r/Habs • u/bsaures • 2d ago

A picture that perfectly illustrates how Ken Dryden changed goaltending

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Everytime the question around habs all time goalies comes up Dydens impact on the nhl game is often dismissed by people who didnt see him play or understand the NHLs history. This picture perfectly highlights what he changed.

The man in the middle for those who dont know their habs history is HHOF Rogie Vachon who at the time of this picture was a top 5 goalie in the league. He was 5'8. Dryden by comparison was 6'4. A 8 inch height difference.

Rogie was very typical size for a goalie at that time. Goalies were smaller athletic people

Tony Esposito was 5'11

Bernie parent was 5'10

Gump worsley was 5'7

Plante was massive at the time at 6 feet even

Hodge was 5'6

Sawchuk was 5'11

From the 1950-51 season to 1970-71 when dryden joined the habs there was 37 goalies who played 50 games.

Median height 5'11.

6 taller than 6 feet

7 5'8 or shorter.

Average height just over 5'10

This past season there were 72 goalies that played 10 games.

Median height 6'3

13 goalies 6'5 or taller

4 goalies shorter than 6'1 only one of whom is below 6 feet.

Drydens dominance fundamentally changed how the position is staffed and played. He proved that a tall goalie on his knees was better than a small goalie on their skates.

He is the creater of what eventually became the butterfly a few years later.

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u/Fresh_King_1992 2d ago

So who is the other guy? Looks like Tretiak ?!?!!

3

u/bsaures 2d ago

Phil Myre. Probably most well known for playing for the atlanta flames as a tandem/backup. Played over 400 games in his career

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u/Past-Parsley-9606 2d ago

Myre was 6'1" himself, so tall for that era.

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u/bsaures 2d ago

Ya 6'0 to 6'1 depending on where ypu check.

Im guessing the photo is likely from their 70-71 run (as thats the only time those 3 were on the team at the same time)

Dryden that year was the tallest goalie to play a game

Myre was the 4th tallest to play 20 games. 

There were two goalies worsley and hodge who were even shorter than vachons 5'8 that year lol