Thank You Sam

This week a page of history of the most storied franchise in the history of the NHL, passed away.Sam Pollock,the architect of the great dynasty of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970's left us,but his memory and his legacy will remain with us.

Sam Pollock started his career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1946, the same year an another legendary General manager was starting his legacy, Frank Selke had come aboard and started one the greatest dynasties in the history of the NHL and in pro sports.Selke elaborated a an enormous network of sponsered leagues and players, Pollock scouted most of them,to later inherite Selke's masterminding.

In 1964,Pollock inherited the most prestigious job in pro sports, General manager of the Montreal Canadiens.Pollock did not waste time getting comfortable in his new position.He orchestrated a trade that would solidify the backbone of the 1970's Canadiens Dynasty.He acquired the rights from the Boston Bruins,of a certain Ken Dryden.

In his wheeling and dealing,he put together the main ingredients that would compose the greatest hockey team ever iced.The 1976-77 team posted a record that still stands today,yes Detroit won 62 games in 1995-96,but don't forget,there was no overtime in that great season,or else that team may have won 70 games out of the 80 games played that year.

In 1971, Pollock got doubly lucky,as he drafted the top junior of that year, Guy Lafleur,he also launched the legendary career of William Scott Bowman.He knew that Bowman had the steady and firm hand to direct traffic behind the bench and put in check the egos.

Under Pollock's reign as Gm, the Canadiens had four coaches parade behind the bench,and all won the Stanley cup.Blake in 65,66 and 68 his last.Claude Ruel in 1969,Al McNeil in 1971.Bowman took the Habs to the cup in 73,76,77 and 1978 under Pollock.Scotty stayed for one more year and won the cup for a fourth straight time in 1979. Bowman went on to become Gm and coach of the Buffalo Sabres.Ken Dryden retired after the 1978-79 season,and so did Jacques Lemaire.

After Bowman and Pollock had left,the Canadiens fell on hard times, until Serge Savard,a Pollock protege,took on the task of rebuilding the once proud organization,and lead it to two more cups in 1986 and 1993.

Pollock's legacy still lives with the present Canadiens administration. Bob Gainey,a draft choice,is now Gm,Guy Carbonneau the coach, was selected by the Canadiens due to Pollock's savy.Doug Jarvis,was acquired by Pollock after being drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The player that Pollock traded to get Jarvis,never played a game in the NHL.Gainey played with both Jarvis and Carbonneau,and formed the best checking lines in the history of the team and the NHL.All that of that due to the smarts of one the greatest hockey minds in the business.

Thank You Sam !