1972 NHL Entry Draft Pick
Round Overall
1 4
Steve Shutt
Selected by Montreal from Toronto (OHA)
Montreal Canadiens Toronto Marlboros
Steve Shutt
 

5-foot-11, 180 pounds

Left-hand shot

Left Wing

Pre-Draft Statistics

Year Team League GP G A TP PIM
1969-70 Toronto OHA 49 11 14 25 93
1970-71 Toronto OHA 62 70 53 123 85
1971-72 Toronto OHA 58 63 49 112 60

Pre-Draft Notes

Led OHA with 63 goals for Toronto during the 1971-72 season.
Canadian • Born July 1, 1952 in Toronto, Ontario • Hometown: Willowdale, Ontario
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME: Inducted 1993

Pre-Draft Highlights

Played 17 games for North York Rangers (OHA Jr. B) during 1968-69 season, scoring 10 goals and 27 points to earn a call-up to Toronto Marlboros (OHA) for playoffs. ... Scored one goal and had four points for Toronto in five OHA playoff games in 1969. ... Had 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in 18 OHA playoff games with Toronto in 1971. ... Named to OHA All-Star Second Team with Toronto in 1970-71. ... Played on major junior hockey's most dominant line with Billy Harris and Dave Gardner in Toronto in 1971-72. ... Had 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 13 OHA playoff games with Toronto in 1972. ... Named to OHA All-Star First Team with Toronto in 1971-72.

Video from NHL.com

Career Vitals

First contract: August 10, 1972
Debut: October 7, 1972
(Montreal vs. Minnesota)
Final NHL game: April 13, 1985
(Los Angeles vs. Edmonton) (playoffs)
Retired: May 22, 1985
Stanley Cup: 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
Numbers: 22 (Montreal), 11 (Los Angeles)

Career NHL Statistics

Teams: Montreal, Los Angeles
Years: 1972-1985. Playoffs: 1973-1985

Regular Season
  GP G A TP PIM
13 years 930 424  393 817 410
 
Stanley Cup Playoffs
GP G A TP PIM
12 years 99  50 48 98 65
 
Complete statistics available at NHL.com 

NHL Awards and Honors

(with Montreal)
1975-76:All-Star Game
1976-77:All-Star First Team, Goals Leader (60)
1977-78:All-Star SecondTeam, All-Star Game
1978-79:Challenge Cup NHL All-Stars
1979-80:All-Star Second Team, All-Star Game

Team Awards and Honors

(with Montreal)
1973-74:Playoffs Points Leader (8), Playoffs Goals Leader (5, tie)
1975-76:Playoffs Goals Leader (7, tie)
1976-77:Goals Leader (60), Game-Winning Goals Leader (9)
1977-78:Power-Play Goals Leader (16), Playoffs PIM Leader (20)
1979-80:Power-Play Goals Leader (17)
1980-81:Points Leader (73), Goals Leader (35, tie), Power-Play Goals Leader (7, tie), Playoffs Points Leader (3), Playoffs Goals Leader (2)
1982-83:Playoffs Goals Leader (1, tie)
1983-84:Playoffs Goals Leader (7)

Milestones

300th Goal:November 12, 1980
(Montreal at Los Angeles)
400th Goal:December 20, 1983
(Montreal at New Jersey)
50th Playoff Goal:May 1, 1984
(Montreal at N.Y. Islanders)
50-Goal Seasons: 1976-77 (60)
100-Point Seasons:1976-77 (105)

Team Records

Montreal Canadiens Records
Most career points
by a left wing:
776
Most career goals
by a left wing:
408
Most career playoff points
by a left wing:
98
Most career playoff goals
by a left wing:
50
Most goals in one season: 60 in 1976-77
(shares record)
Most goals in one season
by a left wing:
60 in 1976-77
Most 30-goal seasons: 9 (shares record)
Most goals in one month: 16 in November 1975

Transaction History

Nov. 18, 1984 -- Traded by Montreal to Los Angeles in exchange for future considerations (1985 10th-round pick, Maurice Mansi). May 22, 1985 -- Rights sold by Los Angeles to Montreal. 

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Stephen John Shutt
Nickname: "Shutty"

Career Beyond Hockey: Remained in Montreal and became active in sport of polo after his retirement as a player, following in the footsteps of former Canadiens teammate Larry Robinson. He also became a regular on the Oldtimers' hockey circuit and took part in a 2012 tour of Russia. ... Went into the rink-refrigeration business after his coaching career ended, taking a position at CIMCO Refrigeration, a division of Toromont Industries, as a sales manager in September 1997. The company handles ice-making equipment for the majority of NHL arenas. He eventually moved to Mobile, Ala., where he continues to work for the company.
Shutt on LinkedIn

Family: Father of former major-junior player Jason Shutt. ... OIder brother of former WHA player Byron Shutt.

