The Forgotten NHL Legend Frank Mahovlich - The Sports Lunatics

When Frank Mahovlich scored his 500th career goal for the Montreal Canadiens in 1973 he was only the 5th player in hockey history to accomplish the feat. The Sports Lunatics Shawn Lavigne and Howie Mooney talk about his Hall of Fame career and why he is a forgotten NHL Legend.
What other NHL Legend seems forgotten by fans and media?
#nhl #hockey #montrealcanadiens #torontomapleleafs
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[@user-pp4ve6qo1b]

I am 70 years old. Frank and Peter grew up in Leaside, Toronto near my parent's house across from Bessborough Drive Public School. For a few years every Fall, Mr. Mahovlich (Frank & Peter's father) would hire me to bring into their basement a truck load of grapes for his winemaking endeavours (this would have been circa 1963/64/65/66). Mr. Mahovlich was also the resident skate sharpener at the Leaside Arena, where he sharpened my skates for nine years - and he was very good at it. He was a very humble man, and he always had a stogie in his mouth, lit or unlit it made no difference! What a character! I also remember watching Peter practice at Leaside Arena, and watching him walk by me while coming off the ice was awe-inspiring. What a huge guy (at least to a 10 year old boy). The whole Mahovlich family was solid through and through.

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

I was at the game when he scored his 500th! Frank played his best hockey with Montreal. Truly, one of the all-time greats. And a gentleman, too.

[@walterbarth4690]

As a kid in Montreal, around 1971, he was my favourite Canadiens player.

[@BearBreath70]

I’m nearly 70. The Big M was one of favourite Leafs, along with Keon, Ellis and Horton. Now retired, I was a university professor for over 30 years. Most years on the anniversary of the trade that sent Frank to Detroit along with Gary Unger, Peter Stemkowski and the NHL rights to Carl Brewer, I held a moment of silence in my class.

[@todd4317]

Agree with the fact that the Big M is overlooked and underappreciated as an all-time great. Also grossly misunderstood, having to deal with Neanderthals like Punch Imlach. Had Mahovlich played his entire career with Montreal, he might have become the best left winger in NHL history.

[@granttracey4676]

I agree with your comments. Mahovlich was my favorite Leaf and the way he was treated in TO was an abomination. Back then the media were imbedded into what Coach Imlach had to say and then parroted the same nasty things during telecasts. "He's just skating around out there." Anyway, thanks for the shout-out to an under appreciated legend. From 1970-71 to 73-74, the time Frank played in Montreal, I was a Habs fan.

[@sportslunatics8241]

@granttracey4676 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and kind words with us. It is greatly appreciated!

[@Losrandir]

Frank M. was helluva tough!

[@keithkelso3366]

My favourite player. I loved when he went to Montreal,with Peter

[@johnsummerhill8323]

Great guy. Never appreciated in Toronto which was a huge issue for me as a kid. He and Keon carried the Leafs on their backs in the 1960's.

[@danielhuntington2116]

I never saw such a big man handle the puck so well and smoothly as he did...incredible player...and great man and teammate💪💪👍👍

[@mijf1171]

As a kid watching the Big M wind up up the left wing in MTL, was amazing.

[@wmlemerise2331]

Frank was a joy to watch. From a B's fan.

[@sportslunatics8241]

@wmlemerise2331 He certainly was no matter who he played for! #respect

[@dustylover100]

I'll never forget him and Peter.

[@user-th9dw4bu7h]

Я из России, но его и младшего брата помню всегда! Оба они играли в первых сериях СССР- Канада! Питер в 72, а Френк " Большой М", в. 74/ВХА/! Отличные хоккеисты, оба с Балкан!

[@brianbidiuk3125]

The Big 'M' was my favorite therefore Hab's fan.

[@John-hb5jm]

Bruins fan Never forgot the Big M. Fucking incredible player. One of the very best and most respected.

