Reed Larson

Reed Larson
Born	(1956-07-30) July 30, 1956 Minneapolis, MN, USA
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position	Defense
Shot	Right
Played for	NHL Detroit Red Wings Boston Bruins Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders Minnesota North Stars Buffalo Sabres AHL Maine Mariners Italy HC Alleghe HC Milano
NHL draft	22nd overall, 1976 Detroit Red Wings
WHA draft	220th overall, 1974 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Playing career	1976–1990

Reed David Larson (born July 30, 1956) 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.

Youth

Larson grew up in a working class neighborhood in south Minneapolis, playing hockey at outdoor rinks and practicing his shooting in his garage. In the off-season, he water skied and did gymnastics, developing his arm strength and powerful slap shot. He played for Minneapolis Roosevelt High School and was their leading scorer in the 1973-1974 season when they went to the state tournament.

College career

Larson spent three seasons under coach Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota's Minnesota 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 defenseman. A tough, offensive defenseman, he was particularly well known for his hard slap shot. Larson became the first American defenseman to score 200 goals and he appeared in the 1978, 1980 and 1981 NHL All-Star Game 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. He also played six games for Roller Hockey International's Minnesota team in 1994.

Post playing career

Reed Larson has mostly been working for the insurance business since his retirement. He has also been active in Oldtimers' charity hockey and has played in Heroes of Hockey games at several NHL All-Star weekends. He was elected to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.

Awards and honors

Award	Year
All-NCAA All-Tournament Team	1975
All-WCHA First Team	1975–76

• Member of U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
• 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 Milano	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

External links

• Reed Larson biography at Legends of Hockey (archived)
• Reed Larson's bio at Hockeydraftcentral.com
• Reed Larson career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database