Red Kelly

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Lore & Background

While still playing in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he also served as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the Toronto-area York West electoral district from 1962 to 1965. During that time, he also won two more Stanley Cups. Starting in 1967, he retired as a player to become the head coach of the expansion Los Angeles Kings. He would coach another ten years in the NHL, with a stop-over in Pittsburgh and ending with the Leafs in June 1977.

In Their Own Story

Kelly's career shifted dramatically when he joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in a four-player deal after refusing to go to New York. Despite disliking Maple Leaf Gardens and remembering the scout's harsh assessment from 13 years prior, he agreed to the trade under head coach Punch Imlach. Imlach asked Kelly to switch from defense to full-time center to match up against Montreal's Jean Béliveau. The move was a success; Kelly's playmaking turned Frank Mahovlich into one of history's most lethal scorers. While still playing, Kelly served as a Liberal Member of Parliament for York West from 1962 to 1965, even winning two more Stanley Cups during this time. He faced opposition from Leafs owner Conn Smythe regarding the Canadian Flag Debate but won re-election by nearly 13,000 votes against future agent Alan Eagleson. After retiring as a player following the 1967 Cup, he became the inaugural coach of the Los Angeles Kings, then coached Pittsburgh and returned to Toronto in 1973. His final coaching stint included a bizarre superstition during the 1975–76 playoffs where he hung a plastic pyramid in the clubhouse to counter Philadelphia's use of Kate Smith's "God Bless America," leading to three home wins before a Game 7 loss.

Reader's Guide

Kelly won the inaugural James Norris Memorial Trophy in 1954, getting 162 out of possible 180 votes, with Montreal's Doug Harvey coming in at distant second with 57 points. He also won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1961. At the time of his retirement, Kelly was seventh all time in career points, fifth in assists, 13th in goals, and second only to Gordie Howe in games played. His eight Cup victories are more than any other player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens.

Did You Know?

• Kelly was one of the only two players to have never played for the Canadiens and to be part of two of the nine dynasties recognized by the NHL.
• He won the Lady Byng Trophy four times: 1951, 1953, 1954, and 1961.
• At retirement, he ranked seventh all-time in points, fifth in assists, and second only to Gordie Howe in games played.