We all know that Roberto Luongo wasn’t the first NHL goalie to be named his team’s captain.

There were six who preceded him.

I am writing this to explain the different circumstances of the previous half dozen being selected as captains.

The first NHL goalie captain was John Ross Roach of the Toronto St. Patricks. He was the captain for the 1924-25 season, and was a small, acrobatic goalie referred to as “Little Napoleon.”

That moniker implies that he was an aggressive character, but the fact that he was the Captain, rather than his veteran teammate, Jack Adams, tells me more. Adams was, of course, the martinet who intimidated Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsey for decades.

Reg Noble had been the previous captain of record, but had supposedly resigned as coach and captain in 1922. Then, he was traded on December 9, 1924 to the Montreal Maroons for $8,000. Maybe Roach replaced Noble as the captain. My ongoing research will find out.

The next season – 1925-26 - the NHL introduced a rule whereby only captains could talk to the referee.

Then a rule was introduced prior to 1932-33, that either a captain or alternate had to be on the ice at all times – obviously to converse with the referee.

This was during the Depression, and they were trying to speed the game up so the people wouldn’t get bored - and take their money and run.

That was the same season that three teams had their goalies named as captains.

George Hainsworth took over from Sylvio Mantha - who had been the captain since 1926. Hainsworth would give it up at season’s end, and Mantha was the Habs’ captain again until 1936.

Billy Burch had been the New York Americans’ captain since they entered into the NHL during the mid-1920s. But, he was traded to the Bruins prior to the 1932-33 season, and Roy Worters was captain for a year, until Red Dutton took over (Both Mantha and Dutton took too many penalties and thus couldn't fill the role.).

The situation in Ottawa was even more complex. The Senators hadn't operated during the 1931-32 season, because they ran out of money. So their players - like goalie Alec Connell and captain Frank Finnigan - were dispursed to other NHL teams for the year.

Then Connell was named the captain for the 1932-33 season, but only played 15 games, because he was injured and lost his goalie job to Bill Beveridge.

It would appear that Frank Finnigan was named the captain once again.

I would theorize that: these three captains were in name only, so that there would always be a captain on the ice; that the alternates mostly talked to the refs; that the three goalie captains weren't being honoured - like Gardiner or Luongo were decades later. And, it doesn’t appear that any of the three had the dictatorial needs of Roach.

That same 1932-33 season, Chicago’s captain had been Helge “Bulge” Bostrom, but he was sent down to the minors for part of the following season (I don’t know if the “Bulge” had anything to do with it.).

So, the Blackhawks needed a new captain. And, I would say that is the closest parallel with the Roberto Luongo situation in Vancouver today.

The following excerpt comes from The Legends of Hockey:

“Beginning in 1929-30, [Charlie] Gardiner would play a key role in Chicago's vast improvement. In 1930-31, he recorded a league-high 12 shutouts and a stellar goals-against mark of 1.73. He also earned his first of three selections to the NHL First All-Star Team. The following year his netminding heroics brought him the Vezina Trophy. Gardiner's exceptional play was augmented by his ability to direct his teammates on the ice, a factor that led to his being chosen to serve as team captain in 1933-34.”

What is remarkable for me, was that Gardiner was able to be a Vezina level goaltender and leader at the same time. He was basicly dying, and we are told that during breaks in play, he was often slumped over his crossbar, nearly blacked out.

As noted in the previous Hockey Trivia question, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup with Gardiner as their captain that year. And, he would have been re-elected, but he passed away.

At the beginning of the 1947-48 season, the NHL instituted a rule that states: “[The captain] shall wear the letter 'C' approximately three inches in height in contrasting color in a conspicuous position on the front of his sweater.''

Some captains had already begun wearing the ''C'' [The letter can be seen in team pictures from the mid-1940's.]. The practice evolved from soccer, where captains wore armbands

Bill Durnan wasn’t Montreal’s first choice for their captaincy. It was the venerable Toe Blake, who had been the Habs’ captain for eight seasons.

But, Blake had a serious leg injury on January 10, 1948, and needed a replacement.

Durnan was selected as Montreal’s captain, and rival teams complained that he was slowing the game down during his discussions with the refs – at strategic parts of the games.

