This Day in Hockey History – June 12, 1978 and 1979 – Treasure Islanders

Jun 12, 2019

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How do you build a dynasty? Apparently, you draft players who start their NHL careers by receiving the Calder Memorial Trophy, named for past NHL President Frank Calder and given annually “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League.” During the 1970s, the New York Islanders had three players win the award on even-numbered years. The third such superstar, Mike Bossy, received his award on June 12, 1978. It also helps if one of those stars, Denis Potvin, also thrice wins the Norris Trophy as best defenseman. He received his third on June 12, 1979, at the same time as the third teammate, Bryan Trottier, received the Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as leading scorer. Together, they all went on to lead the team to four consecutive Stanley Cup championships at the beginning of the 1980s.

The dynasty-building began back in 1973, when the Islanders drafted defenseman Denis Potvin first overall. In his first season, Potvin earned 54 points with 17 goals and 37 assists. His ambitions at the start included setting a new goal-scoring record for a rookie, setting a new points record for a rookie, and earning the Calder. On June 11, 1974, Potvin received the trophy in light of having reached the other two targets. By accomplishing all three, he said he had a personal “hat trick.” When asked about his next aims, Potvin remarked, “I’ve set no targets, but any athlete looks to better himself and I hope I do. But the most important thing is that the Islanders prove themselves and I think we can win 20 more games next season. If we do, and keep our goals-against down, we should make the playoffs.”

Just two weeks before Potvin accepted the Calder Memorial Trophy, the Islanders drafted center Bryan Trottier in the second round (22nd overall). Unlike his teammate, Trottier did not start playing with the Islanders right away. In his inaugural season, 1975-76, his 95 points (32G, 67A) placed him 12th in NHL scoring. On June 7, 1976, he was almost unanimously elected for the Calder Memorial Trophy, receiving 262 points in the poll. That was 163 more than his runner-up (and teammate) goalie Glenn Resch.

At the same time, Potvin received the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the “defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.” He was the first recipient following Bobby Orr’s epic eight-season streak. With 98 points (31G, 67A), Potvin led the Islanders’ scoring (for the second straight season). He received 237 points in the polling, 141 more than the Bruins’ Brad Park. Potvin even came in second in the voting for the Hart Trophy.

In 1977, New York drafted Bossy 15th overall. That initial season, he accumulated 91 points (53G, 38A), which put him sixth in NHL scoring. Thus, he became the third member of the Islanders to receive the Calder within a five-year span. At the same ceremony, teammate Potvin took home his second Norris, though more closely followed by Park. Trottier came in a distant second to Guy Lafleur in the Hart Trophy voting.

With all three teammates making a difference for the Islanders, the 1979 NHL awards also acknowledged Potvin and Trottier. The former took home the Norris for the third time in four seasons. The latter had led the league in scoring with 134 points (47G, 87A), his career best. That earned him the Art Ross Trophy, given annually to the one who “leads the National Hockey League in scoring points at the end of the regular season.” Trottier also won the poll for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the “player judged to be the most valuable to his team.”

In the off years, 1975 and 1977, Atlanta Flames players Eric Vail and Willi Plett received the Calder Memorial Trophy. After the Flames moved to Calgary, the Calgary Flames became the only other team to have three Calder winners in alternating years – Gary Suter in 1986, Joe Nieuwendyk in 1988, and Sergei Makanov in 1990.

The New York Islanders made the playoffs every year during the careers of Bossy (who retired after 1986-87) and Potvin (who retired after 1987-88). Both of them were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame together in 1991. Trottier hung on a bit longer, finishing his time with the Islanders when he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990. He won two championships with them in 1991 and 1992. He joined his teammates in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1997. Even today, Mike Bossy holds the Islanders’ records for most goals (573), most goals in a season (69), and most points in a season (147). Bryan Trottier is the all-time points leader for the Islanders at 1353 points, which includes leading in assists (853).