Throwback Thursday: Today in 1973, Toronto Maple Leafs hire Red Kelly as head coach

Today in 1973, the Toronto Maple Leafs hired Red Kelly as the clubs head coach.

Kelly, 46, joined the Leafs six years after he retired from the club as a player. It was a long career as a player for Kelly, who spent 20 years with Detroit and the Leafs.

In Toronto, he scored 119 goals and 351 points in 470 games, a big feat considering he transitioned from a defenceman in Detroit to a center with the Leafs.

The eight-time cup winner had his most successful time as a coach with the Leafs following the previous stint with Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.

Over four seasons, the posted a 133-123-62 record as the Leafs bench boss taking the club into the playoffs each year. Their longest playoff run came in 1976 when they topped the Penguins in the first round before losing to the Flyers in game seven in the second round.

Kelly was fired after the 1977 season-ending a 30-year tenure at ice level in the NHL.

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