Ron Duguay, who enjoyed a career revival during his stint with the Detroit Red Wings, has died after a battle with cancer.
He passed away aged 69 on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Duguay played eight seasons with the New York Rangers (1977-83, 1986-88), but was on a career decline when the Wings acquired in a trade on June 13, 1983. The Wings sent Willie Huber, Mark Osborne, and Mike Blaisdell to the Rangers for Duguay (along with Eddie Mio and Ed Johnstone.
Duguay appealed as part of the revival in the early 1980s under then-general manager Jimmy Devellano, who was the first hire made by Mike and Marian Ilitch after buying the team from Bruce Norris in 1982. The following year, Devellano drafted Steve Yzerman at No. 4, beginning the revival of the franchise.
(Devellano remains in the Wings' front office.)
In 1983-84, Duguay was fourth on the Wings with 33 goals, and fourth on the team with 47 assists, and third with 80 points. The following season he ranked second with 38 goals, 51 assists and 89 points, the latter two career highs.
At the 1986 trade deadline, the Wings sent Duguay to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Doug Shedden. Duguay also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.
He had 620 points (274 goals, 346 assists) in 860 regular-season career games and 53 points (31 goals, 22 assists) in 89 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
We join the Rangers in mourning the loss of Ron Duguay. Ron recorded 217 points with the Red Wings, spending parts of three seasons in Detroit.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 22, 2026
Our condolences go out to his family, friends and former teammates. ❤️ https://t.co/wTqROCwHGg
"Ron lived life with an extraordinary passion, an infectious smile, and a heart that was truly larger than life, the NHL Alumni Association said in a social media post. "Above all else, his deepest and most sincere love was for his family. They were his greatest pride, his greatest joy, and always closest to his heart.
"His dedication and passion for the game of hockey were unwavering. Hockey was more than a sport to Ron; it was a part of who he was, a lifelong love that he carried with pride and shared so generously with others. But perhaps what made Ron most special was his humanity. His genuine compassion, kindness, and willingness to help others always extended far beyond himself. He cared deeply, gave generously of his heart, and had a remarkable way of making everyone around him feel valued and appreciated."
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ron Duguay, part of the 1980s Detroit Red Wings revival, dies at 69
