Born on July 6, 1948, to his dad Bob and his mother Betty. Park grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, his father was a youth hockey referee and coach. Growing up he and his dad would place the salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table like chessmen in analyzing defensive.[2]
At 15, Park was short only being 5 feet tall. But he would grow eight inches in a year this led to him trying out for the Marlboros in 1965. Where he would get noticed in the first scrimmage by checking Brent Imlach the son of at the time Maple Leafs coach and GM, and knocking him out.[2]
Growing up Park worked as a laborer at Golf Course in the Thornhill district of Toronto.[3]
Playing career
As a youth, Park played against older kids, leading to Park developing into a strong player. in the 1960 he played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Scarboro Lions winning the tournament,[4][2] and was a member of the Junior B Toronto Westclairs (1964–1965) and then the Junior A Toronto Marlboros (1965–1968). Helping them win the Memorial cup in Memorial Cup in 1967. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round (second overall) in the 1966 NHL amateur draft and, after a brief stint with the minor-league Buffalo Bisons of the AHL, began playing for the Rangers in 1968.
New York Rangers
Park developed into the best Rangers defenceman, whose offensive skill, stickhandling and pugnacity made him popular with local fans and media. He even drew occasional comparisons with the Boston Bruins superstar Bobby Orr, universally acclaimed to be the greatest at his position in hockey history. Years afterward, Park remarked, "I saw no reason to be upset because I was rated second to Bobby Orr. After all, Orr not only was the top defenceman in the game but he was considered the best player ever to put on a pair of skates. There was nothing insulting about being rated No. 2 to such a super superstar."[5]
Park would make an immediate impact for the Rangers making his debut during the 1968-69 season where he would finish third in voting for the Calder Trophy. From here Park would only get better and better as in just his second year he would be named a Named a first All-Star team for the first time and would play in that years all star game. Park would then be named to the second All-Star team during the 1970-71 season. The following year Park was made the alternate captain of the Rangers and briefly served as their captain. In 1972, after the team's top scorer, Jean Ratelle, was lost due to a broken ankle, Park would pick up the slack during that time being nearly a point-per-game player with 73 points in 75 games, and his 24 goals tied him with Carol Vadnais for the fourth-highest total by a defenseman in NHL history. During the postseason he led the Rangers past the defending Stanley Cup-champion Montreal Canadiens in the first round and the West Division champion Chicago Black Hawks in the semifinals of the playoffs. The Rangers advanced to the Stanley Cup finals where they fell to the Boston Bruins in six games. After the Rangers staved off elimination in Game 5 at Boston, Bruins assistant captain Phil Esposito said famously, "If the Rangers think they're going to beat us in the next two games, they're full of 'Park' spelled backwards", Sure enough, the Bruins put them away in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden. Park finished a distant second to Orr in the Norris Trophy vote. Brad continued to be a star for the Rangers once again being named second team all star once again in 1973. Then having his best statistical season during the 1973-74 season where he had 82 points (25 goals and 57 assists) in 78 games. Once again being named a First team all star. At the age of 26, Park would become the youngest Rangers captain ever.[6][7]
On December 12th 1971 Park became the first defenseman in Rangers history to score a hat trick in a 8-3 victory over Pittsburgh. Later that same year he would also become the first defenseman in NHL history to score 2 hat tricks in the same season. [8]
When the upstart World Hockey Association tried to lure Park away, the Rangers re-signed him to a $200,000-a-year contract that made him, briefly, the highest-paid player in the NHL.[2]
In the 1972 Summit Series, with Orr unable to play due to injury, Park emerged as a key contributor to Team Canada's series over the Soviets, being named Best Defenceman of the series.
