{{Short description|Canadian ice hockey player (born 1936)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox ice hockey player | image = Chex Dick Duff.jpg | image_size = 230px | caption = Duff with the Toronto Maple Leafs, {{c.|1963}} | position = Left wing | shoots = Left | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lb = 163 | played_for = Toronto Maple Leafs<br/>New York Rangers<br/>Montreal Canadiens<br/>Los Angeles Kings<br/>Buffalo Sabres | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|2|18}} | birth_place = Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada | career_start = 1954 | career_end = 1972 | halloffame = 2006 }} '''Terrance Richard Duff''' (born February 18, 1936) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1955 to 1971. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, and New York Rangers.<ref name="HHOF">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/roy-tops-2006-hall-of-fame-class-1.611842 |publisher=CBC.ca/Sports Online |title=Roy tops 2006 Hall of Fame class |date=June 28, 2006 |access-date=June 28, 2006}}</ref> Duff also briefly served as head coach for the Leafs during the 1979–80 season. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 163 pounds, he was renowned as one of the top small players of his era.<ref name=DickDuffPS1>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hhof.com/induction_archives/ind06Duff.shtml |title=Legends of Hockey - Induction Showcase - Dick Duff |access-date=February 4, 2009 |work=HHOF.com |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013155307/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/html/ind06Duff.htm |archive-date=October 13, 2008 }}</ref>
==Early life== Duff was born to John and Ethel Duff at the house of Ethel's sister in 1936 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, a small mining town. He was the sixth of thirteen siblings that were raised in a mining family (with his father having worked with Lake Shore Mines). Ted Lindsay, who Duff described as his idol, grew up in the town (coincidentally, four Kirkland Lake residents all played each other in the 1967 Stanley Cup Final with Duff, Ralph Backstrom, Mike Walton and Larry Hillman).<ref name="TVO">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvo.org/article/hockey-hall-of-famer-dick-duff-is-still-telling-stories-at-age-88|title=Hockey hall of famer Dick Duff is still telling stories at age 88|website=TVO|first=Steve|last=Paikin|date=November 21, 2024}}</ref> Duff was the sixth of 13 siblings born to John and Ethel Duff, a mining family (with his father having worked with Lake Shore Mines) and related his upbringing in a 2026 interview:
<blockquote>“My mother (Ethel) was a dedicated person, a strong Catholic. People were coming and going from our place all the time. Three of my sisters went to nursing school and on to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto.</blockquote>
He began playing hockey at a young age with his brothers, doing so on outdoor rinks even at night. In 1953, at the age of 16, he moved to Toronto to attend St. Michael's College School and play for the school's team, the Toronto St. Michael's Majors while having a spot with the Junior B Buzzers of the Toronto Maple Leafs. His father gave him $2 in his pocket for expenses and sent him on his way. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-and-ducks-unlimited-canada-team-up-to-tell-stories-of-hockey-greats-getting-started-outdoors|website=NHL.com|title=‘Playing outdoors was everything’ to Duff growing up|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> He recorded over a game in each of his last two seasons that attracted the attention of the Maple Leafs, who signed him before his final school year was over to help fill in for an injured Eric Nesterenko.<ref name=DickDuffPS1/> In the summer months during his playing career, he pursued university education. He was later inducted into St. Michael's The Order of St. Michael for his efforts within the community.<ref>{{cite web|website=St. Michael's College School|title=Dick Duff - Hockey Hall of Fame - St. Michael's College School|access-date=May 7, 2026|url=https://stmichaelscollegeschool.com/faculty-member/mr-terrence-richard-dick-duff/}}</ref>
==Playing career== [[File:DickDuffMTL.png|thumb|Duff with the Montreal Canadiens {{c.|1969}}]] Duff played his first game in the NHL on March 10, 1955 in a scoreless game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played in two further games to close out the season, taking two penalty minutes for his first statistic in the season finale; he was paid $100 for each game played that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/duffdi01/gamelog/1955|website=Hockey Reference|access-date=May 7, 2026|title=Dick Duff 1954-55 Game Log {{!}} Hockey-Reference.com}}</ref> He signed his first pro contract for $7,000.<ref name="TVO"/>
