As a 21-year-old rookie, Tom Webster led the Detroit Red Wings in scoring, with more goals or points that year than the aging pair of Gordie Howe and Alex Delvecchio, who finished right behind him.

Webster went on to star in the WHA — he once scored 50 goals for the New England Whalers — and played for Harry Neale and with Dave Keon and the Howes, Gordie, Mark and Marty.

Then Webster coached in both junior hockey and the NHL, and for the past 11 seasons and has been seen around NHL arenas, scouting the pro game. In all, a 45-year career in pro hockey came to an end Saturday at the NHL draft in Philadelphia. And when his retirement was announced at the arena, every hockey man at his NHL table stood and applauded a lifer in their game.

Webster smiled and waved and when nobody sat down seemed embarrassed by all the attention. The Tom Websters of the hockey world don’t get recognized often enough. This was nice and right and deserving.

Simmons continues with the usual mix of hockey and other-sport talk...