14 greats gathered at Serge Savard’s tournament | A scent of monarchy!

Our wounded arms hold out the torch to you. This expression, associated with the Montreal Canadiens for eternity, has been repeated over time to such an extent that it could sometimes seem abstract.

It nevertheless took on its full meaning Tuesday morning at the Le Mirage golf club, on the northern edge of Montreal. On the occasion of its annual tournament, Serge Savard and his accomplice Richard Beaudry, of the Ovation Media group, organizer of the event, managed the feat of bringing together 14 of the 16 still living members of the team that won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1976 to 1979… who knows for the last time?

One grimaced as he descended the steep outside steps of the golf club. Another clutched a chair before heading toward the carts. This one leaned on the billboard for a moment during the interview.

These heroes are all now in their seventies, with the exception of one or two in their eighties. Their hair is white or gray. Some are still in exemplary shape; for others, their pace is slower, but they are proud of their scars. At least, one can guess that.

Almost 50 years ago, they were at the height of their glory. They were probably the greatest team of all time. They were to hockey what the Beatles were to music, Muhammad Ali was to boxing.

“I started my foundation five years ago and I try to find a theme each time,” confided Serge Savard. Last year, it was the 30th^e Stanley Cup anniversary in 1993, the previous year the 50th^e anniversary of the Series of the Century. We thought we would bring together those who won four consecutive Cups between 1976 and 1979. Some won two or three, Pierre Mondou, Murray Wilson, Pete Mahovlich, Réjean Houle, and they are there, but the theme was four Cups.

A strange feeling of monarchy emanated from the very solemn presentation on Tuesday morning as Serge Savard, Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, Ken Dryden, Bob Gainey, Steve Shutt, Jacques Lemaire, Yvan Cournoyer, Doug Jarvis, Mario Tremblay, Yvon Lambert, Doug Risebrough, Rick Chartraw and coach Scotty Bowman descended the steps leading to the field.

Goalie Ken Dryden, six Stanley Cups in an eight-year career, five Vezina Trophies awarded to the best goalie, a Calder Trophy for the best rookie, a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, is the phlegmatic type. He felt all fired up on Tuesday.

“I can’t remember the last time we were all together like that. It was special then, but it’s even more special now. We’d see groups of four or five occasionally, but nothing like we do now. Plus, there’s Scotty (Bowman, the coach). Dinner the night before was fascinating. There are several captains in the group. Strong personalities. But who was the most polarizing? Scotty…”

Dryden finds the parallel with the monarchy interesting. “This team was formed at a time when teams were scouting players at a very young age. They were growing up in the organization from early teens to the NHL, like the older guys Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard and Jacques Lemaire. The management was smart. The club was strong, but we were also preparing for tomorrow. There was a continuity, a bit like you describe. In just 23 years, from 1956 to 1979, in 23 years, the Canadiens won 16 Stanley Cups. They almost never lost.”

The group’s unifier, then as now, Serge Savard, realized over time the greatness of this group. “We didn’t think we were that good at the time. History always shows the true value of a person or a team. We were perhaps the best of our time. We lost 11 games in 1976, 8 games in 1977 and 10 games in 1978, but we always had to work hard. It was easy to fall into complacency, but who kept us on the straight and narrow? Scotty Bowman.”

The shadow of Guy Lafleur

There was obviously one notable absentee on Tuesday. The team’s best player, the greatest of his era, Guy Lafleur, died of cancer in 2022 at just 70 years old. The other absentee, goaltender Michel Larocque, died in 1992.

“It’s funny to be gone,” said Larry Robinson, whose No. 19 was retired by the organization, like most of the legends honored Tuesday.

The previous evening’s dinner got very emotional at one point. “After two or three glasses of wine, the guys started chatting. We talked about Guy. I liked what came out of it. We all know how good he was, but what everyone agreed on was how good a team player he was. The younger guys were talking about how they helped them when they were starting out. Jean Béliveau, and I’ll always remember this, said in an interview that he wanted to be remembered as a great team player. That’s quite a quote from one of the greatest players of all time. That’s what Guy Lafleur was.”

Larry Robinson, Bob Gainey and Pete Mahovlich were asked which current NHL player they could draw a parallel with to give an idea of ​​Guy Lafleur’s talent. All three spontaneously answered Connor McDavid.

“When McDavid has the puck, everybody stands up,” Robinson said. “Guy, it was the same thing.”

“Like McDavid, Guy was so much faster than everybody else! Connor McDavid,” Mahovlich said. “He controlled the puck even better than the centers. It was his natural position early in his career, but we moved him to the wing and it worked out pretty well. I didn’t make it difficult for myself. I had to get him the puck as fast as possible. With Steve Shutt, he and I had a dominant line.”

At the height of his fame, Lafleur had six seasons of 50 or more goals and at least 119 points, won two Hart Trophies as the NHL’s MVP and three scoring championships.

Scotty Bowman wanted to recall the absence of other members of the organization, who also passed away. “Sam Pollock [le directeur général]Ronald Caron [le directeur général adjoint]Claude Ruel [l’adjoint de Bowman] and Eddie Palchak [le préposé à l’équipement] are not there either.”

Since his friend’s death, Larry Robinson, 73, has lived each day as if it were his last. “There are so many things he still wanted to do. He loved flying the helicopter. He can’t do that anymore. My passion is golf and going on the boat. I don’t wait anymore. I don’t put anything off until tomorrow…”