Thus, the so-called “Durnan Rule” was introduced, and Montreal’s next captain became Emile Bouchard.

Maybe, as a goalie, you dreamed of lifting the Stanley Cup over your head, and then being honoured by winning a Vezina trophy as the best goalie in the league.

Well, that last bit of your dreams is now a reality.

The Vezina trophy Montreal Canadiens goalie Jacques Plante won in 1959-1960 season is now up for sale. That was the first year the Montreal Canadiens hall of famer wore his goalie mask, paving the way for the safety of goalies every where.

It was also the year the Habs won their fifth Stanley Cup in a row, an NHL record that still stands to this day.

The auction is on eBay and the trophy can be bought for $6,900.

A great buy for any Habs fan. And a way to live out one of your dreams.

After signing as a free agent in 1940 his NHL career started in the 1940-41 season with 21 points in 43 games. Montreal fans loved his fearless style of play, but it also contributed to injuries he suffered all the way through his playing career.

In one game in February 1947, a Toronto Maple Leafs player hit Lach. He fell on the ice head first and had a skull fracture. With fans thinking it was the end of Lach’s career, he proved them wrong by having an incredible 1947-48 season.

In the last game of the 1948-49 season against Detroit, Lach broke his jaw when he got hit by a Detroit player. At first he downplayed the injury since he wanted to play in the semifinals against the Red Wings. He can barely open his mouth to talk which showed that he was severely injured. That didn’t stop him from trying to get a helmet approved by then NHL president Clarence Campbell so he can play. His request was denied.

He retired after the 1953-54 season and went on to coach the Montreal Junior Canadiens and Montreal Royals for two seasons.

Trivia

He played 664 regular season games in the NHL.215 goals, 408 assists earning him a total of 623 points.

During his career he won the Stanley Cup in 1944, 1946 and 1953.

He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.

He was the first official recipient of the Art Ross Trophy in 1948 and the Hart Trophy in 1945.

In 1944-45 he led the NHL with 80 points, but it was before the creation of the Art Rose Trophy.

He was part of the Habs “Punch line” with Maurice Richard and Toe Blake.

On February 23, 1952 he passed Bill Cowley as the NHL's all-time leader in scoring by recording his 549th point.

He was voted on the First All-Star Team Centre 1945, 1948 and 1952 and on the Second All-Star Team Centre 1944 and 1946.

Mats Sundin has not made up his mind. Does anyone really care anymore? The return of Mats has plagued Leaf Nation all summer and it sounds like it will go on for a few months still.

On the Fan 590 this morning, Mats ended up on the phone thanks to Nick Kypreos who was at the Big Swede's cottage in Sweden. Kipper was there to film an interview with Mats which will run this Sunday on Sportsnet's hockey preview show.

What did Mats say on the radio? That at some point he will return to Toronto because he has a home here. Come on Mats, just sell the damn house and join the Habs...please...pretty please?

If you need to know how you would look in our beloved Blue, Blanc and Rouge, look below:

1967 was a long time ago folks and the Habs, let alone many other expansion teams, have managed to capture the Holy Grail of hockey at least once. Blame Ballard. Blame Stavro. Blame Peddie and MLSE. Anyway you spin it, the Leafs have been laughable for a long time.

Now that the niceties are out of the way, here are some things which are facts that the Leaf Nation fail to grasp:

1. The Montreal Canadiens, Les Glorieux, are the New York Yankees of hockey, NOT the blue and white, but mostly black and blue, Maple Leafs. Obviously, most Leaf fans and spinsters failed math- the Habs have won 24 Stanley Cups, more than any other NHL team, Toronto has 11. The Yankees have 26 World Series titles, more than any other baseball team. End of argument.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="616" caption="Start counting them..1..2..3..4..."][/caption]

 2. The Habs have won 10 Stanley Cups since the league expanded beyond six teams..the Leafs have won none.  This is just another stat to stop this insane talk that Toronto is the ultimate "hockeytown", the ultimate franchise, the Yankees of hockey. Ahem...winning nothing in 41 years is nothing to be proud of.

 

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="106" caption="A tribute? More like a memorial to something not happening again anytime soon."][/caption]

3. The Habs would have defeated the Leafs in the 1992-93 playoffs if they had met in the final. Please get over the fact that poor carrot-top referee Kerry Fraser did not call a penalty on The Great One when he clipped "The Killer" - Doug Gilmour. If you were good enough to have the Kings on the ropes that year, and not able close the deal in Game 6 or 7 of the semifinal, there is no one to blame but yourselves. Even if you had made the final, no one could have stopped Patrick Roy and his incredible goaltending that playoff season. The man was on a crusade to deliver the Habs another cup and another Conn Smythe trophy for himself. Do you really think Felix Potvin could have out-duelled Patrick? Roy notched 10 straight overtime wins and...oh ya- helped lead the defeat of the same Kings the Leafs could not put away in seven games.

 

4. One of your recent great captains, Doug Gilmour, looked way better in a Habs uniform than he did in a Leafs one. I said "look" before some of you have a heart attack or throw something at your monitor. I do not deny he owned Toronto while here, but the Hab uniform sure looked sweet on him and he was an inspirational leader the one year with Montreal as Saku was out battling stomach cancer.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="232" caption="The Killer in a Habs uniform."][/caption]

 5. Kirk Muller should be referred to as a former Hab, not a former Leaf, he helped lead the Habs to that 1992-93 cup and had some of his best years in Montreal.

 

6. The Leafs blew it as it concerns Vincent Damphousse. One of their best draft choices in the 1980s- Toronto gave up on him after one year and dealt him to Edmonton. He produced every where he went and by the time he hit Montreal, becoming captian there, yup, you guessed it, he helped the blue, blanc and rouge to the 1992-93 cup.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Thanks for the help Vinny!"][/caption]

7. It is cheaper for Leaf fans to see a Habs-Leafs game in Montreal than here in Toronto, a sad state of affairs. You want to go to Montreal anyway, because the fans are passionate and involved in the game more than they ever are in Toronto. Don't get me wrong, there are great Leafs fans, they problem is they have been priced right out of the building. Also, the night life and food in Montreal is way better anyway.

 

8. The Habs are the classiest organization in hockey. They retire the numbers of their great players and do not just "honour them". Also, the Habs care about their relations with the past, the Leafs are slowly getting to it but look at the damage done to Dave Keon and the Darryl Sittler in the past.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="542" caption="'Big Bird" Larry Robinson gives a wave when his #19 was retired. New Jersey boss Lou Lamoriello is on the right, including him was a classy move, you cannot expect any less from the Habs."][/caption]

 9. Habs fans sing "ole, ole, ole" because they are FANS and get involved in the game. Montreal cannot help their European roots and it beats sitting on your hands and being egged on by a monitor to cheer for your team. It does not matter that it used to be a soccer chant, it is a sporting chant and it beats the call of "Argooooos" at any Leaf game you go to. Also, I guess it has been so long since Leaf fans celebrated anything, that they forgot what a celebration entails.

 

 

 

I recently relayed this same advice to my own daughter, who now has a weekly dictee (spelling test, but in French).  So far, she has managed to maintain a perfect record.

I wonder if my mother sowed the seeds of my impatience with spelling mistakes (note that any errors in my blog are, of course, not spelling mistakes, but typos, a different and totally excusable thing).

As I look through the search hits that result in people coming to my blog, I find that the word "Canadien" figures quite prominently.  I'm now left trying to figure out if:  a) People don't know how to spell "Canadian", b) a whole bunch of French people are doing searches, c) I have used the word "Canadien" somewhere, d) Hab fans are hitting my blog a lot (perish the thought), or maybe e) all of the above.

A little something for the start of hockey season ...

They did go to the finals two years ago. They do have a great first line. They have made an effort to get rid of some of the problems they had last year.

It's not right to hate on a team so much. So with that being said, here were my top five favourite Ottawa Senators moments of the 2007-2008 season.

5) Chris Neil takes on Donald Brashear in a game on Dec. 29, 2007.

Good for Chris Neil to stand up to Brashear. The pounding he took was only slightly less hurtful than the pounding the Sens took in an 8-6 loss.

