Mickey Redmond: A NHL Sniper’s Career Cut Short

When we think of NHL hockey careers cut short, names like Bill Barilko, Bobby Orr and Cam Neely come to mind. However, often overlooked is a Motown sniper from the early 1970’s. Mickey Redmond was nipping at Phil Esposito’s heels when it came to goal scoring prowess in the 1970’s. That is, until a back injury prematurely ended his National Hockey League career after just nine seasons.

Mickey Redmond – Junior Hockey

Mickey Redmond played his junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey Association. Redmond was with the team for four seasons from 1963-64 to 1966-67. In 1965-66, the Petes won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the OHA’s top regular season team but bowed out of the Robertson Cup playoffs prematurely. The following season, under brand new coach Roger Neilson, Mickey scored 51 goals and totalled 95 points in just 48 games. He was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP and also the William Hanley Trophy as the most sportsmanlike player.

Mickey Redmond – NHL Career

He began play in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens in 1967-68. He stayed with the club until a trade during the 1970-71 season sent him to Detroit. His goal scoring skills exploded when he was lined up with Marcel Dionne. In 1971-72, he scored 42 then he had back-to-back 50+ goal seasons with 52 in 1972-73 and 51 in 1973-74.

Just when everything was looking rosy, Redmond sustained a back injury in 1974-75 and played just 29 games. He attempted to come back the following season but retired at end of 1975-76. This was truly the beginning of the ‘Dead Things’ era as Dionne was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for the start of the 1975-76 season. Detroit was left with basically no offensive threat.

Mickey Redmond is still a part of the Detroit Red Wings scene today as the colour commentator for the team’s broadcasts.