# 1969–70 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1969–70 Detroit Red Wings season is noted as being Carl Brewer's comeback season in the NHL. Brewer was reunited with former Toronto Maple Leafs teammates Bob Baun, Pete Stemkowski, and Frank Mahovlich. Brewer signed a contract worth $120,000. Brewer was acquired back in March 1968. The Detroit Red Wings acquired Frank Mahovlich, Pete Stemkowski, Garry Unger and Brewer's rights from Toronto in exchange for Floyd Smith, Norm Ullman, and Paul Henderson. Another important aspect of the season was that Gordie Howe had finally learned how badly treated he was financially by Wings management. Howe was always under the impression that he was the highest paid player on the team. Howe discovered that Bobby Baun was making over $100,000 per season while Howe was paid only $45,000 per season. After this information, Howe confronted management and demanded that he received the appropriate compensation.

## Offseason

Former Red Wings' defenceman Doug Barkley was appointed as the head coach of the Fort Worth Wings of the Central Hockey League, which continued to be operated as Detroit's top farm team during the 1969–70 season.

### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 10 | Jim Rutherford | Canada | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 2 | 21 | Ron Garwasiuk | Canada | Regina Pats (SJHL) |
| 3 | 33 | Wayne Hawrysh | Canada | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 4 | 45 | Wayne Chernecki | Canada | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |
| 5 | 57 | Wally Olds | United States | Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) |

## Regular season

Two games into the season, Bill Gadsby was released from his coaching duties.
On February 21, 1970, Brewer had one of his best games of the season. In a contest against his former club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brewer had 2 assists in the game and was named the third star of the game.

### Final standings

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 76 | 45 | 22 | 9 | 250 | 170 | +80 | 99 |
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 76 | 40 | 17 | 19 | 277 | 216 | +61 | 99 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | 76 | 40 | 21 | 15 | 246 | 199 | +47 | 95 |
| 4 | New York Rangers | 76 | 38 | 22 | 16 | 246 | 189 | +57 | 92 |
| 5 | Montreal Canadiens | 76 | 38 | 22 | 16 | 244 | 201 | +43 | 92 |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 76 | 29 | 34 | 13 | 222 | 242 | −20 | 71 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Playoffs

The Red Wings made it into the playoffs for the first time since 1966 during this season. They lost the Quarter-finals; getting swept by Chicago in 4 games in a best of seven series, or 0–4.

