1956-57
Although Conn Smythe was never NHL president, he might as well should have been. His best stooge was NHL President Clarence Campbell, and part of the reason for the lengthy suspension of Maurice Richard was by direction of Smythe. But every league decision went through the owners and especially Conn Smythe.
But he was starting to lose power, mainly because his Leaf's team was sinking rapidly, and on the league front a new threat had formed against the NHL and their powerful owners.
At the 1956 NHL All Star game several players including Leaf's Captain Jim Thomson, Ted Lindsy, Dough Harvey, Chicago's Gus Mortson, the Ranger's Bill Gadsby and the Bruins; Fernie Flaman talked about forming a player union and in on Feb 11th 1957 the NHLPA was unveiled.
The League and Smythe instantly went to war with the Union. Smythe branded Thomson as a traitor, and then bought every one of his players in for a 3rd degree threatening them if they joined the union.
The other teams joined in on the inquisition, but the Union wouldn't go away. Smythe ordered the benching of his Captain and order Leaf's GM Hap Day to leave him at home for the teams final road trip.
The mutiny at Maple Leaf Garden's got worse. Day became an outcast when he innocently backed the idea of a Union and Smythe turned on him as well as coach Howie Meeker.
Day left the Leafs fracturing a 20 year friendship with Smythe, Meeker was promoted temporarily to the GM seat, but the Leafs were terrible and nothing was going well for Smythe. Meanwhile he was facing a palace revolt lead by his son Stafford and his six partners including JOhn Basset, Harold Ballard, George Mara, George Amell, George Gardiner and Bill Hatch.
Conn respected people that were willing to stand up to him, and this backfired as his son decided to fight his dad for control of the Leafs.
The NHL and Clarence Campbell jumped into the fight with the Union as Campbell threatened to terminate the pensions of Union players, but the NHLPA and their lawyer Milton Mound pushed forward and the Union survived the season.
but the fall out for the players that formed the NHLPA was horrendous. Ted Lindsay was sent to the Black Hawks as was Thomson. Montreal's Doug Harvey's relationship with the Habs suffered but he was bullet proof because he helped the Leafs to the Stanley Cup the year before.
Although the players attempted to maintain their solidarity. The League owners pressured and threatened players that were with the Union and cracks started to form and players started defecting which undermined the Union. The first NHLPA disbanded in the 1957-58 season and it would be more then a decade before they would try again.
Trivia
- The new penalty rule where the penalized player would return to the ice after a power play goal was enacted thanks to Montreal's awesome pp.
- King Clancy is replaced behind the Leaf's bench by Howie Meeker.
- Black Hawks coach Dick Irvin steps down due to poor health, as the Hawks have 6 consecutive last last finishes. He's replaced by General Manager Tommy Ivan.
- The Red Wings finish first in the NHL with a 38-20-12 record finishing 6 points ahead of the Habs.
- Norm Ullman takes the center position on Detroit's production line.
- Gordie Howe leads the league with 44 goals and 89 points.
- Boom Boom Geoffrion replaces Maurice Richard on Montreal's top line with Bert Olmstead and Jean Beliveau.
- Rocket Richard despite his demotion ties Jean Beliveau for the goal scoring lead on the Habs with 33 goals and then receives a 2 minute penalty for looking so good.
- Andy Bathgate sets a Ranger's record with 77 points.
- Terry Sawchuk plays erratically in net for Boston,
- Montreal's Doug Harvey leads all defensemen with 50 points.
- Jacques Plant win's the gaa crown with a 2.02 gaa he also leads all goalies with 9 shutouts.
- Chicago's Gus Mortson leads the league in penalties with 147 pim.
- Mike Bossy is born on Jan 22, 1957 in Montreal. His dad does a fist pump and brags about nailing the corner.
- The playoffs feature Detroit vs Boston and Montreal vs the Rangers.
- The Bruins upset the Wings in 5 games.
- Montreal sends the Rangers golfing in 5 games as well.
- With Don Simmons replacing a ill Terry Sawchuk in net for the Bruins, the Habs win game one of the finals with a walk away 5-1 victory.
- Montreal wins the Stanley Cup with a 5-1 win in game 5.
- Gordie Howe wins the Art Ross for scoring and the Hart Trophy.
- Jacques Plant wins his second straight Vezina Trophy.
- Andy Hebenton of the Rangers wins the Lady Byng.
- Larry Regan of the Bruins who scored 14 of his career 41 goals in his rookie campaign wins the Calder.
- Doug Harvey of the Canadians wins his 3rd of 7 Norris Trophies.
- Colorado College ends Michigans dynasty for good crushing the Wolverines 13-6 in the NCAA finals.
- The Flin Flon bombers win the Memorial Cup.
- Dick Irwin succumbs to Bone Cancer on May 15, 1957.
Player Debuts
Last Games