Their lone NHL game was with the Bleu-Blanc et Rouge : M to Z

Part Three of my series on players who had their one career NHL game in a Montreal Canadiens uniform.

In total, 29 players saw their lone chance in the NHL as members of the Montreal Canadiens.

Whether it was part of a tryout, an injury substitution or a draft pick bust, they all have their place in Canadiens history.

A special thanks to Robert at Habs Eyes on the Prize for getting me a few of the photos featured in this series.

Previous posts:

Part One (A to E) Part Two (F to L)

Frank Mailley – D

The Canadiens picked up Mailey from the Washington Lions (AHL). He played his lone game against Chicago in Dec 1942.

Keith McCulley – D

Signed as a free agent on Oct 23, 1932, McCulley played in his sole NHL game, for the Canadiens, during the 1934-35 season.

Irv McGibbon – RW

A scoring star in his native Nova Scotia, McGibbon was signed in October 1941 but only managed a minor penalty in his lone game in the 1942-43 season.

Olivier Michaud – G

Michaud signed as a free agent in 2001 and saw 18 minutes of play, replacing an injured Jose Theodore on October 26, 2001.

Still only 25, he is currently playing in the LNAH for St. Jean and there’s always a chance he could return to the NHL (see Thomas, Tim).

Jean-Guy Morissette – G

Morissette got his shot between the pipes, replacing an injured Gump Worsley, for the Canadiens on Oct 30, 1963 and gave up four goals times in 34 minutes to take the loss.

He missed the remainder of the season after he suffered a broken cheekbone in practice the following day.

Hal Murphy - G

Jacques Plante was to replace the injured Gerry McNeil, but found himself injured as well. Hal Murphy was called up from the Montreal Royals and found himself starting on November 8, 1952.

Murphy took the win in a 6-4 victory over Chicago.

Mickey (Edward) Murray – G

Murray had great success with Providence (CAHL).

With George Hainsworth injured, Murray got his shot in Montreal on February 25, 1930. The New York Americans defeated Murray and the Canadiens 4-2.

Evariste Payer – C

Payer had played nine games over two seasons with the Canadiens in the NHA (1910-11, 1911-12)

After some time in the MCSHL and two years of military service during WW1, Payer signed back on as a free agent and played one last game for the now-NHL Canadiens in the 1917-18 season.

Clement Piché – position unknown

Piché is not recognized by the Canadiens historical roster, but his name is mentioned for playing a shift, by the Montreal Gazette, during a December 21, 1921 win over Hamilton

Morris “Moe” Robinson – D

Robinson was the Canadiens sixth pick (49th overall) in the 1977 draft and played his only game in the 1979-80 season.

His big brother, Larry, had a much more successful career with the Canadiens.

Lindsay Vallis – RW

The Canadiens first pick (13th overall) in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, Vallis got his chance after three seasons in the AHL in the 1993-94 season.

He found himself back in the AHL, with Worcester, the following season and was out of pro hockey by 2001.

His profile at Legends of Hockey

July 1989: A changing of the guard in Habs leadership

The 1988-89 NHL Season concluded with the Montreal Canadiens losing in six games in the Stanley Cup Finals at the hands of the Calgary Flames.

Much like the the 2008-09 off season departures of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev ands Mike Komisarek, several leadership changes were about to unfold for the Montreal Canadiens as their 1989-90 season approached.

On July 18, 1989 with five Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe trophy and four Selke trophies to his name, Canadiens’ captain Bob Gainey announced his retirement.

D’Arcy Jenish chronicled Gainey’s retirement in his recent book: The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory

Bob Gainey’s last act as captain occurred on July 18, 1989. He sat at a table in the media room at the Forum with Serge Savard to his right, wife Cathy to his left and a large crowd of teammates, team officials and journalists before him. He spoke in English and French, switching effortlessly from one to the other, performing with customary poise and distinction, as one writer put it, and announced that after sixteen bruising and sometimes punishing seasons, he was through.

“The people of Montreal are known, and rightly so, as the strongest and most knowledgeable fans,” he said. “I tried to perform for them every night I played and I’ll carry with me many great memories.”

Savard spoke warmly of his former teammate. He cited his many accomplishments: the Stanley Cup championships, the individual awards, the all-star nominations and the appearances with Team Canada. “If I can describe Bob Gainey in one word,” Savard said, “it would be determination. He once played with two separated shoulders and no one even knew about it. In his prime he was one of the most feared players in the league. He is one of the greats in the history of the Canadiens hockey club.”

Pat Burns spoke of the future and the challenge ahead. “You don’t replace Bob Gainey,” Burns said. “You put someone else out there, but you don’t replace him.”

A week later on July 26, 1989 longtime Canadiens’ defenceman Larry Robinson, a more than suitable replacement as captain, was left without a contract and signed a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Kings.

Larry Robinson signed a three-year deal with the Kings on 07/26/89 playing all three seasons and appear in the playoffs for a record 20 consecutive seasons.

With two key leaders gone from the Canadiens’ ranks, and no clear replacement, the team would be asked to vote on the next captain.

Three rounds of voting wound up in ties between Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios.

Savard made the decision to name Carbonneau and Chelios as co-captains, alternating the “C” every other game.

Ultimately, the captaincy would fall to Carbonneau alone.

Despite signing a new five-year deal in February 1990, Chelios was traded in June 1990 to Chicago for Denis Savard.

It was a move that surprised Chelios, Burns and fans alike.

There was speculation that Canadiens’ president Ronald Corey was tired of Chelios’ alleged off ice antics and demanded the trade, but Savard claimed it was his decision based on team doctors’ concerns that Chelios’ knee might shorten his career.

That theory can be thrown out the window twenty years later.

Carbonneau would lead the Canadiens to their last Stanley Cup in 1993.He remained captain until he too was traded in the summer of 1994 to the St. Louis Blues. He would win another Cup five years later with the Dallas Stars and then GM Bob Gainey.