God Bless Canada said:
Definitely Leonard "Red" Kelly. Won the first Norris Trophy. Would have likely won one or two more had the Norris been around in the early stages of his career. An all-star on the blue line for eight straight years, including five straight first team selections. Eight Stanley Cups.
Add Earl Seibert. 10 straight selections to the NHL all-star team.
Good points by all on Kelly.
One of the things I think we need to look at is how players were regarded within the context of their time, and Kelly actually breaks out pretty well. Kelly and Harvey both broke in during the 1947-48 season and based on the awards voting over the first 10 years of their careers Harvey was not considered his equal. Lets take a look:
1947-48
CALDER: (86)
1. Jim McFadden, Det C 50
2. Pete Babando, Bos LW 22
3. Red Kelly, Det D/C 14
Neither placed on the end of year All-Star teams if the Norris was given that year, it would have been Quackenbush
1948-49 Neither placed in end of the season awards Porjected Norris: Quackenbush again.
1949-50
Kelly made the 2nd team, placed 3rd in the Lady Byng Projected Norris: Gus Mortson
LADY BYNG: (18-18-11)
1. Edgar Laprade, NYR C 48 (12-6-0)
2. Red Kelly, Det D 21 (3-5-2)
3. Paul Ronty, Bos C 14 (1-4-3)
1950-51 Kelly would have won the Projected Norris, placed 3rd in the MVP and won the Lady Byng
HART: (18-18-18)
1. Milt Schmidt, Bos C 40 (10-4-2)
2. Maurice Richard, Mtl LW 28 (5-4-5)
T3. Red Kelly, Det D 11 (1-2-4)
T3. Gordie Howe, Det RW 11 (0-5-1)
5. Ted Kennedy, Tor C 8 (0-2-4)
6. Bert Olmstead, Mtl LW 6 (2-0-0)
7. Bill Quackenbush, Bos D 2 (0-1-0)
T8. Al Rollins, Tor G 1 (0-0-1)
T8. Roy Conacher, Chi LW 1 (0-0-1)
LADY BYNG: (17-13-12)
1. Red Kelly, Det D 31 (6-5-3)
2. Woody Dumart, Bos LW 22 (4-2-6)
3. Bill Quackenbush, Bos D 17 (3-2-2)
4. Buddy O’Connor, NYR C 11 (2-2-1)
5. Roy Conacher, Chi LW 10 (2-2-0)
1951-52 Harvey breaks through with as 1st team berth, Kelly gets the most 1st teams votes and places 2nd for the Byng, Porjected Norris: Kelly
LADY BYNG: (16-14-15)
1. Sid Smith, Tor LW 51 (9-1-3)
2. Red Kelly, Det D 27 (3-2-6)
T3. Bill Mosienko, Chi RW 23 (4-1-0)
T3. Don Raleigh, NYR C 23 (0-6-5)
5. Floyd Curry, Mtl RW 13 (0-4-1)
1952-53 Kelly and Harvey again, Kelly would have won another Norris and placed 3rd in the MVP and won the Byng
HART: (18-12-10)
1. Gordie Howe, Det RW 58 (9-4-1)
2. Al Rollins, Chi G 25 (3-3-1)
3. Red Kelly, Det D 25 (2-3-6)
4. Gerry McNeil, Mtl G 16 (3-0-1)
5. Ted Kennedy, Tor C 12 (1-
LADY BYNG: (18-17-10)
1. Red Kelly, Det D 80 (13-5-0)
2. Wally Hergesheimer, NYR RW 49 (5-6-6)
3. Sid Smith, Tor LW 8 (0-2-2)
T4. Bill Quackenbush, Bos D 7 (0-2-1)
T4. Jim Peters, Chi RW 7 (0-2-1)
1953-54 Kelly and Harvey again Kelly wins the Norris and the Byng and palces 2nd in the MVP.