In the {{nhly|1955}} season, Duff recorded his first goal on October 26 against the Montreal Canadiens, recording both goals in a 2–1 victory. Playing in 69 of 70 games that season, Duff had 18 goals and 19 assists for 37 points while taking 74 penalty minutes. In the NHL Semifinals, he recorded four combined assists in the first three games and scored the only goal for Toronto in the Game 5 loss. He was later named to the NHL All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/duffdi01/gamelog/1956|website=Hockey Reference|access-date=May 7, 2026|title=Dick Duff 1955-56 Game Log {{!}} Hockey-Reference.com}}</ref> While the Maple Leafs did not reach the playoffs in the next two seasons, Duff continued to hone in his skills for goals, which saw him score 26 goals in both of the {{nhly|1956}} and {{nhly|1957}} seasons and earn a selection to the NHL All-Star Game. In his fourth full season of play in the {{nhly|1958}} season, the Maple Leafs reached the Stanley Cup Final and Duff had 29 goals with 24 assists for 53 total points that was his first and only 50-point season. In the semifinals against Boston, he had two goals and two assists, which included the go-ahead goal in Game 4 and an assist in Game 7. In the Stanley Cup Final against Montreal, he had a goal in Game 1 and the game-winner in overtime of Game 3 to go with one assist as Toronto lost in five games in the first of consecutive Final losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/duffdi01/gamelog/1959|website=Hockey Reference|access-date=May 7, 2026|title=Dick Duff 1958-59 Game Log {{!}} Hockey-Reference.com}}</ref>
The {{nhly|1961}} season saw him miss a quarter of the season with a broken ankle. In the 1962 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was ready to play in all twelve postseason games and recorded three goals with ten assists, with his final goal being the go-ahead winner in Game 6 of the Final against Chicago (on an assist by Tim Horton) as the Maple Leafs won their first championship in ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/dick-duff-found-stanley-cup-ring-1.4689078|website=CBC.ca|date=June 2, 2018|title=Leafs legend Dick Duff reunites with lost Stanley Cup ring|access-date=May 7, 2026}}</ref> The 1963 Final saw him score two goals in a span of eleven seconds to start off Game 1; he had four goals and an assist in the playoffs as the Maple Leafs won their second straight Cup.<ref>{{cite web|website=Toronto Sun|url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/simmons-in-conversation-with-living-legend-dick-duff-a-stanley-cup-champ-with-both-the-maple-leafs-and-canadiens|access-date=May 7, 2026|title=SIMMONS: In conversation with living legend Dick Duff, a Stanley Cup champ with both the Maple Leafs and Canadiens|first=Steve|last=Simmons|date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>
By the {{nhly|1963}} season, Duff had disagreements with head coach Punch Imlach, describing him as "such a demanding coach". On February 22, 1964, he was traded to the New York Rangers in a major seven-player trade, which saw Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney go to Toronto while Duff, Bob Nevin and three younger players went to New York as the Rangers looked for checking forwards such as Duff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/thn-archive-leafs-rangers-collaborate-on-seven-player-blockbuster-trade-in-1964|title=THN Archive: In 1964, Leafs, Rangers Collaborate on Seven-Player Blockbuster Trade|first=Adam|last=Proteau|date=November 19, 2023|website=The Hockey News}}</ref><ref name="TVO"/> He finished the year with 11 goals and 14 assists in 66 games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/duffdi01/gamelog/1964|website=Hockey Reference|title=Dick Duff 1963-64 Game Log {{!}} Hockey-Reference.com|access-date=May 7, 2026}}</ref>
On December 22, 1964, the Rangers traded Duff to Montreal for Ernie Hicke. Duff would play for the Canadiens until 1970, serving a part of four championship teams. Duff's 1966–67 card was featured in the 1999 film ''Winter Stories''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/dick-duff-connection-to-popular-film-winter-stories-341301008|title=Hall of Famer Duff unaware of connection to popular film|website=NHL.com|first=Dave|last=Stubbs|date=February 21, 2023}}</ref> Early in the {{nhly|1969}} season, Duff indicated he wanted to retire, citing personal problems but was talked out of it. He played 17 games for the team that season for Montreal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-clipping-jan-14-1970-5677625/?utm_source=newspaperarchive&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=share_link&utm_content=newspaper_clipping/|work=Winnipeg Free Press|date=January 14, 1970|access-date=May 7, 2026|via=Newspaper Archive|title=Dick Duff, Canadiens Disagreeing Again}}</ref> In January 1970, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings (which he later expressed regret, stating he should've retired with Montreal) and later traded to the Buffalo Sabres in December 1970.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-clipping-jan-24-1970-5677641/?utm_source=newspaperarchive&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=share_link&utm_content=newspaper_clipping/|title=Kings Acquire Dick Duff|date=January 24, 1970|work=Phoenix Arizona Republic|via=Newspaper Archive}}</ref> After finishing the {{nhly|1970}} season, he returned for a final 11 games the following year before retiring. Duff recorded fourteen seasons of at least ten goals, which ranked him as one of 24 players with at least fourteen 10-goal seasons in NHL history at the time he retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/OtVRv|website=Stathead|access-date=May 7, 2026|title=Number of seasons player meets criteria, up to 1971-72, playing skater, in the regular season, requiring Goals >= 10, sorted by descending instances.