The 1957 trade that granted the Blackhawks a «Hall» of famer.
Flashback to July 23 1957, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings had a six player trade deal. Where the Blackhawks received Forward Ted Lindsay, and goalie Glenn Hall. Their losses were: forwards Forbes Kennedy, Johnny Wilson, defenseman Bill Preston, and goalie Hank Bassein. 65 years later it seems that Chicago got the better end of the deal.
Ted Lindsay was selected by the Detroit Redwings and played with them for 13 seasons prior to the trade, where Chicago then signed him for three more seasons, before he retired with the Redwings in 1965. Given the nickname « Terrible Ted» despite his small but mighty build. He won four Stanley Cup Championships, as well as an Art Ross trophy in 1954. As a Blackhawk Lindsay didn't come nearly as close to hitting his 85 point scoring season prior to his trade, and in 1965 the Blackhawks traded Lindsay for cash back to the redwings where his number 7 was retired in 1991.
Glenn Hall had only played with the Redwings for four seasons when he was traded. Hall was relentless and held a record of playing 502 consecutive games. All through his career Hall was resistant to wear a mask, and maybe that sparked luck since he helped the Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship. As well as two Vezina trophies. Hall played with the Blackhawks for ten seasons before he was traded to St Louis where he finished his playing career in 1971. After an impressive career of 407 games placing him in 8th place of most wins in history, and 84 shutouts, placing him as another retired jersey of number 1, a hall of famer, and listed as 100 best players.
The Detroit Redwings didn't get as lucky however, with their side of the trade. Forbes Kennedy, was a Chicago rookie for one year where he scored 8 goals and 13 assists, for a total of 21 points in his first year. Once he got to Detroit he kept his streak going by setting a new personal best at 27 points scored. However over his next three seasons as a redwing he would only score 3 goals and 6 assists before being traded to the Boston Bruins. While Kennedy didn't win a Cup in his career, he did lead the record in NHL penalty minutes in the 1968- 69 season.
Johnny Wilson had played his career best season in 1957, racking up 48 points, before being traded back to Detroit. who had originally drafted him in 1949, and from 1949 till 1957 Wilson played with the Redwings to help them win four Stanley Cups However, once a decent scorer once back in Detroit Wilson was never able to beat his best and was traded to Toronto two years later.
Hank Bassan served as the Blackhawks goalie for two seasons, where he had 18 loses in 33 games and only 6 wins. He didn't play I. Detroit until the 1960 season where he had a career record high of 14 wins during the season. However in the 1961-62 season he would only get 9 wins and 12 loses in the season before being traded again to the Edmonton Flyers.
It is very rare that both players in a trade are good but, exceptional when a team like the Blackhawks are able to gain players like Lindsay and Hall, who would go down in history. And while most trades are meant to benefit both teams and players alike there are often a winner and loser, and in this trade the Blackhawks passed with flying colors.
Glenn Hall highlights:
Ted Lindsay Highlights:
