Red Wings Gave Talbot Chance at Unusual Stanley Cup Mark

Jean-Guy Talbot never would play in a Stanley Cup game with the Detroit Red Wings. In fact, the defenseman never saw action in a single playoff contest while wearing the Red Wings jersey.

Still, were it not for the Red Wings, Talbot wouldn’t be the standardbearer of a unique Stanley Cup standard.

The Canadiens are saddened to learn of the passing of Jean-Guy Talbot.

Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the Talbot family during this difficult time.https://t.co/cWCpRbljkU

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 23, 2024

Talbot, who died Friday at the age of 91, is best known as a Montreal Canadiens player, and rightly so. He won seven Stanley Cups skating for the Habs, including five in a row between 1955-56 and 1959-60. The first of those five came at expense of the Red Wings, as did his last win in 1965-66.

He’s among 12 players who performed in all five wins in that title streak, and that’s the record for most consecutive Stanley Cups won by a player.

Red Wings Gave Talbot Opportunity At Stanley Cup Mark

Talbot was on the losing side as Montreal was dropping the 1966-67 Stanley Cup final to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Montreal left him available in the 1967 expansion draft that would double the NHL in size from six to 12 teams. The Minnesota North Stars put in a claim for Talbot. However, Talbot would play just four games for the North Stars.

Minnesota would deal the veteran rearguard to Detroit with Dave Richardson for Bob McCord and Duke Harris. However, his Detroit tenure wasn’t going to last much longer. The Red Wings were languishing in the East Division basement, the Red Wings made the decision to place Talbot on NHL waivers. On Jan. 6, 1968, the St. Louis Blues were the team putting in a claim for Talbot.

#stlblues have picked up 35-year-old defenceman Jean-Guy Talbot on waivers from the #RedWings. Talbot had only been with the Wings for a few weeks after being traded to Detroit by the Minnesota North Stars, who drafted him from Montreal in last summer’s expansion draft. pic.twitter.com/75ganShCWs

— Hockey50Yearsago (@hockey50years) January 14, 2018

His entire Detroit tenure lasted all of 32 games. But the move to St. Louis would be proving fortuitous. Talbot would suit up for the Blues in Stanley Cup final losses to the Canadiens in 1967-68 and 1969-70. He was again on the losing side when Boston was sweeping St. Louis in the 1970 Cup final series.

Along with Jimmy Roberts, his teammate with the 1966-67 Canadiens and all three Blues teams, he shares the record for most consecutive losses in Stanley Cup finals.