View source for Montreal Canadiens

{{Short description|National Hockey League team in Montreal, Quebec, Canada}}
{{about|the NHL hockey team|the NHA hockey team|Les Canadiens|the women's hockey team|Les Canadiennes de Montreal|Canadien people of Montreal|Canadien|and|Canadians|and|Montrealer}}
{{redirect|Habs|other uses}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{good article}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NHL team
| CAN_eng = 1
| team_name = Montreal Canadiens<br />''Canadiens de Montréal''<!--Do not revert, as per the talk page of this article. -->
| current = 2025–26 Montreal Canadiens season
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF !important; border-top:#A6192E 5px solid !important; border-bottom:#001E62 5px solid !important;
| text_color = #000000
| logo_image = Montreal Canadiens.svg
| logo_alt = A small white H contained inside a large red C, all surrounded by a blue contour.
| conference = [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern]]
| division = [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic]]
| founded = 1909
| history = '''Montreal Canadiens'''<br />[[1910 NHA season|1910]]–[[1916–17 NHA season|1917]] ([[National Hockey Association|NHA]])<br />[[1917–18 NHL season|1917]]–present ([[National Hockey League|NHL]])
| arena = [[Bell Centre]]
| city = [[Montreal|Montreal, Quebec]]
| uniform_image = ECA-Uniform-MTL.PNG
| uniform_image_size = 150px
| team_colors = Red, white, blue<ref>{{cite news|last=Pickens|first=Pat|title=Niagara Falls lighting up red, white and blue for Canadiens|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/short-shifts-niagara-falls-lighting-up-with-colors-of-canadiens/c-325318418|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=June 13, 2021|access-date=April 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|author=NHL Public Relations|title=NHL and Montreal Canadiens unveil 2020 NHL Draft logo|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/nhl-and-montreal-canadiens-unveil-2020-nhl-draft-logo/c-314877080|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L.P.|website=NHL.com|date=February 10, 2020|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref><br />{{colour box|#A6192E}} {{colour box|#FFFFFF}} {{colour box|#001E62}}
| media_affiliates = '''English'''<br />{{unbulleted list|[[The Sports Network|TSN]]|[[TSN Radio 690]]}} '''French'''<br />{{unbulleted list|[[Réseau des sports|RDS]]|[[CHMP-FM|98.5 FM]]}}
| owner = [[Molson family]] (majority owner)<br />([[Geoff Molson]], chairman)<ref>{{cite web|title=Administration|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/team/administration|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com|access-date=February 12, 2020}}</ref>
| general_manager = [[Kent Hughes (ice hockey)|Kent Hughes]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Kent Hughes named Canadiens general manager |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/kent-hughes-named-canadiens-general-manager/c-329865598|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com |access-date=December 15, 2024 |date=January 18, 2022}}</ref>
| head_coach = [[Martin St. Louis]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/martin-st-louis-becomes-32nd-head-coach-in-canadiens-history/c-334411286|title=Martin St-Louis becomes 32nd head coach in Canadiens history|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com|date=June 1, 2022|access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref>
| captain = [[Nick Suzuki]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Nick Suzuki named 31st captain in Canadiens history |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/nick-suzuki-named-31st-captain-in-canadiens-history/c-335520346 |publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com |date=September 12, 2022 |access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref>
| minor_league_affiliates = [[Laval Rocket]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]])<ref>{{cite web|date=September 8, 2016|title=Laval team to be named the Rocket|url=https://theahl.com/news/est-voluptatem-temporibus-minima-dignissimos|access-date=December 15, 2024|website=TheAHL.com}}</ref><br />[[Trois-Rivières Lions]] ([[ECHL]])<ref name="3rhabs">{{Cite web |title=The Canadiens announce affiliation with the new ECHL Trois-Rivières club |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/the-canadiens-announce-affiliation-with-the-new-echl-trois-rivieres-club/c-320456434 |access-date=December 14, 2024|date=January 19, 2021 |publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com}}</ref>
