Montreal Canadiens have figured prominently since the modern NHL All-Star Game began in 1947. In the early years, when the game was a contest between the league stars and the Stanley Cup Champions (wow, I wonder how they could create more interest in the modern All-Star game?), it was the Canadiens as a team 8 times from 1953 to 1967.
1968 was the last using this format, as expansion meant the league had twice as many players to choose from.
Since the 1969 game (the first after expansion), the game has been staged 36 times (this year being the 37th edition). And since that time, there have been 96 players associated with the Canadiens taking part in the game proper and 100 taking part in the weekend. PK Subban, with his replacement selection will be the 101st Montreal Canadien to take part in the modern All-Star Game -- a game taking place in the very symmetrical 101st Montreal Canadiens season.
The most times in the Habs sweater
96 times since 1969 players have represented the Montreal Canadiens.
The most players the Canadiens ever sent to a post-expansion All-Star game was 7 in 1978, when Ken Dryden was accompanied by Serge Savard and Larry Robinson, together with forwards Lafleur, Shutt, Cournoyer and Gainey. Nobody probably batted an eye at the time because the Habs were setting points records, piling up Cups and sending at least 6 to the All-Star game every year anyway.
The most times that any one player has represented the Habs since expansion is Larry Robinson. The standard he set of 9 games looks virtually untouchable, especially when one considers the next closest are no great slouches: Patrick Roy (6), Guy Lafleur (5), Yvan Cournoyer (5) and Ken Dryden (5). Carey price is on the right path, with two selections at this early stage. But 8 more to surpass Robinson is asking a Hall of Fame career from him.
The most appearances by a Canadiens alum
If we count games where a Habs alum skated, regardless of which team he was on, the numbers change. In all, Former, Present and Future Habs have played in 246 games (96 Present, 95 Former, 55 Future).
The players of note here are Patrick Roy and Chris Chelios. Both appeared in 11 All-Star contests over their careers. Robinson is next, with 10 (he had one honourary skate around with the Kings). They're followed by two players at 7 (Mark Recchi and Denis Savard) and a big group at 6.
The most consecutive appearances
There's a lot to be said for consistency. Consistent selection to the All-Star game is Hall of Fame stuff.
The most consecutive selections to a post-expansion game by a former, present or future Hab was 8. Chelios achieved this from 1990 to 1998. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, 7 of these appearances came after the famous trade to Chicago.
The most consecutive appearances by a player at the time he was with the Habs was 5 selections. This was done by Patrick Roy and Guy Lafleur.
All-Star traded away
It happens, to get you have to give. Chelios is mentioned above. But one hops that in trading an All-Star calibre player, one might at least just it at the tail end of a career.
The most All-Star seasons after leaving the Habs is a dubious record which is held by Chris Chelios at 9. You'd be wrong in thinking that Roy was next. His 5 were painful to watch, but Carol Vadnais and Tony Esposito both had 6 All-Star appearances after leaving Montreal.
At least Patrick also had some All-star years in Montreal. Neither Vadnais or Esposito did. Nor did John Leclair or Red Berenson, who each went to the All-Star game 5 times after leaving Montreal.
Bringing in an All-Star
Getting stars in the yes, it's happened to us all. We all dream up trades. Some people make a website empire out of it.
The perils of trading an All-Star can be balanced with getting an All-Star, if timed just right. Players who later became Habs dressed in 55 All-Star games since 1968.
The best acquisition here has to be Frank Mahovlich. He appeared in the first two post-expansion All-Star games as a Red Wing before being brought in to Montreal. Following that acquisition, he suited up for 4 more games, all consecutive from 1971-74. The next best is possibly Mark Recchi, who was three times an All-Star in Montreal before Rejean Houle discharged him for the sake of profit margins.
Other than Recchi, only Kirk Muller, Pierre Turgeon, Denis Savard and Alexei Kovalev ever replicated their All-Star form after being brought in to help the Habs.
Aging vets
At the last Stanley Cup parade, I had Gary Leeman sign his hockey card. As if to show his teammates that he once wore All-Star colours, he passed that card around the whole float to show his 51-goal season.
Unfortunately for Habs fans, Leeman wasn't the only star to ever be brought in after his All-Star days were behind him. 19 players in all fit this bill. There's still time for some (Hamrlik and Gomez among them).
Prospects lost
In the expansion era, losing prospects was an inevitability. Losing All-Stars too. But what's the excuse for GMs now? Ribeiro, Streit and Robidas are all recent alums that have gone onto recognition in other towns.
Years of shame
Someone was commenting the other day on Dadonov as the only Florida player at this weekend. They have no representation in the game itself. The Habs came mighty close this year too, with price the lone Canadien at the game proper.
