Although the Montreal Canadiens are coming off a historically devastating loss, Habs fans can take some solace in remembering a trade with that very same opponent and one that would go down as one of the most lopsided deals in franchise history.
On Tuesday night, Winnipeg scored four unanswered goals in the final three minutes of regulation before completing the comeback with an overtime winner to defeat Montreal 5-4. But 43 years earlier, on November 4, 1983, the Canadiens struck a deal with the Jets that would prove to be far more favourable to Montreal, becoming one of the most notorious trades in franchise history.
The story starts with Robert Picard, the third overall pick of the Washington Capitals in the 1977 NHL Draft. He became a solid offensive defenseman, posting a career high of 65 points in 77 games with the Capitals in 1978-79. Picard was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in June 1980, and Toronto then moved the Montreal native to his hometown team in exchange for goaltender Michel "Bunny" Larocque.
Picard played the final eight games of the 1980-81 season with the Habs and the next three seasons before being dealt to the Jets for a third-round pick in November 1983. Montreal appreciated his decent scoring numbers, 72 points over 141 games in a Canadiens sweater, but what the team got in return would be far better.
Montreal takes a chance on local goaltender
That June, at the Montreal Forum, the Canadiens used the third-round pick on an unflattering goaltender from the QMJHL's Granby Bisons named Patrick Roy. Despite a junior record of 58-86-3 with a 5.35 goals-against average and a .863 save percentage in 159 starts, Montreal drafted the Quebec native anyway.
Roy would go on to be arguably the greatest goaltender of all time. He is a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, five-time Jennings Trophy winner and four-time Stanley Cup champion, two of those with Montreal, in 1986 and 1993.
He is also a record three-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and he holds several league records, including the most career playoff starts (247) and wins (151) and the second-most career playoff shutouts (23). His 551 regular-season wins rank third all-time. In his time with the Canadiens, Roy went 289-175-66 with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage in 553 games.
His relationship with the organization eventually soured. In 1995, head coach Mario Tremblay left Roy in net through a nine-goal thumping by the Detroit Red Wings before finally pulling him, and Roy famously told team president Ronald Corey it was his final game in Montreal. On December 6, 1995, Roy was traded to the Colorado Avalanche along with forward Mike Keane for goaltender Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ručinský and Andrei Kovalenko.
Roy eventually reconciled with the organization, earning induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006 before having his No. 33 retired by Montreal in 2008. While much of the hockey world may be having a laugh at the Canadiens' expense on Wednesday, Habs fans can still take comfort in knowing they've been laughing at Jets fans' expense for more than four decades thanks to a trade that worked out overwhelmingly in Montreal's favour.
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