Jean Beliveau played 1,125 regular season games in the National Hockey League, all with the Montreal Canadiens. Over that time, he scored 507 goals and assisted on 712 for 1,219 points. Beliveau played an additional 162 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, scoring 79 and assisting on 97 for 176 points. He played full time with the Habs from 1953-54 to 1970-71. However, he appeared in two games with the club in 1950-51 and three more in 1952-53.
Between junior hockey and the NHL, Jean played for the Quebec Aces in the QSHL. In 1951-52, Beliveau led the QSHL in goals with 45 and points with 83 while appearing in 59 regular season games. The following year, he upped his numbers while once again leading the league in goals with 50 and points with 89. In 1952-53, Beliveau did it while playing two less games than the year before.
Beliveau’s name might be etched on the Stanley Cup ten times but appears on the Art Ross Trophy just once. His third full year in the NHL was magical as he led the league with 47 goals and 88 points while playing the full 70 game schedule. Jean was also awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy, his first of two over his NHL career. Interestingly, he also placed third in the league with 143 penalty minutes, behind just Lou Fontinato of the New York Rangers (202) and Ted Lindsay of the Detroit Red Wings (161).
Le Gros Bill led the league in goals again in 1958-59 with 45. He placed second in points with 91, five behind teammate Dickie Moore. Moore, at the time, set the single season record with 96 points.
His style converted to playmaker by the 1960-61 season. Beliveau led the league with 58 assists. He once again finished second to a Montreal teammate in the race for the Art Ross Trophy. his 90 points were five behind Bernie ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion.
After winning his second Hart Trophy in 1963-64, Beliveau completed his career triple crown in 1964-65, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs. Jean totalled 16 points in 13 games. The Canadiens took the full seven games to eliminate the Chicago Black Hawks in the finals and capture the Stanley Cup championship.
Beliveau served as team captain of the Canadiens over his final ten years in the league. He is tied with Saku Koivu as the longest serving captain in Habs history. In 1972, Jean was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the typical three year waiting period waived. Later, in 2009, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Hockey League. He has also received the Order of Canada.
Jean Beliveau Hockey Cards
The Jean Beliveau rookie card appears as number 27 in the 1953-54 Parkhurst set. This card stands as the most valuable in the set, 15 times more than a common card. Beliveau also steals the show from teammate Dickie Moore in the set. Beliveau’s picture mistakenly appears on the front of Moore’s number 28 hockey card.
The final Jean Beliveau hockey card during his playing days came in the form of number 263 in the 1971-72 O-Pee-Chee set. Both Beliveau and Gordie Howe were honoured with special retirement cards in the 1971-72 set. Jean’s card is valued at around 16 times more than a common card. Unlike Howe, Beliveau stuck to retirement.