A Fun-Loving Teammate

Readers of Ken Dryden's classic The Game are given an interesting look into Shutt's personality and dry sense of humor throughout the book. Shutt is portrayed as one of the more laid-back and fun-loving characters on the Montreal Canadiens dynasty teams of the 1970s. In a particularly funny scene, Dryden asks Shutt if he was born in Toronto. "I'm not sure," Shutt responds. "I was so young at the time." In another scene, on the team bus, Shutt sees Dryden taking notes for his book and says: "Ya writin' a book? Hey great. Need some help? Want some of my quips? Hey, we could do it together. We'd quip 'em to death. Give 'em quiplash."
Hockey Hall of Fame 2004 Shutt Interview
Hockey News 2011 Shutt Interview
Canadiens' Site 2012 Shutt Interview

Career Highlights

Also played center during his NHL career. ... Participated in Team Canada's training camp prior to the 1972 Summit Series vs. Soviet Union, but was not on the Canadian roster for the tournament. He was able to take part in the camp because his agent, R. Alan Eagleson, was one of the event's organizers. ... Set what was then an NHL rookie record when he signed his first contract with Montreal in August 1972. The contract, which matched a deal given to his junior linemate Dave Gardner on the same day, was for more than $100,000 per season. ... Recorded his first NHL point with the primary assist on a goal by Claude Larose at 4:07 of the third period to close out the scoring in Montreal's 3-0 home victory over Atlanta on Oct. 12, 1972. ... Scored his first NHL goal in his 16th game with Montreal, which was also his first multi-point game, on Dec. 2, 1972, at the Montreal Forum. After assisting on a goal by Jacques Laperriere to pull Montreal into a 3-3 tie with Atlanta at 3:09 of the third period, Shutt scored 33 seconds later off assists from linemates Pete Mahovlich and Guy Lafleur to put his team up 4-3. Atlanta, which had led 3-1 after two periods, would later score to salvage a 4-4 tie. Shutt's goal came against Flames goaltender Phil Myre. ... Recorded his first of nine NHL regular-season hat tricks on Nov. 9, 1974, vs. Vancouver -- scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals in the third period of a 4-3 victory. The winner came at 19:06 of teh third. All three goals were scored against Vancouver netminder Gary Smith. ... Became only the fourth Montreal player -- and the first left wing -- to score 50 goals in a season when he scored No. 50 during a 5-4 win over N.Y. Islanders on March 1, 1977. He scored the 50th goal against goaltender Glenn "Chico" Resch. ... Became only the third player in Montreal history -- and the first left wing -- to record 100 points in a season when he earned his 100th point with an assist on a late second-period goal by Doug Risebrough in a 6-0 win at Detroit on March 27, 1977. His single-season team record for points by a left wing (105 in 1976-77) was broken by Mats Naslund in 1985-86. ... Scored the lone playoff hat trick of his NHL career in Game 5 of Montreal's Stanley Cup quarterfinals series vs. Minnesota on April 22, 1980. The goals came at 9:23 of the first period, 8:43 of the second, and 15:07 of the third against netminder Gilles Meloche, leading Montreal to a 6-2 home win and a 3-2 series lead. Minnesota came back to take the series in seven games. .. Scored the 12,000th goal in Montreal Canadiens franchise history during a 7-3 home win over Detroit on Nov. 20, 1980. ... Scored his 300th NHL goal to open the scoring in Montreal's 8-4 win at Los Angeles on Nov. 12, 1980. The goal, at 8:50 of the opening period, was assisted by Guy Lafleur and beat Kings netminder Mario Lessard. ... Scored his 400th NHL goal to give Montreal a 3-0 lead at 3:55 of the second period on Dec. 20, 1983, at New Jersey. The goal came against Glenn "Chico" Resch on the same night that Resch allowed Guy Lafleur's 500th career goal. Shutt became the 21st player in NHL history to reach 400 goals just one night before fellow Hall of Famer Lanny McDonald joined the 400-goal club. ... Scored twice for Montreal in the third period of Game 6 of the 1984 Adams Division Finals series vs. Quebec to help team win the series at the Montreal Forum. Quebec led 1-0 after 40 minutes of a game that featured a massive, bench-clearing brawl at the end of the second period. The Nordiques then took a 2-0 lead on a Michel Goulet goal at 2:02 of the third period, but Shutt responded with back-to-back goals at 6:23 and 9:11 of the third to give his team life in a 2-2 tie. Three more Montreal goals followed over the next six minutes to put the game out of reach.
 

