The 1970–71

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

season was

Gordie Howe Gordon Howe (March 31, 1928 – June 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. From 1946 to 1980, he played 26 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and six seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA); his first 25 seaso ...

's final season with the Red Wings.

Ned Harkness Nevin Donald Harkness (September 19, 1919 – September 19, 2008) was an National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA head coach of ice hockey and lacrosse at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Cornell University and of ice hockey at Union ...

was hired as coach in

1970 Events January * January 1 – Unix time epoch reached at 00:00:00 UTC. * January 5 – The 7.1 1970 Tonghai earthquake, Tonghai earthquake shakes Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China, with a maximum Mercalli intensity scale, Mercalli ...

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. The Red Wings finished in with a 22–45–11 record for 55 points for last place in the East Division, making things even worse was that they finished behind the two expansion clubs that season, the

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

and the

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

Offseason

The

Fort Worth Wings The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey team based in Fort Worth, Texas. The Texans started playing in 1967 as the Fort Worth Wings, a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings. The team were part of the Central Hockey League ...

of the

Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which opera ...

, coached by former Red Wings' defenceman

Doug Barkley Norman Douglas Barkley (born January 6, 1937) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings between 1957 and 1966. After his playing career, he ...

, continued to be operated as Detroit's top farm team during the 1969–70 season.

Regular season

Red Wings general manager

Sid Abel Sidney Gerald Abel (February 22, 1918February 8, 2000) was a Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame ice hockey, hockey player, coach and general manager in the National Hockey League, most notably for the Detroit Red Wings, and was a member ...

wanted to get rid of coach

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, and on January 13, 1971,

Frank Mahovlich Francis William Mahovlich (born January 10, 1938) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and a former Liberal Senator in the Canadian Senate. He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame ...

was traded to the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

for

Mickey Redmond Michael Edward Redmond (born December 27, 1947) is a Canadian former professional hockey player. He is currently a color commentator for Detroit Red Wings games on television for FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. Playing career Redmond played ...

, 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 James Earl Rutherford (born February 17, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and executive. He is the president of hockey operations of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to his position wi ...

. * On October 29, Gordie Howe became the first player to record 1,000 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

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , W, , October 10, 1970, , 5–3 , , align="left",

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967–68 NHL season, 1967 to 1975–76 NHL season, 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oa ...

( 1970–71) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 11, 1970, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1970–71) , , 1–1–0 , - , 3, , L, , October 13, 1970, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , L, , October 15, 1970, , 1–2 , , align="left",

