Syd Howe: The Original NHL Howe

Before Gordie, Mark and Marty, there was Syd. Unrelated, Syd Howe played in the National Hockey League from 1929-30 to 1945-46. Like Gordie Howe, Syd’s best days were spent with the Detroit Red Wings. In fact, the two appeared on the same roster at the end of Syd’s career and the start of Gordie’s.

The Hockey Cards

Howe came along during the no-man’s land of hockey card production. However, he did get on cardboard. There are two cards from 1933-34 that are considered Syd Howe rookie cards. The 1933-34 Ice Kings V357 #72 is the highest valued of the two. Beckett has the Ice Kings hockey card pegged at $400.

The set consists of 72 cards and is a complete collection is valued at a staggering $15,000. The highlight of the set is the hockey card of Howie Morenz which is valued at $2,000. The Howe card is an uncorrected error card (UER) as his first name is spelled Sid, instead of Syd.

The 1933-34 O-Pee-Chee V304A #24 is also considered the Syd Howe rookie card. This card is valued slightly lower at $350. The V304A set consists of 48 cards a complete collection is valued at the same as the Ice Kings set, $15,000. And, just like the Ice Kings set, Howie Morenz highlights with a card valued at $2,500.

The Player

The first five years of Howe’s career are a tour through a long forgotten era in NHL hockey. Syd played his rookie season with the Ottawa Senators before moving on to the Philadelphia Quakers for the 1930-31 season. This was the only season for the Quakers, relocated from Pittsburgh where they were known as the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1931-32, Syd played his only three games with the Toronto Maple Leafs while playing most of the season in the IHL with the Syracuse Stars. The Stars were in their second year of existence and would become the Buffalo Bisons for the 1940-41 season.

Howe found his way back to the Ottawa Senators for 1932-33, finding steady employment with the club until that franchise uprooted and headed to St. Louis, Missouri for the 1934-35 season. Like the Quakers, the St. Louis Eagles would last just one season in the NHL. Syd started his 1934-35 season with the Eagles but was shipped mid-season to the Detroit Red Wings.

He remained a Red Wing until 1945-46, winning three Stanley Cup championships with the club. Detroit won two consecutive championships in 1935-36 and 1936-37. In the first year, the Red Wings beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in the finals, three games to one. The following year, it was the New York Rangers that fell victim to Detroit, three games to two. In 1942-43, Howe got his third ring as the Red Wings swept the Boston Bruins in the best of seven final series.

At the time of his retirement, Howe was the last remaining active player that had played for the Philadelphia Quakers. He was also the last remaining player from the Ottawa Senators. Syd is still one of just eight players in NHL history to score 6 or more goals in a game. Howie Morenz is the only player to score seven. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965. Syd Howe passed away in 1976.

 

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1929-30	Ottawa Senators	NHL	14	1	1	2	0
1930-31	Philadelphia Quakers	NHL	44	9	11	20	20
1931-32	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	3	0	0	0	0
1931-32	Syracuse Stars	IHL	—	9	12	21	44
1932-33	Ottawa Senators	NHL	48	12	12	24	17
1933-34	Ottawa Senators	NHL	41	13	7	20	18
1934-35	St. Louis Eagles	NHL	36	14	13	27	23
1934-35	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	14	8	12	20	11
1935-36	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	48	16	14	30	26
1936-37	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	42	17	10	27	10
1937-38	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	47	8	19	27	14
1938-39	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	48	16	20	36	11
1939-40	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	48	14	23	37	17
1940-41	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	48	20	24	44	8
1941-42	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	48	16	19	35	6
1942-43	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	50	20	35	55	10
1943-44	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	46	32	28	60	6
1944-45	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	46	17	36	53	6
1945-46	Indianapolis Capitals	AHL	14	6	11	17	0
1945-46	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	26	4	7	11	9
1946-47	Ottawa Senators	QSHL	24	19	21	40	4
	NHL Totals		697	237	291	528	212