Sid Abel

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Sidney Gerald Abel (February 22, 1918 – February 8, 2000) was a Canadian professional hockey player and later coach in the National Hockey League. His playing career spanned from the 1938–39 season until the 1953–54 season, playing for both the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks and was a member of three winning Stanley Cups in 1943, 1950, and 1952 with the Detroit Red Wings.

Abel's son Gerry also briefly played in the NHL, and his grandson Brent Johnson is currently a goaltender with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Playing career
Born in Melville, Saskatchewan, "Old Bootnose", as he was known, was the third member of the Red Wings' celebrated "Production line" along with Hockey Hall of Fame teammates Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. Abel won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1949. Abel was traded from the Red Wings to the Black Hawks in 1952–53, and served as a player-coach for the next two seasons. He returned to the Red Wings in 1957–58 and served as Detroit's coach through the 1969–70 season. Though his #12 was honored by the Wings, Abel wore 4, 7, 9, 12, 14, 19 and 20 throughout his career.

Post-playing career
In the 1970s and 1980s, Abel worked as a colour commentator on Red Wings radio broadcasts.

Sid Abel was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1998, he was ranked number 85 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Awards and achievements

 * 1948–49: Hart Memorial Trophy

Career statistics

 * *Name was engraved on the Stanley Cup.

Coaching statistics
Season Team               Lge Type       GP  W  L  T OTL Pct Result 1952-53 Chicago Black Hawks NHL Head Coach 70 27 28 15 0 0.493 Lost in round 1 1953-54 Chicago Black Hawks NHL Head Coach 70 12 51 7  0 0.221 Out of Playoffs 1957-58 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 33 16 12  5  0 0.561 Lost in round 1 1958-59 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 25 37  8  0 0.414 Out of Playoffs 1959-60 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 26 29 15  0 0.479 Lost in round 1 1960-61 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 25 29 16  0 0.471 Lost in Finals 1961-62 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 23 33 14  0 0.429 Out of Playoffs 1962-63 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 32 25 13  0 0.550 Lost in Finals 1963-64 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 30 29 11  0 0.507 Lost in Finals 1964-65 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 40 23  7  0 0.621 Lost in round 1 1965-66 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 31 27 12  0 0.529 Lost in Finals 1966-67 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 70 27 39  4  0 0.414 Out of Playoffs 1967-68 Detroit Red Wings NHL Head Coach 74 27 35 12  0 0.446 Out of Playoffs 1971-72 St. Louis Blues   NHL Head Coach 11  3  7  1  0 0.318 1975-76 Kansas City Scouts NHL Head Coach 3  0  3  0  0 0.000 Out of Playoffs