Former NHL all-star defenceman Carol Vadnais dies at age 68 http://t.co/WjX9FYnE9C #CBCSports pic.twitter.com/E1T2KQyLai
— CBC Sports (@cbcsports) August 31, 2014
Former Rangers defenseman Carol Vadnais died Sunday at the age of 68 after a battle with cancer.
Vadnais played with the Rangers for seven seasons after he was acquired with Phil Esposito from the Bruins for Brad Park, Jean Ratelle and Joe Zanussi in 1975.
He had 56 goals and 190 assists for the Rangers and was a six-time All-Star, including once with the Blueshirts during the 1977-78 season. Vadnais was instrumental in leading the Rangers to the Stanley Cup final in 1979, scoring 11 points in 18 playoff games.
In addition to the Rangers and Bruins, Vadnais played with the Canadiens and Oakland Seals, who became the California Golden Seals, before retiring after a final season with the Devils when he was claimed on waivers from the Rangers.
He won two Stanley Cups during his 17-year career — one with the Canadiens in 1968 and one with the Bruins in 1972.
Vadnais scored 169 goals and 587 points in his career in 1,087 games and added 10 goals and 50 points in 106 career playoff games.
Vadnais also served as Rangers assistant coach from 1983-1985 before retiring from coaching hockey the next year.
He worked as a real estate agent in Montreal after his playing career ended. His wife, Raymonde, died of cancer in 2004.
Vadnais made the playoffs in 13 of his 17 seasons, and also ranks 12th on the Rangers all-time list for points by a defenseman in the postseason.
A Montreal native, Vadnais played for Canada in the 1976 Canada Cup as well as the 1977 World Championships.