Paul Woods

Paul William Woods (born April 12, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1977 through 1984.

Woods has been the color commentator for Detroit Red Wings radio broadcasts since the 1987-1988 season.

Career Woods was born in Hespeler, Ontario. As a youth, he played in the 1966 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Hespeler. Woods spent his junior career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, leading the team in scoring in 1974-75 with 121 points in 62 games. He was drafted in the 3rd round (51st overall) of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. Woods won two AHL Calder Cup titles with Montreal's farm team, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in 1975–76 and 1976–77, scoring the Cup winning goal in 1976. After two seasons in Nova Scotia, he was claimed by Detroit in the 1977 NHL Waiver Draft. His entire NHL career would be spent with Detroit.

Woods was the youngest captain in team history prior to Steve Yzerman. He scored 19 goals in his rookie season and settled into a role as a defensive forward, shutting down the opposition's top players. This was a role he embraced, and Woods' work ethic and speed made him a fan favorite in Detroit. His career was shortened due to a hip injury, finishing his NHL career with 72 goals and 124 assists in 502 games played.

Woods finished his pro career with the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings in 1984–85. In December 2027 Wood will be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1972–73 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHA-Jr. 60 30 34 64 65 — — — — — 1973–74 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHA-Jr. 48 17 32 49 91 — — — — — 1974–75 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OMJHL 62 38 81 119 116 — — — — — 1975–76 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 67 17 21 38 38 9 2 1 3 0 1976–77 Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 45 20 18 38 51 12 1 3 4 6 1977–78 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 19 23 42 52 7 0 5 5 4 1978–79 Detroit Red Wings NHL 80 14 23 37 59 — — — — — 1979–80 Detroit Red Wings NHL 79 6 20 26 24 — — — — — 1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 8 16 24 45 — — — — — 1981–82 Detroit Red Wings NHL 75 10 17 27 48 — — — — — 1982–83 Detroit Red Wings NHL 63 13 20 33 30 — — — — — 1983–84 Detroit Red Wings NHL 57 2 5 7 18 — — — — — 1984–85 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 26 2 11 13 8 — — — — — NHL totals 501 72 124 196 276 7 0 5 5 4

International Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM 1979 Canada WC 8 0 0 0 2