Player Profile Ken Dryden

KEN DRYDEN

National Hockey League Player Profile: Ken Dryden. Ken Dryden was born on August 8, 1947, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Dryden was initially drafted 14th overall in 1964 by the Boston Bruins.

Ken’s playing career began on March 20, 1971, in a home game against his brother, Dave Dryden. Dave was the backup to Rogie Vachon of the Buffalo Sabres. Incidentally, this record still stands to this day, as the brothers are the only two to play against each other as goaltenders. At the time of Dryden’s call-up to the big team, it was late in the season, so he could only suit up for six regular-season games. Despite being a complete unknown, he was able to put up a sparkling 1.65 goals-against average. Ken was given the green light when the playoffs began as the number #1 goalie ahead of All-Star Rogie Vachon. Dryden would never look back; he would go on to help backstop the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup that year. If that wasn’t impressive enough for a rookie goaltender with only six regular-season wins to his name, he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the league’s MVP during the playoffs. Dryden had a fantastic career, winning the Stanley Cup in 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979.

At the conclusion of the 1972 NHL season, Ken won the Calder Trophy as the rookie of the year; he did not win the trophy during his first year as he hadn’t played the required number of games. It is remarkable to note that Dryden is the only player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy before winning the Calder Trophy and is the only goaltender to win both the Conn Smythe and the Stanley Cup before losing a regular-season game.

Player Profile: Ken Dryden

Dryden’s playing career was relatively short, playing from late 1971 until the end of the 1979 season. Ken also missed the entire 1973-1974 season due to a contract dispute. Dryden didn’t let this hold him back, as he used the season away from NHL hockey to pursue a career as a legal clerk for the Toronto law firm of Osler, Hoskins, and Harcourt. The Canadians would still have another winning season without Ken between the pipes, but in the playoffs that year, they would lose in the first round to the New York Rangers in six games. During Ken’s absence during the 1973-1974 season, the Habs allowed 56 more goals. Dryden retired from hockey on July 9, 1979.

Dryden never lost more than ten games in a season and only 57 games for his entire career. His goals-against was unreal, with a high of 2.69 in 1974-1975 and a low of 2.03 in 1975-76, excluding his inaugural six-game season in 1971. Indeed, Only The Lord Saves More Than Ken Dryden.

Dryden’s statistics are legendary, compiling regular-season totals of a .790 winning percentage, a 2.24 goals-against average, 46 shutouts, and 258 wins, with only 57 losses and 74 ties in 397 NHL games. Dryden won the Vezina Trophy five times and was selected as First Team All-Star in those five seasons. In 1988, Ken was ranked number 25 on The Hockey News’ list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.

Dryden was a towering presence between the pipes. At 6 feet, 4 inches, some called him an Octopus because he would be everywhere at once. Others would call him the “four-story goalie.” Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins named him “that thieving giraffe.” Ken was famous for his pose of leaning on his stick when the play had moved down the ice, the same pose that former Montreal Canadiens goaltender George Vezina would strike 60 years prior.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

National Hockey League Player Profile: Ken Dryden

		Regular season		Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	W	L	T	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%	GP	W	L	MIN	GA	SO	GAA	SV%
1963–64	Humber Valley Packers	MTHL	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1964–65	Etobicoke Indians	MetJHL	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1965–66	Cornell Big Red	ECAC	Played on the freshman team. NCAA freshman ineligible rule was in effect (1954-1973)
1966–67	Cornell Big Red	ECAC	27	26	0	1	1646	40	4	1.46	.945	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1967–68	Cornell Big Red	ECAC	29	25	2	0	1620	41	6	1.52	.938	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1968–69	Cornell Big Red	ECAC	27	25	2	0	1578	47	3	1.79	.936	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Montreal Voyageurs	AHL	33	16	7	8	1899	84	3	2.68	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970–71	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	6	6	0	0	327	9	0	1.65	.957	20	12	8	1221	61	0	3.00	.914
1971–72	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	64	39	8	15	3800	142	8	2.24	.930	6	2	4	360	17	0	2.83	.911
1972–73	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	54	33	7	13	3165	119	6	2.26	.926	17	12	5	1039	50	1	2.89	.908
1973–74	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	Did not play (contract dispute)
1974–75	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	56	30	9	16	3320	149	4	2.69	.906	11	6	5	688	29	2	2.53	.916
1975–76	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	62	42	10	8	3580	121	8	2.03	.927	13	12	1	780	25	1	1.92	.929
1976–77	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	56	41	6	8	3275	117	10	2.14	.920	14	12	2	849	22	4	1.55	.932
1977–78	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	52	37	7	7	3071	105	5	2.05	.921	15	12	3	919	29	2	1.89	.920
1978–79	Montreal Canadiens	NHL	47	30	10	7	2814	108	5	2.30	.909	16	12	4	990	41	0	2.48	.900
NHL totals	397	258	57	74	25,251	954	46	2.24	.921	112	80	32	6846	274	10	2.40	.915