Alex Delvecchio # 346

Alex Delvecchio Passes Away At Age 93

 

He was number 346 the list.

In sorrowful news, the Detroit Red Wings announced that longtime captain and Hall of Famer, Alex Delvecchio, has passed away at the age of 93.

As one of the most legendary players of his era, Delvecchio began his career from a modest upbringing. He originally joined the Red Wings organization in the 1950-51 NHL season after an impressive run with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. He would never don another team’s uniform.

Becoming a focal point of the “Production Line” with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, Delvecchio helped the Red Wings to three Stanley Cup championships in 1952, 1954, and 1955. The 1955 campaign was the last time the Stanley Cup would be in Detroit until the 1996-97 NHL season.

Despite more than five decades having passed since his last game in the NHL, Delvecchio still shows up on many of the Red Wings’ all-time boards. He remains third in games played (1,550), third in goals (456), fourth in assists (825), and third in points (1,281). Before longtime captain Nicklas Lidstrom played his 1,551st game with Detroit during the 2011-12 campaign, Delvecchio had played the most games in NHL history for one team.

Retiring after the 1973-74 season, Delvecchio was quickly named to the NHL’s Hall of Fame in the 1977 class alongside Tim Horton. After concluding his playing career, he served for several years as the head coach and General Manager of Detroit before leaving hockey entirely in 1977. He was named one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in 2017.

It is with deep sorrow that we share of Delvecchio’s passing, and his invaluable contribution to one of the sport’s most iconic franchises. We at PHR offer our condolences to Delvecchio’s family and loved ones.

At the time of his retirement, he was second in NHL history in number of games played, assists, and points. He won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct three times and helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup three times. He is one of three NHL players to spend their entire career with one franchise and play at least 1,500 games with that team (the other two, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidström, also played for the Red Wings). Upon retiring in 1973, Delvecchio was named head coach of the Red Wings and was also named the team's general manager in 1974; he served in both roles until 1977. Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977, and in 2017 was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history.

Delvecchio was the last surviving member of the Red Wings' 1954 and 1955 Stanley Cup teams.

In 1950-51 Delvecchio played for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and led the league in assists that year. He made his NHL debut on March 25, 1951, playing against the Montreal Canadiens in the Red Wings' final game of the season. In 1951–52 he spent six games with the team's minor league affiliate, the Indianapolis Capitals of the American Hockey League (AHL), for whom he scored nine points, before joining the Red Wings full-time. He helped the team win the Stanley Cup that year. He went on to excel both at centre and left wing for 22 full seasons and was notable as a member of the "Production Line" with linemates Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.

In 1956–57 Delvecchio was laid up by a broken ankle for 22 games, but seldom missed a game thereafter, missing only 14 over the following 16 seasons of his career.

Following his retirement as a player in 1973, Delvecchio served two stints as Detroit's head coach and one as general manager until leaving hockey in 1977 to go into business. He founded Alex Delvecchio Enterprises, which made and engraved plaques, signs and promotional products. Delvecchio was an "Honored Member" of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association and was active in its efforts to raise money for children's charities in Metro Detroit. At the time of his retirement, he ranked second only to Howe in nearly every significant offensive category in Red Wings history. He has since been passed in most of those categories by Steve Yzerman and in assists by Nicklas Lidström, but he remains third behind Howe and Lidström in games played as a Red Wing.

Delvecchio died at his home in Rochester, Michigan on July 1, 2025, at the age of 93.