The Montreal Canadiens have entered the quietest time on the calendar. While there is little to look forward to in the month of August, we decided to take a look back at some of the greatest players in franchise history. We continue our site countdown of the five best defensemen in Canadiens history with the number four ranked D-Man, Guy Lapointe.
During the 1970’s, the Canadiens were the undisputed best team in hockey, with star talent all over the ice. There was Guy Lafleur, Yvan Cournoyer, and Steve Shutt up front, Ken Dryden in net, and a vaunted big three on the blueline. That group consisted of Larry Robinson, Serge Savard, and Guy Lapointe. Together, this super team would win six Stanley Cups during the 70s and cement themselves as one of the league’s best dynasties.
Lapointe was a massive part of that, as one of the pillars on the blueline. The Montreal native began his career with the Canadiens in 1968-69 but didn’t break into the league as a full-timer until 1970-71. From then on, Lapointe would show his value to the Canadiens as a solid two-way defenseman. Lapointe would put up at least 40 points in each of his first nine seasons with the Habs.
Despite his consistent, exceptional play, Lapointe never won a Norris Trophy in his career, but he finished top five in voting six times, including a second-place finish in 1972-73. He was a four-time all-star, all with the Canadiens, and even got to represent Canada at the 1972 Summit Series, playing in seven games.
Lapointe was a lethal checker and had a great slapshot as well, which he put to use on the powerplay, twice finishing with double-digit goals with the man advantage in his career. The present-day Canadiens could certainly use a weapon like that on their powerplay.
Lapointe is still highly regarded in Montreal, being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993 and seeing his number five raised to the rafters of the Bell Centre in 2014. He holds the franchise record for goals by a rookie defenseman with 15 and the franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season with 28.
Serge Savard shares with me this great photo from today’s Canadiens Alumni golf tournament. Pierre Bouchard (left) and Brian Engblom (right) with the legendary, reunited Big Three: Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe and Serge. Guy continues his courageous battle against cancer 👊🙏 pic.twitter.com/lM3z0rNqvr
— Dave Stubbs 🇨🇦 (@Dave_Stubbs) June 30, 2023
Lapointe finished his career with the Canadiens as one of the greatest players in franchise history. Upon his departure from the Canadiens during the 1981-82 season he had played 777 games. In those 777 games, he registered 572 points, tied with Andrei Markov for second all-time amongst defensemen. For those reasons, and many more, Lapointe falls at number four on our list of the Canadiens greatest defensemen.