Any career scoring record from Hockeytown comes down to two names: Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman. The two best players in Detroit Red Wings history are almost always your usual suspects, from most career goals to most career hat tricks.
But when you look at the highest number of goals per game for the Wings, you get a different tale. Gordie Howe ranks fourth alongside John Ogrodnick, with 0.47 per contest. Steve Yzerman clocks in at No. 6 with 0.46.
Instead, Mickey Redmond, whose voice Wings fans are familiar with, takes the top spot with 0.56 per game, edging out Ray Sheppard and Frank Mahovlich (0.55). Redmond came to Detroit looking to win a few more Stanley Cups, and while he never hoisted it in the Motor City, it doesn't mean Redmond didn't leave his mark.
Mickey Redmond ended up with 0.56 goals per game with the Detroit Red Wings
In 1971, Redmond came to the Wings via trade with the Canadiens, and Mahovlich, ironically, was part of that trade. Redmond finished that 21-game stint in 1971 with just six goals, but it wasn't a sign of things to come.
In his first full season with the Wings the following year, Redmond played in 78 contests and scored 42 times, before he followed that up with a whopping 52 goals in 1972-73. He also led the league in even strength goals with 37, but Redmond wasn't done yet.
Fast-forward to 1973-74, and he finished with 51 goals, leading the league in power play goals, too, with 21. It was, overall a three-year stint to remember for Redmond.
Redmond could've gone on longer, but had to retire early
We have no idea how much more high-octane play Mickey Redmond had left in him. A back injury held him to just 29 games in 1974-75, stopping him from enjoying yet another incredible goal-scoring effort, as he had 15 that year.
1975-76 was his swan song, playing in just 37 games and scoring 11 goals and officially ending that incredibe run early. That said, you can only wonder what could've been for Redmond.
His playing career in Detroit ended after just 317 contests, but after putting up 0.56 goals per game, he ended up finding the net 177 times. if he was able to keep playing, chances are, Redmond may've kept that 0.56 per game pace up for a few more seasons, likely putting him in the top 10 for Red Wings goal scorers.
Still, as opposed to retiring, Redmond repurposed, going into broadcasting after his career ended, ultimately getting into color commentary for the Wings.
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