|
| |
| 1980 Entry Draft | | All 8 players in this draft turned pro in the wings organization, although the only two to make the NHL were traded away early in their careers. Mike Blaisdell, the highest rated of the group started out great, and faded away quickly, going from 20 goal scorer to out of the league in 3 years. Mark Osborne was the gem of this draft for the wings, and was a solid NHL'er for a number of clubs throughout his 14 year NHL Career.
Pictured - The Class of 1980 at training camp in 1980.
TOP L-R: Mike Blaisdell - Wayne Crawford - Michael Braun
BOTTOM: Brian Rorabeck - Dave Miles - Mark Osborne - John Beukeboom |
| 1st Rnd, 11th Overall NHL Totals 343-70-84-154-166 | | Right Wing Mike Blaisdell |  | This strong, slick skater with a nose for the net was rated 15th overall by CSB after a 71-goal season alongside #1 overall pick Doug Wickenheiser in Regina. Mike made the Wings out of training camp in 1980 and split his first pro season between Detroit and the farm in Adirondack (AHL). After 2 and a half, solid, but unspectacular seasons in Detroit, "Blazer" was dealt to the Rangers in a blockbuster deal that saw Ron Duguay join the wings. Mike played parts of 6 more seasons in the NHL before becoming a big scorer in the British Hockey League, where he now coaches. |
| 2nd Rnd, 25th Overall | | | Traded to Toronto with Dan Maloney for Errol Thompson, the 11th overall pick in 1980 (Mike Blaisdell), and the 31st overall pick in 1978 (Al Jensen) 3/13/78. |
| 3rd Rnd, 46th overall NHL Totals 919-212-320-532-1152 | | Left Wing Mark Osborne |  | Rated 29th overall by CSB, Osborne overcame a serious hip injury in his draft year to sign with the wings. An aggressive two-way winger, Mark led the wings in scoring as a rookie in 1981, while playing in all 80 games. After being traded to New York in 1983 with fellow draftee Blaisdell, "Ozzy" went on to have a solid NHL career playing nearly 1000 games, and routinely scoring 20 goals a season while playing a solid defensive game. |
| 4th Rnd, 67th Overall | | | Traded to Chicago for Dennis Hull 12/2/77. |
| 5th Rnd, 88th overall NHL Totals 0-0-0-0-0 | | Right Wing Mike Corrigan |  | A big, tough right winger with a scoring touch, Corrigan was rated as the 12th best draft prospect by the "Hockey News" after a 30 goal, 71 point campaign, topped off with 186 Penalty minutes. Mike turned pro with Kalamazoo in 1981, and then moved up to Adirondack in 1982, but his game did not translate well to the next level, and after another few years in Kalamazoo, Mike was out of hockey. |
| 6th Rnd, 109th overall NHL Totals 0-0-0-0-0 | | Center Wayne Crawford |  | A slick skating playmaker, Crawford posted some big numbers in junior, and turned pro in 1981 with Adirondack (AHL). After three seasons of mediocre numbers in the AHL however, Wayne was not resigned by Detroit and ended up signing with Kalamazoo (IHL), where he spent parts of 4 seasons. In 1989 Crawford went to England where he became a high-scoring player for 14 years, retiring at age 40. |
| 7th Rnd, 130th overall; NHL Totals: 0-0-0-0-0 | | Defenseman Michael Braun |  | This stay at home defenseman took a step backward after his draft year. He turned pro in 1981 with Kalamazoo (IHL), but battled injuries, and could not make the grade at the next level. After 2 years as a pro, Mike's contract was up and he retired. |
| 8th Rnd, 151st overall; NHL Totals: 0-0-0-0-0 | | Defenseman John Beukeboom |  | A shot-blocking defensive defenseman with a physical side, "Boomer" turned pro in 1981 with Adirondack (AHL) where he spent most of his career. Beukeboom played a physical punishing game, and could move the puck well too. After six years in the organization, John retired in 1987 having never made it to the NHL. |
| 9th Rnd, 172nd overall; NHL Totals: 0-0-0-0-0 | | Right Wing Dave Miles |  | Miles was drafted on potential as he had some size and had put up 136 penalty minutes in his draft year. Unfortunately he took a step backwards the following year, and after 1 decent season with Kalamazoo, he started slow in year two and was traded to Peoria (IHL) and out of the organization. |
| 10th Rnd, 193rd overall; NHL Totals: 0-0-0-0-0 | | Right Wing Brian Rorabeck |  | An Aggressive banging winger in juniors, Rorabeck's game did not translate to the pros well. A good overage season which saw Brian score 71 points in 50 games convinced Detroit to turn him pro, a mistake that was rectified 27 games into his first season in Kalamazoo, when he was loaned to Muskegon, and out of the organization. After kicking around the IHL for a few seasons, Rorabeck was given a tryout at Detroit's 1984 camp, and released. |
|
|
