Sid Abel
Inducted:
1969
Player Stats
5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Born:
February 22, 1918
Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died:
February 8, 2000
Farmington Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Position:
Centre
College:
NA
Sidney Gerald "Sid" Abel was the savvy, veteran center and captain who served as the "on-ice general" for the Detroit Red Wings during their mid-century dynasty. Best known as the center of the legendary "Production Line" alongside Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, Abel was the glue that held the trio together, balancing Lindsay’s fire and Howe’s burgeoning talent with his own elite playmaking and leadership.
He led the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships (1943, 1950, 1952) and enjoyed a career year in 1949, when he led the league in goals and captured the Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL MVP. Known by the colorful nickname "Old Boot Nose"—a badge of honor earned from a broken nose during a fight with Maurice Richard—Abel's legacy extended into coaching and management, where he served as a long-time bench boss and General Manager for Detroit.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969.
Abel's Awards and Record:
- 3x Stanley Cup Champion (1943, 1950, 1952)
- Hart Memorial Trophy (League MVP) (1949)
- 2x NHL First All-Star Team (1949, 1950)
- 2x NHL Second All-Star Team (1942, 1951)
- 3x NHL All-Star Game appearance
Notable Achievements:
- Centered the only line in NHL history to finish 1-2-3 in league scoring during a single season
- Named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history (2017)
- Number 12 retired by the Detroit Red Wings
NHL Teams
Detroit Red Wings (1938-1952)
Chicago Black Hawks (1952-1954)
Number Worn:
12
NHL Stats
Seasons Played:
14 (1938–1954)
Games Played:
612
Goals:
189
Assists:
283
Points:
472
Penalty Minutes:
376
Playoff Games:
97
Points:
58 (G-28, A-30)
Stanley Cup:
3 (1943, 1950, 1952)