Red Wings: The Top 10 Scoring Defensemen in Team History

The Detroit Red Wings are a franchise with a storied history that include a slew of legendary players.  The defensemen that have played for the Red Wings have won numerous accolades for their efforts.  Here is a look at the top scoring defensemen in Red Wings history.

Nicklas Lidstrom

GP: 1,564

G: 264

A: 878

PTS: 1,142

Nicklas Lidstrom is the greatest defenseman in Detroit Red Wings history.  I had the luxury of watching Lidstrom play live numerous times.  When watching Lidstrom in action, the biggest thing I noticed was how few mistakes he made when he was on the ice.

Lidstrom was a 3rd round selection, #53 overall in 1989 and played his entire 20 year career in Detroit.  He served as  an alternate captain for eight years then took over as captain for the final six years of his career.

Every year Lidstrom was in the NHL, the Red Wings made the playoffs.   In 1991-92, Lidstrom was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.  During his career, Lidstrom was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game 12 times.  He was awarded the James Norris Trophy as the NHL’s Best Defenseman an incredible seven times.  Lidstrom was on four Detroit Stanley Cup Championship teams.  In 2001-02, Lidstrom won the Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL Stanley Cup MVP.

Lidstrom’s career points rank him 6th all-time for a defenseman in NHL history.  In 263 playoff games, Lidstrom scored 183 points, 2nd all-time behind Paul Coffey.  He also played the 2nd most playoff games for a defenseman in NHL history behind Chris Chelios.

Currently, Lidstrom is the 3rd highest scoring Swedish born player in NHL history behind Mats Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson.  Playing for Sweden internationally, Lidstrom played in four Olympic Games, three World Championships, one World Junior Championship and three World Cups.

In 2013-14, Lidstrom was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.  On March 6, 2014, Lidstrom became the first defenseman in Red Wings history to have his number retired. In 2015-16, I was fortunate enough to watch Lidstrom’s Hall of Fame ceremony at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.

Reed Larson

GP: 708

G: 188

A: 382

PTS: 570

Reed Larson was a 2nd round draft pick, #22 overall by Detroit in 1976.  Larson played three seasons at the University of Minnesota (NCAA) before turning professional in the spring of 1977.

Larson played parts of 10 NHL seasons in Detroit and served as captain of the team for two seasons.  Larson played for five teams covering four years before he retiring from the NHL after playing one game for Buffalo during the 1989-90 season.  During a 14 year NHL career, Larson played 904 regular season games, scoring 222 goals and 685 points.  Larson played 32 games in seven playoff seasons and scored four goals and 11 points.  He also represented Detroit in the NHL All-Star game three times.

Larson became the first U.S. born defenseman to score 200 career NHL goals.  Larson sits 5th in goals scored and 7th in points by an American born defenseman in NHL history.  He was selected into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996-97, and in 2005-06 was presented the Lester Patrick Trophy for his NHL Contribution to U.S. Hockey.

In 1994-95, at the age of 39, Larson finished his professional career after playing parts of six seasons in Italy.

Niklas Kronwall

GP: 953

G: 83

A: 349

PTS: 432

Niklas Kronwall was drafted by Detroit in the 1st round, #29 overall in 2000.  He played his entire 15 year NHL career for Detroit.

In 2004-05, Kronwall won the Eddie Shore Award as the Top Defenseman in the AHL.

For the last eight years of his career, Kronwall served as alternate captain with the Red Wings.  Kronwall played 109 playoff games in 10 Red Wings playoff seasons, scoring 47 points.  He was a member of the Red Wings Stanley Cup Championship team when he led all defensemen in assists and scoring with 15 points in 22 games.

Kronwall is currently the 7th highest scoring Swedish born defenseman in NHL history.

Internationally, Kronwall represented Sweden in three Olympic Games, winning a gold medal in 2006 and a silver medal in 2014.  He also represented Sweden in four World Championships, winning a silver medal in 2003 and a gold medal in 2006.

Today, Kronwall is entering his third year as Special Assistant to Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman.

Gary Bergman

GP: 706

G: 60

A: 243

PTS: 303

Gary Bergman played 12 years in the NHL including parts of 11 years with Detroit.  In 1972-73, Bergman represented Detroit in the NHL All-Star game.  He served as captain in 1973-74 before he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars.  During his career, Bergman played 838 regular season games scoring 367 points.  Bergman’s best season in Detroit occurred in 1967-68 when he scored 13 goals and 41 points in 74 games.  He also played 21 playoff games, all for Detroit, during three playoff years, scoring five points.  Bergman finished his career playing 75 games for the expansion Kansas City Scouts scoring 38 points before retiring at the end of the season.

Internationally, Bergman played for Canada during the 1972 Summit Series against the Russian National team.  He played all eight games in the series recording three assists.

Marcel Pronovost

GP: 983

G: 80

A: 217

PTS: 297

Marcel Pronovost joined the Detroit Red Wings for the playoff run in 1950.  He played 16 years for Detroit before playing his final five seasons in Toronto.

