Dean Talafous

Dean Charles Talafous (born August 25, 1953) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 497 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1974 and 1981 for the Atlanta Flames, Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers as a right winger.

College Talafous played for the Wisconsin Badgers where he helped the team win a National Championship in 1973, and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Talafous scored the winning goal in the championship game.

Playing career Talafous was drafted 53rd overall by the Atlanta Flames in the 1973 NHL entry draft. He scored his first NHL goal on December 12, 1974 at Washington in a 2-2 tie. It was the only goal Talafous scored as an Atlanta Flame. Talafous played 18 games for the Flames before being traded to the Minnesota North Stars. In international hockey he played for the United States in the 1976 Canada Cup and 1981 Canada Cup. In 1978 Talafous signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers.

On December 30, 1981, the Rangers traded him with Jere Gillis to the Quebec Nordiques for Robbie Ftorek, however, Talafous decided to retire after learning that the Nordiques would not offer him a contract past the end of the season. The Rangers were then forced to give up Pat Hickey as compensation.

Coaching Juniors Head of player development - [ Hudson Crusaders ] MJHL Head Coach - St. Paul Vulcans USHL

Head coaching record

After hockey Talafous lives in Hudson, Wisconsin, and founded Total Hockey Training with his wife, Jax, and son, Pete; Talafous retired in 2011 and Pete now runs the organization as Exceed Hockey.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1968–69 Hastings High School HS-MN — — — — — — — — — — 1969–70 Hastings High School HS-MN — — — — — — — — — — 1970–71 Hastings High School HS-MN — — — — — — — — — — 1971–72 University of Wisconsin WCHA 37 10 24 34 42 — — — — — 1972–73 University of Wisconsin WCHA 40 21 32 53 34 — — — — — 1973–74 University of Wisconsin WCHA 34 17 29 46 29 — — — — — 1974–75 Atlanta Flames NHL 18 1 4 5 13 — — — — — 1974–75 Omaha Knights CHL 11 3 5 8 10 — — — — — 1974–75 Minnesota North Stars NHL 43 8 17 25 6 — — — — — 1975–76 Minnesota North Stars NHL 79 18 30 48 18 — — — — — 1976–77 Minnesota North Stars NHL 80 22 27 49 10 2 0 0 0 0 1977–78 Minnesota North Stars NHL 75 13 16 29 25 — — — — — 1978–79 New York Rangers NHL 68 13 16 29 29 — — — — — 1979–80 New York Rangers NHL 55 10 20 30 26 5 1 2 3 9 1980–81 New York Rangers NHL 50 13 17 30 28 14 3 5 8 2 1981–82 New York Rangers NHL 29 6 7 13 8 — — — — — NHL totals 497 104 154 258 163 21 4 7 11 11

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1973 United States WC B 7 2 8 10 — 1974 United States WC B — — — — — 1976 United States CC 5 2 2 4 8 1981 United States CC 6 3 2 5 0 Canada Cup totals 11 5 4 9 8