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Guy Lafleur Dies At 70

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Another hockey legend has passed away, as the Montreal Gazette reports the family of Guy Lafleur has announced that the Montreal Canadiens icon has died following a long battle with cancer. He was 70.

Lafleur, one of the most popular NHL players to ever live, hoisted the Stanley Cup on five occasions, took home the Art Ross as league scoring champion three times and twice was named the league’s most valuable player. A no-doubt Hall of Famer, he recorded 1,353 points in his 1,126-game career, almost all of which was spent in the province of Quebec, where he’d become a legend long before ever making it to the NHL.

In 1970-71, in his final year of junior hockey, Lafleur scored 130 goals in just 62 games for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL. That record would stand for more than a decade, until Mario Lemieux broke it in 1983-84, and still registers second all-time in the league’s history (Lafleur also has fourth, with 103 goals the previous season). The first-overall pick in 1971, the smooth-skating forward stepped directly into the spotlight and would lift the Stanley Cup in year two. By 1977, he would be setting a career-high of 136 points, while also representing his country at the Canada Cup.

There were very few players that combined the same level of talent and flash, as Lafleur did more than just rack up points. He excited the crowd every time he touched the puck and reached a level of popularity (or hate, depending on your allegiance) rarely seen in the sport to that point. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, he was a no-doubt selection when the NHL released their Top 100 players list in 2017.

The entire hockey world, including those of us at PHR, send condolences to the Lafleur family.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Mike Bossy Dies At 65

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One of the greatest talents in NHL history has passed away, as several reports have confirmed the death of Mike Bossy. The legendary goal scorer was 65. In a statement from the New York Islanders, the only team Bossy ever played for, general manager Lou Lamoriello explained the loss:

The New York Islanders organization mourns the loss of Mike Bossy, an icon not only on Long Island but across the entire hockey world. His drive to be the best every time he stepped on the ice was second to none. Along with his teammates, he helped win four straight Stanley Cup championships, shaping the history of this franchise forever. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Bossy family and all those who grieve this tragic loss.

Four consecutive Stanley Cup championships aren’t even what most people will think of when they consider Bossy’s career. Instead, it’s his incredible, innate ability to score goals, arguably better than anyone else in the history of the game. While he only played in 752 games, the right-handed sniper racked up 573 goals, including five seasons of at least 60. He twice led the league and currently sits first in terms of goals per game at .762, ahead of Mario Lemieux’s .754.

While it was goals that dominated his career, that’s certainly not the only thing Bossy was known for. A three-time winner of the Lady Byng trophy as the “player adjusted to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct,” Bossy was one of the most well-liked and cherished players of all time, even by fans of opposing teams. The Islanders retired his No. 22 in 1992, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the same year.

In 2017, Bossy wrote a letter to his 14-year-old self for the Players’ Tribune. It is a must-read for hockey fans young and old.

There are few players in the history of the game who have had such an impact. The hockey world, including all of us here at PHR, mourns the loss and sends condolences to the Bossy family.

Jerry York Retires As Head Coach Of Boston College

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The winningest coach in NCAA hockey history is hanging up his whistle. Jerry York, head coach of Boston College for the past 28 years, has announced his retirement. Director of Athletics Patrick Kraft released the following statement:

It is difficult to put into words all that Jerry York means to Boston College. His record as the winningest coach in NCAA men’s ice hockey and BC hockey speak for themselves, but it is his humility, decency, unwavering commitment to his players, fellow coaches, and all of us in the BC family, and the quiet ways in which he contributes to this community that make him so beloved. He is a legend and one of the classiest individuals to ever coach in college sports. It has been a joy to work with him, and on behalf of all of us in the BC community I wish him, Bobbie, and his entire family the very best in his retirement years.

In 1993, York left Bowling Green State for BC, and found a program that was in trouble. In the years since, he turned it into one of college hockey’s powerhouses, winning the national championship in 2001, 2008, 2010, and 2012. His team won the Hockey East Tournament nine times, and was named Hockey East Coach of the Year on five different occasions. Nearly countless NHL and AHL players have come through the BC program with York at its helm, including names like Johnny Gaudreau, Cam Atkinson, Kevin Hayes, Noah Hanifin, Chris Kreider, Alex Tuch, and many, many more. Jack McBain, who debuted last night for the Arizona Coyotes, is the latest product to hit NHL ice.

