A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens, on Pace for 140 Point Season

By Mat Germain

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The current NHL record for points in a single season of over 70 games played is held by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens who totalled 132 points in an 80 game season. At their current pace, the 2015-16 edition of the team is set to eclipse that mark with a 140 points season. As unlikely as it is to be the case, it’s an indication of how strongly the team has begun the season.

Montreal Canadiens: 1976-77 vs 2015-16

Hockey was different back then. The gear was different, the money was different, and the players certainly didn’t watch video to improve their approach to the game. It was a different time, but it’s still fun to compare the teams and how in essence, they were constructed in a similar manner in terms of core strength.

If we were to take each player on these two great teams, we’d get the following comparisons (entirely for fun, not meant to be a direct comparison that would say they’re equals or better)

Jacques Lemaire (75 pts in 75 GP) then, Tomas Plekanec now (pace of 86 pts in 82 GP)

  • When you consider great two-way players, both of these guys fit. They’re counted on to be both offensive and defensively effective. Very similar players.

Guy Lafleur (56 G in 80 GP) then, Max Pacioretty now (pace of 50 G in 82 GP)

  • When each team needed a goal, these are the guys they looked to. Max may not put up the lofty point totals Lafleur did, but he provides the scoring that this team needs.

Steve Shutt (105 pts in 80 GP) then, Brendan Gallagher now (pace for 71 pts in 82 GP)

  • The point totals don’t match but both of these guys are the spark that their line needed to get going. Although Shutt has 2 inches on Gallagher, both weigh(ed) 180 lbs and love(d) to visit the front of the net.

Larry Robinson (85 pts in 77 GP) then, P.K. Subban now (pace of 85 pts in 82 GP)

  • Many forget how great the Big Bird was on the Habs blue line. In comparing these two for this kind of season, it’s the perfect fit because both were matured defensemen by this point and had taken the reins from defensive leaders (Lapointe then, Markov now). As far as puck moving defensemen go, these guys are a match.

Guy Lapointe (76 pts in 77 GP) then, Andrei Markov now (pace of 85 pts in 82 GP)

  • Although Lapointe was younger at that time than Markov is now, both were (are) the leader on D of their respective teams, passing on the torch to other young D. You also can’t argue with the fact that both have well-rounded games.

Ken Dryden (41 W and a 2.14 GAA) then, Carey Price now (pace of 49 W and a 2.01 GAA)

  • When you talk about being spoiled by great goaltending, this is the prime example. Any franchise in the NHL would love to have these guys in net and each of these teams takes full advantage of their play. As we’re witnessing with Carey, Ken was able to rack up the trophies to go with his Stanley Cups.

As you can see, the core of these teams is eerily similar, and in a great way. The other pieces are harder to compare directly, but if I were to take a stab at it, these are the following I would compare:

It’s really uncanny how each of these Montreal Canadiens teams were built with a similar framework.

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Finally, if we continue the exercise and try to assess whether these comparisons make it all of the way to the top, does Michel Therrien hold a candle to Scotty Bowman, and does

Marc Bergevin

compare to Sam Pollock? Those are obviously a couple of hockey gods that nobody can really compare to, but there are minor similarities. As with Therrien’s benching of players when he feels the effort isn’t there, Bowman was known to be tough on players – whether it was Lafleur or anyone else.

And just as Marc Bergevin has been able to add some pieces over time to support his core group of players, Sam Pollock was able to recognize and address needs. A comparable transaction for these teams would be the Torrey Mitchell and Doug Jarvis acquisitions the year before these great seasons happened (or are happening). Each are great defensive players that are able to shut down opponents and keep the lines rolling.

In no way shape or form am I saying Therrien and Bergevin are to be as highly thought of as Bowman and Pollock. I want to make that clear before comments start barrelling through.

This is a fun exercise to go through these teams and make comparisons and it makes you wonder just how great the year will be now that we know the kind of course it’s set on thus far. Keeping up this pace of play is unrealistic, but not necessarily impossible. Should Carey Price come back from injury strong and should the Habs continue to get great efforts from different places each game, it’s a team that could remain focused and dangerous all season long.

I’m looking forward to seeing how long the Habs can keep up this pace. They’ve got some reinforcements getting better in the AHL, and the team has been able to overcome its first bump in the road from its first West coast games. Enjoy the ride while it lasts, it’s a lot of fun to watch this team click on all cylinders. If it ends with a Stanley Cup for this season as it did in 1976-77, it won’t matter one bit to Habs fans if they came up short of 132 points this season. After all, both of these are Montreal Canadiens franchises and it’s not a successful season unless the team brings home the Cup!

Then again, we could be watching NHL history in the making…..food for thought.

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