Thread: NHL history in a 127 years of bite sized pieces.
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Old 05-30-2024, 06:52 PM   #195
CaptainCrunch
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1984-85



Generational players are extremely rare. You look at the list of Howe, Richard, Orr, Gretzky and Crosby, its an exclusive club. There is a second tier underneath generation players that include Lindros (could have been generational), Ovechkin, Lafleur and others, they are still amazing but a hair below the true game changers.

So when Mario Lemieux came along the NHL and every franchise couldn't help but drool. He had size, speed, elite hockey sense and peerless hands, he was so special that he was called Le Magnifique.

Despite being 6'4 and weighing 200 pounds at 18, he was deceptively fast and graceful, he had a shot that gave goalies nightmares, and still stands as one of the most prolific scorers in the QMJHL. In his final year with Lavel, he scored 133 goals and 149 points for 282 points in 70 games, and then he put up 52 points in 14 playoff games.

Hailed as the greatest player to come out of Quebec since Guy Lafleur, there was no question that Mario would be a god send to the worst team in hockey, which in 1983-84 was the Pittsburgh Penquins.

the Pens won the race for last place with 38 points three fewer then the Devils who accused Pittsburgh of tanking games to ensure the number 1 pick. the league investigated and nothing came of it and the Devils ended up drafting Kirk Muller with the second overall pick. Most teams would be happy with getting a consistent 30 goal scorer that played strong 2 way hockey, but he was no Mario.

As a rookie Lemieux loved up the hype, dazzling NHL fans with his artistry and lethal offence, and despite Lemieux being shy and quite and finding English difficult, the Pittsburgh fans embraced him.

Lemieux scored his fist goal on his first shift off of his first shot. He was a NHL all star in his first season and was named the All-Star games MVP with 2 goals and an assist.

By the end of his first year he'd scored 43 goals and 100 points and took home the Calder Trophy. He made everyone around him better and made NHL journeyman Warren Young a millionaire when he erupted for 40 goals on Mario's wing and signed a huge free agent deal with Detroit.

Of course there were inevitable comparisons between Gretzky and Lemieux, but they were polar opposites on the ice. Mario was reserved and uncomfortable in front the cameras. Gretzky was the perfect spokesman for the NHL. Ironically Lemieux's 66 looked opposite of 99. they had different playing styles and personal styles.

While the Pens still languished in the Patrick division basement in 1984-85, Gretzky lead the Oilers to their second straight dominating Cup with a beat down of the Flyers in 5 games.

But as the years went on, Lemieux climbed that ladder and by 1987-88 he outscored Gretzky for the first time beating him by 19 points and ended Gretzky's streak of 8 Hart Trophies, and while Wayne would lead the Oilers to another 2 cups. Lemieux pulled off two consecutive cups in 1991 and 1992.

Trivia

  • The Hall of Fame inducts 6 players including Phil Esposito, Jacques Lemaire and Bernie Parent.
  • NHL Draft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_NHL_Entry_Draft
  • Canada beats the Soviet Union in the semi finals of the Canada cup as Mike Bossy scores in overtime, Canada then knocks off Sweden in the finals.
  • On December 19th 23 year old Wayne Gretzky joins the 1000 point club in his 424th game.
  • On Jan 29h Islander Bryan Trottier joins the 1000 point club.
  • The Flyers are the NHL's alpha dogs finishing with a 53-20-7 record.
  • The Caps get 50 goals from Mike Gartner and Bobby Carpenter becomes the first American to score 50 goals when he nets 53.
  • Midway through the season Ranger's GM Craig Patrick fires Herb Brooks who has lost control of his team.
  • Despite Mario's 42 goals and 100 points the Pens finish last in the Patrick.
  • Career Minor League Warren Young scores 40 points, and gets a huge contract from Detroit but he is considered to be one of the greatest flash in the pan players in hockey history.
  • Montreal rebound to a 41-27-12 record and wins the Adam's division. Rookie defenseman Chris Chelios makes a splash with 55 assists and starts to establish himself as the league preeminent jerk.
  • The Whalers win 30 games, their most since joining the NHL but still finish last in the Adams.
  • Edmonton crushes the Smythe Division with a 49-20-11 record.
  • Dale Hawerchuk becomes the first Jet to hit the 50 goal mark as the Jets finish second in the Smythe.
  • Calgary finishes 3rd in the Smythe led by Swedes Kent Nilsson and Haken Loob who tie for the team lead with 37 goals. The Flames set an NHL record going 264 games without being shutout.
  • St Louis takes the Norris division with a 37-11-12 record lead by Bernie Ferderko's 103 points and future Flames hero Joe Mullen's 40 goals.
  • Wayne Gretzky leads all scorers with 208 points Jari Kurri finishes in second place with 135 points. Paul Coffey leads all defensemen with 121 points.
  • Gretzky leads all goal scorers with 73 goals, his line-mate Jari Kurri sets an nhl record for right wingers with 71 goals.
  • Despite being demoted to the minors by GM Scotty Bowman Tom Barrasso leads all goalies with a 2.66 gaa.
  • Montreal's Chris Nilan leads the NHL with 358 PIM.
  • In the Smythe semis Edmonton sweeps LA, Winnipeg beats Calgary in 4 games for their first ever playoff series win.
  • In the Norris Chicago sweeps Detroit, while Minnesota upsets the Blues 3-0.
  • In the Patrick the Islanders squeak by the Caps in 5 games, the Flyers sweep the Rangers.
  • Quebec beats Buffalo in 5 and the Habs get by the Bruins in 5, and get their 16th straight playoff win in the Adams semis.
  • Edmonton brooms the Jets 4-0 in the Smythe finals, the Oilers outscore the Jets 22-11. Chicago wins a shoot out series in 6 games over the Stars as the teams average 10 goals a game.
  • The once dynastic Islanders bow out of the playoffs as Philly dominates in a 4-1 series win.
  • Quebec beats Montreal in a 7 game Adams final as the teams each score 24 goals.
  • The Oilers set playoff records for consecutive playoff wins with 12, and goals in a series with 44 as the Oilers win over Chicago in 6 games.
  • The Flyers beat Quebec in 6 games to earn their first finals berth in 5 years.
  • The Flyers shock the Oilers 4-1 in game 1.
  • The Oilers bounce back in game 2 winning 3-1.
  • Gretzky scores a first period hat trick in game 3 leading the Oilers to a 4-3 win.
  • The Oilers comeback from a 3-1 first period deficit to win game 4 5-3.
  • Mark Messier and Paul Coffey each score twice as the Oilers crush the Flyers 8-3 to win their second straight cup.
  • Wayne Gretzky sets a NHL playoff record with 47 playoff points, while Paul Coffey sets a playoff scoring record for defensemen with 37 points, but Gretzky wins the Conn Smythe.
  • Gretzky wins his 6th straight Hart Trophy and fourth straight Lester B. Pearson Award.
  • Jari Kurri wins the Lady Byng.
  • Philly goalie Pelle Lindberg wins the Vezina Trophy.
  • Mario Lemieux dances his way to the Calder Trophy.
  • Paul Coffey of the Oilers wins his first Norris Trophy.
  • Craig Ramsey of the Sabres wins the Frank Selke.
  • Anders Hedberg of the Rangers wins the Masterton.
  • First year Flyers Coach "Iron" Mike Keenan wins the Jack Adams.
  • Dan Hodgson leads St Albert to the Memorial Cup and is voted the CMJ Player of the year.
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute beats Providence to win the NCAA title.
  • Bill Watson of Minnesota-Deluth wins the Hobey Baker.
Debuts


Final Game







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