5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About the Flames Lanny McDonald

Lanny McDonald is one of those players hockey fans instantly recognize. Sure, the mustache helped, but there's a lot more to his story than great facial hair. He scored 500 NHL goals, won a Stanley Cup, and became one of the most beloved figures in hockey history.

Here are five things you might not know about him.

#1. McDonald Grew Up a Maple Leafs Fan.

Before he became a star, McDonald was a kid growing up on a farm near Hanna, Alberta, cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The hockey gods have a sense of humour because Toronto ended up drafting him fourth overall in 1973. Getting selected by your childhood team doesn't happen often.

#2. Darryl Sittler Helped Turn Him Into a Star.

McDonald was already developing into a good young player, but his offensive game took another step when he joined Darryl Sittler on the Leafs' top line. The chemistry was immediate. McDonald exploded offensively and scored at least 43 goals in each of the next three seasons. For a few years, they were one of the NHL's most dangerous duos.

#3. McDonald Was Traded Because of Someone Else's Feud.

One of the most controversial trades in Maple Leafs history wasn't really about McDonald at all. The battle between Captain Darryl Sittler and General Manager Punch Imlach had reached a boiling point. Since Sittler had a no-trade clause, Imlach traded players close to him instead. McDonald became collateral damage and was shipped to the struggling Colorado Rockies.

#4. McDonald’s Best Season Came in Calgary.

Most fans remember McDonald as a Flame, and for good reason. After arriving in Calgary, he had the best season of his career in 1982-83, scoring 66 goals and 98 points. Those numbers remain among the best offensive seasons ever produced by a Flames player.

#5. McDonald Couldn't Have Written a Better Ending.

Storybook endings rarely happen in sports, but McDonald got one. Late in his final season, he scored his 500th career goal. Then, in the final playoff goal of his career, he beat Patrick Roy in Game 6 of the 1989 Stanley Cup Final. The goal gave Calgary the lead, and the Flames went on to win the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

McDonald Retired While He Was at His Best.

Not many players get to leave the game on top. Lanny McDonald did exactly that, riding off into retirement with a Stanley Cup ring, 500 goals, and a place in hockey history that had nothing to do with his mustache—although that certainly didn't hurt.