RIP Flower

[Habspatrol]

Well, the statement was about all Hab legends being dead. I believe that Roy and Dryden count as Hab legends.

 

[CH1]

Sather said several years ago he approached Grundman w a Gretzky for Lafleur swap in summer 1979, Grundman asked for time, talked it over w Pollock (who had moved to the Habs BOD), and decided 99 was too frail to have a sustained NHL career.

I don’t believe it. In fact, Sam Pollock had his eyes on Wayne when he was 16 and traded for Colorado’s #1 pick years in advance (all for naught as Wayne , as Oilers property, was never draft eligible)

 

[Habsy]

Well, the statement was about all Hab legends being dead. I believe that Roy and Dryden count as Hab legends.

We’re all Habs legends but

Cournoyer
Savard
Robinson
Lemaire
Tremblay

All around. More too.

 

[GrandWazoo]

Well, the statement was about all Hab legends being dead. I believe that Roy and Dryden count as Hab legends.

They’re legends like Gainey, Robinson, Savard, not Richard, Beliveau, Lafleur.

 

[Habsy]

They’re legends like Gainey, Robinson, Savard, not Richard, Beliveau, Lafleur.

If that’s your criteria then Mats Naslund was a legend.

 

[GrandWazoo]

If that’s your criteria then Mats Naslund was a legend.

I narrowed it down to retired numbers.

 

[Krustchev]

I narrowed it down to retired numbers.

The guys you mentioned are iconic. I would probably include Roy too, maybe also Robinson and Doug Harvey.

 

[GGpX]

I think there are 5 Habs players that are iconic & go beyond hockey: Morenz, Richard, Beliveau, Lafleur & Roy.

Everyone else is, at the very least, a notch below them.

 

[Alan C]

For me the seventies era was something special. As much as I loved the 86 and 93 team it was not the same. Lafleur is the last of the real superstar forwards we have had. He himself a link to the stars that came before. Times change memories last. I truly feel for this era of fans that never got to see the franchise when it was truly the best. May the future bring back the glory. Rest well Guy.

 

[Sal_Butera]

I don’t believe it. In fact, Sam Pollock had his eyes on Wayne when he was 16 and traded for Colorado’s #1 pick years in advance (all for naught as Wayne , as Oilers property, was never draft eligible)

No one is infallible, just as Pollock sent Scotty to Perry Sound to evaluate some kid named Orr, and Scotty came back and said he won’t be an NHLer. Bruins then signed him..

Also look at draft - Prof Caron told Pollock it’s down to Napier vs Bossy for Habs pick… Pollock thought Bossy was too weak & a poor skater relative to Napier. Boom goes the dynamite..

But at the same time, the legendary story he took former Isles GM Bill Torrey for a walk around the Old Forum, and after every round threw in another player as part of a deal to land their 1OA pick for Potvin

 

[legoalie]

He was coming off a 30 goals 70 points season. Lemaire essentially kicked him off the team. Sad and disrespectful.

When JL took over as coach he wanted Guy to dump and chase the puck into the zone, no way Guy was going to do that.. that was the start of the end for Guy in Montreal..

 

[GrandWazoo]

When JL took over as coach he wanted Guy to dump and chase the pick into the zone, no way Guy was going to do that.. that was the start of the end for Guy in Montreal..

And JL knew Lafleur wasn’t going to do that.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Guy was my hockey hero growing up, so sad that he is gone. Now there are no more living Habs legends left: Rocket, Beliveau, Lafleur are all gone. Sure, Montreal has had many great players and Hall of Famers, but those three are the ones that represent the Franchise the most

Cournoyer has 10 Cup rings, won the Conn Smythe in 73, was captain, assisted on Henderson's goal in 72. A legend any way you slice it. I loved Lafleur too but my favorite Hab of all time was the Roadrunner. Before Lafleur became a perennial 50 goal scorer Cournoyer was the guy people came to see.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

The article mentions some of the other names — basically friends of the Molson family who owned those seats

Yes, none of the people in the photo are Bergy or Roy.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Pat Boutette knee-on-knee vs Whalers in playoffs, was the catalyst for the rapid decline.

Still can’t get over Grundman & Pollock (he of Habs Board of Directors version) not willing to swap Lafleur for Gretzky when approached by Sather prior to start of 1979-1980 inaugural season for Oilers…

I'm not sure that Gretzky story is altogether factual.

 

[WeHaveMoreCupsThanYou]

Lemaire had issues with high end offensive players his entire coaching career, look not further than Gaborik issues in Minny

That just made him a typical Habs coach of the last 40 years. Defense-first, risk-averse, reactionary.

 

[Krustchev]

That just made him a typical Habs coach of the last 40 years. Defense-first, risk-averse, reactionary.

Yeah but Lemaire’s stock in hockey really rose when he became Guy’s center. Sure he was a good player before and admired but he became a “star” after he replaced PM between Guy and Shutt. You’d think he’d have some appreciation for Guy as a result but I guess not. Oh well.

 

[Sal_Butera]

I'm not sure that Gretzky story is altogether factual.

Sather had nothing to gain by mentioning it, just as Scotty had nothing to gain by mentioning he recommended to Pollock that Orr was never going to be NHL caliber

 

[legoalie]

Yeah but Lemaire’s stock in hockey really rose when he became Guy’s center. Sure he was a good player before and admired but he became a “star” after he replaced PM between Guy and Shutt. You’d think he’d have some appreciation for Guy as a result but I guess not. Oh well

JL was already a star before establishing himself as the centre between Steve and Guy, in 72-73 he was the Habs leading scorer, he had 44 goals.

 

[legoalie]

Fans forget that Little M was the original center for Steve and Guy.. it wasn't until Little M struggled (1976 i think) that he was replaced by Jacques. The next year Pete was traded..