Remembering Tom Lysiak 1953-2016
Twenty plus years before Duncan Keith's «flow», there was Tom Lysiak. In the era when helmets were not mandatory you could see Lysiak racing up and down the ice with locks flowing behind.
Drafted #2 overall by the Atlanta Flames in 1973, their second NHL season, Lysiak would lead the team in scoring with 64 points and finish 2nd in Calder Trophy voting (top rookie).
Lysiak would be the Flames' captain during the '77-78 and '79-80 seasons and appeared in three straight All-Star games. He was abruptly traded mid-season to the Blackhawks in an eight-player swap that still ranks as one of the largest multiplayer moves in history. The trade shocked Flames' fans as Lysiak had quickly become a fan favorite.
His reception in Chicago could be described as chilly at best (fan favorites Ivan Bolderiv, Darcy Rota and Phil Russell were sent to Atlanta in the trade).
His first game in the Stadium, Lysiak was greeted by three white sheets hanging from the second balcony with tombstones on them bearing the numbers 12, 5 and 18 (Bolderiv, Russell and Rota).
Lysiak was a workhorse. A gritty two-way player that often skated against opponents' top lines. His work ethic, attitude, and personality would soon endear him to Blackhawks players and fans. Legend Tony Esposito was quoted as saying «If Lysiak isn't a hockey player, then I've never seen oneHe' unselfish, he puts out for the team, and he's the same guy on the road as he is at home.» Lysiak was a leader by example and one of the most impactful players on the team.
Lysiak played seven full seasons for the Hawks appearing in 474 regular season games registering 137 goals, and 275 assists for 412 points. He played 65 playoff games registering 23 goals, and 33 assists for 56 points. He led the Blackhawks in scoring in 1980-81 registering a career high 55 assists and 76 points.
Lysiak received one of the longest suspensions in league history when he was given 20 games for tripping Linesman Ron Foyt during a game against the Hartford Whalers on October 30, 1983.
A series of injuries throughout his career caused Lysiak to retire after the 1985-86 season. He finished his career playing 919 regular season games registering 292 goals, 551 assists for 843 points. He also appeared in 76 playoff games registering 25 goals, 38 assists for 63 points.
After a years long battle with Leukemia, Lysiak passed away in Atlanta on May 30, 2016, at age 63. He is survived by his daughter Jessica Lee Braun (wife of current NHL player Justin Braun). Lysiak was also the cousin of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar.
| POLL | ||
Have you ever watched a Tom Lysiak game? | ||
| Yes | 78 | 74.3 % |
| No | 27 | 25.7 % |
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