Robbie Ftorek

Lore & Background

Ftorek began his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings, who considered him too small at 5'9" and 155 pounds; he played only 15 games for Detroit over two seasons, spending most of his time in the minors. He moved to the WHA in 1974 with the Phoenix Roadrunners, where he became the team's biggest star. In 1975–76 he became the first American to collect 100 points in a season, and the following year he won the Gordie Howe Trophy as league MVP despite his team finishing in last place. He was also Team USA's leading scorer and MVP in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup.

After the WHA folded, Ftorek signed with the Quebec Nordiques and became the first English-speaking captain in Nordiques history. He finished his NHL career with the New York Rangers in 1985. As a coach, he led the Albany River Rats to the Calder Cup in 1995 and later coached the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins. He was fired by both teams with nine games remaining in winning regular seasons, a distinction he holds alone.

Reader's Guide

Robbie Ftorek's significance lies in his pioneering role for American players in professional hockey. He was the first American to be named MVP of a professional league, a feat that stood alone for nearly 40 years. His 100-point season in the WHA was also a first for an American. Over his combined NHL and WHA career, he scored 750 points in more than 700 games, ranking sixth on the WHA's all-time points list. As a coach, he won the Calder Cup in 1995 and had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup twice, though he was fired by the Devils before they won the Cup in 2000. His coaching career is notable for being the only coach fired by two different teams in the final days of winning regular seasons. He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

Did You Know?

• Ftorek won the Gordie Howe Trophy as WHA MVP in 1976–77 while playing for a last-place team.
• He was the first American to score 100 points in a professional hockey season.
• Ftorek was the first English-speaking captain of the Quebec Nordiques.
• He was fired by both the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins with nine games left in winning seasons.