After opening the 1975–76 season with their worst start in ten years, the Rangers began to unload their high-priced veterans. Park, Jean Ratelle, and Joe Zanussi were traded to the Boston Bruins in a November 7 blockbuster deal that also sent Phil Esposito and Carol Vadnais to the Rangers, one that shocked everyone.[9][10] The New York press and public had felt that Park, 27 at the time, was overweight, overpaid, and over the hill, as he was facing unfavorable comparisons to Denis Potvin.[2][6]
Boston Bruins
While Esposito and Vadnais were effective players for the Rangers, the team remained mired at the bottom of the division after "the trade", and Rangers general manager Emile Francis was eventually fired. Contrary to expectations that the Rangers had gotten the better end of the trade, the struggling Bruins were instantly rejuvenated and soon again became one of the NHL's best teams, despite the departures of Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr.[2]
Taking over the mantle of leadership from Orr, whose career was threatened by injury and who would soon leave the team, Park continued his success under coach Don Cherry. Park had previously been an end-to-end puck carrier, but with the Bruins, he was told by Cherry to concentrate on defense.[2] Getting over his unpopularity in Boston from when he was a member of the arch-rival Rangers, Park made a relatively smooth transition to his new team,[11] even hitch-hiking a ride from two teenagers at 1 am after his car ran out of gas, and Park later rewarded them with free tickets to the next Boston home game. Park’s exceptional play would also make it easy for him to win over the fans.[2]
During his time with the Bruins Park was just one of the most valuable players in the league being named a first team all star for a fourth and fifth time in 1976 and 1978. Hockey writer Frank Orr commented on Park’s time in Boston starting "He was an excellent defensive defenseman. He killed penalties, he played the power play, he was out in the last minutes of all periods, and he played extremely well."[2]
From 1977 to 1979, Cherry's "Lunch Pail A.C." captured three division titles for the Bruins. Park finished in second for the Norris Trophy race twice in a Bruins' uniform, with 1977–78 being considered one of his finest seasons with 79 points in 80 games.[5] In 1977 and 1978, Park was a key contributor to Boston's back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to the Montreal Canadiens both times.[12] During the 1978-79 season Park would lead the NHL with the best plus-minus with a plus 28 rating.[8] His last highlight with Boston came in Game 7 of the Adams Division finals against the Buffalo Sabres in the 1983 playoffs, when Park scored the game-winning goal in overtime and help Boston advance in to the conference finals[13] — Park's career overlapped with the first four years of the emerging superstar defenseman of the Bruins, Ray Bourque, from 1979 to 1983. That same year Park would also be awarded the Charlie Conacher Humanitarian Award for his work with the cerebral palsy association of Massachusetts. Bruins coach Don Cherry had this to say about Park’s time with the Bruins stating "Brad was unbelievable for the Bruins, "He played nearly 30 minutes a game. He was tough as nails and could body-check with the best." Also calling Park's point shot a "cannon."[2]
The following season (1983–84), Park signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent.[14] He won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance that same year, having set a record for assists by a Red Wings' defenseman (53). After the 1985 season, still an effective player but hobbled by repeated knee injuries, he announced his retirement.[15][16] The next year, he served as Detroit's head coach before he was fired on June 3, 1986.[17][18][19][20]
Retirement and personal life
Soon after his retirement and before he coached the Red Wings, he served as a color commentator and studio analyst for CTV and ESPNNHL broadcasts in between.[21][22]
In 2010 Park would lace up his skates more time to play to play in the Boston Bruins Legends classic at Fenway Park.[28]
In 2012 Park received the NHL alumni association’s man of the year award for his work with former players. He would also receive the award a second time in 2025 as a member of the 1972 Canada that competed in the summit series.[29]
Park’s name was inshrined on the Canada walk of fame as a member of the 1972 Summit series team in 2012.[30]
Park has resided on the North Shore of Massachusetts and on Sebago Lake in Maine for almost 40 years, with his wife Gerry.[31] He has five children and eight grandchildren. His autobiography, Straight Shooter: The Brad Park Story, was published in August, 2012.
In 2022 Park was inducted into the Ontario sports hall of fame.[32]
Named to the second All-Star team in 1971 and 1973
Runner up in Norris Trophy voting in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976 and 1978
Received both the most First Team All-Star nominations (other than Earl Seibert, who retired before the trophy was awarded) and was runner-up for the Norris more times without winning the Norris than any other defenceman in NHL history
Inducted into the Canada sports hall of fame in 2005
In the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats, was ranked No. 11 all-time of the 901 New York Rangers who had played during the team's first 82 seasons[34]
In January 2017, Park was part of the first group of players to be named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history by the National Hockey League.[35]
Inducted into the Ontario sports Hall of Fame in 2022
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