• Philadelphia, Edmonton, Boston & Toronto
• Last NHL season 1991-92
• OMJHL Second All-Star Team (1977)

Wherever Ken Linseman played hockey, controversy was sure to follow. As a junior standout with the Kingston Canadiens, he was charged and eventually convicted of common assualt for kicking an opponent in the forehead with his skate.

Later, in 1977, he attempted to sign as an under-aged player with the Birmingham Bulls of the WHA. The effort exploded into a full-blown legal conundrum that was eventually settled only when Linseman and his family successfully secured a restraining order against the WHA thus lifting the ban on his aim to join the Bulls.

In Birmingham, he got his first opportunity to show the world of professional hockey just what kind of player he could be. He was a scrappy, grinding, shifty centreman who could score, check, kill penalties, and irritate opponents with a mastery rarely ever seen. He also had blinking-quick speed on his skates and a mouth like Don Rickles to boot. He once noted that, in light of his style of play, he'd have felt embarrassed to win the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play.

Linseman joined the Flyers' organization in 1978-79. After half a season with the Maine Mariners of the AHL, he stepped up to the NHL plate for the remainder of his pro career. In Philly, he soon became a leading scorer and agitator with the club. As such, he was thought to be the logical successor to Bobby Clarke as a team leader. It was Clarke in fact who christened Linseman as "The Rat," not because of his chippy play, but because he tended to lean forward like a rat when he skated.

Over his four seasons with the club, he spent most of his time skating on the "Rat Patrol" line with Paul Holmgren and Brian Propp. As time went on, he began to fall out of favour with the club. He attained a reputation for stirring up trouble that he rarely ever finished. His welcome finally wore down to the bare threads as a result of his incessant string of penalties that hurt team objectives.

In 1982, his rights were traded to the Hartford Whalers who in turn shuttled him on to Edmonton on the same day. With the Oilers, Linseman skated on a line with Glenn Anderson and Mark Messier. The trio, along with the rest of the squad, clicked in a big way, dethroning the New York Islanders as reigning league champs in 1984.

The following year, Linseman was traded to Boston where he put in more than five seasons of his trademark Linseman hockey?scoring points, playing solid defense, and pestering the opposition to distraction.

By 1989-90, however, his game began to lose some steam. He was traded back to the Flyers for a short spell and then put in a single-season return engagement with the Oilers. His final NHL stop came with the Leafs where he played only two games in 1991. He then went overseas to play a handful of games in Italy before hanging up his blades in 1992.

Interview with a Legend by Cathy Sproule 

Q: Do you miss the pro game?

No, not really...it’s fun when the team we’re playing is competitive. I enjoy that, when you have to work hard and you don’t feel bad checking someone or skating hard to get around someone.

 

Q: Do you regret the amount of money made today versus yesterday?

Well, I make lots of money now and do fine in business. But, you know in one sense yeah, maybe hanging on and making more money than I might have made at my peak would have been nice. But it’s hard work, you pay your dues and life goes by so very fast, so I don’t miss it at all. I’m happy for everybody who’s making the money...it’s great to see the players getting more of the revenue.

 

Q: How would you compare the old breed versus the new breed of player?

Well it probably changed two or three times from when I first broke in. When I first turned pro, the players weren’t interested in pursuing investments...they focused on playing hockey, their families and having fun. As time went by there were more players coming out of college, especially in the mid eighties, and the focus wasn’t just on playing hockey...it was more looking toward the future. And with the success of the American Olympic team winning a gold medal, a lot of players were making more money.

 

Q: Are you as competitive now in life as you were on the ice?

I think so...I like to win and I like to be successful. I really enjoy surfing. After retirement from the NHL, I focused on my family and surfing. In business when the commercial real estate bottomed out in the New Hampshire area where I live, I started buying properties. I was having so much fun that I got my license, got a partner and am going full steam ahead with our real estate company. I really want to do well and it’s fun trying to put deals together.

 

Q: Do these road trips bring back memories?

Yes, I remember how hard it was to be on a long road trip. You know going on the buses and planes, there’s down time that I have a hard time with. But, the games themselves I’ve enjoyed watching...like Frank (Mahovlich) moving the puck...I think that’s really fun.