1971 NHL Entry Draft Pick
Round Overall
2 15
Ken Baird
Selected by California from Flin Flon (WCHL)
California Golden Seals Flin Flon Bombers
Ken Baird
 

6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Left-hand shot

Defense

Pre-Draft Statistics

Year Team League GP G A TP PIM
1969-70 Estevan -- 1 0 0 0 0
  Flin Flon WCHL 47 2 5 7 126
1970-71 Flin Flon WCHL 66 35 40 75 211

Pre-Draft Notes

Led WCHL playoffs with 119 penalty minutes for Flin Flon in 1971.
Canadian • Born February 1, 1951 in Flin Flon, Manitoba • Hometown: Snow Lake, Manitoba

Career Vitals

First contract: July 27, 1971
Debut: October 13, 1971
(California vs. Philadelphia)
Final NHL game: February 9, 1972
(California vs. Philadelphia)
Retired: 1982
Stanley Cup: Never won
Number: 6

Career NHL Statistics

Team: California
Years: 1971-1972. Playoffs: None

Regular Season
  GP G A TP PIM
1 year 10 0 2 2 15
 
Stanley Cup Playoffs
GP G A TP PIM
0 years 0 0 0 0 0
 
Complete statistics available at NHL.com 

Pre-Draft Highlights

Set Flin Flon (WCHL) single-season record (later broken) for points by a defenseman with 75 in 1970-71. ... Named to WCHL All-Star Second Team with Flin Flon in 1970-71.
 

Career Highlights

Played left wing for most of his pro career, after being moved from defense with Alberta (WHA) in 1972-73.. ... Played on first Alberta/Edmonton Oilers WHA team in league's inaugural 1972-73 season. ... Played on 1977-78 Winnipeg team that won WHA regular-season title. ... Scored hat trick playing left wing for Winnipeg (WHA) in Dec. 11, 1977, game vs. Indianapolis while he was playing under a tryout contract. ... Won WHA AVCO World Trophy with Winnipeg in 1978.

Transaction History

July 7, 1972 -- Signed WHA contract with Alberta. Oct. 21, 1976 -- Released by Edmonton. Oct. 22, 1976 -- Signed with Calgary (WHA) as an unrestricted free agent. June 1977 -- Signed with Edmonton (WHA) as unrestricted free agent. Dec. 7, 1977 -- Signed tryout contract with Winnipeg (WHA) as an unrestricted free agent after being released by Edmonton. The tryout contract was later upgraded to a full contract for the remainder of the 1977-78 season. 

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Kenneth Stewart Baird

Other Post-Draft Teams: Oklahoma City (CHL); Alberta/Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg (WHA); Duisburg (West Germany)

Career Beyond Hockey: Returned to his hometown of Snow Lake, Manitoba, after his retirement, and was active in Oldtimers' hockey.

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1973-74 season with inflamed sac around heart, an injury suffered when he crashed into an open door along the visiting team's bench during Edmonton's Nov. 20, 1973, WHA game vs. Cleveland. He was hospitalized for a few days as a result of the injury. ... Missed part of 1975-76 season with torn ligaments in knee, an injury suffered during Edmonton's Dec. 30, 1975, game at Toronto. The injury required surgery in January 1976.

Miscellaneous:

Selected by Alberta Oilers in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. Came from a family in Snow Lake, Manitoba, that ran a butcher shop, where he worked.. Was on "Go-Go line" with Ross Perkins and Rusty Patenaude for Alberta in 1972-73. Was member of Calgary (WHA) team that folded on May 31, 1977, making him a free agent.
Selected by Chicago Cougars in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. Played left wing on a line with Dave Keon and Billy MacMillan for Toronto in 1970-71. Worked as a penalty-killer on pairing with Gerry O'Flaherty for Vancouver in 1975-76 season. Played for Vancouver Canucks Alumni team after his retirement.
SNAPSHOT '71
Total Selected: 117
Forwards: 63
Defense: 45
Goaltenders: 9
Major Junior: 84
College Players: 19
Canadian: 107
Euro-Canadian: 2
American: 8
European: 0
Reached NHL: 50
Won Stanley Cup: 5
Hall of Fame: 3
All-Star Game: 10
Year-end All-Star: 5
Olympians: 4
Picks Traded: 18


OTHERS DRAFTED IN 1971

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