In his career, Pronovost played 1,206 regular season games and scored 345 points.  During 16 playoff seasons, Pronovost scored 31 points in 134 games.

During his rookie playoff season, Pronovost helped Detroit win a Stanley Cup.  In all, Pronovost won four Stanley Cups with Detroit and one with Toronto.

Pronovost was selected to the NHL First All-Star Team twice and to the Second All-Star team two additional times.

After his playing career ended, Pronovost served as a Head Coach in the CHL, WHA, QMJHL, OHL and an Assistant Coach for Detroit in the NHL from 1979-81.

In 1990, Pronovost was named as a scout for the New Jersey Devils until his passing in 2015.

In 1978-79, Pronovost was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Steve Chiasson

GP: 471

G: 67

A: 200

PTS: 267

Steve Chiasson was a 3rd round draft pick, #50 overall by Detroit in 1985.

He played three seasons in Guelph (OHL) before turning professional with the Red Wings in 1986.  In his final season playing for Guelph, Chiasson helped Guelph win the Memorial Cup when he scored 20 points in 18 OHL playoff games and five points in four Memorial Cup tournament games.  For his efforts, Chiasson was voted as the CHL Memorial Cup MVP.

Chiasson played parts of eight seasons in a Red Wings uniform before he finished the last five years of his NHL career with Calgary and Carolina.  In 13 NHL seasons, Chiasson scored 398 points in 751 regular season NHL games.

During 10 seasons playing in the playoffs, Chiasson scored 34 points in 63 games.

In 1992-93, Chiasson represented Detroit in the NHL All-Star game.

Internationally, Chiasson helped Canada win a World Championship Gold Medal in 1997.  At age 32, on May 3, 1999, Chiasson’s career was cut short when he died in an automobile accident.

Paul Coffey

GP: 231

G: 46

A: 193

PTS: 239

Paul Coffey was a 6th overall draft pick of the Edmonton Oilers.  Coffey played parts of three seasons in the OMJHL for Kingston, the Soo, and Kitchener.

For his career, Coffey ranks 2nd in all-time points by a defenseman scoring 396 goals and 1,531 points in 1,409 regular season games.  Coffey is the highest scoring defenseman in NHL playoff history.  In 16 playoff years, scored an incredible 196 points in 194 games.

Coffey won the Stanley Cup four times and the Canada Cup three times while being a member of Team Canada.  He was named to the NHL First All-Star team four times and the Second All-Star Team four times.  Coffey also won the James Norris Trophy as the Top NHL Defenseman three times, including 1994-95 when he was a member of the Detroit Red Wings.  During the 1985-86 season, while he was a member of Edmonton, Coffey set an NHL record for defensemen when he scored 48 goals during the regular season.

In 2004-05, Coffey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Willie Huber

GP: 372

G: 68

A: 140

PTS: 208

Willie Huber was a 1st round draft pick, #9 overall by Detroit in 1978.

Prior to turning professional, Huber played three seasons in the OMJHL for the Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups.  I was lucky enough to watch Huber play several times in my hometown during his junior years and I always left the arena impressed by his poise on the blueline.

Huber played for Canada in two World Junior Championships collecting a Silver Medal in 1977 and a Bronze Medal in 1978.

For his NHL career, Huber played five seasons for Detroit and parts of five seasons for the New York Rangers.  In his final NHL season, Huber played for New York, Vancouver and Philadelphia.  His best season occurred in 1980-81 while Huber was a member of Detroit when he scored 49 points in 80 games. In 655 NHL games over 10 seasons, Huber scored 321 regular season points.  In five playoff seasons, Huber scored 10 points in 33 games.

In 1982-83, while he was a member of Detroit, Huber played in his only NHL All-Star game.

Brian Rafalski

GP: 292

G: 35

A: 169

PTS: 204

After playing four seasons professionally in Sweden and Finland, Brian Rafalski entered the NHL as a free agent signing of the New Jersey Devils.

Prior to turning professional, the Michigan native played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin (NCAA). During his time at Wisconsin, Rafalski played for Team USA in two World Junior Championships, winning a WJC Bronze Medal in 1992.

Rafalski played seven seasons in New Jersey before signing with Detroit as a free agent in the summer of 2007.  Rafalski played four seasons with the Red Wings before retiring from the NHL in 2011.

For his career, Rafalski played 11 NHL seasons and scored 515 points in 833 regular season games.  He played in the playoffs every year and contributed 100 points in 165 games.  He was a three time Stanley Cup Champion, including 2007-08 while he was a member of the Red Wings.  He also played in two NHL All-Star games.

Internationally, Rafalski played for Team USA in three Olympic Games, capturing two Silver Medals (2002, 2010).  During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Rafalski was awarded Top Defenseman of the tournament.

In 2014-15, Rafalski was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.