Robert Michael “Bob” “Le Capitaine” Gainey is the former executive vice president and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He is also a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Canadiens from 1973 until 1989.
He was a cornerstone of the Montreal dynasty between 1976 and 1979, when the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup four consecutive times, and later their captain for eight years, including in 1985-86, when they recaptured the Cup. But Gainey was hardly a prolific scorer — he finished with 239 goals and 501 points in 1,160 NHL games. What he did better than any forward of his generation was stop the opposition’s prolific scorers.
At age 24 in 1977-78, his fourth full NHL season, Gainey was the first recipient of the Frank Selke Trophy, given to the League’s top defensive forward. He won the next three as well, and is the only four-time Selke winner. Had the award been around earlier, he might have won six or seven straight. Then he was runner-up in 1981-82 and remained a top 10 vote-getter for the next four seasons.
After retiring from active play, he became a hockey coach and later an executive with the NHL Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars organization before returning to Montreal as general manager from 2003 to 2010. He is currently a team consultant for the St. Louis Blues. Gainey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
Robert Michael “Bob” “Le Capitaine” Gainey is the former executive vice president and general manager of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He is also a former professional ice hockey player who played for the Canadiens from 1973 until 1989.
He was a cornerstone of the Montreal dynasty between 1976 and 1979, when the Canadiens won the Stanley Cup four consecutive times, and later their captain for eight years, including in 1985-86, when they recaptured the Cup. But Gainey was hardly a prolific scorer — he finished with 239 goals and 501 points in 1,160 NHL games. What he did better than any forward of his generation was stop the opposition’s prolific scorers.
At age 24 in 1977-78, his fourth full NHL season, Gainey was the first recipient of the Frank Selke Trophy, given to the League’s top defensive forward. He won the next three as well, and is the only four-time Selke winner. Had the award been around earlier, he might have won six or seven straight. Then he was runner-up in 1981-82 and remained a top 10 vote-getter for the next four seasons.
After retiring from active play, he became a hockey coach and later an executive with the NHL Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars organization before returning to Montreal as general manager from 2003 to 2010. He is currently a team consultant for the St. Louis Blues. Gainey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992. 
