| 1979 Training Camp Notes |
|---|
After a disapointing season last year, general manager Ted Lindsay and coach Bobby Kromm have numerous positive aspects to consider when looking at this year's roster:
CENTER: At the centerice position, management agrees that a club must be strong to be sucessful. Detroit can now boast of its down-the-center strength. Dale McCourt's future is legally stabalized with Detroit and he can now concentrate on playing hockey. Pete Mahovlich returns to Detroit adding experience, club unity, plus his expertise at killing penlaties and playing the power play. Bill hogaboam has speed, a great shot and looking forward to playing a full season without injury. Brent Peterson, a first round draft pick last year, was just coming into his own when injured. However, he had time to prove his ability to play and that he belongs in the NHL. Dennis Sobchuk, acquired from Philadelphia, has an abundance of talent and was the League's number one junior in the 1974 draft. Bjorne Skaare, "speed personified", is a tremendous playmaker and hopefully will adjust to the North American style of hockey.
RIGHT WING: Not so long ago, Detroit's right wing position left something to be desired. But Detroit now has the depth with veterans Dennis Polonich; last year's leading scorer Vaclav Nedomansky; the surprising play of Danny Bolduc; and first round 1979 draft pick Mike Foligno. Lindsay and Kromm are also excited about last year's CHL leading goal scorer Mal Davis, WHA's Don Larway, and Ted Nolan.
LEFT WING: Detroit is still blessed with an abundance of NHL-calibre left wingers, especially with proven goal scorer Errol Thompson. Paul Woods will have competition maintaining his tag of "Mr. Hustle" with the addition of Glenn Hicks from the WHA. Dan Labraaten is now firmly adjusted to the NHL style of play. George Lyle is hard-nosed, tough in the corners, not afraid to stand in front of the opposition's net. Rick Vasko demonstrated his potential during a sucessful season in Kansas City last year.
DEFENSEMEN: Coach Kromm is expecting great things from completely rehabilitated Greg Jolyand former Winnipeg Jets player Barry Long. Perry Miller will be back this year following sucessful shoulder surgery during the off season. Veteran Thommie Bergman had knee surgery last spring and is also back to 100%. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief following the signing of free agent Reed Larson. Larson led the wings in assists last season with 49 and his 67 points were third-best for Detroit. Big Willie Huber proved to everyone last year that he is headed for NHL stardom. Veteran Jean Hamel always demonstrates 100% effort. An outstanding college prospect Jim Korn (6'4", 215 lbs.), Steve Short, who had an outstanding year in Kansas City last year, and big John Hilworth, all have an excellent opportunity to earn a place on this year's parent Red Wings team.
GOALTENDERS: Detroit now has a healthy goaltending team (bettered by no one) with the services of Jim Rutherford, Rogie Vachon, and the extremely high prospect in Al Jensen. Al played for Kalamazoo of the IHL last year and in just his first season in pro hockey was instrumental in the K-Wings capture of the Turner Cup. |
| # | Pos | Player | HT | WT | D.O.B. | 1978-79 Club | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | 1979-80 Club | Draft Notes |
|---|
| 12 | LW | Errol Thompson | 5'9 | 195 | 5/28/50 | Detroit (NHL) | 70 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 26 | Detroit (NHL) | Tor 3/13/78 |
| 18 | LW | George Lyle | 6'2 | 210 | 11/24/53 | New England (WHA)
Springfield (AHL) | 59
4 | 17
2 | 18
4 | 35
6 | 54
6 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Reclaimed in WHA expansion draft 6/12/79 |
