Monday, November 30, 2009

Top 100 Habs By Decade:

6. 1929-1939

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.

Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1929-1939


Fans from the 1990s and beyond can take some comfort from knowing that the Canadiens weren't always a win away from the Cup. The decade from 1929-39 started like 89-99, full of promise and trophies, but by mid-decade the Canadiens were in up-and-down form and had not yet found their killer instinct that was to com in later years.

There were good finishes like the back-to-back Stanley Cups and some top of the table efforts in the regular season, but this decade finds itself in sixth due to the stiff competition put forward by decades previous and following. On many other teams (Maroons, Rangers) this would have been franchise making results.

Once again, we've selected 10 players from our voting to fit the decade they best represent (no repeats). With 5 decades to come, the star power of the 1930s gives a feel of what awaits.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – sorry Brisebois fans]


10. Wilf Cude (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)































































Years(s)GPWLTGAASOAwards*
Habs career (Season)1933-4122082

100382.6518

AS
Decade best (Season)1936-3744

22

17

5

2.185

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1935-3810

3

6

1

2.710




Decade best (Playoffs)1936-375

2

3

0

2.220





Never blessed with a very good team in front of him, Cude made the best of a tough situation – putting up a couple of very solid seasons in the 1930s.


9. Wildor Larochelle (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1925-36404

81

63

144197

Decade best (Season)1931-3244

188

2616



Habs career (Playoffs)1927-35326

4

1024

2 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1930-3110

12

3

8

SC


A member of the productive second wave of offense from the earliest Habs dynasty.


8. Alfred "Pit" Lepine (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1925-38526143

98

241

392



Decade best (Season)1929-3044

24

9

33

47



Habs career (Playoffs)1927-3841

7

5

1226

2 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1930-3110

4

2

6

6

SC


A talented local boy who helped greatly in winning the Stanley Cups of 1930 and 1931.


7. Johnny "Black Cat" Gagnon (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1930-40406

115

137252

286



Decade best (Season)1936-3748

20

16

36

38



Habs career (Playoffs)1931-3931

1112

23

37

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1930-3110

6



2

8

8

SC


From rookie riding the coat-tails of Morenz and Joliat to Habs leading scorer in 1936-37 after Morenz's injury.


6. Albert "Babe" Siebert (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1936-39125

25

38

63

130H, AS, HOF
Decade best (Season)1936-3744

8202838

H, AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1937-3911

2

3

5

2



Decade best (Playoffs)1936-375

12

3

2





A converted forward, the Maroons player found new legs and talent at his new position, winning another Hart trophy and a recovery to top tier of the league for the Canadiens.


5. Georges Mantha (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1928-41488

89102191

148

Decade best (Season)1937-3847

23

1942

12



Habs career (Playoffs)1929-3936

6

2

8

24

2 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1930-3110

5

1

6

4

SC


Versatile, mostly defensive player, deployed either up front or on D. Noted for his clean and intelligent play (which really stood out in the 1930s).


4. Sylvio Mantha (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1923-3653863

78

141

669

AS, HOF
Decade best (Season)1929-3044

131124

108



Habs career (Playoffs)1924-3539

5

5

1064

3 SC

Decade best (Playoffs)1929-306

2

1

3

18

SC


Lynch-pin of the Canadiens defence for the early 1930s Cup dynasty years. Cup-winning captain and coach, Sylvio did it all with the Habs. His 3 Cups (tied with Joliat and Morenz) were a team record until those 1950s came along.


3. Aurele "The Might Atom" Joliat (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1922-38655

270

190460

771

H, AS, HOF
Decade best (Season)1933-3448

22

1537

27

H
Habs career (Playoffs)1923-3746

9

13

22

66

3 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1929-306

0

2

2

6

SC


Brought in via trade for Newsy Lalonde. A complete player with a good nose for the net. He formed a dynamic duo with Morenz for most of his career.


2. George Hainsworth (Top 100 all-time, Profile)































































Years(s)GPWLTGAASOAwards*
Habs career (Season)1926-3731816797

54

1.78

75

3 V, AS, HOF
Decade best (Season)1930-3144

26

10

8

1.95

8





Habs career (Playoffs)1927-3331

13135

1.70

6

2 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1929-30165

0

1

0.75

3

SC


Had big skates to fill and filled them ably. Won the first 3 Vezina trophies with 49 shutouts in 132 games. Amazing to think that 5-0-1 in the playoffs with 3 shutouts and a 0.75 GAA isn't the standout stat of his career.


1. Howie "The Stratford Streak" Morenz (Top 100 all-time, Profile)

























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1923-37460

257

160417

499

3 H, AS
Decade best (Season)1930-3139



28



23

51

49



H
Habs career (Playoffs)1924-3437

139

22

58

3 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1929-306

3

03

10SC


The first NHL superstar, and with good reason. He revitalised the new lower-scoring era with flashy displays of goalscoring for more than a decade. First number retired for the Habs, and anywhere.




