Red Wings Berenson Deserving of Hall of Fame Nod

Red Berenson might not be the first name that comes to mind when you consider the all-time greats of the Detroit Red Wings. He also is unlikely to be the first former player to enter the discussion of which Red Wings are worthy of induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Certainly, Chris Osgood and Henrik Zetterberg are the names that will be heading such a list. However, to not include Berenson for consideration isn’t merely an oversight.

It’s just plain wrong.

Berenson’s list of accomplishments in the game are many. He’s also one of the most important players of his generation.

Happy 84th Birthday Red Berenson!#PutHimInTheHall pic.twitter.com/cld3yYXRIV

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) December 8, 2023

He was the first player to come through the modern NCAA pipeline and rise to the level of NHL star.

One day after playing in the consolation game of the 1962 NCAA Frozen Four, Berenson made his NHL debut with the Montreal Canadiens. Three years later, the day after he won the Stanley Cup with the Habs, Berenson returned to Ann Arbor, Mich., and began studying for the Master of Business Administration degree he’d earn a year later.

“He was in school the day after he won the Stanley Cup getting his masters degree,” said former Red Wings center Luke Glendening of the Tampa Bay Lightning. “I think that says a lot about him right there.”

As a player, Berenson played for the Memorial Cup and in the NCAA Frozen Four. He won a Stanley Cup.

Berenson Was A Hockey Trendsetter

On the international stage, he was a World Champion with Canada in 1959 and played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, arguably the most important hockey moment of all-time.

Berenson also wore a helmet in an era when it was frowned upon by hockey people, so he wasn’t afraid to be a trendsetter.

Red Berenson and Red's TC72 teammates did a perfect job shutting down Soviet star Alexander Maltsev who failed to score in all 8 games and finished a -6. @Johnubacon @smorrisonmedia @Liams_Hockey @CanMusHistory @sportshall @pathtothesummit @Summit72Doc @StuCowan1 @Dave_Stubbs pic.twitter.com/Aj8qkHR2j6

— Team Canada 1972 (@TeamCanada1972) November 10, 2023

Moving to the St. Louis Blues in 1967, Berenson was the first superstar of the expansion era. He would suit up from the Red Wings from 1971-75, twice topping 20 goals and 60 points.

Following his playing days, Berenson would coach in the NHL and later, become a legend behind the bench for the Michigan Wolverines, winning more than 800 NCAA games.

If there’s one flaw in Berenson’s repertoire, it’s that he’s not a salesmen when it comes to his accomplishments in the. Red tends to lean more toward curmudgeon than cuddly.

So forgive Berenson if he’s not interested in reminiscing about his two NCAA crowns at Michigan. Or the Jack Adams Award he won with the St. Louis Blues in 1980-81. Or the night of Nov. 7, 1968 when he was playing for the Blues at Philadelphia. During that game, he set an modern-day NHL road record, putting six pucks past Flyers goalie Doug Favell.

The man known as the Red Baron leaves the accolades for others to deliver.

“He’s been through it all,” said Glendening, who captained the Wolverines under Berenson. “He’s accomplished at every level he’s been at, in college and professional.”