| 23 | LW | Glenn Hicks | 5'10 | 177 | 8/29/58 | Winnipeg (WHA) | 69 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 48 | Detroit (NHL) | 1978 draft 2nd rnd, 28th |
| | LW | * Carmine Cirella | 6'4 | 215 | 1/16/60 | Peterborough (OHL | 60 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 119 | Returned to Jrs | 1979 draft 6th rnd, 108th |
| | LW | * Joe Paterson | 6'1 | 208 | 6/25/60 | London (OHL) | 60 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 158 | Returned to Jrs | 1979 draft 5th rnd, 87th |
| | LW | Randy Wilson | 5'9 | 180 | 8/28/57 | Providence (NCAA)
Kansas City (CHL) | 27
13 | 10
4 | 25
7 | 35
11 | 51
4 | Johnstown (EHL) | 1977 draft 7th rnd, 109th |
| | LW | Rob Plumb | 5'10 | 170 | 8/29/57 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 44
7 | 17
1 | 20
1 | 37
2 | 16
2 | Adirondack (AHL)/Kalamazoo (IHL) | 1977 draft 11th rnd, 163rd |
| 8 | RW | Dennis Polonich | 5'6 | 170 | 12/4/53 | Detroit (NHL) | 62 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 208 | Detroit (NHL) | 1973 draft 8th rnd, 123rd |
| 17 | RW | * Mike Foligno | 6'1 | 195 | 1/29/59 | Sudbury (OHL) | 68 | 65 | 85 | 150 | 98 | Detroit (NHL) | 1979 draft 1st rnd, 3rd |
| 19 | RW | Daniel Bolduc | 5'10 | 185 | 4/6/53 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 23
56 | 21
16 | 11
13 | 32
29 | 11
14 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| 21 | RW | Dan Labraaten | 6' | 190 | 6/9/51 | Detroit (NHL) | 78 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 8 | Detroit (NHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| 25 | RW | Kevin Schamehorn | 5'9 | 180 | 7/28/56 | Kalamazoo (IHL) | 80 | 45 | 57 | 102 | 245 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | 1976 draft 4th rnd, 58th |
| | RW | Don Larway | 6'1 | 195 | 2/12/54 | Indianapolis (WHA)
Rochester (AHL) | 25
37 | 8
13 | 10
11 | 18
24 | 39
55 | Adirondack (AHL)/Kalamazoo (IHL) | Free Agent 1979 |
| | RW | * Jody Gage | 5'11 | 182 | 11/29/59 | Kitchener (OHA) | 59 | 46 | 43 | 89 | 40 | Adirondack (AHL)/Kalamazoo (IHL) | 1979 draft 3rd rnd, 45th |
| | RW | * John Ogrodnick | 6' | 190 | 7/20/59 | New Westminster (WHL) | 72 | 48 | 36 | 84 | 38 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | 1979 draft 4th rnd, 66th |
| | RW | Mal Davis | 5'11 | 180 | 10/10/56 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 71
6 | 42
0 | 24
0 | 66
0 | 29
0 | Adirondack (AHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| | RW | Mickey Redmond | 6' | 205 | 12/27/47 | Did Not Play - Injured | | | | | | Retired 9/23/79 | Camp Tryout 1979 |
| 10 | C | Dale McCourt | 5'10 | 180 | 1/26/57 | Detroit (NHL) | 79 | 28 | 43 | 71 | 14 | Detroit (NHL) | LA 8/22/79 |
| 11 | C | Pete Mahovlich | 6'5 | 210 | 10/10/46 | Pittsburgh (NHL) | 60 | 14 | 39 | 53 | 39 | Detroit (NHL) | Pitt 8/3/79 |
| 14 | C | Dennis Sobchuk | 6'2 | 176 | 1/12/54 | Edmonton (WHA) | 74 | 26 | 37 | 63 | 31 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Phi 9/4/79 |
| 15 | C | Paul Woods | 5'10 | 175 | 4/12/55 | Detroit (NHL) | 80 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 59 | Detroit (NHL) | Claimed from Mon in Waiver draft 10/10/77 |
| 20 | C | Vaclav Nedomansky | 6'2 | 205 | 3/14/44 | Detroit (NHL) | 80 | 38 | 35 | 73 | 19 | Detroit (NHL) | Birm (WHA) 11/15/77 |
| 22 | C | Bill Hogaboam | 5'11 | 170 | 5/9/49 | Oklahoma (CHL)
Minnesota/Detroit (NHL) | 40
28 | 21
5 | 29
7 | 50
12 | 18
4 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | Free Agent 1979 |
| 27 | C | Brent R. Peterson | 6'1 | 195 | 2/15/58 | Detroit (NHL) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | 1978 draft 1st rnd, 12th |
| | C | Bjorne Skaare | 5'11 | 180 | 10/29/58 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 37
1 | 8
0 | 26
0 | 34
0 | 18
0 | Returned to Norway | 1978 draft 4th rnd, 67th |
| | C | Jim Malazdrewicz | 5'11 | 190 | 3/11/58 | Kansas City (CHL) | 74 | 32 | 24 | 56 | 11 | Adirondack (AHL) | 1978 draft 9th rnd, 146th |
