1953–54 NHL season


The 1953–54 NHL season was the 37th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Canadiens in the final to win the team's sixth championship.

Regular season

The New York Rangers decided to drop Gump Worsley and went with Johnny Bower in goal this season. Bower did well, but not well enough to get the Rangers into the playoffs. However, the Rangers managed to come up with a fine rookie in Camille Henry who won the Calder Memorial Trophy.
On December 9, the Montreal Canadiens played the Toronto Maple Leafs at Maple Leaf Gardens and the teams set a record of most penalties in a game. The trouble started when Montreal's Eddie Mazur got into a fight with Toronto's George Armstrong in the first period. Both received game misconduct penalties. Early in the second period, Bud MacPherson broke his stick on the ribs of Toronto's Ron Stewart. He chose not to retaliate until a more opportune time. It came at 18:12 of the third period when Stewart and MacPherson collided again. This time they pushed and shoved and the gloves came off and they began to pummel each other. Tom Johnson came to MacPherson's aid by putting a headlock on Stewart and Stewart threw a punch that landed on Johnson's jaw. Stewart pursued MacPherson again, now that he was in combat with Eric Nesterenko of Toronto and soon the benches emptied and everyone was fighting except Maurice Richard and Tim Horton who merely grabbed each other's sweaters. Referee Frank Udvari handed out 36 penalties, including 15 misconducts for a record 204 minutes in penalties. With almost 2 minutes left in the game, only 8 players from each team excluding the goaltenders Gerry McNeil and Harry Lumley, who did battle in the brawl, were permitted to finish the game. Almost forgotten was that Toronto won the game 3–0.
The Rangers gained some publicity by using a so-called elixir prepared by restaurateur Gene Leone, but no conclusive results were reported.
There were persistent rumours that the Chicago Black Hawks would fold due to the poor performance of the team and fans staying away in droves. NHL president Clarence Campbell discussed the problems with Arthur M. Wirtz and it was announced that the rumours were without foundation.
Campbell was busy this year imposing fines and suspensions. As a result of pushing referee Frank Udvari into the boards during a November 12 game, Bernie Geoffrion was fined $250. Later, in a December 20 game, he and Ron Murphy engaged in stick swinging which left Murphy with a broken jaw. Both players were suspended.
There was trouble brewing for Maurice Richard when he ghosted an article in the Samedi Dimanche newspaper, calling NHL president Clarence Campbell a dictator and took exception to Campbell's suspension of Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion for the stick swinging incident. Richard was required to post a $1000 bond and refrain from any more articles.
The Detroit Red Wings were first overall in the National Hockey League for the sixth straight season.

Final standings

Playoffs

After losing four straight games to the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins general manager Art Ross, their manager from the day the Bruins came into the NHL, announced his retirement. He had been grooming Lynn Patrick to succeed him and Patrick took over as general manager.

Playoff bracket

Semifinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Finals

Awards

The James Norris Memorial Trophy made its debut this season and its first winner was Red Kelly of the Detroit Red Wings. The Norris Trophy goes to the top defenceman each year and was named in honour of James E. Norris, owner of the Detroit Red Wings franchise from 1932 until his death in 1952.
Prince of Wales Trophy:
Detroit Red Wings
Art Ross Trophy:
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red Wings
Calder Memorial Trophy:
Camille Henry, New York Rangers
Hart Trophy:
Al Rollins, Chicago Black Hawks
James Norris Memorial Trophy:
Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy:
Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
Vezina Trophy:
Harry Lumley, Toronto Maple Leafs

First team Position Second team
Harry Lumley, Toronto Maple LeafsGTerry Sawchuk, Detroit Red Wings
Red Kelly, Detroit Red WingsDBill Gadsby, Chicago Black Hawks
Doug Harvey, Montreal CanadiensDTim Horton, Toronto Maple Leafs
Ken Mosdell, Montreal CanadiensCTed Kennedy, Toronto Maple Leafs
Gordie Howe, Detroit Red WingsRWMaurice Richard, Montreal Canadiens
Ted Lindsay, Detroit Red WingsLWEd Sandford, Boston Bruins

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Gordie HoweDetroit Red Wings70334881109
Maurice RichardMontreal Canadiens70373067112
Ted LindsayDetroit Red Wings70263662110
Bernie GeoffrionMontreal Canadiens5429255487
Bert OlmsteadMontreal Canadiens7015375285
Red KellyDetroit Red Wings6216334918
Earl ReibelDetroit Red Wings6915334818
Ed SandfordBoston Bruins7016314742
Fleming MackellBoston Bruins6715324760
Ken MosdellMontreal Canadiens6722244664

Source: NHL

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
PlayerTeamGPMINGAGAAWLTSO
Jacques PlanteMontreal Canadiens171020271.597555
Harry LumleyToronto Maple Leafs6941401281.8632241313
Terry SawchukDetroit Red Wings6740041291.9335191312
Gerry McNeilMontreal Canadiens5331801142.15281966
Jim HenryBoston Bruins7042001812.593228108
Johnny BowerNew York Rangers7042001822.602931105
Al RollinsChicago Black Hawks6639602133.23124775

Coaches

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1953–54 :
The following is a list of players of note who played their last game in the NHL in 1953–54 :