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THE REGULAR SEASON

A new team for a new decade.

General manager Irving Grundman has high hopes that the Canadiens’ selection of Doug Wickenheiser with the first overall pick in the 1980 Entry Draft will prove to be another bold stroke by the organization, much like the selection of Guy Lafleur was nine years earlier.

Unfortunately for Wickenheiser, the public pressure is overwhelming and comparisons with Denis Savard, the third overall pick in the draft, weigh heavily on the Saskatchewan native’s shoulders. His rookie season falls well short of expectations.

The Canadiens get off to a rough start and soon find themselves last in the Norris Division. They fashion a spectacular recovery with 17 wins in 24 games in November and December. During this outstanding run, Lafleur moves into third place overall among the team’s all-time scoring leaders.

The Habs begin the New Year with an eight-game winning streak and close in on the Los Angeles Kings for the division lead. Despite the team’s success, Grundman makes a number of changes. He sends defenseman Rick Chartraw to Los Angeles, and goalie Michel Larocque to Toronto a few weeks later.

The team could hardly have hoped for better results over the final two months of the season as they lose just six of their final 30 games to finish first overall in the Prince of Wales Conference.

Despite the on-ice success, things are far from smooth in the dressing room where coach Claude Ruel’s defensive style of play proves unpopular.