For generations, the Habs have been dogged by accusations that their historic Stanley Cup success was as a result of that they had territorial rights to the very best gamers French Canada needed to supply. On this nice article, initially printed Could 12, 2010, former THW contributor Mike Moore lays out why all these claims of an unfair benefit are improper.
I’ve heard it greater than as soon as. You’ve most likely heard it your self, particularly in the event you’re a fan of the Montreal Canadiens. Some misinformed anti-Habs fan often brings it up. It’s a delusion handed on from one technology to the following, an previous wives’ story stoked by jealousy or feelings much more sinister. the place I’m headed — the Montreal Canadiens have gained all of these Stanley Cups of their crew historical past as a result of the NHL historically gave them unique territorial rights to all French Canadian gamers. Ugh, such ignorant nonsense!
All through its historical past, the NHL has been ruled by a President and board of governors whose finest curiosity has all the time been equal and honest competitors. Do you actually imagine the NHL may have survived over 90 years if one crew had been given such an clearly big and advantageous privilege?
Mr. Frank Selke and His Imaginative and prescient
Right here’s what actually occurred. In 1946, Frank Selke turned basic supervisor of the Montreal Canadiens, a crew nicknamed “The Flying Frenchmen” lengthy earlier than the formation of the Nationwide Hockey League. He was a person of extraordinary foresight and Mr. Selke had a imaginative and prescient.
He upgraded the Montreal Discussion board to draw extra followers. Extra followers meant extra income. With these further funds, Selke began sponsoring minor and junior league groups throughout North America, particularly within the province of Quebec. In flip, gifted gamers from sponsored groups naturally migrated to the Canadiens in the event that they have been deemed to be NHL materials. At one level, there have been 10,000 gamers on 750 groups throughout the continent that have been thought-about part of the Canadiens farm system, a steady of future prospects bigger than that of the 5 different NHL groups mixed.
Most French Canadian gamers, particularly these from Quebec, dreamed of in the future dressing up for le bleu, blanc et rouge. Nonetheless, there have been loads of exceptions. Corridor-of-Famer Marcel Pronovost who hailed from Lac-de-Tortue, Quebec, was scouted by the Detroit Purple Wings within the late Forties and by no means performed a sport for the Montreal Canadiens in his lengthy, illustrious profession. He was by no means owned by the Canadiens’ group in any method.
Identical story for future Corridor-of-Famers Rod Gilbert and his buddy Jean Ratelle. They have been backwoods Quebecois who have been scouted by a man named Yvon Prud’homme of the New York Rangers and signed by New York within the mid-Fifties. Ratelle couldn’t converse a phrase of English when he joined the Guelph Biltmores of the Rangers’ group.
Hubert “Pit” Martin was one other one. Not like the remainder of his household, Pit was a French Canadian Quebecer whose favourite crew was the Purple Wings, so he joined their group. Martin would get pleasure from an extended NHL profession within the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s and by no means performed a single sport for the Habs. There are numerous extra examples of profitable French Canadian gamers who have been by no means Montreal Canadiens property beneath the previous sponsorship system.
The “New NHL” of the Nineteen Sixties
The hockey panorama modified within the Nineteen Sixties with the gradual elimination of the sponsorship system. President Clarence Campbell had league enlargement behind his thoughts and he envisioned a degree taking part in discipline whereby all groups would have equal alternative to recruit recent younger expertise. Thus in 1963, the NHL performed its first Beginner draft.
For sure, the draft was a model new sport with guidelines that required a lot refinement that advanced over a number of years. Solely 21 gamers have been chosen within the first 12 months, primarily as a result of novice gamers who have been already on groups’ sponsorship lists have been ineligible to be drafted. The Boston Bruins had completed final within the league in 1962 and have been scheduled to draft first general. For some cause, they selected to go third as a substitute.
Having constructed an unequaled and highly effective empire of feeder groups throughout North America, the Montreal Canadiens stood to lose essentially the most by the establishment of the brand new draft system. In recognition and as compensation, the NHL granted the Canadiens the selection of both drafting in flip with different groups or choosing the 2 French Canadian gamers of their alternative earlier than another crew drafted.
This will look like an outrageously biased allowance, given the significance of the NHL’s Entry draft of at this time. How may they grant a lot leverage to at least one crew? However this was 1963, don’t overlook — the entire beneficial junior expertise was already signed and wrapped up by way of sponsorship. There merely wasn’t a lot extremely fascinating expertise left to be drafted. No person raised an eyebrow. In actual fact, the Canadiens didn’t even make use of their French Canadian privilege within the inaugural draft. As an alternative, they drafted Garry Monahan first general, a younger prospect from Barrie, Ontario proper out of the yard of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Utilizing the French Canadian Rule
For the primary 5 years of the Beginner draft, from 1963 to 1967, the Canadiens by no means invoked their French Canadian possibility. In 1968, the Canadiens noticed a chance and eventually made use of their unique proper for the primary time. They chose goaltender Michel Plasse and a centreman from Montreal named Roger Belisle. Plasse performed 32 video games for the Habs as a backup goalie and was subsequently misplaced with no compensation within the 1974 Growth Draft. Roger Belisle by no means performed a sport within the NHL.
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In 1969, the Canadiens used the French Canadian rule once more to pick Rejean Houle and Marc Tardif earlier than the opposite groups drafted in common order. Though each of those 1969 choices have been serviceable NHL’ers, they have been hardly the muse of any future Habs dynasty. Each gamers have been misplaced to the rival WHA after 4 seasons with Montreal.
Au Revoir to the Rule
By 1969, the previous sponsorship system had been fully phased out. The NHL voted to remove the French Canadian rule, in any other case, the Habs would have been completely happy to take junior phenom Gilbert Perreault from Victoriaville, Quebec in 1970. Perreault went on to develop into the muse of the early Buffalo Sabres’ success.
That’s it. From 1970 ahead, the Canadians constructed their most profitable groups the old school method, by way of clever trades and diligent draft picks. Because the league expanded, the newer groups wanted expert gamers instantly. Nonetheless deeply stocked, the Canadiens may afford to surrender serviceable gamers for future draft picks. Different Authentic Six groups had the identical alternative, however Habs’ basic supervisor Sam Pollock was the grasp. That’s how he secured Man Lafleur and different superstars the Canadiens’ of the Nineteen Seventies employed whereas grabbing six extra Stanley Cups.
The following time followers of a much less profitable crew attempt to persuade you that some unfair French Canadian benefit is the rationale behind the 100-year and 24 Stanley Cup success story of Les Habitants, inform ‘em to do some homework and uncover actuality.
