Aftermath
The suspension came when Richard was leading the NHL in scoring and the Canadiens were battling Detroit for first place. Richard's suspension also cost him the 1954-55 scoring title, the closest he ever came to winning it. When Richard's teammate Bernie Geoffrion surpassed Richard in scoring on the last day of the regular season, the Canadiens' fans booed him.
The points from the forfeiture provided Detroit with the margin it needed to win first place overall and be guaranteed home ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs. That season, the Canadiens lost the Cup final to Detroit in seven games, with the home team winning all seven games of a final for the first time. Richard retired in 1960 after the Canadiens' fifth consecutive Stanley Cup, a record that still stands.
The episode was a prelude to the departure in the off-season of coach Dick Irvin. Selke felt Irvin had contributed to the "periodic eruptions" of Richard by riling him. Selke offered Irvin a job for life with the Canadiens, as long as it was in a non-coaching capacity. Irvin turned him down and moved on to coach the Chicago Black Hawks. He was replaced by former Canadiens player Toe Blake. Irvin coached only one more season before succumbing to bone cancer.
Read more about this topic: Richard Riot
Famous quotes containing the word aftermath:
“The aftermath of joy is not usually more joy.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)