| | C | Sylvain Locas | 5'10 | 174 | 2/17/58 | Kansas City (CHL) | 75 | 27 | 34 | 61 | 92 | Adirondack (AHL)/Kalamazoo (IHL) | 1978 draft 6th rnd, 95th |
| | C | Ted Nolan | 6' | 185 | 4/7/58 | Kansas City (CHL) | 73 | 12 | 38 | 50 | 66 | Adirondack (AHL) | 1978 draft 5th rnd, 78th |
| | C | Tom Ross | 5'8 | 170 | 1/17/54 | Kalamazoo (IHL)
Kansas City (CHL) | 72
1 | 47
0 | 69
0 | 116
0 | 23
0 | Kalamazoo (IHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| 2 | D | Barry Long | 6'2 | 210 | 1/3/49 | Winnipeg (WHA) | 80 | 5 | 36 | 41 | 42 | Detroit (NHL) | Reclaimed in WHA expansion draft 6/12/79 |
| 3 | D | Perry Miller | 6'1 | 194 | 6/24/52 | Detroit (NHL) | 75 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 156 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | Free Agent 1977 |
| 4 | D | Thommie Bergman | 6'2 | 200 | 12/10/47 | Detroit (NHL) | 68 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 64 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| 5 | D | Jean Hamel | 5'11 | 195 | 6/6/52 | Detroit (NHL) | 52 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 72 | Detroit (NHL) | Stl 2/14/74 |
| 7 | D | Willie Huber | 6'5 | 228 | 1/15/58 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 10
68 | 2
7 | 7
24 | 9
31 | 12
114 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | 1978 draft 1st rnd, 9th |
| 24 | D | Greg Joly | 6'1 | 180 | 5/30/54 | Detroit (NHL) | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | Was 11/30/76 |
| 26 | D | * Jim Korn | 6'3 | 210 | 7/28/57 | Providence (NCAA) | 27 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 72 | Adirondack (AHL)/Detroit (NHL) | 1977 draft 5th rnd, 73rd |
| 28 | D | Reed Larson | 6' | 188 | 7/30/56 | Detroit (NHL) | 79 | 18 | 49 | 67 | 169 | Detroit (NHL) | 1976 draft 2nd rnd, 22nd |
| 29 | D | John Hilworth | 6'4 | 208 | 5/23/57 | Detroit (NHL)
Kalamazoo (IHL)
Kansas City (CHL) | 37
2
42 | 1
1
2 | 1
2
14 | 2
3
16 | 66
7
107 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | 1977 draft 4th rnd, 55th |
| | D | * Boris Fistric | 6'3 | 220 | 9/15/60 | New Westminster (WHL) | 64 | 15 | 37 | 52 | 460 | Returned to Jrs | 1979 draft 3rd rnd, 46th |
| | D | Dave Hanson | 6' | 190 | 4/12/54 | Birmingham (WHA)
Detroit (NHL) | 53
11 | 6
0 | 22
0 | 28
0 | 212
26 | Birmingham (CHL)/Minnesota (NHL) | Free Agent 1977 |
| | D | * Don Stewart | 6'1 | 195 | 6/30/59 | Portland (WHL) | 72 | 3 | 24 | 27 | 90 | Johnstown (EHL) | Free Agent 1979 |
| | D | John Taft | 6' | 180 | 3/8/58 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 61
15 | 8
0 | 24
2 | 32
2 | 48
4 | Adirondack (AHL) | 1974 draft 5th rnd, 81st |
| | D | Lorry Gloekner | 6'2 | 210 | 1/25/56 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 51
13 | 0
0 | 17
2 | 17
2 | 44
6 | Johnstown (EHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| | D | Rick Vasko | 6' | 200 | 1/12/57 | Kansas City (CHL) | 75 | 21 | 38 | 59 | 67 | Detroit (NHL)/Adirondack (AHL) | 1977 draft 3rd rnd, 37th |
| | D | Steve Short | 65'2 | 210 | 4/6/54 | Kansas City (CHL)
Detroit (NHL) | 51
1 | 3
0 | 11
0 | 14
0 | 216
0 | Adirondack (AHL) | LA 12/6/78 |
| 1 | G | Jim Rutherford | 5'8 | 160 | 2/17/49 | Detroit (NHL) | 32 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Detroit (NHL) | Pit 1/18/74 |
| 30 | G | Rogie Vachon | 5'7 | 165 | 9/8/45 | Detroit (NHL) | 50 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | Detroit (NHL) | Free Agent 1978 |
| | G | Al Jensen | 5'10 | 180 | 11/27/58 | Kalamazoo (IHL) | 47 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | Adirondack (AHL) | 1978 draft 2nd rnd, 31st |
| | G | Larry Lozinski | 5'11 | 175 | 3/11/58 | Kansas City (CHL) | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | Kalamazoo (IHL) | 1978 draft 14th rnd, 219th |
* - Amateur Player.
