Red Wings You Should Know: Taylor Was Expelled From NHL

Twice, Billy Taylor was part of NHL history involving the Detroit Red Wings. Later, he’d become part of NHL infamy.

It was on August 28, 1970 that NHL President Clarence Campbell was announcing the reinstatement of former Red Wings forward Taylor and ex-Boston Bruins forward Don Gallinger. In March of 1948, Campbell was issuing both players a lifetime ban from the league following confirmation that both had bet against their team the Bruins in a February 18, 1948 game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

On this day in 1970, the NHL reinstated former players Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger, who had been expelled 20 years earlier for gambling #Hockey365 pic.twitter.com/ak5Bl0F7HO

— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) August 28, 2024

Through FBI wiretaps of known Detroit mobster and gambler James Tamer, the NHL was able to gather irrefutable evidence that both Taylor and Gallinger, who were playing for the Bruins, had each placed illegal wagers through Tamer on the Bruins losing their February 18, 1948 game to the Blackawks.

Campbell announced the suspensions at a press conference in Lansing alongside Michigan Governor Kim Sigler.

The investigation arose from Tamer’s arrest on a parole violation from a 1939 sentence for bank robbery. Taylor was found to have bet $500 on Chicago. To make matters worse for the two players. Boston won the game 4-2.

“I have never been asked to bet on the outcome of a game,” Taylor said at the time of his supension. Eventually, though, he would admit his guilt.

Taylor had only recently been dealt by the Bruins to the New York Rangers prior to the gambling allegations coming to light. Interestingly, he hadn’t seen the ice in about a month due to illness when his suspenion was announced.

“Billy is a sick boy, mentally as well as physically right now,” Rangers GM Frank Boucher said.

Taylor Set NHL Record With Red Wings

Breaking into the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1939-40 season, Taylor would spend his first five NHL campaigns with the Leafs. In the spring of 1942, Taylor would help the Leafs rally from a 3-0 series deficit to beat Detroit in the Stanley Cup final. Toronto was the first NHL team to ever come back from 3-0 down to win a best-of-seven playoff series.

Detroit would land the center in a deal with the Leafs prior to the 1946-47 seaosn. Forward Harry Watson was moving to Toronto in the trade for Taylor.

It was looking like a steal from the outset. Six games into his Red Wings career, Taylor counted nine points and was leading the NHL in scoring. Even into late December, Taylor was still atop the league scoring race.

On March 16th, 1947 the Red Wings Billy Taylor became the first NHL player to record seven assists in a game. pic.twitter.com/inLhwus5Ir

— Red Wings SPORTalk (@SPORTalkWings) March 16, 2016

In a 10-6 win over the Blackhawks on March 6, 1947, Taylor would dish out seven assists, setting a single-game NHL record. It was equaled three times in the 1980s, all by Wayne Gretzky,  but has never been bettered.

Taylor would wind up the season with 63 points. That led the Red Wings in scoring and was third overall in the NHL.

Red Wings Deal Taylor To Bruins

Nonetheless, on October 15, 1947, Detroit GM Jack Adams would be trading Taylor to the Boston Bruins for left-winger Bep Guidolin.

Did Adams have an inkling of what was to come with Taylor and gambling? He was expressing unhappiness with Taylor for showing up out of shape at training camp in the fall of 1947.

“We are building up a young team,” Adams explained at the time of the deal. “Taylor is 28, Guidolin only 21. We are not too strong at left wing, we are very strong at center. We think the trade is a fine one for the Wings.”