Vic Lynn
Encyclopedia
Victor Ivan Lynn was a professional ice hockey
player in the NHL
. He played for all of the NHL's Original Six
teams.
Lynn played one game for the New York Rangers
.
In 1944, he fell in with the Detroit Red Wings
' organization but failed to impress the team's brass. As such, Lynn was sent to play for the Indianapolis Capitals
of the AHL
.
Several years later, after Lynn had been given the cold shoulder by not only the Wings, but the Montreal Canadiens
as well, he landed in Buffalo
of the AHL
. It was at that time that Toronto Maple Leafs
GM
Conn Smythe
was in search of some fresh talent to spark his sagging club. He got a tip to watch young Lynn as a possible solution to his roster woes. Smythe did just that and ended up bringing the speedster to Toronto.
In Toronto, Lynn joined Howie Meeker
and Ted Kennedy to form "The K-L-M Line." The trio clicked for three seasons of successful hockey with Stanley Cup
victories in 1947, 1948 and 1949.
On November 16, 1950, Lynn was traded to the Boston Bruins
with Bill Ezinicki
for Fernie Flaman
, Leo Boivin
, Ken Smith and Phil Maloney
, where he played for a short time before heading to the minors with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL. Then, in 1953, he got one more shot at the top with the Chicago Black Hawks
where he played his final NHL games near the end of the year. His career statistics included 49 goals and 76 assists for 125 points in 327 games. He also registered 274 penalty minutes. He is the only player to play for each of the Original Six
NHL teams.
of the SJHL
in 1958–59 and of the Saskatoon Quakers
of the SSHL in 1962–63.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He played for all of the NHL's Original Six
Original Six
The Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. These six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the...
teams.
Professional career
In 19431942–43 NHL season
-NHL awards:-All-Star teams:-Scoring leaders:Note: GP = Games played, G = Goals, A = Assists, PTS = Points, PIM = Penalties in minutes-Leading goaltenders:...
Lynn played one game for the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
.
In 1944, he fell in with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
' organization but failed to impress the team's brass. As such, Lynn was sent to play for the Indianapolis Capitals
Indianapolis Capitals
The Indianapolis Capitals was an American Hockey League professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1939–1952. The Capitals were a farm team for the Detroit Red Wings. Indianapolis won the Calder Cup in 1942 and 1950...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
Several years later, after Lynn had been given the cold shoulder by not only the Wings, but the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
as well, he landed in Buffalo
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. It was at that time that Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
GM
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Conn Smythe
Conn Smythe
Constantine Falkland Cary Smythe MC was a Canadian businessman, soldier and sportsman in ice hockey and horse racing. He is best known as the principal owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League from 1927 to 1961 and as the builder of Maple Leaf Gardens...
was in search of some fresh talent to spark his sagging club. He got a tip to watch young Lynn as a possible solution to his roster woes. Smythe did just that and ended up bringing the speedster to Toronto.
In Toronto, Lynn joined Howie Meeker
Howie Meeker
Howard William Meeker, C.M. is a former right winger in the National Hockey League, youth coach and educator in ice hockey and television sports announcer as well as a former Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament...
and Ted Kennedy to form "The K-L-M Line." The trio clicked for three seasons of successful hockey with Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
victories in 1947, 1948 and 1949.
On November 16, 1950, Lynn was traded to the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
with Bill Ezinicki
Bill Ezinicki
William "Wild Bill" Ezinicki is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs , the Boston Bruins , and the New York Rangers of the NHL....
for Fernie Flaman
Fernie Flaman
Ferdinand Carl Flaman was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs in the National Hockey League. He was known as a physical defensive defenceman and a consummate bodychecker...
, Leo Boivin
Leo Boivin
Léo Joseph Boivin is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:Leo Boivin began playing hockey at seven years...
, Ken Smith and Phil Maloney
Phil Maloney
Philip Francis Maloney is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 158 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and Boston Bruins....
, where he played for a short time before heading to the minors with the Cleveland Barons of the AHL. Then, in 1953, he got one more shot at the top with the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
where he played his final NHL games near the end of the year. His career statistics included 49 goals and 76 assists for 125 points in 327 games. He also registered 274 penalty minutes. He is the only player to play for each of the Original Six
Original Six
The Original Six is a term for the group of six teams that composed the National Hockey League for the 25 seasons between the 1942–43 season and the 1967 NHL Expansion. These six teams are the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the...
NHL teams.
Coaching career
Lynn was the Head Coach of the Prince Albert MintosPrince Albert Mintos
The Prince Albert Mintos are a franchise in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League . Their home rink is the Art Hauser Centre formerly Comuniplex....
of the SJHL
Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
The Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League is a Junior A ice hockey league under Hockey Canada, a part of the Canadian Junior Hockey League. Open to North American-born players 20 years of age or younger, the SJHL's 12 teams play in two divisions: the Bauer and Sherwood conferences...
in 1958–59 and of the Saskatoon Quakers
Saskatoon Quakers
The Saskatoon Quakers were an ice hockey team that was based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The team existed from 1945 until 1959, and again from 1965-1971, playing in various senior and minor-professional leagues during that time. The Quakers represented Canada in 1934 World Ice Hockey...
of the SSHL in 1962–63.