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 11, 1969 | 3–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 15, 1969 | 4–1 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 16, 1969 | 2–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | W | October 19, 1969 | 4–2 | St. Louis Blues (1969–70) | 3–1–0 |
| 5 | T | October 23, 1969 | 2–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) | 3–1–1 |
| 6 | L | October 25, 1969 | 1–4 | New York Rangers (1969–70) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | W | October 29, 1969 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) | 4–2–1 |
| 8 | W | October 31, 1969 | 3–1 | @ Oakland Seals (1969–70) | 5–2–1 |
| 9 | W | November 2, 1969 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) | 6–2–1 |
| 10 | W | November 5, 1969 | 4–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | L | November 6, 1969 | 2–5 | St. Louis Blues (1969–70) | 7–3–1 |
| 12 | W | November 8, 1969 | 3–2 | Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 8–3–1 |
| 13 | L | November 12, 1969 | 2–4 | @ New York Rangers (1969–70) | 8–4–1 |
| 14 | L | November 13, 1969 | 1–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 8–5–1 |
| 15 | T | November 15, 1969 | 2–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) | 8–5–2 |
| 16 | T | November 19, 1969 | 5–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 8–5–3 |
| 17 | L | November 22, 1969 | 0–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 8–6–3 |
| 18 | T | November 26, 1969 | 1–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) | 8–6–4 |
| 19 | W | November 27, 1969 | 5–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) | 9–6–4 |
| 20 | W | November 29, 1969 | 5–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 10–6–4 |
| 21 | L | November 30, 1969 | 0–1 | Oakland Seals (1969–70) | 10–7–4 |
| 22 | L | December 3, 1969 | 1–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) | 10–8–4 |
| 23 | T | December 4, 1969 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 10–8–5 |
| 24 | W | December 6, 1969 | 5–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) | 11–8–5 |
| 25 | L | December 7, 1969 | 1–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 11–9–5 |
| 26 | T | December 11, 1969 | 2–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) | 11–9–6 |
| 27 | W | December 13, 1969 | 3–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 12–9–6 |
| 28 | W | December 14, 1969 | 5–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 13–9–6 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1969 | 4–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) | 13–10–6 |
| 30 | W | December 20, 1969 | 3–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 14–10–6 |
| 31 | L | December 21, 1969 | 0–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 14–11–6 |
| 32 | T | December 26, 1969 | 3–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 14–11–7 |
| 33 | W | December 28, 1969 | 5–3 | Oakland Seals (1969–70) | 15–11–7 |
| 34 | W | December 31, 1969 | 5–1 | Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 16–11–7 |
| 35 | W | January 3, 1970 | 6–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) | 17–11–7 |
| 36 | W | January 4, 1970 | 4–0 | Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 18–11–7 |
| 37 | L | January 7, 1970 | 0–7 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 18–12–7 |
| 38 | W | January 10, 1970 | 5–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) | 19–12–7 |
| 39 | W | January 17, 1970 | 5–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) | 20–12–7 |
| 40 | W | January 18, 1970 | 3–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) | 21–12–7 |
| 41 | L | January 22, 1970 | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 21–13–7 |
| 42 | W | January 24, 1970 | 5–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1969–70) | 22–13–7 |
| 43 | L | January 25, 1970 | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 22–14–7 |
| 44 | W | January 29, 1970 | 4–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) | 23–14–7 |
| 45 | W | January 31, 1970 | 2–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) | 24–14–7 |
| 46 | W | February 1, 1970 | 3–2 | @ Oakland Seals (1969–70) | 25–14–7 |
| 47 | L | February 4, 1970 | 1–5 | @ New York Rangers (1969–70) | 25–15–7 |
| 48 | W | February 5, 1970 | 4–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 26–15–7 |
| 49 | T | February 7, 1970 | 2–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 26–15–8 |
| 50 | L | February 8, 1970 | 3–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1969–70) | 26–16–8 |
| 51 | W | February 12, 1970 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1969–70) | 27–16–8 |
| 52 | W | February 14, 1970 | 5–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 28–16–8 |
| 53 | L | February 15, 1970 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) | 28–17–8 |
| 54 | T | February 18, 1970 | 1–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) | 28–17–9 |
| 55 | T | February 19, 1970 | 3–3 | New York Rangers (1969–70) | 28–17–10 |
| 56 | W | February 21, 1970 | 7–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 29–17–10 |
| 57 | L | February 22, 1970 | 0–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 29–18–10 |
| 58 | W | February 26, 1970 | 7–1 | Oakland Seals (1969–70) | 30–18–10 |
| 59 | T | February 28, 1970 | 3–3 | New York Rangers (1969–70) | 30–18–11 |
| 60 | W | March 4, 1970 | 2–0 | @ New York Rangers (1969–70) | 31–18–11 |
| 61 | W | March 5, 1970 | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1969–70) | 32–18–11 |
| 62 | W | March 7, 1970 | 4–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1969–70) | 33–18–11 |
| 63 | T | March 8, 1970 | 2–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) | 33–18–12 |
| 64 | W | March 11, 1970 | 3–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 34–18–12 |
| 65 | T | March 15, 1970 | 5–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 34–18–13 |
| 66 | W | March 17, 1970 | 3–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) | 35–18–13 |
| 67 | W | March 18, 1970 | 6–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1969–70) | 36–18–13 |
| 68 | L | March 20, 1970 | 2–3 | @ Oakland Seals (1969–70) | 36–19–13 |
| 69 | W | March 21, 1970 | 4–1 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1969–70) | 37–19–13 |
| 70 | L | March 26, 1970 | 0–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 37–20–13 |
| 71 | T | March 28, 1970 | 5–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 37–20–14 |
| 72 | T | March 29, 1970 | 2–2 | Boston Bruins (1969–70) | 37–20–15 |
| 73 | W | April 1, 1970 | 5–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1969–70) | 38–20–15 |
| 74 | W | April 2, 1970 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1969–70) | 39–20–15 |
| 75 | W | April 4, 1970 | 6–2 | New York Rangers (1969–70) | 40–20–15 |
| 76 | L | April 5, 1970 | 5–9 | @ New York Rangers (1969–70) | 40–21–15 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gordie Howe | RW | 76 | 31 | 40 | 71 | 58 | 11 | 4 | 5 |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 74 | 38 | 32 | 70 | 59 | 15 | 1 | 5 |
| Alex Delvecchio | C/LW | 73 | 21 | 47 | 68 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Garry Unger | C | 76 | 42 | 24 | 66 | 67 | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| Wayne Connelly | C | 76 | 23 | 36 | 59 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Pete Stemkowski | C | 76 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 114 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Nick Libett | LW | 76 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Carl Brewer | D | 70 | 2 | 37 | 39 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce MacGregor | C | 73 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Gary Bergman | D | 69 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 122 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ron Harris | D | 72 | 2 | 19 | 21 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Baun | D | 71 | 1 | 18 | 19 | 112 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Karlander | C | 41 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Dea | LW | 70 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Dale Rolfe | D | 20 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Garry Monahan | LW | 51 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Matt Ravlich | D | 46 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 32 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Croteau | LW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Hatoum | RW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roy Edwards | G | 47 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick McCann | C | 18 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger Crozier | G | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Hart | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike McMahon | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hank Monteith | LW | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fred Speck | C | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Watson | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Roy Edwards | 2683 | 47 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 116 | 2.59 | 2 |
| Roger Crozier | 1877 | 34 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 83 | 2.65 | 0 |
| Team: | 4560 | 76 | 40 | 21 | 15 | 199 | 2.62 | 2 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Wayne Connelly | C | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gordie Howe | RW | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Libett | LW | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Stemkowski | C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Alex Delvecchio | C/LW | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Rolfe | D | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce MacGregor | C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Volmar | RW | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Bergman | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Billy Dea | LW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Karlander | C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Unger | C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Baun | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Carl Brewer | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roger Crozier | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Roy Edwards | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Harris | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hank Monteith | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Poul Popiel | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Roger Crozier | 34 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5.29 | 0 |
| Roy Edwards | 206 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 3.20 | 0 |
| Team: | 240 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 3.50 | 0 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;  MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

## Awards and records

* Carl Brewer, NHL Second Team All-Star
* Gordie Howe, NHL First Team All-Star
* Frank Mahovlich, NHL Second Team All-Star