| Round | Overall |
| 1 | 2 |
 |
 |
Left-hand shot
Pre-Draft Statistics
| Statistics unavailable |
Pre-Draft Notes
Younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Frank Mahovlich. Frank, known as "the Big M", was nearly nine years older than Pete and had already played six full seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the time Pete was drafted. Frank had also already won the NHL's Calder Trophy and played in four All-Star Games.
Special Achievement
At age 25, Mahovlich was one of the 38 NHL players selected to represent Team Canada in the historic 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union. He played in seven of the series' eight games, scoring one goal and adding one assist to help the Canadians win the series in dramatic fashion. His lone series goal came shorthanded in Game 2 to give Canada a 3-1 lead in the third period of a 4-1 win over the Soviets at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens. In the finale at Moscow on Sept. 28, 1972, Mahovlich set up Phil Esposito for the first of three third-period goals that gave Canada a remarkable 6-5 win. For being part of Team Canada, Mahovlich was honored with induction into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame alongside his Summit Series teammates in 2005.
Career Vitals
| First contract: | 1966 |
| Debut: | December 28, 1965 (Detroit at Boston) |
| Final NHL game: | Jan. 6, 1981 (Detroit vs. Montreal) |
| Retired: | 1982 |
| Stanley Cup: | 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977 |
| Numbers worn: | 24, 11, 21 (Detroit); 20 (Montreal); 20 (Pittsburgh)) |
Career NHL Statistics
Teams: Detroit,
Montreal, Pittsburgh
Years: 1965-1981. Playoffs: 1971-1979
| Regular Season | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 16 years | 884 | 288 | 485 | 773 | 916 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 8 years | 88 | 30 | 42 | 72 | 134 |
| Complete statistics available at NHL.com | |||||
Career Highlights
Set the current Montreal record for assists in one season (82) in 1974-75, finishing third in league. ... Represented Montreal in 1971 and 1976 NHL All-Star Games. ... Won inaugural Canada Cup with Team Canada in 1976. ... Finished with 117 points for Montreal in 1974-75 and 105 points in 1975-76. Led Montreal in assists in 1974-75 (82) and 1975-76 (71). ... Led Montreal in penalty minutes in 1970-71 (181), 1971-72 (103) and 1973-74 (122). .,.. Led Montreal in playoff assists (10) in 1975 and in playoff PIM in 1971 (43) and 1973 (22) co-leader. ... Won AHL Calder Cup with Pittsburgh in 1967 and Adirondack in 1981. ... Led AHL in playoff assists with 18 for Adirondack in 1981.
Transaction History
June 6, 1969 -- Traded by Detroit
with Bart Crashley to Montreal in exchange for Garry Monahan and Doug Piper.
Nov. 29, 1977 -- Traded by Montreal with Peter Lee to Pittsburgh in exchange for Pierre Larouche and future considerations (NHL rights to Peter Marsh, granted on Dec. 15, 1977).
Aug. 3, 1979 -- Traded by Pittsburgh to Detroit in exchange for Nick Libett.
August 1982 -- Released by Detroit, prompting retirement.
Non-Playing Career
COACHING:
Named Toledo
(IHL) head coach on July 3, 1985, and held position until team folded in August 1986.
During this time period, he came out of retirement in December 1985 at
age 39 and played 23 games from December to February while his team was
shorthanded due to injuries. He eventually stopped playing because
of a knee injury. ... Named Colorado/Denver (IHL) head coach in August 1987 and held that position until Feb. 22, 1989.
... Named Fort Worth (CHL) head coach on July 20, 1992, and remained in that position through 1992-93 season. ... Named Cape Breton (AHL) head coach on Aug. 2, 1994, and remained in that position until May 25, 1995.
FRONT OFFICE:
Named Colorado/Denver (IHL) general manager in August 1987 and remained in that position until Feb. 22, 1989.
NHL SCOUTING:
Named N.Y. Rangers pro scout in September 1986 and
held position until August 1987. ... Named N.Y. Rangers pro scout on Feb. 22, 1989, and remained in that position through 1988-89 season. ... Named Edmonton pro scout on May 25, 1995, and remained in that position until June 21, 1997. ... Named Tampa Bay pro scout on June 21, 1997, and remained in position until Oct. 20, 1998. ... Named Tampa Bay director of pro scouting on Oct. 20, 1998, and remained in position until June 1999. ... Named Atlanta pro scout on Aug. 10, 1999, prior to team's inaugural 1999-00 season, and remained in that position through 2009-10 season.
... Named Florida pro scout prior to 2010-11 season and currently holds
this position.
Life Outside the NHL
Full Name: Peter Joseph Mahovlich
Nickname: "The Little M"
Other Post-Draft Teams: Hamilton (OHA); Pittsburgh (AHL); Fort Worth (CHL); Montreal (AHL); Adirondack (AHL); Toledo (IHL).
Broadcasting Career: Named New
Jersey TV color commentator prior to 1984-85 season and remained in that
position until July 3, 1985. ... Named Montreal TV color commentator
prior to 1993-94 season and remained in that position until Aug. 2,
1994.
Overcoming Illness: Diagnosed with
prostate cancer in 1997 and underwent surgery, but cancer returned in
2000 and later went into remission again.
Significant Injuries
Missed part of 1972-73 season with dislocated kneecap, an injury suffered during Montreal's Feb. 3, 1972, game at Los Angeles. He did not return to action until Montreal's March 14, 1973, game at Detroit... Missed remainder of 1978-79 season and entire 1979 playoffs with separated shoulder, an injury suffered in Pittsburgh's March 10, 1979, game vs. Philadelphia. ... Missed part of 1980-81 season with broken right wrist, an injury suffered during Detroit's Oct. 16, 1980, game vs. N.Y. Islanders. He did not return to action until Detroit's Nov. 15, 1980, game at Philadelphia.
Miscellaneous:
| Selected by the Minnesota Fighting Saints in the 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. | Grew four inches after being drafted by Red Wings in 1963 and played most of his NHL career at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds. | Played his first two NHL seasons as a left wing and won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in first NHL playoff run in 1971. | Played center on Montreal's top line with Hall of Famers Steve Shutt and Guy Lafleur from 1973-74 to 1975-76. |
| Had goal and had three assists
in 1976 NHL All-Star Game, setting up goals by Rick Martin, Brad
Park, and Guy Lafleur. |
Was Montreal alternate captain for part of 1976-77 season and Pittsburgh alternate captain for entire 1978-79 season | Scored hat trick in his debut with Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 1977, vs. Detroit, leading the Penguins to 6-4 win over Red Wings. | Was a teammate of his Hall of Fame brother, Frank Mahovlich, in Montreal for four seasons from 1971 to 1974. |
| Participated in 1978 NHL Showdown Series skills competition aired on "Hockey Night in Canada". | Retired as a professional player (for the first time) following his 1981-82 season with Adirondack (AHL) Red Wings. | Continued to maintain his permanent residence in the Glens Falls, N.Y., area following his retirement as a player. | Avid golfer and backgammon player who ranked 53rd on 1999 Hockey News list of most colorful people in hockey. |
| SNAPSHOT '63 | |
| Total Selected: | 21 |
| Forwards: | 13 |
| Defense: | 6 |
| Goaltenders: | 0 |
| Position n/a: | 2 |
| Major Junior: | 4 |
| College Players: | 0 |
| Canadian: | 21 |
| American: | 0 |
| European: | 0 |
| Reached NHL: | 5 |
| Won Stanley Cup: | 1 |
| Hall of Fame: | 0 |
| All-Star Game: | 2 |
| Year-end All-Star: | 0 |
| Olympians: | 0 |
| Picks Traded: | 0 |
OTHERS DRAFTED IN 1963