Ranking the greatest Habs legends still alive - #6

[WatchfulElm]

Who are the greatest living Habs legend?

The only rule is that I'm excluding active players.

1- Larry Robinson
2- Yvan Cournoyer
3- Patrick Roy
4- Ken Dryden
5- Serge Savard
6- ???

Feel free to suggest names to add to the list!

Players to be added :

Marcel Bonin
Tomas Plekanec
Alex Kovalev
José Théodore
Phil Goyette
Terry Harper
Claude Larose
Réjean Houle
Pierre Larouche
Rogatien Vachon
Frank Mahovlich
Pierre Mondou
Shayne Corson
Kirk Muller
Mark Recchi
Éric Desjardins
Patrice Brisebois
Dick Duff
Mike Keane
Claude Lemieux

Click to read more...

 

[WatchfulElm]

Curious to see who's gonna be next after Gainey.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Voted Lapointe but Gainey/Shutt are good too.

 

[WatchfulElm]

For what it's worth, among the remaining candidates :

Habs with their number retired :

Bob Gainey
Guy Lapointe

Other Habs in HHOF :

Guy Carbonneau
Jacques Lemaire
Steve Shutt

Other Habs in HHOF who spent most of their career outside of Montreal :

Chris Chelios
Frank Mahovlich
Dick Duff
Rod Langway
Mark Recchi
Denis Savard

 

[Ezpz]

Cmon guys. The #1 C of the 70's dynasty is going behind a third line winger and the #2 dman? I know there's bad blood between the Habs/Lafleur and Lemaire but let's be reality. For as much as we say Dryden leaving ended the dynasty, Lemaire left at the exact same time. The 79-80 team still had every other dynasty member except those two. He's got better numbers than Shutt and isn't that far off of Gainey defensively. The guy even went on to create defensive coaching as we know it.

 

[WatchfulElm]

Cmon guys. The #1 C of the 70's dynasty is going behind a third line winger and the #2 dman? I know there's bad blood between the Habs/Lafleur and Lemaire but let's be reality. For as much as we say Dryden leaving ended the dynasty, Lemaire left at the exact same time. The 79-80 team still had every other dynasty member except those two. He's got better numbers than Shutt and isn't that far off of Gainey defensively. The guy even went on to create defensive coaching as we know it.

It would be weird to vote for players who don't have their number retired before those who have. The organization itself judged that Lemaire and Shutt's contribution wasn't important enough to deserve this honor. They are probably right on the line though. I haven't seen them play, but from what I understand, Shutt was mostly a one dimensional scorer, while Lemaire was a responsible center whose offensive breakout is partly a product of playing with Lafleur and Shutt.

But obviously, they are right next in line after Gainey/Lapointe.

 

[Ezpz]

It would be weird to vote for players who don't have their number retired before those who have. The organization itself judged that Lemaire and Shutt's contribution wasn't important enough to deserve this honor. They are probably right on the line though. I haven't seen them play, but from what I understand, Shutt was mostly a one dimensional scorer, while Lemaire was a responsible center whose offensive breakout is partly a product of playing with Lafleur and Shutt.

But obviously, they are right next in line after Gainey/Lapointe.

The one who retired their numbers was Bob Gainey though. Lafleur retired because he didn't like Lemaire as coach and Savard refused to trade him. The organization sided with Lafleur through everything long term and Lemaire's career got ruined for nearly a decade and he isn't really invited to team events anymore. He's basically crapped on entirely because of the Lafleur issue, despite being a very important cog.

For the longest time Morenz, the Richards, Beliveau, Lafleur, Harvey and Plante were the only numbers retired. Over half of our retired numbers came with Gainey as GM, including his own. 10 jerseys retired in his 7 year tenure.

 

[WatchfulElm]

The one who retired their numbers was Bob Gainey though. Lafleur retired because he didn't like Lemaire as coach and Savard refused to trade him. The organization sided with Lafleur through everything long term and Lemaire's career got ruined for nearly a decade and he isn't really invited to team events anymore. He's basically crapped on entirely because of the Lafleur issue, despite being a very important cog.

For the longest time Morenz, the Richards, Beliveau, Lafleur, Harvey and Plante were the only numbers retired. Over half of our retired numbers came with Gainey as GM, including his own. 10 jerseys retired in his 7 year tenure.

Pretty sure it was not Gainey alone who decided which number to retire. I'd be surprised if he was involved at all.