You can also point to this game as the team's turnaround from Stanley Cup contenders to a team that choked the rest of the season. This loss was only they team's second regulation loss in December, but it went downhill from there.

But good on Neil for trying to fight the good fight.

4) Gary Roberts takes on the entire Sens roster (about 7:30 into the video).

Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Ottawa is down 4-0 on the score sheet with about 30 seconds left. Gary Roberts has already scored two goals, when the Senators decide to challenge Roberts to a fight. Well, all those who were on the ice, anyways. Roberts didn't back down, waiting for each one to come at him, although none did not.

Good on the Sens for trying to change their playoff fortune by yapping at a 42-year-old near the end of a winless game.

3) We're coming back!

The Sens are down 2-0 halfway through the third period against the always great Montreal Canadiens. That's when a Sens fan decides to cheer his team on with his prediction of a Sens comeback. Montreal scores three seconds later, and go on to a 3-0 win, and clinch the division title.

Good on the fans though, for never giving up and always supporting your team, even if it makes you sound silly.

2) Another comeback

Montreal took a 7-1 lead after two periods, and took the third period off. Ottawa came back to make it 7-5. Good on them for finally showing up for the period Montreal took off. Most teams would have licked their wounds and waited for another night. But not the Sens. They decided to make a lopsided loss look more like a decent loss. Good for them.

1) Meet the Spartan

Good for Ottawa to try and get fans engaged in the playoffs, even though they didn't show up for the first two games in Pittsburgh and were down 2-0 in the series. Glad to see them try to get the fans going, even though most fans were, 1) confused, and 2) decidedly more calm after the introductions. Nothing says Ottawa Senators more than something screwing up.

So there's my olive branch, Sens fans. I hope you accept it. It would be better if we were friends. I would hate for us to be bitter with one another when the Habs are hoisiting the Stanley Cup in June. We might even let you hold it, but just for a minute.

Lang isn't as good as he once was, but he gives the Habs what they need. A strong centreman with experience.

Montreal was able to get him for cheap because the Chicago Blackhawks were over the salary cap, thanks to the signings of Cristobal Huet and Brian Campbell in the offseason.

Although he's making $4 million, I think if we can get 50-60 points out of Lang, that would be good. I don't think he would be on the top two lines though, although he could see some powerplay time.

Some think he should be playing on a line with Kovalev, but I'm not sold on that. In fact, with my lines, he could end up on the fourth line. Here's how I see it playing out:

Higgins - Koivu - Latendresse

Tanguay - Plekanec - Kovalev

Kostitsyn - Kostitsyn - Lang

Begin - Kostopolous - Laraque

Now Laraque I think would be great on the third line with the Kostitsyn brothers. He can give them room to skate, and just park himself in front of the net. If that happens, then Lang gets moved down to the fourth line.

Of course, none of this takes into consideration a rookie who might make the team, such as Chipchura.

Depth is a wonderful thing to have, no?

Since it is the offseason, I have time to paint the timeline of my hockey fandom, reminisce about how and when I became a fan and take things chronologically to today.  So, the passion begins...

On some Saturday night, in a winter about 34 years ago, I have vivid recollection.  "O Canada, terre de nos aieux..." A pudgy faced Francophone named Roger Doucet started.  To this day, I can replay his rendition of our national anthem in my head with his powerful voice echoing and almost giving me goosebumps.   Pretty impressive since I haven't heard him in over 20 years.

Then, on with the Bleu Blanc et Rouge.  Back in the early 70s as a Canadian hockey fan, you had pretty much two choices.  The Habs and the Leafs.  At the time I was watching, there really was no comparison.  The Canadiens were fast, skilled, and just a joy to watch.  I would still watch the Leafs on Saturday, but it was only a consolation for the thirst until they were back on TV again.

I learned a lot from this guy.  When you are 5 or 6 and a cartoon puck is there to tell you about the nuances of what you are watching, you are in pretty good shape.  The league would be well served to cater to these young fans again.  Who knows what they are watching now. 

