Toronto Maple Leafs' Legend Theodore (Teeder) Kennedy Has Passed Away

by PPP on Aug 14, 2009 12:18 PM EDT in News

The Fan 590 is reporting that Teeder Kennedy has passed away:

Toronto Maple Leafs legend Theodore Samuel "Teeder" Kennedy passed away early Friday morning. He was 83 years-old. The cause of death was heart failure. Kennedy served 14 years with the Leafs in the 1940's and 50's, spending several of them as captain. Along with capturing five Stanley Cups with the team, Kennedy was the last Leafs player to win a Hart Trophy (1955).

Teeder was swiped from under the nose of the Montreal Canadiens by Frank Selke who was in charge while Conn Smythe was overseas fighting in WWII. The fallout of the move saw Selke leave for the Canadiens but Kennedy's impact mitigated a lot of the pain of seeing Selke build dynasty after dynasty in Montreal.

Universally known as Teeder (a nickname that stuck since childhood because some people had trouble pronouncing the name Theodore), Kennedy was the ultimate Leaf. While he was a horrendous skater, he made up for it with his competitive zeal that would make him arguably the greatest leader in franchise history, and maybe in hockey history. He led by example, fearlessly battling some of hockey's all time greats. He could shoot and pass and stickhandle with the best of them, yet was a proud defensive player and a superior faceoff specialist.

That Maple Leafs' Legends post does more justice to the major impact that Kennedy had on the franchise as does this Legends of Hockey segment on the man himself.

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RIP To A True Leaf Legend

by Godd Till on Aug 14, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

I just was going to mention this. Another Leaf legend goes to the great beyond. Very sad.

"This isn't a sitcom"
"Actually, it is. I have a broken wang, and there's a lizard queen living downstairs."

by Mabel on Aug 14, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Now the change of the Leafs’ site becomes evident – No more Hart.

Hit the showers, Mr. Kennedy, you had a very good game.

Can it before I drive this truculence through your faceulence and put you in an ambulance.

by Brunswick Bruiser on Aug 14, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

RIP Teeder…Current Leafs need throwback nicknames to commemorate (sp)?
Luke “the Duke” Schenn

Wendel Killer Joseph

by MapleLeafMole on Aug 14, 2009 12:33 PM EDT reply actions

They do

at least on this site.
Luke=OLAS

A Nation of Masochists The waiting is the hardest part but the truculence helps.

by furcifer on Aug 14, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

RIP Teeder

I didn’t know too much about him but I am sure that the tributes to come will reflect the kind of player and man that he was.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 14, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

Oh no

Really sad. One of the most important Captains ever.

Teeder was a man of great respect.

by general borschevsky on Aug 14, 2009 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

New

The Truthulence post?

Wendel Killer Joseph

by MapleLeafMole on Aug 14, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

There maybe a new Blood Of My Chief in the works…

by general borschevsky on Aug 14, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Right on

Look forward to reading it

Wendel Killer Joseph

by MapleLeafMole on Aug 14, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry to hear this.

He might have been just a little before my Dad’s time… so I wish my grandfather was still around, I would have enjoyed listening to his stories about watching Teeder play.

Being a Leaf fan here requires one to be sufficiently lubricated... and truculent!

by stucky on Aug 14, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

RIP Teeder!

by Frag on Aug 14, 2009 1:39 PM EDT reply actions

R.I.P. to a true heart and soul warrior.

by 6rick6 on Aug 14, 2009 3:04 PM EDT reply actions

RIP Teeder.

Can you kick Harold Ballard in the nuts while you’re up there?

by Jo4nny on Aug 14, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs

Oh that’s so rec’d.

"This isn't a sitcom"
"Actually, it is. I have a broken wang, and there's a lizard queen living downstairs."

by Mabel on Aug 14, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Ha!

He might not be able to since I’m pretty sure Ballard is “down there”.

Being a Leaf fan here requires one to be sufficiently lubricated... and truculent!

by stucky on Aug 14, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not so sure, I find the crustiest old people are Catholics.

by Jo4nny on Aug 14, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

They liked it when the priest gave them their back and yelled at the altar in Latin and they don’t give a shit what Vatican II said!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Aug 14, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions

If Hell exists and Ballard’s not there then I’ll be sitting at the right hand of Wendel when I get to Heaven,

A Nation of Masochists The waiting is the hardest part but the truculence helps.

by furcifer on Aug 14, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Very nice, Jo4nny

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."

Albert Einstein

by Say *plan the parade one more time*... on Aug 14, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Next to Teeder, Ballard was the antichrist

Teeder was my grandmother’s favorite player because she knew his family. He was a very classy guy, and his family has maintained that legacy. Teeder had been in a long term care home for a while, hence his disappearance from recent team events. But I think with his passing it will be possible for the franchise to properly honor the idol of a past generation of Leaf fans, including the woman who encouraged my love of all things Leafy blue.

by blue with age on Aug 14, 2009 4:59 PM EDT reply actions

Here is a collection of Kennedy photos I have posted over at Vintage Leafs:

Vintage Leafs Blog

by somny on Aug 14, 2009 6:17 PM EDT reply actions

RIP Teeder!

Brain: The irony of it all, Pinky. Years of trying to take over the world, and all I had to do was say "truculence".
Follow me I'm Boring!

by blindfolded tank driver on Aug 14, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

Truculent since before it was cool.

While he was a horrendous skater, he made up for it with his competitive zeal that would make him arguably the greatest leader in franchise history, and maybe in hockey history.

And I love the fact that he was a subpar skater. +1,000,000 points for that.

by Death_By_Leafs on Aug 15, 2009 2:57 AM EDT reply actions