Stephen John Shutt (born July 1, 1952) is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He was an integral part of the Montreal Canadiens team that won five Stanley Cups in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979.
Early years
As a youngster he displayed hockey skills that led to him playing for the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). With the Marlboros, Steve Shutt, Dave Gardner and Billy Harris formed one of the most potent lines in OHL history. In 1971 Shutt was named to the league's Second All-Star Team and the following season to its First All-Star Team. Shutt attended Fisherville Junior High School along with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush. Lee states that Shutt introduced him to Lifeson.
Montreal Canadiens years
Shutt was drafted by Montreal of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 1972-73 season. In 1976-77, Shutt was a key member of the Canadiens team that compiled the best regular season record in league history, losing only 8 games during an 80-game schedule. Partnered with Jacques Lemaire and Guy Lafleur to form the top line in the NHL, Shutt scored 60 goals, a league record for left wingers that stood until the 1992-93 season when Luc Robitaille scored 63 goals, a record that has since been broken by Alexander Ovechkin's 65 goals in the 2007-08 season. During his career with Montreal, he was named to the NHL First All-Star team in 1977, and the NHL Second All-Star team in 1978 and 1980.
Polo
A lover of horses and an avid polo player, Shutt, along with teammate Larry Robinson, Michael Sinclair-Smith and local veterinarian Dr. Gilbert Hallé, founded the Montreal Polo Club at Sainte-Marthe, Quebec.
Career statistics
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1968-69 | North York Rangers | MetJHL | 17 | 10 | 17 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1968-69 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | ||
1969-70 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | 49 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 93 | 18 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 13 | ||
1970-71 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | 62 | 70 | 53 | 123 | 85 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 20 | ||
1971-72 | Toronto Marlboros | OHA-Jr. | 58 | 63 | 49 | 112 | 60 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 12 | ||
1972-73 | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | AHL | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972-73 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 50 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
1973-74 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 9 | ||
1974-75 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 30 | 35 | 65 | 40 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | ||
1975-76 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 45 | 34 | 79 | 47 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 2 | ||
1976-77 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 60 | 45 | 105 | 28 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 2 | ||
1977-78 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 80 | 49 | 37 | 86 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 20 | ||
1978-79 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 72 | 37 | 40 | 77 | 31 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | ||
1979-80 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 47 | 42 | 89 | 34 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 | ||
1980-81 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 35 | 38 | 73 | 51 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||
1981-82 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 31 | 24 | 55 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1982-83 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 78 | 35 | 22 | 57 | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
1983-84 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 63 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 29 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 8 | ||
1984-85 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1984-85 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 59 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
NHL totals | 930 | 424 | 393 | 817 | 410 | 99 | 50 | 48 | 98 | 65 |
Post playing career
Following his playing career, Shutt worked as a television hockey commentator but in 1993 to 1997, he worked on the Canadiens coaching staff. On November 22, 2003, Shutt participated with the Canadiens' oldtimers against the Edmonton Oilers oldtimers in the Heritage Classic, the first outdoor game in the history of the NHL played at Commonwealth Stadium, in Edmonton, Alberta.
Shutt currently is touring Canada as a playing member of the Oldtimers' Hockey Challenge, raising money for charitable causes.