The Habs Introduce Ring Of Honor
The Montreal Canadiens will enshrine their Hall Of Famers in a Ring of Honor to mark the 100th anniversary of the storied and legendary franchise.
As most sports fans know, the idea of a ROH was made famous by another great club - the Dallas Cowboys.
The idea of having one in Montreal is a great one and suits Montreal perfectly, however, I’m a little confused by the omission of coach Dick Irvin Sr.
The introduction of the ROH wasn’t the only thing on the agenda. The Habs also announced they will retire Patrick Roy’s #33 on November 22.
This decision certainly has led to some debate among Habs fans. Many still haven’t forgotten the circumstances of how he left Montreal. They felt betrayed by an athlete, they feel, who let his ego get the better of him. Others are willing to let bygones be bygones. Where I think most fans agree is on the timing of it.
The Montreal Canadiens organization has made it a habit of letting former legends wait over ten years, sometimes decades, before retiring their numbers. The most recent being Larry Robinson. Patrick Roy certainly didn’t have to wait that long and to their credit, the team acknowledged that there was a certain degree of unfairness to this.
I still don’t know why Butch Bouchard and Elmer Lach haven’t had their jersey’s retired. Lach is 91 years old. Think he waited long enough?
Personally, I wasn’t impressed by what Roy did in 1995. He helped to contribute to set the franchise back quite a few years as a result of his arrogant actions. He put an inexperienced GM in Rejean Houle in a tight spot and was soon forced to make a bad trade.
Despite this, I don’t think we can blame him for what the Habs got in return and nobody would deny he didn’t deserve the honor. He is unquestionably one of Montreal’s greatest goalies. In a team with a long, rich, legacy of great goalies from Georges Vezina to George Hainsworth to Bill Durnan to Gump Worsley to Jacques Plante to Ken Dryden, Roy comfortably sits among these immortals.
So. Is Patrick Roy the greatest goalie ever as some assert? The short answer to this is no. I’m not even sure if he’s the greatest Montreal Canadiens goalie in history. Durnan, Hainsworth and Plante certainly have legitimate claims to that title.
Statistically, Roy is not the best. Dominik Hasek is. In terms of career numbers such as regular season wins and other categories, his contemporary Martin Brodeur will likely surpass him. Johnny Bower, Glenn Hall, Terry Sawchuk, for example, are other members who live in hockey’s pantheon of great goaltenders.
People will claim, notably in the post season, that he’s the greatest “money” goalie ever - this is another way of saying clutch. He certainly had his moments that’s for sure and he did blow me away on a few occasions but there’s no reliable statistical measure to qualify this. It’s subjective at best. But it does get tempting with Roy.
If you’re a Habs fan - or a hockey fan in general - just enjoy it for what it is. Leave the hyperbole behind. Roy is among the greatest goalies ever and let’s leave it at that.
8 Responses to “The Habs Introduce Ring Of Honor”
Leave a Reply
wow not really giving Roy the credit he deserves. Did he beat out your favorite team in the finals or what???
Hey Danny. Thanks for starting this thread.
He beat Mike Vernon. I know that. Now his son is carrying the pugilist tradition.
But the author raises an interesting point: should Roy have been retired before Lach and Bouchard? I’m sure people have their opinions.
And 1995 still bothers people indeed.
Statistically, yeah a few goalies were better but you know what they say: he was a “money” goalie.
I was a Habs fan so he never hurt me.
I can see why some people would be bitter of Roy especially if they are not habs fan or avs fan. My point is though I don’t like writers who are bias of Patrick Roy, and write an article without giving Roy the credit he deserves as a hockey player. Sure maybe Hasak had some better stats, and Brodeur will surpass some of his all time records. Least we forget the influence Roy had on goalies and players he played against. Least we forget 151 playoffs wins (record will never be broken) 4 Cups and most importantly 3 playoff MVP. There will always be people wo will argue that Roy is not the greatest goalie of all time, but to all those people who are in denial for whatever reason PLEASE TELL ME WHAT OTHER GOALIE WHEN IT REALLY COUNTS (PLAYOFFS) WHICH ALL PLAYERS ARE JUDGED BY HAS A MORE IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE POST SEASON???
