Every summer the NHL design brings its own kind of theater. Young players are nervous in the stands and wait to hear their name calling and their dream of an NHL career starts. However, the truth is that many good players never hear that call. No stage. No handshake. No draft day celebration. For some that could be the end of the story. For others it is just the start of a different path.
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The Edmonton OilersA franchise that is defined by stars and storylines has had their share of unguinated precious stones. Players who slid through the cracks but left their mark. Here is a look at three of the best oil that have shown that you do not have to be drawn up to be part of the history of a team.
Charlie Huddy – The steady hand behind the stars
When you think of the dynasty of the oilers, the names Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri and Paul Coffey usually come first. But behind all that firepower was Charlie Huddy, who kept things stable on the blue line.
Signed as a free agent in 1979Huddy did not come with hype. What he brought was reliability. He was not flashy – he didn’t have to be. In the following decade, Huddy became a defensive anchor and did the little things that the stars could shine. His efforts helped Edmonton to win five Stanley Cups, and he ended his career with more than 1,000 games played, 99 goals and 453 points.
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Huddy was not always in the spotlight, but he was one of those players that you only really appreciate if you kept a close eye on. He was proof that greatness does not always announce itself – it just appears, night after night.
Curtis Joseph – The keeper who gave the oilers a chance
For fans who followed the oilers in the late 90s, the mention of Curtis Joseph – Cujo – still brings a grin. Released from Wisconsin, Joseph Earned his stripes in St. Louis Before he arrived in Edmonton in 1995. What he brought was Pure Heart: an athletic, never-quit style that fits perfectly with the blue identity of the city.
Joseph’s time in Edmonton was not long, but it was unforgettable. The Play -offs of 1997 confirmed its place in Oilers Lore. Joseph stood on his head opposite the powerhouse Dallas stars. Saving his overtime glove on Joe Nieuwendyk in Game 7 remains one of the greatest moments in franchise history.
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He gave Edmonton three seasons of Hoop during a Lean era and continued to recording 454 NHL victories, one of the highest points in competition history. The fact that no team thought he was a concept -worthy makes his story almost all the more compelling. Their supervision was Edmonton’s gift.
Adam Oates – A final act of a master playmaker
By the time Adam Oates signed with the oilers in 2003, he was already a Hall of Fame-Kaliber playmaker. From the RPI Unsigned, he had built up a career about vision and precision and often saw the ice better than anyone else.
Oates was also one of the best faceoff men in the game. In his time with the oilers, he served as a Faceoff mentor for Jarret Stoll. Stoll became known for its exceptional Faceoff skills during his NHL career. He played for the oilers from 2002 to 2006 and was then traded to the Los Angeles Kings. There he continued to excel in the faceoff circle. The competence of Stoll in Faceoffs was an important asset to the kings, which contributed to their success during his term of office. Although Stoll was a good student, he can thank Oates for his successful teaching.
His Stint in Edmonton was short – only 60 games – but it wore weight. Oates was no longer there to dominate the score sheet. Instead, he brought leadership, experience and a sense of professionalism that rubbed younger players. Even at the age of 40 he showed flashes of why he remembers as one of the greatest passers in the NHL history, ended his career with 1,420 points, including an incredible 1,079 assists.
The impact of Oates in Edmonton was not about figures. It was about leaving a standard to play the game in the right way.
Three players who were more than a missed story of the concept day
The NHL design is important, but it is not the whole story. Huddy, Joseph and Oates have all proven that what happens after the concept day can define a career just as much as what happens.
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Huddy showed that consistency is its own kind of greatness. Joseph showed that heart and determination can create unforgettable moments. Oates showed that vision and intelligence can leave a permanent brand.
For every child who has been overlooked, these three oilers serve as memories: you do not need a concept to make an impact. The only thing needed is one chance – and the will to run with it.
[Note: I’d like to thank Brent Bradford (PhD) for his help co-authoring this post. His profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bradford-phd-3a10022a9]
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