 

[HuGort]

Serge Savard on fan other day talking about Summit Series. Almost 50 years ago. Very emotional. Said highest he ever elevated his game. Phil a good leader. Yakushov equal to Jean Beliveau. Klarkmov equal to Cournoyer. John Ferguson demanded Savard and Peter Mahivlich be on team. Bobby Clarke a great player. Some of his talent was hidden playing with goons in Philly

 

[peate]

Serge Savard on fan other day talking about Summit Series. Almost 50 years ago. Very emotional. Said highest he ever elevated his game. Phil a good leader. Yakushov equal to Jean Beliveau. Klarkmov equal to Cournoyer. John Ferguson demanded Savard and Peter Mahivlich be on team. Bobby Clarke a great player. Some of his talent was hidden playing with goons in Philly

Fergy also gave him the order to slash Valeri Kharlamov on the ankle, thus rendering him useless. Otherwise the outcome might have been different.

 

[WickedPegJets]

Did Bob Gainey’s reputation get tarnished with his less than successful stint as GM and his firing of Guy Carbonneau?

 

[peate]

Right now, I'd say #12 Road Runner is #1.

 

[HuGort]

Fergy also gave him the order to slash Valeri Kharlamov on the ankle, thus rendering him useless. Otherwise the outcome might have been different.

Savard interview brought back many memories. Canada had 22 million people, 16 million of them watched final game

 

[Lshap]

Savard interview brought back many memories. Canada had 22 million people, 16 million of them watched final game

The games in Russia took place during the middle of the day over here. I was in grade school; at game-time, teachers would wheel in a TV so the class could watch. The Canada/Russia series was more than a sporting event - it was treated as real news.

 

[Lshap]

The one who retired their numbers was Bob Gainey though. Lafleur retired because he didn't like Lemaire as coach and Savard refused to trade him. The organization sided with Lafleur through everything long term and Lemaire's career got ruined for nearly a decade and he isn't really invited to team events anymore. He's basically crapped on entirely because of the Lafleur issue, despite being a very important cog.

For the longest time Morenz, the Richards, Beliveau, Lafleur, Harvey and Plante were the only numbers retired. Over half of our retired numbers came with Gainey as GM, including his own. 10 jerseys retired in his 7 year tenure.

You raise a good point. I don't know much about the backstory between Lemaire and the org, other than there was a falling-out. But looking at his numbers and role... yeah, there's a good argument for Lemaire being a more important figure in Habs history. Has he ever spoken/written about his side?

 

[salbutera]

The one who retired their numbers was Bob Gainey though. Lafleur retired because he didn't like Lemaire as coach and Savard refused to trade him. The organization sided with Lafleur through everything long term and Lemaire's career got ruined for nearly a decade and he isn't really invited to team events anymore. He's basically crapped on entirely because of the Lafleur issue, despite being a very important cog.

For the longest time Morenz, the Richards, Beliveau, Lafleur, Harvey and Plante were the only numbers retired. Over half of our retired numbers came with Gainey as GM, including his own. 10 jerseys retired in his 7 year tenure.

Not sure about that…Savard begged Lemaire to stay on despite his hatred of having to deal w the media, thus wanting out as Habs coach and becoming AGM for a couple of years before bailing to quieter pastures when Uncle Lou came calling.

MB also tried hard to hire Lemaire in 2012 instead of Therrien, his contract request was ridiculous… basically a nice way of saying he didn’t want any part of the circus that is Habs-land

Lemaire loves his invisibility / iron curtain that Uncle Lou has provided w NJD, Leafs and now Isles - doesn’t do any media relations / interviews

 

[PaulD]

Serge Savard on fan other day talking about Summit Series. Almost 50 years ago. Very emotional. Said highest he ever elevated his game. Phil a good leader. Yakushov equal to Jean Beliveau. Klarkmov equal to Cournoyer. John Ferguson demanded Savard and Peter Mahivlich be on team. Bobby Clarke a great player. Some of his talent was hidden playing with goons in Philly

Read Serges book. A real pager turner. A must read for die hard Hab fans.

 

[PaulD]

You raise a good point. I don't know much about the backstory between Lemaire and the org, other than there was a falling-out. But looking at his numbers and role... yeah, there's a good argument for Lemaire being a more important figure in Habs history. Has he ever spoken/written about his side?

Lemaire was the best player on the ice in countless play off games. IMO #25 should be hanging from the rafters.

Did Bob Gainey’s reputation get tarnished with his less than successful stint as GM and his firing of Guy Carbonneau?

