Ron Low Ronald Albert Low Selected by Toronto Maple Leafs 8th round ( # 103 ) in 1970 NHL Amateur Draft started his junior career with Winnipeg ( WCJHL ) in 1967 - 68 . . . . played two years with Dauphin ( MJHL ) . . . . led Kings to the Manitoba championship & Memorial Cup playoffs each year . . . . drafted by Toronto . . . . during the 1970 - 71 season , suffered a serious nerve injury while playing with Jacksonville ( EHL ) . . . . while rehabilitating , became the Leafs ’ practice goalie , and worked out with Johnny Bower . . . . Tulsa ( CHL ) number one goalie in 1971 - 72 . . . . received a shot at the big leagues in 1972 - 73 . . . . made his first NHL start on October 21 against Detroit in Toronto . . . . played 42 games for the weak club but showed flashes of strong play . . . . in the off - season , Toronto brought in three experienced goalies . . . . sent back to Tulsa for the 1973 - 74 season . . . . made the league ' s second all - star team . . . . claimed by the Washington Capitals in the 1974 Expansion Draft . . . . was first player chosen in draft . . . . spent three years with the defensively weak club . . . . first starting goaltender in Washington NHL history on Oct . 9 , 1974 , against New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden . . . . started all eight of Washington ' s victories in 1974 - 75 season . . . first goaltender to get a shutout for Washington on Feb . 16 , 1975 . . . . Washington MVP in 1974 - 75 . . . . signed as free agent with Detroit in September 1977 . . . . played 32 games for Red Wings in 1977 - 78 and four of the five playoff games . . . . Detroit signed free agent Rogie Vachon in the off season . . . . assigned to Kansas City ( CHL ) . . . . won a league - high 33 games . . . . named to the first all - star team and league MVP . . . . returned to the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques in 1979 - 80 . . . . traded to Edmonton for former junior teammate Ron Chipperfield . . . . spent parts of four seasons with the improving Oilers . . . . spent his last two years in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils . . . . where he provided sound goalkeeping and leadership on the young club . . . . New Jersey Unsung Hero in 1983 - 84 . . . . named player - assistant coach for Nova Scotia ( AHL ) for 1985 - 86 . . . . after playing six games ended playing career and remained Nova Scotia assistant through 1986 - 87 season . . . . named head coach for 1987 - 88 season . . . . moved with team when it relocated from Halifax to Sydney in 1988 and remained in position through 1988 - 89 season . . . . named Edmonton assistant coach on August 3 , 1989 , and remained in that position through April 5 , 1995 . . . . promoted to head coach on April 6 , 1995 , and remained in that position until quitting on June 6 , 1999 . . . . refused an offer to return for another season at the same salary he earned in 1998 - 99 . . . . named Houston ( IHL ) head coach and general manager on Aug . 4 , 1999 , and remained in position until July 11 , 2000 . . . . named New York Rangers head coach on July 12 , 2000 , and remained in that position until April 15 , 2002 . . . . remain in the organization as a scout until 2004 . . . . named Ottawa goaltending coach on July 30 , 2004 , and remained in position through 2006 - 07 season . . . . scouted for Ottawa during lockout . . . . promoted to assistant coach on August 15 , 2007 . . . . fired along with head coach John Paddock on February 27 , 2008 .