| stanley_cups = <!--This field is for Stanley Cups. Do not add the 1924–25 NHL title-->'''24''' ([[1916 Stanley Cup Final|1915–16]], [[1924 Stanley Cup Final|1923–24]], [[1930 Stanley Cup Final|1929–30]], [[1931 Stanley Cup Final|1930–31]], [[1944 Stanley Cup Final|1943–44]], [[1946 Stanley Cup Final|1945–46]], [[1953 Stanley Cup Final|1952–53]], [[1956 Stanley Cup Final|1955–56]], [[1957 Stanley Cup Final|1956–57]], [[1958 Stanley Cup Final|1957–58]], [[1959 Stanley Cup Final|1958–59]], [[1960 Stanley Cup Final|1959–60]], [[1965 Stanley Cup Final|1964–65]], [[1966 Stanley Cup Final|1965–66]], [[1968 Stanley Cup Final|1967–68]], [[1969 Stanley Cup Final|1968–69]], [[1971 Stanley Cup Final|1970–71]], [[1973 Stanley Cup Final|1972–73]], [[1976 Stanley Cup Final|1975–76]], [[1977 Stanley Cup Final|1976–77]], [[1978 Stanley Cup Final|1977–78]], [[1979 Stanley Cup Final|1978–79]], [[1986 Stanley Cup Final|1985–86]], [[1993 Stanley Cup Final|1992–93]]){{notetag|While the Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, they have actually won 27 league championships, as the Stanley Cup predates the NHA/NHL and was an inter-league championship prior to 1926. The Canadiens won two titles with the [[National Hockey Association]], winning a Stanley Cup in [[1916 Stanley Cup Final|1916]] and losing in [[1917 Stanley Cup Final|1917]]. The Canadiens have won 25 league titles in the [[National Hockey League]], winning 23 Stanley Cups. As NHL champion, Montreal failed to win the Stanley Cup in [[1919 Stanley Cup Final|1919]], when the [[Spanish flu]] cancelled the Stanley Cup Final against the [[Seattle Metropolitans]] of [[Pacific Coast Hockey Association]], and in [[1925 Stanley Cup Final|1925]], when they lost in the Stanley Cup to the [[Western Canada Hockey League]]'s [[Victoria Cougars]].}}
| conf_titles = '''8''' ([[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]], [[1976–77 NHL season|1976–77]], [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78]], [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79]], [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]], [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]], [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]], [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93]])<!-- THERE WERE NO CONFERENCES IN 2020–21 TO BE A CHAMPION OF; DO NOT RE-ADD. Also, after 1980–81, conference titles are not officially won until a team makes it to the Stanley Cup Final per the NHL. Please do not add finishing first in conference during regular season.-->{{notetag|Though the Canadiens won the [[Clarence S. Campbell Bowl]] and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final in [[2021 Stanley Cup Final|2021]], this does not count as a conference championship. Due to restrictions brought on by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[2020–21 NHL season]] saw a realignment of teams into new divisions, without any assigned conferences.}}
| presidents'_trophies = '''0'''{{notetag|The [[Presidents' Trophy]] was not introduced until [[1985–86 NHL season|1985]]. Had the trophy existed since league inception, the Canadiens franchise would have won 21 Presidents' Trophies.}}
| division_titles = '''24''' ([[1927–28 NHL season|1927–28]], [[1928–29 NHL season|1928–29]], [[1930–31 NHL season|1930–31]], [[1931–32 NHL season|1931–32]], [[1936–37 NHL season|1936–37]], [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68]], [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]], [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73]], [[1974–75 NHL season|1974–75]], [[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]], [[1976–77 NHL season|1976–77]], [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78]], [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79]], [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]], [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]], [[1981–82 NHL season|1981–82]], [[1984–85 NHL season|1984–85]], [[1987–88 NHL season|1987–88]], [[1988–89 NHL season|1988–89]], [[1991–92 NHL season|1991–92]], [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08]], [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13]], [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15]], [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17]])
| website = {{URL|nhl.com/canadiens}}
}}
The '''Montreal Canadiens'''{{notetag|Even in English, the French spelling {{lang|fr|Canadiens}} is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of {{lang|fr|Montréal}} is also sometimes used in English-speaking media.}} ({{langx|fr|link=no|Canadiens de Montréal|lit=Canadians of Montreal}}), officially '''''{{lang|fr|Club de hockey Canadien}}''''' ({{Literal translation|Canadian hockey club}})<ref name="Canadiens-Privacy">{{cite web|title=Privacy Policy|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/team/privacy-policy|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com|access-date=April 23, 2022}}</ref> and colloquially known as the '''Habs''',{{notetag|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).}} are a professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[Montreal]]. The Canadiens compete in the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) as a member of the [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] in the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]]. Since 1996, the team has played its home games at the [[Bell Centre]], originally known as the Molson Centre.<ref name="Renamed">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/molson-centre-renamed-bell-centre-1.323185 |title=Molson Centre renamed Bell Centre |access-date=February 14, 2007 |work=[[CBC Sports]] |date=February 26, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224160515/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/molson-centre-renamed-bell-centre-1.323185 |archive-date=December 24, 2013}}</ref> The Canadiens previously played at the [[Montreal Forum]], which housed the team for seven decades and all but their first two [[Stanley Cup]] championships.{{notetag|Earlier venues for the Canadiens include [[Jubilee Rink]], [[Montreal Arena|Montreal Westmount Arena]], and [[Mount Royal Arena]].}}

