While there will be plenty to talk about over the course of the next few months, I’ve decided to put together a few top-10 lists that we can all share in and enjoy. Montreal Canadiens’ fans know that this is the most storied franchise in the National Hockey league. Although history was made in 2015-2016 for all the wrong reasons, the following list of the ten best defenders in the history of the Bleu Blanc et Rouge will serve as a reminder of the very greatness that we all have seemed to lose sight of this year.
Coming in at number 10:
Guy Lapointe, D, right-handed
In 1968, Lapointe began his career as a Hab but it would take two seasons before he would make the jump as a full-time player. He played in one game in 1968-1969 and only 5 in 1969-1970 without putting up any points. It was in 1970-1971 that his career truly took off, as Lapointe would play in 78 games and scored 15 goals and 44 points with a +28 plus-minus rating.
A part of the infamous “Big Three” alongside Larry Robinson and Serge Savard, the man they nicknamed “Pointu” was known for his sense of humour and endless pranks. He was well-loved by his teammates and feared by opponents. He had a booming slapshot and could deliver bone-crushing hits, and helped somewhat revolutionize the way defensemen played the game.
With the help of Robinson and Savard, he would help the team win six Stanley Cups in 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.
Primarily an offensive defenseman, he holds the team record for most goals scored by a defenseman with 28. He played in 884 regular-season games, putting up 171 goals and 622 points. During the playoffs, he started in 123 games and scored 26 goals and 70 points.
In 1972, Lapointe was named to compete against the Soviets with Team Canada in the Summit Series. He was paired with his buddy Savard and played in 7 of the 8 tournament games, much to his surprise. Injuries would then plague his last three season with the Habs and he was subsequently traded to the St. Louis Blues and finished his career playing for the Boston Bruins in 1983-1984.
He would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993, and in 2014, his jersey was retired in a beautiful and emotional ceremony at the Bell Centre.
Below, you can catch a 5-minute clip of the November 11th ceremony:
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Finally, the results are in and it seems like a few Habs fans miss Andrei Kostitsyn!
Out of 962 respondents, 55% would give Kostitsyn a chance but only if he goes through a professional tryout, similarly to Tomas Fleischmann last summer.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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