Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastFlamesFan
Looking at those lineups got me thinking. When did the NHL go from dressing 17 skaters a game to 18 skaters a game? I have to think it was the mid-80s, right?
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From when our group started doing these reports in 1961, it was 16 skaters
plus 2 goaltenders. Teams regularly dressed 5 defensemen and 11 skaters
but generally only used two pairs on the blue line with the 5th defenseman
often seeing no ice time, especially in a low penalty affair.
In 1971, it changed from 16 skaters to 17 skaters and in 1982 went to the
current 18 + 2.
One of the more amazing things was that in 1967-68 (the major expansion season),
the Chicago Blackhawks used only 5 defensemen during the entire 74-game schedule.
A 6th defenseman, Matt Ravlich, missed the entire regular season but returned for the playoffs.
Paul Terbenche was drafted as a defenseman and was available in an
emergency, but played the entire season at center because the Blackhawks'
depth was so thin after having 20 players poached at the expansion draft.
The wear and tear on the Blackhawks' backline was evident in the
semi-final series against Montreal and helped the Canadiens advance to
the Stanley Cup.