In 1984, the debate on who should win the Norris Trophy came down to two players – Oilers star Paul Coffey and Capitals counterpart Rod Langway.
In 1984, the debate on who should win the Norris Trophy came down to two players – Oilers star Paul Coffey and Capitals counterpart Rod Langway.
The NHL’s Norris Trophy competition as this season’s best defenseman is coming down to two or three players – Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes, Nashville’s Roman Josi and Colorado's Cale Makar. And in this cover story from The Hockey News’ April 20, 1984 edition (Volume 37, Issue 29), veteran contributing writer Stan Fischler put together a story on the Norris battle between star D-men Rod Langway and Paul Coffey.
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Although they were different kind of players – Coffey the flashy point-producing blueliner, and Langway the bigger defensive presence – both defensemen made massive impacts on their team. And just as fans and media debated who deserved the Norris in 1984, so did their player counterparts.
“It’s amazing what Coffey has done especially when you consider all the publicity and the fact that he is a defenseman,” said veteran Bruins forward Rick Middleton. “If I had to pick between Langway and Coffey tor the Norris, I’d have to go with Coffey.”
Vancouver Canuck GM-coach Harry Neale thought differently. “I think you’ll see Coffey win the Norris but I’d pick Langway,” Neale said. “I’m an old defenseman and I respect what he’s done on defense.”
Langway won the Norris in 1983 and 1984, but Coffey won the award in the following two seasons. Both became Hockey Hall of Famers, but they were fundamentally different in the way they approached their job.
“With the Oilers,” Coffey told Fischler, “my role is to get the puck and get it out of our end and generate some offense out there. Glen (Sather, the Oilers’ coach) tells me he doesn’t mind me carrying the puck and I score a few goals here and there.”
“Langway is more of a team player and leader,” said New York Rangers defenseman Tom Laidlaw. “And, furthermore, he’s a better all-round player.”
“Coffey is basically a fourth forward who follows up on the play,” added Calgary Flames GM Cliff Fletcher. “Langway is the soundest defenseman in the league and that’s why he’d get my vote.”
COFFEY ISN’T EVERYONE’S CUP OF TEA
Vol. 37, No. 29, April 20, 1984
By Stan Fischler
It is a measure of Rod Langway’s modesty — or sense of discretion — that when asked whether he or Paul Coffey deserves the Norris Trophy, the Washington Capitals’ captain points to Northlands Coliseum.
“I’d give it to Coffey,” says Langway.
No way, say a number of other hockey experts who argue that Langway deserves the Norris. In a random poll conducted by The Hockey News, a significant majority favor Langway as the NHL’s best defenseman, but a few counter that the trophy belongs to Coffey.
The arithmetic favors the Oiler defenseman.
During the 1983-84 season, Coffey’s pyrotechnics on the Oiler defense caused several computers to get the shakes in a desperate effort to enumerate his numbers.
After 80 games, Coffey zinged 40 goals, 86 assists for 126 points, while accompanying Wayne Gretzky’s fraternity boys to first place.
By contrast, Langway played 80 games, with nine goals and 24 assists for a total 33 points.
Translated, the big Coffey numbers mean he can now legitimately be compared with the apostle of offensive-defense, the originator of the don’t-call-me-I’ll-call-you rushing backliner, Bobby Orr.
Coffey not only can be compared with Orr, he can top him. For example, in his fourth season in the NHL, Orr, at the age of 22, set an NHL record of 120 points in one season by a defenseman. Coffey, at 21, has broken that record with a total of 126 points in his fourth season in the league.
“It’s amazing what Coffey has done,” says Boston Bruin resident sharpshooter Rick Middleton, “especially when you consider all the publicity and the fact that he is a defenseman. If I had to pick between Langway and Coffey tor the Norris, I’d have to go with Coffey.”
One might suspect that Coffey is a shoo-in to win the Norris. If one thought so, one would be wrong.
For reasons that might have to do as much with the cloud formation as with life on ice, defensive defensemen such as Langway suddenly are being treated as if they are treasured antiques that still work, like a 1937 Cord automobile.
“I’d pick Langway for the Norris,” says veteran Ranger defenseman Dave Maloney. “If I were in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals I’d rather have Langway out there.”
Langway was out there in 1979 and has a Stanley Cup ring to prove it, helping Les Canadiens to their last tide.
Coffey was there last May but still is awaiting his first ring.
“Coffey,” adds Maloney, “could easily win the best forward award.”
Which brings us to the dilemma: should the Norris Trophy go to the defenseman with the most points or to the defenseman who plays the best defense?
Before the Bobby Orr era, which began in 1968 when he won his first Norris Trophy, winners of the prize were primarily defensive defensemen.
Harry Howell of the New York Rangers, the last to capture the Norris before Orr, considered it an inflationary year if he scored as many as 12 goals.
“When Orr came along,” says Howell, “I knew enough to kiss the Norris good-bye.”
Which is precisely what he did.
For a decade, Orr played more like a rover than a defenseman. In doing so, he tacitly persuaded defensemen that it was foolish to malinger in your own zone when you can be rushing like a forward.