[@todd4317]

Same goes for Bobby Hull. All we hear about him now we're his troubles off the ice. He was the Ovechkin of his time. Had the Hawks paid Hull what he was worth so that he didn't have to jump ship to the WHA, Ovi would be chasing Hull's and Gordie Howe's career goal scoring record instead of Gretzky's. Howe also had to go to the WHA (out of retirement) in order to get paid what he was worth.

[@jlip4308]

I have his autograph on a North Stars program cover after my dad took me to wait outside of the Canadians’ locker after a game at the Met Center.

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Great player great human being

[@paulprebble8874]

I remember going to the Sunday OHA double headers at Maple Leaf Gardens in the 50's watching him play with the St. Michaels Majors. He was and is my favorite player.

[@alviney5138]

we went to the dentist down the street from Maple Leaf Gardens / later in the Gardens here comes Frank and my little 7 year old brother got his autograph / we were in the presence of royalty / in the face off circle one time Beliveau told Frank - your problem is you are on the wrong side of the faceoff circle; / thank goodness he got to Montreal

[@dustylover100]

Not forgotten by me. One thing that often gets forgotten was when he was traded to Detroit was that he was on a line with Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe. One year, the three lit it up together. And then Montreal got him by trading away future star Mickey Redmond and a bum, Guy Charron.

[@richardtomasek]

I got to see him when the Hawks were on TV at their away games. He was a magnificent player. I can only imagine what he could have done in Chicago. The fans would have loved him. I would think he would have been on a line with Mikita.

[@sportslunatics8241]

@richardtomasek they may have won a couple of more Stanley Cups if they pulled off that deal!

[@brianclavette1269]

I remember the night Peter scored the 1-0 goal with one second left in the game to beat the Leafs

[@Gaffer208]

If you saw him play you could never forget him.

[@sportslunatics8241]

@Gaffer208 I have spoken to many of his teammates and opponents and everyone had a kind word about him.

[@stevea.8816]

I saw him play , he played every game and never took a game off, could handle himself also especially when he was younger. Had a nose for the net obviously.

[@lanceb.]

I have two all time favourite athletes. The Big M and Bibi Andreescu. Charisma, presence, dignity, class and talent. When Frank left the Leafs, the team was never the same, to me. I curse all who ever dissed this fine man. Now, I have Bianca to watch. I get the same vibes from her. If she leaves tennis, that’s it for me. The excitement will be gone from the courts.

[@Mike-yg8ig]

I concur regarding both. What the hell was wrong with Punch Imlach?

[@lanceb.]

The days when players had no representation, didn’t make the big bucks, had to deal with tyrannical coaches/managers/owners, at times. The worst was Eddie Shore in the American League, the next tier down from the NHL. Imlach played favourites and Frank was not one, so he and a few others suffered the bad side of Imlach.

[@Mike-yg8ig]

@@lanceb. Sounds like "Punch" needed a punch. 🤣

[@dustylover100]

​@@Mike-yg8ig, he was livid when the rest of the teams in Quebec went professional. Jean Beliveau played for him. The Canadiens had Beliveau's rights as the top French player. Yes, Montreal had automatic rights to the top two junior players who spoke French. Beliveau was one of them. Even though Beliveau was reluctant to do so, the rest of the league going professional forced him to sign with the Canadiens. Which upset Imlach no end.

[@brianclavette1269]

I call my neighbour "The Big M" because he's the class of the neighborhood just like The Big M was the class of the NHL.

[@Lava1964]

Frank Mahovlich is/was very sensitive person. That can work against you when you are the biggest name on a team in a city where hockey is everything.

[@robertl8481]

He was forgotten only by hockey fans who had Alzheimers.

[@anthonywoodfine837]

Oh ya the big M

[@mr.thomas6072]

Dumbest trade the Red Wings ever made. "The Big M" was a beast

[@robertl8481]

Opposing coaches would fine their players if they bodychecked Frank, because he was a fantastic player when he got mad!