This Day in Hockey History – September 9, 1982 – Secretary of Defense Appointed

Sep 10, 2019

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Only about ten days after David Poile had been hired as general manager of the Washington Capitals, he made a big trade to bring them their franchise player, defenseman Rod Langway. On September 9, 1982, the Montreal Canadiens sent Langway, fellow defenseman Brian Engblom, and forwards Doug Jarvis and Craig Laughlin to Washington in return for defenseman Rick Green and forward Ryan Walter. It really was a case of two-for-one deals.

Poile explained how the trade came about. “I have a mandate to bring this team (Washington) into the playoffs. Grundman called me a couple of days after my appointment, wished me luck, and then we started talking. Right off, I made it plain to him I was looking for defencemen and defensive players. I hate to lose somebody like Walter, who’s been an excellent leader, but the fact is Washington haven’t made the playoffs since we came into the league in 1974. I feel the players I got from the Canadiens can put us there.”

The Caps had drafted Walter with their first choice (2nd overall) in 1978 and had since made him their captain. Canadiens’ Managing Director Irving Grundman, who announced the trade, said, “I don’t think any general manager can overlook somebody like Walter if he’s got a chance to get him. My only thought in a deal such as this is that I can’t think of individuals. I’ve got to think of the team. Obviously, I feel that Walter and Green can do something for this team.”

Many teammates, media, and fans felt Montreal gave up too much in return. They could understand trading Laughlin, who (after being drafted in 1977) had just joined the Habs midway through the previous season. Although Jarvis was considered one of the best defensive forwards, he also was understandable. Grundman remarked, “You have to give up quality players to get quality players.”

Engblom and Langway were considered the NHL’s best defensive pair, and their departure caused concern for Montreal’s future. As was everyone else, Englbom was surprised because he was not one of the complainers on the team. “I’m not bitter. Not a bit. It comes with the game. I suppose I didn’t make the best of it while I was here.” He continued, “This trade won’t sink in for a few days, but at the very least, it will be an interesting challenge. … All I can do is go to Washington and play as hard as I can.”

As for Langway, he was glad to be traded. Born on a U.S. army base in Taiwan, he was raised in Massachusetts, where he did not start skating until 13. He was actually scouted as a football quarterback before his college hockey career got him drafted by two leagues in 1977. Although he was drafted by Montreal as their third choice, he was offered better money as the first-round selection of the WHA’s Birmingham Bulls. After a season, he ended up taking advantage of a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave for the NHL. His first year with Montreal, 1978-79, they won the Stanley Cup.

When the Canadian dollar fell, Langway said, “I pushed the button for that trade. I tried to rearrange my contract in my fourth year. I was married, I had two kids and the money situation wasn’t the greatest in Canada and because I am American, the taxes were a problem. I wanted to get a new deal with Montreal that would give me an extended contract in U.S. funds but they didn’t want to cause problems within the organization.” Instead, Montreal traded Langway to the U.S. capital. “I’m happy in one way, not happy in another. I loved it here. … But they knew they either had to make me happy with more money or had to trade me. I was honest with them.” Langway continued, “What makes me really happy with the trade, though, is that I’m going there with three guys from the Canadiens – all of them excellent players. … It’s a whole different game down there. The pressure won’t be as great, and while I know I’m going to a team which hasn’t made the playoffs, what I have to do is help the team make it.”

As had been their goal, Poile and Langway brought the Capitals into the playoffs for the first time and every season of Langway’s career there. According to Langway, “I got traded into the States and came into a pretty bad situation in Washington. … David Poile and Bryan Murray put together a very good team and I was a good part of it, but there were a lot of good players that made the Washington Capitals a team to beat. We had some good runs at the Stanley Cup.” Langway had been made captain right away, and he won back-to-back Norris Trophies during his first two seasons with the Caps. He was considered the franchise’s savior and called the “Secretary of Defense.” Langway understood, “If I had stayed in Montreal, I would have been the same kind of player, but I wouldn’t have received the accolades of winning the Norris Trophy because I would have been put into different situations. … Being the captain and being recognized as a key player with the Washington Capitals, along with the way I played, helped me win the Norris Trophy.” After 11 years leading the Capitals, Langway retired in 1993 (primarily due to knee issues).

Langway’s contributions to the Caps were honored on November 26, 1997, when his No. 5 was retired. “When the Capitals told me they were going to retire my number, I asked to have my number retired when Montreal was in town. “I didn’t realize it when I asked, but it turned out to be the last night of the Washington Capitals Stadium.” They had to take the banner down after the game to raise it in the new arena. “There was a packed house and they were saying goodbye to the stadium and saying hello to me, again.” He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1999, Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.

Bonus: The same day as the trade, Bryan Murray brought his younger brother Terry on board as his assistant in coaching the Capitals. They were the first ever set of brothers coaching the same team together. However, on January 15, 1990, Poile fired Bryan and replaced him with Terry, who remained the head coach until 1994.