Larry Playfair
Larry Playfair (born June 23, 1958) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), primarily with the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings, amassing 688 games, 26 goals, 94 assists, 120 points, and 1,814 penalty minutes during his career from 1978 to 1990.[1] Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 205 pounds, Playfair was renowned as a tough, physical enforcer on the blue line, often protecting teammates through his aggressive play and willingness to engage in fights, which earned him a reputation as one of the Sabres' most penalized players in franchise history.[1][2] Selected 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft after a standout junior career with the Portland Winter Hawks, where he recorded 402 penalty minutes in his final season, Playfair quickly established himself as a key defensive presence in Buffalo, forming a reliable tandem with Mike Ramsey and contributing to the team's competitive playoff runs in the early 1980s.[2] He earned a spot in the 1980 NHL All-Star Game in his second season and received the Buffalo News Seventh Player Award in 1982 for his impactful role off the bench.[1][2] Traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1986, Playfair continued his gritty style before returning to Buffalo for the 1989-90 season, retiring after that year.[1][2] Beyond his playing days, Playfair has remained deeply involved with the Buffalo Sabres organization as of 2024, serving as president of the Sabres Alumni Association and Director of Alumni Relations, while also coaching youth hockey, including a stint with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the Ontario Junior Hockey League.[2][3] His contributions to the sport were recognized with induction into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.[2]Early life and education
Family background
Larry Playfair was born on June 23, 1958, in Fort St. James, a small rural community in northern British Columbia, Canada.[1] Growing up in this isolated logging town, Playfair was immersed in hockey from an early age, starting to play at four or five years old on an outdoor community rink, often wearing oversized equipment secured by his father's belt.[4] His family provided strong support for his athletic pursuits; his father worked in the sawmill industry before becoming a town supervisor overseeing water, sewer, and sidewalks, while his mother actively encouraged his NHL aspirations, even advising him against pre-draft commitments to teams like the Edmonton Oilers.[4] Playfair came from a large family with deep ties to hockey, including his younger brother, Jim Playfair, born on May 22, 1964, in the same town, and another younger brother, Dennis, who tragically died in a car accident at age 15 in 1982.[4] [5] [6] Jim followed a similar path, developing into a promising defenseman and being selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft.[7] Both brothers honed their skills in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winter Hawks—Larry from 1976 to 1978 and Jim from 1981 to 1983—reflecting the familial emphasis on perseverance and toughness in a sport central to their rural upbringing.[8] [9] At age 10, Playfair drew inspiration from Brian Spencer, a local from Fort St. James who had reached the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, fueling his determination amid the community's tight-knit environment where hockey fostered social bonds and personal growth.[4] By 15, he was playing Junior B hockey in northern British Columbia, demonstrating early physicality by engaging in fights against older players, a trait shaped by his family's encouragement and the demanding conditions of outdoor play in harsh winters.[4] This foundational context in Fort St. James instilled resilience that propelled Playfair toward professional opportunities.Junior hockey development
Larry Playfair began his organized junior hockey career with the Langley Lords of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League (BCHL) during the 1974–75 season, where he honed his skills as a developing defenseman.[10] In the following 1975–76 season, he continued with the Lords, appearing in 72 games and recording 10 goals, 20 assists, 30 points, and 162 penalty minutes, showcasing an emerging physical presence on the blue line.[8] Seeking greater competition, Playfair moved to the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) with the Kamloops Chiefs for the 1975–76 season, where he began adapting to a more demanding defensive role, though his regular-season appearances were limited to none while logging three playoff games.[8] This transition marked his entry into major junior hockey, building on his family's strong hockey background that motivated his commitment to the sport.[8] In 1976, Playfair transferred to the Portland Winter Hawks of the WCHL, where he solidified his reputation as a tough, physical defenseman known for his enforcer style.[8] Over two seasons with Portland (1976–77 and 1977–78), he contributed to the team's strong performance, including a second-place finish in the WCHL standings during the 1977–78 regular season with a 41–20–11 record.[11] In 1976–77, he played 65 games, tallying 2 goals, 17 assists, 19 points, and a league-high 199 penalty minutes among defensemen, while in 1977–78, he led the WCHL in penalty minutes with 402 over 71 games, alongside 13 goals and 19 assists for 32 points.[8] His physical play earned him a selection to the WCHL First All-Star Team in 1978.[8] Across his junior career from 1975 to 1978, Playfair appeared in 208 regular-season games, scoring 25 goals and 56 assists for 81 points, while accumulating 763 penalty minutes, underscoring his role as a hard-hitting defender.[10]Professional playing career
Draft and Buffalo Sabres tenure
Larry Playfair was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round, 13th overall, of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, following a standout junior career with the Portland Winter Hawks where he earned recognition as a physical defenseman.[10][8] He made his NHL debut on November 23, 1978, against the Boston Bruins, a game the Sabres lost 5-2; in a memorable first shift, Playfair was knocked unconscious by Bruins forward John Wensink behind the Buffalo net.[12][13] Playfair scored his first NHL goal just over a year later, on November 18, 1979, against goaltender Dave Dryden of the Edmonton Oilers in a high-scoring 9-7 Sabres victory. During his primary tenure with the Sabres from 1978 to 1986, and again from 1988 to 1990, Playfair established himself as a reliable stay-at-home defenseman and enforcer, prioritizing physical play and protection of teammates over offensive production.[10] He accumulated a significant portion of his career total of 1,814 penalty minutes during this period, leading the team with 258 PIM in the 1981–82 season—a franchise single-season record at the time—and ranking among the league's most penalized players in multiple years of the 1980s.