Twice, though, 2001 and 2003, the Habs sent no one at all to the All-Star game. At least, Koivu was selected in 2003. 2001 was just a horrid year to be a fan of this team.
Showing posts with label Robinson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robinson. Show all posts
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Friday, December 04, 2009
Top 100 Montreal Canadiens Players of All Time
Happy Birthday Montreal Canadiens!
As you know, we've been putting out some decade-by-decade lists of the Montreal Canadiens players from the last 100 years. The list I have for you today is the integrated version of the list, the list where you see whether I like Lafleur or Richard, Plante or Dryden, Malone or Gagnon.
I'm sure you'll all have some fun perusing the list. I encourage all to do it and come back to us with their own amendments, as the discussion today could not be about anything more than the history of the Habs – and with last night's debacle, the more distant, the better.
Just a quick note on how we came to this list. All the editorial team and some friends of Lions in Winter submitted a list and basically we averaged the picks. It was a very democratic process, and I think it shows. As a result, I think we've come up with a pretty good list. Having looked through the history in depth, i can tell you one thing – there have been more than 100 good players on this team, and picking between all of them is a sport in itself.
Without further ado, the 100:
Hope you enjoyed that. Do let us know where you stand, and include your top 10s if you can...
As you know, we've been putting out some decade-by-decade lists of the Montreal Canadiens players from the last 100 years. The list I have for you today is the integrated version of the list, the list where you see whether I like Lafleur or Richard, Plante or Dryden, Malone or Gagnon.
I'm sure you'll all have some fun perusing the list. I encourage all to do it and come back to us with their own amendments, as the discussion today could not be about anything more than the history of the Habs – and with last night's debacle, the more distant, the better.
Just a quick note on how we came to this list. All the editorial team and some friends of Lions in Winter submitted a list and basically we averaged the picks. It was a very democratic process, and I think it shows. As a result, I think we've come up with a pretty good list. Having looked through the history in depth, i can tell you one thing – there have been more than 100 good players on this team, and picking between all of them is a sport in itself.
Without further ado, the 100:
| LIW Ranking | Name | Position | Years |
100 | Ray Getliffe | C | 1939-45 |
99 | Billy Couture | D | 1916-20, 1921-26 |
98 | Craig Ludwig | D | 1982-90 |
97 | Brian Bellows | LW | 1992-95 |
96 | Gilles Tremblay | LW | 1960-69 |
95 | Ken Mosdell | C | 1954-56, 1957-59 |
94 | Shayne Corson | LW | 1985-92, 1996-2000 |
93 | Bill Reay | C | 1946-53 |
92 | Petr Svoboda | D | 1984-92 |
91 | Howard McNamara | D | 1915-16, 1919-20 |
90 | Floyd Curry | RW | 1947-58 |
89 | Marcel Bonin | LW | 1957-62 |
88 | Mark Napier | RW | 1978-84 |
87 | Claude Lemieux | LW | 1983-90 |
86 | Phil Goyette | C | 1957-63 |
85 | Eric Desjardins | D | 1988-95 |
84 | Jimmy Gardner | LW | 1913-15 |
83 | Doug Jarvis | C | 1975-82 |
82 | Pierre Bouchard | D | 1970-78 |
81 | Jim Roberts | D | 1963-77 |
80 | Denis Savard | C | 1990-93 |
79 | Mathieu Schneider | D | 1987-95, 2009 |
78 | Alfred Lepine | C | 1925-38 |
77 | Johnny Gagnon | RW | 1930-40 |
76 | Rejean Houle | LW | 1969-83 |
75 | Pierre Mondou | C | 1976-85 |
74 | Doug Risebrough | C | 1974-82 |
73 | Pierre Turgeon | C | 1994-96 |
72 | Albert Leduc | D | 1925-33, 1934-35 |
71 | Billy Boucher | RW | 1921-27 |
70 | Terry Harper | D | 1962-72 |
69 | Rod Langway | D | 1978-82 |
68 | Pierre Larouche | C | 1977-82 |
67 | John Ferguson | LW | 1963-71 |
66 | Yvon Lambert | LW | 1972-81 |
65 | Bobby Rousseau | RW | 1960-70 |
64 | Alexei Kovalev | RW | 2004-09 |
63 | Mario Tremblay | RW | 1974-86 |
62 | Andrei Markov | D | 2000- (Active) |
