Discussion: The Guy Lapointe #5 retirement ceremony.

[Born in 1909]

I thought that Lapointe's retirement ceremony deserved a little thread of its own.

Wow... Was that ever great or what?

Very emotional.

The Habs did this one beautifully by lowering Robinson and Savard's numbers for the occasion.

The big 3 indeed.

The Habs dominated hockey of the 70's.

An amazing history...

Click to read more...

 

[ThaDevilGirl]

Someone needs to gif the bit where Lapointe puts baby powder on the back of Gérald Tremblay.

 

[Whitesnake]

Really simple and yet incredibly touching. Those 2 Robinson and Savard banners that joins the Lapointe one....incredible touch. Of course, it has a lot to do with Lapointe's reaction to all of this...not a lot of people weren't touched by that.

 

[S Bah]

Wonderful to see Guy Lapointe's Jersey lifted into the rafters with his partners jerseys and them there for the occasion.

The Canadiens have retired fifteen numbers in honour of eighteen players,[46] the most of any team in the National Hockey League. All of the honourees were born in Canada. Howie Morenz was the first honouree on November 2, 1937.[47]

Montreal Canadiens retired numbers


No.

Player

Position

Career

Date of honour

1 Jacques Plante G 1953-63 October 7, 1995
2 Doug Harvey D 1947-61 October 26, 1985
3 Emile Bouchard D 1941-56 December 4, 2009
4 Jean Beliveau C 1952-71 October 9, 1971
5 Bernie Geoffrion RW 1950-64 March 11, 2006
Guy Lapointe D 1968-82 November 8, 2014
7 Howie Morenz C 1923-37 November 2, 1937
9 Maurice Richard RW 1943-60 October 6, 1960
10 Guy Lafleur RW 1971-85 February 16, 1985
12 Dickie Moore LW 1953-63 November 12, 2005
Yvan Cournoyer RW 1964-79 November 12, 2005
16 Henri Richard C 1955-75 December 10, 1975
Elmer Lach C 1940-54 December 4, 2009
18 Serge Savard D 1967-81 November 18, 2006
19 Larry Robinson D 1972-89 November 19, 2007
23 Bob Gainey LW 1974-89 February 23, 2008
29 Ken Dryden G 1970-79 January 29, 2007
33 Patrick Roy G 1985-95 November 22, 2008

Hockey Hall of Fame[edit]

Sixty-two people associated with the Canadiens have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thirty-six of these players are from three separate notable dynasties: 12 from 1955–1960, 11 from 1964–1969 and 13 from 1975–1979. Howie Morenz and Georges Vezina were the first Canadiens given the honour in 1945, while Chris Chelios was the most recently inducted, in 2013.[48]
It's a Beautiful world, the Habs players being a great part of that for this poster, thanks to all those responsible for Guy Lapointe's Jersey retirement, the last of the Big Three, very touching ceremony.

 

[S Bah]

The Montreal Gazette has a gallery of pictures from the ceremony, for those that missed the tribute. Watching the Big Three, evoked the thought of having Larry Robinson return to the Habs, with his defensive expertise as a defence Coach for our great prospects. Seeing PK Subban with those three HOF defenceman, one dreams of the day when our Habs return the Stanley Cup to Montreal, it's true home,IMHO.

 

[Born in 1909]

The Montreal Gazette has a gallery of pictures from the ceremony, for those that missed the tribute. Watching the Big Three, evoked the thought of having Larry Robinson return to the Habs, with his defensive expertise as a defence Coach for our great prospects. Seeing PK Subban with those three HOF defenceman, one dreams of the day when our Habs return the Stanley Cup to Montreal, it's true home,IMHO.

Nice posts.

A 25th Montreal Cup is a must.

 

[BLONG7]

didn't see the ceremony, but a congrats to Lapointe!! Glad they put his number up there with # 18 and # 19 what a trio they were during one of the best era's for the Habs!!
The 70's were insane for me, as a Habs fan, going to school, 6 cups in 8 years...boy people hated us!! LOL

Way to go Guy!! # 5

 

[montreal]

that was a great ceremony last night, he was a bit before my time as I didn't get into hockey until the mid 80's but glad to see as the numbers he put up a damn impressive. Congrats to him and his family and good on the Molson's to get it done.

 

[varsaku]

Does anyone know the name of the song when they were raising the banner?

