# 1970–71 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1970–71 Detroit Red Wings season was Gordie Howe's final season with the Red Wings. Ned Harkness was hired as coach in 1970 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 and the Vancouver Canucks.

## Offseason

The Fort Worth Wings of the Central Hockey League, coached by former Red Wings' defenceman Doug Barkley, continued to be operated as Detroit's top farm team during the 1969–70 season.

## Regular season

Red Wings general manager Sid Abel wanted to get rid of coach Ned Harkness 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 was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for Mickey Redmond, 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.
* 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

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 57 | 14 | 7 | 399 | 207 | +192 | 121 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 78 | 49 | 18 | 11 | 259 | 177 | +82 | 109 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 42 | 23 | 13 | 291 | 216 | +75 | 97 |
| 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 37 | 33 | 8 | 248 | 211 | +37 | 82 |
| 5 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 24 | 39 | 15 | 217 | 291 | −74 | 63 |
| 6 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 24 | 46 | 8 | 229 | 296 | −67 | 56 |
| 7 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 22 | 45 | 11 | 209 | 308 | −99 | 55 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 10, 1970 | 5–3 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 11, 1970 | 3–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 13, 1970 | 3–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 15, 1970 | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | W | October 17, 1970 | 3–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | L | October 18, 1970 | 1–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | L | October 23, 1970 | 3–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | T | October 25, 1970 | 3–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 2–5–1 |
| 9 | L | October 28, 1970 | 1–4 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | W | October 29, 1970 | 5–3 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | L | November 1, 1970 | 4–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 3–7–1 |
| 12 | L | November 4, 1970 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 3–8–1 |
| 13 | W | November 5, 1970 | 3–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 4–8–1 |
| 14 | T | November 8, 1970 | 3–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 4–8–2 |
| 15 | L | November 12, 1970 | 1–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 4–9–2 |
| 16 | T | November 15, 1970 | 4–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 4–9–3 |
| 17 | W | November 17, 1970 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 5–9–3 |
| 18 | L | November 21, 1970 | 1–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 5–10–3 |
| 19 | W | November 22, 1970 | 4–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 6–10–3 |
| 20 | W | November 26, 1970 | 4–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 7–10–3 |
| 21 | L | November 28, 1970 | 4–9 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 7–11–3 |
| 22 | W | November 29, 1970 | 5–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 8–11–3 |
| 23 | T | December 3, 1970 | 4–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 8–11–4 |
| 24 | L | December 5, 1970 | 0–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 8–12–4 |
| 25 | L | December 6, 1970 | 2–4 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 8–13–4 |
| 26 | W | December 10, 1970 | 3–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 9–13–4 |
| 27 | W | December 12, 1970 | 5–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 10–13–4 |
| 28 | L | December 13, 1970 | 2–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 10–14–4 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1970 | 2–4 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 10–15–4 |
| 30 | L | December 19, 1970 | 1–9 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 10–16–4 |
| 31 | L | December 20, 1970 | 3–7 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 10–17–4 |
| 32 | L | December 23, 1970 | 1–2 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 10–18–4 |
| 33 | W | December 26, 1970 | 7–4 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 11–18–4 |
| 34 | L | December 27, 1970 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 11–19–4 |
| 35 | L | December 31, 1970 | 3–8 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 11–20–4 |
| 36 | L | January 2, 1971 | 0–13 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 11–21–4 |
| 37 | W | January 3, 1971 | 3–2 | California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 12–21–4 |
| 38 | L | January 7, 1971 | 4–7 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 12–22–4 |
| 39 | W | January 9, 1971 | 3–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 13–22–4 |
| 40 | L | January 10, 1971 | 2–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 13–23–4 |
| 41 | T | January 14, 1971 | 2–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 13–23–5 |
| 42 | L | January 16, 1971 | 2–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 13–24–5 |
| 43 | L | January 17, 1971 | 0–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 13–25–5 |
| 44 | L | January 21, 1971 | 0–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 13–26–5 |
| 45 | L | January 23, 1971 | 2–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 13–27–5 |
| 46 | W | January 24, 1971 | 7–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 14–27–5 |
| 47 | T | January 28, 1971 | 1–1 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 14–27–6 |
| 48 | T | January 30, 1971 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 14–27–7 |
| 49 | L | January 31, 1971 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 14–28–7 |
| 50 | T | February 3, 1971 | 4–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 14–28–8 |
| 51 | L | February 4, 1971 | 0–1 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 14–29–8 |
| 52 | W | February 7, 1971 | 5–2 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 15–29–8 |
| 53 | L | February 10, 1971 | 2–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 15–30–8 |
| 54 | L | February 12, 1971 | 3–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 15–31–8 |
| 55 | W | February 14, 1971 | 4–0 | Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 16–31–8 |
| 56 | W | February 18, 1971 | 5–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 17–31–8 |
| 57 | W | February 20, 1971 | 6–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) | 18–31–8 |
| 58 | L | February 21, 1971 | 1–4 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 18–32–8 |
| 59 | L | February 25, 1971 | 1–3 | St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 18–33–8 |
| 60 | L | February 27, 1971 | 2–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) | 18–34–8 |
| 61 | W | February 28, 1971 | 4–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 19–34–8 |
| 62 | T | March 4, 1971 | 2–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) | 19–34–9 |
| 63 | T | March 6, 1971 | 2–2 | New York Rangers (1970–71) | 19–34–10 |
| 64 | L | March 7, 1971 | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 19–35–10 |
| 65 | L | March 11, 1971 | 3–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 19–36–10 |
| 66 | L | March 13, 1971 | 2–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) | 19–37–10 |
| 67 | W | March 14, 1971 | 8–5 | @ California Golden Seals (1970–71) | 20–37–10 |
| 68 | L | March 16, 1971 | 4–11 | Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 20–38–10 |
| 69 | L | March 18, 1971 | 3–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) | 20–39–10 |
| 70 | L | March 20, 1971 | 1–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) | 20–40–10 |
| 71 | L | March 21, 1971 | 0–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 20–41–10 |
| 72 | L | March 24, 1971 | 2–8 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) | 20–42–10 |
| 73 | W | March 25, 1971 | 4–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) | 21–42–10 |
| 74 | L | March 27, 1971 | 2–9 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) | 21–43–10 |
| 75 | W | March 28, 1971 | 2–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 22–43–10 |
| 76 | T | March 31, 1971 | 2–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) | 22–43–11 |
| 77 | L | April 3, 1971 | 1–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) | 22–44–11 |
| 78 | L | April 4, 1971 | 0–6 | @ New York Rangers (1970–71) | 22–45–11 |

