Beloved Maple Leafs player Ron Ellis helped his team win their last Stanley Cup

Ron Ellis, a reliable, two-way forward, skated for the Toronto Maple Leafs for more than 15 seasons, bridging the era of championships through one of futility and front-office shenanigans. A superb skater and tenacious checker, Mr. Ellis, who has died at 79, also showed good puck sense. Amiable, self-critical, generous with praise for teammates and opponents, Mr. Ellis lacked the pizzazz of Frank Mahovlich, or the crowd-pleasing rambunctiousness of Eddie Shack.