Nels Stewart
First multiple Hart Trophy winner; pre-war NHL goals leader.
Robert Nelson "Old Poison" Stewart (December 29, 1899 – August 21, 1957) was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Montreal Maroons, New York Americans, and Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Stewart was the NHL's first two-time winner of the Hart Trophy and held the league's career goals record from 1937 until 1952, making him the top goal-scorer of the pre-World War II era.
Born in Montreal, Stewart moved to Toronto as a child and developed his game in city leagues and on outdoor ponds. At 18, he joined the Cleveland Indians of the United States Amateur Hockey Association, leading that league in goals four times over five seasons. In 1925, he and Babe Siebert were signed by the expansion Montreal Maroons. That season, Stewart led the NHL in goals and points, won the Hart Trophy as rookie of the year, and helped the Maroons capture the Stanley Cup alongside Siebert, Clint Benedict, Punch Broadbent, and Reg Noble.
Stewart later centered the Maroons' "S Line" with Hooley Smith and Siebert, spending seven seasons in Montreal. He won a second Hart Trophy in 1930 after scoring 39 goals in 44 games. As the Great Depression strained the Maroons' finances—the team folded in 1938—Stewart was sold to the Boston Bruins for cash. He finished second in team scoring in each of his three full seasons there, often shifting to defense. In 1935, he was traded to the New York Americans, where he played most of his final five seasons. At age 36, he recorded 35 points in 46 games. The following season, his skating—never considered fast—gave out entirely, and he retired as the NHL's all-time leading goal-scorer, a mark he set in 1937 and held until Maurice Richard broke it in 1952.
Stewart was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1952. He was found dead at his summer home in Wasaga Beach, Ontario, on August 21, 1957, apparently from natural causes, possibly a heart attack. In 1998, *The Hockey News* ranked him 51st on its list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
Stewart's playing style was defined by his sluggish skating, often mistaken for laziness. Rather than the end-to-end rushes of contemporaries like Howie Morenz or Aurèle Joliat, he relied on a hard-hitting, physical approach, focusing on rebounds and scoring from bad angles near the crease.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Centre
- Played For
- Montreal Maroons / Boston Bruins / New York Americans
- Shoots
- Left
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 1
- Weight Lb
- 200
- Birth Date
- 1899-12-29
- Birth Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Death Date
- 1957-08-21
- Death Place
- Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Canada
- Career Start
- 1925
- Career End
- 1940
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Nels Stewart moved to Toronto as a boy, learning his hockey in city leagues and outdoor ponds. At 18, he signed with the Cleveland Indians of the United States Amateur Hockey Association, leading the league in goals in four of five seasons before he and Babe Siebert were signed by the expansion Montreal Maroons in 1925. Nicknamed "Old Poison," Stewart led the Maroons to the Stanley Cup championship that season, leading the league in goals and points as a rookie and winning the Hart Trophy. He later centered the "S Line" with Hooley Smith and Siebert, winning a second Hart Trophy in 1930 after scoring 39 goals in 44 games. As the Great Depression deepened, the Maroons sold Stewart to the Boston Bruins for cash. He finished second in team scoring each of his three full seasons with the Bruins, despite being moved back to defense. In 1935, he was traded to the New York Americans, with whom he played most of his final five seasons. Stewart retired after the 1939 season as the NHL's career leading goal scorer, a mark he set in 1937 and held until Maurice Richard broke it in 1952.
Reader's Guide
Stewart's playing style was defined by a hard-hitting, net-front approach, compensating for sluggish skating that was often mistaken for lack of effort. He perfected collecting rebounds and scoring from bad angles around the crease, becoming the first superstar to gain fame through a "garbage-collector" style. Bruins goaltender Tiny Thompson called him hockey's most dangerous goal scorer around the net, and Art Ross referred to him as "the greatest inside player in the game." Stewart used a heavy, L-shaped stick with a lie of 10 inches, enabling him to keep the puck close to his feet. He was notoriously difficult to knock off the puck, could shoot one-handed while steadying himself on the crossbar, and chewed tobacco, spitting juice into opposing goaltenders' eyes. He led the NHL in penalty minutes in 1927 with 133, edging out Eddie Shore. After retirement, Stewart coached the Port Colborne Sailors, where he mentored a young Ted Kennedy, drilling him in passing and net-front presence—skills that became hallmarks of Kennedy's game. Stewart was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1952 and ranked number 51 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players in 1998.
Did You Know?
- Stewart scored all four game-winning goals in the 1926 Stanley Cup Final against the Victoria Cougars.
- He set the NHL record for fastest two goals, four seconds apart, on January 3, 1931.
- Stewart led the league in penalty minutes in 1927 with 133, three more than Eddie Shore.
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