Seven-time Stanley Cup champion Jean-Guy Talbot passes away at 91

Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot has passed away at the age of 91.

The Cap de la Madeleine native broke into the league with the Habs in the 1954-55 season, and ended up playing 12 seasons in Montreal. He was one of a dozen players to be on the team that won a record five straight Stanley Cups from 1956 to 1960, and ended up winning two more Cups with the Canadiens in 1965 and 1966.

Talbot then moved to the State of Hockey, as we was taken by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1967 Expansion Draft. He joined the St. Louis Blues shortly thereafter, helping the team make it to three straight Finals. Talbot infamously lost Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr while driving the net in Game 4 of the 1970 Finals, leading to one of the famous goals in hockey history.

It was ironic that Talbot ended up playing under the legend Scott Bowman, as it was Talbot’s stick that caught Bowman up high in a junior game back in 1932, effectively ending Bowman’s playing career, pushing him into a legendary coaching career.

Talbot also made stops with the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres, before calling it a day in 1971.

He ended up being a head coach in the NHL for three seasons, sitting behind the bench in St. Louis from 1972 to 1974, before coaching the New York Rangers in 1977-78. Talbot also had a stint as head coach of the WHA’s Denver Spurs on two separate occasions

Porteur de flambeau, Talbot’s biography, was published by author, and former mayor of Bécancour, Jean-Guy Dubois. Former Canadiens’ captain and general manager Serge Savard wrote the preface.

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