Monday

Dave Keon

Dave Keon, known as one of the greatest two-way centres in the history of the game, was an amazing athlete who spent 22 seasons in professional hockey. He appeared in an impressive total of 1,725 regular season and playoff games in both the WHA and the NHL, and in all that time he picked up only 151 penalty minutes!

Keon attended the famed St. Michael's College in Toronto prior to turning professional. When he arrived he was a scoring sensation who paid little attention to defense, but that changed by the time he graduated from the Maple Leafs training camp. Keon, under the guidance of Father David Bauer and Bob Goldham, transformed himself into the epitome of a perfect hockey player. He combined skating and stick handling gifts with superior hockey sense in all zones of the rink, both offensively and defensively. He became so good that he was the pre-eminent checking center while remaining a top offensive force.

At 5'9" and 165 pounds Keon was hardly a big man, which often made his task of shutting down the opposition's top scorer that much tougher. But Keon was tough in his own way. He was strong though slight, and mastered the art of angling opponents out of harm's way. While no one questioned Keon's heart or toughness, he always preferred to play within the rules. He won the Lady Byng as the NHL's most gentlemanly player in both 1962 and 1963. In fact he averaged only 6 minutes in penalties in each of his NHL seasons.

Keon hit the Garden ice in 1960 without spending a minute in the minors - a rare feat in those days as boss Punch Imlach was usually dead set against using unpracticed players on his veteran laden team. All eyes were focused on the speedy youngster to see if he could handle the rough stuff. By season's end he had 20 goals, a considerable sum in those days, and was named the Calder Trophy winner as the best rookie in the league that year.

Keon was a sparkplug who ignited the Maple Leafs. The following season saw Keon scored 61 points and was named to the Second All Star team in just his second year. More importantly, he began proving himself where all of the game's greats are made or broken - in the Stanley Cup playoffs Keon helped the Leafs capture their first Stanley Cup championship in 11 seasons.

The Leafs would three-peat as Stanley Cup Champions. In 1963 Keon's 7 goals and 12 points paced the Leafs. In 1964, Keon repeated a team leading 7 goals, including all three of the team's goals in the final game in the semi-final against Montreal. He then turned his attention to shutting down the Detroit Red Wings.

In a surprise championship, the Leafs captured their 4th Cup of the decade in 1967. Keon's relentless checking and premier faceoff abilities were first and foremost, and he was rewarded with the Conn Smythe Trophy as the league's most valuable playoff performer.

Shortly after the 1967 championship, the Leafs headed into transition. The team aged into decline, and a new man rose to power in Toronto in 1971 - Harold Ballard.

Ballard's clashes with players, coaches, media - pretty much everybody and anybody - are as legendary as they are infamous. Perhaps no player's battle with Ballard went as deep and long lasting as Keon's.

Keon was named as captain in 1969, but when Ballard arrived he didn't support Keon as the captain of his hockey team. Keon undoubtedly had an abrasive personality, but was extremely popular with the fans, and was understood by his teammates. As their public battles continued, the Leafs fortunes under Keon's captaincy went downward. Keon himself continued to excel, but he didn't have the supporting cast to help him.

Ballard could have traded away Keon (one common rumor had the New York Islanders very interested) but he refused by asking for the moon and the stars in return. Ballard wanted Keon right out of the NHL and when his contract was up in 1975 he left Keon with little choice but to sign with the World Hockey Association - something Keon remained bitter about years after Ballard's death.

Keon brought his intelligent game to the WHA where he played for Minnesota, Indianapolis and New England over the next four seasons before making his triumphant return to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers, who merged with the NHL once the WHA collapsed.

Keon continued to play until his retirement at the conclusion of the 1981-82 season.

Keon never forgot or forgave Harold Ballard for the way he was treated. Keon felt disrespected and unappreciated in the often public and sometimes deeply personal verbal assault Ballard waged. Keon refused to take part in any Maple Leaf functions for years after his retirement, despite his status as one of the most popular Leaf players of all time among fans.

Once Ballard passed on, the new Maple Leaf regime and particularly Cliff Fletcher looked to repair old wounds with many former players, including Keon. Although the relationship took many years beyond Fletcher's days with the team, the stubborn Keon eventually warmed to the Leafs family and the immense spotlight. He was named as the greatest player in franchise history.

19 comments:

kelo 10:15 AM  

he will always be number uno in my books, my idol growing up. Super underated and Harold Ballard the reason for why i'm a Red Wing fan today.

taz53 9:53 PM  

i quit the leafs when they quit him.He will always be my idol

Anonymous,  8:01 PM  

Great skater. Effortless.

Anonymous,  10:08 AM  

POPS13 - The greatest player ever to wear a Leaf jersey. The only person to wear #14 is Keon. The number should be retired.
It is unfortunate that he has such a strong hate for M L S E. Hopefully one day his number will be retired and he will come back to the fans that love him and appreciate his skills.

k49 9:30 PM  

Without Dave Keon there would be no 3 year Leaf Stanley Cup run in the early 60s. He gave everything he had to win, and is indisputably one of the greatest Leaf players in team and NHL history.

Anonymous,  9:45 PM  

Without Dave Keon there would be no three year Leaf Stanley Cup run in the early 60s. He gave everything he had to win, and is indisputably one of the greatest Leaf players in team and NHL history. All Leaf fans who saw him play truly appreciate the skill, leadership, and dedication he brought to the organization, and he will always be fondly remembered for his great contributions, despite Harold Ballard's silly antics.

raz,  4:42 PM  

Dave Keon was also my idol and i replicated the style he used. That is why i made it far in hockey myself. Truly one of the best ever to wear a leaf uniform. His #14 should without question be retired!

keonleafs,  4:36 PM  

Maurice Richard and Les Canadiens were my childhood heroes in the Fifties. But when the Rocket retired, I noticed Dave Keon as a Rookie for the Leafs, that played his heart off, skated superbly, did pipoint passes, and was great on both offensive and defensive parts of the game. Instantly, he became my idol. Like "raz", I tried to copy his style, and forever after I wore number 14 in all Sports I played!! Simply was and will always be the Best for me!!

