Red Kelly

Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, (born 9 July 1927 in Port Dover, Ontario-May2, 2019), is a retired Canadian player in the NHL. He played on more Stanley Cup winning teams (eight) than any player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens.
==Junior Career==
While playing junior hockey for the St. Michael's Majors, he was encouraged to refine his style by his coach, former Leaf great Joe Primeau.
==NHL Career==
Although the Majors were usually a talent pipeline for the Maple Leafs, the NHL club passed on Kelly after a scout predicted he wouldn't last 20 games in the NHL, and the nineteen year-old joined the Detroit Red Wings in 1947. In 1954 he was runner-up for the Hart Trophy and won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman, the first time the trophy was awarded and also won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1951, 1953, and 1954 as the NHL's most gentlemanly player.
An exceptional player at both ends of the ice, Kelly was known not only for his great checking skills as a defenceman, but also for his exceptional puck-handling and passing skills as well. Kelly used all these elements to help the Red Wings move the puck down the ice very quickly. When injuries hampered the team, he sometimes played as a forward (a position he adapted to easily when needed). In over twelve years as a Red Wing the team won eight regular-season championships, the Stanley Cup four times and Kelly was chosen as a First Team All-Star defenceman six times.
Late in the 1959 season, Kelly broke his ankle. However, the Red Wings kept the injury a secret, and Kelly played through the pain as the Red Wings missed the playoffs for the first time in 21 years. However, midway through the next season, a reporter asked Kelly why he'd been off his game for much of 1959. Kelly replied, "Don't know. Might have been the ankle." When Red Wings general manager Jack Adams got wind of the story, he was furious, and immediately brokered a four-player deal in which Kelly was sent to the New York Rangers. However, Kelly scuttled the deal when he announced he would retire rather than go to New York. Maple Leafs head coach Punch Imlach stepped in and tried to talk Kelly into playing for him. Though he disliked Maple Leaf Gardens and as a young player was disappointed by the scathing assessment of that Toronto scout, Kelly agreed to be traded to the Leafs. 
Once Kelly arrived in Toronto, Imlach asked him to become a full-time centre, figuring that Kelly could easily match up against the Montreal Canadiens' Jean Béliveau. The switch paid off. Already a great playmaker, Kelly turned Frank Mahovlich into one of the most lethal goal scorers in NHL history. He won his fourth Lady Byng Award in 1961. In his eight seasons with the Leafs, they won the Stanley Cup four times - the same number of times he'd won in Detroit. 
In 1,316 regular season games, he scored 281 goals and 542 assists for 823 points. At the time of his retirement, he was 7th all time in career points, 5th in assists, 13th in goals, and second only to Gordie Howe in games played. In 164 playoff games, he scored 33 goals and 59 assists for 92 points.
==Coaching Career==
After the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967, Kelly announced his retirement as a player, and negotiated with the expansion Los Angeles Kings to be their inaugural coach on the strength of Imlach's assertion that Toronto would not stand in the way of Kelly's coaching career. However, Imlach insisted that Los Angeles draft Kelly in the expansion draft, and after the Kings failed to do so, refused to release Kelly's rights until Los Angeles traded a minor-league defenceman to the Leafs. 
Despite being the only rookie coach, and being in charge of the favorites to finish last, Kelly went on to guide the Kings to second place in the West Division and made the playoffs two years in a row.
In 1969–70, Kelly moved on to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons, making the playoffs in his first and last seasons with the team. Kelly returned to the Maple Leafs as coach in 1973. He stayed in the position from 1973–74 to 1976–77. The team earned a playoff berth in all 4 seasons with Kelly as head coach but got eliminated in the quarterfinals each time.
His final regular season coaching record was 261–311–128.
