1975-76 O-Pee-Chee 35 Ken Dryden Hockey Card (Front)
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee 35 Ken Dryden Hockey Card (Back)
1975-76 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
Card Notes
Former winner of Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP in Stanley Cup playoffs. Won Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of year, 1971-72. Vezina winner, 1972-73.
En Français
Ancien gagnant du Trophée Conn Smythe comme J.P.U. durant les éliminatoires de la Coupe Stanley. Reçut le Trophée Calder comme Recrue de l’Année dans la LNH pour 1971-72.
Details
After appearing in just six regular season games in 1970-71, his first action in the NHL, Ken Dryden played in all 20 games during the playoffs. The Habs captured the Stanley Cup championship and Dryden was honoured with the Conn Smythe Trophy. The two goalies that saw the bulk of the action during the regular season, Rogie Vachon and Phil Myre, were soon after out of the picture in Montreal.
His six games in 1970-71 did not meet the criteria as a “rookie season”. In 1971-72, his technical rookie year, Dryden appeared in 64 of the team’s 78 games, recording a 2.24 goals against average with eight shutouts. It was a tight battle for the Calder Trophy with Ken edging out Rick Martin of the Buffalo Sabres and his 44 goal campaign. Marcel Dionne, Gilles Meloche and Dave Burrows were also in the running.
His five Vezina Trophy wins, six Stanley Cup championships and five First Team All-Star selections were amazing on their own. The fact that Dryden accomplished this hockey resume playing just seven full seasons in the NHL make it incredible. Never a Hart Trophy winner, Ken was runner-up to Bobby Orr in 1971-72 along with coming in fourth in voting in 1972-73 and 1975-76 (both years the award was won by Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers).
Between 1970-71 and 1978-79, Dryden appeared in 397 regular season and 112 playoff games in the NHL, all with the Montreal Canadiens. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.