In the last few weeks, a Twitter user @etienneferland has started tweeting the name of teams asking which players comes to mind first when you think of each of them. During the season, I wouldn't even look at tweets like that but during the dog days of summer? Sure, why not! Better that than reading how frustrated Colts' fans are with Andrew Luck I guess. Today, Ferland changed things up and asked which player first came to mind when thinking of the numbers 1 through 10. I thought this could be a fun exercise but as there are so many retired numbers in the Canadiens line-up especially from numbers 1 to 10, I'll do 1 to 20 today. Now, let me make this clear, this is not the all-time best to wear the number, just the first name that comes to mind when I think of a number (although in many cases it will be).
1. Jacques Plante: Pretty hard to think of anyone else I would think even though the likes of Vezina, Gump Worsley, Rogie Vachon and Tony-O have worn the number, Plante's name just came automatically.
2. Doug Harvey: Laperrière came as a close second but go figure, I didn't even have a thought for Gaston Gingras...how strange...
3. Butch Bouchard: Yet another retired number that made this one a no contest.
4. Jean Béliveau: Even more of an automatism than Plante and that's saying something.
5. Boom Boom Geoffrion: Considering that a signed and framed jersey of his is staring at me right now it would be hard not to go that way.
6. Oleg Petrov: That number took me right back to my youth and the '93 conquest and a bit later to the Smurf line featuring Petrov - Koivu -Bure....ahhhh the memories.
7. Howie Morenz: No contest on this one right?
8. Brandon Prust: 39 players actually wore the number including Sylvio Mantha, Doug Risebrough and Mark Recchi but Prusty sprung to mind first. I loved his attitude and dedication to the team. It also used to really make me laugh to see him attempting to teach Galchenyuk and Gallagher to fight and I'm still annoyed he was sent packing in return for Kassian of all people...
9. Maurice Rocket Richard: I don't think I need to say anything about this one right?
10. Guy Lafleur: Le démon blond, absolutely no contest.
11. Brendan Gallagher: I know, most people would go with Koivu, Yvon Lambert or Kirk Muller here but I think that in the latest years, Gallagher has been one of the very few bright spots on this team and that's why he comes to my mind right away.
12. Yvan Cournoyer: The Roadrunner just beat Mike Keane at the finish line for me here. While Keane was only there 7 years, it's hard to forget a captain that was traded (yes I know he wasn't the only one but it tends to stick with me when the Canadiens send a captain away).
13. Mike Cammalleri: I surprised myself there, guess Domi hasn't been here long enough to overtake THAT magical playoffs performance from Cammy when he scored 13 goals in 19 games before being traded halfway through a game...so wrong..
14. Tomas Plekanec: A near lifetime Hab, it's no surprise he comes to mind before the likes of Rejean Houle (the guy who traded Roy) and Mario Tremblay (the guy because of whom Roy was traded).
15. Jesperi Kotkaniemi: I know, he's only been around one year but I guess the other number 15 through history haven't impressed me much (well done, I just made myself think of that Shania Twain song...d'oh!)
16. Henri Richard: It couldn't possibly be anyone else than the Pocket Rocket am I right? Even though the other 2 players who have worn it are no slouch either Toe Blake (1937) and Elmer Lach (1951-1954).
17. John Leclair: Sorry Benoît "back ache" Brunet but 1993 Stanley Cup winner Leclair easily overtakes you, even if you are always on our TV screens.
18. Serge Savard: The Senator came to mind just before Denis Savard even though I never saw the former play...what can I say, I was 1 year old when he retired but he will always remain the general manager of my youth (1983 to 1995, not a bad tenure at all).
19. Larry Robinson:No one else than Big bird came to mind for this one.
20. Pete Mahovlich : Really not much of a contest there is it? Had to think long and hard to remember that Deslauriers wore that number in the last few seasons...
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»