One of the most well-respected and well-liked coaches in all of North American hockey, York was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019 in the builder category, and the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2020. There are few people who have had a bigger impact on the game in the U.S.

In his retirement, York explained that he told his coaches and players of his retirement today. It is based on a desire to “travel more with his wife, Bobbie, play golf for the first time during a weekend in the fall, spend more time with his family, and watch his two grandchildren play hockey, lacrosse, and soccer games in Pittsburgh.”

Marian Hossa To Sign One-Day Contract With Chicago Blackhawks

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Marian Hossa’s 12-year contract finally expired at the end of last season, though he had not actually played in an NHL game since the 2016-17 campaign. Now that his time as an Arizona Coyote is over, he’s free to sign anywhere as an unrestricted free agent. He’ll do so by inking a one-day contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, in order to officially retire as a member of the team.

Hossa, 43, didn’t start his career in Chicago. Selected 12th overall in 1997 by the Ottawa Senators, he quickly showed how he would impact the game. An excellent two-way player from the very beginning, he finished second to Chris Drury in Calder Trophy voting during the 1998-99 season and was receiving Selke Trophy votes by 2001. He would end up with the Atlanta Thrashers next, where he recorded his only 100-point season, and then would pop between contenders for a few years, reaching the Stanley Cup Final with both the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008 and Detroit Red Wings in 2009.

Both teams would end up losing, leading to jokes about Hossa being a bad luck charm in the playoffs. He’d put that notion to rest in 2010, when he joined the Blackhawks and helped them to the first of three Stanley Cup championships. Over eight seasons in Chicago, Hossa would rack up 415 points in 534 games, while still being considered one of the very best defensive wingers in the game. In all, he received Selke votes in 13 different seasons, reaching as high as fifth in 2014 at the age of 35.

Throughout his entire career, the Slovakian forward would record 1,134 regular season points in 1,309 games, putting him among the best of all time. He sits 59th in career points and 61st in games played. Even better are his 149 playoff points, which puts him 30th all-time. In 2020, before his NHL contract had even officially expired–Hossa was forced out of the game due to a skin condition–he was chosen to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame. Two years later, he’ll now officially retire where he won it all.

Montreal Canadiens Hire Martin St. Louis As Interim Head Coach

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The Montreal Canadiens have gone a bit off the board to replace Dominique Ducharme, who was fired earlier today. Instead of going with someone that already has coaching experience at the NHL level, the team has instead hired Hockey Hall of Fame player Martin St. Louis as interim head coach. General manager Kent Hughes has released the following statement:

We are very happy to welcome Martin to the Canadiens organization. Not only are we adding an excellent hockey man, but with Martin we are bringing in a proven winner and a man whose competitive qualities are recognized by all who have crossed his path.

St. Louis, 46, has no formal experience as a coach in the NHL, though he did serve as a powerplay consultant for the Columbus Blue Jackets for part of the 2018-19 season.

Still, there’s no one doubting his hockey knowledge. St. Louis played 1,134 regular season games over a long NHL career, scoring 1,033 points. He added another 107 playoff contests, winning the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004. Olympic gold. World Cup gold. Art Ross and Hart trophies. There’s very little that St. Louis failed to accomplish as a player, despite going undrafted as an undersized forward in a league that was still focused on size.

There are also many obvious connections with the new Montreal front office. Not only did St. Louis play for Jeff Gorton when he was still in the front office of the New York Rangers, but their kids also played youth hockey together. St. Louis’ son Ryan now plays at Northeastern with Jack and Riley Hughes, sons of the Montreal GM. Hughes was also the agent for Vincent Lecavalier, a longtime teammate of St. Louis in Tampa Bay. Lecavalier has also been linked to the Canadiens organization in recent days, though the role he would take on is not clear.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports that St. Louis is only signed through the end of this season and the two sides will talk about the future at the end of that short tenure. With the Canadiens completely floundering and at the bottom of the standings, it’s hard to expect St. Louis to really turn around the program. If he can get at least some sort of change out of the group, however, perhaps he’ll make the jump right from peewee head coach to NHL head coach on a full-time basis.

