Brad Park

Douglas Bradford Park, born July 6, 1948, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, and Detroit Red Wings in the NHL. Regarded as one of the top defencemen of his generation, he earned seven All-Star selections. Despite his peak years coinciding with those of Bobby Orr—with whom he briefly played—and Denis Potvin, Park never won the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenceman. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in 2017.

Park grew up in Scarborough, Ontario, with his parents Bob and Betty and four siblings: Ron, Betty Anne, Lori, and Shelley. His father, a Scottish immigrant and former Royal Canadian Air Force sergeant during World War II, later worked as a youth hockey referee and coach. As a child, Park and his dad would use salt and pepper shakers on the kitchen table to analyze defensive plays like chess pieces. As a teenager, he worked as a laborer at a golf course in Toronto's Thornhill district.

Playing against older kids as a youth helped Park develop into a strong player. In 1960, he won the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Scarborough Lions. He later played Junior B for the Toronto Westclairs (1964–1965) and Junior A for the Toronto Marlboros (1965–1968), helping the Marlboros win the 1967 Memorial Cup. The New York Rangers selected him second overall in the 1966 NHL amateur draft. After a short stint with the AHL's Buffalo Bisons, he joined the Rangers in 1968.

With the Rangers, Park became the team's best defenceman, known for his offensive skill, stickhandling, and pugnacity, which made him a fan and media favorite. He was often compared to Bobby Orr, widely considered the greatest defenceman in hockey history. Park later said he saw no reason to be upset being rated second to Orr, noting Orr was not only the top defenceman but the best player ever to skate.

Park made an immediate impact after his call-up in the 1968–69 season. On February 2, 1969, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he became the first Rangers defenceman to record four assists in a single game. At 20 years, 211 days old, he also set an NHL record as the youngest defenceman to achieve that feat. He finished the season with 3 goals and 23 assists in 54 games, placing third in Calder Trophy voting. The Rangers lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the first playoff round.

The following season, Park emerged as one of the league's top defencemen. In 60 games, he scored 11 goals and 26 assists, earning his first All-Star Game appearance and a spot on the NHL First All-Star Team. He finished runner-up for the Norris Trophy to Orr. The Rangers were eliminated by the Bruins in the first playoff round. In 1970–71, Park recorded 7 goals and 37 assists, was named to the Second All-Star Team, and again finished second to Orr for the Norris. The Rangers beat Toronto in the first playoff round but lost to the Chicago Black Hawks in the semifinals.

At the start of the 1971–72 season, Park was named an alternate captain. After top scorer Jean Ratelle broke his ankle, Park stepped up, nearly averaging a point per game with 73 points in 75 games. His 24 goals tied Carol Vadnais for the fourth-highest total by a defenceman in NHL history. On December 12, 1971, he became the first Rangers defenceman to score a hat trick in a 6–3 win over Pittsburgh.

He scored another hat trick on February 12, 1972, in an 8–3 win over the same team, becoming the first NHL defenceman to score two hat tricks in one season. In the playoffs, he led the Rangers past the defending champion Canadiens and the West Division champion Black Hawks, advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Bruins in six games. Park finished a distant second to Orr in Norris voting for the third straight year and was named to the First All-Star Team again.

That offseason, he briefly became the league's highest-paid player by signing a $200,000-per-season contract extension with the Rangers.

In 1972–73, Park remained a star despite missing 20 games with a left knee injury. He averaged a point per game in 52 appearances, with 10 goals and 43 assists, earning a Second All-Star Team selection. The Rangers beat Boston in the first playoff round but lost to Chicago in the semifinals. During the 1972 Summit Series, with Orr injured, Park was a key contributor for Team Canada and was named Best Defenceman of the series.

The 1973–74 season was Park's best statistically.