Carey Price pens heartfelt tribute to Ken Dryden as Canadiens legendary goalie and politician passes away at 78

Carey Price pens heartfelt tribute to Ken Dryden as Canadiens legendary goalie and politician passes away at 78 - Source: Imagn
Carey Price pens heartfelt tribute to Ken Dryden as Canadiens legendary goalie and politician passes away at 78 - Source: Imagn

One legendary Montreal Canadiens goalie paid tribute to another. Carey Price penned a heartfelt message to Ken Dryden, who died Friday at age 78.

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Dryden lost his battle with cancer, leading to an outpouring of grief from hockey fans, young and old. Among them, Price expressed his condolences at the loss of one of the sport’s most revered figures.

Price tweeted:

“With a heavy heart, I extend my deepest condolences to the Dryden family. Thank you, Mr. Dryden, for your service not only as a Canadien, but also as a Canadian. You helped me as a young goaltender, and I will always be grateful for your thoughtful words of encouragement.”
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Ken Dryden became an NHL legend in the 1970s. He played 397 regular-season games from 1971 to 1979, winning 258 and collecting five Vezina Trophies, including four in a row.

He was part of the Canadiens dynasty of the 1970s and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1971 as a rookie goalie. Dryden went on to inspire a generation of goaltenders, including Price.

Remembering Ken Dryden, Carey Price's role model

Dryden remains one of the NHL's most successful goalies in history - Source: Imagn
Dryden remains one of the NHL's most successful goalies in history - Source: Imagn

Ken Dryden only played eight NHL seasons. He burst onto the scene in 1971 as an emergency call-up and guided the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup that year. The following season, he won 39 games and posted a .930 save percentage.

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Dryden sat out the 1973-74 season in a contract dispute and began a parallel career in law. He returned the next season to backstop Montreal to four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1976 to 1979.

In total, Dryden won six Cups in eight seasons. He earned five Vezina Trophies, finished with a 2.24 career goals-against average, and posted a .922 save percentage.

His most memorable moment came in the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, considered the greatest international hockey tournament of its era. Dryden backstopped Team Canada to victory over the powerful Soviet squad.

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After retiring before the 1979-80 season, Dryden worked as a broadcaster and in law before returning to hockey as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1997.

His contributions still resonate throughout the NHL. The Hall of Fame netminder remains among the league’s all-time greats.

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Edited by Nestor Quixtan
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