61 | Charlie Hodge | G | 1954-55, 1957-61, 1963-67 |
60 | Jean-Guy Talbot | D | 1954-67 |
59 | Mark Recchi | RW | 1994-99 |
58 | Odie Cleghorn | RW | 1918-25 |
57 | Kirk Muller | LW | 1991-95 |
56 | Dick Duff | LW | 1964-70 |
55 | Jose Theodore | G | 1995-2006 |
54 | Michel Larocque | G | 1973-81 |
53 | Albert Siebert | D (LW) | 1936-39 |
52 | Georges Mantha | D | 1928-41 |
51 | Herb Gardiner | D | 1926-29 |
50 | Ken Reardon | D | 1940-42, 1945-50 |
49 | Stephane Richer | RW | 1984-91, 1996-98 |
48 | Rogatien Vachon | G | 1966-72 |
47 | Bobby Smith | C | 1983-90 |
46 | Bud O'Connor | C | 1941-47 |
45 | Ralph Backstrom | C | 1956-71 |
44 | Bert Olmstead | LW | 1950-58 |
43 | Pete Mahovlich | C | 1969-78 |
42 | Joe Malone | C | 1917-19, 1922-24 |
41 | Chris Chelios | D | 1983-90 |
40 | Claude Provost | RW | 1955-70 |
39 | Jean-Claude Tremblay | D | 1959-72 |
38 | Frank Mahovlich | LW | 1970-74 |
37 | Sprague Cleghorn | D | 1921-25 |
36 | Jack Laviollette | D | 1909-18 |
35 | Vincent Damphousse | C | 1992-99 |
34 | Tom Johnson | D | 1947-63 |
33 | Mats Naslund | LW | 1982-90 |
32 | Lorne Worsley | G | 1963-70 |
31 | Guy Carbonneau | C | 1980-94 |
30 | Jacques Laperriere | D | 1962-74 |
29 | Steve Shutt | LW | 1972-85 |
28 | Saku Koivu | C | 1995-2009 |
27 | Georges Vezina | G | 1910-26 |
26 | Guy Lapointe | D | 1968-82 |
25 | Didier Pitre | RW | 1909-13, 1914-23 |
24 | Sylvio Mantha | D | 1923-36 |
23 | Emile Bouchard | D | 1941-56 |
22 | Jacques Lemaire | C | 1967-79 |
21 | Bill Durnan | G | 1943-50 |
20 | Aurele Joliat | LW | 1922-38 |
19 | Elmer Lach | C | 1940-54 |
18 | Dickie Moore | LW | 1951-63 |
17 | Yvan Cournoyer | RW | 1963-79 |
16 | Bob Gainey | LW | 1973-89 |
15 | George Hainsworth | G | 1926-37 |
14 | Henri Richard | C | 1955-75 |
13 | Bernard Geoffrion | RW | 1950-64 |
12 | Serge Savard | D | 1966-81 |
11 | Hector Blake | LW | 1935-48 |
10 | Patrick Roy | G | 1984-95 |
9 | Ken Dryden | G | 1970-79 |
8 | Edouard Lalonde | C | 1909-11, 1912-22 |
7 | Jacques Plante | G | 1952-63 |
6 | Doug Harvey | D | 1947-61 |
5 | Larry Robinson | D | 1972-89 |
4 | Howie Morenz | C | 1923-37 |
3 | Guy Lafleur | RW | 1971-85 |
2 | Maurice Richard | RW | 1942-60 |
1 | Jean Beliveau | C | 1950-71 |
Hope you enjoyed that. Do let us know where you stand, and include your top 10s if you can...
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Top 100 Habs By Decade:
1. 1969-1979
In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial tomorrow, 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.
This is the last in the series. if you want to find the other decades, you can use the archives or the link at the top of the home page.
The lates 1960s to late 1970s. Was there a headier time to be a sports fan in Montreal? Baseball moves in, the Olympics come to town (nearly twice if you consider Lake Placid is a 2-hour drive) and the Montreal Canadiens laid most of their competition to waste. The decade I define here has 6 Cups. It was nice to come into the decade on a run of 4 Cups in 5 years as well. 10 Cups in 15 years – it boggles the mind (are we sure they don't mean first-round appearances?).
The players to represent this elite time are all the toast of the Canadiens, with Hall-of-Fame in all of their email sign-offs. No other decade had so many Hall of Famers, no other decade would bump a two-time 100-point man to the bench. These are the final 10 names in this series.
[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – cross-decade stars like Laperriere have been given their dues, as you know]
10. Frank "The Big M" Mahovlich (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
A ready-made all star with a Hall of Fame nod already in the bag, Frank was brought in late in his career to bolster the Habs who were about to lose their top 2 centres.
9. Steve Shutt (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
On any other team, he might be the all-time goalscoring hero. 60 goals in 80 games led the league. For Latendresse fans, Shutt put the 14-goal man to shame with 52 ES goals that year.
8. Guy "Pointu" Lapointe (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
The third corner of the Big Three, he had a definite knack for scoring goals, and important ones too.
7. Jacques "Coco" Lemaire (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
Played the way he asks everyone of his players to play, with determination and intelligence. With typical efficiency, he retired on scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal in 1979.
6. Yvan "Roadrunner" Cournoyer (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
The archetypal Canadiens winger – speedy and quick-shooting goalscoring machine. His 1972-73 playoffs were magisterial.
5. Bob Gainey (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
Famously described as "technically, the best player in the world" by Russian coach Tarasov, Gainey was certainly the best in the world at defending as a shadow. In a league of Bobby Orrs and Bobby Clarkes, his role was just as valuable to the team as those ahead of him on this list.
4. Serge Savard (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
If the Canadiens brass today could dream up a defender to anchor their team for the future, it would probably be Serge Savard. He could and did do everything, including adapt to the effects that 2 broken legs had on his once-great speed.
3. Ken Dryden (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
Less career losses than a Vesa Toskala season. He must also be the only starting goalie in modern history to virtually double his losses with shutouts. In his 7-and-a-bit-year turn in the NHL, he won 6 Stanley Cups, 5 Vezinas and earned a law degree.
2. Larry "Big Bird" Robinson (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
If we had the stats and ran a Corsi on it, what do you think 1976-77 would look like for +120 Larry Robinson? Robinson was key to the Canadiens adapting to the new Philadelphia Flyers domination of the league. His gaudy offensive numbers can't show on paper what a good defender he was.
1. Guy "Flower" Lafleur (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
A goal more than every other game, a game-winning goal once in ten, this guy had the knack for scoring and scoring when it was called for. No one has more silverware in their Habs trophy cases than Guy, and with good reason.
* Awards: H = Hart trophy; AR = Art Ross trophy, C = Calder trophy; FS = Frank Selke trophy; N = Norris trophy; V = Vezina trophy; LP = Lester Pearson tropby; BM= Bill Masterton trophy; AS= All-star; HOF = Hall of Fame; CS = Conn Smythe trophy; SC = Stanley Cup.
This is the last in the series. if you want to find the other decades, you can use the archives or the link at the top of the home page.
1969-1979
The lates 1960s to late 1970s. Was there a headier time to be a sports fan in Montreal? Baseball moves in, the Olympics come to town (nearly twice if you consider Lake Placid is a 2-hour drive) and the Montreal Canadiens laid most of their competition to waste. The decade I define here has 6 Cups. It was nice to come into the decade on a run of 4 Cups in 5 years as well. 10 Cups in 15 years – it boggles the mind (are we sure they don't mean first-round appearances?).
The players to represent this elite time are all the toast of the Canadiens, with Hall-of-Fame in all of their email sign-offs. No other decade had so many Hall of Famers, no other decade would bump a two-time 100-point man to the bench. These are the final 10 names in this series.
[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – cross-decade stars like Laperriere have been given their dues, as you know]
10. Frank "The Big M" Mahovlich (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1970-74 | 263 | 129 | 181 | 310 | +104 | 14 | AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1971-72 | 76 | 43 | 53 | 96 | +42 | 4 | AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1971-74 | 49 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 0 | 2 SC | |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1970-71 | 20 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 0 | SC |
A ready-made all star with a Hall of Fame nod already in the bag, Frank was brought in late in his career to bolster the Habs who were about to lose their top 2 centres.
9. Steve Shutt (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1972-85 | 871 | 408 | 368 | 776 | +409 | 50 | AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1976-77 | 80 | 60 | 45 | 105 | +88 | 9 | AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1973-84 | 96 | 50 | 48 | 98 | (+5) | 5 | 5 SC |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1976-77 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 3 | SC |
On any other team, he might be the all-time goalscoring hero. 60 goals in 80 games led the league. For Latendresse fans, Shutt put the 14-goal man to shame with 52 ES goals that year.
8. Guy "Pointu" Lapointe (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1968-82 | 777 | 166 | 406 | 572 | +347 | 20 | AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1976-77 | 77 | 25 | 51 | 76 | +69 | 6 | AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 2002-06 | 112 | 25 | 43 | 68 | 4 | 6 SC | |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1972-73 | 17 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 1 | SC |
The third corner of the Big Three, he had a definite knack for scoring goals, and important ones too.
7. Jacques "Coco" Lemaire (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1967-79 | 853 | 366 | 469 | 835 | +349 | 58 | AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1972-73 | 77 | 44 | 51 | 95 | +59 | 5 | AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1968-79 | 145 | 61 | 78 | 139 | 11 | 8 SC | |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1978-79 | 16 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 2 | SC |
Played the way he asks everyone of his players to play, with determination and intelligence. With typical efficiency, he retired on scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal in 1979.
