Jean-Guy Talbot obit

Jean-Guy Talbot passes away at age 91

The former defenseman won seven Stanley Cups with the Canadiens 

He was not on the list.

MONTREAL, Quebec - It is with great sadness that the Montreal Canadiens organization has learned of the passing of former defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot.

Born in 1932, Talbot, a native of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, began his NHL career with the Canadiens in 1954-55, appearing in three games. He would go on to play a dozen more seasons with the Habs and become one of 12 players to win the Stanley Cup in five consecutive seasons from 1956 to 1960. Talbot won the Cup two more times with Montreal in 1965 and 1966.

He was selected by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. Soon after, he would join the St. Louis Blues and play under head coach Scotty Bowman. He also played for the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres before hanging up his skates.

In 1971, at the end of his illustrious playing career, he moved on to coaching. He became the head coach of the Blues and then the New York Rangers. In 1978, he returned to his hometown of Cap-de-la-Madeleine, where he worked for the O'Keefe Brewery.

A few months ago, author Louis Beaudet and the former mayor of Bécancour, Jean-Guy Dubois, published Talbot's biography, Porteur de flambeau. Serge Savard wrote the preface.

He is survived by his wife Pierrette, his three children, and many grandchildren and friends.

Talbot was well known for being a sound passer. He was also known for having a clean but rather physical style of play which ultimately helped Montreal win Stanley Cups. Talbot wore the #17 during his 13 seasons with Montreal.

In the minor leagues he coached for the Denver Spurs and Ottawa Civics.

Over the course of his career he played 1,056 games, scoring 43 goals and adding 242 assists for 285 points. He also collected 1,006 penalty minutes. He was voted a First-Team All-Star in 1961-62 and was selected for six all-star games (1956–57, 1960, 1962, 1965 and 1967). Talbot was also the player who ended Scotty Bowman's hockey playing career by high sticking/slashing him in the head causing a fractured skull.

Talbot took on the St. Louis Blues head coaching position in 1972, replacing Al Arbour who had been fired from the position. He held the position for two years, resigning in February 1974. Talbot signed on as head coach for the New York Rangers in 1977, taking over from John Ferguson, with whom he had played during his tenure with the Canadiens. As coach of the Rangers, Talbot was known for wearing a warmup suit behind the bench during games, rather than the normal business suit worn by most coaches.

 

Career statistics

                         Regular season              Playoffs

Season Team            League            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM            GP            G            A            Pts            PIM

1949–50            Trois-Rivieres Reds            QJHL            36            3            4            7            79            9            0            3            3            12

1950–51            Trois-Rivieres Reds            QJHL            44            7            22            29            136            8            0            1            1            18

1950–51            Shawinigan Cataracts            QSHL            1            0            0            0            0            —            —            —            —            —

1951–52            Trois-Rivieres Reds            QJHL            43            12            36            48            132            4            1            0            1            12

1952–53            Quebec Aces    QHL            24            2            4            6            33            —            —            —            —            —

1953–54            Quebec Aces    QHL            67            9            11            20            58            16            0            2            2            12

1953–54            Quebec Aces    Ed-Cup      —            —            —            —            —            7            2            0            2            2

1954–55            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            3            0            1            1            0            —            —            —            —            —

1954–55            Shawinigan Cataracts            QHL            59            6            28            34            82            13            2            5            7            14

1954–55            Shawinigan Cataracts            Ed-Cup      —            —            —            —            —            7            0            2            2            6

1955–56*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            66            1            13            14            80            9            0            2            2            4

1956–57*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            59            0            13            13            70            10            0            2            2            10

1957–58*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            55            4            15            19            65            10            0            3            3            12

1958–59*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            69            4            17            21            77            11            0            1            1            10

1959–60*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            69            1            14            15            60            8            1            1            2            8

1960–61            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            70            5            26            31            143            6            1            1            2            10

1961–62            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            70            5            42            47            90            6            1            1            2            10

1962–63            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            70            3            22            25            51            5            0            0            0            8

1963–64            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            66            1            13            14            83            7            0            2            2            10

1964–65*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            67            8            14            22            64            13            0            1            1            22

1965–66*            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            59            1            14            15            50            10            0            2            2            8

1966–67            Montreal Canadiens            NHL            68            3            5            8            51            10            0            0            0            0

1967–68            Minnesota North Stars            NHL            4            0            0            0            4            —            —            —            —            —

1967–68            Detroit Red Wings            NHL            32            0            3            3            10            —            —            —            —            —

1967–68            St. Louis Blues            NHL            23            0            4            4            2            17            0            2            2            8

1968–69            St. Louis Blues            NHL            69            5            4            9            24            12            0            2            2            6

1969–70            St. Louis Blues            NHL            75            2            15            17            40            16            1            6            7            16

1970–71            Buffalo Sabres  NHL            57            0            7            7            36            —            —            —            —            —

NHL totals            1,056            43            242            285            1,006            150            4            26            30            142