Former Canadiens captains steady Stars

05/21/2000
By Gerry Fraley / The Dallas Morning News

DENVER - Let Stars general manager Bob Gainey take off the business suit, put away the paperwork and lace up the skates again. He would fit right in with the Guy Carbonneau-Kirk Muller-Mike Keane line.

"I think he'd like playing on that line," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said.

Like it because the hastily assembled line has played well in the Stanley Cup playoffs and should be at the center of the storm in Sunday's crossroads fourth game of the Western Conference finals against Colorado.

Like it because this line is made in Gainey's image and likeness.

"I wouldn't mind having him out there," Carbonneau said with a grin.

Each member of the line understands the importance of playing two-way hockey. Gainey won the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward four times. Carbonneau has three Selkes.

Each member of the line understands the mental and physical sacrifice required to win the Stanley Cup. Gainey won five Stanley Cups with Montreal. Carbonneau, Keane and Muller have a combined seven Stanley Cup rings.

Each member of the line has the most illustrious of pedigrees. Gainey held the prestigious position of Montreal's captain from 1981-89. When it came time for failing hands to pass on the torch, the captaincy went from Gainey to Carbonneau to Muller to Keane.

"We were all there in a period of time when that team was on top," Muller said. "Everyone was proud to play there. There was responsibility to it, but you felt honored to be captain of that franchise."

Montreal, recently in shambles, is the NHL's most storied franchise. The captains symbolized the Canadiens' way.

The captains' line of succession - from Butch Bouchard to Maurice "The Rocket" Richard to Jean Beliveau to Henri "The Pocket Rocket" Richard to Yvan Cournoyer to Gainey - drips with honor and integrity. It is not by blind chance that Gainey brought in the three former Montreal captains.

The Stars are about accountability and speaking through performance. In its glory days, Montreal played the same game. The captain set the standard.

Gainey learned from those who came before him and taught the next generation. Carbonneau, in his 18th season, called Gainey the best leader he has ever had as a teammate. The current Stars say the same thing about Carbonneau.

"Times have changed, but there are certain things true about hockey today that were true 50 years ago," said Gainey, who joined the Canadiens in 1973 when Henri Richard was the captain. "Being drawn up to a different scale of accountability. Saying 'This is what's normal here.' "

That is the strength of what is much more than a checking line. Carbonneau, 40, Keane, 32, and Muller, 35, have bodies that no longer respond as they once did.

They still play with intelligence and ferocity, the traits that led to them wearing the "C" with the Habs.
"What makes those three guys able to play in a series like this and be effective is their competitive instincts," Hitchcock said. "Their competitive nature allows them to survive."

Necessity forced Hitchcock to put the three captains together.

During the fourth game of the first-round series against Edmonton, winger Blake Sloan went out because of a broken jaw. Muller moved into Sloan's spot, and the line produced the game-winning goal.

Sloan returned for the San Jose series. Another injury set up the all-Montreal line again.

With Brenden Morrow out because of a fractured ankle, Hitchock elevated Jere Lehtinen to the first line. Sloan and Muller switched lines.

Carbonneau and Keane played together often with Montreal. Muller, more of a goal-scorer at that stage of his career, made infrequent appearances with them. When the three were put together in the playoffs, the common background made it work.

"We all know what our job is," Carbonneau said. "The fact we've been playing this system basically all of our lives really helps."

The system allows the freedom to be more than lunchpail players.

Carbonneau, Keane and Muller have all scored in the playoffs. Muller, who has had nine 20-goal seasons, adds offensive spice to the line. The Stars can get offensive help from their third line.

"They don't discourage offense here, but you have to respect the defensive part of the game," Muller said. "We've sacrificed a bit offensively to play this way. We still feel that we can contribute on offense, but we know that playing this way is the way to win.

"It's the same type of system they had in Montreal. It's all about winning."

The Habs have stopped winning. For the first time since expansion doubled the league in 1968, Montreal has missed the playoffs in two consecutive seasons.

Montreal's captain has become just another player. The Canadiens have traded six captains since 1994. Most of them have made their way to the Stars, who still value the "C."