Larry Playfair
Encyclopedia
Larry William Playfair is a retired former professional ice hockey
player with a reputation as a hard-working, pugnacious defender. He played for the Buffalo Sabres
and Los Angeles Kings
over the course of his career, and has worked as a color analyst for Sabres television broadcasts, since his 1990 retirement due to chronic back problems,. His younger brother Jim Playfair
shares a lot of the same characteristics - both were drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft
(Larry in 1978
and Jim in 1982
), and both played junior hockey for the Portland Winter Hawks
of the Western Hockey League
. However, Larry played 688 career NHL games; Jim a mere 21.
Playfair currently lives on Grand Island
, New York
. He is also the president of the Sabres Alumni Association.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player with a reputation as a hard-working, pugnacious defender. He played for the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
over the course of his career, and has worked as a color analyst for Sabres television broadcasts, since his 1990 retirement due to chronic back problems,. His younger brother Jim Playfair
Jim Playfair
James Playfair is the associate coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. He is a former NHL ice hockey player and a former head coach of the Calgary Flames.-Playing career:...
shares a lot of the same characteristics - both were drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft
NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements...
(Larry in 1978
1978 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1978 NHL Amateur Draft occurred at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec on June 15, 1978. It was the last draft to be called the "Amateur Draft" before the process was renamed to the NHL Entry Draft in 1979.-Selections by round:...
and Jim in 1982
1982 NHL Entry Draft
The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1981–82 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
), and both played junior hockey for the Portland Winter Hawks
Portland Winter Hawks
The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the...
of the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. However, Larry played 688 career NHL games; Jim a mere 21.
Playfair currently lives on Grand Island
Grand Island, New York
Grand Island is a town and an island in Erie County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the town population is 20,374. This represents an increase of 9.41% from the 2000 census figure . The current town name derives from the French name La Grande Île, as Grand Island is the largest island in...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is also the president of the Sabres Alumni Association.
Career statistics
--- Regular Season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1974-75 Langley Lords BCJHL 0 0 0 0 0
1974-75 Kamloops Chiefs WCHL 1 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1975-76 Langley Lords BCJHL 0 0 0 0 0
1975-76 Kamloops Chiefs WCHL -- -- -- -- -- 3 0 0 0 0
1976-77 Portland Winter Hawks WCHL 65 2 17 19 199 8 0 0 0 4
1977-78 Portland Winter Hawks WCHL 71 13 19 32 402 8 0 2 2 58
1978-79 Hershey Bears AHL 45 0 12 12 148 -- -- -- -- --
1978-79 Buffalo Sabres NHL 26 0 3 3 60 -- -- -- -- --
1979-80 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 2 10 12 145 14 0 2 2 29
1980-81 Buffalo Sabres NHL 75 3 9 12 169 8 0 0 0 26
1981-82 Buffalo Sabres NHL 77 6 10 16 258 4 0 0 0 22
1982-83 Buffalo Sabres NHL 79 4 13 17 180 5 0 1 1 11
1983-84 Buffalo Sabres NHL 76 5 11 16 209 3 0 0 0 0
1984-85 Buffalo Sabres NHL 72 3 14 17 157 5 0 3 3 9
1985-86 Buffalo Sabres NHL 47 1 2 3 100 -- -- -- -- --
1985-86 Los Angeles Kings NHL 14 0 1 1 28 -- -- -- -- --
1986-87 Los Angeles Kings NHL 37 2 7 9 181 -- -- -- -- --
1987-88 Los Angeles Kings NHL 54 0 7 7 197 3 0 0 0 14
1988-89 Los Angeles Kings NHL 6 0 3 3 16 -- -- -- -- --
1988-89 Buffalo Sabres NHL 42 0 3 3 110 1 0 0 0 0
1989-90 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 1 1 2 -- -- -- -- --
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NHL Totals 688 26 94 120 1812 43 0 6 6 111