The entire Montreal Canadiens community was saddened to learn that on Friday, September 5, former Canadiens goaltender and NHL icon Ken Dryden passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 78.
His contributions to the Canadiens and hockey were immense, as he helped anchor one of Montreal’s most dominant dynasties. Fans and members of the Habs community quickly shared heartfelt tributes.
How Did Fans and Community Celebrate the Legacy of the 6-Time Champion?
Dryden made his NHL debut with Montreal in 1970-71 and immediately became part of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties. The rookie Dryden went 12-8 in 20 playoff games, leading the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup in his first postseason.
Dryden added five more Stanley Cups to his collection, including four straight from 1976 to 1979. His individual honors included the Calder Trophy in the 1971-72 season and five Vezina Trophies, cementing his status among hockey’s greatest goaltenders.
Rip to an absolute legend
— Mark (@MarkNFT) September 6, 2025
For his contributions, he was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 1983. Dryden was one of the sport’s most beloved figures, and tributes quickly flooded in after the Canadiens first broke the news. One fan mentioned, “RIP to an absolute legend.”
Off the ice, Dryden made his mark as an author with ‘The Game,’ widely considered one of hockey’s finest literary works. The book provided an insider’s perspective on NHL life, combining personal insights with thoughtful analysis of the sport.
He was the reason I played goal. And I re-read The Game every couple of winters, finding a new revelation each time. An amazing man of the world. pic.twitter.com/9SvV64OAya
— Lee Finishen 🇨🇦 (@5150Inprogress) September 6, 2025
Even 42 years after its first publication in 1983, it remains a hit among NHL fans. As one fan wrote, “He was the reason I played goal. And I reread The Game every couple of winters, finding a new revelation each time. An amazing man of the world.”
Beyond the fans and members of the Habs community, Dryden’s legacy and life were honored by fellow NHL teams. The Los Angeles Kings wrote, “The Los Angeles Kings join the entire world of hockey in mourning the loss of the great Ken Dryden.”
The Los Angeles Kings join the entire world of hockey in mourning the loss of the great Ken Dryden. Our sincere condolences go out to the Dryden Family and the Montreal Canadiens organization. Ken was a giant both in hockey and in life, inspiring countless people and influencing… https://t.co/67QVU0S4Qm
— LA Kings (@LAKings) September 6, 2025
“Our sincere condolences go out to the Dryden family and the Montreal Canadiens organization. Ken was a giant both in hockey and in life, inspiring countless people and influencing change in profound ways that will forever be remembered,” the King’s official X handle said.
Meanwhile, fellow NHL Hall of Famer and Anaheim Ducks legend Chris Pronger also provided his tribute to one of hockey’s finest. He tweeted, “Deeply saddened to learn of Ken Dryden’s passing. Was with him a little over a year ago.”
Deeply saddened to learn of Ken Dryden’s passing. Was with him a little over year ago. We had a wonderful conversation about the game of hockey and how one can make an impact in life post playing days. The world lost a special man. RIP 🙏🏻 Ken pic.twitter.com/x9Dp8xfMUF
— Chris Pronger (@chrispronger) September 6, 2025
Pronger continued, “We had a wonderful conversation about the game of hockey and how one can make an impact in life post-playing days. The world lost a special man. RIP 🙏🏻 Ken.” Dryden’s legacy didn’t just end with the NHL, however.
For his immeasurable contributions to the sport itself, he was awarded the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2020 and was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players by the NHL in 2017. The entire hockey community mourns the loss of one of the sport’s greatest legends.
