1953-54
OFF-SEASON
Plenty of retirement news led by the decision of Toe Blake to end his 18 year career at the age of 40. Blake retires 3rd all-time in career points with 890 in 883 NHL games. Often overshadowed by linemates Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard, Blake was a key piece of 5 Stanley Cup winning teams in Montreal and recorded 147 points in 150 career playoff games. He was a 4 time first team all-star. After beginning his career with the Montreal Maroons in 1936-37, Blake joined the Habs when the Maroons folded in 1938.
Another key Montreal Canadien is also at the end of his career. While he has not officially announced his retirement, goaltender Turk Broda has been released by the Canadiens after not playing a game last season. Perhaps the greatest goaltender to ever play the game, Broda won the Vezina Trophy 10 times and his 484 career regular season victories are 163 more than the next player on the list. Broda played a record 876 NHL regular season games with all but 48 of them for the Habs. He began his career in 1934-35 at the age of 20 with Detroit but was dealt to Montreal that off-season. He won 69 playoff games and 5 Stanley Cups with Montreal - 4 as a starter and 2 seasons ago as Jacques Plante's backup.
Like Broda, Syl Apps has not officially retired but the 38 year old has been released by the Toronto Maple Leafs. His 911 career points are second all-time behind only Elmer Lach and Apps also ranks 5th alltime in goals with 331. Apps led the NHL in scoring on 4 occassions and won the Hart Trophy as MVP 6 times. He also won 7 Stanley Cups and was named playoff MVP in 1938.
Bill Mosienko has retired at the age of 31. The Winnipeg native spent 13 years in the National Hockey League with the Chicago Black Hawks, scoring 272 goals and 548 points in 731 career games. Mosienko never appeared in a playoff game because the Hawks were so bad during most of his career.
Newcomers joining the league this season include 17 year old Henri Richard in Montreal, Bobby Baun, Dick Duff and Bob Pulford in Toronto along with Johnny Bower going to New York. The addition of the 28 year old Bower prompted the Rangers to deal 23 year old Gump Worsley to Detroit. Worsley had played just 23 games over his 5 year career with New York and could not wrestle the starting job from 21 year old Glenn Hall. Worsley's stay in Detroit was short-lived as the Wings would move him to Chicago at the trading deadline.
A couple of serious injuries occurred in the preseason. The Rangers will be without 20 year old defenseman Harry Howell for the entire season. Howell played all 70 games last season and picked up 8 points. Meanwhile, veteran Detroit center Sid Abel suffered another concussion and will be sidelined until March. The 35 year old has 805 career points in 647 games.
REGULAR SEASON
In early January the Montreal Canadiens lost defenseman Doug Harvey for the season with an injury. The 29 year old two-time Norris Trophy winner had 35 points in 40 games before being sidelined. A week later Dickie Moore went down for the season after scoring 45 points in 47 games. The loss of Harvey and Moore was a big part of the reason why the Canadiens 10 year hold on first place came to an end this season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs claimed top spot, finishing 3 points ahead of the Habs with Detroit once again solidly in third place. Toronto had injury troubles of it's own as the Leafs lost their top defenseman Red Kelly for the playoffs after Kelly was injured late in the season.
Rocket Richard passed the 900 career point mark and finished second in the league in goals with 40. Richard increased his career point total to 927, trailing only teammate Elmer Lach who has 996. The end of the road is likely here for the 36 year old Lach, who played just 36 games this season but still managed to pick up 36 points.
Code:
GP W L T PTS
Toronto Maple Leafs 70 44 16 10 98
Montreal Canadiens 70 43 18 9 95
Detroit Red Wings 70 39 21 10 88
Boston Bruins 70 24 32 14 62
Chicago Black Hawks 70 17 46 7 41
New York Rangers 70 14 48 8 36
SCORING LEADERS TEAM GP G A PTS
Jean Beliveau MON 68 36 46 82
Tod Sloan TOR 70 48 33 81
Ted Lindsay DET 70 32 48 80
Bernie Geoffrion MON 70 22 50 72
Maurice Richard MON 61 40 27 67
Fleming Mackell TOR 68 20 43 63
Ted Kennedy TOR 70 25 36 61
Sid Smith TOR 70 30 28 58
Cal Gardner DET 70 27 31 58
Marty Pavelich DET 70 27 28 55
PLAYOFFS
Detroit had no trouble with Boston, sweeping the Bruins four straight behind a 7 point series from Ted Lindsay and tremendous goaltending from Chuck Rayner. The Leafs beat the injury riddled Canadiens in 6 games. 21 year old Ron Stewart had a big series for Toronto, leading playoff scorers with 9 points.
The Red Wings make their 4th straight appearance in the finals but have dropped each of the previous three, including two to the Leafs.
Toronto wins Game One 3-2 as defenseman Bill Barilko sets up third period goals from George Armstrong and Fleming Mackell to give the Leafs the comeback win. The Wings outshot Toronto 29-18 but Leafs goaltender Terry Sawchuk gave Detroit shooters more than they could handle.
Fleming Mackell had 4 assists to lead Toronto to a 5-2 win in Game Two. Winger Tod Sloan, who scored 48 times in the regular season, had two goals in the victory.
Detroit rebounded with a 5-1 win in Game Three as Marty Pavelich and Gordie Howe each had a goal and two assists. Howe continues to develop very slowly as the now 25 year old winger scored just 9 goals and 25 points in the regular season and has just 130 points in 377 career NHL games.
Defenseman Hy Buller is the hero as his point shot 9 minutes into overtime lifts Detroit to a 2-1 victory and evens the series after four games. Gordie Howe had the other Detroit goal.
The trend of the home team winning continues as Toronto takes a 3-2 victory in Game Five. Tod Sloan got the game winner with Fleming Mackell earning two assists.
Another Cup for the Leafs after a 2-1 victory in Game Six. All the scoring came in the second period as Fleming Mackell set up Danny Lewicki and Sid Smith for the Leaf goals while Alex Delvecchio replied for Detroit.
With 14 points including 5 goals in the playoffs Toronto center Fleming Mackell was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Ted Lindsay was next in scoring with 12 points.
Other Award winners:
HART TROPHY: Bernie Geoffrion Montreal (70GP 22-50-72)
VEZINA TROPHY: Jacques Plante Montreal (38-15-8, 1.92)
NORRIS TROPHY: Gus Mortson Toronto (70GP 13-39-52)
ART ROSS TROPHY: Jean Beliveau Montreal (68GP 36-46-82)
CALDER TROPHY: Leo Labine Boston (70 GP 17-20-37)
The game does not select the all-star team but I will start naming first and second team all-stars
Code:
POS FIRST TEAM SECOND TEAM
G Jacques Plante Montreal Harry Lumley Boston
D Gus Mortson Toronto Bill Barilko Toronto
D Tom Johnson Montreal Hy Buller Detroit
C Jean Beliveau Montreal Fleming Mackell Toronto
LW Ted Lindsay Detroit Sid Smith Toronto
RW Bernie Geoffrion Montreal Tod Sloan Toronto