 For the 1953 – 54 season , Kennedy finished tied for second on the team in points and was elected to the NHL 's 2nd All @-@ Star team . The Leafs finished in 3rd place and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Detroit in five games . At the end of the season , Kennedy announced his intentions to retire . Conn Smythe told reporters he had tendered Kennedy " the highest offer ever made a hockey player " . This was a raise above his $ 25 @,@ 000 yearly salary ( approximately $ 200 @,@ 000 in today 's dollars ) according to a contemporary newspaper report . However , Smythe said that Kennedy had told him that lately he felt " he hadn 't produced in proportion to what he 's been paid . " Smythe insisted the Leafs needed Kennedy as Toronto was a young team . 
