#28 - Ted Lindsay

Ted Lindsay (Murillo Pyramid Rank = #28)

Adjusted Stats

1944-1945   Det          74 GP   23 goals   8 assists     32 points     0.43 PPG
1945-1946   Det          77 GP   11 goals   15 assists   26 points     0.33 PPG
1946-1947   Det          81 GP   36 goals   20 assists   56 points     0.69 PPG
1947-1948   Det          82 GP   47 goals   27 assists   75 points     0.91 PPG
1948-1949   Det          68 GP   40 goals   43 assists   84 points     1.22 PPG
1949-1950   Det*        81 GP   30 goals   72 assists   103 points   1.27 PPG
1950-1951   Det          78 GP   32 goals   47 assists   78 points     1.00 PPG
1951-1952   Det*        82 GP   42 goals   54 assists   96 points     1.17 PPG
1952-1953   Det          82 GP   48 goals   59 assists   107 points   1.30 PPG
1953-1954   Det*        82 GP   39 goals   54 assists   93 points     1.13 PPG
1954-1955   Det*        57 GP   27 goals   27 assists   54 points     0.95 PPG
1955-1956   Det          78 GP   38 goals   33 assists   71 points     0.91 PPG
1956-1957   Det          82 GP   40 goals   74 assists   114 points   1.39 PPG
1957-1958   Chi          80 GP   19 goals   31 assists   50 points     0.63 PPG
1958-1959   Chi          82 GP   27 goals   45 assists   72 points     0.88 PPG
1959-1960   Chi          80 GP   9 goals     23 assists   32 points     0.40 PPG
1964-1965   Det          81 GP   18 goals   18 assists   35 points     0.43 PPG

Adjusted Playoff Stats
1944-1945   Det          14 GP   2 goals     0 assists     2 points       0.16 PPG
1945-1946   Det          5 GP     0 goals     1 assist       1 point        0.17 PPG
1946-1947   Det          5 GP     2 goals     2 assists     4 points       0.86 PPG
1947-1948   Det          10 GP   3 goals     1 assist       4 points       0.39 PPG
1948-1949   Det          11 GP   2 goals     7 assists     9 points       0.84 PPG
1949-1950   Det*        13 GP   5 goals     5 assists     10 points     0.80 PPG
1950-1951   Det          6 GP     0 goals     1 assist       1 points       0.23 PPG
1951-1952   Det*        8 GP     7 goals     3 assists     10 points     1.25 PPG
1952-1953   Det          6 GP     4 goals     4 assists     8 points       1.36 PPG
1953-1954   Det*        12 GP   5 goals     5 assists     10 points     0.87 PPG
1954-1955   Det*        11 GP   9 goals     15 assists   23 points     2.11 PPG
1955-1956   Det          10 GP   6 goals     3 assists     9 points       0.90 PPG
1956-1957   Det          5 GP     2 goals     4 assists     6 points       1.20 PPG
1958-1959   Chi          6 GP     2 goals     4 assists     6 points       0.94 PPG
1959-1960   Chi          4 GP     1 goal       1 assist      2 points       0.52 PPG
1964-1965   Det          7 GP     3 goals     0 assists     3 points       0.47 PPG

Career - 1329 GP, 526 goals, 650 assists, 1178 points, 0.89 PPG
Career-Highs - 48 goals (52-53); 74 assists (56-57); 114 points (56-57); 1.39 PPG (56-57)
Avg. (17 seasons) - 78 GP, 31 goals, 38 assists, 69 points, 0.89 PPG
Peak Avg. (49-57) - 78 GP, 37 goals, 53 assists, 90 points, 1.15 PPG, 4 Cups

Playoff Career - 133 GP, 53 goals, 56 assists, 108 points, 0.81 PPG
Playoff-Highs - 9 goals (54-55); 15 assists (54-55); 23 points (54-55); 2.11 PPG (54-55)

Accolades - 1 Art Ross
All-Star Teams - 8-time 1st-team, 1-time 2nd-team
4-time Stanley Cup Champion

Ted Lindsay is generally ranked as the second-greatest left-winger of all-time, albeit considerably behind the greatest, Bobby Hull. With no disrespect to Terrible Ted, who was one of the prototypical power forwards before the term even existed, that ranking is something of a testament to how thin left-wing has been throughout the history of the NHL.

Still, Lindsay's career ranks him among the best to ever play the game, no question. He was a unique blend of scoring prowess and fierce competitiveness, making me shudder to think of how opponents must have felt to be facing a line with both Lindsay and Gordie Howe on it for all of those years in the 1950s. Lindsay cleared over 100 penalty minutes ten times in his career...he was vicious and dirty, yes, but he also never backed down from a fight if someone called him to task for it.

Approaching Lindsay's scoring numbers, I had a feeling that his reputation as one of the all-time great LWs may be somewhat boosted by his intangible contributions, but in fact they hold up remarkably well. An average of 30+ goals and 70 points for a career at LW is solid though unspectacular, but it becomes more impressive when you consider his dual roles as scorer and shit-stirrer. And though Lindsay's peak years from 1949 to 1957 don't have the eye-popping totals of Bobby Hull, they tell the story of a remarkably complete and borderline dominant left-wing: 37 goals, 90 points and 118 penalty minutes averaged in a run where the Red Wings won seven straight regular season titles and four Stanley Cups.

Lindsay's tenacity and fighting spirit also extended to his life outside the arena. He was the founder of the NHL player's association, paving the way for the evolution from players who were exploited and underpaid to a union of employees who were treated fairly (and eventually, a union that, like other sports' professionals, would be grossly overpaid).

When I factor in the points, the goals, the penalty minutes, the Cup championships and his overall reputation, Terrible Ted doesn't get questioned by me for his status at #2 among LWs. He may well be surpassed by Ovechkin down the line, but for now, Lindsay retains his spot.