==Coaching Record==
Team	Year 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season 	Post Season
Team	Year 	G 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	Pts 	Finish 	Result
LAK 	1967–68	74 	31 	33 	10 	- 	72 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in West 	Lost in First Round
LAK 	1968–69	76 	24 	42 	10 	- 	58 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in West 	Lost in Second Round
PIT 	1969–70	76 	26 	38 	12 	- 	64 	2<SUP>nd</SUP> in West 	Lost in Second Round
PIT 	1970–71	78 	21 	37 	20 	- 	62 	6<SUP>th</SUP> in West 	Did Not Qualify
PIT 	1971–72	78 	26 	38 	14 	- 	66 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in West 	Lost in First Round
PIT 	1972–73	42 	17 	19 	6 	- 	(73) 	5<SUP>th</SUP> in West 	(fired)
TOR 	1973–74	78 	35 	27 	16 	- 	86 	4<SUP>th</SUP> in East 	Lost in First Round
TOR 	1974–75	80 	31 	33 	16 	- 	78 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in Adams	Lost in Second Round
TOR 	1975–76	80 	34 	31 	15 	- 	83 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in Adams	Lost in Second Round
TOR 	1976–77	80 	33 	32 	15 	- 	81 	3<SUP>rd</SUP> in Adams	Lost in Second Round
==Achievements and Trivia==
* Named a First Team All-Star on defence in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1957.
* Named a Second Team All-Star on defence in 1950 and 1956.
* Named was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 (with Detroit)
* Named was engraved on the Stanley Cup in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967 (with Toronto)
* Kelly was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.
* In 1998, he was ranked number 22 on the List of 100 greatest hockey players by The Hockey News. 
* On October 4, 2006, he and his number were honored by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
* Currently 44th in all time games played and 93rd in assists.
* He is closely related to NHL player Rob Blake.
==Career Statistics==
  	  	  	 	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	Regular season	 	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
Season 	Team 	League 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
1946–47 	St. Michael's Majors	OHA 	 	30 	9 	24 	33 	13 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1947–48 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	60 	6 	14 	20 	13 	 	10 	3 	2 	5 	2
1948–49 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	59 	5 	11 	16 	10 	 	11 	1 	1 	2 	6
1949–50 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	70 	15 	25 	40 	9 	 	14 	1 	3 	4 	2
1950–51 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	70 	17 	37 	54 	24 	 	6 	0 	1 	1 	0
1951–52 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	67 	16 	31 	47 	16 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	0
1952–53 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	70 	19 	27 	46 	8 	 	6 	0 	4 	4 	0
1953–54 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	62 	16 	33 	49 	18 	 	12 	5 	1 	6 	4
1954–55 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	70 	15 	30 	45 	28 	 	11 	2 	4 	6 	17
1955–56 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	70 	16 	34 	50 	39 	 	10 	2 	4 	6 	2
1956–57 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	70 	10 	25 	35 	18 	 	5 	1 	0 	1 	0
1957–58 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	61 	13 	18 	31 	26 	 	4 	0 	1 	1 	2
1958–59 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	67 	8 	13 	21 	34 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1959–60 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	 	50 	6 	12 	18 	10 	 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1959–60 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	18 	6 	5 	11 	8 	 	10 	3 	8 	11 	2
1960–61 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	64 	20 	50 	70 	12 	 	2 	1 	0 	1 	0
1961–62 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	58 	22 	27 	49 	6 	 	12 	4 	6 	10 	0
1962–63 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	66 	20 	40 	60 	8 	 	10 	2 	6 	8 	6
1963–64 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	70 	11 	34 	45 	16 	 	14 	4 	9 	13 	4
1964–65 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	70 	18 	28 	46 	8 	 	6 	3 	2 	5 	2
1965–66 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	63 	8 	24 	32 	12 	 	4 	0 	2 	2 	0
1966–67 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	NHL 	 	61 	14 	24 	38 	4 	 	12 	0 	5 	5 	2
NHL totals	NHL totals 	NHL totals	 	1316 	281 	542 	823 	327 	 	164 	33 	59 	92 	51
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
==Gallery==
26Nov1961-Head_Mohns_Pennington_Boivin.jpg|Don Head, #7 Cliff Pennington, #19 Doug Mohns, #4 Red Kelly, #20 Leo Boivin, November 26, 1961.
Category:Canadian ice hockey players
Category:Detroit Red Wings players
Category:Lady Byng winners
Category:NHL All-Stars
Category:Norris Trophy winners
Category:Pittsburgh Penguins coaches
Category:Stanley Cup champions
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs coaches
Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players
Category:Toronto St. Michael's Majors alumni
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame
Category:Canada's Sports Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Born in 1927
Category:Los Angeles Kings coaches
Category:Retired in 1967
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches
Category:Players who bypassed the Hockey Hall of Fame waiting period