Réjean Houle
Encyclopedia
Réjean Houle is a retired Canadian
ice hockey
forward
, most notably for the Montreal Canadiens
of the National Hockey League
, for whom he also served a controversial stint as general manager
.
by the Canadiens, Houle played for the Habs from 1970 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1983. During this time, he played for the Montreal Canadiens
. Houle was on five Stanley Cup
championship with the Canadiens. In between his NHL stints, he played for the Quebec Nordiques
of the World Hockey Association
.
, one of Canada's leading breweries and the then-owner of the Canadiens. A disastrous start to the 1995–96 season resulted in Serge Savard
being fired as Canadiens' general manager, and the team saw Houle's business background and history with the team as the right combination to get the team back on track. Houle was general manager
of the Canadiens from 1995 to 2000. His tenure as the Habs' GM was viewed as a disaster by many fans. He pulled the trigger on the infamous trade which sent Patrick Roy
and Mike Keane
to the Colorado Avalanche
for Jocelyn Thibault
, Martin Rucinsky
and Andrei Kovalenko
just six weeks into the job. Following this trade, he traded away marquee players like Mark Recchi
, Vincent Damphousse
and Pierre Turgeon
for players of little value. He was also criticized for frequently trading with non-contending teams, being unable to sign big name free agents and signing marginal players to inflated contracts. Houle's drafting was considered even worse as he was criticized for taking players like Matt Higgins, Jason Ward
, Eric Chouinard
and Marcel Hossa
, the younger brother of then rising star Marian
with his first round selections as well as trading away a top ten pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
for an underacheving Trevor Linden
. Houle was fired from his post two months into the 2000–01 NHL season and replaced by André Savard
. He currently serves as an ambassador to the Canadiens organization.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
, most notably for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, for whom he also served a controversial stint as general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
.
Playing career
Drafted as the first pick over all in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft1969 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1969 NHL Amateur Draft was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This draft is notable for being the first NHL draft to be conducted after the league ended direct sponsorship of junior hockey.-Selections by round:...
by the Canadiens, Houle played for the Habs from 1970 to 1973 and from 1976 to 1983. During this time, he played for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
. Houle was on five Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship with the Canadiens. In between his NHL stints, he played for the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
.
Management career
After retiring as a player, Houle became an executive with MolsonMolson
Molson-Coors Canada Inc. is the Canadian division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Molson Coors Brewing Company. It is the second oldest company in Canada after the Hudson's Bay Company. Molson's first brewery was located on the St...
, one of Canada's leading breweries and the then-owner of the Canadiens. A disastrous start to the 1995–96 season resulted in Serge Savard
Serge Savard
Serge Aubrey "The Senator" Savard, OC, CQ is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman, most famously with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He is also a local businessman in Montreal, and is nicknamed the Senator.-Playing career:Savard played minor league hockey with the...
being fired as Canadiens' general manager, and the team saw Houle's business background and history with the team as the right combination to get the team back on track. Houle was general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Canadiens from 1995 to 2000. His tenure as the Habs' GM was viewed as a disaster by many fans. He pulled the trigger on the infamous trade which sent Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
and Mike Keane
Mike Keane
Michael John Keane is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger. Undrafted, Keane played over 1100 games in the National Hockey League from 1988 until 2004, and then played five seasons for his hometown Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League until he retired in 2010...
to the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
for Jocelyn Thibault
Jocelyn Thibault
Jocelyn Thibault is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres...
, Martin Rucinsky
Martin Rucinsky
Martin Ručinský is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga. Ručínský was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round as the 20th overall selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, 1991. Ručinský led the Montreal Canadiens in...
and Andrei Kovalenko
Andrei Kovalenko
Andrei Nikolaevich Kovalenko is a retired professional ice hockey forward. He played in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins...
just six weeks into the job. Following this trade, he traded away marquee players like Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
, Vincent Damphousse
Vincent Damphousse
Vincent Francois Damphousse is a retired Canadian professional hockey who played in the National Hockey League for eighteen seasons. He played centre for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks, winning a Stanley Cup championship with Montreal in 1993...
and Pierre Turgeon
Pierre Turgeon
Pierre Turgeon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche...
for players of little value. He was also criticized for frequently trading with non-contending teams, being unable to sign big name free agents and signing marginal players to inflated contracts. Houle's drafting was considered even worse as he was criticized for taking players like Matt Higgins, Jason Ward
Jason Ward
Jason Robert Ward is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who currently plays with EHC Black Wings Linz in the Austrian Hockey League. He has formerly played 336 games in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Tampa Bay Lightning...
, Eric Chouinard
Eric Chouinard
-International:-Personal life:Eric is the son of former Atlanta Flames star Guy Chouinard.-External links:...
and Marcel Hossa
Marcel Hossa
Marcel Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player currently playing for Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League . His older brother Marián plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, the younger brother of then rising star Marian
Marian Hossa
Marián Hossa is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . Hossa was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft; after playing for the Senators, he played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
with his first round selections as well as trading away a top ten pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft
1999 NHL Entry Draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. According to Sports Illustrated and other sports news agencies, at the time the 1999 draft was considered one of the deepest in talent in years, headed by Patrik Stefan and the Sedin twins. However, the...
for an underacheving Trevor Linden
Trevor Linden
Trevor John Linden, C.M., O.B.C. is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played centre and right wing with four different teams: the Vancouver Canucks , New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals...
. Houle was fired from his post two months into the 2000–01 NHL season and replaced by André Savard
Andre Savard
André Savard is a retired former professional ice hockey center. He and his wife, Marie-France, have two sons, Patrick and Dany.-Playing career:...
. He currently serves as an ambassador to the Canadiens organization.
Career statistics
--- Regular season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1967-68 Montreal Junior Canadiens OHA 45 27 38 65 102
1968-69 Montreal Junior Canadiens OHA 54 53 55 108 76
1969-70 Montreal Voyageurs AHL 27 9 16 25 23 8 3 2 5 4
1969-70 Montreal Canadiens NHL 9 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --
1970-71* Montreal Canadiens NHL 66 10 9 19 28 20 2 5 7 20
1971-72 Montreal Canadiens NHL 77 11 17 28 21 6 0 0 0 2
1972-73* Montreal Canadiens NHL 72 13 35 48 36 17 3 6 9 0
1973-74 Quebec Nordiques WHA 69 27 35 62 17 -- -- -- -- --
1974-75 Quebec Nordiques WHA 64 40 52 92 37 15 10 6 16 2
1975-76 Quebec Nordiques WHA 81 51 52 103 61 5 2 0 2 8
1976-77* Montreal Canadiens NHL 65 22 30 52 24 6 0 1 1 4
1977-78* Montreal Canadiens NHL 76 30 28 58 50 15 3 8 11 14
1978-79* Montreal Canadiens NHL 66 17 34 51 43 7 1 5 6 2
1979-80 Montreal Canadiens NHL 60 18 27 45 68 10 4 5 9 12
1980-81 Montreal Canadiens NHL 77 27 31 58 83 3 1 0 1 6
1981-82 Montreal Canadiens NHL 51 11 32 43 34 5 0 4 4 6
1982-83 Montreal Canadiens NHL 16 2 3 5 8 1 0 0 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHA totals 214 118 139 257 115 20 12 6 18 10
NHL totals 635 161 247 408 395 90 14 34 48 66
*Stanley Cup Champion