Ken Dryden, HOF Goaltender for the Canadiens, 6 time Stanley Cup winner, lawyer, author, politician and Cabinet Minister has passed at 78.
RIP Ken Dryden
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That's sad, I enjoyed his books as much as I enjoyed The Canadiens destroying the Philadelphia Pansies.
Dryden was drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1964. Habs GM traded peanuts for him, fully knowing that Ken was committed to attending Cornell University, and would not be turning pro before 1969. The closest analogy is the Dallas Cowboys drafting Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach in the 10th round, (1964 NFL draft), knowing that Roger planned to fulfill his 4 year commitment to the US Navy following his graduation.
In elementary school (Glen Ravine Public School) I remember checking out his picture book from the library - all the fkn time. Great memories - great goalie - RIP.
Summit Series 1972 - Goalie Stats
Summit Series 1972 goalie stats leaders and demographics breakdown. Goalie birth country and age distributions, draft rounds of goalies in the 1972 tournament.
www.quanthockey.com
The stats don't lie.
Dryden was always such a cerebral classy individual.
He left hockey on his own terms at the top of his game. Not to many players in any sport can lay claim to that.
The Canadiens will as their history indicates in these matters will send him out right in their home opener.
Dryden played six regular season games with the 1970-71 Canadiens, then all 20 playoff games, winning his first of six Stanley Cup rings, and the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Habs' regular goaltenders that season had been Rogie Vachon and Phil Myre. Vachon was traded to the Los Angeles Kings early in the 1971-72 season, and Myre was lost to the Atlanta Flames in the expansion draft after the 1971-72 season.
In 1971-72, Dryden won the Calder Trophy and placed 2nd in MVP voting. In 1972-73, He won the Vezina Trophy and his second Cup ring.
He sat out the entire 1973-74 season because of a contract dispute, and spent that year completing his law degree. He retired after winning four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1976-79.
If Dryden had been a baseball player, he would have been ineligible for the Hall of Fame, because he only played seven full regular seasons after his 1970-71 debut, short of the minimum ten.
I lived in Montreal during Dryden's career. Instead of being excited about having a dynasty team, the attitude towards hockey in Montreal was arrogant. People would say 'wake me up for the Finals', and when the Canadiens won the Cup, locals would say 'Phhhh. Took them six games'. This is why I have no sympathy for the team when they struggle to try to be an eighth seed in the playoffs.
In 1971-72, Dryden won the Calder Trophy and placed 2nd in MVP voting. In 1972-73, He won the Vezina Trophy and his second Cup ring.
He sat out the entire 1973-74 season because of a contract dispute, and spent that year completing his law degree. He retired after winning four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1976-79.
If Dryden had been a baseball player, he would have been ineligible for the Hall of Fame, because he only played seven full regular seasons after his 1970-71 debut, short of the minimum ten.
I lived in Montreal during Dryden's career. Instead of being excited about having a dynasty team, the attitude towards hockey in Montreal was arrogant. People would say 'wake me up for the Finals', and when the Canadiens won the Cup, locals would say 'Phhhh. Took them six games'. This is why I have no sympathy for the team when they struggle to try to be an eighth seed in the playoffs.
How good would he have been if he didn't play for the Habs, he had the luxury of having Savard, Lapointe and Robinson in front of him.
7 year old, Ken Dryden, playing for the Islington Hornets of the Humber Valley Hockey Association in 1955 in Toronto
Or here's a question...If the Habs don't leave Tony Esposito unprotected how would that have worked out?
The Bruins also owned Bernie Parent, Rick MacLeish, and Reggie Leach when they came into the NHL(late 60's/early 70's). All were gone within their first two years, and then made it big with the Flyers. Must be nice to be able to discard talent like that.
What if the Leafs hadn't traded the 4th pick in the 1991 entry draft* for Tom Kurvers, at the beginning of the 1989-90 season? The pick was used by the New Jersey Nets to select Scott Niedermeyer, but Peter Forsberg was also available.
