Carol Vadnais
15 Interesting Facts
Carol Vadnais was a two-time Stanley Cup champion and six-time NHL All-Star defenceman who played 1,087 games over 17 NHL seasons.
He won the Stanley Cup twice during his 17-season NHL career, first in 1968 and again in 1972.
He was selected to participate in six NHL All-Star Games throughout his professional career.
He began his hockey career as a forward before being shifted to defence during his final season of junior hockey.
He was left unprotected after the 1967–68 season and was claimed in the 1968 NHL Intra-League Draft.
He served as team captain for the California Golden Seals at the start of the 1971–72 season prior to being traded.
He anchored the second defence pairing behind Bobby Orr during a championship run in 1972.
He was once wrongfully detained by the FBI in Philadelphia after being mistaken for a bank robber during a team road trip.
He was part of a major November 1975 blockbuster trade that involved star forward Phil Esposito moving to New York.
He enjoyed his career-best statistical season in 1974–75, recording 18 goals and career highs of 56 assists and 74 points.
He played 1,087 regular-season games in the NHL, accumulating 169 goals, 418 assists, and 1,813 penalty minutes.
He was one of the longest-lasting players in the NHL from the pre-expansion Original Six era alongside Wayne Cashman and Serge Savard.
He was listed at No. 52 overall among all-time team greats in the 2009 book 100 Ranger Greats.
He served as an assistant coach for the New York Rangers for two seasons immediately after retiring as a player.
He accumulated 178 penalty minutes in 36 games while playing for the Houston Apollos in the CPHL during the 1967–68 season.
He recorded 88 points in 44 games for the Montreal NDG Monarchs during the 1963–64 season in the MMJHL.
About Carol Vadnais
Carol Vadnais was a two-time Stanley Cup-winning NHL defenceman who played 17 seasons in the NHL from 1966 to 1983. Known for his strong blueline presence, he recorded 587 points in 1,087 games and appeared in six NHL All-Star Games. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for the New York Rangers and head coach in the QMJHL.
Career Achievements & Milestones
Stanley Cup Champion
1968
Stanley Cup Champion
1972
NHL All-Star Game Selection
1969
NHL All-Star Game Selection
1975
Named one of the Historic 100 Bruins
2023
Player Information & Stats
Detailed career statistics and background information about Carol Vadnais.
Player Info
Physical Stats
Career Stats
Season Scoring
Teams & Career
Carol Vadnais played for 6 different teams during his 17 seasons career.