Former National Hockey League player Danny Grant of Fredericton, New Brunswick passed away at the age of 73 of cancer on October 14. Grant played 13 NHL seasons with the Minnesota North Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings.
Grant won the Stanley Cup in 1968 with the Montreal Canadiens and then the Calder Trophy with the North Stars in 1969. He has the distinction of being only one of four players to win the Stanley Cup before the Calder Trophy. The others are Gaye Stewart of Fort William, Ontario (Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1942 and Calder Trophy in 1943), Tony Esposito of Sault. Ste. Marie, Ontario (Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1969 and Calder Trophy with the Chicago Black Hawks in 1970) and Ken Dryden of Hamilton, Ontario (Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1971 and Calder Trophy with the Canadiens in 1972).
Grant’s finest offensive season came with the Red Wings during the 1974-75 season. He had 50 goals and 37 assists for 87 points. That season he was fourth in the NHL in goals (only behind Boston Bruins center Phil Esposito of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario who had 61 goals, Canadiens right winger Guy Lafleur of Thurso, Quebec who had 53 goals and Buffalo Sabres left winger Rick Martin of Verdun, Quebec, who had 52 goals).
Grant finished his career with 263 goals and 273 assists for 536 points in 736 games. He represented the North Stars at the 1969, 1970 and 1971 NHL All-Star Games.
After his playing career, Grant was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. He coached the University of New Brunswick Reds in 1995 and 1996, and then the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in 1997-98.
