Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Mike Liut

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Mike Dennis Liut

Mike Liut took a huge step towards becoming a professional goaltender when he enrolled at Bowling Green University in 1973. It was there that superior coaching and academic development gave him the foundation to turn pro with confidence. After being named twice to the CCHA First All-Star team, Liut turned a few heads at the Central Scouting Bureau. He was selected 56th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 1976.

But Liut opted for the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA where he took on the Bobby Hulls and Dave Keons of the league for two seasons. When World Hockey melted back to the NHL, the Blues reclaimed Liut's rights.

Liut was outstanding in his debut with St. Louis. His first two seasons saw him pile up 71 victories. In 1980-81, he was voted a runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Trophy; he was selected as a First Team All-Star; and, he won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy as the league's MVP as determined by his peers.

In 1985, Liut was traded to the Hartford Whalers where, in his second season, he led the league in shutouts with four. He also posted the league's best goals-against average in 1989-90.

He was traded to the Washington Capitals in 1990, but had difficulty maintaining his workhorse status because of a failing back, an ailment that led to his retirement in 1991-92.

Following his playing career, Liut joined the University of Michigan as an assistant coach in 1995-96 until the end of the 1997-98 season.

			REGULAR SEASON						PLAYOFFS
Season	Club	League	GP	W	L	T	SO	Avg	GP	W	L	T	SO	Avg
1971-72	Markham Waxers	ON-Jr.B
1972-73	Dixie Beehives	ON-Jr.A	26				0	4.12
1973-74	Bowling Green University	CCHA	24	10	12	0	1	4.15
1974-75	Bowling Green University	CCHA	20	12	6	1	0	3.99
1975-76	Bowling Green University	CCHA	21	13	5	0	2	2.56
1976-77	Bowling Green University	CCHA	24	18	4	0	2	2.72
1977-78	Cincinnati Stingers	WHA	27	8	12	0	0	4.25
1978-79	Cincinnati Stingers	WHA	54	23	27	4	3	3.47	3	1	2	0	0	3.35
1979-80	St. Louis Blues	NHL	64	32	23	9	2	3.18	3	0	3		0	3.73
1980-81	St. Louis Blues	NHL	61	33	14	13	1	3.34	11	5	6		0	4.38
1981-82	Canada	Can-Cup	6	4	1	1	1	3.17
1981-82	St. Louis Blues	NHL	64	28	28	7	2	4.06	10	5	3		0	3.28
1982-83	St. Louis Blues	NHL	68	21	27	13	1	3.72	4	1	3		0	3.75
1983-84	St. Louis Blues	NHL	58	25	29	4	3	3.45	11	6	5		1	2.44
1984-85	St. Louis Blues	NHL	32	12	12	6	1	3.82
1984-85	Hartford Whalers	NHL	13	5	7	1	1	2.88
1985-86	Hartford Whalers	NHL	57	27	23	4	2	3.62	8	5	2		1	1.90
1986-87	Hartford Whalers	NHL	59	31	22	5	4	3.23	6	2	4		0	4.52
1987-88	Hartford Whalers	NHL	60	25	28	5	2	3.18	3	1	1		0	4.13
1988-89	Hartford Whalers	NHL	35	13	19	1	1	4.25
1989-90	Hartford Whalers	NHL	29	15	12	1	3	2.64
1989-90	Washington Capitals	NHL	8	4	4	0	1	2.13	9	4	4		0	3.31
1990-91	Washington Capitals	NHL	35	13	16	3	0	3.73	2	0	1		0	5.00
1991-92	Washington Capitals	NHL	21	10	7	2	1	3.74
NHL Totals			664	294	271	74	25	3.48	67	29	32		2	3.38

CCHA First All-Star Team (1975, 1977)
CCHA Second All-Star Team (1976)
CCHA Player of the Year (1977)
NHL First All-Star Team (1981)
Lester B. Pearson Award (1981)
NHL Second All-Star Team (1987) Played in NHL All-Star Game (1981)

Selected by New England (WHA) in 1976 WHA Amateur Draft, May, 1976. WHA rights traded to Cincinnati (WHA) by New England (WHA) for Greg Carroll and Bryan Maxwell, May, 1977. Reclaimed by St. Louis from Cincinnati (WHA) prior to Expansion Draft, June 9, 1979. Traded to Hartford by St. Louis with Jorgen Pettersson for Mark Johnson and Greg Millen, February 21, 1985. Traded to Washington by Hartford for Yvon Corriveau, March 6, 1990.

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