The Atlanta Flames selected goaltender Phil Myre first overall from the Montreal Canadiens at the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft. The New York Islanders picked second and took Gerry Desjardins from the Chicago Blackhawks. With the third overall pick, the Flames selected another goalie, Dan Bouchard out of the Boston Bruins organization. Following that, the Islanders completed their goaltending duo with the fourth pick, taking Billy Smith from the Los Angeles Kings.
Myre spent three seasons with the Canadiens from 1969-70 to 1971-72, appearing in 49 total games with the Habs. Although he was considered the number one for Atlanta at the start, Phil and Bouchard shared duties pretty equally over the first five years of the franchise’s existence.
Phil was in net for Atlanta’s first ever game in the National Hockey League, a 3-2 win over the Islanders. In that game, he made 21 saves on 23 shots while Gerry Desjardins allowed three goals in 22 shots at the other end of the ice.
On November 16, 1972 at the Omni in Atlanta, Myre was in net for the team’s first shutout victory. Again, it was against the Islanders. Phil made 25 saves in the 4-0 victory. Billy Smith was in net for the Islanders, allowing four goals on 27 shots.
Between 1969-70 and 1982-83, Phil Myre played 439 regular season and 12 playoff games in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens, Atlanta Flames, St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Colorado Rockies and Buffalo Sabres. Over that time, he recorded 14 shutouts, eleven of those with the Flames.
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