The great goaltender Ken Dryden, who led the Montreal Canadiens to six Stanley Cups in the 1970s, died on Friday at the age of 78. The cause of death was cancer. Dryden was as brilliant off the ice as he was in goal for the Habs. He was a lawyer, politician and NHL executive after his hockey career. Dryden was drafted in 1964 by the Bruins. They traded him to Montreal. He was in college at Cornell, though, and didn’t play in the NHL until 1971 when Montreal won the Stanley Cup as the goaltender saved 31 or 33 shots in the seventh game against Chicago.

Dryden and the Habs won the Cup in 1973 and four straight times between 1976 and 1979. He was a five-time Vezina Trophy winner, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Overall, his record was 258-57-74 with a .922 save percentage, and 80-32 in the playoffs.

Advertisement

“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” owner Geoff Molson said. “Behind the mask he was larger than life. “… Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about,”

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute to Dryden, posting: “Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country,” Carney said. “Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”

Ken DrydenLuca Cereda of Switzerland, chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs as their top draft pick in the 1999 National Hockey League entry draft, poses with Maple Leafs General Manager Ken Dryden (L) and Director of Player Development Anders Hedberg.

Luca Cereda of Switzerland, chosen by the Toronto Maple Leafs as their top draft pick in the 1999 National Hockey League entry draft, poses with Maple Leafs General Manager Ken Dryden (L) and Director of Player Development Anders Hedberg.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden (top) hugs his brother Dave during a ceremony to retire his number "29" in Montreal.

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden (top) hugs his brother Dave during a ceremony to retire his number “29” in Montreal.

Ken DrydenMontreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien with the torch and former goalie Ken Dryden during the introduction ceremony.

Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien with the torch and former goalie Ken Dryden during the introduction ceremony.

Ken DrydenFormer Canadiens former goalie Ken Dryden brings the torch before the game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.

Former Canadiens former goalie Ken Dryden brings the torch before the game between the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens.

Ken DrydenBoston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens scuffle in front of Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden.

Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens scuffle in front of Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden.

Ken DrydenA photo of the banners commemorating the retired jerseys of Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and Ken Dryden hanging in the Bell Centre.

A photo of the banners commemorating the retired jerseys of Henri Richard, Yvan Cournoyer and Ken Dryden hanging in the Bell Centre.

Ken DrydenMontreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden in the net against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden in the net against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

Ken DrydenMontreal Canadiens' alumni.

Montreal Canadiens’ alumni.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadien Ken Dryden skates during the Centennial Celebration ceremonies.

Former Montreal Canadien Ken Dryden skates during the Centennial Celebration ceremonies.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadian Ken Dryden waves as he speaks during a ceremony in which his jersey is retired prior.

Former Montreal Canadian Ken Dryden waves as he speaks during a ceremony in which his jersey is retired prior.

Ken DrydenKen Dryden, former goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens, and his family watch as his jersey #29 is retired.

Ken Dryden, former goaltender of the Montreal Canadiens, and his family watch as his jersey #29 is retired.

Ken DrydenSpeakers Dickie Moore, Ken Dryden and Geoff Molson (L-R) walk past the casket at the funeral for former Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal, December 10, 2014.

Speakers Dickie Moore, Ken Dryden and Geoff Molson (L-R) walk past the casket at the funeral for former Montreal Canadiens captain Jean Beliveau at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal, December 10, 2014.

Ken DrydenFormer Member of Parliament and Canadian hockey great Ken Dryden (L) shakes hands with Governor General David Johnston after being awarded the rank of Officer in the Order of Canada.

Former Member of Parliament and Canadian hockey great Ken Dryden (L) shakes hands with Governor General David Johnston after being awarded the rank of Officer in the Order of Canada.

Ken DrydenA young hockey player wears the mask of former Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden.

A young hockey player wears the mask of former Montreal Canadiens goalie Ken Dryden.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden minds the net during the Canadiens 100th anniversary ceremony.

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden minds the net during the Canadiens 100th anniversary ceremony.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens greats Steve Shutt (L), Ken Dryden (C) and Bob Gainey talk during a ceremony to celebrate the Canadiens' 100th anniversary.

Former Montreal Canadiens greats Steve Shutt (L), Ken Dryden (C) and Bob Gainey talk during a ceremony to celebrate the Canadiens’ 100th anniversary.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden waves to the crowd during the Montreal Canadiens' 100th anniversary ceremony.

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden waves to the crowd during the Montreal Canadiens’ 100th anniversary ceremony.

Ken DrydenKen Dryden's locker is seen in a recreated dressing room at the Montreal Canadiens Centennial Exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ken Dryden’s locker is seen in a recreated dressing room at the Montreal Canadiens Centennial Exhibit at the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Ken DrydenHockey greats Ken Dryden (L) and Tony Esposito (R) meet before a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens.

Hockey greats Ken Dryden (L) and Tony Esposito (R) meet before a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Montreal Canadiens.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden looks at the banner as his number "29" is retired in Montreal January 29, 2007.

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden looks at the banner as his number “29” is retired in Montreal January 29, 2007.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden (2nd L) waves to the crowd as his daughter Sarah and her baby watch during a ceremony to retire his number "29" in Montreal January 29, 2007.

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden (2nd L) waves to the crowd as his daughter Sarah and her baby watch during a ceremony to retire his number “29” in Montreal January 29, 2007.

Ken DrydenMontreal Canadiens fans wear replica goal masks of former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden as his number "29" is retired.

Montreal Canadiens fans wear replica goal masks of former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden as his number “29” is retired.

Ken DrydenFormer Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden waves to the crowd during a ceremony to retire his number "29."

Former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden waves to the crowd during a ceremony to retire his number “29.”

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens great goaltender, in memoriam