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Montréal Canadiens

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Template:Short description Template:About

"Habs" redirects here. For the early French settlers of Quebec, see Habitants. For other uses, see other uses (disambiguation).

Template:Good article Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox NHL team The Montreal Canadiens[note 1] (Template:Lang-fr), officially Template:Lang (Template:Lit. The Canadian Hockey Club)[1] and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Other nicknames for the team include Le Canadien, Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, La Sainte-Flanelle, Le Tricolore, Les Glorieux (or Nos Glorieux), Le CH, Le Grand Club, Les Plombiers and Les Habitants (from which "Habs" is derived). Since 1996, the Canadiens have played their home games at Bell Centre, originally known as Molson Centre.[2] The team previously played at the Montreal Forum, which housed the team for seven decades and all but their first two Stanley Cup championships.[note 2]

Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team worldwide, and the only existing NHL club to predate the founding of the NHL. One of the oldest North American professional sports franchises, the Canadiens' history predates that of every other Canadian franchise outside football, as well as every American franchise outside baseball and the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals. The franchise is one of the "Original Six", the teams that made up the NHL from 1942 until the 1967 expansion. The team's championship season in 1992–93 marked the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.[3]

The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup more times than any other franchise, having earned 24 championships, with 23 victories since the founding of the NHL, and 22 since 1927, when NHL teams became the only ones to compete for the Stanley Cup.[4] The Canadiens also had the most championships by a team of any of the four major North American sports until the New York Yankees won their 25th World Series title in 1999.

History[]

Main article: History of the Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens were founded by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909, as a charter member of the National Hockey Association,[5][6] the forerunner to the National Hockey League. It was to be the team of the francophone community in Montreal, composed of francophone players, and under francophone ownership as soon as possible.[7] The founders named the team "Les Canadiens," a term identified at the time with French speakers.[8] The team's first season was not a success, as they placed last in the league. After the first year, ownership was transferred to George Kennedy of Montreal and the team's record improved over the next seasons.[9] The team won its first Stanley Cup championship in the 1915–16 season.[10] In 1917, with four other NHA teams, the Canadiens formed the NHL,[11] and they won their first NHL Stanley Cup during the 1923–24 season, led by Howie Morenz.[12] The team moved from the Mount Royal Arena to the Montreal Forum for the 1926–27 season.[13]

The club began the 1930s decade successfully, with Stanley Cup wins in 1930 and 1931. The Canadiens and its then-Montreal rival, the Montreal Maroons, declined both on the ice and economically during the Great Depression. Losses grew to the point where the team owners considered selling the team to interests in Cleveland, Ohio, though local investors were ultimately found to finance the Canadiens.[14] The Maroons suspended operations, and several of their players moved to the Canadiens.[15]

File:There's no action like hockey action by Louis Jaques.jpg

Game between the Canadiens and the New York Rangers in 1962.

Led by the "Punch Line" of Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Toe Blake and Elmer Lach in the 1940s, the Canadiens enjoyed success again atop the NHL. From 1953 to 1960, the franchise won six Stanley Cups, including a record five straight from 1956 to 1960, with a new set of stars coming to prominence: Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Doug Harvey, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Jacques Plante and Richard's younger brother, Henri.[16]

The Canadiens added ten more championships in 15 seasons from 1965 to 1979, with another dynastic run of four-straight Cups from 1976 to 1979.[17] In the 1976–77 season, the Canadiens set two still-standing team records – for most points, with 132, and fewest losses, by only losing eight games in an 80-game season.[18] The next season, 1977–78, the team had a 28-game unbeaten streak, the second-longest in NHL history.[19] The next generation of stars included Guy Lafleur, Yvan Cournoyer, Ken Dryden, Pete Mahovlich, Jacques Lemaire, Pierre Larouche, Steve Shutt, Bob Gainey, Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe and Larry Robinson. Scotty Bowman, who would later set a record for most NHL victories by a coach, was the team's head coach for its last five Stanley Cup victories in the 1970s.[20]

File:Façade Centre Bell Center Front.JPG

Bell Centre has been the Canadiens' home venue since 1996. The arena is here seen in 2008, with banners celebrating the Montreal Canadiens centennial.

The Canadiens won Stanley Cups in 1986, led by rookie star goaltender Patrick Roy,[21] and in 1993, continuing their streak of winning at least one championship in every decade from the 1910s to the 1990s (this streak came to an end in the 2000s).[22] In 1996, the Habs moved from the Montreal Forum, their home during 70 seasons and 22 Stanley Cups, to Molson Centre (now called Bell Centre).[23]

Following Roy's departure in 1995, the Canadiens fell into an extended stretch of mediocrity,[24] missing the playoffs in four of their next ten seasons and failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs until 2010.[25] By the late 1990s, with both an ailing team and monetary losses exacerbated by a record-low value of the Canadian dollar, Montreal fans feared their team would end up relocated to the United States. Team owner Molson Brewery sold control of the franchise and the Molson Centre to American businessman George N. Gillett Jr. in 2001, with the right of first refusal for any future sale by Gillett and a condition that the NHL Board of Governors must unanimously approve any attempt to move to a new city.[26] Led by club president Pierre Boivin, the Canadiens returned to being a lucrative enterprise, earning additional revenues from broadcasting and arena events. In 2009, Gillett sold the franchise to a consortium led by the Molson family which included The Woodbridge Company, BCE/Bell, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Michael Andlauer, Luc Bertrand and the National Bank Financial Group for $575 million, more than double the $275 million he spent on the purchase eight years prior.[27][28]

