Drafted Into Obscurity < Dave Simpson >

He was part of group of new breed of young hockey stars that were going to keep Lord Stanley’s Cup behind a glass display case in New York’s Nassau County Coliseum for the next decade. But pro hockey’s heavy expectations beats up the best of them, including a player who was considered the best junior player in North America in 1982, Dave Simpson, who’s rocky road never lead him to suiting up for an NHL game while sending him into hockey obscurity in less than five years.

Simpson with the London Knights

- photo by Cybertek Designs

The Isles drafted Simpson in the third round, 59th overall in the 1980 NHL entry draft. Long Island super hockey architects Bill Torrey and Al Arbour were already one Stanley Cup into a Canadiens-like dynasty and continued to furiously stockpile future franchise cornerstones, the six-foot, 190-pound, centre for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights was off to the reigning Cup champs with a slick-style pedigree that was projected to add nicely to a potent New York line-up. With no need to rush star prospects in the system, Simpson was promptly sent back to London two training camps in a row. By the spring of 1982 Simpson demonstrated he was force to be reckoned with at the major junior level. Simpson put up a spectacular season with the Knights, scoring 67 goals and adding another 88 assists for 155 points in 68 games and was named the 1982 Canadian major junior player of the year.

Simpson with the NY Islanders in preseason action

Going into 1982 with New York’s dominating back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, Simpson had the deck stacked against him roster-wise. The Isles depth at centre was a solid as any team in the NHL with perennial all-star Bryan Trottier, fellow 1980 draft pick, highly-regarded Brent Sutter, speedy Wayne Merrick, clutch performer Butch Goring and solid but unspectacular Billy Carroll. Even though Simpson had put astronomical numbers in junior he was immediately dispatched the Central Hockey League to spend two successful but frustrating seasons playing for the Islanders farm team in Indianapolis. Fate dealt Simpson another blow to his burgeoning pro career as he saw his NHL chances diminish further when future Isles superstar and first round pick Pat Lafontaine joined New York late in the 1984 season from the US Olympic team. Lafontaine was installed in the New York lineup without even seeing one minute of training camp time or minor league seasoning. Canadian Olympian Pat Flatley also was instantly added the Islanders lineup after the conclusion of Sarajevo, adding to Simpson’s bitterness and disillusion with the minor leagues. 
       

Simpson with the CHL's
 Indianapolis Checkers

 Simpson’s pro hockey fortunes went from the pro hockey’s penthouse to the outhouse as Isles traded the discouraged centre to Vancouver with the stipulation that he must make the Canucks team for the transaction to be completed. Simpson played one pre-season game for Vancouver while nursing a groin injury through most of the training camp. And unfortunately, Canucks management was unable to make a good assessment of his skills. Late in the September 1984 training camp, NHL president at the time, John Ziegler nullified the trade. Simpson immediately reacted by quitting the Islanders organization and pro hockey, planning his long term goals without ice returning to his hometown and university. “The pro hockey life bored me to death so I quit,” said Simpson, who was quoted by the Montreal Gazette early in 1985. “After two hours a day at the rink the most important thing you had to do was deposit your pay cheque…” “Now I’m going to graduate this spring with a BA in political science, then I’ll go either into law or for an MBA.”  But five months later Simpson couldn’t stay away from the rink; he was eventually wooed by Dave King and the Canadian national team and he went on to score one goal and five assists in 10 games.

Simpson with the Baltimore
Skipjacks in 1985-86

In an attempt to save his NHL dreams, Simpson persuaded the Islanders to trade him to the Pittsburgh Penguins before their September 1985 training camp. The Penguins had recently drafted Simpson’s highly-touted NCAA Michigan State star and younger brother Craig second overall in the June NHL draft. The older Simpson knew there was no guarantee he’s make the roster but decided to take a chance at playing with his little brother. “I hope sometime during the course of the year, I get a chance to play in the NHL,” said Simpson, quoted from the Pittsburgh Press in 1985. By the end of camp in early October, Pittsburgh management had finally stuck the death nail into Dave Simpson’s melodramatic professional hockey. Penguins’ coach Bob Berry cut Simpson, sending him their AHL farm in Baltimore. Simpson never got the NHL call up during Pittsburgh’s 1985-86 season that eventually lead to him ending his pro hockey career less than five years after it started.