Paul Haynes: Montreal’s NHL ‘Opera Man’

Paul Haynes played for both the Montreal Maroons and Montreal Canadiens in the 1930’s with a short stint with the Boston Bruins. Haynes was a good player that could definitely contribute offensively.

However, if you were to compare him to a more recent player in the National Hockey League, it would be Alexander Daigle. You see, Haynes was cut from the Canadiens seven games into the 1940-41 season by Dick Irvin because he missed a pre-game skate with the Habs prior to a game with the New York Rangers. Why did he miss the practice? To attend the opera…

Paul Haynes – Pre NHL

In 1929-30, Haynes was a member of the Montreal AAA. The club reached the Allan Cup finals to determine senior ‘A’ hockey supremacy in Canada. AAA came out ahead with a two game sweep over Port Arthur. Paul was a major contributor to the championship.

The following year, Haynes moved on to the world of professional hockey. He started out with the Windsor Bulldogs of the IHL, playing 27 of the team’s 48 regular season games, scoring 11 and assisting on 16 for 27 points. Despite playing just slightly more than half the schedule, Paul was fifth in the IHL for assists and eighth for points.

By the time the Bulldogs reached the playoffs, Haynes had moved up to the Montreal Maroons in the NHL. He played 19 games for the Maroons in 1930-31, scoring one goal. Without Paul, Windsor placed second in the seven team IHL, behind the Buffalo Bisons. The Bulldogs came out on top of the six game round robin playoff to win the championship. On the team with Haynes was Baldy Northcott, a star with the Maroons that also split his 1930-31 season between Windsor and Montreal. Playing goal was NHL legend Clint Benedict who capped off his career with 40 games between the pipes.

Paul Haynes – NHL Career

Haynes played 390 regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1930-31 and 1940-41 with the Maroons, Bruins and Canadiens. Over that time, he scored 61 goals and assisted on 134 for 195 points. In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Paul played another 24 games, adding ten points.

The Stanley Cup teased and eluded Haynes throughout his career. In 1934-35, he was traded from the Maroons to the Bruins eleven games into the season. Montreal went on to win the Championship that year with Paul in a three game sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in 1930-31, the first year Haynes played for the Maroons. The Habs would not reach the finals again until 1943-44 when they once again won the championship. In both years, their opponent was the Chicago Blackhawks. In both years, there was not a player named Paul Haynes on the roster.

With the 1932-33 Maroons, Paul scored 16 and assisted on 25 for 41 points over the 48 game schedule. He tied for third in the NHL for assists with Norman Himes of the New York Americans, three assists behind leader Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers and two behind Eddie Shore of the Boston Bruins. Haynes tied for fourth in the points department with teammate Hooley Smith, nine behind leader Bill Cook of the New York Rangers.

After a lull and a couple of trades, Haynes found his groove again in 1937-38 with the Canadiens. His 22 assists tied him for seventh in the NHL with Doc Romnes of the Blackhawks, Bill Cowley of the Bruins and Paul Thompson of the Blackhawks, all seven behind leader Syl Apps of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The following year was undoubtedly his swan song season in the NHL. Haynes scored just five goals for the Habs in 1938-39 while playing 47 of 48 games. Yet, his 33 assists led the Canadiens and were one behind Bill Cowley of the Boston Bruins for the NHL lead. His 38 points was good for ninth in the overall scoring race.

The came the infamous 1940-41 season when Paul played just seven games before missing practice for the opera in Manhattan. He joined the New Haven Eagles of the American Hockey League to finish out the season and his pro hockey career. Haynes played 31 games with the Eagles, scoring three and assistin on 11 for 14 points.

Interestingly, he was joined in the AHL by Georges Mantha who was sent down by Montreal after just six games in 1940-41. in 1937-38, Mantha had led the Habs with 42 points. He would never play in the NHL again, either. New Haven placed second overall in the nine team AHL but made a first round exit from the Calder Cup playoffs, swept away by the Hershey Bears.

Paul Haynes passed away in 1989 at the age of 79.

Paul Haynes – Rookie Card

The Paul Haynes rookie card appears as number six in the 1933-34 V357 Ice Kings set, produced by World Wide Gum. The Haynes card is valued as a common in the 72 card set that is highlighted by hockey cards of Howie Morenz and King Clancy.