LALAFONTAINE
March 28th, 2003, 2:02:52 PM
The common view of Roy's playoff play while in Montreal is that he stole a Stanley Cup for a Habs team that did not belong. Fact of the matter is that both times, it was no surprise.
1985-6
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 80 40 33 7 87
beat:
Boston Bruins NHLA 80 37 31 12 86
Hartford Whalers NHLA 80 40 36 4 84
New-York Rangers NHLP 80 36 38 6 78
Calgary Flames NHLS 80 40 31 9 89
How is Montreal beating any of these teams a surprise? Patrick Roy should send Steve Smith his Conn Smythe, because THAT is who got Roy his Cup.
1992-3
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 84 48 30 6 102
beat:
Quebec Nordiques NHLA 84 47 27 10 104
Buffalo Sabres NHLA 84 38 36 10 86
New-York Islanders NHLP 84 40 37 7 87
Los-Angeles Kings NHLS 84 39 35 10 88
Again, how is Montreal beating all of these teams a surprise? Also, the 1992-3 Canadiens were supposed to be the worst of Roy's Cup winners. It's quite apparent that they weren't.
1995-6
Colorado Avalanche NHLP 82 47 25 10 104
beat:
Vancouver Canucks NHLP 82 32 35 15 79
Chicago Blackhawks NHLC 82 40 28 14 94
Detroit Red Wings NHLC 82 62 13 7 131
Florida Panthers NHLA 82 41 31 10 92
The only surprise here is the mild surprise of Colorado upsetting Detroit, but this isn't that much of a surprise. Roy was dealt halfway thru season, so regular season underestimates Colorado. Second, Detroit had an achilles heel in goal, which was apparent when they were scored on from center ice.
2000-1
Colorado Avalanche NHLNW 82 52 16 10 118
beat:
Vancouver Canucks NHLNW 82 36 28 11 90
Los-Angeles Kings NHLP 82 38 28 13 92
St.-Louis Blues NHLC 82 43 22 12 103
New-Jersey Devils NHLA 82 48 19 12 111
Again, Colorado is better than their opposition. And Roy wins the Conn Smythe despite singlehandedly letting the Kings and Devils back into the series with the Avs.
This doesn't indicate any great clutch play in the playoffs. Roy's Cup teams SHOULD have won. The only exception might be in 1995, but that isn't a fair comparison, since Roy was dealt halfway thru the year.
But consider where Roy should have done more in the playoffs:
1987-88:
Boston Bruins NHLA 80 44 30 6 94
beat
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 80 45 22 13 103
1991-92:
Boston Bruins NHLA 80 36 32 12 84
swept
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 80 41 28 11 93
1996-97:
Detroit Red Wings NHLC 82 38 26 18 94
beat
Colorado Avalanche* NHLP 82 49 24 9 107
*Colorado was the best team in the league
1997-98:
Edmonton Oilers NHLP 82 35 37 10 80
beat
Colorado Avalanche NHLP 82 39 26 17 95
In summary, Roy's cup wins were teams he should have beaten for the most part. And Roy did not lead his team to the Cup when he should have, and has lost more series he should have won than won series he should have lost.
Add in that Hasek has better regular season and playoff stats, and it isn't tough to figure out: Hasek is better than Roy. BY A LOT.
1985-6
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 80 40 33 7 87
beat:
Boston Bruins NHLA 80 37 31 12 86
Hartford Whalers NHLA 80 40 36 4 84
New-York Rangers NHLP 80 36 38 6 78
Calgary Flames NHLS 80 40 31 9 89
How is Montreal beating any of these teams a surprise? Patrick Roy should send Steve Smith his Conn Smythe, because THAT is who got Roy his Cup.
1992-3
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 84 48 30 6 102
beat:
Quebec Nordiques NHLA 84 47 27 10 104
Buffalo Sabres NHLA 84 38 36 10 86
New-York Islanders NHLP 84 40 37 7 87
Los-Angeles Kings NHLS 84 39 35 10 88
Again, how is Montreal beating all of these teams a surprise? Also, the 1992-3 Canadiens were supposed to be the worst of Roy's Cup winners. It's quite apparent that they weren't.
1995-6
Colorado Avalanche NHLP 82 47 25 10 104
beat:
Vancouver Canucks NHLP 82 32 35 15 79
Chicago Blackhawks NHLC 82 40 28 14 94
Detroit Red Wings NHLC 82 62 13 7 131
Florida Panthers NHLA 82 41 31 10 92
The only surprise here is the mild surprise of Colorado upsetting Detroit, but this isn't that much of a surprise. Roy was dealt halfway thru season, so regular season underestimates Colorado. Second, Detroit had an achilles heel in goal, which was apparent when they were scored on from center ice.
2000-1
Colorado Avalanche NHLNW 82 52 16 10 118
beat:
Vancouver Canucks NHLNW 82 36 28 11 90
Los-Angeles Kings NHLP 82 38 28 13 92
St.-Louis Blues NHLC 82 43 22 12 103
New-Jersey Devils NHLA 82 48 19 12 111
Again, Colorado is better than their opposition. And Roy wins the Conn Smythe despite singlehandedly letting the Kings and Devils back into the series with the Avs.
This doesn't indicate any great clutch play in the playoffs. Roy's Cup teams SHOULD have won. The only exception might be in 1995, but that isn't a fair comparison, since Roy was dealt halfway thru the year.
But consider where Roy should have done more in the playoffs:
1987-88:
Boston Bruins NHLA 80 44 30 6 94
beat
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 80 45 22 13 103
1991-92:
Boston Bruins NHLA 80 36 32 12 84
swept
Montreal Canadiens NHLA 80 41 28 11 93
1996-97:
Detroit Red Wings NHLC 82 38 26 18 94
beat
Colorado Avalanche* NHLP 82 49 24 9 107
*Colorado was the best team in the league
1997-98:
Edmonton Oilers NHLP 82 35 37 10 80
beat
Colorado Avalanche NHLP 82 39 26 17 95
In summary, Roy's cup wins were teams he should have beaten for the most part. And Roy did not lead his team to the Cup when he should have, and has lost more series he should have won than won series he should have lost.
Add in that Hasek has better regular season and playoff stats, and it isn't tough to figure out: Hasek is better than Roy. BY A LOT.