A noted scorer during his career, Kilrea twice finished in the top ten for scoring, and won the Stanley Cup three times, with the Senators in 1927 and twice with the Red Wings in 1936 and 1937.
After retiring from hockey, Kilrea served in the United States Army during World War II, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
He was then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, playing two seasons there before going to the Detroit Red Wings (the Falcons had renamed themselves in 1932).
Aside from hockey, he was also a champion speed skater, and once won a race at the Montreal Forum in 1928, circuiting the ice in 16 2/5 seconds.
On December 12, 1944 he took out a German tank, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest military decoration of the United States Army) for this.