Stat of the Day

Russ Anderson (Defenseman)

1975 Entry Draft

Drafted 31st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins (13th pick of the 2nd round)

the first US born player drafted in 1975

Played 1976 -1981 with the Penguins before being traded to the Hartford Whalers on December 29th 1981 for Rick MacLeish.

Spent the rest of the 1981-82 season with Hartford and the entire 1982-83 season before being released in the offseason.  He signed with the LA Kings for the 1983-84 season, after being sent to New Haven in the AHL for 6 games in 1984 he returned to finish the 1984-85 season with the Kings.

He appeared in 519 games with 22 goals, 99 assists, 121 points and 1086 penalty minutes

Today in Hockey History (June 9th)

June 9th 1984 

The Pittsburgh Penguins used their fist pick overall to select Mario Lemieux in the NHL Entry Draft. 

Buffalo Sabres 1983 Entry Draft

The Class of 1983 for the Buffalo Sabres

From left 

1st pick and 5th overall Tom Barrasso, John Tucker, GMScotty Bowman,  2nd pick and 10th overall Normand Lacombe and 11th overall Adam Creighton.

Tom Barrasso would start in net for the Sabres in 1983-84 and was the only goalie to ever play in the NHL direct from High school without playing in the major juniors, college or some other form of professional hockey.  He would win the the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year and the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender for 1983-84 with a record of 26-12-3 and a 2.84 GAA.

In 1985 he would win the Jennings Trophy for the team with the  fewest goals allowed (he shared with backup Bob Sauve) with 144.

1988 NHL Entry Draft

The first 2 picks of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft

#1 - Mike Modano - Minnesota North Stars

#2 Trevor Linden - Vancouver Canucks