“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. “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. 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. 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.”
Dryden still was at the top of his game but instead retired after that 1979 championship with six Stanley Cup titles in eight NHL seasons. He was 258-57 with 74 ties, a 2.24 GAA, .922 save percentage and 46 shutouts in 397 regular-season games (389 starts). He was 80-32 with a 2.41 GAA, .915 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 112 playoff games.
He won the Vezina Trophy five times (1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979), the fourth most in NHL history behind Jacques Plante (seven), Bill Durnan (six) and Dominik Hasek (six).
Instead of being on the ice during the Canadiens’ push for a fifth straight Cup title in 1980, he was in the TV booth. He served as an analyst for the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and was paired with Al Michaels for the telecast of the United States’ upset win against the Soviet Union in the “Miracle on Ice.” Dryden also was an Olympic analyst in 1984 and 1988.
In 1983, Dryden became a best-selling author when “The Game,” a first-person account of his 1978-79 season with Montreal, was published. More than three decades later, it’s still regarded as one of the best books ever written about hockey. He also was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame that year.
After several years away from hockey, Dryden returned to the NHL in 1997, when he was named president of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He left the team in 2004 to run for a seat in Canada’s Parliament on the Liberal Party ticket in the riding of York Centre. Dryden won his parliamentary seat in a landslide and was named Canada’s Minister of Social Development and was reelected in 2006.
The Canadiens recognized his on-ice success on Jan. 29, 2007, when his No. 29 was raised to the rafters at Bell Centre. He received the Order of Canada in 2012.
Dryden also was voted one of the 100 Greatest Players in NHL history during the League’s centennial in 2017.
Through all his accomplishments, Dryden redefined people’s interpretation of the modern athlete, constantly pursuing a new challenge, be it physical, intellectual or otherwise.
At request of the Dryden family, those wishing to honor Ken’s memory are encouraged to make a donation to the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, or the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
Source link