Founded in 1909, the Canadiens are the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey team worldwide, and the only existing NHL club to predate the [[History of the National Hockey League|founding of the league]]. One of the earliest [[Major professional sports teams in the United States and Canada|North American professional sports franchises]], the Canadiens' history predates that of every other Canadian franchise outside the [[Canadian Football League]]'s [[Toronto Argonauts]], 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 NHL expansion|1967 expansion]]. The team's championship season in [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93]] marked the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.<ref name="CanadaCup">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/its-been-18-years-since-last-canadian-stanley-cup-winner/article582983/ |title=It's been 18 years since last Canadian Stanley Cup |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=February 14, 2012 |date=June 12, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129222802/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/its-been-18-years-since-last-canadian-stanley-cup-winner/article582983/ |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/canada-s-30-year-stanley-cup-drought-a-surprise-to-guy-carbonneau-344409124|title= Canada's 30-year Stanley Cup drought a surprise to Carbonneau|author=Stubbs, Dave|publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 15, 2023|access-date=December 16, 2024}}</ref>

The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, more times than any other franchise, having earned 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.<ref name="MostCups">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25426 |title=Stanley Cup All-time Champions and Finalists |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=June 24, 2014 |year=2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719073110/http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=25426 |archive-date=July 19, 2014}}</ref> The Canadiens also had the most championships by a team of any of the [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada#"Big Four" leagues|major North American sports leagues]] until the [[New York Yankees]] won their 25th [[World Series]] title in [[1999 World Series|1999]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/sports/baseball/102999bba-yanks-titles.html|title= In Another Sport in Another Country, a Similar Success|author=Lapointe, Joe|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 29, 1999|access-date=December 16, 2024}}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of the Montreal Canadiens}}
The Canadiens were founded by [[Ambrose O'Brien|J. Ambrose O'Brien]] on December 4, 1909, as a charter member of the [[National Hockey Association]] (NHA),<ref>{{Harvnb|Jenish|2008|pp=9–13}}</ref><ref name="Gazette-OlympicStadiumNegotiations">{{Cite news |last=Stubbs |first=Dave |title=Canadiens toy with game at Olympic Stadium |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|page=C2 |date=September 4, 2008 |url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=80701a02-5dd4-4624-89fd-6b6de145f41c |access-date=September 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906200059/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/sports/story.html?id=80701a02-5dd4-4624-89fd-6b6de145f41c |archive-date =September 6, 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Jenish|2008|pages=10–11}}</ref> The founders named the team "Les Canadiens", a term identified at the time with French speakers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 27, 2017|title=The Strange History of 'O Canada'|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-strange-history-of-o-canada/|access-date=August 16, 2020|website=[[The Walrus]]|last=Kuitenbrouwer|first=Peter}}</ref> The team's [[1909–10 Montreal Canadiens season|inaugural season]] was not a success, as they placed last in the league. After their first year, ownership was transferred to [[George Kennedy (sports promoter)|George Kennedy]] of Montreal and the team's record improved over the next seasons.<ref name="Canadian Dictionary of Biography online">{{cite DCB |url=https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/kendall_george_washington_15E.html |volume=15 |first=Gilles |last=Janson |title=Kendall, George Washington, named George Kennedy |access-date=April 30, 2007 |year=2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113134646/http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?id_nbr=7823 |archive-date=January 13, 2014}}</ref> The team won its first Stanley Cup championship in the [[1915–16 NHA season|1915–16 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/Stanley-Cup-No-1 |title=Stanley Cup no. 1 |publisher=Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club |access-date=May 19, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221043716/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/Stanley-Cup-No-1 |archive-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref> In 1917, with four other NHA teams, the Canadiens formed the NHL,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=369827 |title=NHL celebrates 90th anniversary today |access-date=November 22, 2014 |date=November 26, 2007 |first=John |last=McGourty |publisher=National Hockey League |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070106/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=369827 |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> and they won their first NHL Stanley Cup during the [[1923–24 NHL season|1923–24 season]], led by [[Howie Morenz]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sandor |first=Steven |year=2005 |title=The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3DEhnwEACAAJ |isbn=1-894974-01-8 |publisher=Heritage House |page=30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129120348/http://books.google.ca/books?id=3DEhnwEACAAJ |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref> The team moved from the [[Mount Royal Arena]] to the [[Montreal Forum]] for the [[1926–27 NHL season|1926–27 season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/The-Forum-Opens-Its-Doors |title=The Forum opens its doors |publisher=Montreal Canadiens Hockey Club |access-date=May 19, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503154544/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/The-Forum-Opens-Its-Doors |archive-date=May 3, 2009}}</ref>