* Awards: H = Hart trophy; V = Vezina trophy; AS= All-star; HOF = Hall of Fame; SC = Stanley Cup.

Top 100 Habs By Decade:

7. 1909-1919

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.

Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1909-1919


From humble beginnings, the Canadiens grew over this first decade to be the only club standing in Montreal and a perennial threat for the Stanley Cup championship. They even managed to choose a uniform (more or less) after far too much time at the drawing board.

This first decade, like the 1990s and 1920s only encompasses one Cup victory. But we cut them some slack for those first years where they really never had a chance at winning anyway. To be up and running (and running rivals out of town), competing for the Cup after 4 years, and then winning a championship after only 6 years is quite impressive.

The 10 players from this first decade are quite well known, due to their mythical standing in the Canadiens lore – they all after all helped to kindle this unhealthy obsession with this new game on ice that pervades Montreal 100 years later.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – sorry Brisebois fans]


10. Donald Smith (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)
























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Season)1912-155139155418
Decade best (Season)1913-14201810280
Habs career (Playoffs)1913-1421010
Decade best (Playoffs)1913-1421010


Top-line offense for two extremely prolific seasons, along with two more seasons of service.


9. Joe Hall (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1917-19

38

15

8



23

189

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1917-1821



8



7



15

100






Habs career (Playoffs)1917-19

701138




Decade best (Playoffs)1918-19



500026






Perhaps more famous for his Quebec Bulldogs days, where he led team to Cups. Joe was a solid producer for Montreal in the post-war years, helping the team to capture the NHL title in 1918 and then to the cusp of a second Cup in 1919. Unfortunately, Joe Hall succumbed to pneumonia that was a complication of the flu which led to the cancellation of the finals that year.


8. Bert Corbeau (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1914-22167



52

32



84



541




Decade best (Regular season)1917-1821

8

8



16

41






Habs career (Playoffs)1916-1918



6



3



9



85

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1916-17

641522






Rugged stalwart of the Canadiens blueline from the earliest years.


7. Howard McNamara (Top 100 all-time, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1915-2034



117

18

123




Decade best (Regular season)1915-1624

10

7



17

119




Habs career (Playoffs)1915-165



0

0



0



24

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1915-16

5



0

0



0



24

SC


The first Cup-winning captain of the Canadiens.


6. Jimmy Gardner (Top 100 all-time, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1913-151710



9

19



0

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1913-1415



10

9

19



0






Habs career (Playoffs)N/A































Decade best (Playoffs)N/A



































Combined coach and captain of two early editions of the team, including the first to compete for the O'Brien Cup.


5. "Phantom" Joe Malone (Top 100 all-time, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1917-2458

52

6



58

35

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1917-1820

44



4



48



30






Habs career (Playoffs)1918-239

6



2



8

6






Decade best (Playoffs)1918-195



5



2



7



3








Brought his incredible Bulldogs scoring rate to Montreal for one record setting season (2.2 G/GP!?!)


4. Jack Laviolette (Top 100 all-time, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1909-1815548



19



67



174

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1913-1420

7

9



16



0






Habs career (Playoffs)1914-1814



1



2



3

15SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1915-164





0



0

0



6

SC


Captained and coached the first edition of the Habs.


3. Georges Vezina (Top 100 all-time, Profile)
































































Years(s)GPWLTGAASOAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1910-26328



1751466

3.42

15

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1924-25

30

17

11

2

1.815






Habs career (Playoffs)1914-252616100

3.19

3

2 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1923-24

2

2

0

0

1.00

1SC


16 years synonymous with the Canadiens. Hardly a person saw anyone else play goal for the Canadiens until the late 1920s.


2. Didier "Cannonball" Pitre (Top 100 all-time, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1909-23254

220



59

279

218

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1915-16

24

24

15



39



42




Habs career (Playoffs)1916-2320



13





4



17



66



SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1915-165



4



0



4



18

SC


Original team scoring machine from the home turf.


1. Edouard "Newsy" Lalonde (Top 100 all-time, Profile)






























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1909-22200

266

62

328

440

HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1916-1718



28



7



35



61






Habs career (Playoffs)1914-1918



20



5



25



122

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1918-195



11

2

13

15








The original Canadiens superstar. Added captain and Stanley Cup winning coach to the CV by the end of the decade.


* Awards: HOF = Hall of Fame; SC = Stanley Cup.

Top 100 Habs By Decade:

8. 1919-1929

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.

Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1919-1929


It's quite difficult to put each decade into a numbered box (well except for this last one). It seems there have always been loads of positives over each ten year period, and more often than not Stanley Cup finals and victories.