6. Yvan "Roadrunner" Cournoyer (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1963-79 | 968 | 428 | 435 | 863 | (+272) | (68) | AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1971-72 | 73 | 47 | 36 | 83 | +23 | 5 | AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1965-78 | 147 | 64 | 63 | 127 | (12) | 10 SC | |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1972-73 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 25 | 3 | CS, SC |
The archetypal Canadiens winger – speedy and quick-shooting goalscoring machine. His 1972-73 playoffs were magisterial.
5. Bob Gainey (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1973-89 | 1160 | 239 | 262 | 501 | +196 | 34 | 4 FS, AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1978-79 | 79 | 20 | 18 | 28 | +11 | 1 | FS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1974-89 | 182 | 25 | 48 | 73 | (-4) | 7 | CS, 5 SC |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1978-79 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 1 | CS, SC |
Famously described as "technically, the best player in the world" by Russian coach Tarasov, Gainey was certainly the best in the world at defending as a shadow. In a league of Bobby Orrs and Bobby Clarkes, his role was just as valuable to the team as those ahead of him on this list.
4. Serge Savard (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1966-81 | 917 | 100 | 312 | 412 | +492 | 13 | BM, AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1974-75 | 80 | 20 | 40 | 60 | +71 | 2 | |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1968-81 | 130 | 19 | 49 | 68 | 6 | CS, 8 SC | |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1975-76 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | SC |
If the Canadiens brass today could dream up a defender to anchor their team for the future, it would probably be Serge Savard. He could and did do everything, including adapt to the effects that 2 broken legs had on his once-great speed.
3. Ken Dryden (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | W | L | T | GAA | SO | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1970-79 | 397 | 258 | 57 | 74 | 2.24 | 46 | C, 5 V, AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1976-77 | 56 | 41 | 6 | 8 | 2.14 | 10 | V, AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1971-79 | 112 | 80 | 32 | 0 | 2.40 | 10 | 6 SC |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1970-71 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 3.00 | 0 | CS, SC |
Less career losses than a Vesa Toskala season. He must also be the only starting goalie in modern history to virtually double his losses with shutouts. In his 7-and-a-bit-year turn in the NHL, he won 6 Stanley Cups, 5 Vezinas and earned a law degree.
2. Larry "Big Bird" Robinson (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1972-89 | 1202 | 197 | 686 | 883 | +700 | 29 | 2 N, AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1976-77 | 77 | 19 | 66 | 85 | +120 | 3 | N, AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1973-89 | 203 | 25 | 109 | 134 | (+6) | 3 | CS, 6 SC |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1977-78 | 15 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 0 | CS, SC |
If we had the stats and ran a Corsi on it, what do you think 1976-77 would look like for +120 Larry Robinson? Robinson was key to the Canadiens adapting to the new Philadelphia Flyers domination of the league. His gaudy offensive numbers can't show on paper what a good defender he was.
1. Guy "Flower" Lafleur (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
| Years(s) | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | GWG | Awards* | |
| Habs career (Season) | 1971-85 | 961 | 518 | 728 | 1246 | +477 | 93 | 2 H, 3 AR, 3 LP, AS, HOF |
| Decade best (Season) | 1977-78 | 78 | 60 | 72 | 132 | +73 | 12 | H, AR, LP, AS |
| Habs career (Playoffs) | 1972-84 | 124 | 57 | 76 | 133 | (-2) | 14 | CS, 5 SC |
| Decade best (Playoffs) | 1976-77 | 14 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 2 | CS, SC |
A goal more than every other game, a game-winning goal once in ten, this guy had the knack for scoring and scoring when it was called for. No one has more silverware in their Habs trophy cases than Guy, and with good reason.
* Awards: H = Hart trophy; AR = Art Ross trophy, C = Calder trophy; FS = Frank Selke trophy; N = Norris trophy; V = Vezina trophy; LP = Lester Pearson tropby; BM= Bill Masterton trophy; AS= All-star; HOF = Hall of Fame; CS = Conn Smythe trophy; SC = Stanley Cup.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Careers of Numbers: Amazing Habs Feats
This week is a rare chance for the Habs and their families to be together for an extended period over the holidays. It is rare that we don't have a game on the 23rd or 26th. That, of course, also means that these are slow times for us here at Lions in Winter as there is little going on in Habsworld.
We have, however, been conducting some research for an upcoming piece on the greatest players in team history and through that we have stumbled across some very astounding and fun stats. The following is a list of 20 achievements over the Habs career of certain players. Some you may know, some may be news to you, but I urge you, nevertheless, to take a look and remember just how good of a team we have been over the past 99 years.
