TORONTO, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Sam Pollock, who was the general manager for nine Stanley Cup-winning Montreal Canadiens teams, has died at the age 81.
Pollock died of cancer Wednesday in Toronto, the Canadiens said on the team's Web site.
Pollock was considered an astute judge of hockey talent. He was general manager of the Canadiens from 1964-78, putting together teams that won NHL's Stanley Cup nine times, including the four of the first five years and the last three seasons he was general manager.
Among the key moves he made was a trade for Ken Dryden, a deal that gave Montreal the top draft choice in 1971 that Pollock used to draft Guy Lafleur, and convincing Scotty Bowman to coach the Canadiens.
Pollock joined the Canadiens in 1947 and served in various capacities, including scout and coach of the team's junior hockey affiliates. He was made GM after the retirement of Frank Selke, another Hockey Hall of fame member.
Pollock was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1985 and was a recipient of the Order of Canada in 1985 and the Chevalier dl l'Order du Quebec in 2002.
Pollock also served a chief executive office baseball's Toronto Blue Jays.