Funny thing is, my team didn't win the first year I was a hockey fan.  They got beat out by Gilbert Perreault and the Buffalo Sabres (He was a treat to watch by the way.).  That didn't matter to me though.  From that first game on, I was Ken Dryden in net, Yvon Cournoyer or Guy Lafleur as a skater for the next several years on the road, on the ice, or even the table top rod hockey we would get for Christmas.  I was a  Canadiens fan.  With the group they had assembled, it wouldn't be tough to be a fan, starting the next year, they were one of the most dominant teams in history for four seasons.

Next....transition.

This is Roy's first real public appearance with the Canadiens since the disaster of the game that led him to be traded all those years ago.

For those who don't know, Patrick Roy was my favourite player. I had a Roy jersey that I wore to school two or three times a week. I had newspaper clippings. He was the first player that I wrote, asking for an autograph. Like every young Montreal fan at the time, I idolized him.

What's weird is that I never got a chance to watch him play in person. I tried. My dad took me to a game in 1993, against L.A. The Habs won 7-2, but their backup was in net. When I moved to Ottawa in 1995, I bought a six-pack of Senators games, and made sure Montreal was one of them. He was traded before the game happened. And I went to a Colorado-Ottawa game, but back then, the Sens sucked, so the backup always played against them.

The last game of Roy's Montreal career holds a different type of memory for me than it probably does for most people. It was my first year of university, and I had just started to get to know a good friend of mine, Wendy. She's from Montreal, and is also a huge Habs fan.

So she kept telling me stories about how she would go to see the Canadiens play in person. She told me the Habs had never lost a game that she has been at. She stressed the word never. She encouraged, no, almost begged me, to make sure I watched that hockey game. She pretty much guaranteed a victory.

So I watched (I would have anyways, I'm a huge Habs fan, remember). You all know the rest. Patrick Roy was left in net for nine goals, as the Habs lost 12-1 to the Detroit Red Wings. When he was pulled, he went past the coach, Mario Tremblay, and told team president Ronald Correy that he would never play a game for Montreal again.

Four days later, he and captain Mike Keane was traded to the Colorado Avalanche for Andre Kovalenko, Martin Rucinsky and Jocelyn Thibault.

Now that 13 years have passed, it's time to answer questions left over from that day.

Did Montreal get enough in the trade?Yes. Roy forced Montreal to make a trade. They had little choice. They ended up getting a few players that had the chance to blossom into top players. It didn't work out, but they in return for Roy, they got a young #1 goalie (who stood on his head at first: remember the chants of Thibault during games?) and two guys who had the opportunity to be offensive players.

Did the trade screw Montreal, helping them become a poor team for the next 10 years?No. Bad trades and bad draft picks did that. From 1994 to 2000, Montreal used their first round picks on Brad Brown, Terry Ryan, Matt Higgins, Jason Ward, Eric Chouinard, Ron Hainsey, and Marcel Hossa. Not exactly a group you can build a team around. In fact, in 1999, Montreal didn't have a first-round pick. Instead, they used their second-round pick on Alexander Buturlin (yeah, I've never heard of him either).

Is this the reason Roy kept fighting Detroit players?Perhaps. In Colorado, Roy got into fights with Mike Vernon, Dominic Hasek and Chris Osgoode, all Detroit goalies. Although the two teams had a huge rivalry, but I wonder if Roy held an extra grudge against them for running up the score that night in Montreal.

Should Roy have been traded? Yes. The egos in play were too big. Tremblay and Roy could never have a player-coach relationship after this, and you have to show that the players are not bigger than the game.

Anyways, Roy brought the Habs to the promised land. Twice. Both times they won theStanley Cup, he was the Conn Smythe Trophy winner. With Montreal, he won the Jennings trophy four times and the Vezina trophy three times. He is usually seen as the best goalie of all time. He revolutionized the goalie position, wearing bigger equipment and bringing in the butterfly style.

Despite what happened in that one game, Roy gave it his all for the Habs. He was a leader on the ice. He kept the Habs respectable when they couldn't score throughout the late 80s and early 90s. Without Roy, our last Stanley Cup won have been in 1979, not 1993.

He deserves to have his jersey hanging from the rafters. And he deserves a standing ovation. I may not idolize him like I once did, but there's doubt he was something special on the ice.

