Leo Boivin

Leo Joseph Boivin (August 2, 1931 – October 16, 2021) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars from 1952 to 1970.

Playing career Boivin was born in Prescott, Ontario, on August 2, 1931. He began his junior career in 1948–49 with the Inkerman Rockets of the Ontario Valley Junior Hockey League. He was scouted by the Boston Bruins during a pre-season competition and was signed by the franchise in 1949. He subsequently played for the Port Arthur Bruins of the Thunder Bay Junior A Hockey League for two seasons. Boivin made his NHL debut for the Leafs on March 8, 1952. In February 1966, he was traded to the Detroit Red Wings in a five-player trade.

After one more season with Detroit, Boivin's career was winding down but age 35, he was given a chance to extend his career when the league doubled in size by adding six new franchises for the 1967–68 campaign. Boivin found a new home when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He spent a season and a half with the Penguins before moving on for a final time when he was traded to the Minnesota North Stars, another expansion club. Boivin retired. He declined the opportunity to extend his career with the newly established Buffalo Sabres.

Later life After retiring from professional hockey in 1970, Boivin became a scout in his hometown. He also served as interim coach of the St. Louis Blues during the 1975–76 and 1977–78 seasons.

Boivin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in September 1986. The arena in his hometown was consequently retitled the Leo Boivin Community Centre in honour of him that same year. He worked as a scout until his retirement in 1993 with the Hartford Whalers.

Career statistics Sources: Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1948–49 Inkerman Rockets OVJHL — — — — — — — — — — 1948–49 Inkerman Rockets M-Cup — — — — — 4 2 0 2 0 1949–50 Port Arthur Bruins TBJHL 18 4 4 8 32 5 0 3 3 10 1949–50 Port Arthur Bruins M-Cup — — — — — 16 6 4 10 12 1950–51 Port Arthur Bruins TBJHL 20 16 11 27 37 13 3 6 9 28 1950–51 Port Arthur Bruins M-Cup — — — — — 7 1 3 4 16 1951–52 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 2 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 1951–52 Pittsburgh Hornets AHL 30 2 3 5 32 10 0 1 1 16 1952–53 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 70 2 13 15 97 — — — — — 1953–54 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 58 1 6 7 81 5 0 0 0 2 1954–55 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 7 0 0 0 8 — — — — — 1954–55 Boston Bruins NHL 59 6 11 17 105 5 0 1 1 4 1955–56 Boston Bruins NHL 68 4 16 20 80 — — — — — 1956–57 Boston Bruins NHL 55 2 8 10 55 10 2 3 5 12 1957–58 Boston Bruins NHL 33 0 4 4 54 12 0 3 3 21 1958–59 Boston Bruins NHL 70 5 16 21 94 7 1 2 3 4 1959–60 Boston Bruins NHL 70 4 21 25 66 — — — — — 1960–61 Boston Bruins NHL 57 6 17 23 50 — — — — — 1961–62 Boston Bruins NHL 65 5 18 23 70 — — — — — 1962–63 Boston Bruins NHL 62 2 24 26 48 — — — — — 1963–64 Boston Bruins NHL 65 10 14 24 42 — — — — — 1964–65 Boston Bruins NHL 67 3 10 13 68 — — — — — 1965–66 Boston Bruins NHL 46 0 5 5 34 — — — — — 1965–66 Detroit Red Wings NHL 16 0 5 5 16 12 0 1 1 16 1966–67 Detroit Red Wings NHL 69 4 17 21 78 — — — — — 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 73 9 13 22 74 — — — — — 1968–69 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 41 5 13 18 26 — — — — — 1968–69 Minnesota North Stars NHL 28 1 6 7 16 — — — — — 1969–70 Minnesota North Stars NHL 69 3 12 15 30 3 0 0 0 0 NHL totals 1,150 72 250 322 1,192 54 3 10 13 59

Coaching record Source: Team Year Regular season Post season G W L T Pts Division rank ResultSt. Louis Blues1975–764317179(43)3rd in SmytheLost in preliminary roundSt. Louis Blues1977–785411367(29)4th in Smythe(fired)Total 97285316