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| 1973 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Eric Vail
Selected in second round
No.
21 overall by Atlanta Flames
Born September 16, 1953
 | Position: Left Wing
Height: 6-1 Weight:
200
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Sudbury (OMJHL)
Birthplace: Timmins, Ontario (Canada)
Hometown:
Schumacher, Ontario |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1970-71 |
Niagara Falls | OHA |
59 |
18 | 30 |
48 | 76 | | 1971-72 |
Niagara Falls | OMJHL |
60 | 25 |
48 | 73 |
122 | | 1972-73 |
Sudbury | OMJHL |
63 | 48 |
57 | 105 |
80 |
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PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Miscellaneous: Played on Niagara Falls (OMJHL) team that relocated to
Sudbury after 1971-72 season. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 13, 1973 (Atlanta at St.
Louis)
Numbers: 22, 27 (Atlanta/Calgary); 19 (Detroit)
Stanley Cup: Never won.
Playing Status: Retired 1983 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years | Teams | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | | 1973-1982 |
Atlanta/Calgary, Detroit | 591 |
216 | 260 | 476 |
281 |
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| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS | | Years | Teams | GP | G | A | TP | PIM | | 1974-1981 |
Atlanta/Calgary | 20 |
5 | 6 | 11 |
6 |
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NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Calder Trophy
(Rookie of Year): 1974-75
Sporting News Campbell Conference Rookie
of Year: 1974-75
All-Star Game: 1977
Atlanta Goals Leader: 1974-75 (39)
Atlanta Playoffs Points Leader: 1977 (4, tie), 1978 (2, tie), 1980 (4,
tie)
Atlanta Playoffs
Goals Leader: 1978 (1, tie), 1980 (3)
Atlanta Playoffs Assists
Leader: 1977 (3, tie)
1980-81: Played on first Calgary Flames team.
Management Career:
Named to Atlanta Fan Development and Community Issues department on Dec. 15,
2000, helping to educate Thrashers fans about hockey. Remained in that
position through 2000-01 season.
Miscellaneous: Played on line with Bob Leiter and Larry Romanchych in
1973-74. ... Missed part of 1973-74 season with fractured vertebra, an injury
suffered when colliding with teammate Pat Quinn during game. ... Missed end of
1973-74 season with separated shoulder, an injury also suffered when colliding
with Quinn during an Atlanta practice. ... Missed part of 1974-75 season with
broken left wrist. ... Set Atlanta/Calgary franchise record (since broken) and
led all NHL rookies with 39 goals in 1974-75. ... Broke collarbone in first
scrimmage of 1975 Atlanta training camp and missed start of 1975-76 season.
... Set Atlanta/Calgary franchise records (since broken) for points and
assists by a left wing with 71 points and 39 assists in 1976-77. ... Set
Atlanta/Calgary franchise record (since broken) with 12 power play goals in
1976-77. ... Played on Atlanta's "Downtown Connecters" line with Tom Lysiak
and Willi Plett from 1976 to 1978. ... Became first player in Atlanta/Calgary
franchise history to score power play and short-handed goals in the same game,
when he achieved feat on Nov. 3, 1976, vs. Washington. ... Missed part of
1976-77 season with wrist injury. ... Was first player in Atlanta/Calgary
franchise history to be named to an NHL All-Star Game when he achieved feat in
1977. ... Played on line with Guy Chouinard and Bob MacMillan in
1978-79. ... Broke own Atlanta/Calgary franchise records (since broken) for
points and assists by a left wing with 83 points and 48 assists in 1978-79.
... Held Atlanta/Calgary franchise record for career points and goals when he
left team on Nov. 10, 1981. ... Relocated to Calgary with Atlanta franchise on June 24,
1980. ... Missed part of 1980-81 season with groin injury. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: Omaha (CHL); Oklahoma City
(CHL); Adirondack (AHL)
World Championships: 1977 (fourth place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
WHA Draft Pick: 1973 (by Quebec,
No. 29 overall in Round 3)
Coaching Career: Coached youth and adult
amateur hockey in Atlanta after his retirement.
Miscellaneous: Avid
golfer during his playing days. ... Purchased a harness-racing horse during
his playing days. ... Returned to Atlanta area after his retirement.
Personal: Nicknamed "Big Train"
and "Train." |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE: Calgary traded Vail to Detroit in
exchange for Gary McAdam, 1982 fourth-round pick (Dave Meszaros) and 1983 fourth-round pick (John Bekkers) on November
10, 1981. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '73 | | Total Selected: |
168 | | Forwards: |
103 | | Defense: |
53 | | Goaltenders: |
12 | | Major Junior: |
131 | | College Players: |
28 |
| Canadian: |
151 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
3 | | USA Citizens: |
14 | | U.S.-Born: |
14 |
| European: |
0 |
| Reached NHL: |
70 |
| Won Stanley Cup: |
8 | | Hall of Fame: |
3 |
| All-Star Game: |
13 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
3 |
| Olympians: |
4 |
| Picks Traded: |
35 |
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