Canadiens1958
Registered User
I dont know how many have read Red Kellys bio (The Red Kelly Story by Gregoire & Dupuis with Red Kelly), but theres an interesting quote from then Boston Coach & later GM Lynn Patrick (son of Lester) when asked one time who he'd pick for his club if he had a choice, Rocket Richard or Gordie Howe?.... to paraphrase... he said "neither, I'd pick Red Kelly, the best all round player in the League. All Star Defenceman and he can score goals too, play Forward. He to me the sparkplug of that team and when we play the Wings, its Kelly we focus on. Shut him down, you shut down Howe, Lindsay & the others".
Definitely true in 1953 and 1957 when the Bruins shut down Kelly and upset the first place Wings in the semi-finals. However the same Bruins in the finals were not able to shut down Doug Harvey.