The 1920s are no exception. They started in 1919 from a position of strength, after all they had been poised to possibly win the Stanley Cup before the influenza outbreak led to the cancellation of the competition that year. But the Canadiens of the day didn't use that success as a springboard, but rather spent the next four or five seasons just being better than weaklings Hamilton. A Cup came in the middle of the decade, but it was not until another poor finish in 1926 that a true rebound occurred.

Again, we have 10 players here from our top 100 voting that have been allocated to the 1920s because a) they best represent that era, and b) it best represents their overall exploits.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – sorry Brisebois fans]


10. Art Gagne (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1926-29132411657149

Decade best (Regular season)1927-2844

2010

3075

Habs career (Playoffs)1927-299

1

1

2

16

Decade best (Playoffs)1927-282

1

1

2

4



A decent foil for the dynamic duo that was Joliat-Morenz.


9. Harry Cameron (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1919-20

1612

5

1736HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1919-2016

12

5

17

36

Habs career (Playoffs)N/A















Decade best (Playoffs)N/A



















A classy defenceman into the Hall of Fame. The original Bobby Orr, the first Gordie Howe hat-trick and general innovator. Who cares that he only played 16 games for the Canadiens, he behaved like Bobby Orr while he was here...


8. Amos Arbour (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1915-2166

418

49

59

Decade best (Regular season)1919-2022

215

26

13

Habs career (Playoffs)1916-215

3

0

3

11SC
Decade best (Playoffs)N/A

















A sometime Hab, who had a big hand in Cup #1 and a stunning goalscoring start to the 1920s.


7. Louis Berlinquette (Not ranked in top 100, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1911-23235

6147

108

194

Decade best (Regular season)1921-2224

13

5

18

10

Habs career (Playoffs)1914-2317

0

5

5

17SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1922-232

0

2

2

0



From supporting cast to important offensive cog in the early 1920s machine.


6. Billy Couture (Top 100 all-time, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1916-2619824

1640

357

Decade best (Regular season)1925-2633

246

95

Habs career (Playoffs)1917-2517

0

1

1

81SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1923-242

0

0

0

0SC



A pioneer in the art of intimidation. Habs defence was built with some degree of intimidation at that time, and after Joe Hall passed away, Couture was the provider. Also captained the team in his final season.


5. Albert "Battleship" Leduc (Top 100 all-time, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1925-3534156

32

88574

Decade best (Regular season)1925-263210

3

13

62

Habs career (Playoffs)1927-33285

6

11322 SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1928-293

1

0

1

4



Smallish big-hitting defenceman. Replacing Sprague Cleghorn as the anchor at the back end, Leduc learned lots in the 1920s and took the Canadiens to their most successful stint to date in the late decade and early 1930s.


4. Billy Boucher (Top 100 all-time, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1921-2715686

36

122

339

Decade best (Regular season)1922-2324

247

31

55

Habs career (Playoffs)1923-256

3

0

3

15SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1923-242

1

0

1

9SC


One of Morenz's earlier wingers and a fixture of the 1920s Habs gamesheets and scoresheets.


3. Odie Cleghorn (Top 100 all-time, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1918-25159

93

33

126

134

Decade best (Regular season)1919-2021

20

424

30

Habs career (Playoffs)1919-25117

2

9

5SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1924-252

0

1

1

0



A hold-over star from the first decade. His greatest offensive achievements may have been in the 1918-19 playoffs, but his influence and scoring was pivotal in the 1923-24 season that ended in the Habs' second Cup.


2. Herb Gardiner (Top 100 all-time, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1926-299510

9

19

52H, HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1926-27

44

66

12

26H
Habs career (Playoffs)1927-299

0

1

116

Decade best (Playoffs)1927-282

0

1

1

4



The first Canadiens player to win the Hart trophy, the first defenceman to win the Hart trophy.


1. Sprague Cleghorn (Top 100 all-time, Profile)



























































Years(s)GPGAPtsPIMAwards*
Habs career (Regular season)1921-2598423173248HOF
Decade best (Regular season)1921-2224

17

9

26

80

Habs career (Playoffs)1923-255

1

2

3

9SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1924-252

1

2

3

2



Captain and impetus for the Canadiens second Cup victory. His 1921-22 season was another marvel for a defenceman, and epitmoised his influence on the way the team played during his tenure.


* Awards: H = Hart trophy; HOF = Hall of Fame; SC = Stanley Cup.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Top 100 Habs By Decade:

9. 1989-1999

In recognition of the Canadiens Centennial next Friday, we at Lions in Winter have been doing what we like best – making lists. As a precursor to publishing the definitive LIW top 100, we will be counting down the decades from least successful to most successful and naming our LIW top 10 players for the ten-year span. You should expect a few each day for the next few days.

