Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey to have numbers retired this season
MONTREAL (CP) - Both Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey wondered as rookies how they would ever be able to crack the lineup of the powerhouse Montreal Canadiens teams of the 1970s.
They not only made the club, but their tremendous contributions to one of hockey's greatest dynasties was cemented Wednesday when the Canadiens announced that Robinson's No. 19 and Gainey's No. 23 will be retired this season.
"The first thing I thought was that I would never get to play," Robinson said of being drafted in 1971 to a team that already had future Hall of Famers Serge Savard, Jacques Laperriere and Guy Lapointe as well as standout J.C. Tremblay on the blue-line. "When I first got drafted I figured I would get lost with all these great defencemen."
Gainey said he had much the same sentiment when he was the Habs' first-round pick in the 1973 draft, coming to a Stanley Cup champion team loaded at forward with names like Guy Lafleur, Jacques Lemaire, Frank and Pete Mahovolich, Yvan Cournoyer and Henri Richard.
FULL STORY
Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey to have numbers retired this season
Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey to have numbers retired this season
Linear Mode
