Alex Delvecchio Biography

Alexander Peter Delvecchio, known as Fats, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, coach, and general manager who spent his entire NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings. Delvecchio played in 1,549 games from 1951 to 1973, recording a total of 1,281 points during his playing tenure. After retiring in 1973, he became head coach of the Red Wings and was named general manager in 1974, serving in both roles until 1977. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977 and later recognized as one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017. In the 1956–57 season, he missed 22 games due to a broken ankle but did not miss more than one game in any subsequent season over the next 16 years. Delvecchio ranks second in NHL history for games played with a single team, behind only Nicklas Lidström. Despite a long and productive career, he never led the Red Wings in points in a single season, largely because of the presence of teammate Gordie Howe.