What makes a cliché a cliché? When a phrase gets used over and over again, and usually where it's not applicable, I guess. Think about some of the ones you hear about hockey players:

"You can count on him night in and night out".

"Every team needs a guy like him"

"He plays the game the right way"

"He's a classy player"

They've all been beaten like they were married to Ike Turner. When it comes to Steve Larmer though, they all fit.

He got a couple cups of coffee in the NHL before his AHL coach, Orval Tessier, took over as the Blackhawks head coach.

Tessier loved having Larmer in New Brunswick, and brought him onto the Hawks, and put him on a line with Denis Savard and Al Secord. That was one helluva line. Savvy's artistry and Secord's badassery perfectly complimented Larmer's two-way play, and Larms won the Calder Trophy in 1983.

Throughout the 80s and early 90s, he was there, night in and night out. You could dial him in for 30-40 goals every year, and was a damn fine defensive forward as well.



He also had his iron man streak. He played in 884 consecutive games, and would have broken Doug Jarvis' record easily if he hadn't been involved in a contract dispute before the 1993-94 season. He saw the Hawks were on the decline, and asked for a trade after the season ended. The summer wore on, and Larmer never got dealt, so he sat. Finally, a three-way trade between the Hawks, the Hartford Whalers and the New York Rangers made Larmer a Ranger.

His first game back in Chicago Stadium, he got awarded a penalty shot, and of course he scored. His being reunited in New York with former Hawks coach Mike Keenan made a perfect fit. (although, Larmer could play for any coach, and in any style system)

Larmer brought his effective two-way play and veteran leadership to a Rangers' team that had talent, but was smarting after a locker room revolt in the 1992-93 season reduced them from a President's Trophy winner to not making the playoffs. Also, there were two Hall of Famers on the top line (Mark Messier and Mike Gartner) who were on opposite sides of the revolt, and weren't speaking. (they also wouldn't pass to each other, resulting in the line's third member, Adam Graves, scoring a career-high 52 goals)

Larmer was one of the Rangers' assistant captains, and along with several former Blackhawks like Stephan Matteau, Brian Noonan, and Eddie Olczyk, got his name engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Still, he will always be remembered as a Blackhawks, rightly so.

He played in 891 games as a Blackhawk, scoring 406 goals and totaling 923 points. He finished his career with 441 goals and 1012 points. Those are Hall of Fame numbers.

So tonight the Hawks will honor Larmer, and give out a Steve Larmer pin.

They should be having a number retirement ceremony.

That would be classy, and doing it the right way.

The way Steve Larmer played the game.

Thanks, Gramps.