{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}} {{multiple issues| {{more footnotes|date=January 2011}} {{BLP sources|date=January 2011}} }} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Mike Liut 1981.JPG | caption = Liut with the St. Louis Blues in 1981 | position = Goaltender | catches = Left | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lb = 195 | played_for = Cincinnati Stingers <br>St. Louis Blues <br>Hartford Whalers <br>Washington Capitals | ntl_team = Canada | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|1|7}} | birth_place = Weston, Ontario, Canada | career_start = 1977 | career_end = 1992 | draft = 56th overall | draft_year = 1976 | draft_team = St. Louis Blues | wha_draft = 50th overall | wha_draft_year = 1976 | wha_draft_team = New England Whalers }} '''Michael Dennis Liut''' (''LEE-oot''; born January 7, 1956)<ref>{{Cite book|title=1972-1979 WHA Guides|year=2018|publisher=PCMP Press|editor=Timothy Gassen|page=668|isbn=978-0-9797337-5-8}}</ref> is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender.
Liut played for the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1977 to 1979 and for the St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, and Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1992. He won the 1981 Lester B. Pearson Award for being the most valuable player according to his fellow players, and posted the league's best goals against average in 1989–90.
== College and WHA career == Liut played college hockey at Bowling Green State University. After being named twice to the CCHA First All-Star team, the St. Louis Blues selected him in the fourth round 56th overall in the 1976 NHL amateur draft on June 1, 1976. However, Mike had also been drafted in the fifth round (50th overall) in the 1976 WHA amateur draft by the New England Whalers on May 17, 1976, and he would ultimately opt instead to play for the Cincinnati Stingers of the WHA for two seasons (1977 - 1979). The Whalers had traded Liut to the Stingers for Greg Carroll and Bryan Maxwell, on May, 26, 1977. Two years later, the Edmonton Oilers then claimed Liut from the Stingers at the WHA Dispersal draft that was held on June 9, 1979. When the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979, the Blues reclaimed Liut's rights from the Oilers with the 24th pick in the 1979 NHL expansion draft on June 13, 1979.
==NHL career== ===St. Louis Blues (1979–1985)===
With four seasons of NCAA D1 College Hockey and two seasons of pro hockey in the World Hockey Association under his belt, Mike Liut arrived in St. Louis - and the National Hockey League - ready to step in and contribute. He immediately took over the starting duties for the Blues and made a major impact, playing 64 games and posting a record of 32-23-9. His second season saw him improve and become arguably the top goaltender in the league, posting a record of 33-14-13. He was voted runner-up to Wayne Gretzky for the Hart Memorial Trophy for his efforts, and was selected as a First Team All-Star while won the Lester B. Pearson Trophy as league MVP, as determined by his peers. That fall, he was Canada's starting goaltender at the 1981 Canada Cup, which ended with an 8–1 loss to the Soviet Union in the final on September 13, 1981. Though he was not solely to blame, his reputation as a top-tier goaltender never fully recovered from the thrashing he took in the Finals game, and he would not represent Canada again in subsequent Canada Cup tournaments.
===Hartford Whalers (1985–1990)=== [[File:MikeLiutHFD.png|thumb|Liut with the Hartford Whalers in 1986]] During his sixth season with the Blues, Liut was traded to the Hartford Whalers with Jörgen Pettersson (ice hockey) in exchange for net minder Greg Millen and forward Mark Johnson on February 21, 1985. The timing of the deal was a little odd, because the Blues were in first place in the Norris Division at the time of the transaction<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/23/sports/sports-people-whalers-trade-for-liut.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=August 25, 2016|title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Whalers Trade for Liut |date=February 23, 1985 }}</ref> but the reason behind the swap appeared to be financial. The Blues, one of the most budget conscious teams in the league, moved out Liut and his reported $900,000 salary (top on the team)<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-03-06-sp-1865-story.html|newspaper=LA Times|title=Capitals Get Goalie Liut from Whalers in Trade |date=March 6, 1990 }}</ref> and brought in two players whose combined salaries were less than they were paying Liut. This was not lost on Liut, who said, "I'm sure (Blues owner Harry Ornest) has been promoting a trade of some sort because of my salary."<ref>{{cite book|title=Gateway City Puckchasers: The History of the St. Louis Blues|publisher=Wernig Media|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3aWqBAAAQBAJ&q=Mike+Liut+traded&pg=PA137|isbn=9780990723202|date=October 2014}}</ref>
With the Whalers, Liut provided a steadying influence and in his second season with the club in 1985-86, he led the NHL in shutouts with four. In that same season, Liut backstopped the Whalers into the Adams Division finals, where they were defeated by the Montreal Canadiens in overtime of the seventh game in a memorable playoff series. The Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup that year. In 1986–87, Liut led the Whalers to their first and only Adams Division title and was named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.
