Longtime Detroit Red Wings broadcaster Mickey Redmond is taking a leave of absence after tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators to undergo a medical procedure.
The Red Wings said Redmond, 78, is scheduled to undergo cervical spine fusion surgery next week.
While he recovers, Ken Daniels will be joined in the booth by Chris Osgood, Stu Grimson (former Red Wings forward and current NHL Network studio analyst), and Frankie Corrado (current TSN analyst).
“After tonight’s game, I’ll be taking some time away from my analyst duties as I address chronic neck issues that have led me to need cervical spine fusion surgery,” Redmond said in a statement. “It’s never ideal to miss time during a season, but I was luckily able to line the procedure up with several nationally televised games and the Olympic Break. It’s been an incredible season so far in Hockeytown, and I’m looking forward to being back behind the microphone for our exciting playoff run.”
The Red Wings said in a statement: “Mickey has the support of his Red Wings family, and we appreciate that he’s prioritizing health. Mickey decided to wait on having this procedure until a time that was best for the broadcast, for the team, and ultimately for the fans — a great example of what an incredible teammate he is both on and off the air. Everyone in the organization will keep him in our thoughts and will do anything needed to support his recovery.”
Redmond was a two-time 50-goal scorer with the Red Wings in the early ‘70s whose career was cut short in 1976 at age 29 due to back issues.
He began his broadcasting career in 1979 with the Red Wings. After a five-year stint on Hockey Night in Canada, he returned to Detroit in 1986. Since 1997, he has worked with play-by-play man Daniels, forming the longest-serving broadcasting tandem in the NHL.
Redmond received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award for outstanding contributions as a hockey broadcaster from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.
Mickey Redmond taking hiatus from Red Wings broadcasts for medical procedure
