Thumb through the sportspages, flick by the never-ending highlights and you're bound to miss the not-so famous players exposed in this hockey oddity blog. Young men who had dreams of skating under the bright lights of big city National Hockey League arenas. Promising careers that never panned out. Can't miss prospects who, for some reason or another, couldn't put it all together and ended up in pro hockey obscurity...
In this first installment of Drafted Into Obscurity we take a look at a sure-fire, can't miss Vancouver Canuck prospect Arthur Rutland.
Moving into the 1980's the Canucks were below-average franchise, struggling to find it's identity. The team suffered through some very lean, sub-500 years in the late 70's and ownership decided start on a major renovation by changing the entire look and feel from the cool green and blue hockey stick motif to a radical black, orange and yellow Hallowe'en "inspired" redesign.
The Canucks also needed an overhaul in the scoring department. The team was in desperate need of top-line help and Rutland was tagged by Vancouver in the fourth round of the 1979 NHL draft, 68th overall.
This would be a draft selection the Canucks orgnization would lament for years to come. Rutland was drafted one spot ahead of future Hall Of Famer and local Burnaby, BC boy Glenn Anderson. Anderson enshrined his name on five Stanley Cups (four with Edmonton, one with New York) and also represented Canada at the 1980 Olympics. The University of Denver standout totaled 1099 points in 1129 NHL games played, including almost joining the elite 500 NHL goal club by falling short by two at 498 - Anderson became a NHL legend.
This would be a draft selection the Canucks orgnization would lament for years to come. Rutland was drafted one spot ahead of future Hall Of Famer and local Burnaby, BC boy Glenn Anderson. Anderson enshrined his name on five Stanley Cups (four with Edmonton, one with New York) and also represented Canada at the 1980 Olympics. The University of Denver standout totaled 1099 points in 1129 NHL games played, including almost joining the elite 500 NHL goal club by falling short by two at 498 - Anderson became a NHL legend.
Rutland was just coming off a stellar four-year Ontario Hockey League (formely known as the OMJHL) career from 1976-1980. In 1978-79, while playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Art caught the attention of NHL scouts. Rutland put up an impressive 139 points, finishing third overall in league scoring. Overall, Rutland contributed 365 points over his four seasons in the OHL despite playing on dismal teams that placed in the depths of the league.But what Rutland might be most well-known for was sharing the bench with the possibly the greatest player the game of hockey has ever produced. In his second season with the Greyhounds, Rutland was teammates with incomprable Wayne Gretzky
What could have been for Art Rutland? By 1982, the Vancouver Canucks made an improbable run to the Stanley Cup finals against the dynasty, power-house New York Islanders. Unfortunately, Rutland was never part of that memorable season. Rutland had made the Canucks opening roster out of camp in October of 1981 but never was able to stick and would never play at the NHL level again.
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| Art Rutland on 1981-82 Vancouver Canucks |
He played just three seasons from 1980-1983 on the North American pro hockey circuit for the Canucks farm clubs. Rutland did show some promise while suiting up for the Central Hockey League’s Dallas Black Hawks in 1980-81. Rutland was a true playmaker leading the league by posting 65 assists. Surprisingly after playing so well, Rutland never got the call-up he was hoping for.
He went on to play his final season of pro hockey in North America in 1982-83 with the Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League.
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I saw Art play when I was a boy when he was a Soo Greyhound. I didn't see very many games live but one that I did, he made a move outside on the defense (passing to himself involving his skate and forward momentum) and potted a goal that sticks with me to this day. If you look at the number of injuries he suffered in his developmental years (separating both shoulders, wrist laceration, knee injury), you would understand how his development suffered. I don't know the full circumstances but the injuries at least should have been mentioned in this article.
ReplyDeleteHe was drafted in the 4th round, not the 2nd. There were only 21 teams at the time.
ReplyDeleteIn 86/87 these were his stats playing in the German 2nd league.
47 games 98 goals 100 assists 198 points
79 was a bad draft for the Canucks. In the 3rd round they drafted a goalie named Ken Ellacott who played a total of 12 NHL games. The Oilers had the next pick, which they used to draft some guy you might have heard of, Mark Messier.
Art Rutland had talent. And he wasn't riding shotgun for Wayne Gretzky or Paul Coffey with the Soo. It's to the Canucks' detriment and demise that they didn't develop and utilize it. I guess they figured their 'imports' held more promise. Art had a terrific career in Europe. That should say something.
ReplyDeleteHe was magic with puck pure magic I know him personally special special
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