1979-80 O-Pee-Chee 63 Dale McCourt Hockey Card (Front)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee 63 Dale McCourt Hockey Card (Back)
1979-80 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Dale led Red Wings in goals and points during his rookie campaign of 1977-78.
En Français
Durant sa première saison en 1977-78, Dale mena les Red Wings pour les buts et les points.
Details
So, what’s up with the Los Angeles Kings jersey painted on Dale McCourt on the front of this 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee hockey card? McCourt never played for the Kings and had been with the Red Wings for the previous two seasons, his first two in the NHL.
The Detroit Red Wings signed Rogie Vachon as a free agent prior to the start of the 1978-79 NHL season. It was then determined that McCourt would be sent to the Kings as compensation. However, Dale refused the move and engaged in a legal battle with the Kings, Red Wings, the NHL and the player’s association. He played 1978-79 with the Red Wings and on August 22, 1979, was “traded” back to Detroit for Andre St. Laurent and two first round draft picks.
After a spectacular junior career with the Hamilton Fincups, Detroit selected Dale first overall at the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. He put up great rookie numbers in 1977-78 with 33 goals and 72 points. Surprisingly, he was way down in fourth spot for Calder Trophy voting behind winner Mike Bossy, along with Barry Beck and Don Edwards.
He was a three time 30+ goal scorer with the Wings but didn’t quite become the superstar that they expected. On December 2, 1981, Detroit shipped him to the Buffalo Sabres along with Mike Foligno and Brent Peterson for Danny Gare, Jim Schoenfeld and Derek Smith. That 1981-82 season saw him tie his career best with 33 goals but it was downhill from there. Two years later, his NHL career was done.
Between 1977-78 and 1983-84, Dale McCourt appeared in 532 regular season and 21 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Red Wings, Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. He did carry on with an impressive career in Switzerland before retiring.