Teeder Kennedy
Never the fastest or smoothest of skaters, Ted "Teeder" Kennedy became a remarkable leader with an infectious combination of determination and confidence (Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum 2001-2003). Known as one of the games great face off men and an antagonistic forechecker, Kennedy had the ability to score the important goal, to make the right check at the right time - to do all the little things that win big games and championships, which his Toronto Maple Leafs did on a regular basis (H.H.F.M 2001-2003).

Kennedy joined the Leafs on a full-time basis in 1943-44 (H.H.F.M 2001-2003). The next season he was the teams top point-getter and the overall goal-scoring leader in the playoffs as the Leafs surprised the Montreal Canadians by winning the Stanley Cup (H.H.F.M 2001-2003). Beginning in 1946, Kennedy was placed on a line with Howie Meeker and Vic Lynn (H.H.F.M 2001-2003). Known as the Kid Line II, after the famous Toronto line of the 1930s, and later as the KLM Line, they paced the Leafs to three consecutive Stanley Cup championships, 1947 to '49 (H.H.F.M 2001-2003). For the last in the string, in 1948-1949, Kennedy was the captain, having succeeded Syl Apps the previous fall (H.H.F.M 2001-2003).

Kennedy would win one more Cup with the Leafs in 1954, but individual honours for the Leafs' captain were few and far between (H.H.F.M 2001-2003). Three times he was selected to the NHL's Second All-Star Team, but Toronto fans and management believed he deserved more recognition in the year-end major awards (H.H.F.M 2001-2003). In 1953 Conn Smythe created an award expressly for Kennedy, the J.P. Bickell Trophy, which was given to the most valuable Maple Leaf (H.H.F.M 2001-2003).
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