This Day in Hockey History – August 27, 1974 – One-for-One Done and Done
A simple one-for-one trade took just three days to settle. It was only the second trade deal brokered by coach Alex Delvecchio, who had become GM for the Detroit Red Wings in May. On August 27, 1974, he sent the popular headband-wearing forward Henry Boucha to the Minnesota North Stars in return for veteran consistent-scoring forward Danny Grant. Delvecchio had said Boucha was untouchable even as Minnesota tried to retrieve their native son over the course of two years. When GM and coach Jack Gordon heard he was finally available, he jumped at the chance.
Detroit seemed to get the better end of the bargain. In Grant, they welcomed a 28-year-old, seven-year veteran. He had played enough games with the Montreal Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup in 1968. Acquired by the North Stars, he scored 34 goals during the 1968-69 season to earn himself the Calder Trophy as best rookie. During his six seasons in Minnesota, Grant scored 172 goals, averaging 29.4 goals per season. Even more consistent than his scoring was his attendance. By the time of the trade, he had not missed a game, tallying a 442-game streak, the second-best in active players.
At the time, Grant commented, “I’m sorry to be leaving my friends in Minnesota, but I’m happy to be going to a team I like. Actually, mid-way through last season I felt a trade would be good for me. I felt I was in a rut and needed a fresh start. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest, and I hope that’s the way it works out.” His old GM, Gordon, wished him well saying, “Danny will fit in with Detroit’s plans.” Obviously, Detroit’s GM agreed. “Really, we can use improvement at any position,” admitted Delvecchio. “But I think we’ve bettered our team with this deal. We’re a young team and we need somebody with experience to go along with the younger guys. Hopefully, Grant will be the answer.”
Grant’s first season in Detroit proved his worth. He scored a personal best (50G, 37A, 87P) working with Marcel Dionne. When Dionne was traded that summer, Grant took over as captain. Unfortunately, leg injuries kept him sidelined, and he never again played a full season. With his greatly-reduced role, he requested a trade. On January 9, 1978, he was sent to reunite with Dionne in Los Angeles. He finished his NHL career there with the 1978-79 season.
Meanwhile, Minnesota welcomed home 23-year-old Boucha (of Warroad, Minnesota). He had drawn fans’ attention by wearing a headband “emblematic of his part-Chippewa heritage” to hold back his long hair. He played for the U.S. during the 1972 Winter Olympics at Sapporo, Japan. Having been drafted 16th overall in 1971, he returned to Detroit. He set an NHL record scoring just six seconds after an opening faceoff. In his final season with Detroit, he scored 19 goals, with five of them being game-winners.
To most, it seemed that Boucha’ primary appeal to the North Stars was that he was local and could become a fan favorite there, giving the box office a boost. This was especially necessary in light of the rival WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints scooping up local stars. However, Gordon told the press, “I suppose that might help, but that’s not why we made the trade.” He explained, “Everyone seems to be saying we lost a scorer and gained a checker. But Henry has more ability than that. He scored 19 goals last season and missed many games due to injuries. He was used to kill penalties, too.” Gordon continued, “We hope to be more aggressive to cut down on our goals against. In addition, Henry can be moved around. He is a right-handed shot and can play right wing or center, but we’ll use him at left wing.”
Boucha was glad to be heading home, though he still felt shocked and rushed with the change. “I was supposed to go to Minnesota last spring, but that deal never materialized. Now, with the season almost here, I wasn’t anticipating a trade. I had mixed emotions, at first. I have a lot of friends here. And I have business interests, too, what with the hockey schools. But I’m happy to be going to the North Stars. It’s a good team and I hope I can help it.” The rush to get there in time for the first practice on September 16 would be worth it, he said, “Because I’m coming home.”
Sadly, Boucha did not have much of a chance to make an impact for the North Stars. On January 5, 1975, he and Boston Bruins wing Dave Forbes fought, sat seven-minute penalties, and Forbes came out of the box swinging his stick. Having fractured Boucha’s right eye socket, Forbes became the first pro athlete prosecuted in the U.S. for assault during a game. Though ruled a mistrial, he had already been suspended for ten games. For Boucha, the injury ended his career with the North Stars. He played for the WHA’s Fighting Saints for 36 games the following season. He then returned to the NHL playing 28 games with the Kansas City Scouts and relocating with them to Colorado, where he finished out his final nine NHL games in 1976.
Additional Sources:
- Mike Commito, Hockey 365: Daily Stories from the Ice(Toronto: Dundurn, 2018), kindle version.
- https://wingsnation.com/2016/08/27/looking-back-at-the-lopsided-danny-grant-henry-boucha-swap/
- Bob Fowler, “Boucha happy to ‘come home,’” Minneapolis Star, 28 Aug. 1974, pp. 1D and 6D.
- John Gilbert, “Stars swap for Boucha,’” Minneapolis Star Tribune, 28 Aug. 1974, pp. 1C-2C.
- Howard Erickson, “Wings Trade Exciting Boucha to North Stars,” Detroit Free Press, 28 Aug. 1974, pp. 1D and 5D.
- https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/g/grantda01.html
- https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/bouchhe01.html
