DETROIT - Red Kelly was a Hall-of-Fame defenseman, the first recipient of the Norris Trophy, a player who spent 13 of his 20 NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings while wearing No. 4.
Nobody will ever wear that uniform number again for the Red Wings, who announced Thursday that Kelly's jersey will be retired.
"Red was one of the greatest Red Wings in the history of the franchise and we are exceptionally proud and excited to honor both him and his family," Chris Ilitch, president and CEO if Ilitch Holdings, said during a news conference prior to the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team with which Kelly finished his career.