During the 2008–09 season, the Canadiens celebrated their 100th anniversary with various events,[29] including hosting both the 2009 NHL All-Star Game,[30] and the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.[31] The Canadiens became the first team in NHL history to reach 3,000 victories with their 5–2 victory over the Florida Panthers on December 29, 2008.[32]

For the 2020–21 season, the league moved the Canadiens along with the other six teams from Canada to the North Division. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadiens only played against teams in the division in the regular season to avoid travel restrictions between the United States and Canada. All teams in the division played without fans to begin the season.[33] The Canadiens advanced through the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs 4–3, overcoming a 3–1 Maple Leafs lead in the series. The Canadiens then swept the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals.[34] The Canadiens defeated the Vegas Golden Knights in the semifinals, clinching an overtime victory in Game 6 of the series, and reaching their first Stanley Cup Finals in 28 years, whilst also being the first Canadian team to reach the Finals since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.[35] Montreal lost the Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4 games to 1.[36]

In 2021–22, the Canadiens were unable to replicate their success from the prior season, ultimately finishing last in the league for the first time since the 1939–40 season and the first time in the NHL's expansion era, in what was one of the worst seasons in the team's history.[37][38][39] In the process they set team records for most regulation losses (49), most goals against (319), fewest wins (22),[40] and fewest points (55),[40] while their .335 point percentage was the team's third-worst ever, after only 1925–26 (.319) and 1939–40 (.260).

Team identity[]

For more details on this topic, see History of the Montreal Canadiens.

The Canadiens organization operates in both English and French. For many years, public address announcements and press releases have been given in both languages, and the team website and social media outlets are in both languages as well. At home games, the first stanza of O Canada is sung in French, and the chorus is sung in English.

Crest and sweater design[]

Template:Multiple image One of sport's oldest and most recognizable logos, the classic 'C' and 'H' of the Montreal Canadiens was first used together in the 1917–18 season, when the club changed its name to "Club de hockey Canadien" from "Club athlétique Canadien",[41] before evolving to its current form in 1952–53. The "H" stands for "hockey", not "Habitants," a popular misconception.[42] According to NHL.com, the first man to refer to the team as "the Habs" was American Tex Rickard, owner of the Madison Square Garden, in 1924. Rickard apparently told a reporter that the "H" on the Canadiens' sweaters was for "Habitants".[43] In French, the "Habitants" nickname dates back to at least 1914, when it was printed in Le Devoir to report a 9–3 win over Toronto on the 9th of February.[44][45]

File:Montreal canadiens unif.png

Team uniforms

The team's colours since 1911 are blue, white and red. The home sweater is predominantly red in colour. There are four blue and white stripes, one across each arm, one across the chest and the other across the waistline. The main road sweater is mainly white with a red and blue stripe across the waist, red at the end of both arm sleeves red shoulder yokes. The basic design has been in use since 1914 and took its current form in 1925, generally evolving as materials changed.[46] Because of the team's lengthy history and significance in Quebec, the sweater has been referred to as Template:Lang (the holy flannel sweater).

Since 2015, the Canadiens' home red sweater is the only uniform in the league to feature the French language version of the NHL shield logo (LNH) on the neck collar, in acknowledgment of Montreal's French Canadian heritage. The road white sweater retains the English NHL shield logo.[47]

The Canadiens used multiple designs prior to adopting the aforementioned design in 1914. The original shirt of the 1909–10 season was blue with a white C. The second season had a red shirt featuring a green maple leaf with the C logo, and green pants. Lastly, the season before adopting the current look the Canadiens wore a "barber pole" design jersey with red, white and blue stripes, and the logo being a white maple leaf reading "CAC", "Club athlétique Canadien".[46] All three designs were worn during the 2009–10 season as part of the Canadiens centenary.[48]

In the 2020–21 season, the Canadiens unveiled a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform in collaboration with Adidas. The uniform was essentially the same as their regular red uniform, but with blue as the primary colour and red as the stripe colour.[49]

The Canadiens' colours are a readily identifiable aspect of French Canadian culture. In the short story "The Hockey Sweater", Roch Carrier described the influence of the Canadiens and their jersey within rural Quebec communities during the 1940s.[50] The story was later made into an animated short, The Sweater, narrated by Carrier.[51] A passage from the short story appears on the 2002 issue of the Canadian five-dollar bill.[52][53]

Motto[]

Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut.

To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.

