Detroit Red Wings
Lajeunesse Was Top Red Wings Draft Pick
12th player chosen in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft
The Detroit Red Wings had high hopes for defenseman Serge Lajeunesse, and with good reason. During the 1969-70 OHA Jr. A season, Lajeunesse was a key member of a star-studded Montreal Jr. Canadiens team that won the Memorial Cup.
His teammates that season included future NHLers Gilbert Perreault, Richard Martin, Bobby Lalonde, Jocelyn Guevremont, Paulin Bordeleau, and Ian Turnbull. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Lajeunesse was more of a defensive rearguard. He scored two goals and collected 29 points, along with 87 penalty minutes, in 54 games for the junior Habs.
Born this date, 1950 Serge Lajeunesse As a budding broadcaster in grade school, this @DetroitRedWings made me cry Uncle. pic.twitter.com/uQuoPQuwCQ
— Donald- Fervor Coulee: RootsMusicOpinion (@FervorCoulee) June 11, 2019
The Detroit brass was suitably impressed. The Red Wings selected Lajeunesse with the 12th overall selection of the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft.
“He likes to hit and mix it up,” Detroit coach Ned Harkness told the Windsor Star. “He’s a lean, tough kid.”
Following his rookie season, Lajeunesse was voted as the club’s “most exciting player.” And that he was, in more ways than one.
Lajeunesse’s Red Wings Tenure Flamed Out Quickly
Lajeunesse, who died Sunday at the age of 75, collected just one goal and three assists in 62 games as an NHL rookie with Detroit in 1970-71. He was also a minus-28. Lajeunesse spoke almost no English when he got to Detroit, and that proved to be problematic.
For a small D-man Serge Lajeunesse brought the sandpaper. The 1st RND pick just couldn't stick in Detroit or Philly pic.twitter.com/cCpbbqXbM5
— NHL 🅾️riginal_6️⃣™️ (@NHL_ORIGINAL_6) September 13, 2016
Over the next two seasons, he’d see just 35 games of action with the Red Wings, collecting a solitary assist. Lajeunesse turned down a three-year contract offer from the Quebec Nordiques of the WHA to continue his pursuit of becoming an NHL regular.
Following the 1972-73 season, Lajeunesse was dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for tough guy Rick Foley. Lajeunesse played six games for the Flyers over the next two seasons. Philadelphia experimented with Lajeunesse as a right-winger. He served as a Black Ace for the Flyers during the club’s successful Stanley Cup runs in 1973-74 and 1974-75.
Lajeunesse was out of pro hockey by the end of the 1975-76 season at the age of 26.
