In sports, you often hear about the "glue guy," which refers to the character player who holds the team together.  That player is not necessarily a star, but in hockey, forward Alex Delvecchio is what we have.

The Detroit Red Wings signed Red Kelly in 1947, and the Toronto Maple Leafs, who had passed on him, hung their head in shame for that decision for 13 years.

The importance of Ted Lindsay extends far beyond what he did on the ice, but we will get there later.

From a Ukrainian background in the tundra of Winnipeg, Terry Sawchuk is one of the greatest hockey players to emerge from the province of Manitoba.  The Red Wings signed the Goalie in 1947, and after a stint in the minors, he was called up to replace the injured Harry Lumley late in the 1949-50 Season.  Lumley never played for Detroit again.