1970–71 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1970–71 Detroit Red Wings season was Gordie Howe's final season with the Red Wings. Ned Harkness was hired as coach in 1970 and was promoted to general manager midway through the season. His background was a successful college hockey coach. He tried to force his two-way style of play on a veteran Red Wings team resistant to change. Harkness also demanded short hair, no smoking, and put other rules in place regarding drinking and phone calls.^[1]

Offseason

The Fort Worth Wings of the Central Hockey League, coached by former Red Wings' defenceman Doug Barkley, continued to be operated as Detroit's top farm team during the 1969–70 season.^[2]

Regular season

Red Wings general manager Sid Abel wanted to get rid of coach Ned Harkness and was overruled by team owner Bruce Norris. Once Harkness took over as general manager, he got rid of players he deemed a threat to him. On January 10, 1971, Doug Barkley was promoted to become head coach of the Red wings,^[3] and on January 13, 1971, Frank Mahovlich was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Mickey Redmond, Guy Charron and Bill Collins. Mahovlich was reunited with his brother Pete, who had become a star player himself with the Canadiens. One of the few highlights of the season was the emergence of young rookie goaltender Jim Rutherford.

On October 29, Gordie Howe became the first player to record 1000 assists in a 5–3 win over Boston at the Detroit Olympia.

The Wings suffered their worst defeat in franchise history January 2, when Toronto beat them 13–0.

Season standings

East Division^[4]
		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Boston Bruins	78	57	14	7	399	207	+192	121
2	New York Rangers	78	49	18	11	259	177	+82	109
3	Montreal Canadiens	78	42	23	13	291	216	+75	97
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	78	37	33	8	248	211	+37	82
5	Buffalo Sabres	78	24	39	15	217	291	−74	63
6	Vancouver Canucks	78	24	46	8	229	296	−67	56
7	Detroit Red Wings	78	22	45	11	209	308	−99	55

