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Regina Pat Doug Wickenheiser was the last Regina Pat taken first overall in the NHL Entry Draft in 1980. Source: https://chl.ca/whl-pats/article/knowthepats/ (May be subject to copyright) |
That year, I was really getting into hockey, and recalled distinctly who the last Regina Pat taken first overall was.
His name was Doug Wickenheiser.
Breakout season
Doug Wickenheiser had a monster breakout year in the 1979-1980 season leading up to his draft year. After 37 goals and 51 assists for 88 points in his firstyear, and 32 goals and 62 assists for 94 points in his second season with Regina, he exploded with 89 goals and 81 assists for an incredible 170 points.
Doug Wickenheiser had a monster breakout year in the 1979-1980 season leading up to his draft year. After 37 goals and 51 assists for 88 points in his firstyear, and 32 goals and 62 assists for 94 points in his second season with Regina, he exploded with 89 goals and 81 assists for an incredible 170 points.
He was named the Canadian Hockey League Player of the year and led the Pats to a spot in the Memorial Cup. Consequently, he was rated the top prospect for the 1980 draft.
Draft pick
The Montreal Canadiens held the first pick in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. That just amazed me. My one question was, how did the Montreal Canadiens, one year removed from winning the Stanley Cup, get the first pick overall?
The Montreal Canadiens held the first pick in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. That just amazed me. My one question was, how did the Montreal Canadiens, one year removed from winning the Stanley Cup, get the first pick overall?
Wikipedia revealed it was another shrewd move by Montreal general manager Sam Pollock. In 1976, he sent Ron Andruff and Sean Shanahan to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for cash and an option by Montreal to swap first-round picks in the 1980 draft. Montreal exercised that option, swapping their pick, 19th overall, for Colorado’s first pick overall.
That still amazes me.
Draft day
The draft was held in Montreal and the fans were expecting Montreal to take Denis Savard, a local product, who would be an automatic fan favourite, and fit in with the history and tradition of the Canadiens.
The draft was held in Montreal and the fans were expecting Montreal to take Denis Savard, a local product, who would be an automatic fan favourite, and fit in with the history and tradition of the Canadiens.
Instead, the Canadiens chose Wickenheiser.
The move virtually set Wickenheiser up for failure, as he was faced with unreasonable and unfair expectations.
Montreal malaise
Wickenheiser had trouble adjusting to the professional game. Meanwhile, making matters worse was that Savard had little problem adjusting on his way to a hall-of-fame career.
Wickenheiser had trouble adjusting to the professional game. Meanwhile, making matters worse was that Savard had little problem adjusting on his way to a hall-of-fame career.
Wickenheiser would record seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in the 1980-1981 season; 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points in the 1981-1982 season; and have his best season in Montreal in 1982-1983 with 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points.
After 27 games in the 1983-1984 season where he had five goals and five assists for 10 points, Montreal ended the Doug Wickenheiser experiment, shipping him to the St. Louis Blues.
St. Louis blues
Wickenheiser rounded out the season with seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. The next season, 1984-1985, he recorded 23 goals and 20 assists for 43 points; then had eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in just 36 games in the 1985-1986 season.
Wickenheiser rounded out the season with seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. The next season, 1984-1985, he recorded 23 goals and 20 assists for 43 points; then had eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in just 36 games in the 1985-1986 season.
However, during the 1986 playoffs he scored an important goal. The Blues were in Game 6 of the Campbell Conference Final against the Calgary Flames, with Calgary leading the series 3-2. St. Louis had mounted a miraculous third-period comeback to send the game into overtime. Wickenheiser then scored the overtime winner, sending the Blues improbably to Game 7, which they ultimately lost.
The 1986-1987 season was Wickenheiser’s last in St. Louis where he appeared in all 80 games, scoring 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points.
The end
Doug Wickenheiser joined the Vancouver Canucks for the 1987-1988 season, once more appearing in all 80 games, notching 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists.
Doug Wickenheiser joined the Vancouver Canucks for the 1987-1988 season, once more appearing in all 80 games, notching 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists.
He joined the Canadian national game for 26 games in the 1988-1989 season. He also played one game for the New York Rangers, where he scored a goal, spent 21 games in the minors with the Flint Spirits then joined the Washington Capitals for 16 games, recording two goals and five assists for seven points.
His last NHL stop was in Washington, where he played another 27 games in the 1989-1990 season, scoring one goal and adding eight assists for nine points.
He continued to play in the minors and Europe until the end of the 1993-1994 season.
Doug Wickenheiser retired in 1994.
Sadly, he contracted cancer and died in January of 1999, at the age of 37.
Parting thoughts
Doug Wickenheiser finished his NHL career appearing in 556 games, scoring 111 goals and 165 assists for 276 points.
Doug Wickenheiser finished his NHL career appearing in 556 games, scoring 111 goals and 165 assists for 276 points.
There were glimpses of brilliance, including two 20-plus goal seasons, but he never lived up to the hype and expectations of being the number one pick. Making matters worse was that Denis Savard, who everyone thought the Canadiens should have taken, became a superstar.
In the end, Doug Wickenheiser had a serviceable NHL career but it was just not enough for some people.
I hope Connor Bedard does not suffer the same fate.
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