Anonymous,  7:58 PM  

Dave Keon was the best skater, checker, stick-handler and penalty killer the leafs ever had, it's such a BIG shame is #14 isn't retired, please show more RESPECT for such a GREAT player and person!!

Anonymous,  11:20 AM  

Yeah, THOSE WERE THE DAYS !


http://ahabit.com/keon.htm



WHAT A LEAF !

Anonymous,  7:13 PM  

My favourite player growing up was also Dave Keon. I like all of you idolized him and tried to imitate him. Harold Ballard screwed Keon and I was sorry for him then and sorry for him now. My respect for him has gone down in recent years however, because he seems to blame us fans for what happened to him, and doesn't feel honouring his number is good enough. All I have to say to him now is, you were one of the greatest. Now get over yourself and stop being a prima donna.

Anonymous,  11:55 AM  

Dave Keon deserves to be honoured, but sometimes feelings that have been hurt as much as his have by "The Boss" i.e.Ballard, cannot be healed as easily as one might think. We all loved him and I'm sure someday he will show up for us, his fans. After all, wasn't he the "Most Gentle" player ? He did his job and did it for 3 Stanleys-I'm sure he will do the same for the fans. The Brown Family

Anonymous,  2:21 AM  

Correction, he did it for 4 Stanley Cups and i don't blame him for not wanting anything to do with the Leaf organization. It is like he once said, "The faces have all changed (meaning the management) but they are still all the same" In other words money hungry dicks. I don't think the leafs will EVER win another Stanley Cup in my lifetime!!! Look how they treat the fans. Hundreds of dollars just for a ticket and a beer! Someone should go piss on Harold Ballard's grave for what he did to my childhood idol!! I vote for Tampa Bay NOW.

Bob Sloan,  12:27 PM  

Keon was "abrasive?" I spent five summers at his hockey schools, seeing him for a couple hours every day for two weeks, and I can tell you that "abrasive" is the last word I would have used to describe him.

He was smart and college educated in a time when few NHL players were. Ask Red Berenson what it was like coming up for Montreal.

Anonymous,  8:01 PM  

About Dave Keon and his Fine career it was a Proffessional Job and The Leafs had some good playmakers at Center
and Red Kelly and Norm Ullman and Pete Stemkowski good Journeyman Pro's at Wing and Solid Defence
as to make The Team excel to win The Cup some times and with George Imlach at Coach.
Most players play on several Teams in their careers as to make it a Testament for Pro Players.
Mr Keon lasted 23 years on many several Teams but mostly with The Leafs.
He was dedicated and obviously committed congraulations on a Fine career and to other dedicated former Leafs.
Like Red Fisher says he excelled at Defence and Offence and played at a High Level like many other Ontario
Hockey players did play at one time and some still do but lately players come from all Regions.?

Anonymous,  8:07 AM  

Without Keon in the 1960's, the Leafs may have won only one possibly 2 Stanley Cup's. Dave Keon was one of the very few players ever to play the game who could have a major impact on outcome without a point on the scoresheet. He was that good and defensively sound that he could Kill penalties and play on the number one line. Until Bobby Orr came on the scene, Dave Keon and Henri Richard were by far the best skaters in the league. For a man of small stature, he could cover an tremendous about of ice and would have been incredible to see a young Dave Keon playing in todays game with the innovations to equipment. In any era, he would be an elite talent. More than that, he understood the game and how it was to be played and he never made himself more important than the game itself. He was, in my estimation, the greatest Leaf and its a shame that his number has not been retired with the likes of Bill Barilko and Ace Bailey.
Maybe an exception will be made.

Anonymous,  1:30 PM  

I remember years ago that Dave was north of Toronto at an ice rink watching his kid play hockey (I think he played in the Cedar Hill league). Three of us played hockey in the MTHL league i.e. we just finished practicing that morning. We saw him and asked him if indeed he was Dave Keon, (we knew he was) "captain of the Leafs". Well he looked at us, it was 6:30 am in the morning and in his blue jeans and blue jean jacket told us in two words where to go. He wasn't a happy guy that day. I guess he was the Leaf's captain and was being forced out of the NHL still not a great example to young kids playing hockey. As true hockey players back then (and remember Dave Keon was not a big guy and we were all 16) we whisper to each other if we should kick his hockey butt. Well, we gave a look like thanks for nothing and left. From that point forward I never followed him but kept cheering for the leafs to win the cup. So not a Dave Keon fan. History has shown he is not a friendly guy towards Toronto and the Leaf organization. Only when there is something in it for him. Go Leafs!

Unknown 6:47 PM  

Dave Keon is the greatest Leaf since 1060. Nobody close. I started watching hockey in 1960. I was seven years old. In fact, he is arguably one of the top twenty five forwards of all time. If you watch Leafs classic tv and watch how he skated; he was going at a fast pace for a long time. A great two way player as well who could score. Without Keon there would have been no 67 cup for sure. It was a older team and they really needed him. He should of been given the legend statue last year.

Wayne Keon 12:02 PM  

Dave Keon was and is the best player the Toronto Maple Leafs ever had.
Trust me I know!

Wayne Keon (Dave Keons cousin ... lol)

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