Vachon burst into the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens in 1966-67, going 11-3 with five ties as a 21-year-old rookie. He helped the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup Final, though they were upset by the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games.

In 1967-68, Vachon and Gump Worsley teamed to win the Vezina Trophy, then awarded to the team allowing the fewest goals during the regular season, though Worsley earned 11 of Montreal's 12 wins on the way to the Cup. The Vachon-Worsley tandem carried the Canadiens to another championship in 1969, with Vachon going 7-1 with a 1.42 goals-against average.

Vachon became the unquestioned starter in 1969-70, going 31-18 with 12 ties and a 2.64 GAA in 64 games. But the Canadiens missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 1947-48, and with Montreal in third place late in the 1970-71 season, the Canadiens called up goalie Ken Dryden, gave him the starting job and rode his Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance to another championship.

With Dryden installed as the starter in 1971-72, Vachon asked to be traded. He was sent to the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 4, 1971.

There were no more championships in Vachon's career, but he helped put hockey on the map in Los Angeles and had some of the best moments in his NHL career with the Kings. He was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1974-75 and 1976-77 and runner-up in voting for the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player in 1974-75. Vachon also excelled for Canada at the 1976 Canada Cup, going 6-1 with a 1.39 GAA and being named to the tournament all-star team.

Vachon became an unrestricted free agent after the 1977-78 season and signed with the Detroit Red Wings. But he struggled during two seasons with Detroit and was traded to the Boston Bruins on July 15, 1980. Vachon played two seasons for Boston before retiring in 1982, finishing his NHL career 353-293 with 128 ties, a 3.00 GAA, 51 shutouts and .896 save percentage.

After retiring, Vachon was general manager of the Kings from 1984-92 and GM when they acquired Wayne Gretzky in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers on Aug. 9, 1988. He also coached the Kings for brief stints in 1983-84, 1987-88 and 1994-95 and was a team ambassador.

Much to his surprise, the Hockey Hall of Fame came calling 34 years after his retirement. He was inducted as a member of the Class of 2016.

"I totally forgot about ever being admitted," he told NHL.com of the phone call from Hall chairman Lanny McDonald. "I had no idea the voting was [that day]. I had in my mind that it wasn't going to happen. There are certain things in life you can't control, and this was one of them. I thought if it was going to happen it would have happened by now. And then -- bang! Surprise!"