Bob Dailey

For the TV screenwriter, see Bob Daily. For those with a similar name, see Robert Daly (disambiguation).

Bob Dailey
Born	(1953-05-03) May 3, 1953 Kingston, ON, CAN
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position	Defence
Shot	Right
Played for	Vancouver Canucks Philadelphia Flyers
NHL draft	9th overall, 1973 Vancouver Canucks
WHA draft	52nd overall, 1973 Toronto Toros
Playing career	1973–1982

Robert Scott Dailey (born May 3, 1953) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers between 1973 and 1982.

Playing career

The league's tallest player until the arrival of Willie Huber in 1978, Dailey was a tremendous combination of size and skill on the blueline. He was selected ninth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft from the Toronto Marlboros, where he had won the Memorial Cup as a junior. He immediately stepped into the Canucks roster as one of their top defenders, registering 7 goals and 24 points as a rookie in 1973–74.

In 1974–75, Dailey registered 12 goals and 48 points to lead Canuck defenders and was named the club's top blueliner. He had another fine season in 1975–76, notching 15 goals despite missing time to injury. However, the Canucks would deal him to the Philadelphia Flyers mid-way through the 1976–77 season in exchange for Jack McIlhargey and Larry Goodenough. The deal would prove a lopsided one as McIlhargey and Goodenough were never more than bit players for the Canucks while Dailey would be the Flyers' top defender for the next 5 years.

In 1977–78, Dailey emerged as a star for the Flyers. His 21 goals and 57 points would set club records (now broken) for a defender, and he was selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game. In 1979–80 he would register 39 points in just 61 games, and then add 17 more points in the playoffs in helping the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Finals. In 1980–81 he was again named the Flyers' top defender and was selected to play in his second All-Star Game, but his season was ended prematurely due to a knee injury which required surgery.

12 games into the 1981–82 season, Dailey shattered his ankle catching a rut in the ice in a game in Buffalo. The injury required 3 screws to repair and forced his retirement at the age of only 28. He attempted a comeback with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League in 1985, but found he could not compete and retired for good after only five games.

Dailey finished his career with 94 goals and 231 assists for 325 points in 561 NHL games, along with 814 penalty minutes.

Awards and achievements

• 1975: Named Vancouver Canucks' top defenceman
• 1978: Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 1979: Named Philadelphia Flyers' top defenceman
• 1981: Played in NHL All-Star Game
• 1981: Named Philadelphia Flyers' top defenceman

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1970–71	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		36	2	3	5	36		—	—	—	—	—
1971–72	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		62	23	55	78	124		10	3	7	10	18
1972–73	Toronto Marlboros	OHA		60	9	55	64	200		16	9	11	20	22
1972–73	Toronto Marlboros	M-Cup		—	—	—	—	—		3	0	1	1	19
1973–74	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		76	7	17	24	143		—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		70	12	36	48	103		5	1	3	4	14
1975–76	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		67	15	24	39	119		2	1	1	2	0
1976–77	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		44	4	16	20	52		—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		32	5	14	19	38		10	4	9	13	15
1977–78	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		76	21	36	57	62		12	1	5	6	22
1978–79	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		70	9	30	39	63		8	1	2	3	14
1979–80	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		61	13	26	39	71		19	4	13	17	22
1980–81	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		53	7	27	34	141		7	0	1	1	18
1981–82	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		12	1	5	6	22		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	Hershey Bears	AHL		5	0	0	0	8		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				561	94	231	325	814		63	12	34	46	105
OHA totals				158	22	97	119	371		26	12	18	30	40

External links

• Meltzer, Bill, "Flyers Heroes of the Past: Bob Dailey" at Philadelphiaflyers.com
• Bob Dailey career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Bob Dailey at Hockey-Reference.com
• Bob Dailey player profile at NHL.com
• Profile at hockeydraftcentral.com