NHL's Top 20 All-Time Greats From the 1927-28 to 1936-37 Seasons
NHL Top 20: We're Counting Down the Players Starting from the 1927-28 season to the 1936-37 NHL Season, Just Who Will Be Number One? You'll Have to Read to Find Out!
This week we will be doing part two of the series as we count down the NHL top 20 greats from the 1927-28 season to the 1936-37 season. And we'll continue to do so in 10-year increments counting down the best NHLers to ever touch the ice!
Over the NHL's 100 year lifetime, past generations and generations of today have witnessed some of the greatest players to ever lace them up to carry their respective team to the treasured Stanley Cup. So with all of these players who exactly should rank where? Well, we are here to let you know with a top 20 player article counting down said players by ten-year increments.
Players on this article will not be ranked by the prestige of name, or who they have played for and with, they will be ranked by overall points accumulated in that ten-year span. Stanley Cups will be accounted for as well but will not be at the forefront or as a deciding factor, this is a points accumulated countdown to see who falls where in this generation of play!
Hec Kilrea
LW, Ottawa HC (Senators) (NHL)
Uncle of former player Brian Kilrea, Hec Kilrea started his NHL career in 1925-26 with the Ottawa HC (Senators) he would play for said club for a total of six seasons before joining the Detroit Falcons. He only played for Detroit for one season though and returned to Ottawa again the season after. From 1933-34 to 1934-35 Hec would also play for the Maple Leafs but would join the Red Wings the next season where he spent a total of four and a half seasons. He'd split that last season between Detroit and Indianapolis of the AHL where he would play for the next three seasons before finally retiring from hockey. So just how well did Hec do from 1927-28 to 1936-37? He put up 238 points in 448 games as well as winning two Stanley Cup Championships in that time span.19
Johnny Gottselig
LW, Chiacgo Blackhawks (NHL)
Johnny Gottselig had a tremendous NHL career that spanned a total of 16 seasons. It all started back in 1928-29 when Johnny would join the Chicago Blackhawks, he'd go on to play for the organization for the next thirteen and a half seasons. From 1934-35 to 1939-40 Gottselig would captain the organization until 1940-41 when he would spend half that season between Chicago and Kansas City of the AHA where he would play for a full season the following year. Johnny would return to the NHL the following year to the Blackhawks and play three more seasons before finally retiring. And between the 1927-28 to 1936-37 seasons Johnny would go on to win one Stanley Cup as well as an All-Star Game appearance, plus 241 points in 393 games.18
Jimmy Ward
RW, Montreal Maroons (NHL)
Jimmy Ward spent his entire NHL career with just one team, the Montreal Maroons. Jimmy started his career in 1922-23 in the TBJHL and would spend two seasons there before spending one season in the TBIHA than two seasons afterward in the TBSHL. Ward would start his NHL career in 1927-28 with the Maroons and would play for them all the way until 1938-39 when he joined the Montreal Canadiens for just one season. The next year he'd join the IAHL for only one season before retiring when the season concluded. But Ward still did great for himself in the 10 season span appearing in the All-Star Game twice and one Stanley Cup victory, he'd also put up a total of 241 points in 443 games.17
Ebbie Goodfellow
D/F, Detroit Cougars (NHL)
Ebbie Goodfellow didn't begin his NHL career in 1927-28 he was instead playing in the OCHL for the Ottawa Montagnards. And the following season he would go on to join the Detroit Olympics in the CPHL. It wasn't until the next season the Ebbie would make his debut and he would do it with the Detroit Cougars where he spent one season before they became the Falcons the next season. He would spend two seasons with the Falcons before they became the Red Wings in 1932-33. Goodfellow played a total of 11 seasons with the Red Wings before retiring after the 1942-43 season. Besides captaining the Red Wings for five seasons, Ebbie also won two Stanley cups and had 242 points in 369 games.16
Joe Primeau
C, Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Joe Primeau began his NHL career in 1927-28 with the Toronto Maple Leafs but also split that season with the Toronto Ravinas in the CPHL. Next year was much of the same as he'd start with the Maple Leafs but finish in the CPHL yet again but this time with the London Panthers. But from 1929-30, Joe played for the Leafs all the way until retirement after the 1935-36 season. During his time with the Leafs and that ten-year span, Primeau put up 243 points in 310 games and one Stanley Cup Championship.Next: #15-11
Feb 15, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Fans and players stand for a moment of silence prior to the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch passed away February 10, 2017. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Larry Aurie
RW, Detroit Cougars (NHL)