The Orr publishing company produced volumes of new records and easily impressionable voters for NHL awards looked at the numbers and automatically voted Orr for the Norris.
During the 1968-1975 epoch, Orr annexed the Norris eight straight times and not only was rated best defenseman but best player — and not just then but of all time and by a lot of people who know hockey.
“Gordie Howe could do everything but not at top speed,” says Boston Bruin general manager Harry Sinden. “Bobby Hull went at top speed but couldn’t do everything. Orr would do everything and do it at top speed.”
Since the end of the Orr era, Norris Trophy successors have included Denis Potvin (3), Larry Robinson (2), Randy Carlyle, Doug Wilson and Langway.
One very good reason why Coffey ranks among the favorites to win the Norris is his point total. The Oiler defenseman says that offense ranks high on his defensive priorities.
“With the Oilers,” says Coffey, “my role is to get the puck and get it out of our end and generate some offense out there. Glen (Sather, the Oiler’ coach) tells me he doesn’t mind me carrying the puck and I score a few goals here and there.”
Coffey’s goals do not impress goaltenders (or former goaltenders) when it comes to evaluating defensemen.
“Langway,” says goalie-turned-broadcaster John Davidson, “means a lot more to the Capitals than Coffey does to the Oilers. Langway’s a leader, a winner and has had to sacrifice a lot, including scoring.”
Former Philadelphia Flyer coach Fred Shero concurs: “The Oilers would survive without Coffey but not the Caps without Langway.”
Rank-and-file players lean toward Langway. Rookie Norm Schmidt of the Pittsburgh Penguins is one of them.
“I’d definitely pick Langway over Coffey,” says Schmidt, who played midget hockey in Sault Ste. Marie when Coffey was a member of the Soo Greyhounds. “Sure, Coffey’s got the points but Langway is the strongest defensive player in his end. I’ve yet to see him out of position or give away the puck.”
Even offensive types such as the Rangers’ 48-goal scorer Pierre Larouche favor Langway.
“The Oilers,” says Larouche, “would still be a scoring machine without Coffey. Defense is the name of the Caps’ game. Take away Langway and you’ve taken away their leader and top defenseman.”
John Chabot of the Canadiens finds flaws in Coffey’s armament not apparent in Langway.
“Whenever we played Edmonton, Coffey made mistakes,” Chabot says.
Coffey clearly isn’t everyone’s cup of ice tea when it comes to defensive play or the Norris Trophy of leadership.
“Langway is more of a team player and leader,” says the Rangers’ Tom Laidlaw, “and, furthermore, he’s a better all-round player.”
That, of course, is debatable, depending upon which side of the Patrick or Smythe Division one sits. Those who have seen more of Coffey — Smythe Division regulars — have mixed views about the Oilers’ offensive-defenseman’s right to the Norris but have no doubts about Langway’s mortgage on the silverware.
Calgary Flame coach Bob Johnston: “Langway is more valuable to Washington than Coffey is to Edmonton. Langway has the intangibles that are so important and he’s a good stay-at-home defenseman. Take Coffey away from the Oilers and they’re still dynamite.”
Minnesota North Star general manager Lou Nanne: “No question, Langway. He’s the key reason why Washington’s goals against is down. And he’s also behind the emergence of their other defensemen.”
Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Hal Sigurdson: “Langway is a better defensive player; the name of the position is defense. Voters should have enough wisdom to identify quality and not only look at stats. It’s refreshing to see a player of such obvious defensive quality get recognition. “
North Star coach Bill Mahoney: “I’d vote for Lang way because of his complete domination. He’s the very best defensive defenseman and he’s been significant in the quick turnaround of the Caps’ defensive play.”
New Jersey Devil goalie Glenn Resch: “Langway — because he’s done so much for that team. “
Calgary Herald columnist Steve Simmons: “Langway is a better defenseman and more valuable to his team than Coffey is to the Oilers. The thing that’s helped Langway is that he doesn’t wear a helmet; he’s more visible.”
St. Louis Blues’ coach Jacques Demers: “They are one-two; Langway first, Coffey, second. I go with Langway because he played 35 to 40 minutes a game; he’s the key to the blueline and Washington’s goals against was so good.”
New Jersey Devil defenseman Mike Kitchen: “Defense is what wins hockey games and look what kind of defense Langway’s played.”
Vancouver Canuck GM-coach Harry Neale: “I think you’ll see Coffey win the Norris but I’d pick Langway. I’m an old defenseman and I respect what he’s done on defense.”
New Jersey Devil GM Max McNab: “Picking between Coffey and Langway is a sweetheart of a choice. I’ll go with Langway because the dictionary says defense means ‘to defend.’ The Caps’ goals-against record proves something about Rod’s value.”
Calgary Flame GM Cliff Fletcher: “Coffey is basically a fourth forward who follows up on the play. Langway is the soundest defenseman in the league and that’s why he’d get my vote.”
All of which is not to suggest that Rod Langway will win the Norris Trophy. Very few of the hockey people quoted above have a say in the matter since members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association select the award winners.
To really answer the question of who’s gonna win the Norris, we’ll just have to wait until June 4, the day the NHL awards will be announced at a gala ceremony in Toronto, which will be televised live across Canada.
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