Which Montreal Canadien Wore It Best: #71

A second round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1989, Brisebois could never live up to the lofty expectations placed on him by management, specifically to be a top pairing defenseman, but although he was booed for much of his career in Montreal, he’s perhaps one of the more underrated players in the team’s history. A consistent 30+ point defenseman for most of his career, Brisebois was an above average Hab in an era defined by terrible Habs teams, things went downhill quickly after the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in his rookie year. He was a player that took the abuse from fans for years with barely any complaint, and bled for the team. Brisebois has even come back into the fold for the Habs after retirement in a new role mentoring prospects.

Total Habs Stats

Also a second round pick, but 9 years later, the prodigal asshole that is Mike Ribeiro actually wore the number 71 before Brisebois did, as Brisebois only wore it on his second stint with the Canadiens. Though Ribeiro is vilified and despised by most Habs fans for embarrassing acts on the ice such as faking an injury while playing against the Boston Bruins, his trade to the Dallas Stars is just despised as he is, because he’s also a damn good hockey player and the Habs got nothing in return. The always annoying Ribeiro also manages to poke that wound every time he can, consistently putting points up against the Canadiens. Ribeiro became a fixture in Dallas until he was traded to the Washington Capitals this summer.

Total Habs Stats

So Habs fans, who wore the number 71 better?