“Should Roy have been retired before Lach and Bouchard? I’m sure people have their opinions”
To give you my opinion on the timming of Roy’s jersey retirement. I can start off by saying I’m a Habs Fan, and I have all the respect for all the past habs greats. I was in Montreal to watch the ceremony and I agree with the decision to retire Roy’s Jersey before Bouchard or Lach. The Habs were celebrating there 100 years aniversary. Without Roy I’m sure everybody would agree the Habs would have been without a Cup since 1979. Not only has Roy accomplished more than Bouchard or Lach, but has kept life in the Montral Canadiens history down the stretch to there 100 year aniversary. Yes I agree Bouchard or Lach deserve their number retired, but here is my point towards the author….WHY ROY THE ARGUMENT OVER ROY’S CEREMONY??? WHY NOT ARGUE ROBINSON FOR EXAMPLE??? DO TRULY BELIEVE AS HOCKEY PLAYER Bouchard or Lach OR LARRY ROBINSON had a bigger impact in hockey and in the in the past 100 years of the Montreal Canadiens than Roy??? And if so please state your argument???
Danny,
Thanks for the comments. Ok, I’ll bite.
Let’s not get into the impact thing. Lach, Bouchard, Robinson played before Roy. They were great and instrumental on their respective teams. They should have been first in line. That’s all.
Even the Canadiens conceded there was an injustice in this. But this is a different management team than the previous ones.
And I think the author took care to give Roy his props. He has no problem with the retirement but with the timing of it. It’s his opinion.
And Danny, MANY Habs fans have a problem with Roy and you know it. :<)
Personally, I agree with the last line: he’s among the greatest but not the greatest as many assert.
But as you point out, does it matter (about that his stats) weren’t the best? He led the Habs to two cups they would otherwise not win and helped lead the Avs to two more.
He was St. Pat in Montreal. He popularized the butter fly and there was an cultural impact.
I never forgot that game in MSG Game 7. To say nothing of Game 7 against the Whalers in ‘86. He was simply great. BUT he set the Habs back with what he did. Too bad he led his anger and ego get in the way - Tremblay notwithstanding.
Sorry if this seems scattered.
Ok exporip I glad your playing ball now. I agree with some of the things you have said there is no doubt about that. I know everybody has their own opinion on Patrick Roy. We can argue back and forth about the incident in 1995. We can mention Roy’s ego getting the best of him. We can also mention Tremblay leaving Roy hung up to dry. I know no matter how mad some Hab fans are about the incident—they will agree with me that there was no reason to leave Roy in net for 9 goals. I cannot recall any coach in the NHL to ever leave there goalie in net for 9 goals especially when there is a backup goalie who is more than ready to play. This brings me to my next question: Why does Roy have to take the blame for what happened in 1995?? Sure I agree he was wrong for waving at the fans after he made an easy save from far. I agree that he should of bottled up is emotions that night and quietly sat on the bench. If Roy would have been pulled after 4 or 5 goals or even 6 goals which is common, none of this would of happened, so I find it hard to swallow that Roy was the one set back the Habs. I believe the Hab management set back the Habs. Another point Roy didnot want to leave Montreal after the incident, and wanted to patch things up, but the Montreal organization sait it was a “no return”. I would of loved to see Roy end his career in Montreal, but you don’t leave an all universe goalie for 9 goals to be humilated in front of the hockey world. Least we forget what that superstar goalie did for the Habs before December 1995. As far as everything else you said we can argue about stats and accomplishments all day, but everybody has their own opinion on the retirement ceremony, and who is the greatest goalie of all time. To all the Roy haters, and the Hab fans who are a little bitter at Roy like yourself, don’t forget Exporip what player won YOUR FAVORITE TEAM the last Cup to date with a wink of an eye, and I don’t recall any Hab Fans having a problem with his ego back then.
“they will agree with me that there was no reason to leave Roy in net for 9 goals.”
I think you’re right. My buddy certainly feels that way.
“If Roy would have been pulled after 4 or 5 goals or even 6 goals which is common, none of this would of happened, so I find it hard to swallow that Roy was the one set back the Habs.”
Point well stated and taken.
“I believe the Hab management set back the Habs.”
They were indeed incapable of swinging the right deal. They panicked. Poor Houle.
RE: Anger etc. That’s why my “bitterness” is mild: Because of his contributions and achievements. But for some; it proved too much. I hardly get caught up in this. It’s fun to discuss though.
I think it was best they parted ways. Roy’s temperament does not befit the Habs image. His coaching methods in junior is an example.
Thanks Danny.
Thanks for the good discussion