Montreal Canadiens Legends

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 13, 2010

Montreal Canadiens Legends

Jacques Plante - 1

The numbers of 15 legendary Canadiens, Hall of Famers all, hang from the rafters of the Bell Centre. Number 1 among them is the legendary goalie made common the use of the facemask after being struck by a shot 1959. During his 11 years in Montreal, Plante won six Vezina Trophies and six Stanley Cups, including the team's record of five straight from 1956-60.

Doug Harvey - 2

Arguably the best defenseman in NHL as well as Habs history, the Montreal native preceded Bobby Orr in revolutionizing the way the backline position is played. The first offensive-defenseman, Harvey's superb puck control fueled the Habs' five straight Cups. The captain also won the Norris Trophy as the league's top blueliner four years in a row and seven times overall during his 18-year career, a total that is second to Orr's eight.

Jean B&#233;liveau - 4

Considered the greatest Canadiens pivot, Béliveau served as captain for 10 of his 18 years in Montreal, setting 14 team records and 11 playoff marks while winning 10 Cups. The two-time Hart Trophy-winner (MVP) was also the first winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP (1965).

Bernie Geoffrion - 5

Nicknamed "Boom Boom" for his powerful slapper, Geoffrion was a colorful member of six Cup-winners. He was rookie of the year for 1951-52 and went on to win the Hart (1961) and two scoring titles. In 1960-61, he became only the second player in NHL history, after Montreal legend Rocket Richard, to score 50-goals in a season.

Howie Morenz - 7

Widely regarded as hockey's first superstar, the "Mitchell Meteor" or "Stratford Streak" was the fastest skater of his era. A three-time Hart-winner (1928, `31, `32) and two-time scoring champ, he won three Cups with the Habs. His second stint in Montreal, after two years in New York and Chicago, ended tragically when he died six weeks after a career-ending leg injury in 1937. His body laid in state at center ice in the Montreal Forum as thousands of fans paid a final tribute of Babe Ruthian proportions.

Maurice Richard - 9

The NHL's top goal-scorer each season receives the Maurice Richard Trophy, named for the first 50-goal scorer and first to reach 500. Feared for his intensity and crazed stare, The Rocket is the most beloved Canadien -- winner of eight Cups and five scoring titles in 18 years. He wore the "C" from 1956-60 and the NHL waived its waiting period so he could be immediately inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1961. After his death in 2000, he was given a state funeral -- the first Canadian athlete so honored.

Guy Lafleur - 10

The Flower's speed, flowing hair, and clutch goals made him the indelible image of Montreal's 1970s dynasty. A member of five Cup-winners, he had six straight 50-plus goal seasons and set team records for career points (1,246) and assists (728) during his 14-year stint. The six-time All-Star won three Ross, two Harts, three Pearson awards (MVP voted by his peers), and the '77 Conn Smythe.

Dickie Moore - 12

The Montreal native contributed to six Cups between 1951 and `63, won two Ross trophies and set an NHL record for most points in a playoff game (6) in a win over Boston on March 25, 1954 -- during a season in which he played in only 13 games because of a collarbone injury.

Yvan Cournoyer - 12

A throwback to Montreal's ''Flying Frenchmen'' of the 1920s and `30s, Cournoyer was called ''Road Runner'' for his dazzling speed. Between 1963 and 1979, he scored at least 20 goals in 12 straight seasons and won 10 Stanley Cups.

Henri Richard - 16

The Rocket's diminutive kid brother was called "The Pocket Rocket" and during his 20 years in the NHL (1955-75), he skated in more games as a Canadien (1,259) than any other player in team history. A superb playmaker, his name is etched on a record 11 Cups.

Serge Savard - 18

A member of the Habs' "Big Three" on D along with Larry Robinson and Guy Lapointe, Savard was a key member of five Cup-winners between 1972 and '79, and eight overall. One of the most dominant backliners of his era, Savard won the Conn Smythe in 1969 and the Masterton (for perseverance) in '79 after overcoming two career-threatening leg injuries. As the Habs GM, he added two more Cups (1986, 1993) to his collection.

Larry Robinson - 19

The big, ferocious backliner dished booming hits for the Habs for 17 seasons while winning two Norris trophies, the '78 Smythe and six Cups, including four straight from 1976-79. He set team records for most goals, assists, points and games by a defenseman and, most remarkably, never missed the playoffs during his 20-year NHL career.

Bob Gainey - 23

One of the league's finest two-way players, Gainey won the Selke Trophy as top defensive forward in each of the award's first four seasons. A swift skater and tenacious worker, he was a career plus-196 and the winner of five Cups, including four straight from 1976-79 when he won the Smythe. Gainey also served as team captain for 569 games, the second-longest such stint after Jean Béliveau's (679).

Ken Dryden -29

A towering (6'4") icon in the net, Dryden packed a load of accomplishment into his brief eight seasons with Montreal. Called up from the AHL in 1971, he won all six of his regular-season starts before improbably backstopping the Habs all the way to the Cup and winning the Smythe. The next season, he became the only player ever to win the Calder after taking playoff MVP honors. In all, Dryden won six Cups, including four in a row (1976-79) and five Vezina Trophies.

Patrick Roy - 33

Possibly the greatest goaltender of all time -- he holds the NHL career marks for regular-season (551) and postseason (151) wins, and playoff shutouts (23) among others -- the fiesty Québec native who popularized the butterfly style won the Conn Smythe and the Cup in his first full season with Montreal (1985-86) . Earning the nickname of St. Patrick, he again led the Habs to the Cup in '93, garnering the Smythe. After 11 seasons in Montreal, he left for Colorado after a bitter falling out, but was welcomed back this season to have his number retired.