Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Legendary NHL Goaltender and former Toronto Maple Leafs president Ken Dryden has died at the age of 78.
Dryden, a Hockey Hall of Famer who spent eight seasons as one of the top goaltenders of his era with the Montreal Canadiens before choosing to cut his career short, passed away from cancer Friday, the team announced.
Among those issuing their condolences includes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who cited Dryden as an inspiration for himself having played as a goalie.
Remembering Ken Dryden’s Iconic Career With the Canadiens
Ken Dryden, considered one of the greatest goaltenders in hockey history, was known for revolutionizing the position and helping to foster the modern goaltender, while remembered for both his impact to hockey off-the-ice, as well as a storied career outside of it.
The Hamilton, ON native made his debut in 1971 for Montreal, becoming a six-time NHL champion along with five Vezina trophies, before deciding to call it quits in 1979, having accomplished all that needed to be done.
In his first NHL season with just six games played coming from Cornell in the NCAA, Dryden won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens and was named the Conn Smythe winner as the playoffs MVP.
Alongside Tony Esposito, Dryden backstopped Canada to a win at the 1972 Summit Series, the duo besting the legendary Vladislav Tretiak, then an unknown in North America.
Dryden was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, currently tied for first all-time in SV% with a .922 along with Dominik Hasek.
Dryden’s Time as Maple Leafs President From 1997 to 2004
After his sudden retirement from Hockey, Dryden made a second career as both an authoritative figure in hockey, as well as holding major titles outside of sport.
Dryden signaled his interests outside of hockey when he joined a Toronto law firm during a contract holdout in the 1973-74 season, having taken law at McGill University.
His memoir on his time in hockey, ‘The Game’ has been defined by many as one of the finest books written on the sport, and one of the most in-depth looks at the game of hockey ever written.
Having been working in commentary among other endeavors, Dryden joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997 as the team’s president, staying in the role until 2004 when he would enter the world of politics.
Dryden was elected in 2004 as a federal Member of Parliament for the Liberal Party of Canada in the riding of York Centre, standing as a candidate for Liberal leader in 2006, but finishing 5th to Stéphane Dion.
The Montreal Canadiens honored Dryden by retiring his number 29 in 2007, raising it to the rafters and honoring one of the team’s greatest ever talents, and one of hockey’s most influential minds.
Previously on HockeyPatrol