Steve Shutt

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Shutt's career was defined by a unique blend of spatial awareness and scoring diversity despite his relatively small stature. He formed the top line with Jacques Lemaire and Guy Lafleur, becoming a dominant force in the NHL. His historic achievement came on April 3, 1977, when he scored against the Washington Capitals to become the first left-winger ever to reach 60 goals in a single season. This feat capped off a year where he was named to the NHL First All-Star team. He followed this with Second All-Star selections in 1978 and 1980. His scoring prowess helped him secure five Stanley Cups with Montreal, contributing to the dynasty's success in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979. Even after his playing days, he remained connected to the game, serving as an assistant coach for the Canadiens from 1993 to 1997 under Jacques Demers and Mario Tremblay.

In Their Own Story

New York Islanders goaltender Billy Smith recalled facing Shutt many times in the 70s and 80s, noting, 'He had a great shot. Unbelievable shot.' Smith highlighted that Shutt could tee it up better than anybody coming across the blue line with scary accuracy. Shutt was famous for his slap shot, which he could fire off in full stride while coming down the wing, often letting fly one or two steps inside the offensive zone to beat goalies clean. Beyond the slap shot, his one-timer precision earned him a spot as the point man on the power play over many of his team's defensemen. However, his most noteworthy trait was collecting rebounds for 'garbage goals.' As Shutt himself claimed, 'I’m the only guy that could score goals and make it boring.' He possessed exceptional hand-eye coordination, capable of batting in pucks bouncing one or two feet off the ice. Shutt attributed these reflexes to his youth: 'We always had about fifteen kids on the ice, and so there wasn’t a lot of room. And so you had to be really quick with your hands.'

Reader's Guide

Stephen John Shutt's playing style relied on remarkable spatial awareness rather than elite skating speed or size. He consistently found dead areas of coverage by anticipating puck movement or arriving late on plays. His arsenal included a wrist shot known for superior accuracy, allowing him to pick corners or hit the five-hole with consistency. While he was a masterful goal scorer generally, his slap shot stood out for its unusual power and precision. This skill allowed him to dominate as a power-play point man despite not being a defenseman. Shutt's effectiveness around the net earned him comparisons to 'garbage collectors' like Nels Stewart, Gordie Drillon, Phil Esposito, and Corey Perry. He could corral pucks with his skates and protect them with his body. His career spanned from 1972 to 1985, culminating in five Stanley Cup victories. Post-retirement, he worked as a television commentator, served as an assistant coach for Montreal (1993–1997), and spent 19 years at Toromont Industries. He also participated in the Heritage Classic in 2003 against Edmonton oldtimers.

Did You Know?

• Shutt scored his historic 60th goal of the 1976-77 season on April 3, 1977, against the Washington Capitals.
• He attributed his fast hands and reflexes to playing with about fifteen kids on a small ice surface as a child.
• In North York, Shutt was a middle school classmate of rock star Geddy Lee and introduced him to future Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson.
• Shutt participated in the Heritage Classic on November 22, 2003, playing for the Canadiens' old-timers against Edmonton.
• He worked as an assistant coach for the Montreal Canadiens from 1993 to 1997 under coaches Jacques Demers and Mario Tremblay.