Hockey hall of famer Milt Schmidt, 1951 NHL MVP, dies at 98
BOSTON — Milt Schmidt, the hockey hall of famer who led Boston to two Stanley Cup championships as the centre of the “Kraut Line,” served Canada in World War II and returned to the NHL to win its MVP award and two more titles as the Bruins general manager, died on Wednesday, the team said.
He was 98.
Schmidt had been the oldest living NHL player. He was the only person in Bruins franchise history to serve as on-ice captain, coach and general manager.
“It would be a challenge to find anyone who took greater pride in being a Boston Bruin than Milt Schmidt did — be it as a player, an executive or an ambassador over the 80-plus years he served the franchise, the city of Boston and the National Hockey League,” commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “Milt was a landmark presence in Boston’s sports landscape. The NHL family cherishes his contribution to our history.”