The motto is from the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae, which was written in 1915, the year before the Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup championship. The motto appears on the wall of the Canadiens' dressing room as well as on the inside collar of the new Adidas 2017–18 jerseys.[54]

Mascot[]

File:Youppi! - 02.jpg

The Canadiens mascot, Youppi!, poses for photographs at a Rogers Media event

Beginning in the 2004–05 NHL season, the Canadiens adopted Youppi! as their official mascot, the first costumed mascot in their long history. Youppi was the longtime mascot for the Montreal Expos baseball team but was dropped from the franchise when they moved to Washington, D.C. in 2004–05 and became the Washington Nationals. With the switch, Youppi became the first mascot in professional sports to switch leagues. He is also the first mascot in professional sports to get ejected from a game.[55] In June 2020, Youppi became the first mascot from a Canadian-based club to be honoured in The Mascot Hall of Fame. Youppi's induction in the Mascot Hall of Fame was decided by a long voting process, which included the public vote.[56][57]

Rivalries[]

Main article: Bruins–Canadiens rivalry

The Canadiens have developed strong rivalries with two fellow Original Six franchises, with whom they frequently shared divisions and competed in post-season play. The oldest is with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who first faced the Canadiens as the Toronto Arenas in 1917. The teams met 16 times in the playoffs, including five Stanley Cup Finals. Featuring the two largest cities in Canada and two of the largest fanbases in the league, the rivalry is sometimes dramatized as being emblematic of Canada's English and French linguistic divide.[58][59] From 1938 to 1970, they were the only two Canadian teams in the league.

The team's other Original Six rival are the Boston Bruins, who since their NHL debut in 1924 have played the Canadiens more than any other team in both regular season play and the playoffs combined. The teams have played 34 playoff series, seven of which were in the finals.[60][61]

The Canadiens also had an intraprovincial rivalry with the Quebec Nordiques during its existence from 1979 to 1995, nicknamed the "Battle of Quebec."

Broadcasting[]

Main article: List of Montreal Canadiens broadcasters

Montreal Canadiens games are broadcast locally in both the French and English languages. CHMP 98.5 is the Canadiens' French-language radio flagship.[62] As of the 2017–18 season, the team's regional television in both languages, and its English-language radio rights, are held by Bell Media.[63] CKGM, TSN Radio 690, is the English-language radio flagship; it acquired the rights under a seven-year deal which began in the 2011–12 season.[64] In June 2017, Bell Media reached a five-year extension.[63]

Regional television rights in French are held by Réseau des sports (RDS) under a 12-year deal that began in the 2014–15 NHL season.[65] A sister to the English-language network TSN, RDS was the only French-language sports channel in Canada until the 2011 launch of TVA Sports,[66] and was also the previous national French rightsholder of the NHL; as a result, the Canadiens forwent a separate regional contract, and allowed all of its games to be televised nationally in French as part of RDS's overall NHL rights.[67]

With TVA Sports becoming the national French rightsholder in the 2014–15 season through a sub-licensing agreement with Sportsnet,[67] RDS subsequently announced a 12-year deal to maintain regional rights to Canadiens games not shown on TVA Sports. As a result, games on RDS are blacked out outside the Canadiens' home market of Quebec, Atlantic Canada and parts of Eastern Ontario shared with the Ottawa Senators.[65] At least 22 Canadiens games per season (primarily through its Saturday night La super soirée LNH), including all playoff games, are televised nationally by TVA Sports.[68][69]

TSN2 assumed the English-language regional television rights in the 2017–18 season, with John Bartlett on play-by-play, and Dave Poulin, Mike Johnson and Craig Button on colour commentary.[70][63] All other games, including all playoff games, are televised nationally by Sportsnet or CBC.[71] Bartlett returned to Sportsnet over the 2018 off-season, and was succeeded by Bryan Mudryk.[72][73]

English-language regional rights were previously held by Sportsnet East (with CJNT City Montreal as an overflow channel), under a 3-year deal that expired after the 2016–17 season; the games were called by Bartlett and Jason York. Prior to this deal, TSN held the rights from 2010 through 2014; the games were broadcast on a part-time channel with Dave Randorf on play-by-play.[74][62][75]

Season-by-season record[]

This is a list of the last five seasons completed by the Canadiens. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Montreal Canadiens seasons.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
2017–18 82 29 40 13 71 209 264 6th, Atlantic Did not qualify
2018–19 82 44 30 8 96 249 236 4th, Atlantic Did not qualify
2019–20 71 31 31 9 71 212 221 5th, Atlantic Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Flyers)
2020–21 56 24 21 11 59 159 168 4th, North Lost in Stanley Cup Finals, 1–4 (Lightning)
2021–22 82 22 49 11 55 221 319 8th, Atlantic Did not qualify

Players and personnel[]

Current roster[]

Template:Montreal Canadiens roster

Honoured members[]

For more details on this topic, see List of Montreal Canadiens award winners.