Centres
Newsy Lalonde
We don't hear much about the Habs' first star, but before Morenz there was Lalonde. He only suited up for the team in a total of 218 games, but during that time he accumulated 353 points. He played in the inaugural season and went on to play in 11 of the first 12. He led the team 9 times in regular season scoring and led the league a total of 3 times.
Howie Morenz
Among Howie's major achievements are the fact that he led the Habs in both goals and points a total of 7 times each - twice he led the league. More impressive was the fact that he won an astonishing 3 Hart trophies as league MVP; more than any other Hab.
Henri Richard
The pocket-rocket was team captain for 4 years, is a hall-of-famer and is one of the very few to have his shirt hanging from the rafters. The one stat, however, that I believe he will never lose or share is the fact that he won 11 Stanley Cups. Just think of that for a second, think of Roy and his 4, Gretzky and his 4, Messier and his 6 and it just makes this that much more special.
Jacques Lemaire
Before the trap in New Jersey there was a fire-wagon in Montreal, and, don't be fooled, Jacques was definitely among the flying frenchmen. His 139 career playoff points ranks second in team history, only le Gros Bill has more.
Saku Koivu
Koivu will hopefully, if we get him signed, become the longest ever serving captain in team history. Saku's leadership, however, extends beyond the ice. In 2006 he became the only player in team history to win the league's King Clancy Award, given annually, since 1988, to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
Right Wingers
Didier Pitre
Don't be alarmed if this name isn't familiar as I too learned it for the first time a few days ago. In 274 games alongside Lalonde on the earliest versions of the Habs (playoffs included) he managed 296 points for a point/game average of 1.08. He ranks 4th all-time on the team in points/game, of players who have played at least 250 games, behind Lafleur, Frank Mahovolich and Beliveau.
Claude Provost
Claude ranks 5th all-time in games played for the Habs and most notable has played more games in the bleu-blanc-rouge than any other right winger - notably Maurice Richard, Lafleur and Cournoyer.
Yvan Cournoyer
Of all the impressive stats that the roadrunner put up in his career one in particular stands out to me. He is the all-time leader in playoff game-winning goals with 15. I really don't know if there is more crucial stat than that at the end of the day.
Chris Nilan
When you think of Chris you think of knuckles, fighting and thus PIM. However, did you realize he leads the Habs in all-time penalty minutes by over 1000 minutes over his next closest rival; Shayne Corson. Nilan averaged over 4 minutes in the box, per game, during his Hab career.
Left Wingers
Toe Blake
The coach right? Well before the coach came the player. Did you know there are only 6 players in team history to lead the team in scoring at least 5 times? 4 of those players are now immortalized in bronze outside the Bell Centre, the others are Lalonde and Toe Blake. Blake holds the distinction of being the only LW to achieve this feat.
Bob Gainey
Was Scotty Bowman a LW too? Apparently great hockey minds started their journeys on the left sides of ice rinks. Once called the greatest player in the world by the Soviets (at a time when they were also playing against Lafleur, Dryden, Orr, Esposito etc.), Bob has the distinction of having a trophy made for him. That trophy is the Selke; awarded annually to the best defensive forward. In all Bob won a league-record 4 of those and that doesn't include all the ones he would have won while he convincing the league he deserved such an honour.
Defencemen
Doug Harvey
Doug was regarded as the best defenceman in the world before a certain Bobby Orr came along, but still likely ranks in the top-5 of all time. In fact, many consider him the best player to ever suit up for Montreal. It, therefore, is no wonder that he has won an impressive 6 Norris trophies as the league's best defenceman - more than all other Habs combined.
Jacques Laperierre
I remember Jacques as a long time defensive coach for the Habs, but little did I know just how good of a player he had been. In all he played 779 games for the Habs and put his name on the Cup 5 times. He is the only defenceman in team history to ever win the Calder Trophy, as the league's best rookie. This trophy is usually reserved for forwards and goalies as defencemen usually take years to develop into NHL-capable blue-liners. In all the Calder has been won by 8 other defencemen, including Orr, Potvin, Bourque and Leetch.
Larry Robinson
I took an interest in the career +/- of Habs players and I found that the top-ranked player is miles apart from Sheldon Souray, whose -44 ranks as a team worst. Larry's +/- is a whopping +700! I can't even believe how that is possible as it ranks over 200 points better than any other player in team history. Robinson clearly was a lot more than a big hitter and high point-getter.
