There’s only one thing that can bring out hockey sweaters in
the warm months of May and June – it’s Stanley Cup playoff time. Plenty of
familiar names don the ice in the conference finals of this year’s quest for
the Cup. But the Big Ten has been represented long before the conference even
came to be. Here’s a look at some of the best playoff performers to come out of
Big Ten schools.
(Editor’s Note: We’re
aware that these players were not in the Big Ten Hockey Conference at the time
that they played... just go with it and enjoy!)
MICHIGAN
John Madden
One of the best defensive forwards in his generation, Madden
signed with New Jersey as an undrafted free agent. He went on to win two Cups
with the Devils in his 10 seasons there. Madden added another cup with Chicago
in 2010, ending a 49-year championship drought for the Hawks. The 2001 Selke
Trophy winner was as good a penalty killer as they come. He played in 141
playoff games, scoring 21 goals – four of which were shorthanded – and added 22
assists for 43 points. In four seasons in Ann Arbor, Madden recorded 80 goals
and 100 assists and was a major factor in Michigan’s 1996 NCAA title.
Aaron Ward
After 18 seasons as a defenseman in the NHL, Ward won Lord Stanley three times, including back-to-back Cups with Detroit in 1997-98 and one with Carolina in 2006. In his 95 playoff games, he registered 4 goals and 6 assists. Ward piled up 51 points in three seasons while at Michigan and had 263 penalty minutes. He earned All-CCHA Rookie team honors in 1991 and was All-CCHA honorable mention in 1992.
Pat Hughes
Not a very high profile player, but a very successful one
thanks to some mighty teams that he was on. Hughes won three Stanley Cups
during his nine seasons in the NHL. He was the beneficiary of a powerful
Montreal Canadiens team that won a championship in 1979. Hughes then won back-to-back
Cups with Edmonton in 1984-85, filling a role as a quiet third liner among high
profile scorers Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Paul Coffey. In 71 playoff games,
he had eight goals and 20 assists. He produced 54 goals and 51 assists over
three seasons at Michigan, who was in the WCHA during his tenure.
Honorable Mention: Red Berenson, Mike Cammalleri, Mike
Knuble, Carl Hagelin
MICHIGAN STATE
Duncan Keith
Say what you want about your favorite athlete, but Duncan
Keith might be the world's greatest athlete due to his ability to play 25-30
minutes a night for the Chicago Blackhawks. The two-time Stanley Cup winning
defenseman played an astounding 49:51 in the Hawks’ 3-2 triple-overtime victory
over Anaheim in Game 2 of this year's Western Conference Final. In 106 playoff
games, Keith has scored 14 goals and has 51 assists with a plus-25 rating.
During his time in East Lansing he had 6 goals and 18 assists in 56 games. He
made the switch to major junior hockey in Kelowna after 15 games in his second
year at Michigan State.
Craig Simpson
Drafted second overall in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft by
Pittsburgh, Simpson spent three years with the Penguins before they traded him
to Edmonton in November of 1987. The Oilers would win two Stanley Cups during
Simpson's six seasons there in 1988 and 1990. He averaged more than a point per
game in his playoff career, scoring 36 goals – seven of which were game-winners
– and adding 32 assists in 67 games. At Michigan State, Simpson had 141 points
in his two seasons there and he was a Hobey Baker finalist in 1985 as well as
an All-American.
Rod Brind'Amour
After just one season in East Lansing, Brind'Amour made the
jump to the NHL level where he would begin his prolific career, spanning 1,484
games with the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. He
added 159 postseason games to his resume, scoring 51 times and assisting on 60
goals. He had four game-winning goals en route to the 2006 Stanley Cup as
captain of the Canes.
Honorable Mention: Justin Abdelkader, Torey Krug, Drew
Miller, Ryan Miller
MINNESOTA
Neal Broten
Minnesota's own King Midas, everything Broten did and
everywhere he went became golden. He won a national championship with the
Gophers in 1979, a gold medal with Herb Brooks and the U.S. Olympic Team in
1980 and won the first-ever Hobey Baker Award in 1981. Broten remained in
Minnesota for the next 11 years, helping the North Stars reach the Stanley Cup
Final twice. The first American-born player to reach 100 points in a regular
season, Broten won the Cup with New Jersey in 1995 along with fellow Gophers
Tom Chorske and Chris McAlpine. During that '95 Cup run, Broten scored seven
goals – four of which were game-winners – and had 12 assists. During his
playoff career, he scored 35 goals, had 63 assists and had a plus-18 rating in
135 games.
Bob Johnson
You didn't think this column was just for prolific players
did you? Though synonymous with Wisconsin, Robert “Badger Bob” Johnson was born
in Minneapolis and played his college hockey career for Minnesota under the
legendary John Mariucci. He averaged a point per game for the Gophers, scoring
25 goals and assisting on 21 others in 46 games. But as I mentioned, this isn't
about Johnson as a player, but more so as a coach. He was spectacular behind
the bench, winning three NCAA titles at the helm of Wisconsin before beginning
his NHL career with Calgary. He guided the Flames to the Stanley Cup Final in
1986, and won the Cup in his only season with Pittsburgh in 1991 over
Minnesota. Johnson made the playoffs in all six seasons that he coached in the
NHL.
