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| Mike Gartner became the Capitals all-time leader in goals, points, and assists in the 1980s, and still remains in the top five in all three categories. Source: https://www.hhof.com/ htmlspotlight/spot_oneononep200102.shtml (May be subject to copyright) |
Beyond all that, what I will always remember about Mike Gartner is that he was the first NHL player I saw on TV then later met in real life.
It was a pretty amazing experience, because I actually got the chance to talk to him, and see what kind of character he truly had.
Decade of dominance
Mike Gartner was taken fourth overall by the Capitals in the 1979 NHL entry draft and was solidly into his first professional season when the ‘80s opened. He finished with 36 goals, to lead the Capitals, and added 32 assists for 68 points. For his efforts he was named the Capitals' rookie of the year and most valuable player.
Mike Gartner was taken fourth overall by the Capitals in the 1979 NHL entry draft and was solidly into his first professional season when the ‘80s opened. He finished with 36 goals, to lead the Capitals, and added 32 assists for 68 points. For his efforts he was named the Capitals' rookie of the year and most valuable player.
He would go on to play 10 seasons for the Capitals, traded to the Minnesota North Stars near the end of the 1988-1989 season.
During that time he was a model of consistency, scoring 30 or more goals every year except his final one where he had 26 goals. He still passed the 30-goal mark by scoring another seven with the North Stars.
He followed up that strong rookie season with 48 goals and 46 assists for 94 points in 1980-1981. He would go on to score 35 goals and 45 assists for 80 points in 1981-1982; 38 goals and 38 assists for 76 points in 1982-1983; and 40 goals and 45 assists for 85 points in 1983-1984.
Gartner hit career milestones in 1984-1985 with 50 goals, 52 assists and 102 points, all career highs. He followed that up in 1985-1986 with 35 goals and 40 assists for 75 points; 41 goals and 32 assists for 73 points in 1986-1987; and 48 goals and 33 assists for 81 points in 1987-1988.
In 1988-1989, his last season with the Capitals, he scored 26 goals and 29 assists for 55 points in 56 games before being traded with Larry Murphy to the North Stars for Dino Ciccarelli and Bob Rouse. He played in 13 games with Minnesota, adding seven goals and seven assists for 14 points, making his season totals 41 goals, 43 assists and 84 points.
Gartner left the Capitals as the team’s all-time leader in goals, assists and points. He still remains third all time in goals with 397, fifth in assists with 392, and fourth in points with 789.
Country calling
One benefit of the Capitals’ futility early in Gartner’s career was that he was always free to join Team Canada at the World Championships. He played in eight games in 1981 in Sweden, scoring four goals as Canada finished fourth. Gartner was back in 1982, appearing in 10 games in Finland, scoring three goals and two assists for five points helping Canada to a bronze medal. He made it three years in a row, travelling to West Germany in 1983 where he scored four goals and added an assist in 10 games helping Canada to another bronze.
One benefit of the Capitals’ futility early in Gartner’s career was that he was always free to join Team Canada at the World Championships. He played in eight games in 1981 in Sweden, scoring four goals as Canada finished fourth. Gartner was back in 1982, appearing in 10 games in Finland, scoring three goals and two assists for five points helping Canada to a bronze medal. He made it three years in a row, travelling to West Germany in 1983 where he scored four goals and added an assist in 10 games helping Canada to another bronze.
His next international experience would be in the 1984 Canada Cup where he had three goals and two assists for five points in eight games, as Canada took silver.
He was back wearing the maple leaf in that epic 1987 Canada Cup, playing in nine games where he contributed two goals and two assists for four points to help Canada win gold.
The years after
Gartner would last about a season in Minnesota before moving onto the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes. He retired at the end of the 1997-1998 season with career totals of 708 goals, 627 assists, and 1,335 points in 1,432 games.
Gartner would last about a season in Minnesota before moving onto the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes. He retired at the end of the 1997-1998 season with career totals of 708 goals, 627 assists, and 1,335 points in 1,432 games.
He holds NHL records for most consecutive 30-goal seasons with 15; and most 30-goal seasons with 17. He still holds Washington franchise records for longest point streak, 17 games, which he did twice; longest goal-scoring streak at nine games which he shares; most short-handed goals in a season with six, which he also shares; and most points by a right winger with 102. He also became the fifth player in history to hit the 700-goal mark. Three more have hit the mark since, so he is one of just eight players all time.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Capitals retired his number 11 in 2008.
In person
Wikipedia reveals Mike Gartner was heavily involved in the NHL Players’ Association.
Wikipedia reveals Mike Gartner was heavily involved in the NHL Players’ Association.
That is where I met him.
The Stavely Agricultural Society was receiving a grant in 2003 for upgrades to the Stavely Arena. The grant was from the Local Heroes program, which I soon discovered was an NHLPA program.
I was invited to meet the representatives of the NHLPA who were going to tour the arena.
When I entered the lobby my jaw almost fell to the floor – I was looking at Mike Gartner.
It was incredible, but I managed not to act like a fan boy or star struck. Although afterwards I said to one of the Stavely guys that I kept thinking, “Oh my gosh, that’s Mike Garter.” The Stavely guy laughed. He had the same thought thinking, “That is a bonified Hall of Famer.”
I asked for a minute to interview him and he was gracious to give me all the time I needed. He told me the Local Heroes program was intended to provide funding for facilities in small communities. Stavely fit the bill perfectly. Local Heroes was funded at the time by the revenue the players received from licensing and merchandising. Moreover, the funds were distributed to all the countries players were from, based on the percentage of each country. At the time about 68 per cent of players were Canadian so Canadian facilities got 68 per cent of the grants then the United States, Sweden, Finland, Russia and so on.
What I recall is the way he referred to the players as “the guys”, and it was like he was looking after family.
I am sure that is exactly what he thought he was doing.
Parting thoughts
When I was a kid I used to have a notebook with me every time I watched a hockey game so I could write down the names and teams of players. My earliest memory is learning his name was “Gartner” with a “t” not “Gardner” with a “d”.
When I was a kid I used to have a notebook with me every time I watched a hockey game so I could write down the names and teams of players. My earliest memory is learning his name was “Gartner” with a “t” not “Gardner” with a “d”.
The next time I recall noticing Mike Gartner was when I was watching Ron Reusch and Bernie Pascall covering the 1981 World Championship games on CTV Channel 13. Gartner was playing for Team Canada with Capital teammate Dennis Maruk. I distinctly remember the games were from Gothenburg, Sweden.
As the 1980s opened, Mike Gartner was the model of consistency. He was always good for 30 goals and, once David Poile became general manager and brought reinforcements, he helped lead his team to the playoffs.
Yet Mike Gartner is the only player to be elected to the Hall of Fame who never won a Stanley Cup, never appeared in a Stanley Cup final, never won an NHL award, and never was on a post-season all-star team. Dino Ciccarelli, who ironically Gartner was traded for, is the only other player to do something similar. He never achieved any of these things either, except he appeared in two Stanley Cup finals, and was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Of course, this post is personal.
I actually got to meet Mike Gartner in 2003.
What I will always remember is how professional, kind, gracious, and giving of his time he was.
Just like the way I always saw him on TV.
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