Like Ebbie Goodfellow, Larry Aurie began his NHL career with the Detroit Cougars, the only difference is he started in 1927-28 as to where Ebbie started two seasons later. Larry spent three seasons with the Cougars before the became the Falcons than he spent another two years with them as well. He also moved to the Red Wings in 1932-33 and would play for the club for the next six and a half seasons because that final year was split with the Pittsburgh Hornets of the IAHL. But thing's didn't stop there for Larry and the Hornets as he would spend the next three seasons with them before retiring in 1944. During the ten year span we're going by, Larry appeared in one All-Star game and won himself two Stanely Cups.14
Herbie Lewis
LW, Detroit Cougars (NHL)
Another Detroit Cougar to appear on this list, Herbie Lewis didn't begin until the 1928-29 season, though. And like the rest as well, Herbie would spend two years with the Cougars before playing for the Falcons for two more seasons until finally being with the team we know today as the Red Wings. Herbie spent a total of seven seasons with the Wings. But his two final years of hockey came while playing for the Indianapolis Capitals of the IAHL and AHL before he decided to retire in 1940-41. During his ten season span between 1927-28 and 1936-37, Herbie won two Stanley Cups and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.13
George Hainsworth
G, Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
One of the more well-known names on this list, George Hainsworth was a spectacular NHL goalie. His NHL career began in 1926-27 but this countdown is from 1927-28-1936-37 so that season won't be counted. He spent a total of six seasons with the Canadiens and ended up captaining the team in his final year there, pretty awesome for a goaltender. George played the next four and a half years with the clubs biggest rival in the Toronto Maple Leafs, but during his final season with the Leafs, George would go back to Montreal before retiring after that 1936-37 season. What's amazing about George is he won 218 games in 421 games. He also put up a career 1.98 goals-against-average and 80 shutouts. But that wasn't all, he also won the Vezina twice in the 10 season time span, and two Stanley Cups. He was finally inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.12
Tiny Thompson
G, Boston Bruins (NHL)
Cecil Thompson, or better known as "Tiny" began his NHL career in 1928-29 with the Boston Bruins and would play for them for the next 11 and half seasons which was also split with the Detroit Red Wings. Tiny would spend the entire next season with the Red Wings before playing in the AHL for the Buffalo Bisons. His final season though would come in 1942-43 with the Calgary RCAF in the CNDHL. During Tiny's ten season span he won a total of 219 times in 415 games with a career 2.02 goals-against-average with 67 career shutouts. But things didn't stop there in that 10 season span, he won one Stanley Cup and four Vezina Trophies.11
Paul Thompson
LW, New York Rangers (NHL)
The brother of entry number 12, Paul Thompson began his NHL career in 1926-27 with the New York Rangers, a year we're not counting on this countdown. However, he did spend the next four seasons with the Rangers before playing for the Chicago Blackhawks in 1931-32. Paul spent eight seasons with the Blackhawks before retiring after the 1938-39 season. During this time span, Paul won himself a total of two Stanley Cups with 263 points in 458 games.Next: #10-6
Nov 13, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Boston Bruins fans react to a goal by center David Krejci (46) (not pictured) in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Fred Cook
LW, New York Rangers (NHL)
Fred Cook or better known as "Bun" Cook began his NHL career just like Paul Thompson, in 1926-27 with the New York Rangers. He'd play a total of ten seasons with the Rangers before joining the Bruins in 1936-37. Fred only spent one season with the Bruins than after that played a total of six seasons for the Providence Reds in the AHL. Fred won two Stanley Cups as well as 279 points in 429 games in his ten-year span on this list and in 1996 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.9
Dit Clapper
D/F, Boston Bruins (NHL)
Dit Clapper started his NHL career in 1927-28 with the Boston Bruins and spent his entire career with the club. That's a total of 20 seasons and out of those 20, Dit captained the club during 13 of them. He definitely was the face of the Bruins franchise for a long time. And during this ten-year span we're counting down he had 283 points in 451 games. He was eventually inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1948 despite never winning a Stanley Cup.8
Busher Jackson
LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
Despite a rather short career in the NHL, Busher Jackson was still quite successful. He began his NHL career in 1929-30 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and would play with the club for ten seasons. Because in 1939-40 he would join the New York Americans for two seasons before joining the Boston Bruins in 1941-42. He'd play a total of three seasons with the Boston Bruins as well before retiring in 1944. And during his ten-year span he won the Art Ross Trophy only once and put up 290 points in only 343 games, Busher was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.7
