(Photo by YouTube)
In 1993, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup for the 24th time. The Boston Celtics in the NBA have won 17 titles. The New York Yankees in the MLB have won 27 titles. The Canadiens are considered the flag bearer of the NHL. One key competent in that victory was goaltender Patrick Roy. Roy is one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. He won the Vezina Trophy, given to the best goaltender in the NHL. He won the William M. Jennings Trophy 5 times, the Conn Smythe Trophy (given to the MVP player during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs) and won the Stanley Cup 4 times. He is second all-time in wins by a goaltender and a NHL Hall Of Famer.
Despite all of his achievements, Roy, throughout his career, has been considered as not the most likable person. Even as coach of the Colorado Avalanche, he did win Jack Adams Trophy (for the coach of the year in the NHL) in 2014. But, apparently, he has a repetition of a being a malcontent or a jerk, if you will.
On December 2, 1995, Patrick Roy wore out his welcome with the Montreal Canadiens, or maybe it was the other way around. Against the Detroit Red Wings loaded with Segrei Federov, Steve Yzerman, Paul Coffey, Nicklas Lindstrom and Chris Osgood as the goaltender, the Red Wings were contenders for the Cup during this time. So, this game was basically a prelude to one player to against the best team in the NHL. It was obvious Roy and then-Coach Mario Tremblay did not agree on anything. They would butt heads and butt heads.
The game was a miserable one for Roy against the Red Wings as they would score, and score, and score, and score, and score, and score.......and score against the Canadiens. The Montreal Forum was getting restless as the game was out of hand. After Roy made a meaningless save, the Montreal crowd cheered and Roy made his ironic mock cheer, raising his arms in celebration. (Carey Price did that exact celebration with Roy in attendance at the Bell Centre). So was it was 9-1 Red Wings and they decided to pull Roy out. As he left. he told the Montreal president he wanted to be traded. Three days later, he was traded. And not just any team, but the Red Wings' archrival at the time, the Colorado Avalanche, loaded with Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Claude Lemeiux, Adam Deadmarsh (etc, etc) Well, the story goes Roy defeated the Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals en route to the Stanley Cup against the Florida Panthers.
Patrick Roy is a legend, no doubt in my mind......but really, even as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, this game will stand out, because of his mock cheer and willingness to tell management wanted out.
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