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| THE HPT 10: NHL's most influential individuals |
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| Features |
| Written by John Chidley-Hill |
| Monday, August 02, 2010 00:00 |
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Fans of the NHL are blessed with a rich history. In 93 years of existence, the league has seen a host of heroes, villains and characters.
But who are the most influential individuals in NHL history? HPT breaks down the top 10 so you don’t have to. 10. Ambrose O’BrienAlthough he was never actually in the NHL, the league wouldn’t exist without O’Brien. The industrialist and owner of the Renfrew Millionaires was invited to join the Canadian Hockey Association in 1909. His petition was rejected, but as he left the CHA meeting he ran into Jimmy Gardner, general manager of the Montreal Wanderers. The two agreed to create their own league, the National Hockey Association.
In the inaugural season, O’Brien owned three of the four teams in the new organization, including an all-Francophone club called the Montreal Canadiens. O’Brien was out of the NHA before it became the NHL, but he brought professional hockey a step closer to its current form. 9. Art RossWith Ross, it’s all in the details. The longtime player and first-ever GM of the Boston Bruins had a subtle touch on the game, innovating equipment design such as the vulcanized rubber puck used in the NHL and the distinctive B-shaped net that corrals pucks. Many other rule changes sprung from his brow, resulting in his induction as one of the 12 original members of Hockey’s Hall of Fame in 1945.
Although often overlooked, Ross shaped hockey through small innovations and with an eye for detail. 8. Ted LindsayIn the 1950s, “Terrible” Ted Lindsay was known for being a savage on the ice. However, in 1957, Lindsay became a terror to NHL owners off the ice.
The Detroit Red Wings forward had a career-high 85 points, giving him the necessary leverage to finally institute a union for the NHL Players. Joined by Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens, Gus Mortson of the Chicago Black Hawks, Bill Gadsby of the New York Rangers, and Jim Thomson of the Toronto Maple Leafs, he was able to forever change the relationship between the players and team owners.
Although the National Hockey League Player’s Association wasn’t nearly as powerful as it is today, Lindsay’s leadership opened the NHL up to better representation for the players, allowing for better safety standards, and, of course, free agency. 7. Bobby OrrEasily the best defenseman of all time, Orr’s speed and incredible scoring touch changed the way hockey was played. Defenders were no longer just used to keep the puck in play or shut down forwards. They were no expected to jump up into the play and be an attacking threat. Orr’s presence opened the game up and paved the way for the exciting firewagon hockey of the 1980s.
Off the ice, Orr employed lawyer Alan Eagleson (see below) as his agent. Together, the two set the tone for labor relations in the NHL for nearly four decades. Today, Orr himself is an agent and is still a force behind the scenes in professional hockey. 6. Maurice ‘Rocket’ RichardWhat can be written about Richard that hasn’t already been said? The best hockey player of an entire generation – and, some would argue, any generation – Richard is also a cultural icon in Quebec. His suspension sparked the Richard Riots in 1955, an event that led to the Quiet Revolution and modern Quebecois society.
To really understand Richard’s significance, all you need to do is watch this video. 5. Conn SmytheThe prototypical professional sports team owner, Smythe took the Toronto St. Pats and forged them into the Maple Leafs, the NHL’s most dominant empire, at least, financially.
Smythe built one of the great hockey temples in Maple Leaf Gardens and laid the foundation for Toronto’s dynasties in the 1940s and 50s. Although the Leafs have gone more than four decades without a Stanley Cup, they remain a business powerhouse, owning the Raptors and Toronto FC and consistently earning the most money of any team in the NHL. Impressively, Smythe also deserves credit for assembling the New York Rangers roster that won the 1928 Stanley Cup after he resigned earlier in the season. Smythe also coached and managed the University of Toronto Varsity Grads that won the 1928 Allan Cup and gold for Canada at the St. Moritz Olympics that same year. Although, in typical Smythe fasion, he had also resigned from that team in a huff before they won internationally. 4. Wayne GretzkyAlthough Gretzky’s impact doesn’t resonate in quite the same way as Richard's, the Great One has still left an indelible mark on the NHL and sporting culture in general.
As detailed in books like Stephen Brunt’s Gretzky’s Tears and documentaries like ESPN’s King’s Ransom, Gretzky was always a big fish in a small pond, even after his controversial trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. The move captured the attention of non-fans across the United States and sparked a renewed interest in Canada’s game south of the border, enabling the Sun Belt Expansion that saw new NHL teams pop up in non-traditional markets in the southern United States. 3. Vladislav TretiakWhen Canadian scouts went to check out the Soviet team in preparation for the 1972 Summit Series, they laughed at young goaltender Tretiak, thinking he’d be a pushover for the mighty NHLers. What they didn’t know was that Tretiak had gotten married the night before and was nursing a vodka-fuelled hangover.
In reality, he was the best backstop in the world who stymied Team Canada’s roster of all-stars at practically every turn. His revolutionary butterfly style was adopted around the world, making him the father of modern goaltending. 2. Alan EaglesonA controversial figure to say the least, Eagleson’s influence is indisputable. His personal story directly intersects with three other people on this list. He was Orr’s agent, a chief engineer of the Summit Series that introduced the world to Tretiak, and was the first executive director of the NHLPA, Lindsay’s invention.
Eagleson's biography was re-written forever when he was convicted of fraud and embezzlement for defrauding clients and skimming money from tournaments. After a short stay in prison, he was removed as a member of the Order of Canada and resigned from the Hockey Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Even in his criminal actions, Eagleson is significant: his indiscretions forced the NHLPA to adopt more transparency and become more assertive in all labor relations. 1. Gary BettmanThe only man more hated than Eagleson is also the only one more influential than the disgraced player agent: The current commissioner. Love him or, more likely, hate him, no one can deny that Bettman’s fingerprints are all over today’s NHL.
He eliminated the Campbell Conference and Prince of Wales Conference. Six new teams entered the league during his tenure, while four more relocated. That’s one-third of the current NHL finding their home under Bettman’s guidance. He also presided over two serious labor disputes, with the 2004-05 lockout the most recent and impactful. That’s not counting rule changes, glowing pucks, the Olympics or "Bettman stripes." Although he's despised by many, there’s no denying that Bettman’s 17 years in charge of the NHL has changed the game forever.
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Comments (1)Subscribe to this comment's feedShow/hide comments My top 10
Well it was hard to disagree with most of your choices, and there is no doubting that all 10 of those people had/have a great influence on the NHL but here is my list of who I think are the 10 most influential. My biggest issue with your list is that is a bit to focused on the business aspect of the game. I tried to balance mine a bit more towards the hockey aspect but am not sure if I actually succeeded:
1. Clarence Cambell As League President from 1947-1977 Cambell was the man in charge during hockey’s “golden era’. He was crucial in overseeing the original expansion from 6 to 12 teams and up to 18 by the time he retired. He fought off the threat from the WHA ensuring that the NHL remained the Top league. And most notoriously he suspended the Rocket and had the guts(or stupidity) to show up to the next game leading to the Richard Riots. Through good and bad he set the leagues path for 30 years. 2. Al Eagleson His influence is undeniable despite all his wrongdoings. 3. Bobby Orr On the ice: he completely changed the way defence is played. He is still the greatest defenceman to ever play and off the ice he was and still is a major play in NHL labour relations. 4. Vladislav Tretiak I had trouble choosing between him and Patrick Roy. Tretiak was the innovator of the butterfly style but Roy perfected it and led it to be the most dominant goaltending style in the game. I give Tretiak the nod only because in addition to the butterfly he backstopped the Russians in the 72 summit series which redefined how Russians and other Europeans hockey nations were viewed by North Americans. 5. Gary Bettman While I agree he is hugely influential in shaping the NHL today I don’t think his true influence will be known till long after he is gone. It will be interesting to see how well his sunbelt expansion holds up over the next 10-15 years. 6. Foster Hewitt The voice of Hockey Night in Canada. Hewitt brought the game to people across the country who couldn’t afford to go to a game or lived to far away from any NHL clubs. His influence is still evident anytime you hear an announcer say “He shoots He scores”. 7. Bobby Hull Aside from being a prolific goal scorer Hull made his biggest influence on the NHL by leaving it. By signing a than unheard of 1 million dollar contract with the WHA Hull ushered in an era of exploding contracts leading eventually to the lockout of 04-05 8. Börje Salming The first European star of the NHL. Salming paved the way for the wave of Europeans to make their way across the pond to play in the NHL. Followed by the likes of Jari Kurri and Petr Statsny, Salming led the way to the NHL being the truly multinational league it is today. 9. George Hainsworth 22 shutouts in 44 games. That amazing feat will never be matched mainly because it was the spur of the biggest rule change hockey has ever implemented the introduction of the forward pass. It is hard to imagine hockey without the forward pass so it is easy to overlook how important this change was but it all started with Hainsworth’s unbelievable feat of 22 shutouts in a single year. 10. Left blank because I can’t think of a forward who was changed the way his position was played. Bobby Orr changed the way defence was played. Tretiak and Roy changed the way goaltenders play. But in my mind there has never been a player to truly change the way forwards play the game. Sure, Gretzky played differently than everyone else but he didn’t influence his position like Orr. No one who came after Gretzky could truly emulate him because his skill was just too high. Other players have all followed in the footsteps of those before them none that I can think of really changing the way the game is played quite like Tretiak, Roy and Orr did. Maybe there is someone but I can’t think of anyone so my tenth spot is left for the next great innovator who changes the way forwards play the game of hockey.
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August 11, 2010
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 13:36 |
