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Detroit Red Wings to Retire Leonard “Red” Kelly’s Number 4

ByBrian Wallace|
(Original Caption) Red Wings Cop Stanley Cup Final. Detroit, Michigan: The Detroit Red Wings downed the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, in the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The teams split the first six games, three apiece, before tonight's decisive battle. Here Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk makes a save to spoil the scoring attempt of Bert Olmstead of the visitors, (not shown). Watching the puck bound from Terry's glove is Red Kelly. Action was in the first period.
(Original Caption) Red Wings Cop Stanley Cup Final. Detroit, Michigan: The Detroit Red Wings downed the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, in the final game of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The teams split the first six games, three apiece, before tonight's decisive battle. Here Red Wings goalie Terry Sawchuk makes a save to spoil the scoring attempt of Bert Olmstead of the visitors, (not shown). Watching the puck bound from Terry's glove is Red Kelly. Action was in the first period.

Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, and Sid Abel have their jerseys retired. Now it’s time, and rightfully so, the Detroit Red Wings announced the trio’s teammate Leonard “Red” Kelly will at long last have his number retired.

On Friday, February 1, 2019, before the Detroit Red Wings take on the Toronto Maple Leafs Red Kelly’s number 4 will be raised to the rafters high above the ice in Little Caesars Arena.

Red Kelly is one of the best NHL defensemen of all time. In 2017 he was named to the 100 greatest NHL players list. A 4 time Stanley Cup champion with the Red Wings. Kelly went on to win 3 more with the Maple Leafs.

In 13 seasons in Detroit, Kelly played in 846 games, 472 points and 253 penalty minutes. Red was named to eight consecutive all-star games. Often overshadowed by his teammates, The Red Wings would not have lifted 4 Cups without his talents.

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In 1953-54 Red Kelly was the first player to win the Norris trophy as the leagues best defensemen. The Detroit Red Wings would have to wait until 1995 when Paul Coffey won the next Norris trophy for the franchise. Also that same season Kelly was awarded the Lady Bing trophy which is assigned to the player with the best sportsmanship. He was a robust nose defensive wiz.

Kelly is 91 years old; I am grateful Christopher Ilitch made the retirement announcement this past week.  The relationship between player and team had been rocked. Playing with a broken ankle the team asked him to remove the cast before a playoff game. Kelly did and played on one good leg.

The day after the game Kelly was traded to the New York Rangers. However, because the Rangers were so bad, he decided not to report. Instead, he forced a trade that saw him land in Toronto. What the Detroit Red Wings have done is the right thing. To move on from the past.

Yet, to retire a jersey means to respect that same past. Some people never thought Leonard “Red” Kelly would ever see his number high above the ice. Now he will.

Do I dare say that this act perhaps opens the path for former Detroit Red Wings legend Sergei Fedorov to have his number retired by the organization? The team has made up for one wrong; they should feed off the buzz this has created. Not only in the city of Detroit. But the rest of the NHL.

A proud franchise should absolutely show off the members that made it great. No matter the love and disagreements they may have shared. For now, it will be great to see #4 join hid linemates in the rafters of Little Caesar’s Arena.

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