Beliveau has lasting impact with current Canadiens

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- None of the players on the Montreal Canadiens roster are old enough to have seen Jean Beliveau play, but the death Tuesday of the hockey legend hit them hard.

Even goaltender Carey Price and defenseman P.K. Subban, who normally don't talk after the morning skate on a game day, were eager to share their thoughts on Beliveau, who won the Stanley Cup 10 times as a player and seven times as a Canadiens executive.

"We lost a family member," Price said Wednesday ahead of their game against the Minnesota Wild. "He's an outstanding citizen and a great ambassador for our hockey team and we're sad to see him go. He's the bar for being a Montreal Canadien. He set the standard for everyone else to follow and he'll always be remembered."

Subban tweeted Tuesday night that he met Beliveau when he was 10. It was then, he said, he knew he wanted to play for the Canadiens.

"What he means to hockey and the Montreal Canadiens, I don't know if words can describe it," Subban said. "We understand, especially the guys from Canada, fans of the Montreal Canadiens especially, and growing up a fan, we understand what he means to the Canadiens."

Perhaps the greatest Canadiens player of all time, Beliveau also left an impression with players, coaches and executives off the ice.

"Just a really good human being," Price said. "He was the standard of being a great champion. He was a winner, but a humble winner. He was the benchmark."

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin described a meeting he had with Beliveau at Beliveau's home in early September.

"He was sick at the time but he took the time to greet us," Bergevin said. "As long as I live I will never forget that moment."

Growing up outside Gatineau, Quebec, forward PA Parenteau got a chance to meet Beliveau as a pee-wee player. He relived the memory with a smile on his face Wednesday.

"He was easy to approach; that's what I remember," Parenteau said. "He was such a big legend, but he was just a nice guy, a good man overall. He will be sorely missed for sure."

Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said one of his favorite memories of Beliveau was being at the Montreal Forum to see Beliveau score his 500th goal, in 1971.

"I was telling the assistant coaches this morning ... I described the goal, then went on YouTube and saw the goal again," Therrien said. "Those are great memories because I remember I was there with my dad at the time.

“People like him, like Rocket Richard, are the reason why there is such a big history with the Montreal Canadiens. It's always special to work for this organization, and to play, because of those types of persons who played before us. It's a tough day; a sad day for the Montreal Canadiens family. We lost a legend. For people in Quebec, and all the NHL fans, Mr. Jean Beliveau was really special. It's a huge loss."

Bergevin said, "It's the Montreal Canadiens. I'm not putting any franchise down, but it's the Montreal Canadiens. He's probably among the few that is the face of the franchise, forever, and will stay so."