I liked playing in Chicago, and I gave them everything I had, but I knew in my heart I was a Red Wing.
Through the years, I have so many wonderful memories of playing with the Red Wings: winning four Stanley Cups, scoring big goals, going into battle every night side by side with my teammates, playing with every ounce of effort I could muster.
By 1946, I knew Detroit was the best hockey city in the Original Six.
But a funny thing happened four years later. I was invited to play for an alumni team against the Red Wings.
I had that flying wheel tattooed on my forehead and on my butt.
When it was my turn, I just skated out and heard this huge cheer. It was very touching considering the bad circumstances under which I had left the team and that I had been away for four years.
I had the idea that I should beat up every player I tangled with and nothing ever convinced me it wasn't a good idea.
I've been slashed, speared, elbowed, board-checked, butt-ended, and hit on the head as much as anyone. I just like to keep the ledger balanced.
I watch a lot of hockey. There are some good hockey players and there are some awfully stupid hockey players.
I got to play with Jack Stewart for many years, and I appreciated that. He was a wonderful policeman to have on your team.
Owners never paid my salary. I always recognized that it was the people in the seats who did. I always wanted to give my best.
Some nights, I was so good that I could have become an egotist.
I hated everybody I played against, and they hated me. That's the way hockey should be played.
A series of rumors about my attitude, as well as derogatory remarks about myself and my family showed me that the personal resentment of the Detroit general manager toward me would make it impossible for me to continue playing hockey in Detroit.
After three years in Chicago, I decided to call it a career.
At 39, I was back in a Red Wings uniform and loving it.
I love people and I love to be around people.
My penalty for rocking the boat was being traded.
Starting that union was something I believed in very strongly.
The owners and managers were too stupid to realize we had brains.
