Willie Huber

Wilhelm Heinrich Huber (born January 15, 1958), is a retired professional defenceman who spent ten years in the National Hockey League (NHL), primarily with the Detroit Red Wings and New York Rangers. Born in Germany, Huber's family moved to Canada when he was an infant, and he has represented Canada in international competition. When he joined the NHL in 1978, he was the largest player (6'5", 225 lbs.) in league history. 
==Playing career==
Huber was drafted in the first round (9th overall) in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Detroit Red Wings after a decorated junior career. He won the Memorial Cup with the Hamilton Fincups in 1976, and represented Canada at the 1977 and 1978 World Junior Championship. A rare blend of size and skill, Huber stepped directly into the Wings' lineup the following season, notching 31 points and being named the team's Rookie of the Year. 
For most of his career (until the arrival of Kjell Samuelsson in 1986) Huber was the largest player in the NHL at 6'5" and 228 lbs, towering over most other players in the league. Despite his size, however, Huber was primarily an offensive defender. Blessed with exceptional hands and skating ability, Huber was amongst the league's highest goal-scoring defenders in the early 1980s, and a fixture on the Detroit powerplay. While he was also solid in his own zone, fans often - unfairly - expected him to be a nasty physical presence, which didn't come as naturally to him. 
Huber scored at least 14 goals and 40 points for Detroit every season between 1979 and 1983, and was one of the top players in a dark period of Red Wing history. Huber and Reed Larson formed one of the more dangerous blueline power play combinations in the league during this period. He was chosen to represent Canada at the 1981 World Championships, and helped the team to a 4th-place finish. In 1983, he was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game. 
Following a contract dispute with the Red Wings, Huber was dealt to the New York Rangers in the summer of 1983. He picked up where he left off offensively, but tore ligaments in his left knee mid-way through the season and was limited to 23 points in just 42 games. The following season, he tore ligaments in his right knee. As a result, his once-excellent mobility declined considerably, as did his offensive production. By 1985–86, he scored only 15 points in 70 games. He bounced back to score 30 points in 1986–87, but was traded to the Vancouver Canucks early in 1987–88. After a short, disappointing stint in Vancouver, he was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers at the trade deadline, where he experienced a surprise resurgence with 13 points in 10 games. 
However, following the season Philadelphia wanted him to take a pay cut, and after a resulting season-long holdout he retired in 1989. He finished his 10-year career with 104 goals and 321 points in 655 career games, along with 950 penalty minutes. 
==Career statistics==
===Regular season and playoffs===
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1975–76 	Hamilton Fincups 	OMJHL 	 	58 	2 	8 	10 	64 	 	14 	2 	11 	13 	28
1976–77 	St. Catharines Fincups	OMJHL 	 	36 	10 	24 	34 	111 	 	10 	2 	4 	6 	29
1977–78 	Hamilton Fincups 	OMJHL 	 	61 	12 	45 	57 	168 	 	20 	6 	12 	18 	45
1978–79 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	68 	7 	24 	31 	114 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1978–79 	Kansas City Red Wings 	CHL 	 	10 	2 	7 	9 	12 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1979–80 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	76 	17 	23 	40 	164 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1979–80 	Adirondack Red Wings 	AHL 	 	4 	1 	3 	4 	2 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1980–81 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	80 	15 	34 	49 	130 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1981–82 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	74 	15 	30 	45 	98 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1982–83 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	74 	14 	29 	43 	106 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1983–84 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	42 	9 	14 	23 	60 	 	4 	1 	1 	2 	9
1984–85 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	49 	3 	11 	14 	55 	 	2 	1 	0 	1 	2
1985–86 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	70 	7 	8 	15 	85 	 	16 	3 	2 	5 	16
1986–87 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	66 	8 	22 	30 	68 	 	6 	0 	2 	2 	6
1987–88 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	 	11 	1 	3 	4 	14 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1987–88 	Vancouver Canucks 	NHL 	 	35 	4 	10 	14 	40 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1987–88 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	 	10 	4 	9 	13 	16 	 	5 	0 	0 	0 	2
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	655 	104 	217 	321 	950 	 	33 	5 	5 	10 	35
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===International===
Year 	Team 	Event 	 	GP	G	A	P	PIM
1977 	Canada 	WJC 	 	7 	1	2	3	13
1978 	Canada 	WJC 	 	6 	0	2	2	2
1981 	Canada 	WC 	 	7 	0	2	2	10
Junior Int'l Totals	Junior Int'l Totals	Junior Int'l Totals	 	13	1	4	5	15
Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	Senior Int'l Totals	 	7 	0	2	2	10
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
===All Star Games===
Year 	Location 	  	G	A	P
1983 	Uniondale 	  	0	0	0
All-Star Totals	All-Star Totals	All-Star Totals	0	0	0
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
 	 	  	 	 	
*All stats taken from NHL.com
==External links==
*
*
*
*Willie Huber at hockeydraftcentral.com
==References==
Category:Born in 1958
Category:Adirondack Red Wings players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Hamilton Fincups alumni
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:National Hockey League first round draft picks
Category:New York Rangers players
Category:Philadelphia Flyers players
Category:Vancouver Canucks players
Category:Memorial Cup winners
Category:Retired in 1989