Reed Larson

Reed Larson
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
Height Weight	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (89 kg)
Teams	Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders Minnesota North Stars Buffalo Sabres
Nationality	American
Born	(1956-07-30)July 30, 1956, Minneapolis, MN, US
NHL Draft	22nd overall, 1976 Detroit Red Wings
WHA Draft	220th overall, 1974 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Pro Career	1976 – 1990

Reed David Larson (born July 30, 1956 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and former captain of the Detroit Red Wings who played 904 regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1976 and 1990. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame

Amateur career

Larson spent three highly successful seasons under coach Herb Brooks with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers before being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings with the 22nd pick of the 1976 NHL Entry Draft. He was named one of the 50 greatest players in University of Minnesota hockey history as part of the "Legends on Ice" tribute in 2001.

Professional and international career

Larson joined Detroit near the end of the 1976–77 season after Minnesota suspended him for assaulting an official during a WCHA game. He appeared in 14 NHL games that season and was also named to Team USA for the 1977 World Ice Hockey Championships but missed the tournament due to shoulder injury. His first full NHL season (1977–78) was highly successful as he was runner-up for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie, scoring the most points (60) by a rookie defenceman. A tough, offensive defenceman, he was particularly well known for his hard slap shot. Larson became the first American player to score 200 goals and he appeared in the 1978, 1980 and 1981 NHL All-Star Games as the Red Wings representative. He finally made his international debut for the United States national team at the 1981 World Ice Hockey Championships tournament and also represented the U.S. at the 1981 Canada Cup.

Larson spent ten NHL seasons in Detroit until the Red Wings traded him to the Boston Bruins for Mike O'Connell in 1986. He played another two seasons for the Bruins before ending his NHL career in 1989–90 with the Buffalo Sabres His professional career continued overseas in Italy where he was a player-coach for four seasons before returning to his home state for a final nine games for the International Hockey League Minnesota Moose in 1994–95.

Awards and achievements

• Member of U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
• NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team (1975)
• WCHA First All-Star Team (1976)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1978, 1980, 1981)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974–75	University of Minnesota	NCAA		41	11	17	28	37		—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	University of Minnesota	NCAA		42	13	29	42	94		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	University of Minnesota	NCAA		21	10	15	25	30		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		14	0	1	1	23		—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		75	19	41	60	95		7	0	2	2	4
1978–79	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		79	18	49	67	169		—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		80	22	44	66	101		—	—	—	—	—
1980–81	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		78	27	31	58	153		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		80	21	39	60	112		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		80	22	54	74	104		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		78	23	39	62	122		4	2	0	2	21
1984–85	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		77	17	45	62	139		3	1	2	3	20
1985–86	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		67	19	41	60	109		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Boston Bruins	NHL		13	3	4	7	8		3	1	0	1	6
1986–87	Boston Bruins	NHL		66	12	24	36	95		4	0	2	2	2
1987–88	Maine Mariners	AHL		2	2	0	2	4		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Boston Bruins	NHL		62	10	24	34	93		8	0	1	1	6
1988–89	Edmonton Oilers	NHL		10	2	7	9	15		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	New York Islanders	NHL		33	7	13	20	35		—	—	—	—	—
1988–89	Minnesota North Stars	NHL		11	0	9	9	18		3	0	0	0	4
1989–90	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		1	0	0	0	0		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	HC Alleghe	Italy		43	24	50	74	51		—	—	—	—	—
1990–91	HC Alleghe	Italy		36	13	38	51	24		—	—	—	—	—
1993–94	HC Courmaosta	Italy		25	10	23	33	54		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Minnesota Moose	IHL		9	2	2	4	11		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				904	222	463	685	1391		32	4	7	11	63

References

• Reed Larson's biography at Legends of Hockey
• Reed Larson's bio at Hockeydraftcentral.com
• Reed Larson's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database

Preceded by Dale McCourt

Detroit Red Wings Captains 1980–82 with Errol Thompson 1980–81

Succeeded by Danny Gare