Montreal Canadiens 5th Overall Picks History Part 3 - Phil Myre
The Montreal Canadiens recieved the 5th overall pick this year, for the 8th time in their long and storied franchise. So for the summer months we are going to go over all the past 5th overall picks, from Bouchard to Reinbacher.
The Montreal Canadiens are selecting 5th overall in the 2024 NHL draft, and not matter who they pick, the future is more than likely very bright. Generally, the 5th overall pick turns out to be a quality NHL player, and Habs fans are hoping David Reinbacher and this year's pick will continue that trend.
Last time we went over the Montreal Canadiens first ever 5th overall pick: Pierre Bouchard. Bouchard was a second generation Canadien, being the son of former captain Emile "Butch" Bouchard. Both father and son had long, successful careers on the blueline and both won multiple Stanley Cups with the Habs.
Pierre Bouchard was selected in 1965, and we wouldn't have to wait long for the Canadiens to select 5th overall again. The very next year, the Montreal Canadiens selected goalie Phil Myre at 5th overall. The first goalie of many we will look at here.
By far the best pick of the draft was the second overall pick and Hall-of-Famer Brad Park, selected by the New York Rangers, pictured above as a member of the Bruins. Phil Myre was not a bad selection, but because of a series of events no one saw coming, maybe journeyman centre Don Luce may have been a better fit for the Canadiens.
Second Fiddle
Phil Myre took a few years to make his way up to the NHL, including winning the Memorial Cup as a member of the Niagara Falls Flyers and the AHL regular season title with the Voyageurs.
The 1970-71 was going to be the breakout season for Phil Myre. Montreal's starter Rogatien Vachon was injured, and Myre stepped up and played 30 of the 78 games for Montreal, and playing well enough for the Canadiens to make it into the playoffs as the third seed against the Montreal Canadiens.
Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, a trade they made years ago would come back to bite them, as the Canadiens upset the Bruins on route to winning the Stanley Cup.
In 1964, the Boston Bruins drafted Ken Dryden 14th overall, but traded him to the Montreal Canadiens days later. This was likely due to Dryden's commitment to college, which he followed through and didn't make his NHL debut until 1970, six years after being drafted.
Dryden was a perfect 6-0 in the regular season, and had a fantastic playoff, winning the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe, and pushing out Phil Myre.
Interestingly, Phil Myre got a Stanley Cup ring for that year, but didn't get his name engraved on the Cup, since he never played in the playoffs.
With the coming out of Ken Dryden and the established Rogie Vachon, there wasn't much room for Phil Myre, and he was left exposed and selected by the Atlanta Flames in the 1972 expansion draft.
Career After Montreal
Phil Myre became the Flames starting goalie, and got decent playing time for the middling expansion franchise. They only made the playoffs twice in six years, but were forming a decent tandem between Myre and Dan Bouchard. Unfortunately, Myre and Bouchard butted heads over playing time and Myre was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
Gone Streaking
Later in his career, Phil Myre was involved in some record-breaking streaks in his day. As a member of the St. Louis Blues, he set a team record with 28 games started in a row. In the same year, Myre got some revenge on his former team, the Canadiens, by breaking their 28 game unbeaten streak.
In the 1979 offseason, Myre was traded from the Blues to the Philadelphia Flyers, and Myre had probably his best professional season. Myre joined the Flyers in the midst of their Broad Street Bullies days.
Phil Myre and Pete Peeters formed a formidable tandem in net, splitting the games and going 48-12-20. In that season, from October 14th to January 6th, the Flyers went undefeated for 35 games, the longest streak in North American sports.
The Flyers went to the Stanley Cup Final against the New York Islanders, losing in 6 games. Unlike his time with Montreal, Myre played games in the playoffs, and even started a game in the Finals. A game which he lost, but it is still an accomplishment.
After his time with the Flyers, Myre played a couple of seasons with the Colorado Rockies and a few games with the Buffalo Sabres before retiring in 1984.
After retiring from on ice play, Myre had a long career as a goaltending and assistant coach with the Kings, Red Wings, Senators, and the Panthers.
And that about does it for Phil Myre, the Montreal Canadiens' second fifth overall pick. Next time we will be talking about Montreal's third 5th overall pick, and second goalie: Ray Martynuik.