}}</ref> Duff won the Stanley Cup six times—twice with Toronto and four times with Montreal; only nine other players have won more Cups as a player.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-dick-duff-is-living-proof-that-the-leafs-can-beat-the-bruins|website=Toronto Sun|title=WARMINGTON: Dick Duff is living proof that the Leafs can beat the Bruins|date=April 29, 2024|first=Joe|last=Warmington}}</ref> Described as a "money" player who saved his best for the playoffs, Duff was tied for 15th in Stanley Cup playoff goals with 30 and also 15th in total points with 79 when he retired.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/tiny/dFprz|website=Stathead|access-date=May 7, 2026|title=For combined seasons, up to 1971-72, playing skater, in the postseason, sorted by descending Goals.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Brandon Sun|date=July 31, 1979|via=Newspaper Archive|title=Duff joins Leafs|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-clipping-jul-31-1979-5677652/?utm_source=newspaperarchive&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=share_link&utm_content=newspaper_clipping/}}</ref> Imlach once described Duff as "probably the best playoff player I ever coached."<ref name="HN">{{cite web|url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/news/dick-duff-waited-35-years-for-long-overdue-induction-into-hockey-hall-of-fame|website=The Hockey News|title=Dick Duff waited 35 years for long-overdue induction into Hockey Hall of Fame|date=November 12, 2006|access-date=May 7, 2026}}</ref>
==Post-playing career== After retirement, Duff was became general manager and head coach of the Windsor Spitfires doing so for the 1974-75 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Today's Sports in Brief|work=Los Alamos Monitor|date=July 4, 1974|via=Newspaper Archive|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-clipping-jul-04-1974-5677655/?utm_source=newspaperarchive&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=share_link&utm_content=newspaper_clipping/}}</ref> He became an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons from 1979 until 1981; Duff served as an interim head coach for two games in the {{nhly|1979}} season. He subsequently served as a scout until the mid-1990s.<ref name="Duff90">{{cite web|url=https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/turning-90-dick-duff-still-overflowing-with-maple-leafs-and-nhl-northern-hockey-lore|title=Turning 90, Dick Duff still overflowing with Maple Leafs and NHL northern hockey lore|first=Lance|last=Hornby|website=Toronto Sun|date=February 17, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-clipping-jan-14-1981-5677632/?utm_source=newspaperarchive&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=share_link&utm_content=newspaper_clipping/|work=Winnipeg Free Press|title=Nykoluk sets new chain of command|agency=Canadian Press|date=January 14, 1981|via=Newspaper Archive}}</ref><ref name="HN"/>
In 2006, he was announced for induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Upon being asked about his feelings about the honor, he stated the following: <blockquote>"I was almost in tears [when I heard about the induction]. This means a lot to me, just like playing hockey meant a lot to me."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.sg/nhl/halloffame06/news/story?id=2655540|website=ESPN.com|date=November 10, 2006|title=2006 Hockey Hall of Fame: Terrance "Dick" Duff}}</ref></blockquote> He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 13, 2006, and into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dick Duff |url=https://ontariosportshalloffame.com/hall-filter-group/inductees/sports-specialties/hockey/dick-duff/ |website=OSHOF.ca |publisher=Ontario Sports Hall of Fame |access-date=September 25, 2014 |archive-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910083527/http://oshof.ca/index.php/honoured-members/item/187-dick-duff}}</ref>
==Personal life== As late as 2024, Duff resided in Port Credit in Mississauga, Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/worth-repeating-maple-leafs-icon-dick-duff-visiting-truro-ns-a-great-memory-100854830|website=saltwire.com|title=Worth Repeating: Maple Leafs’ icon Dick Duff visiting Truro, N.S., a great memory|first=Lyle|last=Carter|date=May 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260507224734/https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/worth-repeating-maple-leafs-icon-dick-duff-visiting-truro-ns-a-great-memory-100854830|archive-date=May 7, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/loblaws-at-maple-leaf-gardens-just-modern-times-for-nhl-legend-dick-duff|title=Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens just ‘modern times’ for NHL legend Dick Duff|first=Joe|last=O'Connor|website=National Post|date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> As of 2026, Duff resides in a seniors’ residence in Scarborough.<ref name="Duff90"/>
