– National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman today released the following statement regarding the passing of Alex Delvecchio:
“Few athletes in any sport ever have been as synonymous with one franchise as Alex Delvecchio was with the Detroit Red Wings. An elegant skater, deft playmaker and beloved teammate, he played every one of his 1,670 regular-season and playoff games in the NHL for the Red Wings. Then, upon his retirement from a career that included 13 All-Star Game appearances, the three-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy served both as Detroit’s head coach and general manager.
“Delvecchio’s work as the center on the famed Production Line with wingers Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay was pivotal to the Wings’ title runs in 1952, 1954 and 1955, and he served as team captain for 12 years. Voted one of the NHL’s Top 100 Players in 2017, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977. The Red Wings retired his No. 10 in 1991.
“The National Hockey League mourns the passing of this true legend of the game and extends its sincere condolences to his family and many friends and fans all over the hockey world.”