Who Is The Canadiens Unsung Hero for 2008-09?

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 8:41 AM EDT

There was an RDS poll during last night's Habs and Leafs tilt asking fans to vote for who they though should win the Jacques Beauchamps Trophy, awarded to what is essentially the Canadiens unsung hero for the season.

The three players listed were Tom Kostopoulos, Josh Gorges, and Maxim Lapierre.

Lapierre walloped the competition taking 84% of the vote. Kostopoulos and Gorges, equally worthy contributors, took 8% and 6% crumbs in the somewhat loaded proposition.

Lapierre has had what amounts to a breakout season. Call him overqualified for unsung hero status.

In looking for a player erased from the headlines, who has been indispensible to the Canadiens standing this season, one needs to look no further than Jaroslav Halak.

In what hasn't always amounted to a backup role while Carey Price floundered, Halak has posted more than respectable totals. There is a won loss record of 18-13-1-1, a GAA of 2.85, and a save percentage of .916.

While he's been shaky at times, Halak has turned out to be a very dependable backup for Montreal. So reliable has he been, that the Canadiens wouldn't hesitate to run with him come playoff time should Price faulter once more.

Most importantly, Halak saved the Habs butts in February and March, stringing four solid wins in games where the clubs were badly outshot. Each game had Halak facing over 40 shots per game while the team desperately struggled to find itself.

Late in February, he made 44 saves in a game against Ottawa, that helped the club begin a four game win streak to close out the month.

Next up was a 3-0 Bell Centre shutout of the Vancouver Canucks, that was quite spectacular. He stopped all 34 of the Canucks shots that night. That was followed by a 4-3 overtime win against Philadelphia. Halak's piece de resistance was a 45 save performance the following night, wherin the Canadiens somehow managed to rise from the mire and morass to defeat the league's best team, San Jose, in a hang on nailbitter, 3-2.

Earlier in February, Halak stopped 46 of 48 shots against the cellar dwelling Colorado Avalanche to carry the Canadiens to a 4-2 win.

Asking yourself where the Canadiens would be presently without Halak's highwire performances answers the question fully.

Halak is the Canadiens unsung hero of 2009. There is no other even close!

Past winners of the Jacques Beauchamps Trophy have included Mark Streit twice, Steve Begin and Francis Bouillon in recent seasons, and mutli winners Mark Recchi, Mike McPhee and Craig Ludwig in earlier seasons. No goaltenders have ever won the award.

Below is a chart of all time winners courtesy of GoHabs.com.

Jacques Beauchamps is the late sports editor of Journal de Montreal, Not only was Beauchamps an outstanding journalist, but he was a true die hard hockey fanatic. A former collegiate goalie himself, he often donned the pads and practiced with the Habs at the Forum in the Jacques plante era.

One story has it, that on the evening where Plante wore a mask for the first time, Beauchamps was on the road in New York covering the team. When Plante was knocked out of the game with a shot to the face, GM Frank Selke, unsure of whether he'd allow Plante back in, had Beauchamps dress up just in case. It became an inside media tale that Beauchamps considered himself Plante's backup.

Beauchamps was inducted into the Hockey Hall Of Fame in 1984, four years before his passing.

More on Beauchamps at links here and here.

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Comments

Too true...

When I read the headline I thought of Max first, but I understand the thought process, and I thought of Jaro as a close second.

I think you could make a case for Jaro starting in the playoffs. Nothing taken away from Price, but the team even looks different playing in front of Jaro, more confident and physical.

It’s a good position to be in, having two keepers that could start the playoffs. And it is a far cry from the last time we watched the Habs and Leafs play when we had two shaky keepers. Momentum is building…

by blockersave93 on Apr 5, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

Unsung Jaro

I wouldn’t be as upset over Jaro starting the playoffs as i would have a few months ago. My only concern is, both goalies being seen as equal, I think the team plays with more confidence in front of Price. Some see it the other way.

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I’d rather one be red hot, but I think you are right, they are playing solid and look interchangable right now. Hell, with the powerplay and the offense clicking like they are, I could get the pads back on and beat Tampa!

Surprising I have not heard about any controversy from any media outlets. Maybe that is a testament to the locker room gelling? Maybe the press is viewing Price as the starter and is down with an injury (flu) but will regain his spot?

