Benoit
Brunet
1952-1963
| Position | L |
| Shoots | L |
| Weight | 198lbs |
| Height | 6'0" |
| Date of birth | August 24th, 1968 |
| Place of birth | Ste-Anne De Bellevue, QC, CAN |
| Seasons - MTL | 13 |
| Other numbers | 22,43 |
| SEASON |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
G
Goals - Number of goals the player has scored
|
A
Assists - Number of goals the player has assisted in
|
PTS
Points - Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A
|
+/-
Plus/Minus - The number of team goals for minus the number of team goals against while the player is on the ice
|
PIM
Penalties infraction minutes - Number of penalty minutes the player has been assessed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTALS | 494 | 92 | 149 | 241 | 44 | 221 |
| 1988-1989 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990-1991 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 0 |
| 1991-1992 | 18 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| 1992-1993 | 47 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 13 | 19 |
| 1993-1994 | 71 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 14 | 20 |
| 1994-1995 | 45 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 7 | 16 |
| 1995-1996 | 26 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -4 | 17 |
| 1996-1997 | 39 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 6 | 14 |
| 1997-1998 | 68 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 11 | 61 |
| 1998-1999 | 60 | 14 | 17 | 31 | -1 | 31 |
| 1999-2000 | 50 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 3 | 13 |
| 2000-2001 | 35 | 3 | 11 | 14 | -4 | 12 |
| 2001-2002 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -4 | 4 |
| SEASON |
GP
Games played - Number of games the player has set foot on the ice
|
G
Goals - Number of goals the player has scored
|
A
Assists - Number of goals the player has assisted in
|
PTS
Points - Scoring points, calculated as the sum of G and A
|
+/-
Plus/Minus - The number of team goals for minus the number of team goals against while the player is on the ice
|
PIM
Penalties infraction minutes - Number of penalty minutes the player has been assessed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTALS | 42 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 8 | 32 |
| 1992-1993 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 8 |
| 1993-1994 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 16 |
| 1995-1996 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996-1997 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 1997-1998 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
DESPITE BEING PLAGUED BY INJURIES, BENOIT BRUNET CONTRIBUTED TO THE CANADIENS’ SUCCESS IN THE EARLY 1990S, MOST NOTABLY IN THEIR 1993 CUP TRIUMPH.
An offensive star during his junior career, Benoit Brunet became a defensive specialist when he made the jump to the NHL. A good skater and stickhandler, Brunet had a style similar to that of Guy Carbonneau, and likely would have enjoyed more success had he been spared the injuries that plagued his career.
The left winger scored 130 goals and totaled 323 points overall in three seasons with Hull of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, taking part in two Memorial Cup tournaments with the Olympiques in 1986 and 1988. The Habs selected the Pointe Claire native 27th overall in the second round of the 1986 Entry Draft.
Brunet spent four seasons in the American Hockey League before establishing himself in the NHL. Teaming up with center Stephan Lebeau to terrorize minor league goalies in 1988-89, he recorded 41 goals and 76 assists for 117 points.
Brunet made his NHL debut that same season, appearing in two games before finishing his AHL apprenticeship. He played in 17 games with Montreal in 1990-91 and 18 in 1991-92 before earning a full-time spot with the Canadiens the following season.
Under head coach Jacques Demers, Brunet developed into a complete player in 1992-93, with 10 goals and 15 assists in 47 games. He added 10 points in 20 playoff games as he helped the Canadiens capture the team’s 24th Stanley Cup.
Brunet continued his solid play over the next eight seasons, delivering a consistent effort that was nonetheless frequently interrupted by a variety of injuries. Chronic back problems prevented him from playing full seasons and cut significantly into his offensive production. A knee injury also sidelined him for most of 2000-01.
He was traded to Dallas only 16 games into the 2001-02 season, dealt to the Stars on November 21 along with Martin Rucinsky in exchange for Donald Audette and Shaun Van Allen. His career in Texas lasted just 32 games as he was dealt once again, this time to the Ottawa Senators for a sixth round draft choice. Brunet finished his career in the Canadian capital, retiring at the end of the season.
Over the course of his career, the congenial forward was only able to play over 50 games in a season three times because of injury.
After a few years out of the limelight, Brunet was back in the public eye in 2005 when he joined RDS where as an analyst during Canadiens and NHL broadcasts.
