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Rookie goaltender Patrick Roy led the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup in 1986, earning the Conn Smythe trophy as most valuable player of the playoffs. Source: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/05/14 (May be subject to copyright) |
That’s because he was.
Yet Patrick Roy repeated a feat in 1986 that Ken Dryden had accomplished 15 years earlier – assuming the starting job part way through the regular season as a rookie and taking them all the way to the Stanley Cup championship.
Earlier this week, the New York Islanders fired their coach and hired Roy as their new head coach.
They are hoping he can do the same thing as a coach that he had as a player – lead them to a Stanley Cup.
Early on
Patrick Roy was selected in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 51st overall. He returned to junior for the 1984-1985 season, playing for the Granby Bisons of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was called up by the Canadiens, and played in one game for Montreal, making his NHL debut on Feb. 23, 1985. He came into the game in the third period, replacing Doug Soetaert, and earned his first win without allowing a goal in 20 minutes of work. Shortly after, he was assigned to the Sherbrooke Canadiens, Montreal’s American Hockey League, affiliate, where he quickly earned the starting job and led the Canadiens to the Calder Cup championship.
Patrick Roy was selected in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 51st overall. He returned to junior for the 1984-1985 season, playing for the Granby Bisons of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He was called up by the Canadiens, and played in one game for Montreal, making his NHL debut on Feb. 23, 1985. He came into the game in the third period, replacing Doug Soetaert, and earned his first win without allowing a goal in 20 minutes of work. Shortly after, he was assigned to the Sherbrooke Canadiens, Montreal’s American Hockey League, affiliate, where he quickly earned the starting job and led the Canadiens to the Calder Cup championship.
The next year, that fateful 1985-1986 season, would be one for the ages.
Playoff hero
Patrick Roy made the Canadiens to start the 1985-1986 NHL season, backing up Steve Penney and, when Penney got hurt in January, assumed the starting job. Roy appeared in 47 games, recording 23 wins, 18 losses, and three ties with one shut out and a goals against average of 3.35.
Patrick Roy made the Canadiens to start the 1985-1986 NHL season, backing up Steve Penney and, when Penney got hurt in January, assumed the starting job. Roy appeared in 47 games, recording 23 wins, 18 losses, and three ties with one shut out and a goals against average of 3.35.
As the Canadiens readied for the playoffs, Roy was named their starting goalie. They made the right choice.
They opened the playoffs by sweeping my beloved Boston Bruins 3-0 in the Adams Division Semi-final, then outlasted the Hartford Whalers in a tight seven-game Adams Division Final series, before defeating the New York Rangers 4-1 in the Wales Conference Final. They were headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1979.
The Canadiens would benefit from a shocking upset in the Campbell Conference. Against all odds, the Calgary Flames had shocked the Edmonton Oilers, the regular season and two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, in a dramatic seven-game series. They then defeated the St. Louis Blues in seven games in the Campbell Conference Final to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Canadiens dropped the opening game of the Stanley Cup Final, then rebounded to take four straight games and win their 23rd Stanley Cup. Patrick Roy would be the difference, making clutch save after clutch save, and recorded a 1-0 shut-out victory in Game 4. He appeared in 20 playoff games, winning 15 and losing five, with a goals against average of 1.93 with one shut out. For his efforts, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player of the playoffs. At 20, he was the youngest winner of the Conn Smythe., and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
The future looked bright for Patrick Roy.
Settling in
Patrick Roy appeared in 46 games in the 1986-1987 season, recording 22 wins, 16 losses, and six ties with one shut out and a 2.93 goals against average. Montreal finished second in the Adams Division in the regular season, drawing Boston in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, who they swept again, this time in four straight games. Then they outlasted their arch-rival the Quebec Nordiques in seven games in the second round before losing to Philadelphia in the conference final in six games.
Patrick Roy appeared in 46 games in the 1986-1987 season, recording 22 wins, 16 losses, and six ties with one shut out and a 2.93 goals against average. Montreal finished second in the Adams Division in the regular season, drawing Boston in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, who they swept again, this time in four straight games. Then they outlasted their arch-rival the Quebec Nordiques in seven games in the second round before losing to Philadelphia in the conference final in six games.
Roy also shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Brian Hayward for fewest goals allowed that season.
In the 1987-1988 season, he played in 45 games, recording 23 wins, 12 losses, and nine ties, with three shut outs and 2.90 goals against average. Montreal finished first in the Adams Division in the regular season, facing Hartford in the first round, who they defeated in six games in the first round. They were then upset by the Bruins in the second round, in a series where I never stopped cheering my lungs out.
