Gordie Howe was one of the greatest players ever in the NHL, but Howe didn’t reach greatness by himself.

Howe needed talent around him, and having Alex Delvecchio as his center was a major reason Howe reached such incredible heights.

“I can thank Alex for a lot of good years,” Howe said. “We read each other very well. I played with some great hockey players, but none came to his order.”

Delvecchio, a quiet magician who played in Howe’s shadow in the opinion of many but was immensely talented in his own right, died Tuesday at the age of 93.

The Delvecchio family, through the Red Wings, posted a message Tuesday afternoon on social media:

“To our Red Wings Fans, Friends and Hockey Community,

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Alex Delvecchio, who left us peacefully on July 1, 2025, surrounded by his family at the age of 93 years old.

“Alex was more than a Hockey icon, he was a devoted husband, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather, cherished friend, and respected teammate to so many. While the world knew him as an incredible hockey player with numerous accomplishments on the ice, we knew him as someone whose humility, strength, competitiveness, kindness and heart were even greater than his professional achievements. For decades, your love and support meant everything to Alex and to all of us. We are deeply grateful and thankful to everyone.”

The line of Howe, Delvecchio and Ted Lindsay was known as “The Production Line” and formed one of the most prolific scoring units in NHL history.

Delvecchio played in 1,550 games with 456 goals, 825 assists and 1,281 points. When Delvecchio retired in 1974, he ranked second to Howe in all three categories. The Red Wings retired his No. 10 jersey in 1991.

Delvecchio finished among the NHL’s top 10 scorers 10 times in 14 seasons from 1955-56 to 1968-69. He scored 20 or more goals in 13 of his 22 full Red Wings seasons (two seasons with 19) and had 30 or more assists 17 seasons.

Delvecchio assisted on 210 of Howe’s goals, more than any other Howe teammate.

“A great artist, that’s what he was,” Howe said. “I had no idea how much of one until I played with him. Ted Lindsay and I would sit on the bench when Alex was just a rookie and talk about what a good player he could become.”

With Howe and Frank Mahovlich as his wings, Delvecchio had his best season in 1968-69, with 58 assists. Howe had a career-best 103 points.

“Alex was one of those players who made people around him better,” said Mickey Redmond, a former Wings player and now the team’s TV analyst. “He was an extremely unselfish player. The game slowed down for him. He was a top-notch, excellent passer.

“A real gentleman on and off the ice. Maybe some can say he was underrated because he was so unassuming. Maybe he fell under the radar just a bit because of that. But you look at the numbers and you say, ‘Wow.’ The stuff Alex accomplished, it’s a great tribute to how good a hockey player he really was.”

Delvecchio didn’t mind staying in the background while others attracted the headlines. He preferred it that way.

“I never did play the game to have them hang my jersey in the Joe Louis Arena or anyplace, or be a Hall of Famer or whatever,” Delvecchio once said. “I just wanted to play the game, play it as best as I could, contribute to your hockey team, and I feel that any of those other honors are like bonuses.”

Delvecchio was born on Dec. 4, 1931, in Fort William, Ontario. He played minor hockey in his hometown before beginning his professional hockey career with the Oshawa Generals, with whom he suited up for during the 1950-51 season.

After making his NHL debut with the Wings on March 25, 1951, Delvecchio embarked on an impressive 24-year NHL playing career, all with the Red Wings, helping them capture three Stanley Cup championships (1952, 1954, 1955).

Delvecchio followed his playing career, going on to coach the Red Wings for four seasons (1973-77) and was named general manager in 1974, serving in both roles until 1977. That same year, Delvecchio was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and entered the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.Delvecchio possesses some of the biggest moments in Wings’ history, including a two-goal performance in Game 7 of the 1955 Stanley Cup Finals and scoring seven goals during the Wings’ 1956 Stanley Cup run.

Delvecchio was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players as part of the league’s centennial celebration and has his No. 10 jersey hanging in the rafters and a bronze statue on the concourse of Little Caesars Arena.

“Not bad company,” said Delvecchio the night of his statue ceremony at Joe Louis Arena in October 2008, the statue alongside his linemates Howe and Lindsay, the only other Wings with statues. “This wouldn’t have happened had I not played with some great players. Like that guy over there (Howe, who was at the ceremony). Playing with guys like that helps your career immensely.

“With guys like Teddy and Gordie, with the horses we had and I played with over the years, my job was to get the puck to them. Get the puck to them and they’d get the job done. I learned that quick. They helped me become a better passer, shall we say.”

Red Wings owner Marian Ilitch issued this statement on Tuesday:

“I am honored to have known our dear friend and Red Wings legend, Alex Delvecchio. Alex was a cherished part of the Red Wings family, and I’m grateful for the years my husband Mike and I shared with him, as well as the remarkable legacy he leaves behind — both in the rafters of the arena and in the hearts of Red Wings fans everywhere. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Delvecchio family during this time of loss.”

Chris Ilitch, Red Wings governor and chief executive officer, said this in a statement:

“The Detroit Red Wings organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Alex Delvecchio — a true Red Wings great whose contributions to our team, our city, and the game of hockey will never be forgotten. Alex embodied what it means to be a Red Wing: loyalty, humility, and excellence on and off the ice. For over two decades, including 12 as captain of the Red Wings, Alex earned the reputation as one of the best two-way forwards in NHL history. Following his Hall of Fame career, he continued to represent the Red Wings with class and distinction as both an executive and ambassador. Our thoughts are with the Delvecchio family and all those who were fortunate enough to know and admire Alex. His legacy will forever be remembered as part of Red Wings history and Hockeytown.”

Delvecchio is survived by his wife Judy and their five children, 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.