Shutt's 60-Goal Season

Shutt set an NHL record (since broken) for goals in a season by a left wing with 60 for Montreal in 1976-77. He tied Bobby Hull's old record of 58 when he scored the first of two goals in an 11-0 rout of Washington on April 2 at the Montreal Forum. Goal No. 58 came at 12:25 of the second period for a 4-0 lead. He then broke Hull's record with ihs 59th goal at 2:16 of the third period to make it 6-0. The following day, he became the first left wing in NHL history to score 60 goals in a season with No. 60 on April 3 at Washington. His 60th goal, scored against goaltender Ron Low at 18:17 of the first period, stood up as the winner in a 2-1 Montreal victory. Shutt's single-season record was broken by Luc Robitaille 16 years later when Robitaille scored his 60th and 61st of 63 goals for Los Angeles on April 8, 1993, vs. San Jose. Robitaille, however, was playing in an 84-game season and did not score No. 60 until his 81st game. Shutt had scored 60 in 80 games. Alexander Ovechkin later broke Robitaiile's record with 65 goals in an 82-game season in 2007-08. Ovechkin reached No. 60 in his 72nd game and No. 61 in his 74th game.
 

Shutt Exits Montreal

Despite his Hall of Fame career and key role in Montreal's glory years of the 1970s, Shutt's career with the Canadiens did not end well. As he passed the age of 30, he saw his playing time diminish, and by the 1983-84 season, he was becoming a healthy scratch for several games. Shutt did not take his benching well, reacting angrily at times. One night following the pregame warm-ups  in Los Angeles, he was told he would not be playing in the game. He took off his Montreal sweater and threw it in the dressing room's garbage can that night. The team told him he would have to control his behavior and accept the fact that he was no longer a regular player on the team. Shutt didn't like that idea, feeling he deserved better after all he had done for Montreal. The situation came to a head early in the 1984-85 season, when he told his agent, R. Alan Eagleson, that he wanted to be traded. The Habs decided to give Shutt a break by trading him to Los Angeles, where he would play regularly. The Nov. 18, 1984, trade ended the bitterness, but terms of the deal woul end up leading to Shutt's retirement the following summer at age 32. Rather than trade him outright, Montreal had only loaned Shutt to Los Angeles for the 1984-85 season (in exchange for a future draft pick) because the Kings did not want to pay for any of the additional years remaining on his contract if he did not meet expectations. As a result, the Kings had the option of returning Shutt to Montreal before the start of the 1985-86 season. Shutt was upset with that deal because he had not desire to return to Montreal and be a part-time player again. On May 21,1985, he announced that he would retire rather than play for the Canadiens. One day later, the Kings exercised the return option, making Shutt Canadiens property again. True to his word, Shutt ended his playing career by choosing to retire rather than spend another day in the Montreal organization.

International Tournaments

1976:Canada Cup (won championship)

Non-Playing Career

COACHING CAREER
Named Montreal assistant coach on Aug. 2, 1993, and remained in that position until he announced his resignation on May 9, 1997.

BROADCASTING CAREER
Named Montreal radio color commentator for Englis  broadcasts on Aug. 16, 1990, and held that position until Aug. 2, 1993.

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1978-79 season with hairline fracture in right wrist, an injury suffered during Montreal's Dec. 27, 1978, game at Detroit. He missed two games before returning for Montreal's Jan. 3, 1979, game at N.Y. Rangers and re-aggravated the injury during Montreal's Jan. 8, 1979, game vs. Minnesota. He did not return until Montreal's Jan. 25, 1979, game vs. Atlanta. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with bruised right hand, an injury suffered during Montreal's Dec. 1, 1981, game vs. Edmonton. He did not return until Montreal's Dec. 9, 1981, game at Minnesota. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with cracked bone in right hand, an injury re-aggravated during Montreal's Dec. 12, 1981, game at Toronto. Montreal trainers had misdiagnosed the injury and allowed Shutt to play in three games even though his hand was broken. He did not return until Montreal's Dec. 27, 1981, game vs. Quebec. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with the flu, diagnosed on Jan. 17, 1982. He did not return until Montreal's Jan. 26, 1982, game at Quebec. ... Missed part of 1981-82 season with deep cut in left calf, an injury suffered when he was sliced by Miroslav Frycer's skate during Montreal's Feb. 23, 1982, game at Quebec. The gash required more than 60 stitches to close, and he did not return until Montreal's March 13, 1982, game vs. Hartford.... Missed remainder of 1981-82 regular season and 1982 playoffs with bruised ligaments in right knee, an injury suffered during Montreal's March 27, 1982, game vs. Quebec.

Miscellaneous:

Selected by New York Raiders in 1972 WHA Draft, the first-ever WHA Draft, in February 1972. Sent by Montreal to Nova Scotia (AHL) for only minor-league stint (8 games) in December 1972. Appeared in one playoff game as a rookie in 1973 but did not play in Stanley Cup Finals. On line with Guy Lafleur and Pete Mahovlich for Montreal from 1973-74 to 1975-76.
SNAPSHOT '72
Total Selected: 152
Forwards: 88
Defense: 47
Goaltenders: 17
Major Junior: 121
College Players: 25
Canadian: 139
Euro-Canadian: 2
American: 11
Born in USA: 10
Reached NHL: 67
Won Stanley Cup: 11
Hall of Fame: 2
All-Star Game: 13
Year-end All-Star: 3
Olympians: 1
Picks Traded: 24


OTHERS DRAFTED IN 1972



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