Garnet "Ace" Bailey

In 1973, Bailey was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. According to Bernie Czarniecki in the Detroit Free Press, Red Wings coach Johnny Wilson said that Bailey "gives us muscle" and praised Bailey for helping the team win in a game against the New York Islanders. Wilson also noted, "He was a very enthusiastic player. He played extremely well for us. He was a fast skater and challenged the opposition, home or road." Bailey played with the Red Wings for two seasons, then moved on to the St. Louis Blues, where he played another two seasons.

From 1974 to 1978, Bailey played with the Washington Capitals, then spent a year with the Edmonton Oilers. His playing career ended in 1979. Over his eleven seasons with the National Hockey League, he had 107 goals, 171 points, and 278 assists.

Bailey was known for his lighthearted approach to life, as well as to his sport. After being selected to play for Washington, Bailey received a four-inch-manual from Washington coach Tom McVie, telling him how to get into condition to play. Bailey used the manual to prop up a beer keg in his bar. On the first day of training camp, according to Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle, Bailey beat several other players in a footrace, and McVie said approvingly, "Ace, I can see you used your book this summer." Bailey replied, "Coach, I used it every day."

In the Los Angeles Daily News, a reporter told another story that showed Bailey's quirky humor and quick thinking. Late in his playing career, when he was a left wing with the Edmonton Oilers, Bailey shared a room with rookie Wayne Gretzky while the team was on the road. One day Gretzky and Bailey woke up only an hour before a game, and missed the team bus to the stadium. Bailey got Gretzky a taxi, then packed their suitcases and arrived at the stadium late. He put on his hockey gear and jumped into the shower. When the other teammates came back into the dressing room after the warmup, they found Bailey sitting in front of his locker, dripping wet, apparently from sweat. "Great warmup, Ace," some players said to Bailey, assuming that he had been out there playing with them.