Bobby Rousseau, the four-time Stanley Cup champion best known for his years with the Montreal Canadiens and a standout short-term contributor to the New York Rangers, has died at age 85. No cause has been disclosed.
- Age: 85
- Teams: Montreal Canadiens (championships), Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers
- Position: Center, power-play specialist
- Notable season: 1971–72 — 21 regular-season goals for the Rangers
- 1972 playoffs: 16 games, 6 goals, 11 assists (17 points)
Though Rousseau will be forever linked to Montreal’s dynasty — a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Canadiens — his impact on the Rangers was immediate and memorable. Acquired by New York via the Minnesota North Stars for the 1971–72 season in what remains one of GM Emile Francis’s sharpest moves, Rousseau provided instant scoring, playmaking and veteran savvy that energized the Blueshirts’ lineup.
The Legacy
Rousseau’s career is defined by a handful of clear, lasting achievements:
- Four-time Stanley Cup champion with the Montreal Canadiens — the cornerstone of his Hallmark legacy in hockey history.
- 1972 playoff heroics with the New York Rangers — a 16-game surge that produced 17 points and helped push the club to the Stanley Cup Final.
- Trusted center and power-play specialist whose hockey IQ and speed allowed him to excel against larger opponents and remain effective deep into his career.
Social Proof
Tributes poured in across social media and from the hockey community as fans, former teammates and hockey writers remembered Rousseau’s clutch scoring and cerebral play. Longtime Rangers supporters recalled his pivotal Game Five goal in Boston during the ’72 Final run; Canadiens faithful highlighted his role in multiple championship teams. Many posts celebrated not just his statistics, but the quiet leadership and hockey sense that made him a respected figure in locker rooms for decades.
Bobby Rousseau’s time in New York may have been brief compared with his Canadiens tenure, but his imprint on the 1972 Rangers remains part of the franchise’s proud history. He will be remembered for his championship pedigree, playoff grit and the polish he brought to the center ice.
Our condolences to his family, friends and the hockey community. Bobby Rousseau’s legacy on the ice endures.
Image Referance: https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/mourning-death-onetime-ranger-bobby-213109068.html