The club began the 1930s decade successfully, with back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in [[1930 Stanley Cup Final|1930]] and [[1931 Stanley Cup Final|1931]]. However, the Canadiens, along with cross-town rivals the [[Montreal Maroons]], declined both on the ice and economically during the [[Great Depression in Canada|Great Depression]] era. Losses grew to the point where team owners considered selling interest to [[Cleveland]], Ohio, though local investors were ultimately found to finance the Canadiens.<ref>{{Harvnb|Jenish|2008|pp=80–85}}</ref> After the Maroons suspended operations following the [[1937–38 NHL season|1937–38 season]], several of their players joined the Canadiens.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Holzman |first1=Morey |last2=Nieforth |first2=Joseph |year=2002 |title=Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COb82MiKyGQC&q=Deceptions%20and%20Doublecross%3A%20How%20the%20NHL%20Conquered%20Hockey&pg=PP1 |isbn=1-55002-413-2 |publisher=Dundurn Press |page=330 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129051031/http://books.google.ca/books?id=COb82MiKyGQC&lpg=PP1&dq=Deceptions%20and%20Doublecross%3A%20How%20the%20NHL%20Conquered%20Hockey&pg=PP1 |archive-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref>

Led by the "[[Punch line (hockey)|Punch Line]]" of [[Maurice Richard|Maurice "Rocket" Richard]], [[Toe Blake]] and [[Elmer Lach]] in the 1940s, the Canadiens enjoyed success again atop the NHL. From [[1953 Stanley Cup Final|1953]] to [[1960 Stanley Cup Final|1960]], the franchise won six Stanley Cups, including a record five straight from [[1956 Stanley Cup Final|1956]] to 1960, with a new set of stars coming to prominence: [[Jean Béliveau|Jean Beliveau]], [[Dickie Moore (ice hockey)|Dickie Moore]], [[Doug Harvey (ice hockey)|Doug Harvey]], [[Bernard Geoffrion|Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion]], [[Jacques Plante]] and Richard's younger brother, [[Henri Richard|Henri]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononeTeamMonCan5560.shtml |title=Legends of Hockey – Spotlight – Montreal Canadiens – 1955–60 |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=November 15, 2014 |archive-date=November 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129012606/http://www.hhof.com/htmlSpotlight/spot_oneononeTeamMonCan5560.shtml}}</ref>

[[File:There's no action like hockey action by Louis Jaques.jpg |thumb|left|Game between the Canadiens and the [[New York Rangers]] in 1962. |alt=Five men playing hockey in a crowded arena.]]
The Canadiens added ten more championships in 15 seasons from [[1965 Stanley Cup Final|1965]] to [[1979 Stanley Cup Final|1979]], with another [[Dynasty (sports) #Ice hockey|dynastic run]] of four-straight Cups from [[1976 Stanley Cup Final|1976]] to 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlExhibits/exCupDyn.shtml |title=Via Rail Stanley Cup Dynasties |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=November 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630093309/http://hhof.com/htmlExhibits/exCupDyn.shtml |archive-date=June 30, 2017}}</ref> In the [[1976–77 NHL season|1976–77 season]], the Canadiens set three [[List of NHL records (team)|still-standing team records]] – fewest losses (8) in an 80-game season,<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=January 12, 2009 |title=NHL records for most points and fewest losses still held by 1976–77 Habs |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=508145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105075318/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=508145 |archive-date=January 5, 2014 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |publisher=National Hockey League |agency=The Canadian Press}}</ref> the longest home unbeaten streak (34),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fachet |first=Robert |date=April 4, 1977 |title=Canadiens Bang Upon Capitals, 11-0 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1977/04/04/canadiens-bang-upon-capitals-11-0/6b0fe32d-8da0-4145-abdd-bd081b5c348d/ |access-date=June 17, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> and best goal differential (+216)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Ken |date=January 3, 2014 |title=Greatest Teams of All-Time: 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/greatest-teams-of-all-time-1967-77-montreal-canadiens |access-date=June 17, 2023 |website=[[The Hockey News]]}}</ref> – with one additional record that lasted almost half a century for the most points (132) in an 80-game season until it was surpassed by the [[2022–23 Boston Bruins season|2022–23 Boston Bruins]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=April 11, 2023 |title=Bruins top Caps, set NHL record with 133 points |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/36164424/bruins-defeat-capitals-set-another-nhl-record-133-points |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stubbs |first=Dave |title=1976-77 Canadiens voted No. 3 Greatest NHL Team |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/1977-canadiens-greatest-nhl-teams/c-289745814 |access-date=June 17, 2023|date=June 3, 2017 |publisher=National Hockey League}}</ref> In the [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78 season]], the team had a 28-game unbeaten streak, the [[List of NHL longest winning streaks|second-longest in NHL history]].<ref name="streaks">{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/chi-vs-col/2013/03/08/2012020353 |title=Blackhawks' streak ends at 24 with loss to Avalanche |publisher=National Hockey League|last=Sadowski|first=Rick|date=March 9, 2013 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002183046/http://blackhawks.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2012020353 |archive-date=October 2, 2013}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/The-Bowman-Effect |title=The Bowman Effect |publisher=National Hockey League |date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=March 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128042406/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/greatest-moment/The-Bowman-Effect |archive-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref>