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Tom Webster | 78 | 30 | 37 | 67 | 40 |
| Alex Delvecchio | 77 | 21 | 34 | 55 | 6 |
| Gordie Howe | 63 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 38 |
| Frank Mahovlich | 35 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 30 |
| Nick Libett | 78 | 16 | 13 | 29 | 25 |
| Garry Unger | 51 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 63 |
| Bruce MacGregor | 47 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 18 |
| Wayne Connelly | 51 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 12 |
| Bill Collins | 36 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 12 |
| Red Berenson | 24 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 4 |
| Rene LeClerc | 44 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 43 |
| Mickey Redmond | 21 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 7 |
| Tim Ecclestone | 27 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 13 |
| Don Luce | 58 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 18 |
| Guy Charron | 24 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 4 |

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Gary Bergman | 68 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 149 |
| Mike Robitaille | 23 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 22 |
| Dale Rolfe | 44 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 48 |
| Ron Harris | 42 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 65 |
| Gerry Hart | 64 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 148 |
| Arnie Brown | | | | | |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | MIN | W | L | T | SO | GA | GAA |
| Roy Edwards | 37 | 2104 | 11 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 119 | 3.39 |
| Gerry Gray | 7 | 380 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 4.74 |
| Don McLeod | 14 | 698 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 5.16 |
| Jim Rutherford | 29 | 1948 | 7 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 94 | 3.77 |

## Draft picks

Detroit's draft picks at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 12 | Serge Lajeunesse | Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 2 | 26 | Robert Guindon | Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 3 | 40 | Yvon Lambert | Canada | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 54 | Tom Johnston | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 5 | 68 | Tom Mellor | United States | Boston College (ECAC) |
| 6 | 82 | Bernie MacNeil | Canada | Espanola Eagles (NOJHL) |
| 7 | 95 | Ed Hays | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |