The Hall of Fame defenseman announced his retirement on this day, although he didn't spend much time away from the ice. Also, a longtime National Hockey League coach has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Time for our daily trip back through the decades to remember all the best moments since Aug. 12.
Savard Retires…Kind Of
Hall of Fame defenseman Serge Savard announced his first retirement on August 12, 1981. This came after playing 917 games with the Montreal Canadiens over 15 seasons, where he scored 100 goals and 412 points while posting false positive rate to include 497. He was a member of seven Stanley Cup championship teams and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1969 for being the most valuable player in the postseason.
(THW Archives)
Retirement did not last long for Savard. His former teammate with the Canadiens, John Ferguson, has become the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets. When the Canadiens failed to place Savard on the voluntary retirement list, Ferguson took up his rights in the 1981 re-entry draft.
Ferguson talked Savard into playing for the Jets, and they had a 48-point improvement in the 1981-82 season. They qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Savard returned for the 1982-83 season, and the Jets reached the playoffs for the second consecutive visit. He retired permanently after the Jets were swept by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round. Less than three weeks later, he was named the Canadiens' new general manager.
Murray Loses His Battle
Longtime NHL head coach and executive Bryan Murray lost his battle with colon cancer on Aug. 12, 2017. He was 74 years old.
Murray began his coaching career in 1976 when he became the head coach of the Rockland Nationals in the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). He moved to the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL), winning the 1980 Memorial Cup. This earned him a head coaching job in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Hershey Bears the following season.
He was promoted to the NHL in the 1981-82 season when he was named head coach of the Washington Capitals. He won the 1984 Jack Adams Award for being voted the best coach in the league and stayed behind their bench until 1990. He coached 1,239 games in the NHL with the Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Ottawa. The Senators, who took them to the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.
Murray got his first taste of the front office when he was named general manager of the Red Wings in 1990. After leaving Detroit in 1994, he was named general manager of the Panthers. He also held that position with the Ducks and Senators.
Odds & Ends
The Pittsburgh Penguins signed center Warren Young on Aug. 12, 1983. Young was originally drafted by the California Golden Seals in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft. He didn't make his NHL debut until 1982, at the age of 26, when he appeared in one game for the Minnesota North Stars. After playing 15 games for the Penguins in 1983-84, he exploded the following season, scoring 40 goals and 72 points in 80 games.
Young signed with the Red Wings in July 1985. He scored 22 goals and 46 points in 1985-86 before being traded to Pittsburgh for cash. He played in 57 games over the next two seasons for the Penguins, scoring eight goals and 21 points.
On Aug. 12, 1985, the Toronto Maple Leafs signed free agent winger Marian Stastny. He spent the last four seasons playing with his brothers, Peter and Anton, for the Quebec Nordiques. Stastny played one season with the Maple Leafs, scoring 23 goals and 53 points in 70 games. He spent the next season with HC Sirre in Switzerland before retiring, playing 16 professional seasons in Europe and the NHL.
On that day, the Red Wings signed defenseman Mike McEwen. He spent last season with the Capitals and won three Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders between 1981 and 1983. The Red Wings were one of three teams McEwen played for during the 1985-86 season. After picking up 10 assists in 29 games, the Red Wings traded him to the New York Rangers for defenseman Steve Richmond. The Rangers traded outfielder Bob Crawford to the Hartford Whalers 16 games later.
Free forward Vladimir Ruzicka signed with the Senators on August 12, 1993. He was one year removed from leading the Boston Bruins with 39 goals and 75 points in the 1991-92 season. He played in just 42 games for the Senators in 1993-94, his final NHL season, and scored five goals and 18 points.
On August 12, 2022, Mason McTavish joined elite company when he scored four goals and six points against Team Slovakia at the 2022 World Juniors. Only eight players have done this in WJC history, and Mario Lemieux (against Norway in 1983) and Wayne Gretzky (against Czechia in 1978) are two names.
happy Birthday to you
A total of 24 current and former NHL players were born on this day. The first was Fred Lowry, born Aug. 12, 1902. Played 53 NHL games with the Montreal Maroons and Pittsburgh Pirates between 1924 and 1926. Latest birthday is Aug. 12 was Colorado Avalanche forward Vladislav Kamenev, who is now transitioning. 28 today.
Todd Marchant, born on this day in 1973, had a great career. He leads all boys born on August 12th in games played (1,195), goals (186), assists (312), and points (498). He spent 17 seasons in the league, playing for the Rangers, Oilers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Ducks. He won the Stanley Cup in 2007 with Anaheim.
There are four players who only played in one NHL game who were born on this day; Walt Farrant (Chicago Blackhawks, 1944), Pat Rupp (Red Wings, 1964), Jake Rathwell (Bruins, 1975), and the legendary David Ayres (Hurricanes, 2020).
Some notable players born on Aug. 12 includes Greg Fox (71), Brad Lukowich (48), Kyle Quincey (39), Ryan Garbutt (39), Rob Klinkhammer (38), and Marc Arcobello (36).
*Originally created by Greg Boysen
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