Hall Of Famer Clark Gillies Passes Away At 67

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The hockey community, especially those in New York, has lost one of the greats. New York Islanders legend Clark Gillies has passed away at the age of 67, the team announced late Friday night. Gillies spent a dozen seasons in New York to begin his career and wrapped up his playing days with a pair of seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. Since retiring in 1988, he has worked closely with charities on Long Island, including his own Clark Gillies Foundation, and has stayed involved with the Islanders club.

Gillies is best remembered as a key piece of the Islanders early-1980’s dynasty that won four consecutive Stanley Cups. Gillies played an integral role in each title, recording 250 points in 302 games in those regular seasons and 47 points in 66 postseason games as well. Gillies was the fourth overall pick by the Isles in 1974 out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and the WHL’s Regina Pats and jumped immediately into the NHL. It didn’t take long for him to find his groove, recording career-best seasons of 85 and 91 points in 1977-78 and 1978-79. For his career, Gillies notched 697 points in 958 games, only topped by his 1,025 career penalty minutes. The epitome of a power forward, the 6’3″ Gillies was notoriously tough to play against in all three zones. A physical net front presence, especially on the power play, and menacing checker, it was easy for Gillies’ teams to score when he was on the ice and far more difficult for the opposition, as evidenced by a whopping +245 rating for his career. The two-time First Team All-Star had his No. 9 retired by the Islanders in 1996 and was a 2002 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

The Islanders, in announcing the sad news of Gillies’ passing, including a statement from GM and fellow Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello:

The entire Islanders community is devastated by the loss of Clark Gillies. He epitomized what it means to be a New York Islander. The pride he felt wearing the Islanders sweater on the ice was evident by his willingness to do anything to win. Off the ice, he was just as big of a presence, always taking the time to give back to the local community. The New York Islanders have four Stanley Cups because of the sacrifices he and the members of those dynasty teams made for the franchise. On behalf of the entire organization, we send our deepest condolences to the entire Gillies family.

Many more have released statements sharing their condolences and expressing their appreciation for the role that Gillies played in a number of hockey communities, including NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, WHL Commissioner Ron Robison, Pittsburgh Penguins great and close friend Mario Lemieux, and many former and current Islanders. It is clear that the charismatic and caring Gillies made a major impact on many lives.

We here at PHR extend our condolences to the family, friends, and many fans of Clark Gillies.

 

Poll: Is Ben Bishop A Hall Of Fame Goaltender?

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Dallas Stars goaltender Ben Bishop held a press conference today to discuss the end of his career. After trying to rehab and recover from a knee injury that has bothered him for more than two years, Bishop played a single game in the AHL before throwing in the towel. He explained just what he was dealing with all this time and how it didn’t allow him from continuing his career:

If I was a forward, I could be playing right now. But just with the butterfly, the torque you put on your knee, it just couldn’t really get better. 

Last week when we drained it, there was still some flecks in the fluid which means there was some cartilage wearing away. With all that, I still wanted to go down and give it a try because I wanted one last try to make sure. I was hoping I could go down and everything would be OK. But obviously after the game, it blew up. In talking to the doctors, it doesn’t make sense to just kind of be ripping your knee apart if you’re not going to get back to playing.

Bishop will not technically retire, as his contract extends through the 2022-23 season. He’s owed $3.5MM for this season and next, meaning he’ll be just moved to long-term injured reserve for now. His playing days are over though, which means fans can look back and dissect an outstanding playing career that was unfortunately cut short.

There is a real question that arises when considering Bishop’s excellent-but-limited NHL career. Should he be considered for the Hall of Fame?

At first thought the easy answer may be no, given he never won a major award, never won the Stanley Cup, and was really only a full-time NHL player for seven years. But that seven-year stretch was also some of the best goaltending the league has ever seen, as fans of the Lightning and Stars will attest.