Retired numbers[]

File:Chandails rétirés CH, Plante, Moore, Harvey, M.Richard, Bouchard, Lach, Morenz.jpg

Some of the retired numbers at Bell Centre, photographed in 2010

The Canadiens have retired 15 numbers in honour of 18 players,[76] the most of any team in the NHL. All honourees were born in Canada and were members of at least two Stanley Cup winning Canadiens teams. Howie Morenz was the first honouree, on November 2, 1937.[77] The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.[78]

Montreal Canadiens retired numbers
No. Player Position Tenure Date of honour
1 Plante, JacquesJacques Plante G 1952–1963 October 7, 1995
2 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey D 1947–1961 October 26, 1985
3 Bouchard, EmileEmile Bouchard D 1941–1956 December 4, 2009
4 Beliveau, JeanJean Beliveau C 1950–1971 October 9, 1971
5 Geoffrion, BernieBernie Geoffrion RW 1950–1964 March 11, 2006
Lapointe, GuyGuy Lapointe D 1968–1982 November 8, 2014
7 Morenz, HowieHowie Morenz C 1923–1937 November 2, 1937
9 Richard, MauriceMaurice Richard RW 1942–1960 October 6, 1960
10 Lafleur, GuyGuy Lafleur RW 1971–1985 February 16, 1985
12 Moore, DickieDickie Moore LW 1951–1963 November 12, 2005
Cournoyer, YvanYvan Cournoyer RW 1963–1979 November 12, 2005
16 Richard, HenriHenri Richard C 1955–1975 December 10, 1975
Lach, ElmerElmer Lach C 1940–1954 December 4, 2009
18 Savard, SergeSerge Savard D 1966–1981 November 18, 2006
19 Robinson, LarryLarry Robinson D 1972–1989 November 19, 2007
23 Gainey, BobBob Gainey LW 1973–1989 February 23, 2008
29 Dryden, KenKen Dryden G 1970–1979 January 29, 2007
33 Roy, PatrickPatrick Roy G 1984–1995 November 22, 2008

Hockey Hall of Fame[]

The Montreal Canadiens have an affiliation with a number of inductees to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sixty-five inductees from the players category are affiliated with the Canadiens. Thirty-seven of these players are from three separate notable dynasties: 12 from 1955 to 1960, 11 from 1964 to 1969, and 13 from 1975 to 1979. Howie Morenz and Georges Vezina were the first Canadiens given the honour in 1945, while Guy Carbonneau was the most recently inducted, in 2019. Along with players, a number of inductees from the builders category are affiliated with the club. The first inductee was Vice-President William Northey in 1945. The most recent inductee was Pat Burns in 2014.[79]

In addition to players and builders, five broadcasters for the Montreal Canadiens were also awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame. The first two recipients of the award were Danny Gallivan and Rene Lecavalier in 1984. The other three award recipients include Doug Smith (1985), Dick Irvin Jr. (1988), and Gilles Tremblay (2002).[80]

Montreal Canadiens Hall of Famers
Hall of Fame players
Template:Div col
Hall of Fame builders
Template:Div col

Team captains[]

Template:Div col

  • Jack Laviolette, 1909–1910, 1911–1912
  • Newsy Lalonde, 1910–1911, 1912–1913, 1916–1922
  • Jimmy Gardner, 1913–1915
  • Howard McNamara, 1915–1916
  • Sprague Cleghorn, 1922–1925
  • Billy Coutu, 1925–1926
  • Sylvio Mantha, 1926–1932, 1933–1936
  • George Hainsworth, 1932–1933
  • Albert "Babe" Siebert, 1936–1939
  • Walter Buswell, 1939–1940
  • Toe Blake, 1940–1948
  • Bill Durnan, 1948 (January–April)
  • Emile Bouchard, 1948–1956
  • Maurice Richard, 1956–1960
  • Doug Harvey, 1960–1961
  • Jean Beliveau, 1961–1971
  • Henri Richard, 1971–1975
  • Yvan Cournoyer, 1975–1979
  • Serge Savard, 1979–1981
  • Bob Gainey, 1981–1989
  • Guy Carbonneau and Chris Chelios, 1989–1990 (co-captains)
  • Guy Carbonneau, 1990–1994
  • Kirk Muller, 1994–1995
  • Mike Keane, 1995 (April–December)
  • Pierre Turgeon, 1995–1996
  • Vincent Damphousse, 1996–1999
  • Saku Koivu, 1999–2009
  • Brian Gionta, 2010–2014
  • Max Pacioretty, 2015–2018
  • Shea Weber, 2018–2022

Template:Div col end

Head coaches[]

Main article: List of Montreal Canadiens head coaches

Template:Div col

  • Joe Cattarinich and Jack Laviolette, 1909–1910
  • Adolphe Lecours, 1911
  • Napoleon Dorval, 1911–1913
  • Jimmy Gardner, 1913–1915
  • Newsy Lalonde, 1915–1921, 1932–1934
  • Leo Dandurand, 1921–1926
  • Cecil Hart, 1926–1932, 1936–1938
  • Newsy Lalonde and Leo Dandurand, 1934–1935
  • Sylvio Mantha, 1935–1936
  • Cecil Hart and Jules Dugal, 1938–1939
  • Albert "Babe" Siebert, 1939
  • Alfred "Pit" Lepine, 1939–1940
  • Dick Irvin, 1940–55
  • Hector "Toe" Blake, 1955–1968
  • Claude Ruel, 1968–1970, 1979–1981
  • Al MacNeil, 1970–1971
  • Scotty Bowman, 1971–1979
  • Bernie Geoffrion, 1979
  • Bob Berry, 1981–1984
  • Jacques Lemaire, 1984–1985
  • Jean Perron, 1985–1988
  • Pat Burns, 1988–1992
  • Jacques Demers, 1992–1995
  • Mario Tremblay, 1995–1997
  • Alain Vigneault, 1997–2000
  • Michel Therrien, 2000–2003, 2012–2017
  • Claude Julien, 2003–2006, 2017–2021
  • Bob Gainey, 2006 (January–May) 2009 (March–June) (interim)[81]
  • Guy Carbonneau, 2006–2009
  • Jacques Martin, 2009–2011
  • Randy Cunneyworth, 2011–2012 (interim)
  • Dominique Ducharme, 2021–2022
  • Martin St. Louis, 2022–present

