Throwback Thursday: This week in 1997, Craig MacTavish announces his retirement

It was 23 years ago yesterday that Craig MacTavish, the last NHL’er to not wear a helmet, announced his retirement from the league.

Originally drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1978, MacTavish joined the Oilers in 1985 after serving a one-year sentence for vehicular manslaughter after getting being the wheel drunk and killing a woman.

MacTavish immediately made an impact scoring 23 goals and 47 points in 74 games with Edmonton. Making himself a home as a bottom-six role player for the Oilers, MacTavish chipped in 331 points in 701 games with the club over nine seasons.

His time in Edmonton came to an end in March 1994 when he was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Todd Marchant.

MacTavish spent the remainder of that year in New York winning the Stanley Cup with former Oilers Kevin Lowe, Glenn Anderson, Adam Graves, Jeff Beukeboom, Esa Tikkanen and Mark Messier.

He signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers and a year later was traded to the St. Louis Blues, with whom he played with until his retirement.

MacTavish retired after a 17 year career that saw him win four Stanley Cups having scored 480 points in 1093 NHL games.

On Twitter: @zjlaing