In 2013-14, his first full season with Tampa Bay, Bishop started 64 games for the Lightning, going 37-14-7 with a .924 save percentage. He finished third in Vezina Trophy voting, behind the winner Tuukka Rask (36-15-6, .930) and runner-up Semyon Varlamov (41-14-6, .927). He actually finished ahead of Rask in the Hart Trophy voting though (but behind Varlamov) because of the view of Tampa at the time. After all, they’d missed the playoffs each of the previous two seasons and were under the guidance of a rookie head coach–some guy named Jon Cooper.

Not a bad start for a goaltender that was already on his third team.

In 2014-15, he took a slight step back in terms of save percentage, posting a .916 for the Lightning. The team was a lot better though, as Bishop secured 40 wins in 62 appearances during the regular season. He then started another 25 games in the playoffs, helping the Lightning all the way to the Stanley Cup Final, where they would fall to the Chicago Blackhawks. Bishop’s numbers that postseason? A .921 save percentage and playoff-leading three shutouts.

When 2015-16 rolled around there was no doubting his ability, and what would follow was an incredible goaltending season. In 61 appearances, Bishop went 35-21-4, posted a .926 save percentage, and league-leading 2.06 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he’d go 8-2 with a .939 save percentage and it looked like he was on his way to a potential Conn Smythe nomination, but ended up stretchered off the ice during the first period of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals. Young Andrei Vasilevskiy would play the next six games, ultimately losing in a heartbreaking game seven to the Pittsburgh Penguins. When the Vezina votes were tallied that year, Bishop would come close to another victory, but end up coming second to future teammate Braden Holtby’s 48-9-7 record, despite the Washington netminder’s worse numbers in other categories.

Injury had robbed him of a chance to further his legacy those playoffs, and the Vezina finish would be a sign of things to come. Bishop played just 39 games in 2016-17 as Vasilevskiy took over in Tampa Bay, forcing the Lightning to find a trade partner. Bishop was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings, where he served as a backup to Jonathan Quick down the stretch. He’d play just seven games with the Kings before an offseason trade and extension brought him to the Dallas Stars.

It’s in Dallas where perhaps his most compelling case for the Hall of Fame took place. In his first year, he was a strong starter for the Stars, putting up a 26-17-5 record with a .916 save percentage. It’s that 2018-19 season that could have changed his legacy though, had voters felt stronger about his case over that of his former protege. Andrei Vasilevskiy took home the Vezina as the Lightning posted a historic 62-16-4 record, but Bishop had outpaced him in nearly every goaltending metric. In fact, since they started tracking shot data, Bishop’s 2018-19 .934 save percentage is the fourth-best in history among goaltenders who appeared in at least 41 games. He’d finish second in the voting, a finalist for the third time in his career.

Overall, Bishop ranks 78th all-time in wins by a goaltender with 222. He’s even further down that list in terms of games played. His career was extremely short, there’s no getting around that. But it was also outstanding. His .921 career save percentage puts him fifth, behind only Dominik Hasek, Johnny Bower, Rask, and Ken Dryden. Three of those names are in the Hall of Fame, the fourth likely will be one day.

So is Bishop a candidate for the Hall of Fame? Or is he just another member of the Hall of Very Good, with a career cut short by injury, overlooked by voters, and ultimately, unsuccessful in reaching the pinnacle of the sport–the Stanley Cup.

[Mobile users click here to vote!]

John Davidson Retires From HHOF Selection Committee

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The Hockey Hall of Fame has a new selection committee chairman, as Mike Gartner will take over from the retiring John Davidson. Davidson has been on the committee for more than two decades and spent the last seven years as chair. Cammi Granato will be the new voting member, joining 17 others who decide on inductees every year.

Davidson, who currently serves as president of hockey operations for the Columbus Blue Jackets, is one of the more well-known faces in hockey from his time as a player, executive, and broadcaster. He has held the president role for the Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers, following a goaltending career that spanned more than 300 NHL games and a broadcasting career that covered many more.

Gartner, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 2002, is one of just eight players in NHL history to score at least 700 goals. The legendary forward played for the Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes during a 1,432-game career, but failed to ever hoist the Stanley Cup.