 

[BaseballCoach]

that was a great ceremony last night, he was a bit before my time as I didn't get into hockey until the mid 80's but glad to see as the numbers he put up a damn impressive. Congrats to him and his family and good on the Molson's to get it done.

It wasn't just the numbers that were impressive. It was his play. Savard and Robinson played together almost exclusively starting in 1974, but Lapointe drew as his partner the #4 or #5 guys most of the time, whether Awrey, Nyrop, or Bouchard.

That he could still shine while carrying a lower talent on his back was always amazing to me.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Wonderful to see Guy Lapointe's Jersey lifted into the rafters with his partners jerseys and them there for the occasion.

The Canadiens have retired fifteen numbers in honour of eighteen players,[46] the most of any team in the National Hockey League. All of the honourees were born in Canada. Howie Morenz was the first honouree on November 2, 1937.[47]

Montreal Canadiens retired numbers


No.

Player

Position

Career

Date of honour

1 Jacques Plante G 1953-63 October 7, 1995
2 Doug Harvey D 1947-61 October 26, 1985
3 Emile Bouchard D 1941-56 December 4, 2009
4 Jean Beliveau C 1952-71 October 9, 1971
5 Bernie Geoffrion RW 1950-64 March 11, 2006
Guy Lapointe D 1968-82 November 8, 2014
7 Howie Morenz C 1923-37 November 2, 1937
9 Maurice Richard RW 1943-60 October 6, 1960
10 Guy Lafleur RW 1971-85 February 16, 1985
12 Dickie Moore LW 1953-63 November 12, 2005
Yvan Cournoyer RW 1964-79 November 12, 2005
16 Henri Richard C 1955-75 December 10, 1975
Elmer Lach C 1940-54 December 4, 2009
18 Serge Savard D 1967-81 November 18, 2006
19 Larry Robinson D 1972-89 November 19, 2007
23 Bob Gainey LW 1974-89 February 23, 2008
29 Ken Dryden G 1970-79 January 29, 2007
33 Patrick Roy G 1985-95 November 22, 2008

Hockey Hall of Fame[edit]

Sixty-two people associated with the Canadiens have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thirty-six of these players are from three separate notable dynasties: 12 from 1955–1960, 11 from 1964–1969 and 13 from 1975–1979. Howie Morenz and Georges Vezina were the first Canadiens given the honour in 1945, while Chris Chelios was the most recently inducted, in 2013.[48]
It's a Beautiful world, the Habs players being a great part of that for this poster, thanks to all those responsible for Guy Lapointe's Jersey retirement, the last of the Big Three, very touching ceremony.

Jacques Lemaire and Steve Shutt would round out the list of dominant players from the 70s era. They belong there as much as Gainey.

 

[Scintillating10]

Habs certainly knows how to put on a ceremony. Then again they've had plenty practice...such a storied franchise. Good to see big three together again. Savard hasn't aged a day since he left here in '95.

The '77 team dominated the league like no team has done in any other sport. Outside of '27 Yankees maybe.

 

[Markov4Captain]

I watched the ceremony on YT since I missed the game but I just kept thinking how this city would react to a 25th stanley cup. You can tell the fans are hungry for it. I hope the boys and management used that ceremony as extra motivation and a reminder that we want another cup. I could only imagine how this city would erupt.

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

Jacques Lemaire and Steve Shutt would round out the list of dominant players from the 70s era. They belong there as much as Gainey.

I grew up watching the Habs in the 70s so was great to see Lapointe honored and agree Shutt for sure should be up there too- it's just wrong to see Weise skate around in #22

As for Lemaire he probably should be up there but for some reason I was never his biggest fan, think he was just too serious as a player for a young kid to appreciate

It's also kinda sad we've really had nobody except Roy to celebrate since the 70's, would be nice to have more for the younger fans to connect to - maybe Koivu or Markov get considered but don't think they've had enough individual or team success to make the grade

 

[Scintillating10]

I grew up watching the Habs in the 70s so was great to see Lapointe honored and agree Shutt for sure should be up there too- it's just wrong to see Weise skate around in #22

As for Lemaire he probably should be up there but for some reason I was never his biggest fan, think he was just too serious as a player for a young kid to appreciate

It's also kinda sad we've really had nobody except Roy to celebrate since the 70's, would be nice to have more for the younger fans to connect to - maybe Koivu or Markov get considered but don't think they've had enough individual or team success to make the grade

Jacques Lemaire is probably most under rated player to play in NHL. You never hear his name when talk about the greats but he excellent defensively and could pencil him in for 90 points every season. Which is outstanding. He would've been Selke winner if existed back then. He centered two of the greatest lines we ever had. Between Lafleur and Shutt later in his career and between the Big M and Road Runner earlier in his career. The Lafleur line gets most of fame but the Mahovlich/Coco/Cournoyer line was right up there with French Connection. They could fly, virtually unstoppable in Cup win of '73.

