Written by Steven Ellis, AllHabs.net
OAKVILLE, ON- A few weeks back, I took a look back at some former Montreal Canadiens playing elsewhere around the world. We found out what players like former first rounder David Fischer, ex-first liner Richard Zednik and French goalie Cristobal Huet were currently residing. Let’s go back down memory lane once again, shall we?
Marcel Hossa: (Drafted 16th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2001) Marcel will likely be remembered for being the brother of current Blackhawks winger Marian Hossa. Marian, an NHL all-star, has been a top winger in the NHL for years, while Marcel never amounted to anything during his NHL career. During two years with the Habs, Hossa only totaled 15 points, a total that would be beaten in only one season the year after. He played with Mora IK of Sweden during the lockout, but Montreal would trade him to the New York Rangers for Garth Murray before the NHL returned. After playing 14 games with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007-2008, Hossa would flee to Dinamo Riga of the KHL. He currently plays with Spartak Moscow, also of the KHL.
Oleg Petrov- (Won a Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1993) Petrov, at 40 years old, is the only remaining professional hockey player from the 1993 Stanley Cup winning Canadiens team, yet didn’t play enough games to get his name on the Stanley Cup. So, despite not getting credit, Petrov did get to celebrate the cup. He left the NHL to end his career after the 2002-2003 season, where he was traded to Nashville from Montreal, and signed up with EV Zug in Switzerland’s Nationalliga A. He was the team’s leading scorer in 2004–05 with 30 goals and 23 assists, numbers he was never able to achieve during his NHL career. After 5 seasons in Switzerland, he signed with Ak Bars Kazan in the Kontinental Hockey League.
Niklas Sundström–(Ended his NHL career with the Canadiens) Nikky Sundstrom had a big task ahead of him in 1996-1997, playing most of the season with The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. During his junior days with Modo of Sweden, “Sunny” played with superstar forwards Markus Naslund and Peter Forsberg. Sundstrom definetly had his fair share of talent around him, but he was not known for his goal scoring ability, but for his defensive play. He was traded to the San Jose Sharks in 1999, and to the Montreal Canadiens in 2003, where he would play the remainder of his NHL career. After 11 NHL seasons, he returned to play in Sweden at the start of the 2006–07 season, leading Modo to a surprise title during his first season, scoring several vital goals in the playoffs. He still plays for Modo to this day at the age of 36.
Garth Murray- (Played 3 seasons with the Habs, mostly in a grinder role) Garth Murray was part of the deal that sent Marcel Hossa to the Rangers. A journeyman forward, Murray currently plays with the the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League.
Dustin Boyd-(Part of deal that sent Sergei Kostitsyn to Nashville) Boyd played 10 games with the Canadiens and 47 with the Hamilton Bulldogs. He currently plays with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League.
Duncan Milroy-(Drafted 37th overall by Montreal in 2001) Milroy, a former Bulldog forward, played only 5 games with the Montreal Canadiens in 2007-2008. He currently plays for Krefeld Pinguine in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Matt Higgins- (Drafted 18th overall by Montreal in 1996) The former first rounder definetly did not live up to expectations, totaling only 3 points in 57 games. He currently plays for Slovenian based team HDD Olimpija Ljubljana of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL). Where?
Sébastien Bordeleau- (Drafted 73rd overall by Montreal in 1993) Bordeleau played 3 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens before being traded to the expansion Nashville Predators. He currently plays for EHC Biel of the NLA in Switzerland.
Loic Lacasse– (Drafted 181st overall by Montreal in 2004) Lacasse never did play for the Montreal Canadiens, which wasn`t expected as a 6th rounder, but did go 6-1 with 2 shutouts with the Bulldogs. He currently plays for Riviere-du-Loup CIMT in LNAH.
Cory Urquhart- (Former Habs second rounder)- Urquhart, a native of Halifax,Nova Scotia was drafted 40th overall by the Canadiens. He never played a game for Montreal, and only played 54 games for the Bulldogs. He currently plays for Kölner Haie of the German Hockey League (DEL).
Thank you very much to The Hockey News and Wikipedia for providing information on these former Habs. It was fun learning where these players currently play, because once you’re out of the NHL, there is almost no North American spotlight on you.
Follow me on Twitter, @StevenEllisNHL.