Mike Bullard
50 goal scorer
100 points scorer
1984 All-Star
After finishing third in league scoring in the OMJHL in 1979-80, which would be named the OHL the following season, Mike Bullard was selected 9th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jimmy Fox, who led the OMJHL in scoring was selected immediately after Bullard with the 10th pick by the Los Angeles Kings.
Bullard would play in 15 games for the Penguins in 1980-81. In his rookie season, Bullard scored 36 goals. Two seasons later in 1983-84, Bullard scored 51 goals and 92 points. Which was 24 goals and 35 points more than the next best for the Penguins that season. This was also the season the Penguins finished the year 3-15-0 to finish last/first in the NHL/Mario Lemieux Sweepstakes.
Suddenly the 51 goal scorer found himself off the first line as Lemieux took over as the team's top centre. In the following two seasons, Bullard scored 32 and 41 goals. Bullard started slow in the 1986-87 season, only scoring two goals in the fourteen games. An already strained relationship with Pens coach Bob Berry took a turn for the worst when Bullard, then team captain, found himself demoted to the fourth line. A lively exchange during a team practice sealed Bullard's fate as a Pittsburgh Penguin.
By the next day, he was traded to the Calgary Flames for another disgruntled forward, Danny Quinn. Bullard arrived in Calgary just in time to rock out in the Flames team music video. It's easy to spot Bullard, he's probably the only Flame who appears to be actually enjoying it.
Bullard had his best season with the Flames in 1987-88, scoring 48 goals and 103 points. The Flames, who led the NHL in points, were swept in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champs, the Edmonton Oilers. After two straight disappointing play-off results, the Flames sold high on Mike Bullard, shipping him to the St. Louis Blues in a deal that brought Doug Gilmour to Calgary.
Bullard would only last 20 games in St. Louis before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyer in a straight-up deal for Peter Zezel. Bullard would put up decent offensive number in Philadelphia, 113pts in 124 games but would leave the NHL after the 1989-90 season for Switzerland.
Bullard would return to the NHL in 1991. He had his worst season in the NHL. Failing to top 20 goals or 40 points for the first time in his career. In a strange twist, Bullard would find himself behind Doug Gilmour and Peter Zezel in the depth chart. The last two players he was traded for.
Bullard retired from the NHL in 1992, but would play professionally until 2003 in Germany.
