Overview

• Dryden’s death at 78, reported on Sept. 5, has prompted fresh assessments of his career and writing.
• He backstopped the 1970s Montreal Canadiens dynasty to six Stanley Cups and earned the 1971 Conn Smythe Trophy.
• The Game is widely cited as a landmark of sports literature and a staple of Canadian non-fiction.
• He decided months in advance to retire after the 1978–79 season and ended his career with another Stanley Cup.
• Post-playing work included law, a Maple Leafs executive role, and federal office, as retrospectives also revisit his criticized 1972 Summit Series play and mixed views of later books such as The Class.