Career Vitals

Career NHL Statistics

Teams: Toronto, Detroit, Pittsburgh
Years: 1971-1981. Playoffs: 1974-1978

Pre-Draft Highlights

Joined Halifax Junior Canadians (NSJHL) at age 16 in 1966 and scored 28 goals and 60 points for the team in 47 games, helping team win Maritime junior championship. ... Played for Halifax in 1967 Memorial Cup tournament, scoring 15 goals and 24 points in 17 games. ... Moved from forward to defense during 1967-68 season and was primarily a defenseman for rest of his junior career. ... Won 1968 Maritime junior championship with Halifax and played for the team in 1968 Memorial Cup tournament, scoring six goals and 13 points in 11 games. ... After quitting organized hockey midway through the 1968-69 season, he was preparing to go to university in Prince Edward Island when he was talked into playing for the Charlottetown Sandy's Royals, the local senior league team for the end of the 1969-70 season. That led to his being scouted by Johnny Bower -- in his first year on the job after a Hall of Fame career with the Leafs -- and picked by Toronto, which he described as a "big surprise."

Career Highlights

Converted from natural position of defense to a full-time forward by head coach Marcel Pronovost during his first pro season with Tulsa (CHL). He played left wing for the majority of his time in the NHL. ... Called up to Toronto for 1971 playoffs to practice with team, but did not appear in any playoff games. ... Scored the goal that made Darryl Sittler the first player in Toronto history to reach 100 points, as Sittler set up Thompson's goal at 17:07 of the second period on April 3, 1976, vs. Boston. ... Led Toronto with a career-high 43 goals while playing on a line with Darryl Sittler in 1975-76. His 43 goals made him only the second Toronto player to score 40 in a season, joining Frank Mahovlich ...  Scored two goals in his first game with Detroit on March 16, 1978, at Los Angeles. ... Scored the game-winning goal in each of Detroits' first three victories of the 1978-79 season (Oct. 15 at Buffalo, Oct. 25 vs. Colorado, and Oct. 27 at Colorado). ... Led Detroit with 20.9 scoring percentage in 1979-80. ... Named Detroit captain on Oct. 13, 1980, and remained in that position until he was traded on Jan. 8, 1981. ... Scored at least 20 goals in each of his last seven NHL seasons from 1974-75 to 1980-81. ... Retired from NHL as league's all-time goals leader among players born in Prince Edward Island (208 goals, record since broken). ... Inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. ... Player/co-head coach of Charlottetown (PEI Sr.) team that won Hardy Cup in 1984. The entire team was inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. ... Named to Charlottetown Sport Page Wall of Fame in 1992.

Transaction History

March 13, 1978 -- Traded by Toronto with 1978 first-round pick (Brent Peterson), 1978 second-round pick (Al Jensen), and 1980 first-round pick Mike Blaisdell to Detroit for Dan Maloney and 1980 second-round pick (Craig Muni). Jan. 8, 1981 -- Traded by Detroit to Pittsburgh in exchange for Gary McAdam.

Significant Injuries

Missed parts of 1971-72 season with groin injury and sprained ankle, both suffered while playing for Tulsa (CHL). .... Missed part of 1974-75 season with sprained thumb. ... Missed part of 1974-75 season with bruised knee, an injury suffered during Toronto's Feb. 4, 1975, game at St. Louis. He did not return until Toronto's Feb. 15, 1975, game vs. Pittsburgh. ... Missed nearly half of 1976-77 season with broken left wrist, an injury suffered when he was checked by Ab DeMarco during Toronto's Oct. 13, 1976, game vs. Los Angeles. The injury required surgery, and he did not return until Toronto's Dec. 29, 1976, game at Cleveland. ... Missed part of 1978-79 season with broken left jaw, and injury suffered when Thommie Bergman's clearing attempt hit him in the face during Detroit's Jan. 13, 1979, game vs. Los Angeles. He did not return until Detroit's Feb. 1, 1979, game at Minnesota. ... Missed part of 1978-79 season with fractured cheekbone, an injury suffered during Detroit's Feb. 19, 1979, game vs. Toronto. He did not return until Detroit's Feb. 28, 1979, game vs. St. Louis.

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Loran Errol Thompson
Nickname: "Spud"

Other Teams: Tulsa (CHL); Charlottetown (PEI Senior)

Coaching Career: Named Charlottetown (PEI Sr.) player/co-head coach prior to 1983-84 season and held position through 1984-85 season. ... Named Summerside (PEI Jr.) head coach prior to 1985-86 season and held position through 1986-87 season. ... Began work as an assistant coach for various minor and junior hockey teams in Charlottetown in 2007.

Career Beyond Hockey: Returned to Prince Edward Island and became a marketing and sales representative first for Coca-Cola and then for Labatt Breweries, where he eventually became the company's territory manager for all of PEI. He remained at Labatt's until his retirement in 2005.

Miscellaneous:

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