Cooney Weiland
C, Boston Bruins (NHL)
Cooney Weiland didn't begin his NHL career in 1927-28 because he was playing for the Minneapolis Millers of the AHA. However, he did start the following season with the Boston Bruins and spent a total of four seasons there before going to the Ottawa HC (Senators). He only spent a season and a half with Ottawa before joining the Red Wings in that final Ottawa season. But just like Ottawa, he'd only spend a season and a half with the Red Wings as well before he finished off his career with the team he started with in Boston from 1935-36 to 1938-39. And during his ten-year span of the countdown, Cooney won one Stanley Cup, one Maurice Richard Trophy, one Art Ross Trophy and 294 points in 416 games. Weiland was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.6
Hooley Smith
D/F, Montreal Maroons (NHL)
In 1923-24 Hooley Smith won an Olympic Gold for Team Canada and started his NHL career in 1924-25 with the Ottawa HC (Senators) where he spent a total of three seasons. But this countdown starts at 1927-28 and from that year to 1935-36, Hooley played for the Montreal Maroons. But in 1936-37 he only played one season in Boston before spending his last four years with the New York Americans. During his ten year span on this list, Smith won a Stanley Cup and put up 299 points in 431 games.Next: #5-1
Dec 31, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New York Rangers fans react to a goal by left wing Chris Kreider (not pictured) in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Marty Barry
C, New York Americans (NHL)
Even though Marty Barry started his career in 1927-28 with the New York Americans, he'd only play nine games before going to the CAHL to play for the Philadelphia Arrows. And his time in the CAHL didn't stop there as the following season he would then again return but this time for the New Haven Eagles. But in 1929-30 Marty became an NHL regular for the Boston Bruins where he played a total of six seasons. After that, he was off to the Red Wings for four seasons before spending a season a half between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Hornets of the IAHL. Barry would then spend the next two seasons in the AHA for the Minneapolis Millers before retiring in 1942. So how well did Marty do in the specific ten season span? Well, he won two Stanley Cup's and one Lady Byng Trophy as well as putting up 303 points in 383 games.4
Charlie Conacher
RW, Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
When the Toronto Maple Leafs announced their top 100 list of all time, Charlie Conacher was on that list, and it's not hard to see why he was a very dominant player. But that's not what this article is about this article is about how many points he scored between 192728 to 1936-37. He didn't break into the NHL until 1929-30 though and when he did it was with those Maple Leafs. He spent a total of nine seasons with the Leafs and captained them in his final year. Charlie played the next year with the rival Red Wings but for only one season before joining the New York Americans for two more seasons before retiring in 1941. In the 10 season span that we are doing Charlie scored 308 points in 307 games, meaning he scored more than a point-per-game. He also won the Art Ross Trophy twice and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.3
Bill Cook
RW, New York Rangers (NHL)
From 1913-14 to 1919-20, Bill Cook played for my hometown Kingston Frontenacs and was a very solid player. But he didn't make his NHL debut until the 1926-27 season and when he did it was with the New York Rangers. Bill spent 11 seasons with the Rangers captaining every single one. His final year of hockey came in the IAHL however for the Cleveland Barons. But in that 10 season span, Bill did pretty great, he notched up 330 points in 430 games as well as two Art Ross Trophies and an induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1953.2
Nels Stewart
C, Montreal Maroons (NHL)
Nels Stewart spent a significant amount of time in the USAHA before finally making his NHL debut in the 1925-26 season for the Montreal Maroons. He'd go on to play for the Maroons for the next seven seasons. After that Stewart was off to Boston where he spent a total of three seasons, then made a brief stop the following season with the New York Americans. Stewart would once again return to Boston the next season but only played half since the other half was spent yet again with the Americans. And his play with New York didn't stop there since Nels spent the next three seasons there before retiring in 1940. But how did he do in the 10 season span? He won the Hart Trophy once and was ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1953.Next: NHL's Top 20 All-Time Greats Part 1: 1917-18 to 1926-27 Seasons1
Frank Boucher
C, New York Rangers (NHL)
Next week we will be doing part three of the NHL Top 20 Greats, this time from 1937-38 to 1946-47. 20 new players appear and some in positions you wouldn't think they would end up in. Stay tuned as we continue these countdowns all the way until 2017! That means the greatest 200 players who ever touched the ice!
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