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1970–71) , , 1–3–0 , - , 5, , W, , October 17, 1970, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1970–71) , , 2–3–0 , - , 6, , L, , October 18, 1970, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 2–4–0 , - , 7, , L, , October 23, 1970, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 2–5–0 , - , 8, , T, , October 25, 1970, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 2–5–1 , - , 9, , L, , October 28, 1970, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1970–71) , , 2–6–1 , - , 10, , W, , October 29, 1970, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 3–6–1 , - , - , 11, , L, , November 1, 1970, , 4–5 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1970–71) , , 3–7–1 , - , 12, , L, , November 4, 1970, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 3–8–1 , - , 13, , W, , November 5, 1970, , 3–1 , , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1970–71) , , 4–8–1 , - , 14, , T, , November 8, 1970, , 3–3 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1970–71) , , 4–8–2 , - , 15, , L, , November 12, 1970, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1970–71) , , 4–9–2 , - , 16, , T, , November 15, 1970, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1970–71) , , 4–9–3 , - , 17, , W, , November 17, 1970, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 5–9–3 , - , 18, , L, , November 21, 1970, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 5–10–3 , - , 19, , W, , November 22, 1970, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 6–10–3 , - , 20, , W, , November 26, 1970, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 7–10–3 , - , 21, , L, , November 28, 1970, , 4–9 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 7–11–3 , - , 22, , W, , November 29, 1970, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 8–11–3 , - , - , 23, , T, , December 3, 1970, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 8–11–4 , - , 24, , L, , December 5, 1970, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 8–12–4 , - , 25, , L, , December 6, 1970, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 8–13–4 , - , 26, , W, , December 10, 1970, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 9–13–4 , - , 27, , W, , December 12, 1970, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 10–13–4 , - , 28, , L, , December 13, 1970, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 10–14–4 , - , 29, , L, , December 16, 1970, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 10–15–4 , - , 30, , L, , December 19, 1970, , 1–9 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 10–16–4 , - , 31, , L, , December 20, 1970, , 3–7 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 10–17–4 , - , 32, , L, , December 23, 1970, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 10–18–4 , - , 33, , W, , December 26, 1970, , 7–4 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 11–18–4 , - , 34, , L, , December 27, 1970, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 11–19–4 , - , 35, , L, , December 31, 1970, , 3–8 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 11–20–4 , - , - , 36, , L, , January 2, 1971, , 0–13 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 11–21–4 , - , 37, , W, , January 3, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 12–21–4 , - , 38, , L, , January 7, 1971, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 12–22–4 , - , 39, , W, , January 9, 1971, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 13–22–4 , - , 40, , L, , January 10, 1971, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 13–23–4 , - , 41, , T, , January 14, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 13–23–5 , - , 42, , L, , January 16, 1971, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 13–24–5 , - , 43, , L, , January 17, 1971, , 0–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 13–25–5 , - , 44, , L, , January 21, 1971, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 13–26–5 , - , 45, , L, , January 23, 1971, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 13–27–5 , - , 46, , W, , January 24, 1971, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 14–27–5 , - , 47, , T, , January 28, 1971, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 14–27–6 , - , 48, , T, , January 30, 1971, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 14–27–7 , - , 49, , L, , January 31, 1971, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 14–28–7 , - , - , 50, , T, , February 3, 1971, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 14–28–8 , - , 51, , L, , February 4, 1971, , 0–1 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 14–29–8 , - , 52, , W, , February 7, 1971, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 15–29–8 , - , 53, , L, , February 10, 1971, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 15–30–8 , - , 54, , L, , February 12, 1971, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 15–31–8 , - , 55, , W, , February 14, 1971, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 16–31–8 , - , 56, , W, , February 18, 1971, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 17–31–8 , - , 57, , W, , February 20, 1971, , 6–5 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 18–31–8 , - , 58, , L, , February 21, 1971, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 18–32–8 , - , 59, , L, , February 25, 1971, , 1–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 18–33–8 , - , 60, , L, , February 27, 1971, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 18–34–8 , - , 61, , W, , February 28, 1971, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 19–34–8 , - , - , 62, , T, , March 4, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 19–34–9 , - , 63, , T, , March 6, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 19–34–10 , - , 64, , L, , March 7, 1971, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 19–35–10 , - , 65, , L, , March 11, 1971, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 19–36–10 , - , 66, , L, , March 13, 1971, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 19–37–10 , - , 67, , W, , March 14, 1971, , 8–5 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 20–37–10 , - , 68, , L, , March 16, 1971, , 4–11 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 20–38–10 , - , 69, , L, , March 18, 1971, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 20–39–10 , - , 70, , L, , March 20, 1971, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 20–40–10 , - , 71, , L, , March 21, 1971, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 20–41–10 , - , 72, , L, , March 24, 1971, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 20–42–10 , - , 73, , W, , March 25, 1971, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 21–42–10 , - , 74, , L, , March 27, 1971, , 2–9 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 21–43–10 , - , 75, , W, , March 28, 1971, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 22–43–10 , - , 76, , T, , March 31, 1971, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 22–43–11 , - , - , 77, , L, , April 3, 1971, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1970–71) , , 22–44–11 , - , 78, , L, , April 4, 1971, , 0–6 , , align="left", @

( 1970–71) , , 22–45–11 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Forwards

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

Defensemen

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

Goaltending

''Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average''

Awards and records

Draft picks

Detroit's draft picks at the 1970 NHL amateur draft held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth () is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in Canada after the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Lo ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

References

Red Wings on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1970-71 Detroit Red Wings season

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

Detroit Red Wings seasons

1970 in Detroit 1971 in Detroit