Robbie Ftorek

Robert Brian Ftorek
Born	(1952-01-02) January 2, 1952 United States
Occupation(s)	Ice hockey player, coach
Years active	1972–1985 (player), 1985–2019 (coach)
Known for	First American recipient of WHA MVP; coaching Albany River Rats to Calder Cup victory in 1995

Robert Brian Ftorek (born January 2, 1952) is a former professional ice hockey player and current American coach. His playing career spanned over 300 games in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA). During the 1976-77 season, while with the Phoenix Roadrunners, he achieved 46 goals and 71 assists, earning the Gordie Howe Trophy as the WHA's top player. Ftorek was the pioneering American recipient of MVP honors in a professional hockey league and held this distinction alone for nearly four decades. Across more than 700 professional contests, he accumulated 750 points. After retiring from active play, he transitioned into coaching roles in both minor leagues and the NHL, highlighted by guiding Albany to a Calder Cup victory in 1995.

In recognition of his contributions to hockey, Ftorek was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991.

Playing career

Ftorek represented the United States on the Olympic hockey team that secured a silver medal at the 1972 Winter Olympics and earned a spot on the all-star roster at the 1972 "Pool B" Ice Hockey World Championship.

Though selected by the New England Whalers of the WHA in 1972, Ftorek opted to sign with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. Standing at 5'9" and weighing 155 pounds, he was considered undersized and appeared in just 15 NHL games over two seasons, spending most of his time with the Virginia Wings in the American Hockey League. In 1974, he joined the Phoenix Roadrunners of the WHA, where he emerged as a standout player by reaching 100 points in the 1975-76 season—the first American to hit that benchmark.

Even while playing for a team finishing last, Ftorek earned the WHA MVP award in 1976-77, becoming the first American to receive such an honor in professional hockey. Additionally, he was Arizona’s first professional sports franchise MVP for nearly twenty years. At the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup, he led Team USA in scoring and was voted their most valuable player. After three seasons with Phoenix, he signed with the Cincinnati Stingers.

When the WHA folded in 1979, Ftorek joined the NHL's Quebec Nordiques and served as their captain starting in 1981. He also competed for Team USA at the 1981 Canada Cup before being traded to the New York Rangers, where he concluded his NHL playing career in 1985. He was a member of the Tulsa Oilers squad that overcame financial hardships to win the Central Hockey League championship.

Over his NHL tenure, Ftorek recorded totals of 77 goals, 150 assists, and 227 points across 334 games. In WHA play, he amassed 216 goals, 307 assists, and 523 points over 373 games—ranking sixth all-time in points and ninth in both goals and assists within league history. He participated in four WHA All-Star games (1976–79) and received All-WHA First Team honors twice (1977, 1979) along with Second Team recognition twice (1976, 1978).

Coaching career

Ftorek initiated his coaching journey with the AHL’s New Haven Nighthawks in 1985 before advancing to an NHL head coaching position with the Los Angeles Kings during the 1987–88 season. His tenure ended in 1989 amid reported communication challenges with players, including Wayne Gretzky. Subsequently, he served as an assistant coach for both the Quebec Nordiques and New Jersey Devils. In 1992, Ftorek took charge of the AHL’s Utica Devils and continued when they relocated to become the Albany River Rats. His leadership culminated in Albany’s Calder Cup triumph in 1995—the same year New Jersey captured their Stanley Cup title. Returning as an assistant coach for New Jersey in 1996, he was elevated to head coach two years later.

A notable episode occurred on January 29, 2000, when Ftorek was ejected and suspended after throwing a bench onto the ice following a disputed no-call during a game against Detroit. Despite guiding the Devils back into postseason contention that year, he was dismissed by GM Lou Lamoriello with nine games remaining amid discontent among players—highlighted by benching veteran Ken Daneyko prior to a significant milestone game. Assistant Larry Robinson succeeded him and led New Jersey to its second Stanley Cup championship. Ftorek remained within the organization as a scout and earned a second Stanley Cup engraving.

In 2001, Ftorek assumed head coaching duties for the Boston Bruins but was relieved late in the 2002–03 season due to underwhelming team performance; GM Mike O’Connell then took over coaching responsibilities. In 2003, Ftorek returned to coaching within New Jersey’s AHL affiliates and continued when affiliation shifted to Lowell.

Remarkably, Ftorek experienced late-season firings despite strong regular-season records from two NHL teams: New Jersey (1999–2000) with a record of 41–20–8–5 and Boston (2002–03) posting a record of 33–28–8–4.

In October 2007, Ftorek was appointed head coach of Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League (OHL), improving their record from a previous poor season (15–34–4) to three straight playoff appearances between 2008 and 2011—including a competitive seven-game series against two-time Memorial Cup champions Windsor Spitfires. However, after overseeing one of OHL’s worst seasons (10-52-6) during rebuilding in 2011–12, he was dismissed in November 2012.

On August 7, 2013, Ftorek joined Calgary Flames’ organization as assistant coach for their AHL affiliate Abbotsford Heat. Later on November 29, 2016, he became head coach of ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals following Rod Aldoff’s departure but was released after an ownership change occurred in 2019.

Personal life

Ftorek and his spouse Wendy are parents to four children. Their youngest daughter, Anna Ftorek, tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack at their residence in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire in 2012 when she was 23 years old. His son, Sam, enjoyed a 17-year career as a professional hockey player before transitioning into coaching. In 2016, Sam became the inaugural head coach for the Southern Professional Hockey League's new franchise, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.

Awards and accomplishments

• Selected for the Pool B all-star team at the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championships
• Named Most Valuable Player for Team USA during the 1976 Canada Cup
• Recipient of the Gary Davidson Trophy as WHA Most Valuable Player in 1977
• Earned All-WHA First Team honors in 1977 and 1979
• Included in the All-WHA Second Team in 1976 and 1978
• Participated in WHA All-Star games consecutively from 1976 through 1979

Ftorek was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1991. He was also honored as a member of the first class inducted into the World Hockey Association Hall of Fame in 2010 and later gained induction into the AHL Hall of Fame in 2020.

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1968–69	Needham High School	HS-MA		18	38	36	74	—		—	—	—	—	—
1969–70	Needham High School	HS-MA		23	54	64	118	—		—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Halifax Atlantics	MaJrHL		28	23	37	60	34		12	15	9	24	18
1971–72	United States	Intl		51	25	47	72	36		—	—	—	—	—
1972–73	Virginia Wings	AHL		55	17	42	59	36		5	2	2	4	4
1972–73	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		3	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Virginia Wings	AHL		65	24	42	66	37		—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		12	2	5	7	4		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Tulsa Oilers	CHL		11	6	10	16	14		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Phoenix Roadrunners	WHA		53	31	37	68	29		5	2	5	7	2
1975–76	Phoenix Roadrunners	WHA		80	41	72	113	109		5	1	3	4	2
1976–77	Phoenix Roadrunners	WHA		80	46	71	117	86		—	—	—	—
1977–78	Cincinnati Stingers	WHA		80	59	50	109	54		—	—	—	—
1978–79	Cincinnati Stingers	WHA		80	39	77	116	87		3	3	2	5	6
1979–80	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		52	18	33	51	28		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		78	24	49	73	104		5	1	2	3	17
1981–82	Quebec Nordiques	NHL		19	1	8	9	4		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82		New York Rangers			NHL		30			8		24		32		24		10		7		4		11		11
1982–83		New York Rangers			NHL		61			12		19		31		41		4		1		0		1		0
1983–84		Tulsa Oilers			CHL		25			11		11		22		10		9		4		5		9		2
1983–84		New York Rangers			NHL		31			3		2		5		22		—		—		—		—		—
1984–85		New Haven Nighthawks			AHL		17			9		7		16		30		—		—		—		—		—
1984–85		New York Rangers			NHL		48			9		10		19		35	(none)	(none)	(none)	(none)
1985–86	(single game)	New Haven Nighthawks		(single game)	AHL	(single game)	1	(single game)		0	(single game)	0	(single game)	0	(single game)	—	(single game)	—	(single game)	—	(single game)	—	(single game)
WHA totals				373	216	307	523	365		13	6	10	16	10
NHL totals				334	77	150	227	262		19	9	6	15	28