Paul Holmgren
Given his 1,684 minutes spent in the penalty box during his
time in the NHL, some might call Holmgren a “goon” for his on-ice behavior.
However, he did have his moments of great productivity. After spending his
first year professionally with the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints, he became a
Philadelphia Flyer. His most notable year was during the 1979-80 season, where
the Flyers went on their historic 35-game unbeaten streak. After putting up 30
goals and 35 assists during the regular season, Holmgren scored 10 goals and had
10 assists in their run to the Cup final, where they lost to the New York
Islanders in six games. In 82 postseason games, he had 19 goals and 32 assists
and 195 penalty minutes. In his only season as a Gopher, he had 10 goals, 21
assists and 108 penalty minutes.
Honorable Mention: Paul Martin, Mike Ramsey, Nick Leddy
OHIO STATE
Jamie Macoun
An undrafted player, Macoun, spent parts of 17 seasons with
the Calgary Flames, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings. Macoun
is Ohio State's only Stanley Cup winner, lifting the trophy with Calgary in
1989 and again with Detroit in 1998. The hard-nosed defenseman had 10 goals, 32
assists, and 169 penalty minutes in 159 playoff games. During his time in
Columbus, he lit the lamp 17 times, had 59 assists and 226 penalty minutes in
almost three seasons.
Ryan Kesler
A tough, skilled forward, Kesler spent one season as a
Buckeye, scoring 11 times and adding 20 assists to help the Buckeyes reach the
2003 NCAA tournament. He spent 10 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks before
being traded to Anaheim last summer. The 2011 Selke Trophy winner has 16 goals
and 31 assists through 68 career playoff games. He reached the Stanley Cup
Final with Vancouver in 2011, where the Canucks fell to the Boston Bruins in
seven games. Kesler and the Ducks are currently battling things out with
Chicago in the Western Conference Final. Through 12 games this postseason he's
potted four goals and has five assists.
RJ Umberger
One of the most talented forwards to come out of the Ohio
State program, Umberger spent three seasons in Columbus, posting 58 goals and
71 assists in 112 games. He had eight game winners en route to that 2003 NCAA
Tournament appearance and was named a second team All-American that year. He
spent three years in Philadelphia with the Flyers before spending the next six
back in Columbus with the Blue Jackets. A trade for forward Scott Hartnell last
summer sent him back to Philadelphia for the 2014-15 campaign. He's played in
30 playoff games, scoring 14 times and assisting on six goals. His most
productive postseason came in 2008 when he scored 10 goals and had five
assists, helping the Flyers reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Honorable Mention: Dave Steckel, Matt Bartkowski
WISCONSIN
Chris Chelios
Chelios is arguably the best American-born defenseman to
ever play the game. He’s claimed Lord Stanley’s Cup three times in his storied
career, once with Montreal in 1986 and twice with Detroit in 2002 and 2008. He
defined perseverance throughout his career, playing in a remarkable 26 seasons
in the NHL, tied with Gordie Howe for the most all time. He holds the record
for most postseason appearances (with 24) and games played (with 266). In those
games, he had 31 goals, 113 assists and had a plus-48 rating. During his days
as a Badger, Chelios had 22 goals and 75 assists over two seasons. He was named
to the all-WCHA second team for his efforts in the 1982-83 season, helping the
Badgers win their fourth NCAA title. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of
Fame in 2013.
Brian Rafalski
Another American-born defenseman who has quite the resume,
Rafalski won hockey's ultimate prize three times as well; twice with New Jersey
in 2000 and 2003, and once with Chelios on that 2008 Detroit team. He made the
playoffs in all 11 seasons in the NHL, an astounding feat. In addition, the
four seasons he spent playing in Europe, prior to playing in the NHL, he was in
the playoffs all of those years, too. Regarding the NHL postseason, he played
in 165 games, scoring 29 goals, adding 71 assists and he had a plus-42 rating.
He spent four years in Madison, tallying 20 goals to go along with 80 assists.
In 1995, he was named a first-team All-American as well as the WCHA Defensive
Player of the Year.
Mike Richter
Named the 1986 WCHA Rookie of the Year, Richter and the rest
of the New York Rangers brought the Cup back to the Big Apple in 1994 – 54
years since their last championship. He spent his entire 14-year career with
the Rangers and was considered one of the greatest goaltenders of his time. He
was the tournament MVP at the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, leading the United
States to victory over Canada in three games. He remains the last goaltender to
garner MVP honors at the NHL All-Star Game. Richter had a record of 41-33-9
with goals against average of 2.68 and a save percentage of .909 over 76 postseason
games. During his two seasons with Wisconsin, he had a record of 33-25-1 with a
goals against average of 3.71 and a save percentage of .895.
Honorable Mention: Brian Engblom, Dany Heatley, Curtis
Joseph, Scott Mellanby, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stanton, Gary Suter
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