As I recall last year, Osgood and Hasek split time going into the playoffs but Hasek started. Osgood came in, got hot, and they won another cup. Having 2 keepers may work well if we need ‘em both, even if there isn’t a clear cup #1.

by blockersave93 on Apr 5, 2009 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I couldn’t help but notice that Craig Ludwig and Mike McPhee both won this award 3 times each during their careers as Hab players. Now if both these guys were to somehow be on this year’s team……

by 24 Cups on Apr 5, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions

There’s a little McPhee in Lappy, not enough Ludwig in Hamrlik.

It would be nice if the Habs could summon their spirits from here on.

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Gorges

How about Gorges? He has played with everyone defencemen on the team. He played left and he played right whenever he was needed. He is a +17 and I think only Tanquay (who played only 50 games) has double-digit plus/minus on the team. Besides, anyone who partnered with Brisebois for any duration should garner some votes.

by EDML on Apr 5, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Gorges is very worthy, I just feel that Jaro is even moreso. No one would cry foul if Gorges got the nod.

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Good choice, Robert. For some reason, Streit won again last year kind of throwing the whole “unsung” bit out the door. Lapierre is probably the most “sung” player on the team this year.

In a funny way, Andrei Markov is still one of the most unsung Habs. I’d go as far as to say he’s been the best Hab of the entire 2000s to this point. When every other d-man was struggling, Markov kept on going. He actually increased his PP output in a year when the PP went south.

I also think the 3rd member of that well represented line deserves recognition… Guillaume makes Lapierre a lot better. And the team is a LOT better with him in the lineup than when he was out.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Apr 5, 2009 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

Markov is alot like Lidstrom in that it is often what he doesn’t do, that he does best.

You’re right to say all this. You’ll rarely see Markov extend himself into making a hit on a play that is out of the danger zone. He doesn’t often get beat one on one because he plays the man and the puck so well in synchronicity. In my opinion, he doesn’t get enough credit for having as good a defensive as offensive vision. Perhaps it would take his + / – to shyrocket to achieve the recognition he deserves.

The best member of the Habs since 2000 by a longshot.

Guillaume and Lappy make each other better. It’s as if they have a pact to make each other multi millionaires. It’s great to see a couple of “native sons” do well going from draft pick to top six player status on the team. Maybe their accomplishments will help keep the french media (re: La Presse) busier with better things to write about.

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Gorges deserves the unsung hero award. Out of those three players, Lapierre obviously had the best season, but I don’t think he’s an unsung hero. But he surely is a hero, he’s just a sung hero. Gorges is the unsung hero. When Komisarek got hurt at the beginning of the season, him and merkov created the best defensive duo we’ve seen all season. I love you Josh.

PS. How is it possible to win the unsung hero award twice? (Streit). Wouldn’t winning the award once make you become ununsung?

~~~aroundthehabs.blogspot.com~~~

by gillis on Apr 5, 2009 2:26 PM EDT reply actions

Hey, if Jamie Storr can make the NHL’s All Rookie Team two seasons in a row, anything is possible. Ken Doraty once scored an overtime hat trick in 1932.

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Uhhh, now thats weird. It obviously wasnt sudden death OT. I’m guessing it was soccer style OT, where they play a set amount of time extra. Right?

~~~aroundthehabs.blogspot.com~~~

by gillis on Apr 5, 2009 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Games back then were played out until a winner emerged by one goal. In the early 1930’s, because of war rations and train run limitations, they capped the OT at ten minutes played in full. Both teams could score as often as the could, and the winner was declared after ten extra minutes. Doraty was a player on the Leafs, and did what no other player managed to. Few players during the three seasons this was in effect even managed two goals. It happened in 1934, not 1932, as I stated before.

Here’s his Greatest Hockey Legends bio:

http://mapleleafslegends.blogspot.com/2007/04/ken-doraty.html

by Robert L on Apr 5, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions

Seems like he has the knack for scoring in OT.

~~~aroundthehabs.blogspot.com~~~

by gillis on Apr 6, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Eye Candy

Robert:

-although none attached to this article must commend you on the visual “trailers” you’ve added to each article…the various CH jerseys (and contents) are excellent including representatives from the opposing club…keep it up ! :)

by pfhabs on Apr 6, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions