December 31, 2016
The Top 100 Hockey Players of the 1950s
Top Ten Scorers
Gordie Howe - With 806 points in 668 regular season contests, Gordie led all scorers in this decade, and it was not even close.
Ted Lindsay - Teammate Lindsay was second with 557 points. He also led all competitors in penalty minutes with nearly 1200
Maurice "Rocket" Richard - Rocket was just behind with 552 points. His 294 regular season goals was second to Gordie's 376.
Boom Boom Geoffrion - Boomer, who had 525 points, perfected the slap shot.
Jean Beliveau - Beliveau did not join the NHL until mid-decade, but once he did the Habs were nearly unstoppable. 510 points in just 437 games.
Bert Olmstead - Another Hab? No wonder why they won so many Stanley Cups in this decade
Tod Sloan - Somewhat forgotten star had 441 points, good for 7th highest in the 1950s
Dickie Moore - He was billed as the man who would make Montreal forget about Rocket Richard.
Andy Bathgate - Young Rangers star had strong seasons.
Alex Delvecchio - Took over from Sid Abel as center for Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay
Other Offensive Stars
Fleming Mackell - Second generation Stanley Cup champion was 11th highest scoring forward in 1950s.
Don McKenney - History should be remembering Don McKenney more appropriately than it has.
Ed Litzenberger - Gentle giant
Vic Stasiuk - Mr. Enthusiasm
George Armstrong - Army is loved as father figure of Leafs' 60s dynasty, but he was a heck of a player in his younger days during the 1950s, too.
George "Red" Sullivan - Spirited Ranger
Sid Smith - Master of the tip-in goal.
Nick Mickoski - "Broadway Nick"
Henri Richard - Little brother arrived just in time to win five Stanley Cups to finish off the decade.
Johnny Wilson - Part of the Wings dynasty at the beginning of the decade
Leo Labine - Leo the Lion was a typical Bruin - a ferocious competitor
Cal Gardner - Another tough customer who earned his rugged reputation.
Teeder Kennedy - Career was winding down by mid-decade, but one of the all time greats.
Dave Creighton - Debuted young and was solid contributor with several teams.
Jerry Toppazzini - The always popular Topper
Ron Stewart - All business on the ice, but lots of fun off of it.
Glen Skov - Contributed to Wings success in early 50s, then joined Chicago.
Dutch Reibel - The man knew how to make a first impression
Metro Prystai - One of the great names in hockey history
Danny Lewicki - Dashin' Danny could fly on the ice
Johnny Peirson - An accidental hockey player?
Eric Nesterenko - Most interesting hockey person of the era?
"Busher" Curry - He impressed the Queen
Jack McIntyre - Defensive forward extraordinaire
Marty Pavelich - Another under-appreciated Wings great.
Harry Watson - 1940s star continued through the 1950s, too
Dean Prentice - He played 500 games in this decade, too.
Lorne Ferguson - Did everything he could to stay in the league
Ken Mosdell - A top defensive forward
Rudy Migay - Strong penalty killer
Real Chevrefils - High hopes for spectacular scorer, but he battled the bottle
Ron Murphy - Duelled with Boom Boom Geoffrion
Larry Popein - Speedy "Pope" was a strong defensive forward
Ed Sandford - Strong 1953 playoffs
Superstar Defensemen
Red Kelly - Played some forward as a Wing, but his best years were on the blueline. First winner of Norris trophy, though he would have won more had the trophy existed prior to 1954.
Doug Harvey - One of the game's true greats, Harvey won four consecutive Norris Trophies in the 1950s (plus two more in the 60s)
Tom Johnson - The overshadowed and nearly forgotten Johnson was the only defenseman to win a Norris in the 1950s.
Bill Gadsby - This Gadsby was great.
Allan Stanley - Played admirably despite some tough times in New York
Marcel Pronovost - Key member of Detroit's 1950s success. Another player who should be more remembered by hockey history than he is.
Fern Flaman - Tough as nails.
Jim Morrison - Long forgotten blueline regular of the 1950s.
Gus Mortson - Unforgiving hitter
Jimmy Thomson - The other half of the Gold Dust Twins
Harry Howell - Long time Rangers star
Jack "Tex" Evans - An imposing figure
Warren Godfrey - It seems every defenseman in the 50s was a devastating hitter. Godfrey was no exception. They nicknamed him The Rock.
Bob Goldham - Great shot blocker
Dollard St. Laurent - Steadying influence on Habs dynasty
Tim Horton - Played 500 games in this decade, too
Doug Mohns - Played a lot more defense this decade than he did in 1960s
Bob Armstrong - Steady, stay-at-home defender
Bill Quackenbush - Mr. Clean
Great Goalies
Terry Sawchuk - Dominated every goaltending statistic in the decade
Jacques Plante - Arrived mid decade and dominated immediately
Al Rollins - one of the most underrated goalies in hockey history
Harry Lumley - Ol' Apple Cheeks
Glenn Hall - "Mr. Goalie"
Gump Worsley - Once said the team that gave him the most trouble was his own.
Gerry McNeil - Another underappreciated puck stopper
Johnny Bower - Excelled for years in the AHL before finally sticking in the NHL by the end of the decade
Don Simmons - Established himself in Boston
Don't Forget!
Vsevolod Bobrov - The first Russian star
Marcel Bonin - He wrestled bears in the offseason.
Tony Leswick - Another key defensive forward for Detroit
Benny Woit - Quiet member of Detroit's success
Wally Hergesheimer - Wally finished 4th in league in scoring in 1953.
Don Marshall - Solid career started in Montreal
Bones Raleigh - Skinny but survived the grind
Andy Hebenton - The original ironman
Paul Ronty - Clever offensive center in the first half of the decade
Jean-Guy Gendron - Usefully utility forward dubbed Smitty
Jack Gelineau - Boston goalie was rookie of the year in 1950
Bill Dineen - Speedy forward later became notably coach
Pete Babando - 1950 Stanley Cup hero
Butch Bouchard - Habs great retired just before Habs dynasty in second half of decade
Bob Turner - Bouchard's exit allowed for Bob Turner to contribute
Larry Regan - Better late than never
Calum MacKay - A handy fill-in player for Montreal.
Bobby Hull - Debuted in 1957
Johnny Bucyk - Debuted in 1955
Joe Klukay - The Duke of Paducah
Camille "The Eel" Henry - Offensive dynamo
Norm Ullman - Established himself as one of the best at an early age
Claude Provost - All he did was win Stanley Cups
Brian Cullen - Skill was obvious
Louie Fontinato - Leaping Louie
Lidio "Lee" Fogolin Sr. - Cagey depth dman in Chicago
Al Dewsbury - Over 300 games in the first half of the decade
Dick Duff - Solid second half of the decade with Toronto
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1 comment:
"Terrible Ted" Lindsay, all 5'8" 160 lbs of him, sacrifice goals and assists to stick up for his teammates. He also sacrificed for them,as well as his opponents, off the ice. He started the player's association even though he was a successful, wealthy businessman. He was bullied by management and the league but persevered and all NHLers after him owe him big time. Geordiee Howe was too chicken, in management's pocket and ego driven to help. Howe turning his back on Lindsay and the union is unforgivable and the reason Lindsay is more important then Howe to hockey.
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