Roy again shared the Jennings Trophy with Hayward, was a Second Team NHL All-Star, and played in his first NHL All-Star Game..
Return to the finals
The Montreal Canadiens changed head coaches before the start of the 1988-1989 season, as Pat Burns took over from Jean Peron. He would lead Montreal to a first place finish in the Adams Division. They drew Hartford in the first round, sweeping them in four straight games. They then exacted revenge on the Bruins who beat them in the division final the year before, by eliminating Boston in five games. They faced Philadelphia in the conference final in what was a rough series. Montreal prevailed in six games and would face Calgary in a re-match of the 1986 Stanley Cup Final. This time Calgary prevailed, defeating the Canadiens in six games. They won the Cup in the Montreal Forum too. It was the only time in history a visiting team was presented the Stanley Cup in the Forum.
The Montreal Canadiens changed head coaches before the start of the 1988-1989 season, as Pat Burns took over from Jean Peron. He would lead Montreal to a first place finish in the Adams Division. They drew Hartford in the first round, sweeping them in four straight games. They then exacted revenge on the Bruins who beat them in the division final the year before, by eliminating Boston in five games. They faced Philadelphia in the conference final in what was a rough series. Montreal prevailed in six games and would face Calgary in a re-match of the 1986 Stanley Cup Final. This time Calgary prevailed, defeating the Canadiens in six games. They won the Cup in the Montreal Forum too. It was the only time in history a visiting team was presented the Stanley Cup in the Forum.
Roy appeared in 48 games in the 1988-1989 season, winning 33 games, losing five and tying six, with four shut outs and a 2.47 goals against average.
He also won his first Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender, won his third Jennings Trophy with Hayward, and was a First Team NHL All-Star.
Dusk of the decade
Patrick Roy closed out the decade by playing in 54 games in the 1989-1990 season, recording 31 wins, 16 losses and five ties, with three shut outs and a 2.53 goals against average. Montreal finished third in the Adams Division. They beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 in the opening round, before Boston eliminated the Canadiens in five games.
Patrick Roy closed out the decade by playing in 54 games in the 1989-1990 season, recording 31 wins, 16 losses and five ties, with three shut outs and a 2.53 goals against average. Montreal finished third in the Adams Division. They beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 in the opening round, before Boston eliminated the Canadiens in five games.
He also won his second Vezina Trophy, and was a First Team NHL All-Star for the second time.
Yet, as the 1980s closed, Patrick Roy had established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the game. The next 13 years would just add to his legacy.
The years after
Patrick Roy had a storybook career. He would repeat his feat of 1986, putting the Canadiens on his back and leading them to another improbable Stanley Cup championship at the end of the 1992-1993 season, earning his second Conn Smythe in the process.
Patrick Roy had a storybook career. He would repeat his feat of 1986, putting the Canadiens on his back and leading them to another improbable Stanley Cup championship at the end of the 1992-1993 season, earning his second Conn Smythe in the process.
He would be traded to the Colorado Avalanche part way through the 1995-1996 season in an ironic twist. Roy had grown up a Quebec Nordiques fan and was not happy about being drafted by Montreal. The Nordiques moved to Denver in 1995 and became the Avalanche, so he finally became a Nordique – sort of.
Roy would lead Colorado to a Stanley Cup championship at the end of that season too, winning a third Conn Smythe, then backstop them to a second Stanley Cup championship at the end of the 2000-2001 season.
He would go on to win the Vezina again in 1992; The Jennings Trophy in 1992 and 2002; be named a First Team NHL All-Star in 1992 and 2002; a Second Team NHL All-Star in 1991; and play in the All-Star Game in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Roy finished with career totals of 1,029 games, 551 wins, 315 losses, 131 ties, 66 shut outs and a 2.54 goals against average. He also played in 247 playoff games, winning 151 games, losing 94 games, recording 23 shut outs and a goals against average of 2.30.
Both the Canadiens and Avalanche retired his number.
Patrick Roy was elected to the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 2006.
After retiring, Roy moved into coaching where he won the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL’s coach of the year in 2014 when coaching the Avalanche.
Parting thoughts
Polls have named Patrick Roy as the best goalie in history. I cannot argue with that. He had this intangible quality that earned him the nickname “St. Patrick”.
Polls have named Patrick Roy as the best goalie in history. I cannot argue with that. He had this intangible quality that earned him the nickname “St. Patrick”.
For all his success in the regular season, it was his performance in the playoffs that sets him apart. He could put a team on his back and carry them to the Stanley Cup. In fact, he did it twice in Montreal.
Beyond being a great goaltender, he was an even better money goaltender.
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