"The Leafs family lost Daniel Lewicki today, obviously a member of the Leafs' 1951 Cup team and the last living member, so our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "When you're an Original Six team, you've got a long legacy and you like to over time learn about the history of your team. All those Cup winners, we like to learn how it happened, so obviously our thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
Lewicki, born in Fort William, Ontario, on March 12, 1931, joined the Maple Leafs as a 19-year-old rookie in 1950-51, scoring 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) in 61 games and finishing third in voting for the Calder Trophy. He had no points in nine Stanley Cup Playoff games during Toronto's run to its fourth championship in five seasons, becoming the first player to win the Memorial Cup (1948 with Port Arthur) and Allan Cup (1949 with Toronto), and the Stanley Cup while a junior.
Lewicki dropped to 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 51 games in 1951-52, then spent most of the next two seasons with Pittsburgh of the American Hockey League. He had 81 points (36 goals, 45 assists) in 1953-54 and was traded to the New York Rangers for cash on July 20, 1954.
Lewicki, then 23, was an instant hit with the Rangers in 1954-55, scoring 29 goals and finishing with 53 points. He was named a Second-Team NHL All-Star and was second in voting for the Lady Byng Trophy.
Lewicki had back to back 18-goal seasons for New York, helping it qualify for the playoffs, but after falling to 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 1957-58, he was claimed by the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL Intraleague Draft on June 3, 1958, then claimed on waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks on Sept. 23, 1958.
Lewicki had 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 58 games for Chicago in 1958-59, was traded back to Montreal, and spent four seasons in the AHL before retiring in 1963. He had 240 points (105 goals, 135 assists) in 461 NHL games and four assists in 28 playoff games.
