Gene Carr, who played eight NHL seasons with five teams from 1971-79, has died. He was 72.
The former center had 215 points (79 goals, 136 assists) in 465 games with the St. Louis Blues, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Atlanta Flames and 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in 35 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Gene joined the Kings during my first year with the Kings," Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Miller said in a tweet Thursday. "At that time, you were really impressed with how strong a skater he was. In those days players did not wear helmets. One of the big reasons I feel Gene became such a fan favorite was how his golden blonde locks would flow as he skated up and down the ice.
"Beyond being very recognizable, his personality was outgoing and friendly. From a family perspective, I was happy he connected with a daughter many years later, something he did not hide. Rather he embraced that newfound relationship, even bringing her to a Kings game. I believe it was a role he relished and something special later in life."
Born in Nanaimo, British Columbia on Sept. 17, 1951 and selected by the Blues with the No. 4 pick in the 1971 NHL Draft, Carr's best NHL season was in 1977-78, when he had 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 75 games with the Kings and Penguins.
During his time in Los Angeles, Carr became friendly with Glenn Frey of the iconic rock band The Eagles; Frey would sometimes wear Carr's No. 12 Kings jersey during concert performances.
The son of former NHL player Red Carr, who played five games as a forward with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1943-44, his mother, Pauline, was known as an accomplished speed skater.
