NHL History: Lanny McDonald named to Hockey Hall of Fame

It was today in 1992 that the legendary Lanny McDonald was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The product of Hanna, Alberta was always meant to be a Calgary Flame. McDonald played his junior hockey for the Lethbridge Sugar Kings of the AJHL and later the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WCHL mixed in with a few games for the Calgary Centennials.

Drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs fourth overall in 1973 well before the Flames were a franchise, he played there with much success. McDonald had racked up 459 points in 477 games with the Leafs before being traded to the Colorado Rockies along with Joel Quenneville for Pat Hickey and Wilf Paiement in 1979.

He didn’t last long, however, as just less than two years later he was flipped to the Flames. Calgary acquired him and a 4th round pick for Bob MacMillian and Don Lever.

He was a key part of the Flames franchise in the 1980’s and helped the Flames win the 1989 cup before his retirement.

Also named to the HHOF that year was Marcell Dionne, Bob Gainey and Woody Dumart.

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