As a player ... no.
As a GM ... yes.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

It would be weird to vote for players who don't have their number retired before those who have. The organization itself judged that Lemaire and Shutt's contribution wasn't important enough to deserve this honor. They are probably right on the line though. I haven't seen them play, but from what I understand, Shutt was mostly a one dimensional scorer, while Lemaire was a responsible center whose offensive breakout is partly a product of playing with Lafleur and Shutt.

But obviously, they are right next in line after Gainey/Lapointe.

I'm old enough to have seen Lemaire play. He wasn't spectacular and my knowlage of hockey at the time made me think he's wasn't that good. He was shadowed by Cournoyer and Lafleur. But he was the hero of games in play offs, even before he was with Lafleur and Shutt. He had a good slapshot, his positioning was perfect, he was batling hard, he was an hero many times. When he came back as a coach or a special adviser I realised he was transposing as a system what he was doing on the ice when he was a player. What made his success as a player was not his skating or his shooting (both two good things he had) but his brain. He was wise, very wise and strategic. And a true warrior in important games.

 

[HuGort]

The games in Russia took place during the middle of the day over here. I was in grade school; at game-time, teachers would wheel in a TV so the class could watch. The Canada/Russia series was more than a sporting event - it was treated as real news.

Arguably biggest event in Canada's history. The drama way it unfolded plus middle of Cold War.

I remember back then everybody thought Russia was going to drop atomic bomb on us. We use to have these drills in grade 2. We all had to practice Hide under our desk with head between my legs.

 

[peate]

I'm old enough to have seen Lemaire play. He wasn't spectacular and my knowlage of hockey at the time made me think he's wasn't that good. He was shadowed by Cournoyer and Lafleur. But he was the hero of games in play offs, even before he was with Lafleur and Shutt. He had a good slapshot, his positioning was perfect, he was batling hard, he was an hero many times. When he came back as a coach or a special adviser I realised he was transposing as a system what he was doing on the ice when he was a player. What made his success as a player was not his skating or his shooting (both two good things he had) but his brain. He was wise, very wise and strategic. And a true warrior in important games.

I remember a goal he scored from the red line on a slapper, forgot who the goalie was.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

I remember a goal he scored from the red line on a slapper, forgot who the goalie was.

It was Tony Esposito. Lemaire knew Espo had vision problems from far. The slap was from the red line. It was in PO vs Chicago in 1971.

quote from this link : "And then, moments after that, the Canadiens got on the board on a strange goal. Jacques Lemaire took a slap shot from outside the blue line about 75 feet away from Tony Esposito’s net and it found the twine behind the Hawks’ goalie."

The Story of Tony Esposito (One of the Greatest Players in NHL History)

We’ve lost another great one. Tony Esposito passed away on August 10, 2021 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 78 years old. He was a Hall

sportshistorynetwork.com

 

[HuGort]

I remember a goal he scored from the red line on a slapper, forgot who the goalie was.

That was one of more famous goals in Habs history. I still can't believe we beat not only the Bruins but Black Hawks that year. Chicago had great team with Bobby Hull, Mikita, Pit Martin, Jim Pappin, Dennis Hull. Bill White and Stapleton on defense. Tony O in net.

 

[Cournoyer12]

The games in Russia took place during the middle of the day over here. I was in grade school; at game-time, teachers would wheel in a TV so the class could watch. The Canada/Russia series was more than a sporting event - it was treated as real news.

Epic series, so glad I was alive to see it and understand it!!

It was Tony Esposito. Lemaire knew Espo had vision problems from far. The slap was from the red line. It was in PO vs Chicago in 1971.

quote from this link : "And then, moments after that, the Canadiens got on the board on a strange goal. Jacques Lemaire took a slap shot from outside the blue line about 75 feet away from Tony Esposito’s net and it found the twine behind the Hawks’ goalie."

The Story of Tony Esposito (One of the Greatest Players in NHL History)

We’ve lost another great one. Tony Esposito passed away on August 10, 2021 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 78 years old. He was a Hall

sportshistorynetwork.com

Tony wasn’t the only goaler Lemaire embarrassed with his mighty slapped! Was a thing of beauty to witness!

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Fergy also gave him the order to slash Valeri Kharlamov on the ankle, thus rendering him useless. Otherwise the outcome might have been different.

I was ashamed to be a canadian and the only way they won was by slashing Kharlamov. Like yes they won but how they did? It's good to read few people didn't forgot what happened.