Regardless, there are a few tidbits that didn't get enough coverage.

First, the Habs web site had a contest going where people could vote for the all-time best games. In celebration of the 100th anniversary, the Canadiens will be releasing a special DVD set showing the full 10 games as voted on by the fans. They won't say which games won (although I'm willing to bet Patrick Roy's last game won't be on there).

I'm pretty anxious to see this. I know the Phildelphia Flyers released one of these a few years back, and from what I heard, it was excellent.

The other bit of news is that the Habs may be wearing a fourth jersey this year. Apparently, in celebration of their 100 years, they may wear a jersey based on one from the early part of their existence. The striped one is from the 1912-1913 season, and the other one is from the 1915-1916 season.

No question about it, St. Patrick will never be mistaken for Citizen of the Year. And yet...

You simply can't discuss Roy's departure from Montreal without noting the chief mitigating circumstance: he was hung out to dry that night by Mario Tremblay, a bad coach who left him in for nine goals against the Detroit Red Wings. And if good behaviour is suddenly a criteria for jersey retirement, we're about to enter a drought in heart-warming celebrations. These are pro athletes, after all.

In the end, I think retiring the jersey is the right choice. Roy's positive impact on the storied franchise far outweighs the negative. He counts among the greatest goalies to play the game, and effectively reinvented the position. He brought the Canadiens two unlikely Stanley Cups. Fully 288 of his 551 wins came with Montreal. He won three Vezinas (all with the Habs) and a record three Conn Smythes (two with Montreal). Hoist the number, and get it over with, I say. If Roy goes to jail someday, we can have a debate about pulling it down.

Still with the Habs, winger Alex Kovalev wins the award for staying bland in adverse circumstances in this interview. Fast forward to about 3:50, as Kovy's buddy nods earnestly in assent to the player's clichés ... Alex should take him wherever he goes

The Montreal Canadiens have the best fans in the NHL.

A guy in Minnesota, a blogger named Derek Felska,  decided to see what team has the best NHL fans. He studied average attendance over the past three seasons, fan activity during games, fan activity on message boards and blogs, and the team's average finish.

Montreal came first, as if there were any doubt. The passion for the Habs is something most other NHL fans can only dream of. They support their team no matter what, are loud during games, and are willing to tell everyone else they are the best.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were number three, and the Detroit Red Wings were second.

The Ottawa Senators were 11th, and the worse Canadian team. That should say something.

There were some surprises. Minnesota was fourth (I think home-town favourtism comes into play here). The San Jose Sharks were 13th, and the Pittsburgh Penguins 14th (both behind the Tampa Bay Lightning). The Anaheim Mighty Ducks were 17th, and the Washington Capitals were ranked behind the Los Angeles Kings. The Boston Bruins were 22 (a real travesty, I think).

The worst team was the New Jersey Devils. The top 10 can be found here, with links on the side to the other 20.

The quote offers hope for the Blue Jackets that the young power-pack, who was drafted in the second round in 2007, may turn up in Columbus in the third week of September. But for now he's sticking to his decision to hang up the skates, which, in Canadian eyes at least, makes him one of the most interesting stories in hockey.

Much has to be assumed here—that Legein really is burned out and there's not some other drama unfolding in his life (intriguingly, and sadly, he seems to be at odds with his parents on this matter). If this is the whole truth, though, I sympathize. Yeah I know. Woe is Stefan; he has to be a well-paid athlete. But think of what young players now go through in this super-charged age of hothouse prospect cultivation: development camps, international under-18 tournaments, showcase games for scouts, select tournments against the Russians, world junior championships, publicity appearances, combines, and on and on. Then they go back to Moncton or Swift Current or Tri-Cities and ride the buses all night. Oh, and most of them (try to) go to school. Phew.

It's worth noting that two other players have now voiced concern about this load—Flames draftee Daniel Ryder, who took a "gap year" off himself, and Habs goalie Carey Price, who spoke after this year's NHL playoffs of feeling run down after doing nothing but playing hockey for two years. It might be time for the NHL, CHL and Hockey Canada to discuss some limitations where elite players are concerned.