Detroit – The Maple Leafs passed on young Red Kelly.
Big mistake.
Like Ted Lindsay, Kelly eluded the grasp of Toronto, one the two domineering Canadian franchises in the NHL, emerging from World War II.
James E. Norris owned the Red Wings and helped finance the Rangers, Bruins and Black Hawks. But, the two Canadian teams of the so-called Original Six held sway.
Nearly every player in the league was Canadian. Most wanted to play for the Leafs or the Canadiens.
When they signed Kelly in 1947, the Wings were winners of three Stanley Cups in their first 21 seasons.