Carol Vadnais
Carol Marcel Vadnais (September 25, 1945 – August 31, 2014) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 17 seasons in the NHL from 1966 to 1983. He won the Stanley Cup twice, with the Montreal Canadiens in 1968 and with the Boston Bruins in 1972. He began as a forward but was moved to defence in his final year of junior hockey with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens.
In his first NHL training camp he earned a spot with the Canadiens for the 1966–67 season. After the 1967–68 season he was left unprotected and claimed by the Oakland Seals in the intra-league draft. He became the Seals’ captain at the start of the 1971–72 season but was traded mid-season. On February 23, 1972, the Bruins acquired Vadnais to bolster their blueline, helping them win the Cup that year.
On November 7, 1975, Vadnais was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him and Phil Esposito to the New York Rangers in exchange for Jean Ratelle and Brad Park. He played seven seasons for the Rangers and one for the New Jersey Devils before retiring in 1983.
Vadnais played 1,087 NHL games, scoring 169 goals and 418 assists for 587 points, along with 1,813 penalty minutes. His best season was 1974–75, with 18 goals, 56 assists and 74 points. He appeared in six NHL All-Star Games and was a member of Team Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup (he did not play) and the 1977 World Championships.
In 1972 Vadnais faced a mistaken-identity arrest in Philadelphia, but was released with an apology.
After retiring, Vadnais coached as an assistant with the Rangers for two seasons and later led the Verdun Junior Canadiens for one season before leaving hockey. He later worked as a real estate agent near Montreal. His wife, Raymonde, died of cancer in 2004, and they had one daughter, Michele. Vadnais died of cancer on August 31, 2014, at age 68.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 13:02 (CET).