Born on July 6, 1948, to his dad Bob and his mother Betty. Park grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, with his 4 siblings Ron, Betty Anne, Lori and Shelley. his father was a Scottish immigrant who had served as a sergeant in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.[2] Then later became 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.[3]
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.[3]
Growing up Park worked as a laborer at Golf Course in the Thornhill district of Toronto.[4]
Playing career
As a youth, Park played against older kids, leading to Park developing into a strong player. In 1960, he played in the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Scarboro Lions winning the tournament,[5][3] 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."[6]
Park would make an immediate impact for the Rangers after being called up from the Bisons, making his debut during the 1968-69 season. During a game on February 2, 1969 vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins, Park had a record setting night when he became the first Rangers defenseman to get four assists in one game. At the time of the game he was only 20 years, 211 days old which set both a Rangers and NHL record for youngest defenseman to get four assists in a game. This was later broken by Glen Wesley of the Bruins in 1988, however he still holds the rangers record.[7] Park finished the year with 3 goals and 23 assists in 54 appearances, he would finish third in voting for the Calder Trophy.[8][9] However Park and the Rangers were defeated 4-2 in the first round of the playoffs against the Montreal Canadians.
Park would then begin to show his full potential the following year, as he quickly rose as one of the top defensemen in the league. Appearing in 60 games 11 goals and 26 assists this led to him playing in his first all star game, while also being named to the NHL first All-Star team.[9] He also finished runner-up for the Norris Trophy as the leagues top defensemen losing out to Bobby Orr.[10] Park and the Rangers were then defeated by the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. Park would continue his strong play the following year in 1970-71, appearing in 68 games Park scored 7 goals and 37 assists.[9] He was then selected to the Second All-Star team and once again finished runner-up to Bobby Orr for the Norris Trophy.[10] Park and the Rangers would defeat Toronto in the first round of the playoffs before being defeated by Chicago in the semifinals 4-2.[11]
At the start of the 1971-72 season, Park was named an alternate captain of the Rangers and briefly served as their captain. Following 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,[9] and his 24 goals tied him with Carol Vadnais for the fourth-highest total by a defenseman in NHL history. That year, Park also made history when during a game on December 12, 1971, he became the first defenseman in Rangers history to score a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over Pittsburgh. He would score his second hat trick on February 12, 1972, in another 8-3 victory over Pittsburgh this would make even more history as he became the first defenseman in NHL history to score 2 hat tricks in the same season.[12] 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.[13] Park finished a distant second to Orr in the Norris Trophy vote for a third consecutive season, and was named to the first All-Star team for a second time. During the offseason when the upstart World Hockey Association tried to lure Park away he briefly became the leagues highest-paid player when he signed a contract extension with the Rangers for $200,000 per season.[3][12][14]
The following year in 1972-73 Park continued to be a star for the Rangers. Although he only appeared in 52 games due to an injured left knee,[12] he still averaged a point a game in his 52 appearances scoring 10 goals and 43 assists being named to the Second All-Star team.[9] The Rangers defeated Boston in the first round of the postseason but were defeated by Chicago in the semifinals.[15] 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.
The following year in 1973-74 Park would have his best statistical season where he scored 82 points (25 goals and 57 assists, both Rangers records for a defensemen at the time) in 78 games.[9] This led to him becoming the first defenseman in Rangers history to lead the team in scoring. During the postseason he set another record (since broken) for most points by a Rangers defenseman during the postseason with 12.[12] However the Rangers were defeated by the Philadelphia Flyers in the semifinals. Park was named to the First All-Star team for a third time and finished as runner up for the Norris a fourth time.[10] During the offseason Park at the age of 26, would become the youngest Rangers captain ever.[8][16]
Park would once again miss some time during the 1974-75 season with a strained left knee,[12] In 65 appearances he scored 13 goals and 44 assists.[9] He and the Rangers were then eliminated by the Islanders in the first round of the expanded playoffs format. After opening the following year during 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.[17][18] 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.[3][8] Park left the Rangers as their all-time leading scorer among defensemen with 95 goals, 283 assists, and 378 points as well as defensemen playoff career records of 12 goals, 32 assists, and 44 points.
