Brotherhood allegiances are nothing new to the National Hockey League. A whopping 47 pairs of brothers have played together on the same team; among them, 10 have won the Stanley Cup together.
Some of the most famous sets of hockey siblings have never faced off against their brother in an NHL arena; they’ve always been brothers-in-arms instead of brothers-at-odds (see: Richards, Sedins). Others have played for the same team but not at the same time (see: Giontas, Devils; Espositos, Blackhawks; Kaberles, Carolina).
But in light of two families realigning their ties over the weekend — Staal brother Jordan joining Eric in Carolina and Schenn brother Luke linking with Brayden in Philadelphia, the City of You-know-what Love — we take a look at some of the NHL’s more memorable family reunions, and how the old bros/new teammates fared with family in the dressing room.
Some combinations worked wonders for both brothers’ careers, while others give credence to the adage that mixing family and business isn’t always wise.
Let’s hope the Schenns and Staals are more Mahovlich than Hextall.
Dave and Wayne Babych
The Babych boys played together with the Hartford Whalers for the bulk of one season, in 1985-86. Left winger Wayne, traded from the Quebec Nordiques, saw his points per game bump that season from .73 with Quebec to .75 with his new team. Interestingly, defenceman Dave had his least productive full season in Hartford (41 points) when he shared jerseys with his brother. Wayne and Dave are also former bothers-in-law; they married, and have since divorced, twin sisters.
Curt and Harvey Bennett
A couple of centremen raised in Rhode Island, the Bennetts (third brother Bill also made the cut) played one season together in 1978-79 with the St. Louis Blues. Both forwards saw a decline in their offensive games, Curt registering just 33 points and Harvey 12. The season marked Harvey’s last of five in the big league. Curt, the first American draftee to play in the NHL, mustered 21 games the following year with the Atlanta Flames before hanging up his skates.
Neal, Aaron and Paul Broten
When Aaron joined the Minnesota North Stars in 1989-90, centreman Neal’s numbers received a big boost. After three seasons of injury-plagued play following his only 100-point season (1985-86), Neal had his last great year alongside Aaron, scoring 85 points in 80 games. Aaron, too, saw his production increase after being traded midseason from the Devils. Neal would later play a couple of seasons with third brother, right winger Paul, after the Stars went south to Dallas.
Doug and Greg Brown
Though short-lived, the brothers Brown united on the 1993-94 Pittsburgh Penguins, the pinnacle of each bother’s career. Defenceman Greg had a career-high 11 points and saw his only NHL playoff action; journeyman winger Doug, posted the best stat line (18 G, 37 A, 55 P) of his 15-year career.
Pavel and Valeri Bure
His career in decline, former 60-goal-scorer Pavel was joined on the Florida Panthers by brother Valeri for the 2001-02 season. Pavel mustered his last 20-goal season, despite playing 56 games, and Valeri had just eight goals in 31 games.
Gino and Paul Cavallini
The Toronto brothers spent the prime of their careers together in St. Louis, from 1987 to 1992, before defenceman Paul was shipped to Washington and winger Gino to Quebec.
Chris and Peter Ferraro
Though neither played more than 60 games in a single major-league season, the twins NHL paths’ crossed three times. The hockey-lifer forwards played together on stints with the Rangers (1995-97), Penguins (1997) and Capitals (2001).
Kevin and Darian Hatcher
After nearly a decade in the Washington Capitals organization, Kevin joined fellow defenceman Darian for two seasons in Dallas Stars, from 1994 to ’96. Though Darian’s play remained steady, Kevin struggled, seeing dips in points and plus/minus that rebounded once he left for Pittsburgh in ’96.
Dennis and Bryan Hextall
Winger Dennis had his most disappointing year as a Minnesota North Star (46 points) when brother Bryan joined him in 1975-76. Bryan had the worst season of his decade-long career. Dennis was off to Detroit, and Bryan was out of the league.
Marty and Mark Howe
Though both of Gordie’s sons would enjoy more personal success elsewhere later, Marty with Boston and Mark with seven straight playoff teams in Philadelphia, the Howe boys are most famously known for playing alongside each other (and even dear ol’ Dad for a season) with the Hartford Whalers from 1979 to ’81.
Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn
The Belarusian bond can be traced from Montreal to Nashville, where the brothers were reunited at the 2012 trade deadline. Andrei was traded to join Sergei, whose most productive campaign was the one he played for the Predators sans Andrei. In 2010-11, Sergei enjoyed his first 20-goal, 50-point season. Andrei, however, saw his 2011-12 production increase slightly with the reunion.
Jeff and Steve Larmer
Although Jeff only played 45 games for the Blackhawks after being shipped to his brother’s team from the New Jersey Devils, he was there to witness Steve reel off three 30-goals-plus seasons from 1983 to ’86. When Jeff dropped out of the league, Steve suffered a minor hangover. The star forward posted his only sub-30-goal season in a nine-year span.
Alain and Mario Lemieux
Talk about a trivia question. Mario’s older brother played a single game for the 1986-87 Penguins, against the Calgary Flames, the last time he dressed for an NHL contest. He failed to register a point. It says here that Mario did just fine with or without his sibling in Pittsburgh.
Frank and Peter Mahovlich
Hall of Famer Frank played alongside Peter in Detroit after being traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1968, then again in Montreal after another trade. Though Frank’s numbers had begun to deteriorate in Toronto, he was back to a nearly a point-per-game pace in Detroit and played his best hockey in Montreal, twice surpassing the 90-point mark alongside his brother despite being in the twilight of his career.
Scott and Rob Niedermayer
After Scott’s Devils defeated Rob’s Mighty Ducks in the 2003 Stanley Cup final, doubtlessly giving their parents fits, the brothers won the Cup together as members of the Anaheim Ducks four years later. It was the first time siblings had shared a Cup (capital “C”) since Duane and Brent Sutter won with the Islanders in 1983. Interestingly, Rob would later join the Devils.
Lynn and Muzz Patrick
Hall of Famer Lynn played alongside Muzz (yes, grown men named “Lynn” and “Muzz”) with the Rangers from 1937 to 1946, a run that included a championship in 1940. Alas, the sons of Hall of Famer Lester B. Patrick were of unequal skill; Muzz scored only five times in his NHL career.
Jean and Denis Potvin
Denis not only was following in older brother Jean’s footsteps, he was joining his new team, the New York Islanders, in 1973. The elder Potvin would spend time with the Cleveland Barons and Minnesota North Stars before rejoined Denis’s Islanders to win a Cup with his Hall of Fame brother in ’81.
Bill and Max Quackenbush
Besides having one of the best names in hockey history, Max Quackenbush had one of the best brothers in hockey history. Bill, one of only three defencemen to win the Lady Byng Trophy, played one season with Max, with the Boston Bruins in 1950-51. Statistically (and likely spiritually) it was the best season of both brothers’ careers.
Terry and Ken Reardon
The Winnipeg siblings played a couple of seasons as co-members of the Montreal Canadiens in the early ’40s, Terry’s heyday. After Terry split for Boston, Ken’s Habs would get the best of them in Cup final, and Ken would be the one to reach the Hall of Fame.
Larry and Moe Robinson
Moe played a single NHL game, but it was notable because it was played next to big brother Larry on the Canadiens’ blue line. Reports that the third Robinson brother was named Curly are inaccurate and ridiculous.
Joe and David Sacco
Both brothers were drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and ended up playing alongside each other in Anaheim. Though younger brother David saw only 35 games of NHL action, Joe’s 13-year playing career saw him suit up for five clubs.
Marian, Peter and Anton Stastny
Prior to going their separate ways (Marian to Toronto, Paul to New Jersey, Anton to retirement), the Stastny trio spent their best years together in Quebec, from 1981 to 1985.
Brian, Darryl, Duane, Brent, Rich and Ron Sutter
Ah, yes, the Sutter brothers. All 147 of them. A four-brothers-one-puck record was set when Duane and Brent’s Islanders defeated Rich and Ron’s Flyers in a game. Rich and Ron were the first twins to play in the NHL, and Brent and Duane combined for two Cups in Long Island.
Joe and Jimmy Watson
Spending the bulk of their careers with the Broad Street Bullies, the Watsons won back-to-back Cups together while manning the blue line in Philadelphia in 1974 and ’75. Joe would end his career in Colorado, while the younger Jim stuck around Philly until his retirement in ’82.