1979-80 was the first year of the WHA
expansion in the National Hockey League. When the World Hockey
Association ceased operations after the 1978-79 season, the Edmonton
Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques joined
the NHL with depleted rosters.
It was the first year since Phil
Esposito scored 55 goals in 1972-73 that the league leader finished
the season with less than 60. It also marked the only time in NHL
history that three players tied for the goal scoring lead, all with
56.
Charlie Simmer – Los Angeles Kings
Today, the Rocket Richard Trophy is
awarded to the player in the NHL with the most goals during the
regular season. Previous to 1998-99, the goal scoring leader was not
honoured with any hardware. In 1979-80, the Rocket Richard Trophy
would have went to Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings. Although
there were three tied atop the NHL, Simmer scored his 56 in just 64
games.
Playing on the Triple Crown Line with the great MarcelDionne and Dave Taylor helped Simmer reach the same goal total in the following
season. These were the only two 50 goal seasons in Simmer’s injury
hampered career. Between 1974-75 and 1987-88 played just 712 of a
possible 1,200 regular season games and scored 342 goals. Simmer was
originally drafted by the California Seals. Although with the Seals
and Kings, Charlie also played for the Cleveland Barons, Boston
Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins during his career.
Danny Gare – Buffalo Sabres
Danny Gare of the Buffalo Sabres scored
his 56 goals in 76 games. It was the second of two times that Gare
would reach the 50 goal plateau over his 13 year NHL career, scoring
exactly 50 for the Sabres in 1975-76. Danny finished his career with
354 goals in 827 regular season games. He was a second round pick of
the Sabres in 1974 and also played for the Detroit Red Wings and
Edmonton Oilers.
Blaine Stoughton – Hartford Whalers
Blaine Stoughton played the full 80
schedule for the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80. It was his first of two
50 goal seasons, scoring 52 for the Whalers in 1981-82. Stoughton was
originally the seventh overall pick at the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft by
the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played just 34 of 526 NHL games with the
Penguins.
Blaine played major league pro hockey
from 1973-74 to 1983-84. In the NHL, he played for the Penguins,
Toronto Maple Leafs, Whaler and New York Rangers. Stoughton had a
three year stint in the WHA from 1976-77 to 1978-79, playing for the
Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers.
Blaine scored 52 goals for the Stingers in his first year in the
World Hockey Association.
