Hall of Fame Canadiens goaltender Ken Dryden dies of cancer at age 78

Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goaltender who helped the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s, has died after a fight with cancer.

Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goaltender who helped the Montreal Canadiens win six Stanley Cup titles in the 1970s, has died after a fight with cancer. He was 78.

The Canadiens announced the death early Saturday, saying Dryden’s family asked for privacy. A team spokesperson said a close friend of Dryden’s appointed by the family contacted the organization, adding he died peacefully Friday at his home.

Goalie Ken Dryden at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Canada, in 1929Bruce Bennett / Getty Images file“Ken Dryden was an exceptional athlete, but he was also an exceptional man,” Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. “Behind the mask he was larger than life. We mourn today not only the loss of the cornerstone of one of hockey’s greatest dynasties but also a family man, a thoughtful citizen and a gentleman who deeply impacted our lives and communities across generations.”

Dryden backstopped the NHL’s most successful franchise to championships in seven of his eight seasons in the league from 1970-71 to ’78-79. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, the Vezina as the best goalie five times and the Conn Smythe once as playoff MVP, while being a six-time All-Star.

Montreal Canadiens alumni Ken Dryden in Montreal, Canada, in 2024.Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images file“Ken embodied the best of everything the Montreal Canadiens are about,” Molson said.