Cy Denneny was one of the NHL's first great scorers, and he's still the fastest player to score 200 goals, having done it in 181 games.
The native of Farrow's Point, Ontario, turned pro with Toronto of the National Hockey Association in 1914-15. He blossomed the following season, scoring 24 goals in 24 games. But after failing to report to training camp in the fall of 1916, Denneny was traded to the Ottawa Senators in January 1917 and scored three goals in 10 games with his new team.
Cy Denneny was one of the NHL's first great scorers, and he's still the fastest player to score 200 goals, having done it in 181 games.
The native of Farrow's Point, Ontario, turned pro with Toronto of the National Hockey Association in 1914-15. He blossomed the following season, scoring 24 goals in 24 games. But after failing to report to training camp in the fall of 1916, Denneny was traded to the Ottawa Senators in January 1917 and scored three goals in 10 games with his new team.
The Senators joined the NHL for the 1917-18 season, and Denneny finished second to Joe Malone of the Montreal Canadiens in goals (36) and points (46). He set an NHL record by starting the season with four straight multigoal games; the mark still stands, though it was equaled by Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks in 2013.
Denneny scored 18 and 16 goals in his next two seasons, then scored 34 in 1920-21, beginning a streak of six seasons he scored at least 21. He led the NHL in scoring in 1923-24 with 24 points (22 goals, two assists) and helped the Senators win the Stanley Cup in 1921, 1923 and 1927. Despite not being among the NHL's fastest skaters, Denneny thrived with an accurate, deceptive shot. He was also one of the first players to experiment with a curved stick.
But after he dropped to three goals in 44 points in 1927-28, Denneny was traded to the Boston Bruins for cash on Oct. 25, 1928. He became player-coach of the Bruins and guided them to the Cup in 1929 before retiring to become an on-ice official. He finished with 336 points (247 goals, 89 assists) in 329 NHL games, as well as 18 points (16 goals, two assists) in 25 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and was the NHL's all-time leader in goals and points until being passed by Howie Morenz.
Denneny rejoined his old team, the Senators, as coach in 1931-32, but was let go after Ottawa went 11-27 with 10 ties and missed the playoffs. He went into government service after leaving the NHL, was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959 and died at age 78 on Sept. 10, 1970.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Signed as a free agent by Montreal Canadiens (NHA), November 29, 1912 but released after training camp ended, December, 1912.
- Signed as a free agent by Toronto (NHA), November 12, 1915.
- Traded to Ottawa (NHA) by Toronto (NHA) for cash, January, 1917.
- Rights retained by Ottawa after NHA folded, November 26, 1917.
- Traded to Boston by Ottawa for cash, October 25, 1928.
