Steve Larmer To Take “One More Shift” – Blackhawks Still Need To Retire 28
Friday night, the Chicago Blackhawks will honor Steve Larmer with the second edition of “One More Shift.”
At some point, his number should be retired; that honor is well overdue. Indeed, Larmer’s banner should hang where he spent his early career: on the right side of Denis Savard.
Larmer won the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers, Friday night’s opponent at the United Center, after being traded on Nov. 2, 1993. His coach in New York: Mike Keenan.
Entering Friday, here’s where Larmer ranks in Blackhawks history:
- Points: 4th (923)
- Goals: 3rd (406)
- Assists: 5th (517)
- Plus-Minus: 2nd (+182)
- Game-Winning Goals: 2nd (49)
- Short-Handed Goals: 3rd (19 – tied with Jeremy Roenick)
- Games Players: 7th (891)
The only player ahead of Larmer in plus-minus and game-winning goals in Jonathan Toews, the only active player to rank ahead of Larmer in any category entering Friday (Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith should both pass him in games played this season).
He wasn’t only a great regular season player. In 140 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, Larmer posted 131 points (56 goals, 75 assists). Larmer was also dominant on the international stage, leading the 1991 Canada Cup in goals (six) and finishing the tournament ranked second with 11 points while representing Canada.
Larmer played his final regular season game with the Blackhawks at the end of the 1992-93 season, and yet he still ranks in the top five of every major offensive category 24 years later. To have that kind of staying power – in the record books of an Original Six franchise nonetheless – is remarkable. And should be recognized, formally.
But Larmer also ranks among the most productive right wings in NHL history. Consider the following list of 11 names – the only 11 right wings in NHL history to average at least 1.0 point per game with more than 1,000 career points.
- Jaromir Jagr**
- Gordie Howe – HOF
- Teemu Selanne*
- Jari Kurri – HOF
- Brett Hull – HOF
- Guy Lafleur – HOF
- Mike Bossy – HOF
- Theo Fleury
- Joe Mullen – HOF
- Alex Mogilny
- Steve Larmer
* = Selanne is not yet eligible for induction
** = Jagr is still active
The of the ten other right wings to qualify, six are in the Hall of Fame and two more most certainly will be when they are eligible (assuming Jagr ever retires).
When Marian Hossa reached 1,000 points in Oct. 2014, Ken Campbell at The Hockey News thought through his Hall of Fame case. He appropriately made the comparison to Larmer, but fell short of saying what we firmly believe: Larmer should have been in the Hall years ago.
Well deserved great to see
Hear hear Tab. A very well presented case for Larms. 28 needs to go to the rafters, and yes next to Savvy would be where it belongs. The Savard line was one of the best in Hawks history imo. Such a pity that team never won a Cup.
I was going to sell my tickets to the game tonight, but I MUST be there for Larmer.
Lets GO Hawks!
It was sad to see him win the cup with another team, but what a player. Steve Larmer is the model for an all around player and should be on the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Greatest Hawk of all time, in my opinion. 28 should be retired. And he should have been in the Hall a long time ago.
Greatest memories of the Blackhawks (even greater than the last eight seasons) were the teams of the 80’s playing at Chicago Stadium. The Savard line w/ Secord and Larmer was so tremendous. The whole team was great. But alas, these were the years also of the Edmonton dynasty that we could not remotely overcome.
Big fan of Larmer. A truly great right wing. His number should be in the rafters of the UC.
He was very good both ways and on the PK as well — 24 career shorties. Great finisher– loved the slapshots on breakaways (Hossa seems like the only one of our guys who still does that).
Is there a chant that can be started at the game tonight to retire 28? Until 19/88/2 retire, no other Hawk is more deserving.
Good comments guys. Yes, RTF, those Larmer years at the Stadium were legend. From 1979 through 1994 I had 2nd balcony redline, section N row E seats 24,25,26. I loved it up there. Yes, the Oilers were always in the way!
Chant tonight could be RETIRE 28, RETIRE 28….. Looking back it was Larmer that had the best 1 timer in the game at that time, and might have helped to bring that shot into a shooters repertoire. Savard to Larmer from the top of the circle… HE SCORES!!!
Lets Go Hawks!
Tab you are spot on. Steve Larmer was and will always be one of my favorite Hawks. And yes his number 28 should hang from the rafters with the other great Hawks. Make this wrong into a right Rocky you’ve done everything right so far.
Evidently, Trevor has never heard of Stan Mikita or Bobby Hull.
I think that they have short changed one the best right wingers ever by not having Larmer in the hall of fame . His jersey should be retired at the UC beside some of the greatest hawks ever.
Larmer is one of the most underrated players ever ( along with Ron Francis) well deserved for Larmer. He and Savard were magic.
Speaking of the oilers I remember the game where Savard stick handled through the whole Edmonton oiler team and scored. Great games
131 points in 140 playoff games …… damn! That is something! Gotta retire that number and put it up there.
Of course retire the number – DA ! But I believe that even after a team retires a number that number should still be able to be worn by upcoming players. Rename the process ‘Honoring’. The number will always hang in the rafters and live in the memories of those who devotedly watched the game.