Johnny Gagnon

Who was Johnny Gagnon?

Jean Joseph "Black Cat" Gagnon was a Canadian ice hockey forward.

Johnny played in the National Hockey League from 1930 to 1940. During this time, he played for the New York Americans, Boston Bruins, and Montreal Canadiens. He also played for the Providence Reds of the American Hockey League. He won the Stanley Cup in 1931 with the Montreal Canadiens. Gagnon loved to tell the story of how, as a Canadiens "wanna-be", he filled his pockets with 10 pounds of rocks during a weigh-up and having impressed Canadiens brass with his 150 lbs, got a tryout with the team,. Gagnon was a modest sort who gave all the credit to his two superstar linemates claiming he'd simply pass them the puck, stand back, and get the assists.

After his retirement, he became a scout for the New York Rangers and he was in part responsible for the Rangers getting the great goaltender Eddie Giacomin, scouting him when he played for the American Hockey League's Providence Reds and he became friends with Giacomin. He gave general manager Emile Francis glowing reports on Giacomin and finally Francis decided to see Giacomin play and eventually obtained Giacomin for four players.