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Once in a while, it’s possible to have positive and healthy discussions on Twitter without people being at each other’s throat and I found one such discussion yesterday. One of my followers was asking who would be on your Mount Rushmore of favorite players? Not, best players, favorite players, that’s not the same. I don’t think anyone can argue that Maurice Richard and Jean Beliveau wouldn’t make theirs if it was just about best players, but favorite players are a different animal all together since everyone has got different tastes and reasons why they like a player. Without further ado, here’s who would make my landmark mountain…
I didn’t even have to think to pick my first player, Patrick Roy. The legendary netminder was between the pipes for the Canadiens when 5-year-old me started watching hockey and within minutes of watching him multiply the big saves, I was under his spell. The nerves of steel, the ability to elevate his game when it was most needed and the fact that he was the ultimate clutch player are all reasons why this was a no brainer for me. And who doesn't remember the wink in 1993? Some call it cockiness, I call it confidence and you can't underestimate what it does to a team to have a supremely confident netminder backing them. His divorce with the Canadiens very nearly broke my heart and to this day, I still boo when I see Mario Tremblay on television (thankfully he’s now announced his retirement so that should be over and done with). Even once Roy was with the Avs, I just couldn’t help but cheer for him.
We’re staying in the same era for my second pick, Larry Robinson. By the time I was born, Big Bird had already played eight NHL seasons and 13 before I even started watching hockey, but still, he quickly became a favorite of mine. The smooth skating, the transition game, the imposing physical presence, Robinson was a real general on the blue line and such an important part of the time. When he left via free agency in the summer of 1989, 9-year-old me was very upset, I even remember where I was when I heard. I was in my grand-dad’s car when the radio reported the dreaded departure, and I couldn’t help letting out a “Nooooo!” cry which surprised grand-dad who was driving. Shockingly enough, he couldn’t understand why I was upset and he told me “Calm down, it’s only hockey”, that’s the first time I remember giving someone a look that said “are you bloody kidding me?!?”. If you haven’t read his book “The Great Defender”, I highly recommend it.
Next up, Brendan “Gally” Gallagher. When he made the team in the lockout shorten season in 2012-2013 I immediately loved his style of play. The way he wasn’t afraid to go into traffic even though he was shorter and lighter than anyone around him, he feared nothing and no one and was just an absolute pain for opposing players. As the years went by, Gallagher became the very definition of a warrior always ready to go into battle and 100% dedicated to the Bleu, Blanc, Rouge. I know, nowadays, people feel he’s grossly overpaid, but for me, the very thought of trading Brendan Gallagher is a sacrilege. If someone deserves to spend his whole career wearing the Sainte-Flanelle, it’s him. He’s got a brilliant work ethic and is exactly the kind of veteran you need to guide young players in a rebuild. After this season, he’ll still have three years to go on his contract at a $6.5 million AAV per year, a hefty price tag if he cannot stay healthy and produce anywhere near the level he once did, but still, I hope he stays in Montreal. His big contract might prevent him from being traded in any case or if his body keeps breaking down on him, he could very well end up on LTIR.
Last but not least, P.K. Subban rounds up my picks. I know, he’s a polarizing player and definitely wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but man was he entertaining to watch with the Habs. For me, Subban was a breath of fresh air in an era where the Canadiens’ attack was both predictable and anemic. I loved being at the Bell Centre when Subban would decide to carry the puck from one end of the ice to the other, it was magic, he had a way to get people out of their seats. Furthermore, he was so involved in the community and did so much for the Montreal Children’s hospital. I really think that the Montreal hockey market just wasn’t ready for Subban’s persona when he arrived on the scene. When he was sent packing in the Summer of 2016, I felt like the organization took a step backwards, reverting to a more conservative style when they acquired Shea Weber. Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate that Weber was a good player and did a lot for this team, but his game was a lot less exciting than seeing Subban fly out there.
There you have it, those are my four picks, the four players that really got to me in over 35 years of watching the Montreal Canadiens. I know a lot of people out there won’t like my list, but hey, each to their own. Now, let’s hear it, who would make your Montreal Canadiens Mount Rushmore of favorite players?
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