Reid was forced to retire as an active player after the 1977–78 season due to a rash known amongst his colleagues as "the gunk" which covered 70 percent of his body.
The rash at its worst secretes a yellowish liquid that sticks to a uniform or protective equipment worn by a player.
[3] Reid didn’t start experiencing it until his eighth season in the league and was advised by his doctors to end his career because the steroid and cortisone shots he had been taking would lead to fatal consequences.
[4] After retiring as a player, Reid spent 12 years as color analyst for the North Stars.
This biographical article relating to a Canadian ice hockey defenceman born in the 1940s is a stub.