NHL Hall of Fame Goalie, Montreal Canadiens Player Dies at 78

Ken Dryden, a hockey Hall of Famer and Montreal Canadiens player, has died. He was 78.

The Montreal Canadiens announced on Saturday, Sept. 6, that the goaltrender — who helped the team win six Stanley Cups in the 1970s — died following a cancer diagnosis.

Geoff Molson, the owner and president of the Montreal Canadiens, said in a statement that Dryden was not only an “exceptional athlete,” but an “exceptional man,” and “behind the mask he was larger than life.”

“We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties, but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen, and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations,” Molson added. “He was one of the true legends that helped shape this Club into what it is today.” 

“Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about, and his legacy within our society transcends our sport,” he continued.

“On behalf of the Molson family and our entire organization, I would like to extend my most heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and all who had the privilege to cross his path and know him on a personal level,” Molson concluded.

Dryden, born on Aug. 8, 1947, in Hamilton, Ontario, made his debut with the Canadiens during the 1970–71 season. In just six games, he helped carry the team to victory, before leading them all the way to the Stanley Cup Final — where they clinched the championship.

During Drydan’s rookie year, he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded annually to the most valuable player of his team during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Dryden continued to win awards for his performance on the ice hockey field, including the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie in his first full season of 1971-72, and the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender five times, including during the 1972-73, 1975-76 and 1978-79 seasons.

He later helped lead the Canadiens to five more Stanley Cup championships throughout the 1970s, before his retirement in 1979. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, and his jersey, No. 29, was retired in January 2007.

Dryden not only excelled on the ice, but was also writer. He published several novels, including best-seller The Game, which was a first-person account of his 1978-79 season with Montreal.

The late athlete also went into public service, serving as the Minister of Social Development for Canada’s Prime Minister Paul Martin between 2004 and 2005. His service earned him the Order of Canada in 2012, which is the country’s highest civilian honor.

Canada’s current Prime Minister Mark Carney paid tribute to the hockey player after his death, sharing on X, that Dryden was the “reason I became a goalie, although I never mastered his ability to lean on his stick let alone keep the puck out of the net.”

“His return to university at the height of his playing career taught the importance of balance in life. His post-hockey career demonstrated the value of public service,” he continued.

“Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country,” Carney added. “Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”

The Montreal Canadiens said that Dryden’s family asked for privacy while they mourn their loved one. The team added that those who wish to honor him should donate to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre or the Concussion Legacy Foundation.