According to TSN, the Montreal Canadiens will be retiring Patrick Roy’s number 33 during the the upcoming NHL season.  A press conference is schedule for this afternoon to make the announcement.

In 12 seasons with Montreal, Roy compiled 289 career wins, 29 shoutouts and a 2.78 goals-against average. He also had a 70-42 record in the postseason with a 2.46 goals-against average.

But for most Canadiens fans, they will always remember December 2nd, 1995.

On that date, Montreal faced the Detroit Red Wings at home and were defeated 12-1 in their worst home game in franchise history.  Roy was in goal for the first nine goals, and when he was finally pulled, he stormed past then coach Mario Tremblay and told team president Ronald Corey “It’s my last game in Montreal.”  Four days later he was traded along with Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Rucinsky and Andrei Kovalenko.

While many fans think Roy was completely out of line, the fact remains that he let in 5 goals on 17 shots in the first period and should have been pulled.  He and Tremblay had a series of issues during that season, and I believe Tremblay intentionally left him in.  It never should have escalated to the point of Roy being traded, however. 

It was a move that hurt the Canadiens for several years afterwards.  Only in the past couple of seasons has Montreal been considered one of the better teams in the East.