HART: (142-120)
1. Al Rollins, Chi G 80 (50-30)
2. Red Kelly, Det D 74 (40-34)
3. Maurice Richard, Mtl LW 44 (20-24)
4. Gordie Howe, Det RW 33 (22-11)
5. Harry Lumley, Det G 31 (10-21)
NORRIS: (98-121)
1. Red Kelly, Det 162 (76-86)
2. Doug Harvey, Mtl 57 (22-35)
LADY BYNG: (127-128)
1. Red Kelly, Det D 112 (50-62)
2. Don Raleigh, NYR C 84 (31-53)
3. Bill Mosienko, Chi RW 28 (21-7)
4. Sid Smith, Tor LW 18 (12-6)
5. Ed Sandford, Bos LW 13 (13-0)
1954-55 Harvey starts to gain some ground on Kelly wins his first of 4 consecutive Norris Trophies Kelly finishes 2nd, Harvey places 5th in the MVP, Kelly 3rd for the Byng.
HART: (103-119)
1. Ted Kennedy, Tor C 86 (40-46)
2. Harry Lumley, Tor G 61 (23-38)
3. Maurice Richard, Mtl LW 36 (19-17)
4. Jean Beliveau, Mtl C 21 (14-7)
5. Doug Harvey, Mtl D 18 (7-11)
NORRIS: (144-155)
1. Doug Harvey, Mtl 147 (72-75)
2. Red Kelly, Det 95 (40-55)
3. Fern Flaman, Bos 32 (17-15)
4. Bob Goldham, Det 16 (7-9)
5. Hugh Bolton, Tor 9 (8-1)
LADY BYNG: (136-133)
1. Sid Smith, Tor LW 114 (50-64)
2. Danny Lewicki, NYR LW 72 (27-45)
3. Red Kelly, Det D 53 (34-19)
T4. Jean Beliveau, Mtl C 15 (11-4)
T4. Don Raleigh, NYR C 15 (14-1)
1955-56
Harvey picks up steam and wins his 2nd Norris. Kelly who racked up 50 points that year, spends some time at forward to boost the Wings offense. The writers cant pigeonhole the guy in one slot so he gets a 2nd team berth at Defense, but finishes ahead of Harvey in the MVP voting.
HART: (142-146)
1. Jean Beliveau, Mtl C 94 (53-41)
2. Tod Sloan, Tor C 86 (14-72)
3. Lorne Worsley, NYR G 72 (55-17)
4. Red Kelly, Det D 25 (14-11)
5. Doug Harvey, Mtl D 11 (6-5)
6. Johnny Wilson, Chi LW 10
7. Gordie Howe, Det RW 8
T8. Andy Bathgate, NYR RW 6
T8. Maurice Richard, Mtl RW 6
10. T. Lindsay, Det LW 3
NORRIS: (130-161)
1. Doug Harvey, Mtl 156 (78-78)
2. Bill Gadsby, NYR 59 (16-43)
3. Red Kelly, Det 44 (17-27)
4. Tom Johnson, Mtl 21 (14-7)
5. Fern Flaman, Bos 11 (5-6)
1956-57 Harvey and Kelly make the 1st team. Harvey places 5th in the MVP
HART: (144-128)
1. Gordie Howe, Det RW 111 (43-68)
2. Jean Beliveau, Mtl C 58 (51-7)
3. Andy Bathgate, NYR RW 51 (0-51)
4. Terry Sawchuk, Bos G 35 (35-0)
5. Doug Harvey, Mtl D 17 (15-2)
6. Ed Litzenberger, Chi RW 13
NORRIS: (150-141)
1. Doug Harvey, Mtl 159 (83-76)
2. Red Kelly, Det 42 (20-22)
3. Fern Flaman, Bos 35 (16-19)
4. Bill Gadsby, NYR 32 (14-18)
5. Doug Mohns, Bos 23 (17-6)
And we pretty much know the rest..... Harvey racked up a few more Norris trophies, and they both continued on with Hall Of Fame careers. End of year awards will give you an idea of how the players were regarded when they were active and I think Kelly breaks out a lot better than people realize.