Ever since Maurice “The Rocket” Richard turned the primary to take action in 1944-45, scoring 50 objectives in a single season has been the top plateau for NHL aim scorers. The magic 50-number has distinguished the true “snipers” of the league. Whereas Wayne Gretzky as soon as scored 50 in solely 39 video games – an NHL document – many Hockey Corridor of Famers by no means hit the mark even as soon as.
From the 1967-68 NHL season via 1992-93, the Stars performed within the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” because the Minnesota North Stars. Following a relocation down south, the franchise has performed starting with the 1993-94 marketing campaign because the Dallas Stars. Between all the years that they performed in each areas, the Stars have had solely three gamers to achieve 50 objectives in a single season. To place issues into perspective, the New York Rangers have existed for 41 extra years than Dallas, and even they’ve solely had three gamers accomplish the feat.
To additional emphasize the rarity of the 50-goal achievement, it took 15 seasons earlier than any Stars participant accomplished the duty. From there, the three gamers who did so got here in comparatively quick order. Nevertheless, no Dallas participant has reached 50 once more for the reason that 1993-94 season. Which means, just one participant has scored 50 objectives throughout their time in Dallas, and it has not occurred for the reason that first season that they performed within the “Lone Star State”. Given the lower in objectives being scored within the NHL at the moment in comparison with earlier many years, it could be many extra years till a fourth member joins the staff’s “50-Objective Membership”.
We have a look now on the trio of Stars scorers who have been in a position to attain plateau. Solely certainly one of them managed to do it greater than as soon as, whereas the opposite two hit the mark only a single time.
Dino Ciccarelli: First 50-Objective Scorer
Dino Ciccarelli turned a 50-goal scorer in his first full NHL season. (Picture by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Photos)
Proper winger Dino Ciccarelli exploded onto the scene in Minnesota, when it was not likely anticipated. Regardless of strong junior aim totals of 39, 72 and 50 in three of his 4 seasons with the London Knights, Ciccarelli went undrafted when the 1979 NHL Entry Draft happened. That will have had one thing to do together with his being injured throughout the 1978-79 OHL season and restricted to simply 30 video games. Regardless, Ciccarelli ended up signing knowledgeable contract with the North Stars on Sept. 28, 1979.
After taking part in the majority of the 1979-80 season with London, adopted by the vast majority of 1980-81 with Minnesota’s CHL affiliate the Oklahoma Metropolis Stars, he would lastly make his NHL debut with the father or mother membership. Ciccarelli suited up for Minnesota for the primary time on Dec. 13, 1980 for a sport towards the Winnipeg Jets. He would stay with the North Stars for the remainder of the season, scoring 18 objectives and 12 assists for 30 factors in solely 32 video games. The place Ciccarelli ended up making the most important splash was within the 1980-81 NHL playoffs. Because the North Stars made an sudden run to the Stanley Cup Last, their younger winger ended up scoring an unprecedented 14 objectives and 21 factors in 19 postseason video games to set rookie information for each classes. Whereas the factors complete was tied in 2017 by the Pittsburgh Penguins Jake Guentzel, Ciccarelli’s 14 playoff objectives remains to be a document for rookies within the NHL. Sadly, the North Stars would lose the Stanley Cup in 5 video games to the New York Islanders that season.
Such a profound efficiency by the rookie ought to have been indicative what would quickly observe. Ciccarelli’s sophomore marketing campaign of 1981-82 can be his first full season within the NHL. On Mar. Eight, 1982, he turned the primary participant in Minnesota historical past to attain 50 objectives in a single season. Because the North Stars crushed the St. Louis Blues Eight-1, Ciccarelli scored his 49th and 50th objectives of the season towards goaltender Mike Liut. By season’s finish, he would end with profession highs of 55 objectives and 106 factors in 76 video games. With teammate Bobby Smith scoring 114 factors of his personal (43G, 71A), this marked the primary – and to this point solely – time in franchise historical past that the staff had two 100-point scorers.
Ciccarelli Strikes a Second Time
5 seasons later and nonetheless with Minnesota, Ciccarelli would attain the 50-goal mark and the 100-point mark for second and last occasions of his profession. Within the midst of shedding a penalty-filled affair 7-Three to Mario Lemieux and the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ciccarelli managed to beat Gilles Meloche for his 49th and 50th objectives of the 1986-87 season. He would end out the season with 52 objectives and 103 factors in 80 video games. Ciccarelli probably ought to have scored much more, as he managed simply two objectives within the last 14 video games of the season.
In the present day in 1979, MN North Stars signed free agent – Dino Ciccarelli from the OHA London Knights after being undrafted by all 21 NHL groups pic.twitter.com/h36qRKsj1t— Classic MN Hockey (@VintageMNHockey) September 28, 2016The North Stars would commerce their star winger alongside with Bob Rouse to the Washington Capitals on Mar. 7, 1989 in change for Mike Gartner and Larry Murphy. So far, Ciccarelli stays the one participant within the historical past of the Minnesota/Dallas franchise to be a two-time 50-goal scorer. Together with Minnesota and Washington, Ciccarelli would have stops with Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Florida with whom he completed up with in 1998-99. By the tip of his profession, he had scored 608 objectives in 1,232 common season video games. Not surprisingly, Ciccarelli was inducted into the Hockey Corridor of Fame in 2010.
Brian Bellows: One-Time 50-Objective Scorer
Brian Bellows had already performed seven seasons with the North Stars earlier than he hit the magic 50-plateau. A Minnesotan up to date of Ciccarelli’s, his journey to changing into a North Star was considerably totally different. Whereas Ciccarelli had gone undrafted and was considerably of a shock, the North Stars anticipated Bellows to be a preeminent scorer once they drafted him second total in 1982.
