John Ogrodnick was a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 14 seasons. He was born on June 21, 1959, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Ogrodnick began his hockey career in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Ottawa 67's in 1976. He played three seasons with the 67's, scoring 129 goals and 139 assists in 182 games.
In 1979, Ogrodnick was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the second round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1979-80 season and quickly established himself as a top scorer for the Red Wings. In his second season, he scored 41 goals and 52 assists for a total of 93 points, which was a career-high for him. He was named to the NHL All-Star team that season and finished fourth in the league in scoring.
Ogrodnick continued to be a consistent scorer for the Red Wings throughout the 1980s. He scored 30 or more goals in six consecutive seasons from 1980-81 to 1985-86. In the 1983-84 season, he scored 55 goals and 50 assists for a total of 105 points, which was a career-high for him and led the league in goals scored. He was named to the NHL First All-Star team that season.
In 1987, Ogrodnick was traded to the New York Rangers. He played four seasons with the Rangers, scoring 30 or more goals in two of those seasons. He was also named to the NHL All-Star team in 1988 and 1989. In 1991, he was traded to the Quebec Nordiques, where he played for one season before retiring from the NHL.
Throughout his NHL career, Ogrodnick played in 928 games, scoring 402 goals and 427 assists for a total of 829 points. He was known for his scoring ability and was one of the top left-wingers in the league during his prime. He was also a two-time NHL All-Star and was named to the NHL First All-Star team once.
After retiring from the NHL, Ogrodnick remained involved in hockey as a coach and scout. He coached the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League (IHL) from 1995-1997 and was an assistant coach for the New York Islanders from 1997-1999. He also worked as a scout for the Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
In conclusion, John Ogrodnick was a talented and consistent scorer in the NHL for 14 seasons. He was known for his scoring ability and was a two-time NHL All-Star. After retiring from the NHL, he remained involved in hockey as a coach and scout.
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