Goaltenders
Bill Durnan
Luongo isn't the only goalie to be the captain of a team. In fact, we had 2: Vezina and Durnan. Bill, however, seems to be one of those players that has got lost in the history books. Few Habs fans would put him on a top-5 of our team's all-time best goalies as few even know the name. His most impressive stat, however, could change a few minds. He played over 200 games less than Plante with the Habs, but matched his 6 Vezina trophies nonetheless.
Jacques Plante
The numbers would probably suggest Plante was the Habs' best ever goalie and he may very well be the best the league has ever seen. Despite all the accolades there was still one number that amazed me. In 646 career games he recoded 68 shutouts - more than 1 every 10 games.
Ken Dryden
He came in at the top and left even higher. In only 8 years he accomplished more than any other goalie before or since. His Stanley Cups and 5 Vezina Trophies are mind-boggling considering the length of his career. I was most taken, however, by his 0.737 winning %. In every 2 games he played he came away with about 3 points - forget losing streaks!
Jose Theodore
We all know the drama that came with Jose, but at his core there was a fantastic goalie. Rarely has that player been seen since the 2002 season, but so long as he isn't facing the Habs I hope he one day rebounds with the Capitals to the form we all know he had. In that magical season of 2002 he became the 12th Hab goalie to win the Vezina, but more impressively was just the second (Plante) to win the Hart as the league's MVP. We waited 24 years to win this trophy, our longest ever wait, let's hope the next one comes a bit sooner.
Cristobal Huet
Of all the great goalies we've had few have impressed me the way Cristo did. He was a fierce competitor and a true gentleman. But, above all he was an excellent goalie. He, in fact, is the Habs all-time leader in save % as he is the only player to stop 92% of shots he faced.
A Question
The last of the 20 pieces on numbers is something that has always bothered me. According to my NHL guide (1995-1996) the Canadiens had at that time retired 2 more numbers than they now claim to have done. Along with the 15 players we honour now, I believe there are 2 that we are forgetting. Both Aurele Joliat (4) and Elmer Lach (16) had, according to the league, their sweaters retired. These 2 players' career numbers would leave any other team calling them franchise players and even on the Habs I believe they are amongst that illustrious group. If anyone knows the story behind all of this I would love to hear it.
That is all for now. From us hear at Lions have a great Christmas and we'll be back in touch on Saturday as the Habs get back at 'er.
We have, however, been conducting some research for an upcoming piece on the greatest players in team history and through that we have stumbled across some very astounding and fun stats. The following is a list of 20 achievements over the Habs career of certain players. Some you may know, some may be news to you, but I urge you, nevertheless, to take a look and remember just how good of a team we have been over the past 99 years.
Centres
Newsy Lalonde
We don't hear much about the Habs' first star, but before Morenz there was Lalonde. He only suited up for the team in a total of 218 games, but during that time he accumulated 353 points. He played in the inaugural season and went on to play in 11 of the first 12. He led the team 9 times in regular season scoring and led the league a total of 3 times.
Howie Morenz
Among Howie's major achievements are the fact that he led the Habs in both goals and points a total of 7 times each - twice he led the league. More impressive was the fact that he won an astonishing 3 Hart trophies as league MVP; more than any other Hab.
Henri Richard
The pocket-rocket was team captain for 4 years, is a hall-of-famer and is one of the very few to have his shirt hanging from the rafters. The one stat, however, that I believe he will never lose or share is the fact that he won 11 Stanley Cups. Just think of that for a second, think of Roy and his 4, Gretzky and his 4, Messier and his 6 and it just makes this that much more special.
Jacques Lemaire
Before the trap in New Jersey there was a fire-wagon in Montreal, and, don't be fooled, Jacques was definitely among the flying frenchmen. His 139 career playoff points ranks second in team history, only le Gros Bill has more.
Saku Koivu
Koivu will hopefully, if we get him signed, become the longest ever serving captain in team history. Saku's leadership, however, extends beyond the ice. In 2006 he became the only player in team history to win the league's King Clancy Award, given annually, since 1988, to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.
Right Wingers
Didier Pitre
Don't be alarmed if this name isn't familiar as I too learned it for the first time a few days ago. In 274 games alongside Lalonde on the earliest versions of the Habs (playoffs included) he managed 296 points for a point/game average of 1.08. He ranks 4th all-time on the team in points/game, of players who have played at least 250 games, behind Lafleur, Frank Mahovolich and Beliveau.
Claude Provost
Claude ranks 5th all-time in games played for the Habs and most notable has played more games in the bleu-blanc-rouge than any other right winger - notably Maurice Richard, Lafleur and Cournoyer.
Yvan Cournoyer
Of all the impressive stats that the roadrunner put up in his career one in particular stands out to me. He is the all-time leader in playoff game-winning goals with 15. I really don't know if there is more crucial stat than that at the end of the day.
