Sid Abel

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Known affectionately as "Old Bootnose," Abel wore multiple jersey numbers throughout his career, including 4, 7, 9, 12, 14, 19, and 20, before settling on number 12. During the war years, Joe Carveth took over the number 12 while Abel served with the RCAF in Montreal; Abel briefly wore number 9 upon his return in late 1946 but reclaimed number 12 after Carveth was traded to the Boston Bruins. The "Production Line" became a dominant force by 1947, leading Detroit to seven consecutive first-place finishes starting with the 1948–49 season. Even when injuries hampered teammates Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe, Abel carried the offensive load, recording career highs in goals and assists while finishing third in NHL scoring with 69 points; Lindsay finished fourth with 63 points.

In Their Own Story

In 1950, the forward line of Lindsay, Abel, and Howe achieved a rare feat: all three finished in the top three of league scoring, equaling the Boston Bruins' "Kraut Line" performance from 1939–40. That season marked Abel's second First Team All-Star selection and his second Stanley Cup victory as a player-coach for Chicago after being sold there in 1952. His transition to coaching was historic; he became the last full-time player-head coach in NHL history with the Black Hawks, serving from 1952 to 1954. Later, returning to Detroit as head coach through the 1967–68 season, he guided the team to a first-place finish in 1964–65 but faced four Stanley Cup Final losses (1961, 1963, 1964, 1966). He briefly returned to coaching in 1969–70 and later managed the expansion Kansas City Scouts.

Reader's Guide

Abel's legacy is defined by his versatility across roles. After retiring as a player, he coached the Chicago Black Hawks (1952–1954) and the Detroit Red Wings (1957–1968), adding general manager duties in 1962. His time with Detroit saw seven playoff appearances in eleven seasons. He also served as head coach for the St. Louis Blues for ten games in 1971 and the Kansas City Scouts for three games in 1975–76 following Bep Guidolin's resignation. In the 1970s and 1980s, he worked as a color commentator alongside Bruce Martyn on Red Wings broadcasts. Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1969, Abel was ranked 85th on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players in 1998 and named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in 2017.

Did You Know?

• Sid Abel was known by the nickname 'Old Bootnose'.
• He wore jersey numbers 4, 7, 9, 12, 14, 19, and 20 throughout his career before settling on 12.
• Abel served as a player-head coach for the Chicago Black Hawks from 1952 to 1954; he was not the last full-time player-head coach in NHL history—Milt Schmidt, for example, served in that role until 1960.
• His namesake Greg Abel is not Sid's nephew; he is Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffett is CEO).
• The 'Production Line' (Abel, Lindsay, Howe) led the Red Wings to seven consecutive first-place finishes from 1948–49 to 1954–55; however, this is not an NHL record—the Montreal Canadiens achieved a longer streak of eight

The Production Line Era

Formed by coach Jack Adams in 1947, the line paired Abel with Ted Lindsay and rookie Gordie Howe. Despite Abel suffering from pleurisy late that season, the trio led Detroit to a playoff berth. When injuries limited Lindsay and Howe, Abel stepped up, leading the league in goals and tying for third in scoring while winning the Hart Memorial Trophy. In 1950, all three finished in the top three of league scoring, a feat matching Boston's 1939–40 "Kraut Line," and secured another Stanley Cup.

Military Service and Captaincy

Abel captained the Red Wings starting in 1942 but left for Royal Canadian Air Force duty in 1943, skating with the RCAF team in Montreal. He was demobilized late in the 1946 season, rejoining Detroit just for the playoffs and regaining the captaincy. During his absence, Joe Carveth wore number 12; Abel returned wearing number 9 until Carveth's trade to Boston allowed him to reclaim number 12 in 1946.

Transition to Coaching and Management

Sold to the Chicago Black Hawks in 1952, Abel became a player-coach, serving two seasons as the NHL's last full-time player-head coach. He returned to Detroit in 1957–58, coaching through 1967–68 and becoming GM in 1962. His tenure included four Stanley Cup Final losses and a first-place finish in 1964–65. He briefly coached the St. Louis Blues (10 games) in 1971 and the Kansas City Scouts (3 games) in 1975–76 before moving to management for the Scouts from 1974 to 1976.

Family Legacy and Hall of Fame Honors

Abel's brother George scored Canada's winning goal at the 1952 Olympics. His son Gerry played briefly in the NHL, as did his grandson Brent Johnson (goaltender). Son-in-law Bob Johnson was also an NHL goaltender. Nephew Greg Abel is the current CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Sid Abel died on February 8, 2000, fourteen days before his 82nd birthday. His number 12 was retired by Detroit in 1995.