 Toronto first tried to buy his rights from Montreal , but a trade was arranged exchanging Kennedy for Frank Eddolls . Toronto newspapers of the day in reporting the trade described the 17 @-@ year @-@ old Kennedy as " a rangy youngster whose record in the OHA is exceptionally good " , that he was " highly recommended by other hockey men " and was a " high @-@ scoring right @-@ winger " . Nevertheless , interim manager Frank Selke had made the trade while Conn Smythe , owner of the Leafs , was away in service in World War II and Eddolls was one of his prized prospects . Smythe was furious when he discovered the trade , creating a rift between the two which ultimately led Selke to leave Toronto to manage the Canadiens . Ironically , Kennedy would eventually prove to be Smythe 's favourite player and he would come to call Kennedy " the greatest competitor in hockey " . Looking back , some hockey pundits have called the trade the best the Toronto Maple Leafs have ever made . In 2001 , Sports Illustrated writer and Montreal native , Michael Farber , included the Kennedy trade for Eddolls as one of " the five darkest days " in Montreal Canadiens ' history . 
