“I’m not at liberty to say what I am, but the last time I weighed 196 pounds was in my last year of junior. Being this light, it can’t do anything but help me.”
The following THN Archive story by Reyn Davis takes and up-close and personal look at Randy Carlyle's choice to show up to his first Jets camp down significant weight. The news was the talk of the town and Jets management.
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Carlyle Loses Flab, Gains Respect
October 12, 1984 – Vol. 38, Issue 3
By Reyn Davis
"There is less of Randy Carlyle to watch this season. Twenty-three pounds less.
His gesture has tickled the Winnipeg Jets so much they are tempted to name him captain.
“I think in doing so he has demonstrated the tremendous desire he has to play here,” said coach Barry Long. “He has illustrated to other players his intentions. That’s the kind of dedication and commitment we need to be a winner.”
When the playoffs ended so abruptly last April, the merciful sight of the 220-pound Carlyle struggling to be effective on two bad knees was over. As battered and buttered as he was, the Jets had no one better.
“We are depending on him,” said Long. “He is a quality defenseman who is young enough (28) to have one of his best years. Staying away from injuries is important. You start by being in shape.”
Breezing through his first 60-minute skate, showing no effects of any lingering injury, Carlyle showered and dressed before pausing to discuss his new look.
“Weight is supposed to be an internal thing,” he said, smiling at the double meaning of his remark. “I’m not at liberty to say what I am, but the last time I weighed 196 pounds was in my last year of junior. Being this light, it can’t do anything but help me.”
Starting anew with a self-negotiated contract, Carlyle said the motive of his weight loss was based on mutual respect.
“The Jets have shown they have an interest in me,” he said. “I’m a 28-year-old hockey player and, hopefully, I can perform for these people. This is the least I can do.”
Using a diet introduced last fall at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ camp, Carlyle limited himself to a “solid” breakfast and an “adequate” lunch and supper while staying away from red meats.
“It was more a question of sticking to the basics,” he said. “But it isn’t easy during the summer. We entertain a lot at our cottage near Sudbury. I was accustomed to eating at 10 o’clock, then going to bed. But I forced myself to eat at six, then stayed away from food.”
Looking back on the season past, he dismissed it as a write-off.
“One thing after another happened,” he said, recalling the beginning of the end of a six-year stay in Pittsburgh. “I was hurt all season. After a while, it became apparent a change was the best thing that could possibly happen. It was time for a change.”
Idle for a month, he played the day after the Jets acquired him—helping the team to a 7-3 win in Los Angeles on Mar. 6.
“I played three or four games, then bruised my kneecap and missed another three weeks,” said Carlyle. “I came back one game before the playoffs. We were going to meet Edmonton Oilers. You better be ready.”
Though the meeting was brief, Carlyle seemed to strike a rapport with Winnipeg fans who liked the generalship, the fundamental skills and the touch of meanness mixed with strength of the 1980-81 winner of the Norris Trophy.
“I will definitely do the best I can possibly do,” vowed Carlyle, issuing a promise to the people who are eager to see him perform for an entire season.
BENCH BITS—Swedish national coach Leif Boork had to sever his ties with the Jets when he accepted the fulltime position before the Canada Cup. Boork had worked as a scout for the Jets for the past 10 years…Laurie Boschman is still slightly affected by his shoulder injury of last season. He has lost 5-10 percent of his extremeal rotation, which would be serious if he were a baseball player…Scott Arniel, Andrew McBain and Jim Kyte have added valuable pounds of muscle to their upper bodies, complying with the team’s off-season suggestions.