I've finally finished what I'd consider to be a challenging read: The Game, by Ken Dryden. I have the 20th anniversary edition.

Dryden's credentials are without question: 6 Stanley Cups in 8 years with Montreal, including a run of 4 in a row in the late 1970s.

This book covers various facets of his career, in seemingly random order. In fact, a person could make the argument that he bounces around the league, his career, and all of hockey in a random fashion. However, everything he writes, from the big paragraphs to the simplest sentence, is with  purpose and meaning.

Dryden takes the reader through his career, looking at it from the last of his playing days. He talks about his college days, the year he took off to go through his law schooling in Toronto, family.

But you can see things from a perspective that few outside the hockey world will ever see. He talks about the ups and downs of his teammates, legendary coach Scotty Bowman, and countless Hall of Famers that he has seen and had the chance to witness in his days.

Later in the book, he actually shows us one of his games, from pre-game routine, all the way through each period, the intermissions, and finally the end of the game. He even looks at the history of the game, the changes that have been made in the last century, as well as comparing and contrasting the Russian style of game versus the Canadian. He talks briefly about the WHA and it's effect on the NHL, and how salaries began to spiral up and up.

This is considered one of the greatest hockey books of all time, and I would have to agree. I don't think I can compare it to any other book, because it is in depth in so many areas. I would definitely rate this book a 10.

This is NOT the type of book you're going to just blow through in a couple hours. Be prepared to sit back and relax and allow the book to draw you in. I promise you, it will be worth it.


Amazon link:          http://www.amazon.com/Game-Ken-Dryden/dp/0470835842/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353098059&sr=1-4&keywords=the+game


Barnes & Noble:    http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/game-ken-dryden/1100295218?ean=9780470835845


Powell's City of Books:     http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780470835845-0