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Larry Robinson    

Larry Robinson was only the 20th player selected overall. Robinson won the Norris Trophy twice as the league's best defenseman in the 1976-77 and 1979-80 seasons and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1977-78.

Larry Robinson was only the 20th player selected overall. Robinson won the Norris Trophy twice as the league's best defenseman in the 1976-77 and 1979-80 seasons and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1977-78. Not only was Larry Robinson a great defensive player, he was also very good with the puck. Robinson held the NHL record for most playoff games at 227.

Larry Robinson also became a veritable regular in All-Star games, playing in 10 of them. Larry Robinson's final NHL totals were impressive: 208 goals, 750 assists and 958 regular-season points as well as 144 points in 227 playoff games. Larry Robinson is a Hall of Fame Hockey Player.

The 1971 Amateur Draft was a fruitful one for the Canadiens, as they picked up two players who would leave indelible marks on the club. Guy Lafleur went first overall and Larry Robinson was selected in the second round at 20th overall. Both would go on to have illustrious careers that saw them retire among the team’s living legends.

The last of “The Big Three” to join the Canadiens’ defense corps, Robinson patrolled the Habs’ blue line for 17 seasons. Adept at either end of the rink, he put up numbers like no Montreal rearguard before him, rewriting entire sections of the team’s record book.

Tall, round-shouldered and sporting a shock of curly blonde hair, Robinson bore an uncanny resemblance to a well-known television personality and was almost immediately tagged “Big Bird”, after the tall feathered Sesame Street character.

Playing a tough but clean brand of hockey, Robinson never went looking for trouble. When it found him, however, he met it head-on and very few men were willing to drop the gloves for a second bout with the young farm boy from the Ottawa Valley. He would also emerge as one of the most punishing hitters in the game.

Breaking into the lineup at the midpoint of 1972-73 season, Robinson chipped in a goal and five assists in the playoffs and had his name engraved on the Stanley Cup for the first time in his career.

Recording over 120 points over the next three years, Robinson played a much bigger role in the 1976 Stanley Cup Championship than he had in his rookie season. As the Canadiens extended their four-year domination of postseason play, Robinson also began to accumulate individual honors.

His 19-goal, 66-assist campaign in 1976-77 earned him the Norris Trophy, recognizing Robinson as the NHL’s top defenseman. The following year, his 21-point playoff output garnered him the Conn Smythe Trophy to go along with a Stanley Cup parade.

A 75-point season in 1980-81 warranted his second Norris Trophy recognition. Only four other players had repeated as winners in the award’s 27-year history.

By 1982-83, Robinson was the longest serving blue-liner on the Montreal roster and the veteran leader willingly became a mentor to youngsters joining the team. Kids named Green and Ludwig were just two who enjoyed long NHL careers after learning the ropes from Larry Robinson. In 1986, the Montreal Canadiens won the sixth and last Stanley Cup of his playing career.

Robinson retired following the 1988-89 playoffs but returned the following season, enticed back to the NHL by Los Angeles, where he played three years before embarking on a coaching career. He was behind the bench with the New Jersey Devils when they won the Stanley Cup in 2000.

Robinson sits atop the lists of every all-time offensive category for a Habs defensemen. No other Montreal blue-liner has scored or assisted on more goals than Larry Robinson and only Henri Richard has appeared in more regular season contests as a member of the Canadiens.

With Robinson on the blue line, the Canadiens made the playoffs in every one of his 17 seasons with the team. His 203 playoff games are tops for the team and, just as he does in the regular season, Robinson leads all Habs defensemen in postseason goals, assists and total points.

The man affectionately referred to as “Big Bird” was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1995.

On November 19, 2007, Larry Robinson took his rightful place among Canadiens legends when his No. 19 was raised to the Bell Centre rafters.

News


Sharks Name Larry Robinson Associate Coach & Director of Player Development
San Jose Sharks general manager Doug Wilson announced today that Larry Robinson has been named associate coach and director of player development. Robinson has served as Associate Coach with San Jose for the last two seasons, helping the Sharks finish ranked in the top-six for goals allowed in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. In his expanded role, he will continue to assist on head coach Todd McLellan's coaching staff, as well as aid in the development of Sharks players and prospects. "Larry is one of the most respected minds in hockey and we are thrilled to continue having him involved with our organization," said Wilson.

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