THN Archive: Islanders Goalie Trio of Smith, Hrudey and Melanson Wasn't Without Issues

In 1984, the New York Islanders employed a three-goalie system, using veterans Billy Smith, Roland Melanson and youngster Kelly Hrudey. The system wasn't the most popular among the three, but the Isles made it work.

The New York Islanders have a solid goaltending tandem this season in Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov. In this cover story from THN’s Jan. 13, 1984 edition (Vol. 37, Issue 15) – writer Tim Moriarty put the spotlight on the Isles’ three capable netminders: Kelly Hrudey, Billy Smith and Roland Melanson.

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Twenty-two years old at the time of the story’s publication, Hrudey was the new kid on the block on Long Island. Melanson and Smith had already experienced success, winning the William Jennings Trophy in the 1982-83 season, and the idea of a trio of goalies wasn’t exactly the most positive development among the group.

“Use three goalies and you ruin two,” Smith told Moriarty.

Legendary Islanders coach Al Arbour had more confidence in the arrangement.

“Why shouldn’t it work?” Arbour said. “A lot of it is psychological. If the three get it out of their minds that somebody’s making it hard for them, I don’t see why it can’t work. I was with St. Louis when they had three goalies (Glenn Hall, Jacques Plante and Ernie Wakely) and they won the Vezina Trophy.”

For Melanson, the three-goalie system wasn’t exactly his idea of a good time.

“I still haven’t got the feel of things yet,” Melanson said “There isn’t enough work for three of us and I figure a decision will have to be made soon. We can’t go into the playoffs (rotating) this way.”

As far as Hrudey was concerned, just having an NHL job was a thrill. He’d stay with the Isles until the 1988-89 campaign when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings. He’d have a solid NHL career, but he understood why his fellow Islanders goalies weren’t over the moon with joy.

“I’m sure Rollie and Smitty aren’t happy because it’s a situation they’re not used to,” Hrudey said. “I’d probably feel the same way if I was in their shoes. But complaining won’t change things. I’m just happy to be here and I want to stay here for a long time.”

Vol. 37, No. 15, Jan. 13, 1984

By Tim Moriarty

Bill Smith, Roland Melanson and Kelly Hrudey. They are the Three Musketeers of the Islanders. They’re “one for all and all for one,” though there are times when they question the judgment of their leaders.

Some eyebrows were raised at the start of the season when general manager Bill Torrey promoted Hrudey (pronounced Rudee) from the Indianapolis Checkers of the Central League, where the 22-year-old goalie won most valuable player honors for two successive seasons. This meant that coach Al Arbour would have to work Hrudey into his goalie rotation with Smith and Melanson, who shared the William Jennings Trophy last season.

Smith was the first to voice his objection to a three-goalie system.

“Use three goalies and you ruin two,” the veteran of 12 NHL seasons said.

Melanson, though less explicit, also sounded off on the subject.

Torrey nodded his head and indicated it was only a temporary situation.

“We probably won’t go with three for the whole season,” he said then. But as the Islanders approached mid-season, Arbour was still juggling the Three Musketeers. And doing a good job at it, too.

“Why shouldn’t it work?” the coach said. “A lot of it is psychological. If the three get it out of their minds that somebody’s making it hard for them, I don’t see why it can’t work. I was with St. Louis when they had three goalies (Glenn Hall, Jacques Plante and Ernie Wakely) and they won the Vezina Trophy.”

Hrudey had the best record among the trio when the Islanders reached the Christmas break in the schedule. He had a 5-1-0 record — the lone loss coming against Winnipeg — and a 2.01 goals-allowed average.

Smith, seemingly benefitting from extra rest, went unbeaten in five straight games as he raised his record to 12-4-1 and lowered his goals-allowed average to 3.23.

Melanson failed to win his first four starts this season and his average stood at 6.16. But he eventually got untracked and was unbeaten in five games when the Capitals caught up with him two nights before Christmas. The Islanders went into that game with six straight victories and a nine-game unbeaten streak. The Caps gained a 4-0 lead against Melanson and rolled to a 7-3 victory. It left Melanson with a 7-5-1 record and a 3.72 average.

“I still haven’t got the feel of things yet,” Melanson said “There isn’t enough work for three of us and I figure a decision will have to be made soon. We can’t go into the playoffs (rotating) this way.”

Smith agreed with his sidekick.

“It’s here and it’s working,” he said. “But what happens if it suddenly falls apart?”

Hrudey admitted he was in a difficult position.

“I’m sure Rollie and Smitty aren’t happy because it’s a situation they’re not used to,” the rookie said. “I’d probably feel the same way if I was in their shoes. But complaining won’t change things. I’m just happy to be here and I want to stay here for a long time.”

The Islanders will not be able to protect all three in next year’s waiver draft, so it’s possible Torrey will peddle one of the goalies. Melanson was promoted from Indianapolis after Torrey traded Chico Resch to the Colorado Rockies near the end of the 1980-81 season. Is Torrey now considering a trade for Melanson? The general manager won’t say, but one thing seems certain: Smith’s job is safe so long as he keeps leading the Islanders to Stanley Cup championships.

The Three Musketeers, meanwhile, will continue to work together in reasonable harmony.

“We get along well,” Hrudey said.

Like Athos, Porthos and Aramis — the legendary swordsmen of the Alexandre Dumas novel — the three goalies have sharply divergent personalities.

Smith still chops at rivals who invade his domain in front of the net, but he has mellowed in other ways. He used to duck postgame interviews; now he seems to enjoy them. Win or lose, he shrugs his shoulders and says, “Whatta ya going to do?”

Melanson is sensitive and introspective. He recently admonished a reporter for writing that he was pouting about not playing more often.

“That didn’t look good to my teammates,” he said.

Hrudey is a typical rookie — a little shy and nervous in front of strangers, but extremely pleasant and polite. He was so fond of sleeping when he was with Indianapolis that he earned the nickname “Mattress.” But he is always wide awake on the ice.

Asked what he learned during his two years at Indianapolis, the pink-cheeked youngster replied, “Being patient.”

Hrudey is a native of Edmonton and played his amateur hockey in Medicine Hat, where he met his sweetheart, Donna Thompson, whom he will wed in June. The Islanders made Hrudey a second-round pick (38th overall) in the 1980 draft. He turned pro with Indianapolis in 1981 and came under the watchful eye of coach Fred Creighton.

“I liked it in Indy,” Hrudey said. “We had a great coach and a bunch of good hockey players. Fred Creighton knows the game and he wants to win. He gets the best out of his players. I learned a lot from him.”

Hrudey offered a word of advice for other youngsters working their way up through the farm system: “You have to wait your turn and hopefully you’ll find a spot on the big team,” he said. “And when you get that chance, be ready.”

Hrudey was ready when his turn came — and now he’s a valued member of the Three Musketeers.

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