Darryl Glen Sittler (born September 18, 1950, in
KitchenerThe City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
,
OntarioOntario is a province located in east-central Canada, the largest by population and second largest, after Quebec, in total area. Ontario is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba to the west and Quebec to the east, and 5 U.S...
,
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a retired professional
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
player who played in the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
from 1970 until 1985 for the
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
and the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
. On February 7, 1976, Sittler set an NHL record that still stands, for most points scored in one game when he recorded ten points (six goals, four assists) against the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Sittler grew up in
St. Jacobs, OntarioThe community of St. Jacobs is located in southwest Ontario, just north of Waterloo in Woolwich Township, Waterloo Region. It is a popular location for tourism, due to its Mennonite heritage and retail focus. The Conestogo River, which powered the village's original gristmill, runs through the...
and played minor hockey in nearby
ElmiraThe town of Elmira in Ontario, Canada is the largest community within the Township of Woolwich in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and is located 15 km to the north of the city of Waterloo.-History:...
. He was drafted out of the Junior B
Elmira Sugar KingsThe Elmira Sugar Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Mid-Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.-History:...
by the
London NationalsThe London Nationals were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association, who played for three seasons before being renamed to the London Knights. The team played out of the London Gardens in London, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
, soon renamed the
London KnightsThe London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
, and played under coaches
Turk BrodaWalter Edward "Turk" Broda was a former ice hockey goaltender, playing his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League ....
and
Bep GuidolinArmand "Bep" Guidolin was a Canadian National Hockey League player. He was born in Thorold, Ontario. He and Eleanor, his wife of 62 years, had four children....
. Sittler was selected eighth overall by the Maple Leafs in the
1970 NHL Amateur DraftThe 1970 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 11, 1970 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.- Selections by round :Below are listed the selections in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft.- Round one :- Round two :- Round three :...
. He was named team captain on September 10, 1975 after
Dave KeonDavid Michael Keon , is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played professionally from 1960 to 1982, including 15 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.-Playing career:Keon played junior hockey in Toronto for the St...
left the team to play in the
WHAThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
following a contract dispute with Leafs owner
Harold BallardHarold E. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February...
.
In his first season as captain, Sittler finished the season with 41 goals and 59 assists, being the first Leaf ever to reach the 100 point mark. A few months later, he tied the playoff record for most goals in one game, with five against the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
. That summer, in the inaugural
Canada CupThe Canada Cup was an invitational international ice hockey tournament held on five occasions, between 1976 and 1991. Canada won the tournament four times, while the Soviet Union captured the championship once...
, he scored in overtime to win the final series for Team Canada over Czechoslovakia.
In 1977–78, Sittler's 117 points ranked him third in regular season scoring behind
Guy LafleurGuy Damien "The Flower" Lafleur, OC, CQ, , is a former professional ice hockey player and is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted and popular players ever to play professional ice hockey...
and
Bryan TrottierBryan John Trottier is a retired Canadian-American professional ice hockey center who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins...
, and also earned him a Second Team All-Star selection. Sittler's scoring totals remained a Leafs record until being surpassed by
Doug GilmourDouglas Robert Gilmour is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who is the current head coach of the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League . During his NHL career, he played for the St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks,...
in 1992–93. During the 1978 playoffs, the Leafs upset the
New York IslandersThe New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the quarter-finals, winning on an overtime goal by
Lanny McDonaldLanny King McDonald is a retired professional ice hockey player and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Playing career:...
in Game 7 before being swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion
Montreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the Conference Finals.
The 1978–79 season saw Sittler suffer some knee problems and miss 10 games. It was also the year that Leafs owner Ballard fired and then rehired coach
Roger NeilsonRoger Paul Neilson, CM was a National Hockey League coach, and was responsible for many innovations in the game....
, a process which saw Sittler lobby on the players' behalf for Neilson's reinstatement.
