The NHL suffered a crushing loss when it was announced that Hall of Fame goalie and six-time Stanley Cup winner Ken Dryden passed away on September 5 at the age of 78 due to cancer.
Dryden, who had a storied eight-year career with the Montreal Canadiens, enjoyed a tremendous run in the 1970’s of making a name for himself by backstopping the Canadiens to six Stanley Cup wins (1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979) during what was a dynasty led by not only Dryden but also the scoring exploits of Guy Lafleur, Jacques Lemaire and Yvon Cournoyer to name just a few.
What many hockey fans might not realize is that Dryden was actually drafted in the 1964 amateur draft by the Boston Bruins, who, in turn, traded him on June 28 in a multi-player deal to the Canadiens.
During his storied career, which saw this Hall of Famer post a 258-57-74 record, along with 46 shutouts, a 2.24 GAA, and a .922 save percentage, Dryden’s great play didn’t go unnoticed. His playing resume included such notable achievements as six Vezina Trophies (1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979), along with being selected to five All-Star Teams (1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978).
Other accolades included being elected to play in five All-Star games (1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978), being named to the 1972 Second All-Star Team, winning the 1971 Conn Smythe Trophy, and in 2017, being named to the list of the Greatest 100 NHL players.
Dryden couldn’t have asked for a better start to his career, which began with his March 14, 1971, Canadiens debut, where he was the story in stopping 35 shots during a 5-1 road win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the next few months, Dryden continued to grab headlines as he went undefeated at 6-0 in six regular-season games while posting a 1.65 GAA and .957 save percentage.
That spring, Dryden continued to amaze as he became hockey’s new superstar, as this unknown goalie, who played NCAA hockey at Cornell University, continued his climb to stardom. He was the story that spring, going 12-8-0 with a 3.01 GAA and a .914 save percentage in the 1971 playoffs, not only winning the Conn Smythe Trophy but also leading his Canadiens to a Stanley Cup victory.
A season later, Dryden was rewarded for his solid play as he continued to grab headlines with his play when, in his rookie year, he posted a 39-8-15 record for Montreal, which included eight shutouts along with a 2.24 GAA and .930 save percentage, which earned him the Calder Trophy for NHL rookie of the year.
Internationally, Dryden’s biggest moment came in September 1972, when he split the goaltending duties with Tony Esposito on Team Canada in the historic Summit Series, which was a highly publicized eight-game exhibition series between Team Canada and the Soviets.
Dryden happened to be playing that historical eighth and final game, which took place in Russia and is known for Team Canada forward Paul Henderson scoring the series-winning goal with 34 seconds remaining in regulation in Canada’s 6-5 win. This turned out to be a defining moment in Canadian international hockey. “I feel the history of that tournament, the legacy of that team just as strongly as all Canadian fans do,” Dryden said back in 2022. “It never goes away. It’s kind of like a good wine, I guess.”
Another standout moment for Dryden came on New Year’s Eve, 1975, at the Montreal Forum when, in what many believed to be the greatest game ever, this future Hall of Fame goalie backstopped the Canadiens to a 3-3 tie against the visiting Soviet Red Army team.
Besides winning Stanley Cups and building an impressive playing resume, Dryden is also well known for his habit of leaning upright on his stick during stoppages in play. Today, a trophy of Dryden in his iconic pose is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Courtesy, thescore.com
After only eight seasons with the Canadiens, Dryden, at only 32 years of age, retired from playing but remained extremely active as he wore different hats during his lifetime including working as a lawyer at a Toronto-based law firm, along with being the colour analyst for the historical 1980 Olympic hockey, which of course included the so-called Miracle on Ice Game and also got involved from 2004-2011 serving in Canadian Parliament.
Dryden, who earned his law degree in 1973 from McGill University, also served as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2004. During this time, the Leafs were relocating from Maple Leaf Gardens to what was then known as the Air Canada Centre, now the Scotiabank Arena.
In putting pen to paper, Dryden has earned rave reviews throughout the years for the numerous hockey books he has published. Arguably, his most popular book is The Game, which he wrote back in 1983, detailing what everyday life is like for a Montreal Canadiens player.
“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” Geoff Molson, owner and president of the Montreal Canadiens, said. “Behind the mask, he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations.”
Dryden, who was from Hamilton, Ontario, will be sorely missed. He leaves behind his wife, Lynda, along with his son, Michael, and his daughter, Sarah.
Header image: Courtesy USA Today
