Red Kelly Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, CM (born 9 July 1927 in Port Dover, Ontario) is a Canadian former hockey player in the NHL. A solid, playmaking defenceman, he joined the Detroit Red Wings in 1947. In 1954 he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenceman. Kelly also won the Lady Byng Trophy in 1951, 1953, and 1954 as the NHL's most gentlemanly player. An exceptional player at both ends of the ice, Kelly was known not only for his great checking skills as a defenceman, but also for his exceptional puck-handling and passing skills as well. Kelly used all these elements to help the Red Wings move the puck down the ice very quickly. When injuries hampered the team, he sometimes played as a forward.(a position he adapted to easily when needed) During his years as a Red Wing the team won the Stanley Cup 4 times and Kelly was chosen as a first team All-Star team 6 times. In 1960 the animosity between Kelly and the Wings' management grew. In February he was traded to the New York Rangers but announced his retirement, and refused to report to New York, thereby nullifying the trade.
Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Punch Imlach tried to talk Kelly into playing for Toronto. Though he disliked Maple Leaf Gardens and as a young player was disappointed by the scathing assessment of a Toronto scout, Kelly joined the Leafs.
Kelly became a full-time forward with the Maple Leafs and became a great playmaker in tandem with lethal goal scorer Frank Mahovlich. He won his fourth Lady Byng Award in 1961. In his eight seasons with the Leafs, they won the Stanley Cup four times - the same number of times he'd won in Detroit. Kelly was popular enough that from 1962-1965, not only did he play hockey, he was also the Liberal Member of Parliament for the York West region. After the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967, Kelly found himself traded to the Los Angeles Kings. He arrived, not as a player, but instead settled himself into the position as head coach. Starting off with some instant success the team made the playoffs two years in a row.
Kelly moved on to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins for three season, making the playoffs in his first and last seasons with the team. Kelly returned to the Maple Leafs as coach in 1973. He stayed in the position from 1973-74 to 1976-77. The team earned a playoff berth in all 4 seasons with Kelly as head coach but got eliminated in the quarterfinals each time.
His final regular season coaching record was 261-311-128.
In 2001, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.
