#69 - Busher Jackson

Busher Jackson (Murillo Pyramid Rank = #69)

Adjusted Stats

1929-1930   Tor         58 GP   23 goals   12 assists   35 points     0.60 PPG
1930-1931   Tor         80 GP   43 goals   31 assists   74 points     0.93 PPG
1931-1932   Tor*       82 GP   59 goals   53 assists   112 points   1.36 PPG
1932-1933   Tor         82 GP   62 goals   39 assists   102 points   1.24 PPG
1933-1934   Tor         65 GP   44 goals   39 assists   83 points     1.28 PPG
1934-1935   Tor         72 GP   46 goals   46 assists   92 points     1.28 PPG
1935-1936   Tor         80 GP   27 goals   27 assists   53 points     0.66 PPG
1936-1937   Tor         79 GP   45 goals   40 assists   85 points     1.08 PPG
1937-1938   Tor         82 GP   35 goals   35 assists   71 points     0.86 PPG
1938-1939   Tor         70 GP   21 goals   35 assists   56 points     0.80 PPG
1939-1940   NYA        73 GP    25 goals   17 assists   42 points      0.57 PPG
1940-1941   NYA        79 GP    16 goals   35 assists   51 points      0.65 PPG
1941-1942   Bos         44 GP   8 goals     12 assists   20 points     0.46 PPG
1942-1943   Bos         72 GP   27 goals   21 assists   47 points     0.66 PPG
1943-1944   Bos         69 GP   14 goals   26 assists   40 points     0.57 PPG

Adjusted Playoff Stats

1930-1931   Tor         2 GP      0 goals     0 assists     0 points       0.00 PPG
1931-1932   Tor*       7 GP      5 goals     2 assists     7 points       1.06 PPG
1932-1933   Tor         9 GP      4 goals     1 assist       6 points       0.61 PPG
1933-1934   Tor         5 GP      1 goal       0 assists     1 point         0.30 PPG
1934-1935   Tor         7 GP      5 goals     3 assists     8 points       1.19 PPG
1935-1936   Tor         9 GP      3 goals     2 assists     6 points       0.62 PPG
1936-1937   Tor         2 GP      2 goals     0 assists     2 points       0.76 PPG
1937-1938   Tor         6 GP      1 goal       0 assists     1 point        0.21 PPG
1938-1939   Tor         7 GP      0 goals     1 assist       1 point        0.20 PPG
1939-1940   NYA        3 GP      0 goals     1 assist       1 point       0.44 PPG
1941-1942   Bos         5 GP      0 goals     1 assist       1 point        0.21 PPG
1942-1943   Bos         9 GP      1 goal      2 assists      3 points       0.30 PPG

Career - 1087 GP, 495 goals, 468 assists, 963 points, 0.89 PPG
Career-Highs - 62 goals (32-33); 53 assists (31-32); 112 points (31-32); 1.36 PPG (31-32)
Avg. (15 seasons) - 72 GP, 33 goals, 31 assists, 64 points, 0.89 PPG
Peak Avg. (30-38) - 78 GP, 45 goals, 39 assists, 84 points, 1.08 PPG, 1 Cup

Playoff Career - 71 GP, 22 goals, 13 assists, 37 points, 0.52 PPG
Playoff-Highs - 5 goals (31-32); 3 assists (34-35); 8 points (34-35); 1.19 PPG (34-35)

Accolades - None
All-Star Teams - 4-time 1st-team, 1-time 2nd-team
1-time Stanley Cup Champion

It's going to be an even shorter entry on Busher Jackson than it was on Charlie Conacher, because essentially, it's the same career...only Busher played at LW on the Maple Leafs' "Kid Line", while Conacher was at RW. Jackson put up a similarly excellent run throughout the 1930s, although his scoring numbers aren't quite as mind-blowing as Conacher's...they're more the equivalent to a Brendan Shanahan than an Alex Ovechkin.

Jackson was still considered the premier LW of his decade, as evidenced by the four selections to the first all-star team. But, as I mentioned with Conacher, the Leafs weren't able to translate their fantastic line into a truly memorable dynasty, only winning the one championship in 1932. In Conacher's case, that wasn't necessarily his fault, but looking through the playoff numbers, it seems quite clear that Busher Jackson pulled a bit of a disappearing act at times (although how much of that was due to bad luck and/or a hot opposie goalie we'll never know). The one playoff season in which Busher Jackson was transcendent was, not coincidentally, 1932, the year the Leafs hoisted the Cup.

So Jackson ranks behind Conacher his linemate, and also behind Shanahan and Bucyk, who put up similar numbers but in a more modern era, over a longer period of time, and with more team success. By any criteria he should be behind those two, yet The Hockey News in their infinite wisdom of course ranked him higher than Shanahan. Another case of nostalgia overriding cold, hard facts? Perhaps...or maybe they just gave him extra points because Jackson has one of the coolest names in the history of the game. Busher Jackson. Just saying it brings a smile to my face.