Sittler's relationship with Ballard slowly deteriorated, particularly after Ballard hired
Punch ImlachGeorge "Punch" Imlach , was an NHL coach and general manager. He is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.-Early career:...
as general manager in July 1979. Imlach and Ballard both had strained relations with NHLPA executive director
Alan EaglesonRobert Alan Eagleson is a disbarred Canadian lawyer, convicted felon in two countries, former politician, hockey agent and promoter...
who, as a player agent, represented more than a dozen Leafs, including Sittler and his best friend and linemate, Lanny McDonald. Imlach believed Sittler had too much influence on the team and tried to undermine his authority with the players. When Sittler and goaltender
Mike PalmateerMichael Scott Palmateer is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goalie. He played in the NHL from 1976 to 1984 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals.-Career:...
agreed to appear on the TV show
Showdown, as negotiated by the NHLPA, Imlach went to court to try to get injunction to stop them. When Imlach said that he was open to offers for Sittler from other teams, Eagleson said it would cost $500,000 to get Sittler to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. So, instead of trading Sittler, Imlach sent McDonald to the woeful
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League that played in Denver, Colorado, from 1976 to 1982. They were a relocation of the Kansas City Scouts, a 1974 expansion team...
on December 29, 1979. In response, Sittler ripped the captain's
C off his sweater, later commenting that a captain had to be the go-between with players and management, and he no longer had any communication with management. Ballard would liken Sittler's actions to burning the Canadian flag.
Through the summer, Ballard insisted that Sittler would not be back with the Leafs. But before the start of the 1980–81 season, Sittler and Ballard appeared together at a news conference described as "all smiles and buddy-buddy" to announce that Sittler would be at training camp. He showed up with the
C back on his sweater, reassuming the role of team captain. Sittler had arranged the talks with Ballard on his own. The discussions took place with Imlach hospitalized following his second heart attack. At the news conference, Ballard said the real battle had been between Imlach and Eagleson, and Sittler just got caught in the crossfire.
During the 1981–82 season, Ballard considered Imlach's health to be too poor for him to continue as general manager. But even with Imlach gone, Sittler's relationship with the Leafs worsened to the point where he told Ballard and acting general manager Gerry McNamara at the end of November that he would waive his no-trade clause if he was sent to the Flyers or the
Minnesota North StarsThe Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow gold and white...
. In the first week of December, Eagleson agreed to terms with Flyers' owner
Ed SniderEdward M. Snider is the Chairman of Comcast Spectacor, a Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment company which owns the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL, the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, the Wachovia Center, the Wachovia Spectrum, the regional sports network Comcast SportsNet and Global...
and North Stars' general manager
Lou NanneLouis Vincent "Lou" Nanne is a retired ice hockey defenceman and general manager who has made significant contributions to hockey in the United States.- Early life :...
. But it took another seven weeks for the Leafs to make a deal. During that time, Sittler added the Islanders and
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding:...
to the list of teams he could be traded to. On January 5, 1982, on advice from his physician, Sittler walked out on the Leafs, saying he was "mentally depressed" because a trade was taking so long to complete.
Flyers and Red Wings
Finally, on January 20, 1982, the 31-year-old Sittler was traded to the Flyers for Rich Costello plus the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a North American professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.. Known as the New England Whalers when they were members of the World Hockey Association from 1972–79, the club played in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
' second-round pick in the 1982 draft (used by the Leafs to select
Peter IhnačákPeter Ihnačák is a former Slovak ice hockey centre.- Draft :He was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1982 NHL Entry draft as their 3rd choice, 25th overall.- Career :...
), and future considerations, which ended up being Ken Strong. Only Ihnacak would play regularly for the Leafs. The irony was that in 1980, Imlach had rejected an offer from Philadelphia, who were said to be willing to trade
Rick MacLeishRick George MacLeish is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings...
and
André DupontAndré "Moose" Dupont is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Dupont was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round of the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft. He won a Memorial Cup in 1969 as a member of the Montreal Junior Canadiens. He played in 810 NHL games for the...
for Sittler.