Template:Div col end

Source: "Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens". Montreal Canadiens. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/coach. [dead link]

First-round draft picks[]

See also: List of Montreal Canadiens draft picks

Template:Div col

  • 1963: Garry Monahan (1st overall)
  • 1964: Claude Chagnon (6th overall)
  • 1965: Pierre Bouchard (5th overall)
  • 1966: Phil Myre (5th overall)
  • 1967: Elgin McCann (8th overall)
  • 1968: Michel Plasse (1st overall), Roger Belisle (2nd overall), and Jim Pritchard (3rd overall)
  • 1969: Rejean Houle (1st overall), and Marc Tardif (2nd overall)
  • 1970: Ray Martynuik (5th overall), and Chuck Lefley (6th overall)
  • 1971: Guy Lafleur (1st overall), Chuck Arnason (7th overall), and Murray Wilson (11th overall)
  • 1972: Steve Shutt (4th overall), Michel Larocque (6th overall), Dave Gardner (8th overall), and John Van Boxmeer (14th overall)
  • 1973: Bob Gainey (8th overall)
  • 1974: Cam Connor (5th overall), Doug Risebrough (7th overall), Rick Chartraw (10th overall), Mario Tremblay (12th overall), and Gord McTavish (15th overall)
  • 1975: Robin Sadler (9th overall), and Pierre Mondou (15th overall)
  • 1976: Peter Lee (12th overall), Rod Schutt (13th overall), and Bruce Baker (18th overall)
  • 1977: Mark Napier (10th overall), and Norm Dupont (18th overall)
  • 1978: Danny Geoffrion (8th overall), and Dave Hunter (17th overall)
  • 1979: None
  • 1980: Doug Wickenheiser (1st overall)
  • 1981: Mark Hunter (7th overall), Gilbert Delorme (18th overall), and Jan Ingman (19th overall)
  • 1982: Alain Heroux (19th overall)
  • 1983: Alfie Turcotte (17th overall)
  • 1984: Petr Svoboda (5th overall), and Shayne Corson (8th overall)
  • 1985: Jose Charbonneau (12th overall), and Tom Chorske (16th overall)
  • 1986: Mark Pederson (15th overall)
  • 1987: Andrew Cassels (17th overall)
  • 1988: Eric Charron (20th overall)
  • 1989: Lindsay Vallis (13th overall)
  • 1990: Turner Stevenson (12th overall)
  • 1991: Brent Bilodeau (17th overall)
  • 1992: David Wilkie (20th overall)
  • 1993: Saku Koivu (21st overall)
  • 1994: Brad Brown (18th overall)
  • 1995: Terry Ryan (8th overall)
  • 1996: Matt Higgins (18th overall)
  • 1997: Jason Ward (11th overall)
  • 1998: Eric Chouinard (16th overall)
  • 1999: None
  • 2000: Ron Hainsey (13th overall) and Marcel Hossa (16th overall)
  • 2001: Mike Komisarek (7th overall), and Alexander Perezhogin (25th overall)
  • 2002: Chris Higgins (14th overall)
  • 2003: Andrei Kostitsyn (10th overall)
  • 2004: Kyle Chipchura (18th overall)
  • 2005: Carey Price (5th overall)
  • 2006: David Fischer (20th overall)
  • 2007: Ryan McDonagh (12th overall), and Max Pacioretty (22nd overall)
  • 2008: None
  • 2009: Louis Leblanc (18th overall)
  • 2010: Jarred Tinordi (22nd overall)
  • 2011: Nathan Beaulieu (17th overall)
  • 2012: Alex Galchenyuk (3rd overall)
  • 2013: Michael McCarron (25th overall)
  • 2014: Nikita Scherbak (26th overall)
  • 2015: Noah Juulsen (26th overall)
  • 2016: Mikhail Sergachev (9th overall)
  • 2017: Ryan Poehling (25th overall)
  • 2018: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (3rd overall)
  • 2019: Cole Caufield (15th overall)
  • 2020: Kaiden Guhle (16th overall)
  • 2021: Logan Mailloux (31st overall)

Template:Div col end

Franchise individual records[]

For more details on this topic, see List of Montreal Canadiens records.

