Kilpatrick was born in Montreal, Canada and began playing hockey at a young age. He quickly developed a reputation as a talented player and was signed by the Montreal Canadiens in 1934. He played for the Canadiens for two seasons before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1936. He was a key member of the Rangers team for the next five seasons, helping the team to two Stanley Cup Finals appearances.
In 1941, Kilpatrick was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, where he would spend the remainder of his career. He was an integral part of the Blackhawks team, helping them to three Stanley Cup Finals appearances. He was also named to the NHL All-Star team in 1947 and 1948.
Kilpatrick retired from hockey in 1958, having played in over 500 NHL games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967. He is remembered as one of the greatest players of his era, and his legacy lives on in the form of the John Kilpatrick Trophy, which is awarded annually to the top scorer in the NHL.
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