Ken Linseman | |||
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Born |
Kingston, ON, CAN |
August 11, 1958 ||
Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for |
WHA Birmingham Bulls AHL Maine Mariners NHL Philadelphia Flyers Edmonton Oilers Boston Bruins Toronto Maple Leafs |
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National team | Canada | ||
NHL Draft | 7th overall, 1978 Philadelphia Flyers |
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WHA Draft | 83rd overall, 1977 Birmingham Bulls |
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Playing career | 1977–1992 |
Kenneth S. "The Rat" Linseman (born August 11, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He also played one season in the World Hockey Association for the Birmingham Bulls.
Linseman spent his entire junior career with the Kingston Canadians of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League from 1974–77. He played in 187 games, scoring 286 points (133 goals-153 assists). He also added 33 points (16G-17A) in 25 playoff games. Linseman was drafted by the WHA's Birmingham Bulls in the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft, and spent the 1977–78 with the Bulls, getting 76 points (38G-38A) in 71 games, and adding 4 points (2G-2A) in five playoff games. He was then drafted by the Flyers as their first-round, 7th overall pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft.
Linseman began the 1978–79 season with the Maine Mariners of the American Hockey League, getting 39 points (17G-22A) in 38 games before getting called up by the Flyers. He finished the season in Philadelphia, earning 25 points (5G-20A) in 30 games, then added 8 points (2G-6A) in 8 post-season games. Linseman spent the entire 1979–80 season with the Flyers, getting 79 points (22G-57A) in 80 games, then added 22 points (4G-18A) in 17 playoff games. An injury limited Linseman to 51 games in 1980–81, getting 47 points (17G-30A), and had 20 points (4G-16A) in 12 playoff games. 1981–82 was the best season of Linseman's career, as he scored a career high 92 points (24G-68A) in 79 games, and had 275 PIM, which was 7th highest in the NHL. In 4 playoff games, Linseman registered 3 points (1G-2A). On August 19, 1982, the Flyers traded Linseman, along with Greg Adams and Philadelphia's first and third round picks in 1983 to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for Mark Howe and Hartford's third-round pick in 1983. The Whalers then swapped Linseman to the Edmonton with Don Nachbaur for Risto Siltanen and Brent Loney.