FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Hall of Fame defenseman Bill Gadsby, who finished out a brilliant 21-season career with the Red Wings as a player and then as a head coach in the 1960s, died Thursday at Beaumont Hospital after a very long battle with throat cancer. He was 88.
A truly rugged player during an era of defensive hockey, Gadsby is one of eight members of the Hockey Hall of Fame to collect more than 1,500 penalty minutes. He’s also among a handful of players who played 20 or more NHL seasons and never raised Lord Stanley’s Cup.