 

[habscup*]

Jacques Lemaire is probably most under rated player to play in NHL. You never hear his name when talk about the greats but he excellent defensively and could pencil him in for 90 points every season. Which is outstanding. He would've been Selke winner if existed back then. He centered two of the greatest lines we ever had. Between Lafleur and Shutt later in his career and between the Big M and Road Runner earlier in his career. The Lafleur line gets most of fame but the Mahovlich/Coco/Cournoyer line was right up there with French Connection. They could fly, virtually unstoppable in Cup win of '73.

Don't forget Lemaire's contributions in the late 70's too, the cup winning goal in 78 and some clutch moments in 79 too against the Rangers. And yes, for people who know the game, Lemaire was one of the best 2 way players of his generation.

As for Lapointe, he could do it all. I remember any dman who was new or who was struggling would be partnered with him, and Lapointe would make sure that guy looked good. He was the man!

 

[Scintillating10]

Don't forget Lemaire's contributions in the late 70's too, the cup winning goal in 78 and some clutch moments in 79 too against the Rangers. And yes, for people who know the game, Lemaire was one of the best 2 way players of his generation.

As for Lapointe, he could do it all. I remember any dman who was new or who was struggling would be partnered with him, and Lapointe would make sure that guy looked good. He was the man!

What I remember about Lemaire is he had a hard/accurate slapshot. I think his biggest goal was in Chicago 1971 Finals, when he skated out of his own end and sent a bullet from center ice past Tony Esposito. Similar to Lafluer's too many men goal. Before that we were dead in water

 

[habscup*]

What I remember about Lemaire is he had a hard/accurate slapshot. I think his biggest goal was in Chicago 1971 Finals, when he skated out of his own end and sent a bullet from center ice past Tony Esposito. Similar to Lafluer's too many men goal. Before that we were dead in water

Habs had a lot of terrific shooters. Robinson, Lapointe, Lafleur, Shutt, Cournoyer, Lemaire, on and on...

 

[WhiskeySeven*]

I wasn't around to see him play but Gainey should not have retired his own number. So gauche.

I'm tired of jersey retirements - sure an argument could be made for Shutt or Lemaire but that's it... in hindsight, Roy should not have had his number retired either.

 

[TRG]

Your anti Gainey agenda is tiring.

 

[InglewoodJack]

I wasn't around to see him play but Gainey should not have retired his own number. So gauche.

I'm tired of jersey retirements - sure an argument could be made for Shutt or Lemaire but that's it... in hindsight, Roy should not have had his number retired either.

what lol

 

[Burke the Legend]

I wasn't around to see him play but Gainey should not have retired his own number. So gauche.

I'm tired of jersey retirements - sure an argument could be made for Shutt or Lemaire but that's it... in hindsight, Roy should not have had his number retired either.

Bad case of Gainey derangement syndrome here.

 

[Habs 1909]

Any word on who would be the next to have their number retired?

 

[thom]

Jacques lemaire was never an all star player-he averaged less than a pt per game.Yes he became a good two way player but for most of career that was not the case.I will agree he was a good big game player.1978-79-Lemaire missed 25 games and what did Lafleur do=he led team in scoring by over 50 pts.Guy had 129 pts.Lets not overstate Jacques Lemaire,He was a very good player but never close to elite.I mean Jacques retires and Lafleur in 79-80 has close to 130 pts

 

[habscup*]

Jacques lemaire was never an all star player-he averaged less than a pt per game.Yes he became a good two way player but for most of career that was not the case.I will agree he was a good big game player.1978-79-Lemaire missed 25 games and what did Lafleur do=he led team in scoring by over 50 pts.Guy had 129 pts.Lets not overstate Jacques Lemaire,He was a very good player but never close to elite.I mean Jacques retires and Lafleur in 79-80 has close to 130 pts

What does Lafleur's success have anything to do with discrediting Lemaire?

P.s. Lemaire had 835 points in 853 games.. and 139 points in 145 playoff games, very very solid numbers.