Franchise scoring leaders[]

These are the top-ten-point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

  •  *  – current Canadiens player

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game

Template:Col-break
Points
Player Pos GP G A Pts P/G
Guy Lafleur RW 961 518 728 1,246 1.30
Jean Beliveau C 1,125 507 712 1,219 1.08
Henri Richard C 1,256 358 688 1,046 0.83
Maurice Richard RW 978 544 421 965 0.99
Larry Robinson D 1,202 197 686 883 0.73
Yvan Cournoyer RW 968 428 435 863 0.89
Jacques Lemaire C 853 366 469 835 0.98
Steve Shutt LW 871 408 368 776 0.89
Bernie Geoffrion RW 766 371 388 759 0.99
Saku Koivu C 792 191 450 641 0.81

Template:Col-break

Goals
Player Pos G
Maurice Richard RW 544
Guy Lafleur RW 518
Jean Beliveau C 507
Yvan Cournoyer RW 428
Steve Shutt LW 408
Bernie Geoffrion RW 371
Jacques Lemaire C 366
Henri Richard C 358
Aurele Joliat LW 270
Newsy Lalonde C 266

Template:Col-break

Assists
Player Pos A
Guy Lafleur RW 728
Jean Beliveau C 712
Henri Richard C 688
Larry Robinson D 686
Jacques Lemaire C 469
Andrei Markov D 453
Saku Koivu C 450
Yvan Cournoyer RW 435
Maurice Richard RW 421
Elmer Lach C 408

Sources: "Statistics | Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens". Montreal Canadiens. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/stats/search?position=S&search=players&season_type=2&stats_type=career. , "Hockey-Reference.com". June 17, 2010. https://www.hockey-reference.com. 

File:Maurice Richard 1945.jpg

Maurice 'The Rocket' Richard is the Canadiens' all-time leader in goals. The trophy awarded annually to the NHL's leading goal scorer is named in honour of Richard.[82]

Records – skaters[]

Career

Template:Div col

  • Most seasons: 20, Henri Richard
  • Most games: 1,256, Henri Richard
  • Most goals: 544, Maurice Richard
  • Most assists: 728, Guy Lafleur
  • Most points: 1,246, Guy Lafleur
  • Most penalty minutes: 2,248, Chris Nilan
  • Most consecutive games played: 560, Doug Jarvis

Template:Col div end

Season

Template:Div col

  • Most goals in a season: 60, Steve Shutt (1976–77); Guy Lafleur (1977–78)
  • Most powerplay goals in a season: 20, Yvan Cournoyer (1966–67)
  • Most powerplay goals in a season, defenceman: 19, Sheldon Souray (2006–07)*
  • Most assists in a season: 82, Pete Mahovlich (1974–75)
  • Most points in a season: 136, Guy Lafleur (1976–77)
  • Most penalty minutes in a season: 358, Chris Nilan (1984–85)
  • Most points in a season, defenceman: 85, Larry Robinson (1976–77)
  • Most points in a season, rookie: 71, Mats Naslund (1982–83); Kjell Dahlin (1985–86)
  • Most goals in a season, defenceman: 28, Guy Lapointe (1974–75)

Template:Col div end * Indicates a league record.

Source: "Season records – Individual records – Skaters | Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens". Montreal Canadiens. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/records/regular_skaters. 

Records – goaltenders[]

Career

Template:Div col

  • Most games played: 707, Carey Price
  • Most seasons: 16, Georges Vezina
  • Most shutouts: 75, George Hainsworth
  • Most wins: 360, Carey Price

Template:Col div end

Season

Template:Div col

  • Most games in a season: 72, Carey Price (2010–11)
  • Most wins in a season: 44, Carey Price (2014–15)
  • Most shutouts in a season: 22, George Hainsworth (1928–29)*

Template:Col div end * Indicates a league record.

Source: "Season records – Individual records – goaltenders | Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens". Montreal Canadiens. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/records/regular_goalies. 

See also[]

  • Bell Sports Complex
  • List of Montreal Canadiens award winners
  • List of Montreal Canadiens general managers
  • List of Montreal Canadiens goaltenders
  • List of Montreal Canadiens presidents
  • Montreal Junior Canadiens

Notes[]

  1. ↑ Even in English, the French spelling Template:Lang is always used instead of Canadians. The French spelling of Montréal is also sometimes used in the English media.
  2. ↑ Earlier venues for the Canadiens include Jubilee Rink, Montreal Westmount Arena, and Mount Royal Arena

References[]

