5 Things You Might Not Know About the Oilers' Reijo Ruotsalainen
When people think about the great Edmonton Oilers teams of the 1980s, the names come quickly. Wayne Gretzky. Mark Messier. Jari Kurri. Paul Coffey.
But there was another player who made a surprisingly big impact despite spending very little time in Edmonton. His name was Reijo Ruotsalainen, and if you're a younger fan, you might not know much about him.
Here are five things you might not know about one of the most unique players ever to wear an Oilers sweater.
1. Ruotsalainen Played Only 26 Regular-Season Games for the Oilers.
This might be the most amazing fact of all. Ruotsalainen played only 26 regular-season games in Edmonton over two separate stints. Yet he still managed to become part of two Stanley Cup-winning teams. That's a pretty remarkable return on investment.
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2. Ruotsalainen Was One of the Best Skaters in Hockey.
Paul Coffey is often remembered as the smoothest-skating defenceman of his era. According to many who watched both players, Ruotsalainen wasn't far behind. He had a powerful stride and could carry the puck end-to-end as well as almost anyone in the NHL. Fans often came to their feet when he started rushing up the ice.
3. Ruotsalainen Once Scored 28 Goals in a Season.
Defencemen weren't expected to score like they do today, which makes Ruotsalainen's offensive numbers even more impressive. While with the New York Rangers, he was moved up to the forward line and responded with 28 goals and 73 points during the 1984-85 season. Those are outstanding numbers for any player, let alone one who was primarily a defenceman.
4. Glen Sather Practically Stole Him.
Glen Sather made a lot of clever moves as Oilers general manager, but acquiring Ruotsalainen might have been one of his best. The Rangers had essentially lost track of how valuable he had become, and Sather swooped in to grab his rights for a package that barely hurt Edmonton at all. It was classic Sather.
5. Ruotsalainen Helped the Oilers Win Two Stanley Cups.
Ruotsalainen wasn't just along for the ride. In 1987 and again in 1990, he played important playoff minutes and produced offensively when the games mattered most. During the Oilers' 1990 Stanley Cup run, he posted 13 points in 22 playoff games and was one of the club's most effective defencemen.
Ruotsalainen Had a Short, But Impactful Oilers’ Career.
The funny thing about Reijo Ruotsalainen is that his Oilers career was incredibly short, yet his impact was lasting. Not many players can say they showed up briefly, won two Stanley Cups, and became a memorable part of franchise history. Ruotsalainen did exactly that.