Chris Nilan
When you think of Chris you think of knuckles, fighting and thus PIM. However, did you realize he leads the Habs in all-time penalty minutes by over 1000 minutes over his next closest rival; Shayne Corson. Nilan averaged over 4 minutes in the box, per game, during his Hab career.
Left Wingers
Toe Blake
The coach right? Well before the coach came the player. Did you know there are only 6 players in team history to lead the team in scoring at least 5 times? 4 of those players are now immortalized in bronze outside the Bell Centre, the others are Lalonde and Toe Blake. Blake holds the distinction of being the only LW to achieve this feat.
Bob Gainey
Was Scotty Bowman a LW too? Apparently great hockey minds started their journeys on the left sides of ice rinks. Once called the greatest player in the world by the Soviets (at a time when they were also playing against Lafleur, Dryden, Orr, Esposito etc.), Bob has the distinction of having a trophy made for him. That trophy is the Selke; awarded annually to the best defensive forward. In all Bob won a league-record 4 of those and that doesn't include all the ones he would have won while he convincing the league he deserved such an honour.
Defencemen
Doug Harvey
Doug was regarded as the best defenceman in the world before a certain Bobby Orr came along, but still likely ranks in the top-5 of all time. In fact, many consider him the best player to ever suit up for Montreal. It, therefore, is no wonder that he has won an impressive 6 Norris trophies as the league's best defenceman - more than all other Habs combined.
Jacques Laperierre
I remember Jacques as a long time defensive coach for the Habs, but little did I know just how good of a player he had been. In all he played 779 games for the Habs and put his name on the Cup 5 times. He is the only defenceman in team history to ever win the Calder Trophy, as the league's best rookie. This trophy is usually reserved for forwards and goalies as defencemen usually take years to develop into NHL-capable blue-liners. In all the Calder has been won by 8 other defencemen, including Orr, Potvin, Bourque and Leetch.
Larry Robinson
I took an interest in the career +/- of Habs players and I found that the top-ranked player is miles apart from Sheldon Souray, whose -44 ranks as a team worst. Larry's +/- is a whopping +700! I can't even believe how that is possible as it ranks over 200 points better than any other player in team history. Robinson clearly was a lot more than a big hitter and high point-getter.
Goaltenders
Bill Durnan
Luongo isn't the only goalie to be the captain of a team. In fact, we had 2: Vezina and Durnan. Bill, however, seems to be one of those players that has got lost in the history books. Few Habs fans would put him on a top-5 of our team's all-time best goalies as few even know the name. His most impressive stat, however, could change a few minds. He played over 200 games less than Plante with the Habs, but matched his 6 Vezina trophies nonetheless.
Jacques Plante
The numbers would probably suggest Plante was the Habs' best ever goalie and he may very well be the best the league has ever seen. Despite all the accolades there was still one number that amazed me. In 646 career games he recoded 68 shutouts - more than 1 every 10 games.
Ken Dryden
He came in at the top and left even higher. In only 8 years he accomplished more than any other goalie before or since. His Stanley Cups and 5 Vezina Trophies are mind-boggling considering the length of his career. I was most taken, however, by his 0.737 winning %. In every 2 games he played he came away with about 3 points - forget losing streaks!
Jose Theodore
We all know the drama that came with Jose, but at his core there was a fantastic goalie. Rarely has that player been seen since the 2002 season, but so long as he isn't facing the Habs I hope he one day rebounds with the Capitals to the form we all know he had. In that magical season of 2002 he became the 12th Hab goalie to win the Vezina, but more impressively was just the second (Plante) to win the Hart as the league's MVP. We waited 24 years to win this trophy, our longest ever wait, let's hope the next one comes a bit sooner.
Cristobal Huet
Of all the great goalies we've had few have impressed me the way Cristo did. He was a fierce competitor and a true gentleman. But, above all he was an excellent goalie. He, in fact, is the Habs all-time leader in save % as he is the only player to stop 92% of shots he faced.
A Question
The last of the 20 pieces on numbers is something that has always bothered me. According to my NHL guide (1995-1996) the Canadiens had at that time retired 2 more numbers than they now claim to have done. Along with the 15 players we honour now, I believe there are 2 that we are forgetting. Both Aurele Joliat (4) and Elmer Lach (16) had, according to the league, their sweaters retired. These 2 players' career numbers would leave any other team calling them franchise players and even on the Habs I believe they are amongst that illustrious group. If anyone knows the story behind all of this I would love to hear it.
That is all for now. From us hear at Lions have a great Christmas and we'll be back in touch on Saturday as the Habs get back at 'er.
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