Eddie Joyal, former player for the Red Wings and the Kings, dies at 86

The hockey world lost one of its early expansion era veterans on Monday as former NHL forward Eddie Joyal passed away at the age of 86. The NHL Alumni Association shared the news, prompting tributes from fans and organizations who remembered the Edmonton native for his gritty career across multiple teams and two professional leagues.

Joyal's journey to the NHL began in the junior ranks of Alberta, where he suited up for both the Calgary Stampeders and the Edmonton Oil Kings. He then moved on to the professional Western Hockey League's Edmonton Flyers, helping them capture the league title in 1961-62. That championship run set the stage for what would become a long and well-traveled professional career.

A Red Wings Rookie Under the Wing of Gordie Howe

When Joyal arrived in Detroit for the 1962-63 season, he found himself surrounded by hockey royalty. The legendary Gordie Howe, still performing at an elite level, took the young Albertan under his guidance. Joyal made an immediate impression, registering 10 points in his first 14 NHL appearances. He quickly proved he belonged on the big stage.

His time in Detroit produced some truly unforgettable moments. During the 1963 Stanley Cup Final against Toronto, Joyal managed a goal in Game 4, with Howe picking up the assist. The following spring, he delivered what might have been the biggest goal of his career, scoring the game winner against legendary goaltender Johnny Bower to give Detroit a 3-2 series advantage in the 1964 Cup Final. Unfortunately for Joyal and the Red Wings, Toronto stormed back to claim Games 6 and 7, along with the championship.

Joyal also played a small but notable role in hockey history on January 18, 1964, when he scored the insurance marker in Terry Sawchuk's 2-0 shutout over Montreal. That clean sheet was Sawchuk's 95th, moving him past George Hainsworth for the all-time NHL record, a mark that would stand for 45 years before Martin Brodeur eventually surpassed it.

Despite his promising start, Joyal spent parts of three seasons bouncing between Detroit and the American Hockey League's Pittsburgh Hornets. In the spring of 1965, the Red Wings dealt him to Toronto in a blockbuster trade that also involved Marcel Pronovost, Lowell MacDonald, and Andy Bathgate, among others. Joyal appeared in only a handful of games with the Maple Leafs during the 1965-66 season.

Hollywood Star and WHA Homecoming

Joyal's career truly blossomed when the NHL expanded from six to twelve teams in 1967. The Los Angeles Kings selected him in the fifth round of the expansion draft, picking him ahead of notable names like Al Arbour, Bill Goldsworthy, and future Hall of Famers Andy Bathgate and Bryan Hextall. In his very first season on the West Coast, Joyal posted a career-best 57 points.

Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke bestowed upon him the nickname "The Jet" as part of a marketing push designed to highlight his speed and offensive talent. Joyal himself found the moniker somewhat amusing, recalling that he never finished better than fourth in the team's training camp skating races. Regardless, fans in Los Angeles embraced him wholeheartedly. Over four and a half seasons with the Kings, he tallied 105 goals and 204 points in 319 games, establishing himself as one of the franchise's early fan favorites.

After a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers in the second half of the 1971-72 season, Joyal got the chance to return home. The newly formed World Hockey Association gave him an opportunity to join the Alberta Oilers, who would later be renamed the Edmonton Oilers. He spent four seasons in the blue and orange before retiring after the 1975-76 campaign.

Joyal's combined professional numbers tell the story of a productive and durable player. In 465 NHL regular season games, he accumulated 128 goals and 262 points, adding 19 points in 50 playoff contests. His WHA totals included 57 goals and 112 points across 239 regular season games.

In April 2016, during the final season of Rexall Place, the Oilers honored their former player with "Eddie Joyal Day," a celebration that Joyal described as a wonderful family affair. The city of St. Albert, an Edmonton suburb where Joyal had deep roots, also named a stretch of road "Joyal Way" in his honor. His grandfather had served as the town's constable back in 1910, cementing the family's long connection to the community.

Joyal's passing marks the loss of a player who bridged two eras of professional hockey, from the Original Six days alongside Gordie Howe and Terry Sawchuk to the wild frontier of NHL expansion and the upstart WHA. His legacy lives on in the record books and in the memories of fans across multiple cities who watched "The Jet" light the lamp.