Bruins Alumni Holds A Record 40 years Later That Not Even Gretzky Could Break

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Austin Sabourin
June 18, 2023 (6:03 PM)

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In a remarkable display of talent and skill, Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins has shattered a longstanding team record previously held by the retired forward, Rick Middleton.

Middleton's 25 shorthanded goals had stood as a testament to his prowess for over three decades until Marchand's exceptional performance in the 2018-19 season, where he notched an impressive three shorthanded goals, pushing his tally to 26 and surpassing Middleton.

Today, Marchand reigns supreme atop the Bruins' record book with an astonishing 33 shorthanded goals to his name, leaving Middleton in awe of the accomplishment.

Speaking to NESN.com, Middleton expressed his admiration, saying, "It's pretty incredible. It's mainly because they didn't have anybody who spent more than maybe five or six years there. It's hard to put up big numbers unless you're there for a while. So, (Patrice Bergeron) and Marchand were the next two guys to spend any long term there. Marchand, he's still going, and I said, 'Keep it going. You can get to 50. Nobody will break your record.'"

Middleton's astute observation highlights the significance of longevity in establishing records and the remarkable achievement Marchand has accomplished by surpassing Middleton's enduring mark. Comparing Marchand's feat to the records held by the legendary Wayne Gretzky, Middleton adds, "You look at all the records Gretzky does hold, and that's not one of them."

Bruins Alumni still holds a record 40 years later that not even Gretzky could break

Another exceptional record that stands unbroken in NHL history belongs to Rick Middleton himself. During the 1982-83 postseason, Middleton delivered an extraordinary performance, amassing an astounding 19 points in the Adams Division Finals against the Buffalo Sabres. No other player in the league's storied history has achieved such a remarkable feat in a single playoff series. Notably, even the likes of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have yet to eclipse Middleton's record, with McDavid accumulating 14 points and Draisaitl reaching 17.

Reflecting on this unique accomplishment, Middleton humorously remarks,

"It's funny, it's the one that Gretzky didn't get. It's funny because when you look at the history of the NHL and you look at all the records that Gretzky does hold, that's not one of them.»

Indeed, Gretzky himself came remarkably close with 18 points in the 1984-85 Western Conference Finals against the Chicago Blackhawks, but the elusive distinction of surpassing Middleton's 19 points remains beyond his grasp.

Nicknamed "Nifty" due to his exceptional offensive moves, Middleton established himself as one of the most formidable goal scorers of the 1970s and 1980s. His remarkable achievements include joining an elite group of only six Bruins players to achieve the remarkable feat of scoring 50 goals in a single season.

Amongst the ranks of Phil Esposito, Cam Neely, Johnny Bucyk, Ken Hodge, and David Pastrnak, Middleton reflects,

"Yeah, that's a nice, nice elite group. Even in the league, I think there's less than 100 players that ever hit 50 goals. So I'm pretty proud of that." Humorously recounting his personal experience, Middleton adds, "I joked that I got 51 one year, and the next year, I got 49. So I average it out to two years. The NHL doesn't see it that way. I needed two goals in the last game for 50, and I got one. I shouldn't have pulled it that close."

Source: Nesn