A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Top 5 Trades That Were Rumoured, But Never Quite Happened

By Patrick Lortie

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 25: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates the puck against the Boston Bruins during the game on April 25, 2013 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 25: Vincent Lecavalier #4 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates the puck against the Boston Bruins during the game on April 25, 2013 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images)
Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Getty Images) /

In the 1950’s, it was unimaginable to think of Doug Harvey in any other uniform than the famous Habs sweater, but it almost happened.

Despite a rookie Jacques Plante taking the starting goaltending job during the 1954-55 season, then Habs general manager Frank Selke wasn’t sure that Plante was solid enough to carry the team in the long run.

A call was then placed to the Detroit Red Wings who had just beaten them for the Stanley Cup. Eventually, a deal was agreed that would have sent Norris trophy winner Doug Harvey in return for Vezina trophy winner Terry Sawchuk.

Detroit had Glenn Hall in the pipeline and was ready to bring in Harvey who was in his prime and would have given the Wings a formidable addition to the team.

Upon hearing the rumors, head coach Toe Blake apparently stormed in Selke’s office and let him have it. There was no way Doug Harvey would get traded and was convinced he was one of, if not the, best defenceman in the league.

Montreal would then win 5 Stanley Cups in a row and Harvey would win 7 Norris trophies in 8 years before getting traded to the Rangers. The Wings ended up trading both Sawchuk and Hall only to see Sawchuk return a few seasons later.

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