Role of 5th D-Man in Pre-expansion Era?

[SealsFan]

In the pre-expansion NHL, how much ice time would the 5th defenseman get? Did most teams go with two defensive pairs with the 5th man only as a sub in case of injuries? Or did some teams swap the 5th man into the two regular pairs? I'm looking at the 62-63 Leafs backline of Horton, Stanley, Brewer, Douglas and Baun and it's hard to imagine any of them being a 5th man. I see forward Red Kelly played D too and I'm assuming he covered games for Baun, who only appeared in 48?

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[Axxellien]

Red Kelly:

No, Red Kelly was playing forward in Toronto, the Leafs were so deep in talent during their Dynasty years, they could call on several 5th & 6th Defensemen to fill in: Al Arbour, Larry Hillman, Kent Douglas, Rod Seiling...Of course, Kelly could return on Defense in case of immediate need.. The role of supplemental Defensemen varied from team to team, their style & needs of course..

 

[Canadiens1958]

Fifth Defenseman

In the pre-expansion NHL, how much ice time would the 5th defenseman get? Did most teams go with two defensive pairs with the 5th man only as a sub in case of injuries? Or did some teams swap the 5th man into the two regular pairs? I'm looking at the 62-63 Leafs backline of Horton, Stanley, Brewer, Douglas and Baun and it's hard to imagine any of them being a 5th man. I see forward Red Kelly played D too and I'm assuming he covered games for Baun, who only appeared in 48?

The role of the fifth / sixth defenseman varied from team to team in the pre expansion NHL. Without going into intricate details I will outline the basics.

Montreal. Toe Blake used the 5th defenseman - especially Bob Turner and Jim Roberts,later Jean-Guy Talbot, as a penalty killing forward. Chicago with Reggie Fleming, Detroit with Gerry Odrowski, New York and Boston with Irv Spencer did likewise.

Toronto used Kent Douglas as a power play specialist at times.

Boston when they had Doug Mohns would move him from defense to the wing and the fifth defenseman would fill his role.

At times teams used the fifth defenseman as the enforcer - Ian Cushenan, Jack Bionda, Howie Young, Noel Picard, Reggie Fleming.

Teams would also rotate the 3-5 or the 4&5 d-men depending on circumstances and performance. Chicago during the 1960-61 season had the first pairing of Pilote and Vasko, supported by a rotation of veterans - Dollard St.Laurent, Jack Evans and Al Arbour which produced a Stanley Cup.

The key was the ability of the extra defenseman or forward to fill multiple roles on a roster.

 

[SealsFan]

Excellent info, thanks.