Historical Parallels
There’s actually historical parallels here as Craig MacTavish made his way to the Oilers by way of a free agent signing. MacT, as a young man, enjoyed the spoils of an NHL salary by purchasing a sports car. Unfortunately, as young men are prone to do, MacT thought he was invincible and went driving in his fancy sports car in the early 80s, naturally at a high rate of speed and worst yet, drunk.
That night ended in disaster for him as he ended up getting into a terrible car crash that ended up injuring a young woman who died in hospital four days later from the injuries sustained. MacT was charged with vehicular homicide and actually spent the entire 84-85 season in jail for the charge.
He experienced great remorse for what he did, eventually ending up apologizing profusely to the family in Boston and even remaining in contact with them to this day.
Anyway, then-Oilers GM Glen Sather asked then-Bruins GM Harry Sinden to let MacT out of his contract with the Bruins as he felt MacTavish needed a fresh start in another city, with the memories of that night haunting him forever had he stayed in Boston.
Sinden agreed and MacT was soon signed by Sather to come to the Edmonton Oilers. The rest, as they say, is hockey history as MacT became a legendary bottom six forward for the Oilers during their dynasty years in the 80s, and then was traded to New York at the 1994 trade deadline where he would go on to win another Cup with the Rangers.
Say what you will about MacT’s coaching and management careers, but there’s no question that as a player he paid the Oilers back in spades for the second chance Sather got him – in life and in hockey.
Will history repeat itself with Ken Holland and Evander Kane today? Hard to say, but let’s hope so.
Shameless plug time
Did you know that superstar ex-Oiler Mark Messier recently wrote an autobiography? I got it for Christmas and finished it a few weeks ago.
It’s called “No one wins alone” and speaks of Messier’s childhood, with thoughts of moving around a lot due to his dad’s hockey career, eventually settling into St. Albert, his early career, leadership, winning his first five cups with the Oilers, the aftermath of the Gretzky trade, his own trade to the Rangers and subsequent ’94 cup win, his time in Vancouver (spoiler alert – it’s different than what was reported in the media at the time….), his return to the Rangers and eventual retirement.