Legendary Hab Ken Dryden Passes Away
Ken Dryden has died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. Dryden was best known as the legendary Habs goalie who backstopped the Canadiens’ dynasty of the 1970s to six Stanley Cups while winning five Vezina Trophies, the Calder Trophy, and one Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in the Habs’ magical 1971 playoff run.
Dryden was also a member of Team Canada in the Summit Series. He was in goal for the memorable and remarkable final game, which ended with “The Goal” by Paul Henderson, that clinched an incredible victory for Canada. The Canadiens’ four consecutive Stanley Cup wins culminating in 1979 marked the end of his Hall of Fame career and the end of the most recent dynasty in the history of hockey’s greatest franchise. All of this was accomplished in an NHL career that spanned only eight years. Dryden retired from the NHL at age 31.
His hockey resume was incredibly impressive but Dryden was so much more than a hockey player. Dryden was a collegiate player at Cornell and attended law school at McGill concurrently during the first few seasons of his NHL career. He actually articled for a year in the 1970s, taking a year away from the Canadiens to do so. An accomplished author, his critically acclaimed book “The Game” documents a week in the 1978-79 season of a Habs team that knows its time as a dynasty is coming to an end. Many pundits view “The Game” as the greatest hockey book ever written.
From 1997 to 2004, Dryden was an executive with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a period where they went to the NHL semifinals twice, the most success the Leafs have enjoyed since their last Stanley Cup. Dryden also served as a parliamentarian representing a Toronto-area riding and served as a cabinet minister in Paul Martin’s government. He was a candidate for the Liberal Party’s leadership in 2008.
Dryden also received the Order of Canada in 2012 and his famous number 29 hangs from the Bell Centre’s rafters.
The Canadiens have lost a great Hab and Canada has lost a great Canadian. Deepest condolences to his family. We all mourn the passing of Ken Dryden. Rest in peace.