His brother Les Duff also played professional ice hockey, and his great-nephew Cody Goloubef has played in the NHL.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/cody-goloubef-8474597?stats=gamelogs-r-nhl&season=20162017 |title=Cody Goloubef career biography |publisher=National Hockey League |website=NHL.com |date=June 21, 2017 |accessdate=June 21, 2017}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Regular season and playoffs=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM |- | 1952–53 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 16 || 3 || 2 || 5 || 2 | 16 || 6 || 9 || 15 || 15 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1953–54 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 59 || 35 || 40 || 75 || 120 | 8 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 23 |- | 1954–55 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | OHA | 47 || 33 || 20 || 53 || 113 | 5 || 5 || 2 || 7 || 22 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1954–55 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1955–56 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 69 || 18 || 19 || 37 || 74 | 5 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1956–57 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 70 || 26 || 14 || 40 || 50 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1957–58 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 65 || 26 || 23 || 49 || 79 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1958–59 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 69 || 29 || 24 || 53 || 73 | 12 || 4 || 3 || 7 || 8 |- | 1959–60 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 67 || 19 || 22 || 41 || 51 | 10 || 2 || 4 || 6 || 6 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1960–61 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 67 || 16 || 17 || 33 || 54 | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- | 1961–62 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 51 || 17 || 20 || 37 || 37 | 12 || 3 || 10 || 13 || 20 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1962–63 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 69 || 16 || 19 || 35 || 56 | 10 || 4 || 1 || 5 || 2 |- | 1963–64 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 52 || 7 || 10 || 17 || 59 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1963–64 | New York Rangers | NHL | 14 || 4 || 4 || 8 || 2 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1964–65 | New York Rangers | NHL | 29 || 3 || 9 || 12 || 20 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1964–65 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 40 || 9 || 7 || 16 || 16 | 13 || 3 || 6 || 9 || 17 |- | 1965–66 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 63 || 21 || 24 || 45 || 78 | 10 || 2 || 5 || 7 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1966–67 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 51 || 12 || 11 || 23 || 23 | 10 || 2 || 3 || 5 || 4 |- | 1967–68 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 66 || 25 || 21 || 46 || 21 | 13 || 3 || 4 || 7 || 4 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1968–69 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 68 || 19 || 21 || 40 || 24 | 14 || 6 || 8 || 14 || 11 |- | 1969–70 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 17 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1969–70 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 32 || 5 || 8 || 13 || 8 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1970–71 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 7 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 1970–71 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 53 || 7 || 13 || 20 || 12 | — || — || — || — || — |- | 1971–72 | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 8 || 2 || 2 || 4 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" | NHL totals ! 1,030 !! 283 !! 289 !! 572 !! 743 ! 114 !! 30 !! 49 !! 79 !! 78 |}
===Coaching record=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="7"|Regular season |- ! G !! W !! L !! T !! Pts !!Finish !! Result |- ! Toronto Maple Leafs | 1979–80 | 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 | 4th in Adams || Interim coach |}
==Achievements== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Award ! Year(s) |- ! colspan="2"|NHL |- | All-Star Game ||1956, 1957, 1958, 1962{{efn|name=ASG|At the time, the All-Star Game pitted the Stanley Cup champion against a select group of All-Stars just before the start of a season, and Duff played in the game as part of the defending Stanley Cup champion team}} 1963{{efn|name=ASG}}, 1965{{efn|name=ASG}}, 1967{{efn|In the penultimate All-Star Game pitting the defending Stanley Cup champion, the ASG was played in January for the first time ever}} |- | Stanley Cup champion ||1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969 |}
==See also== *List of NHL players with 1,000 games played
==References== {{reflist}}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==External links== *{{icehockeystats|legendsm=P200601}}
{{s-start}} {{succession box | before = Floyd Smith | title=Head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs | years = 1979–80 | after=Punch Imlach}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duff, Dick}} Category:1936 births Category:Living people Category:Buffalo Sabres players Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees Category:Ice hockey people from Kirkland Lake Category:Los Angeles Kings players Category:Montreal Canadiens players Category:New York Rangers players Category:Stanley Cup champions Category:Toronto Maple Leafs players Category:Toronto Maple Leafs coaches Category:Toronto St. Michael's Majors players Category:20th-century Canadian sportsmen Category:Candidates in the 1972 Canadian federal election Category:Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons Category:Ontario candidates for Member of Parliament Category:Canadian sportsperson-politicians