In all actuality, Bellows could have been essentially the most recognizable Minnesota participant when he hit the half-century mark throughout the 1989-90 NHL season. By that time limit, Ciccarelli was taking part in his first full season in Washington and Minnesota’s subsequent rising star – Mike Modano – was a rookie.
Bellows scored number-50 on Mar. 22, 1990. Going through the Detroit Purple Wings on the street, Bellow tallied his 50th within the second interval towards goaltender Tim Cheveldae, after which added his 51st with an empty-netter within the third. Bellows would proceed to equal Ciccarelli’s mark of 55 objectives by the shut of the 1989-90 season. What helped issues was that between Mar. 12 and Mar. 31, he scored not less than one aim in 10 straight video games. The 55 objectives and 99 factors he generated that season have been each profession highs for Bellows.
Through the 1989-90 NHL season, Brian Bellows equaled Dino Ciccarelli’s franchise document of 55 objectives in a single season. (Picture by B Bennett/Getty Photos)
No Minnesota/Dallas participant has since equaled or surpassed the staff document shared by Bellows and Ciccarelli.
Bellows would play two extra seasons with the North Stars, together with one other sudden journey for the staff to the Stanley Cup Last throughout the 1990-91 season. Sadly, Minnesota would lose but once more – this time 4 video games to 2 towards the Pittsburgh Penguins. In complete, Bellows performed 753 common season video games for Minnesota, scoring 342 objectives and 380 assists for 722 factors.
Following an Aug. 31, 1992 commerce to the Montreal Canadiens, Bellows would lastly win his first and solely Stanley Cup within the 1992-93 season. Along with Montreal, he would additionally play for Tampa Bay, Anaheim, and Washington with whom he helped make a Cup Last look in 1998. Bellows – who’s considerably surprisingly not within the Hockey Corridor of Fame – completed his profession with 485 objectives, 547 assists, and 1,022 factors in 1,188 common season video games.
Mike Modano: Solely Dallas Participant to Hit 50
Whereas Bellows could have gained a Cup on the shut of the 1992-93 season, the North Stars relocated to Dallas and shortened their identify. At this time limit, Mike Modano was proving himself as a bona fide hockey expertise and the face of the franchise. Sufficient in order that many contemplated over what might need been had the staff stayed in Minnesota. In any case, the North Stars had chosen the Michigan native as the highest total number of the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
Be that as it could, Modano mentioned whats up to the “Lone Star State” in correct style. Through the Stars first season of their new confines, their star participant proceeded to rack up 50 objectives – a profession excessive – and 43 assists to equal his different profession excessive of 93 factors. Modano scored number-50 throughout the second to final sport of the 1993-94 season. On Apr. 12, 1994, with the St. Louis Blues visiting Dallas, the 23-year-old middle scored his 50th and added three assists in a wild 9-5 Stars victory. Modano’s aim was scored towards Blues goalie Jim Hrivnak, who was finally pulled in favor of Curtis Joseph.
Mike Modano is the NHL’s all-time chief in objectives, factors and video games performed by a USA-born participant (picture by skaines/flickr).
Thus, Apr. 12, 1994 is the final time a Stars participant has scored 50 objectives in a season.
Modano was in a position to do what neither of the opposite members of the Stars 50-Objective Membership have been in a position to do with the staff – he introduced residence a Stanley Cup. Dallas would defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4 video games to 2 to win the Cup to shut out the 1998-99 NHL season. Whereas Modano’s aim totals by no means actually approached 50 once more, it was his strong two-way play and a newfound give attention to protection that enabled him to be the participant the Stars wanted to win all of it.
21 of the 22 seasons that Modano performed within the NHL have been spent with the Stars group. He performed 1,459 video games for the staff, scoring 557 objectives and 802 assists for 1,359 factors. Modano would play one season – 2010-11 – on the very finish of his profession for the Detroit Purple Wings, including one other 40 video games, 4 objectives and 11 assists to his Minnesota/Dallas totals.
Modano has performed essentially the most video games (1499), scored essentially the most objectives (561) and essentially the most factors (1,374) for any USA-born participant in NHL historical past. Many think about him to be the best American participant to ever play the sport.
Who Will Be the Subsequent Star to Rating 50?
It appears quite unlikely Dallas Star will attain 50 objectives anytime quickly. It has been a quarter-century since Modano did it. There look like no true contenders for brand new membership into Dallas’ 50-Objective Membership, although there are a pair prospects. We emphasize chance versus probability.
Tyler Seguin seems to be one present participant to contemplate for membership. A Stanley Cup champion with Boston in his rookie season, Seguin has now performed in Dallas for six straight seasons. To date, he has not scored lower than 26 objectives since becoming a member of the staff. Seguin’s highest complete for the Stars was an excellent 40 objectives throughout the 2017-18 season. Extra of a playmaker than a pure goal-scorer, he would want an extra-special push as a way to hit 50.
With a profession excessive of 40 objectives, might Dallas Stars ahead Tyler Seguin make the push to hit 50 in a single season? (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers).
The opposite possibility that Dallas presently has for 50 is 10-year Stars veteran Jamie Benn. Winner of the 2014-15 Artwork Ross Trophy because the NHL’s factors chief, Benn has scored not less than 20 objectives each season he has performed within the league apart from the lockout shortened 2012-13 season. Solely barely higher than Seguin’s complete, Benn scored 41 objectives throughout the 2015-16 season – his highest complete since he broke into the league.
With each Seguin and Benn scoring no larger than low-40s, it’s uncertain that both’s crest will likely be any larger. That being the case, it seems that Ciccarelli, Bellows and Modano will stay the lone members of the unique Stars 50-Objective Membership for not less than a number of extra years.
