HHOF - Detroit Red Wings: 1949-50 to 1954-55

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NHL Dynasties

Detroit Red Wings

1949‐50 to 1954‐55

The Detroit Red Wings were a powerhouse in the first half of the 1950s, finishing first during the regular season in each of the six seasons between 1949‐50 and 1954‐55 and winning the Stanley Cup in 1950 against the Rangers and then in 1952, 1954 and 1955 while facing Montreal.

The Red Wings were led by the powerful Production Line of Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel and Gordie Howe. The trio finished one‐two‐three in league scoring in 1949‐50. In 1950‐51, Howe won the first of four consecutive scoring championships, earning the Art Ross Trophy. The offence was wonderfully paired with a defence that included Red Kelly and Marcel Pronovost on the blueline and Terry Sawchuk in goal. Behind the bench was Tommy Ivan, while Jack Adams managed the squad. The Detroit Red Wings continued to ice a very strong team even after their Stanley Cup win in 1955, but their string of championships was brought to a halt by the Montreal Canadiens, who began their own dynasty in 1956 with five consecutive Stanley Cup championships. It would be 42 years before Detroit would next celebrate with the Stanley Cup.

The Red Wings dynasty was loaded with Hall of Famers. Included in their four Stanley Cup wins were the Production Line trio of Sid Abel (1969), Gordie Howe (1972) and Ted Lindsay (1966). Abel was replaced on the Production Line by Alex Delvecchio (1977). Red Kelly (1969) and Marcel Pronovost (1978) were joined on defence by 'Black Jack' Stewart (1964) as well as Keith Allen and Al Arbour. Allen and Arbour would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Builder category; Allen in 1992 and Arbour in 1996. Tommy Ivan (1974, Builder Category) coached Detroit for the first three of their championships. Jack Adams, inducted as a player in 1959, was general manager of the Red Wings through their dynasty years.

Quotables

“I saw (Gordie) Howe coming to check me. I stepped aside and he crashed headlong into the boards.”

‐ Toronto's Ted Kennedy. The Red Wings not only lose Howe for the 1950 playoffs, they almost lose him for good. Howe sustains a concussion, nose and cheekbone fractures and a lacerated right eyeball. Doctors drill through the skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. Howe's family is rushed to his bedside, but he recovers to play the next season.

“The Lord and 12 apostles couldn't have kept the Red Wings under control tonight.”

‐ Toronto Maple Leafs GM Conn Smythe, after Detroit sought retribution in the first game following Gordie Howe's injury in the 1950 semi‐final.

Summary

Stanley Cups: 4
Stanley Cup Finals Record: 16‐9
Regular Season Winning %: .669
Regular Season 1st‐Place Finishes: 6
Individual Trophy Winners: 15
Individuals Selected To All‐Star Teams 27

Hockey Hall of Fame Members: (13) Sid Abel, Jack Adams, Keith Allen, Alex Delvecchio, Glenn Hall, Gordie Howe, Tommy Ivan, Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Harry Lumley, Marcel Pronovost, Terry Sawchuk, Jack Stewart

Players On All 4 Stanley Cup Champions: (6) Gordie Howe, Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Marty Pavelich, Marcel Pronovost, John Wilson

Tidbits

The circus bumped the Rangers from Madison Square Garden for games two and three of the 1950 Final. As a result, those games were played in Toronto.


Pete Babando's overtime Cup‐winning goal for Detroit marked the first time a seventh game was decided by sudden death. Tony Leswick, also a Red Wing, duplicates the feat four years later.


In 1952 Terry Sawchuk made his debut in the finals and rose to the occasion, recording two shutouts and limiting Montreal to just two goals in the four game series.


In 1954, Marguerite Norris, President of the Detroit club, becomes the first woman ever to be presented with the Stanley Cup. She also becomes the first female to have her name engraved on the Cup.

Summary

Stanley Cups: 4
Stanley Cup Finals Record: 16‐9
Regular Season Winning %: .669
Regular Season 1st‐Place Finishes: 6
Individual Trophy Winners: 15
Individuals Selected To All‐Star Teams 27

Hockey Hall of Fame Members: (13) Sid Abel, Jack Adams, Keith Allen, Alex Delvecchio, Glenn Hall, Gordie Howe, Tommy Ivan, Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Harry Lumley, Marcel Pronovost, Terry Sawchuk, Jack Stewart

Players On All 4 Stanley Cup Champions: (5) Gordie Howe, Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay,Marcel Pronovost, John Wilson