1952 - 53 NHL season The 1952 - 53 NHL season was the 36th season of the National Hockey League . Six teams each played 70 games . The Montreal Canadiens were the Stanley Cup winners as they beat the Boston Bruins four games to one in the final series . League business . The NHL almost had a seventh franchise , as the Cleveland Barons applied for a franchise . They were accepted with the proviso that they deposit $ 425 , 000 to show good faith , and prove they had sufficient working capital to consort with the other NHL teams . They could not come up with the working capital and transfer of applicants stock to Cleveland residents . As a result , Cleveland was told to apply at a later date . A big deal was made between Toronto and Chicago as the Maple Leafs shipped Al Rollins , Gus Mortson and Cal Gardner for goaltender Harry Lumley . Sid Abel was signed by Chicago to be player - coach . What was rumour became fact in September when Arthur M . Wirtz and James D . Norris became the new owners of the near bankrupt Chicago Black Hawks . James E . Norris , owner of the Detroit Red Wings since 1932 and father of James D . Norris , Chicago owner , died of a heart attack December 4 , 1952 , and his daughter Marguerite became the first female owner of an NHL franchise since Ida Querrie owned the Toronto St . Patricks in 1923 when her husband Charlie transferred his stock in the team to her to avoid paying Eddie Livingstone any money in Livingstone ' s lawsuit against him . Regular season . For the fifth straight season the Detroit Red Wings lead the league in points . Gordie Howe won the Hart Trophy over Al Rollins , but on the strength of Rollins ' goaltending , Chicago made the playoffs for the first time since 1946 . The first NHL game broadcasted in Canada on television occured on 9 October of this year . It was played between the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings with the Canadiens winning 2 - 1 . The French language telecast was produced by 24 year old Gerald Renaud . In April of this same season , Toronto Maple Leafs games started being broadcasted with Foster Hewitt calling the action . Conn Smythe , the Leaf ' s managing director , sold the Leaf ' s television rights for a paltry $ 100 a game . In comparision , Leaf games are currently sold for over $ 700 , 000 a game . Highlights . Gump Worsley made his NHL debut October 9 , 1952 in goal for the New York Rangers at the Detroit Olympia and lost 5 - 3 , as Ted Lindsay scored in a tip - in on the power play for Worsley ' s first goal against him . The Production line scored 3 goals that night as Alex Delvecchio and Gordie Howe also had goals . Marty Pavelich scored what proved to be the winning goal . On November 8 , 14 , 562 fans were in attendance at the Montreal Forum when the Canadiens beat Chicago 6 - 4 . Elmer Lach scored his 200th career goal . Fifty seconds later , after Butch Bouchard fed him the puck , Rocket Richard rifled a puck past Al Rollins for his 325th goal , breaking Nels Stewart ' s unbeatable - record for career goals . " Old Poison " sent the following telegram : " Congratulations on breaking record . Hope you will hold it for many seasons . Best of luck to you and rest of team . " When Terry Sawchuk was injured in practice , the Red Wings brought up Glenn Hall and he made his NHL debut December 27 and played well in a 2 - 2 tie with Montreal . He then picked up his first career shutout January 7 , blanking Boston 4 - 0 . Red Wings General Manager Jack Adams got into some trouble January 18 when , after a 3 - 2 loss to Montreal , he entered the officials room and argued with referee Red Storey . Dick Irvin , coach of Montreal , was very upset over this and NHL president Clarence Campbell agreed , fining Adams $ 500 . The Gumper got his first career shutout January 11 in a rare Ranger pounding of his hometown Habs , 7 - zip . Butch Bouchard Night was held February 28 and he was presented with a car and a TV set . Detroit spoiled the night with a 4 - 3 victory . There was consternation in Toronto when Max Bentley suddenly vanished and was reported back at his home in Delisle , Saskatchewan . Conn Smythe convinced him to return and he did , playing the remaining games of the schedule . Ted Lindsay scored 4 goals March 2 as Detroit pummelled Boston again , 10 - 2 . Final standings . " Note : GP = Games played , W = Wins , L = Losses , T = Ties , Pts = Points , GF = Goals for , GA = Goals against , PIM = Penalties in minutes " Scoring leaders . " Note : GP = Games played , G = Goals , A = Assists , PTS = Points , PIM = Penalties in minutes " Debuts . The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1952 - 53 ( listed with their first team , asterisk ( * ) marks debut in playoffs ) : Last games . The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1952 - 53 ( listed with their last team ) :