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.[3]
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.[3] 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,[19] 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.[3] The two most dominant defensemen of their era, Park and Orr only shared the ice together 10 times due to Orr's injuries. They played strictly on the power play and the penalty kill units with the Bruins going 6-1-3 during that stretch.[20]
Park finished out the 1975-76 season appearing in 56 total games (43 for the Bruins) scoring 18 goals and 41 points for 59 points. However, he missed the final 21 games of the regular season with torn cartilage in his left knee, an injury that required surgery on March 5, 1976. He did not return until the playoffs.[21] Park and the Bruins made it all the way to the semifinals but lost to the Flyers 4-1.[22] He was once again named to the First All-Star team for a fourth time and finished runner-up for the Norris for a fifth time.[10] Throughout his time with the Bruins, Park was just one of the most valuable players in the league. During the 1976-77 season Park played in 77 games scoring 12 goals and 55 assists.[9] During the postseason, Park helped the Bruins beat Los Angeles and Philadelphia to reach the 1977 Stanley Cup finals, however, they were defeated by Montreal 4-0.[23]
From 1977 to 1979, Cherry's "Lunch Pail A.C." captured three division titles for the Bruins. The following year, in 1977-78. Park had one of his finest seasons appearing in all 80 games for the first time in his career he scored 79 points (22 goals 57 assists).[6] Park was also part of a historic 11 Bruins players that year who scored 20+ goals that season.[24] Park and the Bruins once again made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals but were once again defeated by Montreal 4-2.[25] Park was selected to the First All-Star team for a fifth and final time, and finished runner-up for the Norris for a sixth and final time as well.[10]
Park missed half of 1978-79 season with torn cartilage in his right knee, an injury that required two surgeries.[26] Following his return he averaged nearly a point a game with 7 goals and 32 assists.[9] The Bruins swept Pittsburgh in the first round, then lost to Montreal in the semifinals 4-3.[27] Starting in 1979-80 Park's career overlapped with the first four years of the emerging superstar defenseman of the Bruins, Ray Bourque. That year, Park only appeared in 32 games due to bone spurs in his right knee, an injury that required surgery.[12] Scoring 5 goals and 16 assists.[9] The Bruins then were upset by the New York Islanders in the second round of the postseason.
Park fully returned to action during the 1980-81 season, in which he became only the second defenseman in NHL history (after Bobby Orr) and the 23rd overall to reach 500 career assists during a game on December 11, 1980. He was also on the ice for 78 of 87 of the Bruins power-play goals that season.[12] In total, he played in 78 games, scoring 14 goals and 52 assists.[9] He and the Bruins were then swept by Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. Park played in 76 games during the 1981-82 season, scoring 14 goals and 42 assists as he and the Bruins were eliminated by Quebec in the second round of the playoffs.[9]
Park's last season with the Bruins came in 1982-83, although still a solid defender his scoring had declined only scoring 36 points. However, during the postseason he had his last highlight with Boston which 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.[28] 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."[3] Hockey writer Frank Orr commented on Park's time in Boston stating, "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."[3] In 2024, Steve McClure described him as "One of the best stick handlers of his era, [he] was a puck-moving artisan, often leaving deked-out forecheckers in the wake of his rink rushes."[20]
The following season (1983–84), Park signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent. Part of the reason Park left Boston for Detroit was that Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch told Park he would grant him ownership of two Little Caesars pizza franchises in the Boston area.[12][29] He won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance that same year, having set a record for assists by a Red Wings' defenseman (53). He also played his 1,000th NHL game on December 23, 1983, during a game vs. Toronto.[12] After the 1985 season, still an effective player but hobbled by repeated knee injuries, he announced his retirement.[30][31] The next year, he served as Detroit's head coach before he was fired on June 3, 1986.[32][33][34][35]
Park concluded his career with 213 goals and 896 points in 1,113 regular-season games, holding the second-highest assist total (683) among NHL defensemen at the time of his retirement.
Retirement and personal life
Park playing at the Legends Games for the 50th edition of the Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament in 2009
In 1971, during his playing days, Park released his first autobiography Play The Man alongside Stan Fischler. The book goes over his entire 1970-1971 season with the Rangers.[8]
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.[36][37]
In 2010 Park would lace up his skates more time to play in the Boston Bruins Legends classic at Fenway Park.[43]
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.[44]
Park's name was enshrined on the Canada walk of fame as a member of the 1972 Summit series team in 2012.[45]
Park has resided on the North Shore of Massachusetts and on Sebago Lake in Maine for almost 40 years, with his wife Gerry.[46] He has five children and eight grandchildren. His autobiography, Straight Shooter: The Brad Park Story, was published in August 2012. The book is a full insight of Park's life and career while also having additional interviews with players, family members, and key figures from the hockey world.
In 2022, Park was inducted into the Ontario sports hall of fame.[47]
In 2024, Park was honored by the sports museum tradition event at the TD Garden, and was given the hockey legacy award.[48]
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[49]
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.[50]
Inducted into the Ontario sports Hall of Fame in 2022
In 2023, was ranked number 53 in The Athletic’s list of the 100 greatest hockey players of all time[51]
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