International

Year	Team	Tournament		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972	United States	Olympics		6	0	2	2	0
1972	United States	World Championship B		6	7	3	10	—
1976	United States	Canada Cup		5	3	2	5	16
1981	United States	Canada Cup		4	0	0	0	0
Career senior totals				15	3	4	7	16

NHL

Team	Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Standing	Playoff Outcome
Los Angeles Kings	1987–88	52	23	25	4	—	(50)	4th in Smythe Division	Eliminated in First round (Calgary Flames)
Los Angeles Kings	1988–89	80	42	31	7	—	91	2nd in Smythe Division	Eliminated in Second round (CGY)
New Jersey Devils	1998–99	82	47	24	11	—	105	Atlantic Division champions	Eliminated in First round (Pittsburgh Penguins)
New Jersey Devils	1999–2000	74	41	20	8	5	(95)	(dismissed)	—
Boston Bruins	2001–02	82	43	24	6	9	101	Northeast Division champions	Eliminated in First round (Montreal Canadiens)
Boston Bruins	2002–03	73	33	28	8	4	(78)	(dismissed)	—
NHL career totals		443	229	152	44	18			4 playoff appearances

Minor league and junior coaching career

Team	Season	GP	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Position	Playoff Outcome
New Haven Nighthawks	1985–86	80	36	37	7	—	79	4th in South Division	Eliminated in First round (Hershey Bears)
New Haven Nighthawks	1986–87	80	44	25	—	11	99	3rd in South Division	Eliminated in First round (Binghamton Whalers)
New Haven Nighthawks	1987–88	27	16	8	3	—	(76)	5th in North Division	(promoted midseason)
Halifax Citadels	1989–90	48	25	19	4	—	(80)	4th in North Division	(promoted midseason)
Utica Devils	1992–93	80	33	36	11	—	77	3rd in South Division	Eliminated in First round (Rochester Americans)
Albany River Rats	1993–94	80	38	34	8	—	84	3rd in North Division	Eliminated in First round (Portland Pirates)
Albany River Rats	1994–95	80	46	17	17	—	109	1st in North Division	Captured Calder Cup (Fredericton Canadiens)
Albany River Rats	1995–96	80	54	19	7	—	115	1st in North Division	Eliminated in First round (Cornwall Aces)
Albany River Rats	2003–04	28	7	15	3	3	(62)	7th in East Division	Did not qualify for playoffs
Albany River Rats	2004–05	80	29	38	6	7	71	7th in East Division	Missed postseason qualification
Albany River Rats	2005–06	80	25	48	—	7	57	7th in Atlantic Division	Failed to reach playoffs
Erie Otters	2007–08	53	15	34	—	4	(40)	5th place Midwest Division	Did not qualify for playoffs
Erie Otters	2008–09 68 |34 |29 |— |5 |73 |3rd place Midwest Division | Eliminated in First round (London Knights)
Erie Otters	2009–10 68 |33 |28 |— |7 |73 |4th place Midwest Division | Eliminated in First round (Windsor Spitfires)
Erie Otters	2010–11 68 |40 |26 |— |2 |82 |3rd place Midwest Division | Eliminated in First round (WIN)
Erie Otters	2011–12 68 |10 |52 |3 |3 |26 |5th place Midwest Division | Missed playoffs qualification
Erie Otters	2012–13 27 |7 |15 |2 |3 |19 |(dismissed) |—
Norfolk Admirals	2016–17 55 |24 |29 |0 |2 |(50) |7th place South Division | Did not qualify for postseason
Norfolk Admirals	2017–18 72 |26 |39 |0 |7 |59 |6th place South Division | Missed playoffs qualification
Norfolk Admirals	2018–19 72 |27 |36 |0 |9 |63 |6th place South Division | Failed to make playoffs