My list of the all-time top-10 scoring right-wingers of the Montreal Canadiens continues with Bobby Rousseau coming in at number 8. Joseph Jean-Paul Robert Rousseau joined the Habs in 1960-1961 and solidified his presence on the team the following year. As a nifty playmaker with a very precise shot, Rousseau won the Calder Memorial Trophy awarded to the most outstanding rookie of the year by posting 21 goals and 45 points.
Gifted at both ends of the ice, he often broke up plays and anticipated a rush before it could occur by using both his speed and poke-checking abilities accordingly. The latter came as a result of his superior puck handling skills which allowed him to strike a rare but admirable balance between being a goal-scorer and a selfless set-up man. Nevertheless, his willingness to pass the puck to his teammates didn’t matter in 1964 as he put 5 goals past the Detroit Red Wings in a single night.
Throughout a career with the Canadiens that stretched between 1960-1970, Rousseau played in a total of 643 regular season games. He scored 200 goals and assisted 322 times for a grand total of 522 points, and his contributions helped the franchise secure four Stanley Cup victories in 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969. His most notable postseason performance occurred in 1965, where his 13 points in 13 games were second only to the great Jean Beliveau’s scoring pace. The following year, he’d lead his team in scoring while leading the league in helpers, almost securing himself an Art Ross Trophy award.
An illustrious career in hockey would end 5 years after he left the Canadiens in the summer of 1970. Once again, his passion and dedication shone brightly as he switched gears in order to become one of the best professional golfers in Quebec.