  1. ↑ "Privacy Policy". NHL Enterprises, L.P.. https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/team/privacy-policy. 
  2. ↑ "Molson Centre renamed Bell Centre". CBC Sports. February 26, 2002. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/molson-centre-renamed-bell-centre-1.323185. 
  3. ↑ "It's been 18 years since last Canadian Stanley Cup". The Globe and Mail. June 12, 2011. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/its-been-18-years-since-last-canadian-stanley-cup-winner/article582983/. 
  4. ↑ "Stanley Cup All-time Champions and Finalists". National Hockey League. 2014. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25426. 
  5. ↑ Template:Harvnb
  6. ↑ Stubbs, Dave (September 4, 2008). "Canadiens toy with game at Olympic Stadium". The Gazette (Montreal): pp. C2. http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=80701a02-5dd4-4624-89fd-6b6de145f41c. 
  7. ↑ Template:Harvnb
  8. ↑ "The Strange History of 'O Canada'" (in en-US). 2017-06-27. https://thewalrus.ca/the-strange-history-of-o-canada/. 
  9. ↑ "Canadian Dictionary of Biography online". Government of Canada Library and Archives. 2007. http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?id_nbr=7823. 
  10. ↑ "Stanley Cup no. 1". Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/Stanley-Cup-No-1. 
  11. ↑ McGourty, John (November 26, 2007). "NHL celebrates 90th anniversary today". National Hockey League. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=369827. 
  12. ↑ Sandor, Steven (2005). The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry. Heritage House. p. 30. ISBN 1-894974-01-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=3DEhnwEACAAJ. 
  13. ↑ Template:Citation
  14. ↑ Template:Harvnb
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  16. ↑ "Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – Montreal Canadiens – 1955–60". Hockey Hall of Fame. http://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononeTeamMonCan5560.shtml. 
  17. ↑ "Via Rail Stanley Cup Dynasties". Hockey Hall of Fame. http://www.hhof.com/htmlExhibits/exCupDyn.shtml. 
  18. ↑ "NHL records for most points and fewest losses still held by 1976–77 Habs". National Hockey League. January 12, 2009. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=508145. 
  19. ↑ "Blackhawks' streak ends at 24 with loss to Avalanche". National Hockey League. March 8, 2013. http://blackhawks.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2012020353. 
  20. ↑ "The Bowman Effect". National Hockey League. March 8, 2013. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/The-Bowman-Effect. 
  21. ↑ Template:Citation
  22. ↑ Diamos, Jason (April 27, 2006). "Canadiens Trying to Regain Past Glory". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/sports/hockey/27canadiens.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0. 
  23. ↑ "Last game at the Montreal Forum". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/montreal-canadiens-at-100/last-game-at-the-montreal-forum.html. 
  24. ↑ Template:Harvnb
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  26. ↑ Template:Citation
  27. ↑ Vardi, Nathan (February 12, 2010). "Oh Canadiens: Inside The Richest Deal In NHL History". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1220/nhl-valuations-10-geoff-molson-montreal-canadiens-thin-ice.html. 
  28. ↑ Curtis, Christopher (November 25, 2014). "George Gillett Jr. helped turn Canadiens into a billion-dollar team". The Gazette. Montreal. https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1220/nhl-valuations-10-geoff-molson-montreal-canadiens-thin-ice.html. 
  29. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  30. ↑ "Montreal to host '09 All-Star Game". ESPN. January 23, 2007. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2740485. 
  31. ↑ Template:Cite press release
  32. ↑ "First ice-hockey team to win 3,000 regular-season games". Guinness World Records. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-8000/first-ice-hockey-team-to-win-3000-regular-season-games-/. 
  33. ↑ "Canadian NHL teams getting ready for season-long sprint". January 3, 2021. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-canadian-teams-north-division-1.5860232. 
  34. ↑ "Tyler Toffoli scores in overtime as Montreal Canadiens complete sweep of Winnipeg Jets". Associated Press. June 7, 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/06/07/nhl-playoffs-canadiens-sweep-jets-overtime-victory/7597206002/. 
  35. ↑ "Canadiens Game Day: Habs can earn spot in Stanley Cup final with a win". June 24, 2021. https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-game-day-habs-can-earn-spot-in-stanley-cup-final-with-a-win. 
  36. ↑ "Lightning defeat Canadiens in Game 5 to clinch Stanley Cup". Rogers Digital Media. July 7, 2021. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/lightning-defeat-canadiens-game-5-clinch-stanley-cup/. 
  37. ↑ D'Amours, Tristan (April 30, 2022). "Carey Price's health, youth development big off-season storylines for Canadiens". https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/carey-price-canadiens-season-wrap-nhl-1.6437293. 
  38. ↑ Basu, Arpon (April 30, 2022). "One of the worst Canadiens seasons in franchise history ended with a standing ovation and they should learn from it". https://theathletic.com/3283729/2022/04/30/one-of-the-worst-canadiens-seasons-in-franchise-history-ended-with-a-standing-ovation-and-they-should-learn-from-it/. 
  39. ↑ Potvin, Blain (April 30, 2022). "Montreal Canadiens 2021-22 Season: Learning Lessons in Failure". https://thehockeywriters.com/canadiens-2021-22-season-learning-lessons-failure/. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Minimum 70-game schedule
  41. ↑ Coffey, Phil (February 8, 2008). "NHL.com – Ice Age: Playing the point on many issues – 02/08/2008". National Hockey League. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=370513. 
  42. ↑ "Jerseys and Logos – 1909 – 1946". http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/jerseys-and-logos/1909-1946. 
  43. ↑ "Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs?". About.com. 2008. http://proicehockey.about.com/od/history/f/canadiens_habs.htm. 
  44. ↑ Foisy, Paul (2007-11-30). "Le Canadien de Montréal, les origines du terme HABITANT". http://sportetsociete.blogspot.com/2007/11/le-canadien-de-montral-les-origines-du.html. 
