Canadian · Simcoe, Ontario, Canada · Born 9 July 1927 · Died 2019-05-02Red Kelly was a Hall of Fame Canadian player who won eight Stanley Cups split between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs and was the first recipient of the Norris Trophy.
Born Leonard Patrick Kelly on 9 July 1927 in Simcoe, Ontario, Red Kelly joined the Detroit Red Wings as a 20-year-old defenceman in 1947 after the Toronto Maple Leafs passed on him. He quickly became one of the league's premier offensive defencemen, scoring at least 10 goals in nine consecutive seasons, and in 1954 became the first-ever recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman. Kelly won four Stanley Cups with Detroit, in 1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955, playing alongside Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay on some of the finest teams in franchise history, and won the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly conduct three times as a Red Wing. After being informed of a trade to the New York Rangers in February 1960, Kelly instead retired rather than report, only to be persuaded to join the Toronto Maple Leafs days later. In Toronto, coach Punch Imlach made the unconventional decision to convert Kelly into a full-time centre, hoping he could match up against Montreal's Jean Béliveau. The switch proved inspired: Kelly ignited the career of left wing Frank Mahovlich and helped Toronto win four Stanley Cups in six seasons, from 1962 to 1967, giving him eight championships across his career — the most of any player never to skate for the Montreal Canadiens. Remarkably, Kelly simultaneously served as a Liberal Member of the Canadian Parliament for York West from 1962 to 1965 while still an active player, commuting between his political duties in Ottawa and his hockey career. He retired in 1967 with 281 goals and 823 points in 1,316 games, later coached the expansion Los Angeles Kings and the Pittsburgh Penguins before returning to coach Toronto. Kelly was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969, and both the Red Wings and Maple Leafs retired his No. 4. He died on 2 May 2019 at age 91.
Hall of Fame defenceman/centre, eight-time Stanley Cup champion, first Norris Trophy winner
How They Played
Smooth-skating, versatile player equally elite as an offensive defenceman and playmaking centre
Lasting Impact
A rare two-way legend who excelled at both defence and centre, and simultaneously served in Canada's Parliament
Career Honours
- 8x Stanley Cup
- inaugural Norris Trophy 1953-54
- 4x Lady Byng Trophy
- Hockey Hall of Fame 1969
Canadian Athletes