With Jean Béliveau's passing, NHL has lost member of its royal family

When fans think of the grand Montreal Canadiens tradition, they conjure up dynamic images of Rocket Richard or Guy Lafleur soaring up ice and unleashing a booming shot into the upper corner of the net.

To me, the symbol of the Canadiens' majesty will always be Jean Béliveau because he was the franchise's most majestic player.

Béliveau died Tuesday at age 83 after a lengthy illness, leaving behind a legacy of elegance and class.

Toughness was a requirement to be an NHL star in the 1950s and 1960s, but there was a stylishness and gracefulness to Beliveau's game that could not be denied. He was cognac in a shot-and-beer league. He was a 6-3 center with a poetic rhythm to his skating stride and magic in his hands and instincts.

Hockey can be a brutal physical battle, but there was beauty in the way Béliveau played the game. His approach always seemed more refined, less harried. He always played as if he believed he controlled his own destiny. He played in the helmetless era, and there was considerable energy being expended and frequent contact, but Béliveau never seemed to have one hair out of place.

Today, Bobby Orr is the player most associated with No. 4. But before Orr, Béliveau was the NHL's No. 4.

Béliveau played on 10 Stanley Cup championship teams (from 1956 to 1971) and was a primary difference maker on all of those teams. He was the team's captain for 10 years.

He might have been the NHL's most gentlemanly player, but when he decided to play more physical to gain an advantage, he did so. Of course, he played rough, with as much class and dignity as humanly possible.

He won the NHL scoring championship in 1956, the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP in 1956 and 1964, and captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP in 1965. He scored 507 career goals.

Béliveau was as dominant as an older player as he was when he was a young man. He was 39 when he retired in 1971, and in his final season, he had 25 goals and 51 assists for 76 points in 71 games. In his final playoff run, Béliveau registered 22 points in 20 games to help the Canadiens win the Stanley Cup.

After his retirement, Béliveau stayed with the organization as a team executive. He was always a fixture at games. Always splendidly attired in a well-tailored suit, always carrying himself with confidence and poise, Béliveau was Montreal's symbol of excellence for more than a half century.

Through the years, Béliveau endured throat cancer and a stroke. And per his tradition, he dealt with those issues with dignity and perseverance.

When I would see Béliveau at Canadiens games, I would think how important the Montreal franchise has been to the NHL and how important Beliveau was to the great fans of Montreal.

It feels today as if the NHL has lost a member of its royal family.