Red Wings and Bruins Swing Big Trade

May 28, 1965 - The Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins of the NHL today completed a seven-player deal.

The Wings, champions of the regular season, gave up Al Langlois and Ron Harris, defensemen, and Bob Dillabough and Parker MacDonald, left wings, for Ab McDonald, a left wing, and Bob McCord and Ken Stephanson, defensemen.

It was the second major trade for the Wings in less than two weeks. On May 20, Detroit obtained Andy Bathgate, Billy Harris, and Gary Jarrett from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Marcel Pronovost, Eddie Joyal, Larry Jeffrey, Autrey Erickson, and Lowell MacDonald.

Ab McDonald was the key man in today’s trade, as far as the Wings were concerned. Coach Sid Abel said he was counting on the former Chicago Black Hawks’ star to deliver “at least 20 goals” next season.

“He’s a big, rangy guy, and we know he can score in this league,” Abel said.

In Boston, Leighton (Hap) Emms, new general manager of the Bruins, said the trade was made “with an eye toward plugging some of the Bruins’ weak spots.

“We needed help on the left side on defense. In Langlois, we obtained an experienced left defenseman. In MacDonald, we get a fellow who always scored goals in his NHL career.”

Emms said he rated Dillabough, 24, and Harris, 23, as “two very promising youngsters.”“I figured that Dillabough, who had 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points with Pittsburgh in the AHL last winter, could plug one of the right-wing holes,” Emms said.

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