Sunday, November 29, 2009

Top 100 Habs By Decade:

9. 1989-1999

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.

Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1989-1999


An objective look reveals what we all fear – that we became fans of this team just as its fortunes began to turn. From a Cup final to end the decade previous, these ten years took the team to its lowest in 1999.

There were good years, of course, and a Stanley Cup. But after that amazing run of 1993, the years were not kind to the Canadiens, as they went from perennial contender for league and playoff crowns to being just one of 24 odd teams.

Thanks to the early years, there were good players on the team and good players to trade for other good players. One trade chain (the Richer chain) provided 4 players for our top 10 from the 1990s.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – so Brisebois fans, hold on to your hats]


10. Shayne Corson (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1985-2000

662

168

255

423+7026

AS
Decade best (Season)1989-90

76

31

4475

+336

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)2002-0690

28

35

63

+167








Decade best (Playoffs)1990-9113

9

6

15

+53




A good solid player from the 1980s who had his best offensive seasons with Richer. Came back for a stint where he was captain and all-star again.


9. Eric Desjardins (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1988-95

405

43

136

179

+557

AS
Decade best (Season)1992-93

8213

32

45

+201







Habs career (Playoffs)2002-0671920

29

+61SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

410

14

+21SC


A player who would have held his own in the dynasty years, I bet. He saved his best year for when it counted, and his 1 playoff GWG, well we all know that...


8. Denis Savard (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1990-93

210

72

107

179+67

AS, HOF
Decade best (Season)1991-9277

2842

70+65

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1990-9338

5

25

30

-3

0

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1991-9211

3

9

12

+10






Came to Montreal under immense pressure to be THE star. Wasn't the dominant force, but still a big contributor over his 3 seasons in town.


7. Mathieu Schneider (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1987-2009

38368148

216

+3613





Decade best (Season)1993-9475

2032

52+154









Habs career (Playoffs)1990-2009

46

5

16

21

+50

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1990-91

13

2

7

9

+20






Learned to play offense from the back in Montreal. Was a pretty good option for D as well.


6. Pierre Turgeon (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1994-96104

50

77

127+358AS
Decade best (Season)1995-968038

58

96

+196

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1995-966

2

4

6+10








Decade best (Playoffs)1995-96

6

2

46

+10






The best season from a Canadiens player since Naslund, and it still stands.


5. Mark Recchi (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1994-99

346120

202

322

+2318AS
Decade best (Season)1995-96

822850

78

+206









Habs career (Playoffs)1996-982111

13

24

+52








Decade best (Playoffs)1997-98

10

48

12

+22






Like clockwork, both in being healthy for games and scoring.


4. Kirk Muller (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1991-95267

104

143

247

+115AS
Decade best (Season)1992-93

8037

57

94

+84

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1992-9438

20

12

32

+36

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

10

7

17

+43

SC


Could find a new gear in important games and was pivotal in helping the whole team to do just that in several consecutive OTs.


3. Stephane Richer (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1984-98490225

196

421

+6536

AS
Decade best (Season)1989-9075

51

40

91

+358









Habs career (Playoffs)1986-9777

36

21

57

+19

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1990-9113

9

5

14

E

1




The last 50-goal season from a Canadiens player, a link to Lafleur. Richer was a serious threat in the first few years of the decade.


2. Vincent Damphousse (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1992-99519184

314

498

+2635









Decade best (Season)1992-938439

58

97

+58









Habs career (Playoffs)1993-9848

19

24

43

E

5

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

11

12

23

+83

SC


The most unheralded scoring machine, captain, cup-winning, hometown hero you could imagine. Going out on a low note shouldn't eclipse what he managed in the mid-90s.


1. Patrick Roy (Top 100 all-time, Profile)







































































Years(s)GPWLTGAAS%SOAwards*
Habs career (Season)1984-2005551

289

17566

2.780.904293 V, 4 WJ, AS, HOF

Decade best (Season)1991-92673622



8



2.360.9145

V, WJ, AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1986-94114

70

42

0

2.460.9145

2 SC, 2 CS



Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

16

4

0

2.130.9290

SC, CS


He finds himself in the 1990s, but could head the 1980s list. Patrick was the source of most success in this decade – winning most individual honours and taking the team for a nice ride to LA to receive the silverware.


* Awards: V = Vezina trophy; WJ = William Jennings trophy (GA); AS= All-star; HOF = Hall of Fame; SC = Stanley Cup; CS = Conn Smythe.

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