Remembering Ted Lindsay

Ted Lindsay, a Hall of Fame winger who played with the Blackhawks during the latter stages of his career, has died. He was 93.
Lindsay earned the Art Ross Trophy as the National Hockey League's leading scorer in 1950, when he won his first of four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings. Skating on the left side of center Sid Abel and right wing Gordie Howe, Lindsay was part of the feared "Production Line". Though he had a moderate frame, Lindsay was a fiery sort. Thus, his nickname "Terrible Ted."
In the late '50s, Lindsay explored the possibility of forming an organization on behalf of NHL players. Jack Adams, who ran the Red Wings with an iron hand, did not take kindly to the maneuver. Lindsay was stripped of his captaincy, then traded to the Blackhawks in 1957 with goalie Glenn Hall, who likened the move to Chicago as "being sent to Siberia.

However, Hall, another victim of Adams' ire, welcomed the change of scenery and built upon his Hall of Fame career with the Blackhawks, whom he backstopped to the 1961 Stanley Cup. Lindsay had left Chicago by then, but during his time there, he befriended rookie Stan Mikita, who compared himself to his mentor's physical stature and competitive disposition. When Mikita inquired how to handle bigger opponents during what was a more truculent era than now, the 160-pound Lindsay replied, "Kid, hit them first."
Lindsay also waved a caution flag on occasion. When Mikita collided with Howe and cut the Red Wings' legend with his stick, the young Blackhawk followed with some angry words. Howe took Mikita's number for further reference, and Lindsay pulled him aside.
"Maybe you shouldn't have done that," warned Lindsay. "Don't you know who that is?"
Later that season, Howe authored such a vigorous check that the dazed Mikita skated to Detroit's bench by mistake and tried to take a seat.
During his three-game stint with the Blackhawks in 1958-59, Mikita registered his first assist, on a goal by Lindsay. After three seasons with the Blackhawks, Lindsay left by 1960. He reappeared with the Red Wings in 1964-65, then retired with 379 goals, 472 assists and 1808 penalty minutes. Lindsay entered broadcasting, then became general manager of the Red Wings in 1977, when he was voted NHL executive of the year. Lindsay later named himself coach, but his tenure behind the bench was brief.
Lindsay is believed to have initiated the ritual of lifting the Stanley Cup and skating with it around the rink. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1966, the Red Wings retired his No. 7 in 1991, and in 2017, Lindsay was voted among the 100 greatest players in NHL history.
For Lindsay's efforts in creating the Players' Association, the Ted Lindsay Award was established in 2009 to honor the best player, as voted on by players. In 2016, Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks won it, along with the Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy.
- Bob Verdi, Team Historian

You won't find Ted Lindsay's name listed in any of the all-time Blackhawks individual record books, since most of his Hall of Fame marks came as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. However, he was part of one of the most important trades in Chicago hockey history, which led up to the 1961 Stanley Cup.
On Monday, it was announced that Ted Lindsay passed away at the age of 93. The legend of the game spent three of his 18 NHL seasons with Chicago (1957-1960), playing 206 games and recording 44 goals and 79 assists for 123 points.
Former Blackhawks general manager Tommy Ivan acquired "Terrible" Ted from Detroit, along with another eventual Hall of Famer, Glenn Hall, in exchange for Hank Bassen, Forbes Kennedy, Bill Preston and Johnny Wilson on July 23, 1957.
Detroit moved the star player because he was instrumental in starting up the NHL Players' Union.
Lindsay was a feisty 5-foot-8, 165-pound winger who still ranks fifth all-time in Detroit history for penalty minutes (1423) and ninth all-time in scoring with (728) points.
You might remember that three years ago, Patrick Kane became the first Blackhawks player to win the Ted Lindsay Award, which is voted on by the players and honors the most outstanding player.
The arrival of Lindsay and Glenn Hall began a resurgence of Blackhawks hockey, leading to the 1961 Cup, although Lindsay went into retirement after the 1960 season.
Lindsay's style of play impacted the early careers of Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. In Mikita's first full season in 1959-60, he racked up 119 penalty minutes to Lindsay's 91.
Stan later took the advice of Hall who told him, "remember Stan, you can't score from the penalty box."
Mikita went on to become the only NHL player to win the Hart Memorial, Art Ross and Lady Byng trophies in back-to-back seasons.
Lindsay had a great career with the Red Wings, winning four Stanley Cups (1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955) and earning the Art Ross Trophy in 1950 for having the most points in the NHL.
He is credited with being the first player to skate around the ice carrying the Stanley Cup in front of cheering fans, which has now become a tradition.
Lindsay was a fierce competitor on the ice, but a gentleman off it, assisting in many charitable causes.
While most of his achievements came in a Detroit sweater, his Blackhawks impact was felt with him being involved in a key trade for the franchise and in how he affected Mikita's early career.
- Harvey Wittenberg, Contributor and Press Box Announcer