Though this celebration has inevitably lost some steam due to relentless marketing and pre-game ceremonies for all of living memory, it would be a shame to let it pass unnoticed just because Mr. Gillett wanted to cash in before he cashed out.

1989-1999


An objective look reveals what we all fear – that we became fans of this team just as its fortunes began to turn. From a Cup final to end the decade previous, these ten years took the team to its lowest in 1999.

There were good years, of course, and a Stanley Cup. But after that amazing run of 1993, the years were not kind to the Canadiens, as they went from perennial contender for league and playoff crowns to being just one of 24 odd teams.

Thanks to the early years, there were good players on the team and good players to trade for other good players. One trade chain (the Richer chain) provided 4 players for our top 10 from the 1990s.

[Note: Each player only appears in one decade's top 10 – so Brisebois fans, hold on to your hats]


10. Shayne Corson (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1985-2000

662

168

255

423+7026

AS
Decade best (Season)1989-90

76

31

4475

+336

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)2002-0690

28

35

63

+167








Decade best (Playoffs)1990-9113

9

6

15

+53




A good solid player from the 1980s who had his best offensive seasons with Richer. Came back for a stint where he was captain and all-star again.


9. Eric Desjardins (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1988-95

405

43

136

179

+557

AS
Decade best (Season)1992-93

8213

32

45

+201







Habs career (Playoffs)2002-0671920

29

+61SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

410

14

+21SC


A player who would have held his own in the dynasty years, I bet. He saved his best year for when it counted, and his 1 playoff GWG, well we all know that...


8. Denis Savard (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1990-93

210

72

107

179+67

AS, HOF
Decade best (Season)1991-9277

2842

70+65

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1990-9338

5

25

30

-3

0

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1991-9211

3

9

12

+10






Came to Montreal under immense pressure to be THE star. Wasn't the dominant force, but still a big contributor over his 3 seasons in town.


7. Mathieu Schneider (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1987-2009

38368148

216

+3613





Decade best (Season)1993-9475

2032

52+154









Habs career (Playoffs)1990-2009

46

5

16

21

+50

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1990-91

13

2

7

9

+20






Learned to play offense from the back in Montreal. Was a pretty good option for D as well.


6. Pierre Turgeon (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1994-96104

50

77

127+358AS
Decade best (Season)1995-968038

58

96

+196

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1995-966

2

4

6+10








Decade best (Playoffs)1995-96

6

2

46

+10






The best season from a Canadiens player since Naslund, and it still stands.


5. Mark Recchi (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1994-99

346120

202

322

+2318AS
Decade best (Season)1995-96

822850

78

+206









Habs career (Playoffs)1996-982111

13

24

+52








Decade best (Playoffs)1997-98

10

48

12

+22






Like clockwork, both in being healthy for games and scoring.


4. Kirk Muller (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1991-95267

104

143

247

+115AS
Decade best (Season)1992-93

8037

57

94

+84

AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1992-9438

20

12

32

+36

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

10

7

17

+43

SC


Could find a new gear in important games and was pivotal in helping the whole team to do just that in several consecutive OTs.


3. Stephane Richer (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1984-98490225

196

421

+6536

AS
Decade best (Season)1989-9075

51

40

91

+358









Habs career (Playoffs)1986-9777

36

21

57

+19

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1990-9113

9

5

14

E

1




The last 50-goal season from a Canadiens player, a link to Lafleur. Richer was a serious threat in the first few years of the decade.


2. Vincent Damphousse (Top 100 all-time, Profile)


































































Years(s)GPGAPts+/-GWGAwards*
Habs career (Season)1992-99519184

314

498

+2635









Decade best (Season)1992-938439

58

97

+58









Habs career (Playoffs)1993-9848

19

24

43

E

5

SC
Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

11

12

23

+83

SC


The most unheralded scoring machine, captain, cup-winning, hometown hero you could imagine. Going out on a low note shouldn't eclipse what he managed in the mid-90s.


1. Patrick Roy (Top 100 all-time, Profile)







































































Years(s)GPWLTGAAS%SOAwards*
Habs career (Season)1984-2005551

289

17566

2.780.904293 V, 4 WJ, AS, HOF

Decade best (Season)1991-92673622



8



2.360.9145

V, WJ, AS
Habs career (Playoffs)1986-94114

70

42

0

2.460.9145

2 SC, 2 CS



Decade best (Playoffs)1992-9320

16

4

0

2.130.9290

SC, CS


He finds himself in the 1990s, but could head the 1980s list. Patrick was the source of most success in this decade – winning most individual honours and taking the team for a nice ride to LA to receive the silverware.


* Awards: V = Vezina trophy; WJ = William Jennings trophy (GA); AS= All-star; HOF = Hall of Fame; SC = Stanley Cup; CS = Conn Smythe.