  45. ↑ "VICTOIRE ECRASANTE DU CANADIEN SUR TORONTO" (in fr). Le Devoir (Montreal): p. 4. February 9, 1914. http://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2792155?docpos=4. 
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Our History – Logos and Jerseys". Canadiens.com. 2008. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/jerseys-and-logos/1909-1946. 
  47. ↑ "Montreal Canadiens unveil new 2015-16 jersey". Montreal Canadiens. June 27, 2015. https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/montreal-canadiens-unveil-new-2015-16-jersey/c-771966. 
  48. ↑ "Habs unveil Centennial initiatives". Canadiens.com. September 24, 2008. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489960. 
  49. ↑ "Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas". National Hockey League. December 1, 2020. https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384. 
  50. ↑ Tarasoff, Tamara (December 10, 2004). "Roch Carrier and The Hockey Sweater". Canadian Museum of History. http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cpm/catalog/cat2208e.shtml. 
  51. ↑ National Film Board of Canada Production (2008). "The Sweater". NFB – Collection. National Film Board of Canada Production. http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=13316. 
  52. ↑ "The Spirit of Hockey". CBC Archives (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/the-spirit-of-hockey/the-hockey-sweater.html. 
  53. ↑ "The Virtual Hot Stove". Hockey: A People's History (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). 2008. http://www.cbc.ca/hockeyhistory/virtualhotstove/personalities.html. 
  54. ↑ "Inside the dressing room". Canadiens.com. August 30, 2006. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489201. 
  55. ↑ Rudin, David. "Today is the anniversary of Youppi getting ejected from an Expos game". Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/sports/today-is-the-anniversary-of-youppi-getting-ejected-from-an-expos-game. 
  56. ↑ "Youppi! First Canadian mascot inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame - Sportsnet.ca". https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/youppi-first-canadian-mascot-inducted-mascot-hall-fame/. 
  57. ↑ "Expos are gone, Youppi! moves to the Habs". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. September 18, 2005. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/expos-are-gone-youppi-moves-to-the-habs-1.548418. 
  58. ↑ Stubbs, Dave (November 9, 2008). "A rivalry like none other". The Gazette. Montreal. http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bcf1098e-b0b3-43cc-bc60-83b96fe24d50&sponsor=. 
  59. ↑ "Toronto Maple Leafs – Canadiens rivalry: notable moments". Montreal Canadiens official website. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/opponent/Toronto-Maple-Leafs. 
  60. ↑ "Boston Bruins—Canadiens rivalry". Canadiens.com. National Hockey League. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/opponent/Boston-Bruins. 
  61. ↑ Whitmer, Michael (April 17, 2009). "It's just like old times for the fans". Boston Globe: p. C6. 
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 Faguy, Steve (August 18, 2014). "NHL broadcast schedule 2014–15: Who owns rights to what games". Fagstein. http://blog.fagstein.com/2014/08/18/nhl-regional-schedule-2014-15/. 
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 "TSN becomes official English-language regional broadcaster for Habs". The Sports Network. June 13, 2017. https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-becomes-official-english-language-regional-broadcaster-for-habs-1.777777. 
  64. ↑ "Bell Media's THE TEAM 990 Becomes Official Radio Broadcaster of the Montreal Canadiens in New Seven-Year Deal". Bell Media (press release). http://www.bellmediapr.ca/bellmediaradio/releases/release.asp?id=13913&yyyy=2011. 
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 "RDS, Canadiens announce 12-year regional rights deal". RDS.ca. December 20, 2013. http://www.rds.ca/1.819879. 
  66. ↑ Magder, Jason. "New TVA Sports channel takes a shot at RDS". The Gazette. Montreal. http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=2cbb638a-16e2-4a4c-af53-92775a09989f. 
  67. ↑ 67.0 67.1 Cousineau, Sophie (November 28, 2013). "TVA to pay Rogers $120-million a year to be NHL's French-language broadcaster". The Globe and Mail (Toronto). https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/hockeys-french-connection/article15642270/. 
  68. ↑ "TVA SPORTS DÉVOILE SON CALENDRIER". TVASports.ca. Groupe TVA. August 5, 2014. http://www.tvasports.ca/2014/08/05/tva-sports-devoile-son-calendrier-1. 
  69. ↑ "NHL, TVA Sports launch French-language agreement". National Hockey League. September 22, 2013. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=729553. 
  70. ↑ "TSN's regional NHL coverage features 191 games". The Sports Network. 2017-09-15. https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-s-regional-nhl-coverage-features-191-games-1.857572. 
  71. ↑ "Canadiens, Sportsnet ink new regional deal". http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/canadiens-sportsnet-ink-new-regional-deal/. 
  72. ↑ "Canadiens on TV 2018-19: Bryan Mudryk is new voice on TSN broadcasts". The Gazette (Montreal). 2018-10-02. https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-on-tv-2018-19-bryan-mudryk-is-new-voice-on-tsn-broadcasts. 
  73. ↑ "John Bartlett exits TSN Habs coverage, will handle Leafs for Sportsnet". The Gazette (Montreal). 2018-08-17. https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/john-bartlett-exits-tsn-habs-coverage-will-handle-leafs-for-sportsnet. 
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  76. ↑ Club de hockey Canadien (2008). "Montreal Canadiens – Retired Jerseys". National Hockey League. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/index/retired-jerseys#/dashboard/players/. 
  77. ↑ "Canadiens celebrate 100th anniversary". ESPN. December 4, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4715072. 
  78. ↑ "Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game". CNN Sports Illustrated. Associated Press. February 6, 2000. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/. 
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Bibliography[]

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