Completed trade with Canadiens changed everything for the Avalanche
Photo credit: Montreal Hockey Now
The monumental trade that brought legendary goalie Patrick Roy from the Montreal Canadiens not only reshaped the Colorado Avalanche's future but also marked a massive turning point that propelled the team toward becoming one of the most dominant forces in the league.
The deal had a lasting impact, fundamentally changing the franchise's trajectory for years to come.
Trade with Canadiens changed everything for Avalanche.
Tommy Bennett from The Hockey Writers reports that Patrick Roy was a Montreal Canadiens legend, leading them to the 1986 Stanley Cup and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.
"Furthermore, he captured two Vezina Trophies in his tenure with the Canadiens (1989, 1992) and finished with a 2.89 goals-against average (GAA) and a .904 save percentage (SV%)." - Bennett
Looking back, it's wild to think that a storied franchise like the Canadiens would part ways with an elite goalie like Roy. The trade stemmed largely from the tense relationship with head coach Mario Tremblay, who didn't hold back on criticizing Roy. Additionally, there was a sense that the team's focus centered too heavily around Roy himself.
Here's what Canadiens general manager Serge Savard had to say about the franchise-altering trade...
«A change had become necessary. The team revolved far too much around him.» -Savard
On December 6, 1995, the Avalanche traded Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko to acquire star goaltender Patrick Roy and forward Mike Keane.
"This move had very similar effects to what [Matthew] Tkachuk did for the Panthers. The Avalanche had the pieces in place, but there was just something missing. They needed a dynamic goaltender in net and something that could catapult them further in the Western Conference." -Bennett
The Avalanche wrapped up the 1995-96 season first in their division and second overall in the league. Most notably, they captured the Stanley Cup by sweeping the Florida Panthers. The trade for Roy immediate dividends, and the team remained a consistent contender for the rest of his career.
"The 2000-01 season saw the Avalanche once again reach the summit of the hockey world. They defeated the New Jersey Devils in seven games to win the Stanley Cup. Roy versus Martin Brodeur was cinematic hockey, and Roy ended up getting the victory. That Avalanche team was lethal." -Bennett
To this day, Roy still holds several franchise records with the Avalanche, including most wins with 262, best save percentage (tied at .918), best GAA of 2.27, and most shutouts with 37.
Much like the Panthers' acquisition of Matthew Tkachuk, this trade completely changed the direction of the franchise. Revisiting the Roy deal is a reminder of one of the most stunning and impactful moves in hockey history.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 21 | 36 ANSWERS Completed trade with Canadiens changed everything for the Avalanche Do you think the Avalanche would have been just as sucessful without Patrick Roy on their team? | ||
| yes | 9 | 25 % |
| no | 27 | 75 % |
| List of polls | ||
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