The newcomer to the committee certainly is familiar with the Hall of Fame, having been inducted herself in 2011 after an outstanding playing career. One of the most decorated women in the history of hockey, Granato now serves as a scout for the Seattle Kraken.

There was no 2021 class because of the pandemic, but just recently Kevin Lowe, Kim St-Pierre, Doug Wilson, Marian Hossa, Ken Holland, and Jarome Iginla were inducted as the class of 2020. Among those newly eligible for 2022 are Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Roberto Luongo, Caroline Ouellette, and Henrik Zetterberg.

Zdeno Chara Signs With New York Islanders

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October 10: Per CapFriendly, Chara’s one-year deal carries the league-minimum cap hit of $750,000. The deal contains an additional $750,000 in performance bonuses.

September 18: A future Hall of Famer is heading back to where it all began. As first reported by ESPN’s Kevin Weekes and then confirmed by the team, the New York Islanders have signed veteran defenseman Zdeno Chara to a one-year contract. Financial terms have not been disclosed.

Chara was of course drafted by the Islanders all the way back in 1996. He played his first four pro seasons with the club before being dealt to the Ottawa Senators in 2001 in the infamous Alexei Yashin trade. Since then, Chara has established himself as one of the best defensemen of his generation. A Stanley Cup champion, Norris Trophy winner, seven-time all-league defenseman, the NHL’s active leader in career plus/minus and penalty minutes, and an all-time captain, Chara has accomplished more than anyone could have expected when he last with the Islanders. However, he still wants to add another title to his trophy shelf and feels a return to New York could be the best fit.

The long-time Bruins captain, Chara left Boston after the 2019-20 season as the team was looking to move on with a younger core of defensemen and only offered Chara a depth role. The Washington Capitals took him on as an affordable, one-year rental and he provided solid stay-at-home defense all year. Yes, it was a career-low in ice time and a drop-off in most statistical categories, but at 44 years old that is to be expected. The skating and skill are largely gone from his game, but Chara was still a plus player who contributed physically and was not a liability on the back end. Having see up-close what Chara can do, the Islanders have signed him away from the division rival Capitals and will likely use him in a similar fashion. However, given their far more conservative system than Washington’s and the presence of several other dependable defensive blue liners such as Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield, and fellow veteran Andy Greene, Chara will be under less pressure. This could serve to keep him well-rested and even more effective defensively late in the season and into the playoffs of his 24th NHL campaign.

Chara wanted to stay on the east coast near his family in Boston while still landing with a team that could give him one last shot at the Stanley Cup. It is safe to say that the reigning “East Division” champs have as good a shot as anyone who fits that description. Add in a homecoming to the team who started his illustrious career and the pairing of the Chara and the Islanders seems to be an excellent fit.

Snapshots: Hall Of Fame, Montoya, Rangers

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The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame has announced the class of 2021, which will include Stan Fischler, Paul Holmgren, and Peter McNab. The trio will be inducted along with the 2020 class, which included Dean Blais, Tony Granato, Jenny Potter, and Jerry York, at an event scheduled for December of this year.

The three men from the 2021 class have all had a huge impact on hockey in the United States, spending decades with the game and bringing it to fans across the country. Even without McNab’s decades as a broadcaster for the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche, his playing career likely should have been enough to enshrine him in the U.S. Hall. In 955 games, mostly with the Boston Bruins, he recorded 363 goals and 813 points, ranking 19th among all American players.

  • The Dallas Stars have hired former NHL goaltender Al Montoya as the club’s new director of community outreach, a position created to focus on helping grow the game among underrepresented fans. Montoya, 36, last played in the NHL during the 2017-18 season with the Edmonton Oilers and totaled 168 games over his full career. Originally selected by the New York Rangers with the sixth overall pick in 2004, he finished his NHL career with a 67-49-24 record and .908 save percentage.
  • New York Rangers GM Chris Drury once again indicated that the team needs a captain this season when speaking with media including Dan Rosen of NHL.com today. The front office executive is giving new head coach Gerard Gallant time to get to know the players before they make a decision, but expect someone on the team to wear a “C” this season. Rosen speculates on who the candidates would be, listing Jacob Trouba, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Adam Fox as potential options.

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