===Washington Capitals (1990–1992)=== He was traded to the Washington Capitals late in the campaign of the 1989–90 NHL season in exchange for forward Yvon Corriveau on March 5, 1990, leaving Hartford holding fourteen franchise goaltending records and sharing six other records.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goaliesarchive.com/z/whalers/liut.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060304021349/http://www.goaliesarchive.com/z/whalers/liut.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 4, 2006|website=Goalie Archive Hartford Whalers|title=Hartford Whalers goaltending history : Mike Liut}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sell |first=Dave |date=1990-03-06 |title=CAPITALS ACQUIRE LIUT IN DEAL FOR CORRIVEAU |language=en-US |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/03/06/capitals-acquire-liut-in-deal-for-corriveau/b9d0e290-e855-4d25-8b1e-b2e7b189d714/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> With the Capitals, Liut joined another veteran, Don Beaupre, in handling the goaltending duties and his acquisition proved important in the post season when Beaupre was felled by an injury<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yannis |first1=Alex |date=April 25, 1990 |title=Capitals Confident with Liut in Goal |page=A25 |website=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/25/sports/capitals-confident-with-liut-in-goal.html}}</ref> pressing Liut into service versus the New York Rangers. Liut won three straight games, including the last two in overtime<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1990-new-york-rangers-vs-washington-capitals-patrick-division-finals.html|website=HockeyReference.com|title=1990 NHL Patrick Division Finals: NYR vs. WSH}}</ref> to send the Capitals to their first ever semi-final berth to face the Boston Bruins, where they were swept out of the playoffs. His heroics versus the Rangers would prove to be his last hurrah. Liut also posted the league's best goals-against average, a 2.53, while splitting time between the Whalers and Capitals, in 1989–90. He would spend two more seasons with the Capitals but had difficulty maintaining his workhorse status because of an injured back, an ailment that led to his retirement in 1991–92.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sell |first=Dave |date=1991-09-23 |title=LIUT HURTING AS CAPITALS TIE RANGERS |language=en-US |work=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1991/09/23/liut-hurting-as-capitals-tie-rangers/50c8a3bb-590c-42fb-b277-84d49a829d40/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Liut was the last active WHA goalie in the NHL upon his retirement.<ref name="last WHA G">{{cite web|last1=Weiner|first1=Evan|title=WHA days laid the foundation for Messier's pro career|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=369711|publisher=NHL.com|access-date=October 8, 2015|date=November 9, 2007}}</ref> In his professional career (WHA/NHL), Liut went 324–310–78 as a starter.
Following his playing career, Liut joined the University of Michigan as an assistant coach in 1995 until the end of the 1997–98 season. He received a law degree in 1995, and now heads the ice hockey division at global sports management leader Octagon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhlpa.com/About-Us/Certified-Agents/Details.aspx?AgentId=18 |title=Certified Player Agents |publisher=Nhlpa.com |access-date=2016-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001060919/http://www.nhlpa.com/About-Us/Certified-Agents/Details.aspx?AgentId=18 |archive-date=October 1, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Liut is a second cousin of former NHL player Ron Francis (who was also his teammate on the Whalers). Liut was amongst a handful of goaltenders to sport a plain white mask throughout his NHL career, opting not to use customized artwork on his mask.
==Career achievements== *Ted Lindsay Award (Formerly Lester B Pearson) voted MVP by the NHLPA in 1980-81 season. *1st Team All-Star (1980–81) *2nd Team All-Star (1986–87) *Goals Against Average leader (2.53) in 1989-90 season. *NHL All Star Game selection (1981) *Led NHL in Shutouts in (1986–87) and (1989–90) seasons. *Won "Silver" in 1981 World/Canada Cup as starting Goalie for Team Canada. *Led NHL in “games played" and "Minutes" in (1981–82) and (1982–83) seasons. *Most wins (239) by a goalie in the decade of the 1980s *Most shutouts (22) by a goalie in the decade of the 1980s *Most games played (544) by a goalie in the decade of the 1980s *Most minutes (31,597) by a goalie in the decade of the 1980s
==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="width:75%; text-align:center;" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="9" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! colspan="8" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" | Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! W !! L !! T !