Born in Melville, Saskatchewan, “Old Bootnose”, as he was known, was the third member of the Red Wings’ celebrated “Production line” along with Hockey Hall of Fame teammates Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay. Abel won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 1949. Abel was traded from the Red Wings to the Black Hawks in 1952–53, and served as a player-coach for the next two seasons. He returned to the Red Wings in 1957–58 and served as Detroit’s coach through the 1969–70 season. Though his #12 was honored by the Wings, Abel wore 4, 7, 9, 12, 14, 19 and 20 throughout his career.

An integral part of the Detroit Red Wings “Production Line” of the 1940s and 1950s, he was often overshadowed by his team mates on that line – Hall of Famers Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe – yet is considered today by many Hockey historians as being the backbone of the Red Wings teams of the era. Nicknamed “Old Bootnose”, he played for the Red Wings from 1938 to 1943, and from 1946 to 1952 (the two year break was the result of his serving in the Canadian Army Air Force during World War II). During his tenure with the team he helped them to three Stanley Cup championships (1943, 1950, 1952), was named a First Team All-Star (1949, 1950) and a Second Team All-Star (1942, 1951). He played in three National Hockey League All-Star contests, and was named the NHL’s MVP in 1949. In the 1949-1950 Stanley Cup finals, when his Red Wings were trailing the series 3 games to 2 against the New York Rangers, he assisted on the tying goal and scored the winning goal in the 6th game. The Red Wings would go on to win the seventh game and the Cup. His last two seasons were spent with the Chicago Black Hawks. His number, 12, has been retired by the Red Wings. After his playing days were over he continued to remain in the game as a coach, General Manager and broadcaster for the Red Wings until 1971, when he joined with the St. Louis Blues as coach and GM. In 1969 he was inducted into the National Hockey League Hall of Fame, joining linemates Lindsay and Howe.