Bob Gainey

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gainey was drafted eighth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1973 and also drafted seventh overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA, though he never joined the WHA. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in four consecutive seasons (1978–1981), the only player to do so. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1979. He was a four-time All-Star and served as Canadiens captain from 1981–82 until his retirement in 1989. He won the Stanley Cup five times as a player (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986). His number 23 was retired by the Canadiens in 2008. After retiring, he coached the Minnesota North Stars to the 1991 Stanley Cup Final, became general manager of the team in 1992, and remained GM when the team moved to Dallas in 1993. He stepped down as coach in the 1995–96 season but stayed as GM. The Dallas Stars won the Presidents' Trophy twice and the Stanley Cup in 1999, giving Gainey his sixth championship. He became general manager of the Canadiens in 2003 and resigned in 2010. He currently serves as a team consultant for the St. Louis Blues and a volunteer senior advisor for the Peterborough Petes. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992 and named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017.

In Their Own Story

The air in Chicago Stadium is thick with the smell of popcorn and the roar of the crowd as the third period winds down. Bob Gainey skates low to the ice, his eyes locked on the puck carrier approaching the blue line. He doesn't need a teammate's help; he knows exactly where the pass will go. With a sharp turn of his hips, he intercepts the puck, breaking up a scoring chance before it even forms. The crowd erupts for the defensive stop, but Gainey just nods, skating back to his spot with silent determination, ready for the next shift.

Reader's Guide

Bob Gainey played his entire NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens from 1973–74 to 1988–89. He never played for the Chicago Blackhawks. His coaching career was with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars and Montreal Canadiens. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy four times, not the Lady Byng. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a left wing, not a center.

Did You Know?

• Bob Gainey is the only player to win the Frank J. Selke Trophy in four consecutive seasons.
• He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1979 after scoring 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) in 16 playoff games.
• Gainey won the Stanley Cup five times as a player and once as a general manager (1999), for a total of six championships.
• He was drafted eighth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 1973 and also seventh overall by the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA.