Jim Roberts: The Forgotten Shadow

[CentreHice]

A post from seventeen in the 76/77 Canadiens thread had me look back at perhaps the most underrated Habs' checking forward (shadow) of all-time. Overlapping Claude Provost and Bob Gainey, there was a man by the name of Jim Roberts...who most certainly was brought back to the Montreal fold by Scotty Bowman to mentor the young Gainey and Jarvis.

I think Jim Roberts deserves his own thread.

seventeen said:

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The checking line was possibly the best in NHL history --Gainey, Jarvis, Jim Roberts (they gave up something like only 30 odd goals against the best lines in the league that year).

In 76/77, Gainey was 23. Jarvis was 22. Jim Roberts was 37.

Roberts had quite a career as one of the best checkers going...and his value is often overlooked by fans and the media.

15 years in the league...playing with two teams. Montreal and St. Louis.

63/64 Montreal
64/65 Montreal Stanley Cup
65/66 Montreal Stanley Cup
66/67 Montreal Finals
67/68 St. Louis Finals
68/69 St. Louis Finals
69/70 St. Louis Finals
70/71 St. Louis
71/72 St. Louis/Montreal
72/73 Montreal Stanley Cup
73/74 Montreal
74/75 Montreal
75/76 Montreal Stanley Cup
76/77 Montreal Stanley Cup
77/78 St. Louis

5 Stanley Cups. 9 Finals appearances. Not too shabby.

No mere coincidence that after playing for Bowman in St. Louis (where he was named captain in 71), Roberts came right back to Montreal after Scotty became coach of the Habs in 71/72.

P.S. His Junior hockey days were spent with Peterborough....his coach: Scotty Bowman.

I have no doubt that Scotty went to Pollock in '71 and said, "Sam...we need Jim Roberts."

One of the most reliable forwards ever.

[jkr]

I remember Roberts too. Wore # 6 I believe. I always liked him, very hard working. I also recall that he took a turn on D once in a while.

[clear observer]

jkr said:

I remember Roberts too. Wore # 6 I believe. I always liked him, very hard working. I also recall that he took a turn on D once in a while.

Yep, as did Gainey.

[Toronthab]

A vignette from my wasted teen years has me in the Somerled pool hall and guess who is on another table shooting snooker. Roberts who had these giant stogies going, , the Gumper who with his perfect arc of a pot belly looked as athletic as a banker, and a third who I think might have been Terry Harper casually smackin' snooker balls on a Montreal afternoon. Fergie and a few others I think lives around there.

Some kool.

[vin]

Was Roberts any good?I mean his eye's weren't exactly pointing forward's.

[jkr]

toronthab said:

A vignette from my wasted teen years has me in the Somerled pool hall and guess who is on another table shooting snooker. Roberts who had these giant stogies going, , the Gumper who with his perfect arc of a pot belly looked as athletic as a banker, and a third who I think might have been Terry Harper casually smackin' snooker balls on a Montreal afternoon. Fergie and a few others I think lives around there.

Some kool.

Sounds like training camp in the sixties.