# Jean-Guy Gendron

Joseph Eudore Jean-Guy "Smitty" Gendron (August 30, 1934 – June 30, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 863 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. Gendron scored his first NHL goal on November 9, 1955, for the New York Rangers in their 1–1 home tie versus the Montreal Canadiens. He also played 127 games in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Quebec Nordiques, a team for which he was the head coach for two seasons.
Gendron played junior hockey with the Trois-Rivieres Reds before making his professional debut with the Providence Reds in 1954. He scored an NHL career high 24 goals in 1959–60 despite generally being called upon to play a hard-nosed, defensive-oriented role.
He died on June 30, 2022, through medical assistance in dying (MAID).

## Career statistics

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1951–52 | Trois-Rivières Reds | QJHL | 41 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 1952–53 | Trois-Rivières Reds | QJHL | 47 | 19 | 10 | 29 | 98 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| 1952–53 | Quebec Aces | QMHL | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953–54 | Trois-Rivières Reds | QJHL | 54 | 42 | 45 | 87 | 179 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 1954–55 | Providence Reds | AHL | 47 | 24 | 15 | 39 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | New York Rangers | NHL | 63 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 1956–57 | New York Rangers | NHL | 70 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 1957–58 | New York Rangers | NHL | 70 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 68 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 1958–59 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 60 | 15 | 9 | 24 | 57 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| 1959–60 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 67 | 24 | 11 | 35 | 64 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1960–61 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 13 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1960–61 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 53 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 51 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1961–62 | New York Rangers | NHL | 69 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 71 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1962–63 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 66 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1963–64 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 54 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1963–64 | Providence Reds | AHL | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1964–65 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 53 | 20 | 14 | 34 | 61 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 1965–66 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 58 | 26 | 35 | 61 | 70 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 1966–67 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 68 | 28 | 45 | 73 | 72 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 1967–68 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1967–68 | Quebec Aces | AHL | 72 | 29 | 58 | 87 | 72 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 24 |
| 1968–69 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 74 | 20 | 35 | 55 | 65 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 1969–70 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 71 | 23 | 21 | 44 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1970–71 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 76 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 46 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971–72 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 56 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1972–73 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 63 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 113 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | Quebec Nordiques | WHA | 64 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — |
| AHL totals | AHL totals | AHL totals | 304 | 128 | 168 | 296 | 313 | 31 | 11 | 16 | 27 | 42 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 863 | 182 | 201 | 383 | 701 | 42 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 47 |
| WHA totals | WHA totals | WHA totals | 127 | 28 | 41 | 69 | 155 | — | — | — | — | — |

## WHA coaching record

| Team | Year | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Postseason |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | T | Pts | Division rank | Result |
| QUE | 1974–75 | 78 | 46 | 32 | — | 92 | 1st in Canadian | Lost in Avco Cup Finals |
| QUE | 1975–76 | 81 | 50 | 27 | 4 | 104 | 2nd in Canadian | Lost in Quarterfinals |
| Total | Total | 159 | 96 | 59 | 4 | | | 2 playoff appearances |