Canadiens pay tribute to Ken Dryden at home opener vs. Kraken

The Montreal Canadiens honored Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden prior to their 2025-26 home opener against the Seattle Kraken at the Bell Centre on Tuesday evening.

Dryden, who passed away from cancer in early September at age 78, spent his entire eight-season NHL career with the Canadiens, winning the Stanley Cup with the club in 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979.

The Canadiens played a commemorative tribute video and also allowed their fans to pay their respects in a unique way, leaving one of Dryden’s iconic masks atop their net and shining a spotlight on it prior to the game.

The Bell Centre gives the late Ken Dryden a touching ovation ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Hqjt3ZaSOF

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 14, 2025

Several of Dryden’s teammates with the Canadiens in the 1970s were in attendance for the pre-game ceremony, with Pierre Bouchard, Yvan Cournoyer, Rejean Houle, Doug Jarvis, Yvon Lambert, Pierre Mondou, Doug Risebrough, Mario Tremblay, Murray Wilson, and Serge Savard all making appearances.

Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1964 but traded to the Canadiens shortly thereafter, Dryden spent three seasons at Cornell University and played for the Canadian national team before finally making his NHL debut in 1971; he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL playoff MVP later that spring. Dryden subsequently won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender in 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, and 1979; he also represented Canada at the 1972 Summit Series.

Dryden remained the Canadiens’ starter throughout the 1970s, with the exception of the 1973-74 season, during which he articled at a Toronto law firm after turning down an unsatisfactory contract offer from the team. After retiring in 1979 at age 32, Dryden turned to writing and television commentary, and eventually served as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1997 to 2003.

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983, his first year of eligibility, Dryden was subsequently named an officer of the Order of Canada in 2012 shortly after the conclusion of his tenure as a Liberal Member of Parliament for York Centre, which lasted from 2004 to 2011. He intermittently taught at McGill University after his political career and held over a half-dozen honorary degrees.

In 397 career games over his eight seasons with the Canadiens, Dryden collected a 258-57-74 record to go along with a .922 save percentage and 46 shutouts. He posted a 80-32 record in 112 playoff games, as well as a .915 save percentage and 10 shutouts.