(Photo: David Guralnick, Detroit News)
Detroit — Just before his No. 4 joined seven numbers of other Red Wings in the rafters at Little Caesars Arena, 91-year-old Leonard "Red" Kelly, essential to the enormous success of the franchise in the 1950s, talked about his gratefulness and the team.
“I appreciate the great years that we had in Detroit,” Kelly said, in a halting voice. “Seven straight league championships, four Stanley Cups in 12 1/2 years. It was great. A great team, and great players.
“They were a team on the ice and off the ice.