Bill Derlago

Bill Derlago
Born (1958-08-25) August 25, 1958 (age 66)
Birtle, Manitoba, Canada
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Vancouver Canucks
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston Bruins
Winnipeg Jets
Quebec Nordiques
NHL draft 4th overall, 1978
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 1978–1987

William Anthony Derlago (born August 25, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1978 to 1987 with the Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques. Derlago was born in Birtle, Manitoba, but grew up in Beulah, Manitoba.

Career

Growing up, Derlago excelled at multiple sports, including golf, tennis, baseball, and hockey. He achieved best success with ice hockey, playing with the Brandon Wheat Kings and setting a number of WCJHL records. He was selected fourth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft.

As a rookie with the Canucks in 1978–79, Derlago badly injured his knee and was limited to just nine games, though he did score eight points. Though he played well in Vancouver, he was unable to live up to team expectations, and was traded to Toronto along with Rick Vaive for Tiger Williams and Jerry Butler on February 18, 1980.[1]

In Toronto, Derlago, raised to a star status, worked particularly well with Vaive. Though successful on the ice, it was speculated[according to whom?] that Derlago could have achieved more.[1]

On October 11, 1985, Derlago was traded to the Boston Bruins for Tom Fergus. In Boston, he played as a defensive forward on the third and fourth line. After only 39 games in Boston he was again traded, this time to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Wade Campbell. In the later stages of his career Derlago was sent to the Quebec Nordiques in 1987. Finally, Derlago was relegated to the Fredericton Express of the American Hockey League. Derlago spent one additional season in Switzerland before announcing his retirement in 1988.[1]

Derlago currently resides in Concord, Ontario, and operates a Chrysler dealership.

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1974–75 Brandon Travellers MJHL 45 38 21 59 87 — — — — —
1974–75 Brandon Wheat Kings WCHL 17 0 4 4 2 5 1 1 2 0
1975–76 Brandon Wheat Kings WCHL 68 49 54 103 43 5 3 3 6 0
1976–77 Brandon Wheat Kings WCHL 72 96 82 178 63 16 14 16 30 31
1977–78 Brandon Wheat Kings WCHL 52 89 63 152 105 8 9 13 22 10
1978–79 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 11 5 8 13 9 — — — — —
1978–79 Vancouver Canucks NHL 9 4 4 8 2 — — — — —
1979–80 Vancouver Canucks NHL 54 11 15 26 27 — — — — —
1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 23 5 12 17 13 3 0 0 0 4
1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 80 35 39 74 26 3 1 0 1 2
1981–82 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 75 34 50 84 42 — — — — —
1982–83 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 58 13 24 37 27 4 3 0 3 2
1983–84 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 79 40 20 60 50 — — — — —
1984–85 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 62 31 31 62 21 — — — — —
1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1985–86 Boston Bruins NHL 39 5 16 21 15 — — — — —
1985–86 Winnipeg Jets NHL 27 5 5 10 6 3 1 0 1 0
1986–87 Winnipeg Jets NHL 18 3 5 8 6 — — — — —
1986–87 Quebec Nordiques NHL 30 3 6 9 12 — — — — —
1986–87 Fredericton Express AHL 16 7 8 15 2 — — — — —
1987–88 HC Ambrì–Piotta NDA 16 14 8 22 22 — — — — —
NHL totals 555 189 227 416 247 13 5 0 5 8

Awards and achievements

References

  1. ^ a b c "Legends of Hockey -- NHL Player Search -- Player -- Bill Derlago". HHOF.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
Preceded by Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick
1978 		Succeeded by