1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 246 Rick Middleton Hockey Card (Front)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 246 Rick Middleton Hockey Card (Back)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Possessed with youth and great anticipation, a consistent goal scoring threat for the club. A crowd pleasing right winger, he’s an excellent skater and considered one of the most dangerous one-on-one players in NHL. A flashy skater and passer. Rick was MVP of the OHA in 1972-73.
En Français
Jeune et ambitieux, cet ailier droit est un bon compteur. Populaire auprès des spectateurs. Rick est un excellent patineur et très efficace contre “son” adversaire. Passeur spectaculaire. Joueur le Plus Utile de l’AHO pour 1972-73.
Details
Rick Middleton won the Red Tilson Trophy in 1972-73 as a member of the Oshawa Generals. He led the league with 67 goals, while adding 70 assists for 137 points. That left him in third place in the race for the Eddie Powers Trophy as the OHL’s top overall scorer. Ahead of him by 22 points was leader Blake Dunlop of the Ottawa 67’s. In between those two with 147 points was Dennis Ververgaert of the London Knights.
The accolades continued the following year, playing for the Providence Reds in the American Hockey League. Middleton was given the Dudley Red Garrett Memorial Award as the AHL’s rookie of the year. He had 36 goals and 84 points in 63 regular season games. He had 15 points in 15 playoff games as the Reds reached the Calder Cup final before losing to the Hershey Bears.
Middleton went on to play 1,005 regular season and 114 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1974-75 and 1987-88. Originally a first round draft pick of the New York Rangers, he played his first two years with the Blue Shirts, followed by the meat of his career with the Boston Bruins.
Rick Middleton NHL Career Stats
Regular Season
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1974-75 | New York Rangers | 47 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 19 |
| 1975-76 | New York Rangers | 77 | 24 | 26 | 50 | 14 |
| 1976-77 | Boston Bruins | 72 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 2 |
| 1977-78 | Boston Bruins | 79 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 8 |
| 1978-79 | Boston Bruins | 71 | 38 | 48 | 86 | 7 |
| 1979-80 | Boston Bruins | 80 | 40 | 52 | 92 | 24 |
| 1980-81 | Boston Bruins | 80 | 44 | 59 | 103 | 16 |
| 1981-82 | Boston Bruins | 75 | 51 | 43 | 94 | 12 |
| 1982-83 | Boston Bruins | 80 | 49 | 47 | 96 | 8 |
| 1983-84 | Boston Bruins | 80 | 47 | 58 | 105 | 14 |
| 1984-85 | Boston Bruins | 80 | 30 | 46 | 76 | 6 |
| 1985-86 | Boston Bruins | 49 | 14 | 30 | 44 | 10 |
| 1986-87 | Boston Bruins | 76 | 31 | 37 | 68 | 6 |
| 1987-88 | Boston Bruins | 59 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 11 |
| Totals | 1005 | 448 | 540 | 988 | 157 |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1974-75 | New York Rangers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1975-76 | New York Rangers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1976-77 | Boston Bruins | 13 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 0 |
| 1977-78 | Boston Bruins | 15 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 1978-79 | Boston Bruins | 11 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| 1979-80 | Boston Bruins | 10 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| 1980-81 | Boston Bruins | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1981-82 | Boston Bruins | 11 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 0 |
| 1982-83 | Boston Bruins | 17 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 6 |
| 1983-84 | Boston Bruins | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-85 | Boston Bruins | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985-86 | Boston Bruins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986-87 | Boston Bruins | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987-88 | Boston Bruins | 19 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 |
| Totals | 114 | 45 | 55 | 100 | 19 |