1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season

Sports season March 2026 March 2012 NHL 1985–86 1985 Detroit Red Wings 17–57–6 10–26–4 7–31–2 Campbell 10th Norris 5th 266 415 Jim Devellano Harry Neale (Oct.–Dec.)Brad Park (Dec.–Apr.) Danny Gare Mike O'ConnellReed Larson Joe Louis Arena John Ogrodnick (38) Kelly Kisio (48) John Ogrodnick (70) Joe Kocur (377) Greg Stefan (10) Greg Stefan (4.51) The 1985–86 season was the team's 60th season, their 54th season as the Red Wings. The Red Wings missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1982–83 season by finishing dead last in the Norris Division, the Clarence Campbell Conference, and in the entire National Hockey League for the first time since the 1976–77 season with a record of 17 wins, 57 losses and 6 ties, for a total of 40 points, the worst record in franchise history1985-86 Detroit Red Wings Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1986.html 2024-01-27 Hockey-Reference.com 2011-11-03 Top Three Worst Seasons in Red Wings History https://octopusthrower.com/2011/11/03/top-three-worst-seasons-in-red-wings-history/ 2024-01-27 Octopus Thrower Jr Dave Bartkowiak 2020-03-02 The 10 worst Detroit Red Wings seasons in history https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2019/12/10/the-10-worst-detroit-red-wings-seasons-in-history/ 2024-01-27 WDIV Khan Ansar 2008-12-29 Red Wings were NHL's worst team in 1985-86 https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2008/12/red_wings_were_nhls_worst_team.html 2024-01-27 mlive Kulfan Ted Red Wings are bad, but will they be worst in franchise history? https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2020/03/02/detroit-red-wings-bad-but-they-worst-franchise-history/4923044002/ 2024-01-27 The Detroit News Bultman Max How does this Red Wings season stack up with the worst in NHL history? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1573904/2020/01/31/how-does-this-red-wings-season-stack-up-with-the-worst-in-nhl-history/ 2024-01-27 The Athletic In addition, they finished the season with the fewest goals scored of all NHL teams, the most goals against, and the most penalty minutes. 2 Offseason Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Harry Neale was hired as the team's new head coach on June 24, 1985.SPORTS PEOPLE; Wings Choose Neale (Published 1985) https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/25/sports/sports-people-wings-choose-neale.html The New York Times April 11, 2025 June 25, 1985 Previous head coach Nick Polano was named assistant general manager. Regular season After starting the season with a league worst 8–23–4 record, Detroit fired head coach Neale on December 30 and replaced him with recently retired defenseman Brad Park.SPORTS PEOPLE; Brad Park Retires (Published 1985) https://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/20/sports/sports-people-brad-park-retires.html The New York Times April 11, 2025 April 20, 1985Tripi Bob The Detroit Red Wings fired Coach Harry Neale today... - UPI Archives https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/12/30/The-Detroit-Red-Wings-fired-Coach-Harry-Neale-today/9925504766800/ UPI April 11, 2025 December 30, 1985 Final standings DET Record vs. opponents DET Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 5px solid; 1985–86 regular season1985-86 Detroit Red Wings Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1986_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 2, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||T||October 10, 1985||6–6 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||0–0–1 |- |2||L||October 12, 1985||2–9 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1985–86) ||0–1–1 |- |3||L||October 14, 1985||1–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) ||0–2–1 |- |4||L||October 16, 1985||3–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) ||0–3–1 |- |5||L||October 17, 1985||1–10 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||0–4–1 |- |6||L||October 19, 1985||2–6 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||0–5–1 |- |7||L||October 23, 1985||0–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) ||0–6–1 |- |8||L||October 26, 1985||4–7 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1985–86) ||0–7–1 |- |9||L||October 27, 1985||3–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) ||0–8–1 |- |10||W||October 30, 1985||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||1–8–1 |- |11||T||October 31, 1985||2–2 OT|| align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||1–8–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |12||T||November 2, 1985||5–5 OT|| align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||1–8–3 |- |13||W||November 6, 1985||4–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||2–8–3 |- |14||T||November 8, 1985||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||2–8–4 |- |15||L||November 11, 1985||0–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) ||2–9–4 |- |16||W||November 13, 1985||7–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) ||3–9–4 |- |17||W||November 16, 1985||4–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||4–9–4 |- |18||L||November 19, 1985||5–7 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1985–86) ||4–10–4 |- |19||L||November 21, 1985||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) ||4–11–4 |- |20||L||November 23, 1985||3–9 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||4–12–4 |- |21||W||November 27, 1985||4–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) ||5–12–4 |- |22||W||November 29, 1985||5–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||6–12–4 |- |23||L||November 30, 1985||1–10 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) ||6–13–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |24||W||December 3, 1985||4–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||7–13–4 |- |25||L||December 4, 1985||2–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||7–14–4 |- |26||L||December 7, 1985||4–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||7–15–4 |- |27||L||December 11, 1985||2–10 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||7–16–4 |- |28||L||December 14, 1985||4–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||7–17–4 |- |29||L||December 15, 1985||4–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||7–18–4 |- |30||L||December 17, 1985||3–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||7–19–4 |- |31||L||December 21, 1985||3–6 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||7–20–4 |- |32||L||December 23, 1985||2–10 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1985–86) ||7–21–4 |- |33||L||December 26, 1985||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||7–22–4 |- |34||W||December 28, 1985||5–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) ||8–22–4 |- |35||L||December 29, 1985||2–5 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1985–86) ||8–23–4 |- |36||L||December 31, 1985||4–5 OT|| align="left"| New York Islanders (1985–86) ||8–24–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |37||T||January 2, 1986||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1985–86) ||8–24–5 |- |38||L||January 4, 1986||2–7 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) ||8–25–5 |- |39||W||January 5, 1986||6–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||9–25–5 |- |40||L||January 7, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) ||9–26–5 |- |41||L||January 10, 1986||4–9 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||9–27–5 |- |42||L||January 11, 1986||2–8 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1985–86) ||9–28–5 |- |43||L||January 13, 1986||4–7 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||9–29–5 |- |44||L||January 15, 1986||3–4 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||9–30–5 |- |45||L||January 18, 1986||4–7 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1985–86) ||9–31–5 |- |46||L||January 19, 1986||4–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||9–32–5 |- |47||W||January 22, 1986||6–5 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1985–86) ||10–32–5 |- |48||L||January 23, 1986||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1985–86) ||10–33–5 |- |49||L||January 25, 1986||3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1985–86) ||10–34–5 |- |50||W||January 28, 1986||7–0 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1985–86) ||11–34–5 |- |51||L||January 31, 1986||4–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||11–35–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |52||L||February 1, 1986||3–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||11–36–5 |- |53||W||February 6, 1986||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1985–86) ||12–36–5 |- |54||L||February 8, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) ||12–37–5 |- |55||L||February 11, 1986||2–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) ||12–38–5 |- |56||L||February 14, 1986||5–7 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1985–86) ||12–39–5 |- |57||L||February 16, 1986||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1985–86) ||12–40–5 |- |58||L||February 18, 1986||0–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||12–41–5 |- |59||L||February 21, 1986||3–7 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1985–86) ||12–42–5 |- |60||L||February 22, 1986||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1985–86) ||12–43–5 |- |61||L||February 25, 1986||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1985–86) ||12–44–5 |- |62||L||February 28, 1986||3–7 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||12–45–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |63||W||March 1, 