount of money. Gregg became interested in the Vancouver offer but he felt he had to stay in Edmonton to help establish Funteam. He's the kind of guy that won't back out on his commitments. Gregg told the Canucks that he may be interested next year.

The Canucks came back the following summer and offered Gregg a contract he couldn't refuse. Funteam was solidly established. And while Gregg only played in 21 games, he had the time of his life.

"It was one of the most rewarding years of my career. It was almost exclusively because of Pat Quinn (Canucks coach). He's such a great guy, an amazing man. I developed so much respect for him. It's a rarity in hockey to find a guy who can be a friend to the players, as Pat is, without losing their respect."

However his year in Vancouver also helped Randy realize his hockey days were near done and he had to move on. He retired for a 4th time, this time for good.

Randy returned to Edmonton and completed his medical internship. He soon teamed up with another doctor to create a sports medicine clinic.

Dave Semenko

2006-05-18T22:17:00.000-07:00

Dave Semenko is best known as Wayne Gretzky's "bodyguard" but in all fairness he was much more than that. In fact he was a big part of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty years of the 1980s.

"Sammy," a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was one of Wayne's best friends and probably the most popular guy in the Edmonton Oilers dressing room. Everybody liked Dave. He would do anything for his teammates and on many nights he was the only guy who stood up for them.

Dave wasn't the best skater around but he always worked very hard to improve on that. His main strength was when he parked in front of the opponent's goal. That's where he lived up to another of his many nicknames - "Cement." When he camped in front of the net, nobody moved him. It was like trying to move a rock.

Dave grew up idolizing Bobby Orr. Even though he wasn't nearly as talented as the great Orr was, he compensated for that with his tremendous heart.

As a junior he played for the Brandon Wheat Kings between 1974-78. Dave was selected by Houston in the 1977 WHA draft as well as by Minnesota in the NHL (25th overall). He opted to sign in the WHA, but it was with Edmonton rather than Houston, as the Aeros traded his rights to the northern Alberta city.

Semenko adjust to the professional hockey lifestyle nicely over the next two years. By the 1979-80 season, however, the WHA had folded. Even though Sammy's Oilers would join the NHL, the Minnesota North Stars still held his NHL rights, and reclaimed the heavyweight scrapper.

Glen Sather and the Oilers must have really realized Semenko's potential and impact on the young Oilers, and traded away 2nd and 3rd round draft picks to reacquire him before the start of the season. One of those draft picks turned out to be high scoring Neal Broten, but the Oilers were happy with their lovable Sammy back in the fold.

Dave wouldn't score often, just 65 times in 575 NHL games, to go with 88 assists for 153 points. Wayne Gretzky had better single season scoring campaigns than Semenko had in his entire career! But that's not why Semenko was on the team, it could be argued that without Semenko's presence, Gretzky might not have been able to quite reach the scoring levels he did.

Dave became something of a policeman on the Oilers team and on many nights was challenged by big raw-boned rookies who wanted to prove they were tough. One night, rookie Dave "Killer" Carlson challenged Dave who calmly just looked at him and said: " How did you get your nickname, Killer? Did you shoot your dog?"

Kevin Lowe called Semenko "the Gretzky of the tough guys."

"The question has often been asked, how tough was Sammy? Pat Price would tell stories about the Gassoff brothers and Lee Fogolin had a few about Battleship Bob Kelly. Slats never forgot John Ferguson, and then there was Dave Schultz and the Broad Street Bullies. But the general consensus had it that Sammy was the toughest of all. He was in a class of his own; he didn't beat guys up, he'd destroyed them. He employed a combination of sheer strength, sheer power, and sheer quickness, but mostly power. He wasted players with just two or three punches. And all this, although he never really had a mean streak in his body!" added Lowe

Dave had plenty of humour and he loved to tease his coach Glen Sather who he didn't get along with all the time.

Once Sather gave his players a training program for the off-season with push-ups, sit-ups and running among the things to do. One day he called Dave to check up on him.

"It sounds like you're in pretty good shape" said Slats.

"No, problem. I'm doing your program." replied Sammy. "The push-ups and sit-ups are ok, but the running is not going too well."

"Oh, so you have trouble with your knee again ?"

"No, that's not the problem. It's the wind, it stops me from lighting my cigarette."

When Wayne Gretzky won the 1983 All-Star MVP award he gave the car he won to Dave to show him how much he appreciated his work on the ice as well as his friendship off the ice.

"He probably had the most inaccurate image of anyone in the game. He was known as a goon or a rock-head, but the ironic thing was he was pleasant, witty and gentle. I mean, he would never hurt anyone, and it used to always surprise us when he actually would fight. You knew he had to be mad to actually get into a fight because he was such a nice person" recalls Gretzky.

But on December 12, 1986 Dave got traded. When Sather told Dave that he had traded him to Hartford the big winger couldn't keep his emotions inside him. He cried and several of his teammates cried as well. Seeing the most popular and well liked guy on the team be traded was a hard blow to the Oilers players. They lost a lot of the team chemistry from that moment on.

Dave went on to play one season in Hartford and then finished his career with a one year stint in Toronto 1987-88. Dave returned to Edmonton though and became a scout for the team.

When Wayne Gretzky's number 99 was retired on October 1,1999 Dave was one of the few guys selected to share the moment with Wayne on the ice.

Everybody loved Dave except for those who had unpleasant encounters with his fists.