Dave Babych developed into a steady blueliner during his 19 – year NHL
career. Babych spent 3 seasons with the Portland Winter Hawks, the last
of which he was an all-star before making the leap to the NHL.
Babych went straight to the NHL without a game in the minors, suiting
up for 69 contests with the Winnipeg Jets in 1980-81. By 1983, he was an
NHL All-Star, and he went on to score 74 points that year, a career
high. During his sixth season with the Jets, two of which he was named
to the All-Star Team, Dave was traded to the Hartford Whalers for Ray
Neufeld.
With the Whalers, Babych didn’t reach the offensive highs he hit as
a Jet but maintained his solid two way game, providing solid defense and
chipping in points on a consistent basis. After Babych’s sixth
campaign with Hartford, he was on the move again.
When the San Jose Sharks joined the NHL in 1991, they took many
players Minnesota North Stars as per an earlier agreement and, as a
result, the North Stars were permitted to draft players from the rest of
the NHL clubs to fill some holes. Babych was claimed by the North Stars
and then promptly traded to the Vancouver Canucks during this process.
With the Canucks, Babych joined a blue line corps in need of a steady
veteran presence, and he was able to provide. During his third season
with the Canucks, they advanced all the way to the Stanley Cup finals
and extended the eventual champion New York Rangers to the seventh game.
Babych provided three goals and eight points that playoffs.
Babych spent parts of four more years with the Canucks before he was
traded again, this time to the Philadelphia Flyers, who felt they were
poised for a serious playoff run and wanted a veteran presence on their
blueline, however, they had a disappointed post-season, and Dave didn’t
get his second chance at a Cup. The 1998-99 schedule was Babych’s
final season in the NHL. He spent most of the year with the Flyers, but
was traded, again at the deadline, to the Los Angeles Kings before
calling it a career.
Dave Babych played 1,195 games in the NHL and finished with 723
points.
Dave Babych was selected by Winnipeg Jets in round one #2 overall
1980 NHL Entry Level.
Dave has been an resident of BC ever since he retired and has been
very involved in BC Hockey as coach and executive at the minor hockey
level at the Hollyburn Winter Club to this day.
Dave is currently the President of North Shore Winter Club.