1986||6–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||13–45–5 |- |64||L||March 3, 1986||5–8 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||13–46–5 |- |65||W||March 5, 1986||8–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||14–46–5 |- |66||L||March 6, 1986||2–7 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1985–86) ||14–47–5 |- |67||T||March 9, 1986||3–3 OT|| align="left"| Calgary Flames (1985–86) ||14–47–6 |- |68||W||March 12, 1986||3–0 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1985–86) ||15–47–6 |- |69||L||March 14, 1986||3–12 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) ||15–48–6 |- |70||L||March 16, 1986||0–6 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1985–86) ||15–49–6 |- |71||L||March 18, 1986||4–6 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1985–86) ||15–50–6 |- |72||L||March 20, 1986||2–3 OT|| align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1985–86) ||15–51–6 |- |73||W||March 22, 1986||8–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||16–51–6 |- |74||L||March 25, 1986||2–7 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1985–86) ||16–52–6 |- |75||L||March 26, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1985–86) ||16–53–6 |- |76||L||March 29, 1986||4–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||16–54–6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||L||April 1, 1986||0–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1985–86) ||16–55–6 |- |78||L||April 2, 1986||3–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1985–86) ||16–56–6 |- |79||L||April 5, 1986||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1985–86) ||16–57–6 |- |80||W||April 6, 1986||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1985–86) ||17–57–6 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/− PPG SHG GWG John Ogrodnick LW 76 38 32 70 18−301512 Kelly Kisio C 76 21 48 69 85−21730 Reed Larson D 67 19 41 60 109−361100 Petr Klima W 74 32 24 56 16−39804 Ron Duguay C/RW 67 19 29 48 26−30802 Warren Young C 79 22 24 46 161−34901 Steve Yzerman C 51 14 28 42 16−24303 Gerard Gallant LW 52 20 19 39 106−10312 Greg Smith Greg Smith (ice hockey) D 62 5 19 24 84−14000 Claude Loiselle C 48 7 15 22 142−27201 Chris Cichocki RW 59 10 11 21 21−8110 Bob Probert LW 44 8 13 21 186−14300 Adam Oates C 38 9 11 20 10−24101 Dwight Foster Dwight Foster (ice hockey) RW 55 6 12 18 48−13110 Randy Ladouceur D 78 5 13 18 196−54001 Danny Gare RW 57 7 9 16 102−19100 Joe Kocur RW 59 9 6 15 377−24200 John Barrett ice hockey D 65 2 12 14 125−29000 Jim Leavins D 37 2 11 13 26−23100 Mike McEwen Mike McEwen (ice hockey) D 29 0 10 10 16−8000 Mike O'Connell D 13 1 7 8 16−6010 Billy Carroll C 21 2 4 6 11−8000 Harold Snepsts D 35 0 6 6 75−7000 Lane Lambert RW 34 2 3 5 130−11000 Doug Shedden C 11 2 3 5 2−1200 Darren Veitch D 13 0 5 5 2−9000 Steve Richmond D 29 1 2 3 82−18000 Tim Friday D 23 0 3 3 6−9000 Ted Speers RW 4 1 1 2 02000 Glenn Merkosky C 17 0 2 2 0−12000 Greg Stefan G 37 0 2 2 230000 Shawn Burr LW/C 5 1 0 1 41100 Eddie Johnstone RW 3 1 0 1 20000 Bruce Eakin C 4 0 1 1 0−4000 Eddie Mio G 18 0 1 1 170000 Ray Staszak RW 4 0 1 1 7−3000 Rick Zombo D 14 0 1 1 16−10000 Doug Houda D 6 0 0 0 4−7000 Mark LaForest G 28 0 0 0 230000 Basil McRae LW 4 0 0 0 5−4000 Barry Melrose D 14 0 0 0 70−6000 Corrado Micalef G 11 0 0 0 80000 Chris Pusey G 1 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SOSASVSV% Greg Stefan 2068 37 10 20 5 155 4.50 11080925.856 Mark LaForest 1383 28 4 21 0 114 4.95 1742628.846 Eddie Mio 788 18 2 7 0 83 6.32 0453370.817 Corrado Micalef 565 11 1 9 1 52 5.52 0342290.848 Chris Pusey 40 1 0 0 0 3 4.50 0129.750 Team: 4844 80 17 57 6 407 5.04 226292222.845hockey-reference.com 2009-06-02 1985-86 Detroit Red Wings Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1986.html Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;       MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage; Awards and records This team set the NHL record for most fighting majors in a season with 154. 415 goals against is also the most by a team in a single season. Draft picks Detroit's draft picks at the 1985 NHL entry draft held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)18Brent FedykCanadaRegina Pats (WHL)229Jeff SharplesCanadaKelowna Wings (WHL)350Steve ChiassonCanadaGuelph Platers (OHL)471Mark GowansUnited StatesWindsor Compuware Spitfires (OHL)592Chris LuongoUnited StatesSt. Clair Shores Falcons (NAHL)6113Randy McKayCanadaMichigan Technological University (WCHA)7134Thomas BjuhrSwedenAIK IF (Sweden)8155Mike LuckraftUnited StatesBurnsville High School (USHS-MN)9176Rob SchenaUnited StatesSt. John's School (USHS-MA)10197Erik HamalainenLukko (Finland)11218Bo SvanbergSwedenFärjestad BK (Sweden)12239Mikael LindmanSwedenAIK IF (Sweden) See also 1985–86 NHL season References Category:Detroit Red Wings seasons Detroit Detroit Red Detroit Red Category:1985 in Detroit Category:1986 in Detroit