Dwight Foster obit

Red Wings Alumnus Dwight Foster Dead at 67

 He was not on the list.

 

The Detroit Red Wings announced the passing of Dwight Foster on Monday. 

Foster, who was a Canadian-born forward for Detroit from 1982-86 with stints in Boston and Colorado/New Jersey, passed in his birthplace of Toronto, Ontario.

He was 67 years old.

"The Detroit Red Wings are saddened to learn of the passing of Dwight Foster, a former player who recorded 110 points in 215 games played with the #RedWings from 1982-1986. Our condolences go out to his family and friends during this time. ❤️," the team posted to X on Monday.

Foster played his amateur years for the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he won the league's scoring title. He was a highly regarded prospect heading into the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, with the New York Islanders considering him for their 15th overall pick.

The Islanders chose future franchise great Mike Bossy instead in that spot and Foster, who was more known for his strong defensive style, went to the Boston Bruins.

Foster's NHL career began with promise as he scored a goal in his first NHL game, but a season-ending knee injury limited him to just 14 games in his rookie season.

In the following season, he split time between the NHL and the Rochester Americans (AHL), but eventually worked his way up in the Bruins' system to eventually contributing 24 goals and 52 points in the 1980–81 season.

In the summer of 1981, Foster signed as a free agent with the Colorado Rockies. His time in Colorado — and New Jersey when the franchise moved there in 1982 — was marred by injuries.

But in Detroit, Foster showed some recovery and his game caught a rhythm again, scoring 17 goals in his first season with the team, despite battling injuries. However, he never played more than 58 games in a season due to ongoing health issues.

In 1985, he was traded back to where his NHL career began, heading to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Dave Donnelly.

He finished his NHL career after the 1986-87 season with 274 total points throughout 541 games.

Foster's journey through multiple teams while battling his fair share of injuries exemplified how much of a resilient and tough athlete he was.

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season             Playoffs

Season Team            League            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM

1973–74            Kitchener Rangers            OHA            67            23            32            55            61            —            —            —            —            —

1974–75            Kitchener Rangers            OMJHL          70            39            51            90            88            —            —            —            —            —

1975–76            Kitchener Rangers            OMJHL          61            36            58            94            110            8            4            6            10            28

1976–77            Kitchener Rangers            OMJHL          64            60            83            143            88            3            2            4            6            2

1977–78            Boston Bruins   NHL            14            2            1            3            6            —            —            —            —            —

1977–78            Rochester Americans            AHL            3            0            3            3            2            —            —            —            —            —

1978–79            Boston Bruins   NHL            44            11            13            24            14            11            1            3            4            0

1978–79            Rochester Americans            AHL            21            11            18            29            8            —            —            —            —            —

1979–80            Boston Bruins   NHL            57            10            28            38            42            9            3            5            8            2

1979–80            Binghamton Dusters            AHL            7            1            3            4            2            —            —            —            —            —

1980–81            Boston Bruins   NHL            77            24            28            52            62            3            1            1            2            0

1981–82            Colorado Rockies            NHL            70            12            19            31            41            —            —            —            —            —

1982–83            Wichita Wind    CHL            2            0            1            1            2            —            —            —            —            —

1982–83            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            58            17            22            39            58            —            —            —            —            —

1983–84            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            52            9            12            21            50            3            0            1            1            0

1984–85            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            50            16            16            32            56            3            0            0            0            0

1985–86            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            55            6            12            18            48            —            —            —            —            —

1985–86            Boston Bruins   NHL            13            0            0            0            4            3            0            2            2            2

1986–87            Boston Bruins   NHL            47            4            12            16            37            3            0            0            0            0

NHL totals            541            111            163            274            420            35            5            12            17            4