Andy Bathgate

Andrew James Bathgate, (Born - August 28, 1932 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) is a retired Canadian Professional Hockey Centerman who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing Career

Andy Bathgate was a popular star-player of the New York Rangers and also holds the honor of being declared the MVP of both the NHL and WHL. He started his professional career with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL in the 1952-53 season. He would bounce between the Vancouver Canucks and the Rangers for two seasons before settling with the Rangers in 1954-55. He would play ten full seasons with the Rangers, where he became a popular player in New York as well as being a top-tiered player in the NHL. He tied Bobby Hull for the scoring title in 1959-60 but because Bobby Hull had more goals he was awarded the trophy.

Bathgate's career was frustrated by the mediocre play of the Rangers and a nagging knee problem. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a heartbreaking move, and later to the Detroit Red Wings, where he helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1965-66. He was chosen by the Pittsburgh Penguins in their expansion draft the next year, and after that, he returned to the Canucks where he would help lead the team to 2 consecutive Lester Patrick Cup victories, in 1969 and 1970. His best professional year was with them, where he scored 108 points in 1969-70. That performance gave him the George Leader Cup, the top player award in the WHL. His final NHL year was with the Penguins in 1971; 1971-1972 he was playing coach for HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland. He came briefly out of retirement three seasons later to play for the Vancouver Blazers of the WHA, which he had coached the previous season, but retired for good after eleven games.

He won the Hart Memorial Trophy for the MVP of the NHL in 1958-59. He is famous for contributing to one of the largest innovations in NHL history. During a game against the Montreal Canadiens, Bathgate shot the puck into the face of Jacques Plante, forcing Plante to receive stitches. When Plante returned to the ice, he was wearing a mask. That started a trend that continues to this day.

Awards & Achievements

Hart Memorial Trophy winner - 1959
Stanley Cup Champion - 1964
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1978

Records

Career Statistics

Regular Season Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM 1952-53 New York Rangers NHL 18 0 1 1 6 1953-54 New York Rangers NHL 20 2 2 4 18 1954-55 New York Rangers NHL 70 20 20 40 37 1955-56 New York Rangers NHL 70 19 47 66 59 1956-57 New York Rangers NHL 70 27 50 77 60 1957-58 New York Rangers NHL 65 30 48 78 42 1958-59 New York Rangers NHL 70 40 48 88 48 1959-60 New York Rangers NHL 70 26 48 74 28 1960-61 New York Rangers NHL 70 29 48 77 22 1961-62 New York Rangers NHL 70 28 56 84 44 1962-63 New York Rangers NHL 70 35 46 81 54 1963-64 New York/Toronto NHL 71 19 58 77 34 1964-65 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 55 16 29 45 34 1965-66 Detroit Red Wings NHL 70 15 32 47 25 1966-67 Detroit Red Wings NHL 60 8 23 31 24 1967-68 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 74 20 39 59 55 1970-71 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 76 15 29 44 34

NHL Totals 1069 349 624 973 624

Playing Career

Awards & Achievements

Records

Career Statistics

International Play

See also

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Andy Bathgate

Playing Career

Awards & Achievements

Records

Career Statistics

International Play

See also