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The years have flown by, but as long as anyone can remember — even before he was to become everything that was good about this Montreal Canadiens franchise — Jean Béliveau has been special.

Was there ever a player blessed with more grace on and off the ice, a quiet leader who led by example? He walked tall, skated taller — and this one-of-a-kind man, who passed away on Tuesday, always will be remembered that way.

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Ask anyone who knew Béliveau of what his life and NHL career has meant to all of us, and they would begin with what he brought to the Canadiens and to the game wherever it was played.

They would use words such as achievement and team. Leadership. Caring. Class. He had an aura about him unmatched by any of the great stars who played before him — or since.

They would tell the story of a tall, handsome, incredibly talented player who was junior hockey’s brightest star, about this man who once scored five goals in a three-game tryout with the Canadiens.