Doug Harvey not only stands as arguably the greatest defenseman in Canadiens history, he also changed the way the position is played to this day. As the game’s first offensive-minded rearguard, Harvey’s puck control style helped pace the Habs offense during the 1950s, while spawning future generations of NHL power-play quarterbacks.

The Montreal native may have often been lost in the shuffle among such larger-than-life Habs teammates as Maurice Richard and Jean Béliveau, but Harvey certainly played a pivotal role in the six Stanley Cups he won with the Canadiens, including Montreal’s NHL record five straight Cups from 1956 to 1960. Harvey also succeeded the Rocket to become the Habs 15th captain just prior to the 1960-61 season.

Harvey’s game was hardly one-dimensional. He did it all for the Canadiens whether he was setting the tempo, blocking shots or making life difficult for the opposition in the Canadiens zone. Harvey was a complete player in every sense of the word.

Harvey was the second-ever winner of the James Norris trophy as the league’s top blueliner, and when he did first win it in 1955, he didn’t want to let it go. Harvey would go on to claim it four years in a row and seven times over his 18-year career, second only to Bobby Orr’s eight Norris Trophies.

The perennial all-star was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973 and saw his No. 2 raised to the rafters of the Forum on Oct. 26, 1985. Douglas Norman Harvey passed away in 1989 at the age of 65.