[14][10] In his rookie 1978–79 season, Playfair appeared in 26 games, posting three assists and 60 PIM while adjusting to the professional level.[12] His role expanded in subsequent seasons, with consistent ice time as a shutdown defender; for instance, in 1982–83, he played 79 regular-season games, contributing four goals, 13 assists, and 180 PIM while posting a plus-7 rating.[10] Playfair's physicality peaked in the mid-1980s, where he engaged in notable bouts that underscored his enforcer reputation, including a fierce line brawl initiation against Boston Bruins forward Terry O'Reilly on November 9, 1983, amid an intense rivalry with the Bruins. Other memorable confrontations included fights with Toronto's Paul Higgins on January 29, 1983, and Winnipeg's Jimmy Mann on March 9, 1983, often protecting Buffalo's skill players in heated divisional matchups.[15][16] Playfair contributed to several playoff runs during his Sabres years, appearing in postseason games from 1979 to 1985. A highlight came in 1983, when the Sabres advanced to the Adams Division Finals after sweeping the Quebec Nordiques in the semifinals; Playfair skated in 5 of the 10 playoff games that spring, recording one assist and 11 PIM before Buffalo fell to the Bruins in seven games.[10][17] His tenure provided stability on the blue line, with no major trades disrupting his role until a January 29, 1986, deal sent him to the Los Angeles Kings, though he returned to Buffalo for his final two professional seasons in 1988–89 and 1989–90.[12]Los Angeles Kings stint
Larry Playfair was acquired by the Los Angeles Kings on January 29, 1986, in a trade from the Buffalo Sabres, where he was exchanged along with right winger Sean McKenna and defenseman Ken Baumgartner for defenseman Brian Engblom and forward Doug Smith.[18] This move brought a seasoned enforcer from the Sabres' defensive core to the Kings, who sought added physical presence in the competitive Smythe Division.[19] During his tenure with the Kings from 1985–86 to 1988–89, Playfair served as a veteran defenseman emphasizing physicality and leadership, often acting as the team's "policeman" to protect skilled players and deter opponents through aggressive play.[2] In the 1986–87 season, he appeared in 37 games, recording 2 goals and 7 assists while accumulating 181 penalty minutes, highlighting his role in maintaining team toughness amid a rebuilding Kings squad.[10] The following year, 1987–88, Playfair played a career-high 54 games for Los Angeles, contributing 7 assists and 197 penalty minutes, which underscored his commitment to a gritty defensive style that helped stabilize the blue line during a season when the Kings qualified for the playoffs.[10] Playfair's contributions included bolstering the Kings' defense in key matchups and providing on-ice leadership; for instance, in the 1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he suited up for three games against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, logging 14 penalty minutes in a series the Kings lost 4–0, where his physical presence aimed to counter Edmonton's high-powered offense.[20] His prior experience as a reliable enforcer with Buffalo directly influenced the Kings' decision to acquire him for added grit in a division known for intense rivalries.[8] Adapting to the Kings' dynamics presented challenges, including adjusting from the Norris Division's style to the more wide-open Smythe play, which often led to high-risk situations and elevated penalties—evident in his 422 total penalty minutes over 111 games with Los Angeles.[10] Despite these hurdles, Playfair's tenure provided veteran stability until October 1988, when he played just 6 games (with 3 assists and 16 PIM) before being traded back to Buffalo.[21]Los Angeles Kings Regular Season Statistics
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985–86 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | -14 |
| 1986–87 | 37 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 181 | -1 |
| 1987–88 | 54 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 197 | -13 |
| 1988–89 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 | +3 |
| Total | 111 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 422 | -25 |
Los Angeles Kings Playoff Statistics
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–88 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Total | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Career statistics and retirement
Over his 12-year NHL career from 1978 to 1990, primarily with the Buffalo Sabres and briefly with the Los Angeles Kings, Larry Playfair appeared in 688 regular-season games, scoring 26 goals and adding 94 assists for 120 points while accumulating 1,814 penalty minutes.[8] In the playoffs, he suited up for 43 games, recording no goals and six assists for six points and 111 penalty minutes.[8] These totals underscore his role as a defensive defenseman and enforcer, with his high penalty minute count reflecting a physical style that protected teammates but contributed to accumulating injuries over time.[22]| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978-79 | Buffalo Sabres | 26 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 60 |
| 1979-80 | Buffalo Sabres | 79 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 145 |
| 1980-81 | Buffalo Sabres | 75 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 169 |
| 1981-82 | Buffalo Sabres | 77 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 258 |
| 1982-83 | Buffalo Sabres | 79 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 180 |
| 1983-84 | Buffalo Sabres | 76 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 211 |
| 1984-85 | Buffalo Sabres | 72 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 157 |
| 1985-86 | Buffalo Sabres/Los Angeles Kings | 61 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 128 |
| 1986-87 | Los Angeles Kings | 37 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 181 |
| 1987-88 | Los Angeles Kings | 54 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 197 |
| 1988-89 | Los Angeles Kings/Buffalo Sabres | 48 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 126 |
| 1989-90 | Buffalo Sabres | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | NHL Regular Season | 688 | 26 | 94 | 120 | 1814 |
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-80 | Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 29 |
| 1980-81 | Buffalo Sabres | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 1981-82 | Buffalo Sabres | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| 1982-83 | Buffalo Sabres | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 1983-84 | Buffalo Sabres | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984-85 | Buffalo Sabres | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 1985-86 | Buffalo Sabres | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 1987-88 | Los Angeles Kings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 1988-89 | Buffalo Sabres | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | NHL Playoffs | 43 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 111 |