Hall Of Fame Profile

Allan Stanley

Induction into Hockey Hall Of Fame - Sept. 1981

Allan Stanley's 3rd year card (53-54)

In the pre-Bobby Orr era a defenseman was responsible solely for defense, a few did that job better thanAllan Stanley. He played 1244 NHl games, plus 104 more in the playoffs. His outstanding play resultedin 3 2nd-team all-star teams (1960,61 and 66), 4 Stanley Cup championships with the Leafs and a place in Hockey's Hall Of Fame.

Stanley was an all-star with the Leafs

Allan started played pro hockey in Providence with Chicago's farm team. The Rangers coveted the young defenseman and made a bold trade. The Rangers sent two NHL-roster players, four minor leaguers and an unheard of $70,000 for Allan.Stanley never really developed in New York, especially with the pressure the Rangers fans put on him. New Yorksent him back to Chicago where things didn't improve. It wasn't until he was traded to Boston that he began to show his initial potential. Stanley spent the 1956-57 and 1957-58 season with the Boston Bruins, but the Bruins felt Stanleywas getting past his prime. Once again Stanley was sent packing, this time to Toronto. In Toronto he was teamed with Tim Horton. The defensive pair became one of the toughest in the league, helping the Leafs to 4 Cup wins, includingtheir last one in 1967.

In the Flyers first season in 1967-68, a pleasant surprise was the play of veteran Larry Zeidel. Despite not playing an game in the NHL for a decade , he was extremely helpful in assisting the otherwise youthful defensive corps. When the Leafs leftAllan Stanley unprotected in the reversal draft (June 13, 1968), the Flyers snapped him up, upgrading their veteran presence. Immediately the Flyers made him an assistant captain and helped guide players such as Ed Van Impe and Joe Watson.These tips were to come in handy as these same players helped the Flyers win back to back championships. After the Flyers were eliminated from the playoffsStanley started to build up a golf resort and hockey school in Northern Ontario. He later served as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres.