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 Stay-At-Home
Defense.
Growing
up in small-town Ontario, Dave Hutchison was steeped in NHL
culture long before he got very organized about his hockey.
Making the big leagues was his first goal, but his ultimate
objective was to get his hands on the Stanley Cup. With those
aims in mind, Hutchison leapt into London's minor hockey program
and, once at the junior level, just kept at it, skating for
the London Knights of the OHA.
In
1972, the Los Angeles Kings and the WHA's Philadelphia Blazers
drafted him. He opted to join the Blazers for a season and
then headed West with the team's new incarnation in Vancouver.
By the time he made his NHL debut with the Kings in 1974,
Hutchison had established himself as a role player who played
an aggressive style of stay-at-home defense. He credits coach
Bob Pulford for his longevity by stressing the importance
of playing within his means and to never hold the puck longer
than a second and a half.
 In
1978, Hutchison fulfilled another of his dreams: to suit up
for the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the next year and a half,
he was usually the stay-at-home part of the Salming/Hutchison
tandem.
In
1980, he was traded to his favorite club as a child, the Chicago
Blackhawks. During his two-plus seasons with the team, he
was the defensive foundation upon which his partner, Doug
Wilson, could afford to jump up into the offensive play. Wilson
won the Norris Trophy in 1982, and Dave went on stage with
him when the award was given out.
Hutchison
left the Blackhawks at the end of the 1981-82 season, having
come as close as he ever would to fulfilling his Stanley Cup
dream - a trip to the semi-finals. He went on to split the
1982-83 season between the New Jersey Devils and the Wichita
Wind of the CHL and then retired from the game. But before
he could settle into his new life, the Maple Leafs signed
him for one final campaign in 1983-84.
NHL
Awards & Honours:
- Los
Angeles Outstanding Rookie: 1974-75
- Los
Angeles Penalty Minutes Leader: 1975-76 (181)
- Los
Angeles Playoffs Penalty Minutes Leader: 1976 (29)
- 1982-83:
Played on first New Jersey Devils NHL team.
Miscellaneous:
- Was
encouraged by former junior teammate Dan Maloney to leave
WHA and enter NHL with Los Angeles in 1974.
- Was
suspended for last three games of 1975 Stanley Cup playoffs
and first five games of 1975-76 season as a result of stick
fight with Toronto's Tiger Williams in 1975 Stanley Cup
playoffs.
- Broke
jaw in Buffalo on Jan. 1, 1976, and continued to play with
jaw wired shut. Drank his meals through a straw.
- Scored
first NHL goal in his 120th career game at Atlanta on Oct.
7, 1976.
- Was
Los Angeles' all-time penalty-minutes leader when he left
team on June 14, 1978 (record since broken).
-
Led Chicago in plus-minus with plus-4 rating in 1981-82.
- Traded
to Washington by Chicago on Aug. 12, 1982, but never played
for Capitals because he was claimed by New Jersey in 1982
NHL Waiver Draft.
- Is
only player other than Ken Daneyko in New Jersey Devils'
NHL history to wear No. 3.
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