John Ogrodnick
| John Ogrodnick | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
June 20, 1959 Ottawa, ON, CAN |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Left Wing | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
AHL Adirondack Red Wings NHL Detroit Red Wings Quebec Nordiques New York Rangers |
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| National team |
 Canada
|
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| NHL Draft | 66th overall, 1979 Detroit Red Wings |
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| Playing career | 1979–1993 | ||
John Alexander Ogrodnick (born June 20, 1959) is a retired professional ice hockey left winger who played fourteen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1979–80 through 1992–93, with the Detroit Red Wings, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Rangers. Ogrodnick was born in Ottawa, Ontario.
Ogrodnick was drafted 66th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. Ogrodnick played 928 career NHL games, scoring 402 goals and 425 assists for 827 points.
Ogrodnick turned pro with the Red Wings American Hockey League farm club in Adirondack in 1979-80 and also played 41 games in the NHL with the Red Wings. In '80-'81 he became a full-time NHLer and led the Wings with 35-goals. It would be the first of six-straight seasons he would be the Red Wings top goal scorer. He topped 40-goals in the 1982-83 season then managed 42-goals the following year despite being limited to just 64 games. His best statistical season was the 1984–85 season when he set career highs with 55 goals (a Detroit record at the time), 50 assists, and 105 points. The following season he dipped to 38 goals and had potted 12 in 38 games during the 1986-87 campaign when he was shipped to Quebec as part of a six-player deal.
The Nordiques were thrilled to acquire him, with coach Michel Bergeron saying "I think John Ogrodnick is one of the best players in the league." Despite a solid performance for the Nordiques, Ogrodnick was never happy playing in Quebec and asked General Manager Maurice Filion to trade him in the off-season. After scoring 11 goals and 27 points in 32 games to complete that season and putting up a point-a-game in 13 playoff contests Ogrodnick was dealt to the New York Rangers on the eve of the 1987-88 season. Perhaps not coincidently Michel Bergeron had moved from Quebec to behind the Rangers bench which no doubt played a part in his acquisition, though Rangers General Manager Phil Esposito acknowledged that part of the impetus for the trade was ensuring Ogrodnick didn't end up with division rival Pittsburgh. "Ogrodnick beside Lemieux in Pittsburgh would have 55 or 60 goals so forget it. I'd rather have him shooting for me than at me."
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