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David Michael Keon

NHL, the National Hockey League is a premier professional North American Sports League played in indoor stadiums. It is divided into two conferences, each comprising of three divisions of ice hockey teams. Dave Keon, born on March 22, 1940 in Noranda, Quebec could be a dazzling offensive player, using bursts of speed and deft moves around the net.

He set a league record for most goals while killing penalties with eight in the 1970-71 season. Along with Red Kelly and Bob Pulford, he provided the Maple Leafs with a solid stable of centers, a nucleus of talent that would play a large role in the Leafs' four Stanley Cup triumphs in the 1960s. He was the Maple Leafs' all-time leading scorer, overtaking Frank Mahovlich and George Armstrong, who had shared the record with 296 goals apiece. He had won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie that year and was a Second Team All-Star the next. He was the playoff MVP, Most Valuable Player in 1967, the last year the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. Also in that span, he won the Lady Byng Trophy twice, in 1962 and 1963, as the NHL's most gentlemanly player.

He seemed to be always at odds with Toronto management when it came to contract negotiations but was able to smooth over differences before they interfered with his play. He was kept off that team because of the possibility that he might leave the NHL. He was trying out at the time for Team Canada, hoping for an opportunity to play against the Soviets in the Summit Series. He signed the richest contract the team had ever offered, but he did regret not playing in the 1972 series with teammates Paul Henderson and Ron Ellis.

Dave Keon also had what is widely considered to be one of the best backhands in the game, a deceptive, often powerful shot that flummoxed opposing goaltenders. He also used his speed and maneuverability as a pesky penalty killer, covering a large portion of the ice and turning shorthanded situations into scoring chances for his own team. He used his agility to avoid opponents' hits and remained injury-free for much of his career.

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