NHL All-Stars: Bobby Rousseau’s Brilliant 1965-66 Season

Bobby Rousseau put together the best campaign of his NHL career in 1965-66, delivering a breakout year that helped power the Montreal Canadiens back to the top of the league. Rousseau scored 30 goals and added 48 assists for 78 points, edging out Jean Béliveau for the team scoring lead by a single point. His playmaking touch stood out across the league as well. He led the NHL in assists and finished tied with Stan Mikita for second place in the Art Ross Trophy race.

His strong performance carried straight into the postseason. Rousseau collected eight points in ten games, helping Montreal sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round and defeat the Detroit Red Wings in six games to capture another Stanley Cup championship.

Despite Rousseau’s exceptional production, Gordie Howe earned First Team NHL All-Star honours at right wing. The two stars posted remarkably similar numbers that year, but Howe’s iconic stature and Hart Trophy voting (finishing third) gave him the edge. Rousseau still earned recognition, finishing as the runner-up for the Lady Byng Trophy behind Alex Delvecchio.

By the end of his career, Rousseau had put together an impressive resume:

• 942 regular season games

• 128 playoff games

• Four Stanley Cup championships with Montreal

• 1961-62 Calder Trophy winner

• NHL stops with the Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, and New York Rangers

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bobby Rousseau

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Bobby Rousseau won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in which season?

1960-61
1961-62
1962-63

2. Which team did Rousseau lead in scoring during his career-best 1965-66 season?

Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota North Stars
New York Rangers

3. How many Stanley Cup championships did Bobby Rousseau win?

Two
Four
Five

4. Rousseau finished runner-up for which major NHL award in 1965-66?

Lady Byng Trophy
Hart Trophy
Vezina Trophy

5. Across his NHL career, which team did Bobby Rousseau NOT play for?

New York Rangers
Minnesota North Stars
Chicago Blackhawks

Your Score:

1965-66 NHL Team Leaders

The Montreal Canadiens dominated the 1965-66 National Hockey League season. The Habs finished first overall in the six team league, eight points ahead of second place Chicago. Montreal then swept the Toronto Maple Leafs in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs before capturing the championship in six games against the fourth seed Detroit Red Wings.

Bobby Hull – Chicago Black Hawks

Bobby Hull not only led the Chicago Black Hawks but finished atop the whole NHL with 97 points, capturing the Art Ross Trophy. Hull’s 97 points set an NHL record for most points in a season, eclipsing the previous mark of 96 set by Dickie Moore of Montreal in 1958-59.

Bobby Rousseau – Montreal Canadiens

Leading the Montreal Canadiens with a career high of 78 points and finishing tied for second in the league was Bobby Rousseau. Bobby played in the NHL from 1960-61 to 1974-75 with the Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars and New York Rangers. His next highest point total came in 1968-69 when he totalled 70 with the Habs.

Gordie Howe – Detroit Red Wings

Gordie Howe occupied a familiar spot, leading the Detroit Red Wings in points with 75. Howe was fifth in the race for the Art Ross Trophy and had just three more points than teammate Norm Ullman. However, Ullman proved more of a factor in the Red Wings reaching the Stanley Cup final with 15 playoff points compared to Howe’s 10.

Bob Nevin – New York Rangers

The New York Rangers finished last in the NHL in 1965-66, one point behind the Boston Bruins and 27 points out of a playoff position. Bob Nevin led the club with 62 points. Nevin played in the NHL from 1960-61 to 1975-76 and would only total more points on one other occasion. In 1974-75, with the Los Angeles Kings, Bob contributed 72 points. Of course, the regular season was ten games longer that year than in 1965-66.

Murray Oliver – Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins had the least goals for and the most goals against in 1965-66. Leading the way for Bruins was Murray Oliver with 60 points. Oliver played in the NHL from 1959-60 to 1974-75 with the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota North Stars. In fact, Oliver and Bobby Rousseau were teammates with the North Stars for the 1970-71 season.

Frank Mahovlich and Bob Pulford – Toronto Maple Leafs

As was the way with the ‘Original 6’ era Toronto Maple Leafs, individual scoring numbers were never exceptionally high. In 1965-66, Frank Mahovlich and Bob Pulford tied for the team lead with just 56 points each. Dave Keon was just two points behind with 54. It was a career high for Pulford but a mediocre season for Mahovlich.