He had a two-inch gash on his forehead, a few inches above his left eyebrow. The eyebrow itself was stitched and swollen, but he seemed unconcerned. He smiled wearily but broadly, surrounded by rejoicing, white-shirted teammates and a gaggle of cameramen. PA announcer Claude Mouton elicited a huge roar from the Montreal Forum crowd, proclaiming the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1979 was "Robert … 'Bob' … Gainey!"

Celebrating that news, the players lifted Gainey on their shoulders, and the crowd's roar heightened. Still smiling but eyes down, clearly embarrassed by the attention, he half-waved to the crowd as Serge Savard handed him the Stanley Cup. He hoisted it over his head, photographs were snapped and the crowd roared even louder.

For more of Bob Gainey's 100 Greatest Players bio, please click here.