Legendary Goaltender Ken Dryden’s Surprising Final Years Revealed at 78
The hockey world just lost a legend — Ken Dryden, the iconic Montreal Canadiens goalie whose name is etched deep in NHL lore, passed away at 78 after a tough fight with cancer. This wasn’t just any athlete; Dryden was the backbone behind six Stanley Cup victories for the Canadiens and widely celebrated as one of the greatest netminders the sport has ever seen. Canadiens Owner and President Geoff Molson paid tribute to a man who was far more than his mask; a giant in the rink and an even bigger presence off it, touching generations with his spirit both on and off the ice. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Dryden’s journey from a Bruins draft pick to a Canadiens cornerstone is nothing short of hockey royalty. From his stunning Conn Smythe MVP in ’71 to being a five-time Vezina Trophy winner and a Hall of Famer, his legacy goes beyond stats — it’s about heart, grit, and class. For anyone who followed his career or the golden era of the Canadiens, Ken Dryden was, simply put, hockey royalty.
Former Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden, who backstopped the club to six Stanley Cup wins and was regarded as one of the greatest players in NHL history at the position, has passed away at the age of 78 following a battle with cancer.
The unfortunate news was confirmed early on Saturday morning with a team-released statement from Canadiens’ Owner and President Geoff Molson.
“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” 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.”
Born in Hamilton, Ontario in 1947, Dryden would initially be drafted into the NHL in 1964 by the Boston Bruins, Montreal’s longtime rival. However, he was dealt to the Canadiens for Paul Reid and Guy Allen only days later.
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Dryden’s career with the Canadiens was nothing short of spectacular. He led Montreal to the Stanley Cup in 1971, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as postseason MVP in the process. Dryden then won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie the following season, having not played enough games the year before to qualify.
By the time his career was finished, Dryden and the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup five more times as part of their 1970s dynasty. A five-time All-Star, Dryden would later be named No. 29 on the 2010 edition of The Hockey News Top 100 Players of All Time.
A five-time winner of the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goaltender, Dryden was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. His 338 career victories rank fourth overall in Canadiens team history, and his No. 29 jersey was retired by the club in January 2007.
Dryden was also on hand for the famous “Miracle On Ice” victory by Team USA over the Soviet Union in the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, serving as a color commentator alongside Al Michaels.
Following an executive career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Dryden then embarked on a career in politics, and was also named an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Dryden is survived by his wife Lynda, his two children, and two grandchildren.
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