gold star for USAHOF

26. Marty McSorley

26. Marty McSorley

When the Edmonton Oilers made the biggest trade in hockey, the transaction that sent Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles, the “Great One” insisted that Marty McSorley would be part of the deal.  It was a necessary request, and McSorely was not just his friend but his enforcer and the man who cleared the ice for McSorley's magic.

McSorley was one of hockey’s best pugilists, and he amassed a whopping 1,864 Penalty Minutes in his 472 Games as a King.  Gretzky continued to flourish with McSorley watching his back, but McSorely was a decent hockey player in his own right.  McSorley averaged .50 Points per Game with Los Angeles and was better at the defensive side than he got credit for.  He even led the NHL in Plus/Minus (+48) in 1990-91. 

McSorley had two runs in L.A., as he was traded to Pittsburgh in the 1993/94 Season, but was dealt back to the Kings before the next season began.  His Kings career ended for good when he was traded to the Rangers in March of 1996.

Sadly, McSorley is best known for swinging his hockey stick at Donald Brashear's head in a game in 2000.  Brashear fell and hit his head on the ice, rendering him unconscious.  McSorely was suspended for the rest of the year and the full year after that and never played again.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defence, Right Wing
  • Acquired: Traded from the Edmonton Oilers with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Krishelnyski for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, a 1989 1st Round Pick (which was later traded to New Jersey who selected Jason Miller), a 1991 1st Round Pick (which would be Martin Rucinsky
  • Departed:

    Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Shawn McEachern 8/27/93.

    Acquired (2): Traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins with Jim Paek for Shawn McEachern and Tomas Sandstrom 2/16/94.

    Departed (2): Traded to the New York Rangers with Shane Churla and Jari Kurri for Ray Ferraro, Nathan LaFayette, Ian Laperriere, Mattias Norstrom, and a 1997 4th Round Pick (which would be Sean Blanchard) 3/14/96.
  • Games Played: 472
  • Notable Statistics:

    71 Goals
    163 Assists 
    234 Points 
    1,864 PIM 
    .50 PPG 
    +10 Plus/Minus 
    29.7 Point Shares 

    63 Playoff Games
    6 Goals
    11 Assists 
    17 Points 
    190 PIM 
    .27 PPG 
    -16 Plus/Minus 

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Highest Plus/Minus (1990-91)
    Most Penalties in Minutes (1992-93)

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