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 10, 1970	5–3	California Golden Seals (1970–71)	1–0–0
2	L	October 11, 1970	3–7	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)	1–1–0
3	L	October 13, 1970	3–4	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	1–2–0
4	L	October 15, 1970	1–2	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	1–3–0
5	W	October 17, 1970	3–2	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	2–3–0
6	L	October 18, 1970	1–2	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	2–4–0
7	L	October 23, 1970	3–4	@ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)	2–5–0
8	T	October 25, 1970	3–3	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	2–5–1
9	L	October 28, 1970	1–4	@ New York Rangers (1970–71)	2–6–1
10	W	October 29, 1970	5–3	Boston Bruins (1970–71)	3–6–1
11	L	November 1, 1970	4–5	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	3–7–1
12	L	November 4, 1970	2–4	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	3–8–1
13	W	November 5, 1970	3–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	4–8–1
14	T	November 8, 1970	3–3	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	4–8–2
15	L	November 12, 1970	1–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	4–9–2
16	T	November 15, 1970	4–4	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	4–9–3
17	W	November 17, 1970	5–2	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	5–9–3
18	L	November 21, 1970	1–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	5–10–3
19	W	November 22, 1970	4–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	6–10–3
20	W	November 26, 1970	4–2	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	7–10–3
21	L	November 28, 1970	4–9	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	7–11–3
22	W	November 29, 1970	5–3	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	8–11–3
23	T	December 3, 1970	4–4	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	8–11–4
24	L	December 5, 1970	0–3	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	8–12–4
25	L	December 6, 1970	2–4	St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	8–13–4
26	W	December 10, 1970	3–1	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	9–13–4
27	W	December 12, 1970	5–3	Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)	10–13–4
28	L	December 13, 1970	2–6	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)	10–14–4
29	L	December 16, 1970	2–4	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	10–15–4
30	L	December 19, 1970	1–9	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	10–16–4
31	L	December 20, 1970	3–7	California Golden Seals (1970–71)	10–17–4
32	L	December 23, 1970	1–2	Boston Bruins (1970–71)	10–18–4
33	W	December 26, 1970	7–4	New York Rangers (1970–71)	11–18–4
34	L	December 27, 1970	2–5	@ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)	11–19–4
35	L	December 31, 1970	3–8	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	11–20–4
36	L	January 2, 1971	0–13	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	11–21–4
37	W	January 3, 1971	3–2	California Golden Seals (1970–71)	12–21–4
38	L	January 7, 1971	4–7	@ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)	12–22–4
39	W	January 9, 1971	3–2	Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)	13–22–4
40	L	January 10, 1971	2–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	13–23–4
41	T	January 14, 1971	2–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	13–23–5
42	L	January 16, 1971	2–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	13–24–5
43	L	January 17, 1971	0–2	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	13–25–5
44	L	January 21, 1971	0–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	13–26–5
45	L	January 23, 1971	2–6	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	13–27–5
46	W	January 24, 1971	7–3	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	14–27–5
47	T	January 28, 1971	1–1	St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	14–27–6
48	T	January 30, 1971	3–3	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	14–27–7
49	L	January 31, 1971	1–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	14–28–7
50	T	February 3, 1971	4–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	14–28–8
51	L	February 4, 1971	0–1	New York Rangers (1970–71)	14–29–8
52	W	February 7, 1971	5–2	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	15–29–8
53	L	February 10, 1971	2–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	15–30–8
54	L	February 12, 1971	3–5	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	15–31–8
55	W	February 14, 1971	4–0	Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	16–31–8
56	W	February 18, 1971	5–3	Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	17–31–8
57	W	February 20, 1971	6–5	Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)	18–31–8
58	L	February 21, 1971	1–4	@ New York Rangers (1970–71)	18–32–8
59	L	February 25, 1971	1–3	St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	18–33–8
60	L	February 27, 1971	2–4	@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)	18–34–8
61	W	February 28, 1971	4–2	Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	19–34–8
62	T	March 4, 1971	2–2	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)	19–34–9
63	T	March 6, 1971	2–2	New York Rangers (1970–71)	19–34–10
64	L	March 7, 1971	1–4	Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	19–35–10
65	L	March 11, 1971	3–7	@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	19–36–10
66	L	March 13, 1971	2–5	@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)	19–37–10
67	W	March 14, 1971	8–5	@ California Golden Seals (1970–71)	20–37–10
68	L	March 16, 1971	4–11	Boston Bruins (1970–71)	20–38–10
69	L	March 18, 1971	3–7	@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)	20–39–10
70	L	March 20, 1971	1–2	@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)	20–40–10
71	L	March 21, 1971	0–2	@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	20–41–10
72	L	March 24, 1971	2–8	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)	20–42–10
73	W	March 25, 1971	4–3	Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)	21–42–10
74	L	March 27, 1971	2–9	@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)	21–43–10
75	W	March 28, 1971	2–1	Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	22–43–10
76	T	March 31, 1971	2–2	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)	22–43–11
77	L	April 3, 1971	1–4	Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)	22–44–11
78	L	April 4, 1971	0–6	@ New York Rangers (1970–71)	22–45–11

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Tom Webster	78	30	37	67	40
Alex Delvecchio	77	21	34	55	6
Gordie Howe	63	23	29	52	38
Frank Mahovlich	35	14	18	32	30
Nick Libett	78	16	13	29	25
Garry Unger	51	13	14	27	63
Bruce MacGregor	47	6	16	22	18
Wayne Connelly	51	8	13	21	12
Bill Collins	36	5	16	21	12
Red Berenson	24	5	12	17	4
Rene LeClerc	44	8	8	16	43
Mickey Redmond	21	6	8	14	7
Tim Ecclestone	27	4	10	14	13
Don Luce	58	3	11	14	18
Guy Charron	24	8	4	12	4

^[5]

Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Gary Bergman	68	8	25	33	149
Mike Robitaille	23	4	8	12	22
Dale Rolfe	44	3	9	12	48
Ron Harris	42	2	8	10	65
Gerry Hart	64	2	7	9	148
Arnie Brown

^[5]

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average

Player	GP	MIN	W	L	T	SO	GA	GAA
Roy Edwards	37	2104	11	19	7	0	119	3.39
Gerry Gray	7	380	1	4	1	0	30	4.74
Don McLeod	14	698	3	7	0	0	60	5.16
Jim Rutherford	29	1948	7	15	3	1	94	3.77

^[5]

Roster

1970–1971 Detroit Red Wings Roster

Goaltenders

1 – Jim Rutherford
30 – Roy Edwards
30 – Gerry Gray
30 – Don McLeod

Defensemen

2 – Gary Bergman
3 – Dale Rolfe
4 – Bobby Baun
4 – Arnie Brown
4 – Larry Brown
5 – Serge Lajeunesse
16 – Ron Harris
18 – Gerry Hart
20 – Jim Niekamp
21 – Mike Robitaille
22 – Bob Falkenberg
24 – Randy Manery

Wingers

8 – Tom Webster
9 – Gordie Howe
11 – Hank Monteith
12 – Bruce MacGregor
14 – Nick Libett
15 – Rene LeClerc
15 – Hank Monteith
17 – Wayne Connelly
17 – Tim Ecclestone
19 – Jim Krulicki
19 – Doug Volmar
20 – Mickey Redmond
22 – Bill Collins
23 – Guy Charron
23 – Jim Shires
27 – Frank Mahovlich

Centers

7 – Red Berenson
7 – Garry Unger
10 – Alex Delvecchio –C
11 – Don Luce
12 – Tom Miller
15 – Al Karlander
19 – Pete Stemkowski
21 – Billy Dea
22 – Rick McCann

GM: Sid Abel,
Ned Harkness
Coach: Ned Harkness,
Doug Barkley

References

Red Wings on Hockey Database

↑ Mulvoy, Mark (1971-01-18). "Poor Broken Wings". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
↑ Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley. Up From the Minor Leagues of Hockey. Chicago, Illinois: Cowles Book Company, Inc. p. 127.
↑ Fischler, Stan; Fischler, Shirley. Up From the Minor Leagues of Hockey. Chicago, Illinois: Cowles Book Company, Inc. p. 128.
↑ "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
1 2 3 http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000341971.html

Detroit Red Wings seasons

1920s	1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30

1930s	1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40

1940s	1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50

1950s	1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60

1960s	1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70

1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80

1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90

1990s	1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00

2000s	2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10

2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship

Detroit Red Wings

Founded in 1926 Based in Detroit, Michigan

Franchise	Team General Managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks Seasons Current season

History	History Original Six Records Award Winners

Personnel	Owner Ilitch Holdings (Mike Ilitch, chairman) General manager Ken Holland Head coach Jeff Blashill Team captain Henrik Zetterberg Current roster

Arenas	Windsor Arena Olympia Stadium Joe Louis Arena Detroit Events Center

Rivalries	Chicago Blackhawks

Culture and lore	Victoria Cougars 2009 NHL Winter Classic 2014 NHL Winter Classic Al the Octopus Grind Line Hockeytown Legend of the Octopus Production Line Red Wings–Avalanche brawl Hakan Andersson "Stanley's Cup" (South Park) Russian Five Karen Newman Budd Lynch London Lions 1938 European tour 1954 prison game

Stanley Cup championships	1936 1937 1943 1950 1952 1954 1955 1997 1998 2002 2008

Retired numbers	1 5 7 9 10 12 19

General managers	Duncan Adams Abel Harkness Delvecchio Lindsay Skinner Devellano Murray Devellano and Bowman Holland

Head coaches	Duncan Keats Adams Ivan Skinner Abel Gadsby Harkness Barkley J. Wilson Garvin Delvecchio L. Wilson Kromm Lindsay Maxner Dea Polano Neale Park Demers Murray Bowman Lewis Babcock Blashill

Affiliates	AHL Grand Rapids Griffins ECHL Toledo Walleye

Media	TV Fox Sports Detroit Ken Daniels Mickey Redmond Radio WXYT-FM WXYT-AM Ken Kal Paul Woods

1970–71 NHL season

East	Boston Buffalo Detroit Montreal New York Toronto Vancouver

West	California Chicago Los Angeles Minnesota Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis

See also	Amateur Draft Expansion Draft All-Star Game Stanley Cup Finals

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