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% ! GP !! W !! L !! MIN !! GA !! SO !! GAA !! SV% |- | 1971–72 | Markham Waxers | MetJHL | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1972–73 | Dixie Beehives | OPJHL | 26 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1973–74 | Bowling Green State University | CCHA | 24 || 10 || 12 || 0 || 1272 || 88 || 1 || 4.15 || .870 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1974–75 | Bowling Green State University | CCHA | 20 || 12 || 6 || 1 || 1174 || 78 || 0 || 3.99 || .882 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1975–76 | Bowling Green State University | CCHA | 21 || 13 || 5 || 0 || 1171 || 50 || 0 || 2.56 || .905 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1976–77 | Bowling Green State University | CCHA | 24 || 18 || 4 || 0 || 1346 || 61 || 2 || 2.72 || — | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1977–78 | Cincinnati Stingers | WHA | 27 || 8 || 12 || 0 || 1215 || 86 || 0 || 4.25 || .870 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1978–79 | Cincinnati Stingers | WHA | 54 || 23 || 27 || 4 || 3181 || 184 || 3 || 3.47 || .882 | 3 || 1 || 2 || 179 || 10 || 0 || 3.35 || — |- | 1979–80 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 54 || 32 || 23 || 9 || 3661 || 194 || 2 || 3.18 || .896 | 3 || 0 || 3 || 193 || 12 || 0 || 3.73 || .891 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1980–81 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 61 || 33 || 14 || 13 || 3570 || 199 || 1 || 3.34 || .892 | 11 || 5 || 6 || 685 || 50 || 0 || 4.38 || .857 |- | 1981–82 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 64 || 28 || 28 || 7 || 3691 || 250 || 2 || 4.06 || .876 | 10 || 5 || 3 || 494 || 27 || 0 || 3.28 || .895 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1982–83 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 68 || 21 || 27 || 13 || 3794 || 235 || 1 || 3.72 || .878 | 4 || 1 || 3 || 240 || 15 || 0 || 3.75 || .899 |- | 1983–84 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 58 || 25 || 29 || 4 || 3425 || 197 || 3 || 3.45 || .884 | 11 || 6 || 5 || 714 || 29 || 1 || 2.44 || .920 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1984–85 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 32 || 12 || 12 || 6 || 1869 || 119 || 1 || 3.82 || .880 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1984–85 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 12 || 4 || 7 || 1 || 731 || 36 || 1 || 2.95 || .914 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1985–86 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 57 || 27 || 23 || 4 || 3282 || 198 || 2 || 3.62 || .874 | 8 || 5 || 2 || 441 || 14 || 1 || 1.90 || .938 |- | 1986–87 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 59 || 31 || 22 || 5 || 3476 || 187 || 4 || 3.23 || .885 | 6 || 2 || 4 || 332 || 25 || 0 || 4.52 || .843 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1987–88 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 60 || 25 || 28 || 5 || 3532 || 187 || 2 || 3.18 || .884 | 3 || 1 || 1 || 159 || 11 || 0 || 4.16 || .866 |- | 1988–89 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 35 || 13 || 19 || 1 || 2006 || 142 || 1 || 4.25 || .861 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1989–90 | Hartford Whalers | NHL | 29 || 15 || 12 || 1 || 1683 || 74 || 3 || 2.64 || .901 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- | 1989–90 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 8 || 4 || 4 || 0 || 478 || 17 || 1 || 2.13 || .922 | 9 || 4 || 4 || 507 || 28 || 0 || 3.31 || .874 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1990–91 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 35 || 13 || 16 || 3 || 1834 || 114 || 0 || 3.73 || .885 | 2 || 0 || 1 || 48 || 4 || 0 || 4.98 || .867 |- | 1991–92 | Washington Capitals | NHL | 21 || 10 || 7 || 2 || 1123 || 70 || 1 || 3.74 || .875 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | WHA totals ! 81 !! 31 !! 39 !! 4 !! 4,396 !! 270 !! 3 !! 3.69 !! .878 ! 3 !! 1 !! 2 !! 179 !! 10 !! 0 !! 3.35 !! — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 664 !! 293 !! 271 !! 74 !! 38,209 !! 2,221 !! 25 !! 3.49 !! .883 ! 67 !! 29 !! 32 !! 3,813 !! 215 !! 2 !! 3.38 !! .890 |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- ALIGN="center" bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | ! GP ! W ! L ! T ! MIN ! GA ! SO ! GAA |- | 1981 | Canada | CC | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 360 | 19 | 1 | 3.17 |}
{{cite web |url=https://hockeygoalies.org/bio/liut.html|title = Liut's stats |publisher=The Goaltender Home Page|access-date=2017-08-07}}
==Awards and honours== ;CCHA {| class="wikitable" |- ! Award ! Year ! |- | All-CCHA First Team | 1974–75 | <ref name=CCHA>{{cite news|title=CCHA All-Teams|url=https://www.augenblick.org/chha/ccha_all.html|publisher=College Hockey Historical Archives|access-date=May 19, 2013}}</ref> |- | All-CCHA Second Team | 1975–76 | <ref name="CCHA"/> |- | All-CCHA First Team | 1976–77 | <ref name="CCHA"/> |- | CCHA Player of the Year | 1976–77 | |}
;NHL {| class="wikitable" |- ! Award ! Year(s) |- | Lester B. Pearson Award | 1980–81 |- | NHL All-Star Game | 1981 |- | NHL First All-Star Team | 1980–81 |- | NHL Second All-Star Team | 1986–87 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{icehockeystats}} * [https://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1976/76056.html Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com] {{s-start}} {{s-ach}} {{succession box | before = Award Created | title = CCHA Player of the Year| years = 1976–77| after = John Markell<br>Don Waddell}} {{s-end}}
{{NHL on USA}} {{ESPN National Hockey Night}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liut, Mike}} Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Bowling Green Falcons men's ice hockey players Category:Bowling Green State University alumni Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders Category:Canadian sports agents Category:Cincinnati Stingers players Category:Hartford Whalers players Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Lester B. Pearson Award winners Category:National Hockey League broadcasters Category:New England Whalers draft picks Category:St. Louis Blues draft picks Category:St. Louis Blues players Category:Ice hockey people from Toronto Category:Washington Capitals players Category:Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey coaches Category:Ice hockey agents