Jean Beliveau passed away on Tuesday in Montreal at the age of 83. The hockey world will not forget “Les Gros Bill,” as he left a lasting mark not only in the memories of those who played with him, or watched him play, but also in the NHL’s record books.
Here are some of the highlights from his legendary career:
Current NHL records:
- Most Stanley Cups, combined player or non-player: 17 (10 as player [1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971], 7 as executive [1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986, 1993])
(Note: Next-closest is Scotty Bowman, who has 13) - Most Stanley Cups as team captain: 5 (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971)
- Fastest game-winning goal in regulation time of a playoff game: 14 seconds (May 1, 1965)
- Tied for most assists in one period of a playoff game: 3 (he did it twice, has happened 86 times in history)
All-time ranks:
- 39th in goals: 507
- Tied for 49th in assists: 712
- 39th in points: 1,219
- Tied for 33rd in seasons with 20 goals or more: 13
- Tied for 9th in all-star team selections: 10 (6 first team, 4 second team)
- 10th in playoff goals: 79
- Tied for 22nd playoff assists: 97
- Tied for 14th in playoff points: 176
- Tied for 3rd for most goals in a final series: 7 in 1956 (Babe Dye had 9 in 1922, Alf Skinner had 8 in 1918)
Other achievements & honours:
- 13 All-Star games: 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969
(Note: Did not play in 1967 all-star game due to injury) - All-Star game MVP: 1964
- 2-time Hart Trophy winner: 1955-56, 1963-64
- Art Ross Trophy: 1955-56
- Conn Smythe Trophy winner: 1965
- Led league in goals twice: 1955-56, 1958-89
- Led league (or tied for league lead) in assists twice: 1960-61, 1965-66
- Led playoffs in points once: 1955-56
- Nis No. 4 jersey was retired by the Canadiens on October 9, 1971 (also Guy Lafleur’s first NHL game)
- Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972
- Lifetime Achievement award: 2009
- Became 2nd player to record 1,000th career point (Gordie Howe was the only one to do it before him)
- Became 4th player to record 500th career goal (Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull were the only ones to do it before him)
Notable Canadiens team records/ranks:
- Tied for most seasons: 20 (Henri Richard tied him in 1974-75)
- Tied for most seasons as captain: 10 (Saku Koivu tied him in 1999-00)
- Most power-play goals: 171
- Most playoff points: 176
- Most assists including playoffs: 809
- Most points including playoffs: 1,395
- Fastest hat-trick: 44 seconds (November 5, 1955)
- Most goals by a centre: 507
- Most assists by a centre: 712
- Most points by a centre: 1,219
- Most playoff goals by a centre: 79
- Most playoff assists by a centre: 97
- Most playoff power-play goals by a centre: 26
- Tied for most game-winning goals in a single postseason : 4 in 1965 (Maurice Richard in 1958, Guy Lafleur in 1975, Claude Lemieux in 1986)
- Most assists in a single postseason by a centre: 16 in 1971
- Tied for most goals in a postseason series: 7 in 1956 (tied with 7 others)
- Tied for most game-winning goals in a postseason series: 3 in 1960 vs Toronto and 1965 vs Chicago (Guy Lafleur, 1975 vs Vancouver)
- Tied for most power-play goals in a postseason series: 4 in 1965 vs Chicago (Marcel Bonin, 1959 vs Chicago)
- Became 1st in team history to record 1,000th career point
- Became 1st player in history to play 1,000th career game with team
- Became 2nd player in team history to record 500th career goals (Maurice Richard was the only Canadien to do it before him)
