Danny Grant, born on February 21, 1945, was a left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for fourteen seasons, most notably with the Minnesota North Stars.
Hailing from Fredericton, Grant excelled in his junior career with the Peterborough Petes and spent a season and a half in the minor leagues with the Houston Apollos. He made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens in the 1967-68 season, playing 22 regular-season games and 10 playoff games. Grant contributed to Montreal’s 1968 Stanley Cup victory.
After playing 22 games with the Canadiens, Grant was traded to the Minnesota North Stars, a move that allowed him more playing time and less pressure. He thrived in his new environment, finishing his first full NHL season with a rookie record of 34 goals and 64 points. Grant was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
Grant continued to star for Minnesota for six seasons, averaging almost thirty goals per season. However, during the 1974-75 season, he was unexpectedly traded for defensive forward Henry Boucha, a Minnesota native. The trade backfired when Grant had his best season yet, scoring 50 goals for the Detroit Red Wings alongside superstar center Marcel Dionne, becoming only the 12th player in NHL history to achieve that feat.
Unfortunately, injuries plagued Grant’s career thereafter, resulting in partial seasons at best. He retired after the 1978-79 season to coach a Tier II junior team.
Throughout his career, Grant scored 263 goals and 535 points, playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings, and Los Angeles Kings. He participated in three All-Star Games (1969, 1970, 1971).
Grant went on to coach the University of New Brunswick hockey team in 1995 and 1996, and the Halifax Mooseheads Quebec league junior team in 1998.
The Grant-Harvey Centre in Fredericton honours two of the city’s hockey heroes – Danny Grant and Buster Harvey. The centre features two ice surfaces, with the main surface featuring an NHL-sized ice pad and seating for 1500 people, while the second ice pad is an Olympic sized ice surface with seating for 250. The centre also has a walking track constructed on the upper level of the main surface area.
Danny Grant passed away on Monday, October 14, 2019 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital after a short battle with cancer.
This post has already been read 3359 times!
I happened to see this site while looking to see how Danny Grant was doing. My wife and I were close friends with Danny and Linda Grant while we were both living across the hall in the same apt building in Bloomington Minn. while he was with the Northstars. My wife was actually with Linda when she gave birth to one of their children, Danny was playing a hockey game that nite. I remember Danny wanted to stop at our place after the game for celebration drink, (rye of course). before going to the hospital. Not sure if Linda to this day ever found out.
We traveled to Fredericton NB, twice in those early years, Danny and Linda invited us so Danny and I and Buster Harvey could go fishing near or in the Miramichi. I remember pulling Danny waterskiing on his boat “Miss NorthStar”. We had lots of fun times in Frederickton.
Danny called me the afternoon after he got traded to Detroit for Henry Boucha, and was going to meet with him at a local bar and wanted me to greet him and break the ice between both of them.
We also visited Detroit and stayed with them and had a team party with lobster of course and other sea food that Danny and I prepared.
Fun times!
Have other memories too numerous, spent a few Christmas times with them.
We wish Danny and Linda well. and would welcome any response from them to our E-mail as listed.