With the Flyers in 1982–83, Sittler earned his fourth All-Star game appearance and he returned to the Flyers the following season. Before the 1984–85 season, Sittler was told that he would be named the Flyers' team captain. On the day the announcement was to be made—Sittler even had a brief speech prepared—he was instead told by Flyers' newly-appointed general manager
Bobby ClarkeRobert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke but referring to himself as Bob Clarke, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an Executive with the team...
that he had been traded to the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
for
Murray CravenMurray Dean Craven is a former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 18 seasons between 1982–83 and 1999–00.-Playing career:...
and Joe Paterson. It was this incident that Sittler described as the biggest disappointment of his life. "Clarke can't come close to realizing how much he hurt me, and my family, that day," he wrote in his 1991 autobiography. Sittler contemplated retirement and did not report to the Wings for a few days, but then joined the team. He had an unproductive season, struggling to get ice time under coach
Nick PolanoNick Polano was the Detroit Red Wings' head coach when owner Mike Ilitch first bought the team in 1982. He later served as the team's GM....
, and finishing the year with the worst goals-per-game average of his NHL career. The Red Wings bought out Sittler's contract after the end of the season. He received a one-year contract offer from the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, but decided to retire.
Retirement
Sittler was elected to the
Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1989. In 1991, a year after Ballard died, he rejoined the organization as a consultant under new general manager
Cliff FletcherGeorge Clifford Fletcher is a National Hockey League executive and is a former general manager of the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Phoenix Coyotes . He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Toronto Maple Leafs...
. In 1998, he was ranked number 93 on
The Hockey News list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players and on February 8, 2003, Sittler's number 27 was honoured by the Leafs.
In 2008 Sittler appears in a Scotiabank - the official Bank of the NHL - commercial. Additionally he has appeared at corporate events for Scotiabank.
Career statistics
| |
|
Regular season |
|
Playoffs |
| Season In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1st through October 1st; in European football , it is generally from August until May In an...
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G A goal in ice hockey provides a team with one point. Unlike in American football, where a touchdown is scored if any part of the football crosses any part of the goal line, in ice hockey the entire puck must completely cross the goal line for a goal to be awarded.-Method of scoring:The object of...
|
A In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
|
Pts Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player who either scores a goal or earns an assist during a game. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
|
PIMA penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes during which the player can not participate in play...
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 1967–68 |
London Nationals The London Nationals were a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association, who played for three seasons before being renamed to the London Knights. The team played out of the London Gardens in London, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
|
OHA The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
|
54 |
22 |
41 |
63 |
84 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
7 |
6 |
| 1968–69 |
London Knights |
OHA |
53 |
34 |
65 |
99 |
90 |
6 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
11 |
| 1969–70 |
London Knights |
OHA |
54 |
42 |
48 |
90 |
126 |
12 |
4 |
12 |
16 |
32 |
| 1970–71 |
Toronto Maple LeafsThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
|
49 |
10 |
8 |
18 |
37 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
31 |
| 1971–72 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
74 |
15 |
17 |
32 |
44 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| 1972–73 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
78 |
29 |
48 |
77 |
69 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1973–74 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
78 |
38 |
46 |
84 |
55 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
| 1974–75 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
72 |
36 |
44 |
80 |
47 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
15 |
| 1975–76 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
79 |
41 |
59 |
100 |
90 |
10 |
5 |
7 |
12 |
19 |
| 1976–77 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
73 |
38 |
52 |
90 |
89 |
9 |
5 |
16 |
21 |
4 |
| 1977–78 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
80 |
45 |
72 |
117 |
100 |
13 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
| 1978–79 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
70 |
36 |
51 |
87 |
69 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
9 |
17 |
| 1979–80 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
73 |
40 |
57 |
97 |
62 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
10 |
| 1980–81 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
80 |
43 |
53 |
96 |
77 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| 1981–82 |
Toronto Maple Leafs |
NHL |
38 |
18 |
20 |
38 |
24 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1981–82 |
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
|
NHL |
35 |
14 |
18 |
32 |
50 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
| 1982–83 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
NHL |
80 |
43 |
40 |
83 |
60 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
| 1983–84 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
NHL |
76 |
27 |
36 |
63 |
38 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
7 |
| 1984–85 |
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
|
NHL |
61 |
11 |
16 |
27 |
37 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| OHA totals |
161 |
98 |
154 |
252 |
300 |
23 |
11 |
19 |
30 |
49 |
| NHL totals |
1096 |
484 |
637 |
1121 |
948 |
76 |
29 |
45 |
74 |
137 |
See also
External links