When New York gave up on MacDonald, he sought out a doctor to examine his chronically sore shoulder and was astonished to find out that a chunk of metal was still embedded in it, the result of a broken drill left in him from a previous operation. Detroit grabbed MacDonald in the intra-league draft in 1960 and made him a regular.

Feeling much stronger, MacDonald showed the kind of offensive prowess his career had promised but not yet delivered -- playing on a line with Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio can do that to a player!

In 1962-63, MacDonald scored 33 goals, eight of which were game winners. After five seasons with the Wings, he was traded to Boston, lasted just half a season, and was traded back to Detroit. During the 1967 expansion draft, MacDonald was chosen by the Minnesota North Stars. After two seasons in the Twin Cities, he retired to pursue a coaching career. MacDonald returned to Minnesota in 1973-74, this time to coach the North Stars. He lasted one season, and later coached the Los Angeles Kings in 1980-81.

Parker MacDonald was elected to the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame