| Red Kelly, 1954 -- The NHL has never hosted a more versatile player with more varied interests (John McGourty, 2003). Kelly was the inaugural winner of the Norris in 1954, a season in which he helped the Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup (John McGourty, 2003). In over 12 seasons on the Red Wings' blue line, Kelly averaged nearly 40 points a season (John McGourty, 2003). He won four Stanley Cups with Detroit before he was traded to Toronto in 1960 (John McGourty, 2003). Switched to center, Kelly helped the Maple Leafs win four Stanley Cups by checking the NHL's top offensive players while averaging 49 points a season (John McGourty, 2003). He was also credited with helping line mate Frank Mahovlich reach his full potential with the Maple Leafs (John McGourty, 2003). Kelly won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1951, 1953, 1954 and 1961(John McGourty, 2003). No defenseman has won it since (John McGourty, 2003). He was named to eight NHL All-Star teams (John McGourty, 2003). While playing in the NHL, he also served as a Liberal Member of Parliament in the Canadian government (John McGourty, 2003). In 1969, Kelly was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame (John McGourty, 2003). Today, he owns a four-season resort in Colorado with his wife, Andra, a top American figure skater (John McGourty, 2003). |
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