Joe Primeau

Lore & Background

Primeau began his professional career in 1927 with the Toronto Ravinas, an affiliate of the Maple Leafs. He became a full-time Maple Leaf in the 1929–30 season, famously centering the Kid Line with Charlie Conacher and Busher Jackson. He tied for ninth in the league for assists that year with 21. In 1930–31, with Conacher blossoming into a great scoring star, Primeau finished sixth in league scoring with 41 points. The Kid Line led Toronto to a second-place finish in the Canadian Division, but the Leafs fell in the opening playoff round to Chicago. Primeau placed third in Lady Byng voting that season. The 1931–32 season saw the inauguration of Maple Leaf Gardens and was Primeau's best. He scored 50 points to finish second in league scoring (behind linemate Jackson), led the league in assists with 37, and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, breaking Frank Boucher's streak of four straight Byng wins. His play slipped the following season, but he still finished second in Byng voting. In 1933–34, Primeau returned to form, finishing second in league scoring with 46 points and again leading the league in assists. The Kid Line led the league in forward line scoring by a wide margin. Conacher and Jackson were named First Team All-Stars, while Primeau was named to the Second Team and was runner-up for the Byng. His skills faded sharply in his final season, and he retired in 1936 at age 30.

Reader's Guide

Primeau's significance lies in his role as the playmaking centre of the Kid Line, one of the most famous forward lines of the era. He led the NHL in assists twice (1931–32 and 1933–34) and was a consistent Lady Byng Trophy contender, winning it once and finishing as runner-up multiple times. His 1931–32 season was his peak, as he helped the Maple Leafs win their only Stanley Cup championship of his playing career, finished second in league scoring, and broke Frank Boucher's four-year Lady Byng streak. After retiring, Primeau became a coach, leading the Toronto St. Michael's Majors to a Memorial Cup title in his first year (1946–47), the Toronto Marlboros to an Allan Cup championship in 1950, and the Maple Leafs to a Stanley Cup in 1950–51. He remains the only coach to ever lead teams to the Memorial Cup, Allan Cup, and Stanley Cup championships. Primeau was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1963 and was ranked number 92 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players in 1989.

Did You Know?

• Primeau was nicknamed 'Gentleman Joe'.
• He led the NHL in assists in both 1931–32 and 1933–34.
• He is the only coach to win the Memorial Cup, Allan Cup, and Stanley Cup.