The Canadiens won Stanley Cups in [[1986 Stanley Cup Final|1986]], led by rookie star goaltender [[Patrick Roy]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Kreiser |first=John |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=530138 |title=Seven teams that surprised by winning the Stanley Cup |publisher=National Hockey League|date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=July 30, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527063435/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=530138 |archive-date=May 27, 2010}}</ref> and in [[1993 Stanley Cup Final|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).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/27/sports/hockey/27canadiens.html?pagewanted=print&_r=0|title= Canadiens Trying to Regain Past Glory|author=Diamos, Jason|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 27, 2006|access-date=November 3, 2014}}</ref> In 1996, the Habs moved from the Montreal Forum, their home during 70 seasons and 22 Stanley Cups, to the Molson Centre (now called [[Bell Centre]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/montreal-canadiens-at-100/last-game-at-the-montreal-forum.html |title=Last game at the Montreal Forum |website=CBC.ca |access-date=November 3, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119080105/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/montreal-canadiens-at-100/last-game-at-the-montreal-forum.html |archive-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref>

Following Roy's departure in 1995, the Canadiens fell into an extended stretch of mediocrity,<ref>{{Harvnb|Kay|2009|p=126}}</ref> missing the playoffs in four of their next ten seasons and failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs until [[2010 Stanley Cup playoffs|2010]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Meagher |first=John |url=http://www2.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=21e7b9f5-b334-46ac-9f76-4a6b78ab809b |title='I've never been back there' |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=December 6, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821133857/http://www2.canada.com/topics/sports/hockey/canadiensstory.html?id=21e7b9f5-b334-46ac-9f76-4a6b78ab809b |archive-date=August 21, 2009}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Gazette-sale-Gillett">{{citation |last1=Davenport |first1=Jane |last2=Gyulai |first2 = Linda |title='I'll restore Habs': New owner looks ahead to that 25th Stanley Cup |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|pages=A.1 |date=February 1, 2001}}</ref> 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]], [[Bell Canada|BCE/Bell]], the [[Fonds de solidarité FTQ]], [[Michael Andlauer]], [[Luc Bertrand]] and the [[National Bank of Canada|National Bank]] Financial Group for $575&nbsp;million, more than double the $275&nbsp;million he spent on the purchase eight years prior.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1220/nhl-valuations-10-geoff-molson-montreal-canadiens-thin-ice.html |title=Oh Canadiens: Inside The Richest Deal In NHL History |first=Nathan |last=Vardi |work=[[Forbes]] |date=February 12, 2010 |access-date=March 15, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142030/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1220/nhl-valuations-10-geoff-molson-montreal-canadiens-thin-ice.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/montreal-canadiens/article531457.html |title=George Gillett Jr. helped turn Canadiens into a billion-dollar team |first=Christopher |last=Curtis |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=November 25, 2014 |access-date=March 31, 2015}}</ref>

During the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]], the Canadiens celebrated their [[Montreal Canadiens centennial|100th anniversary]] with various events,<ref name="100th-commemorativeLogo">{{cite press release |title=Habs to honor their 100th season |publisher=Montreal Canadiens |date=August 26, 2008 |url=http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489925 |access-date=August 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208105830/http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489925 |archive-date=December 8, 2009}}</ref>
including hosting both the [[57th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2009 NHL All-Star Game]],<ref name="AllStar2009">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2740485 |title=Montreal to host '09 All-Star Game |website=[[ESPN]] |date=January 23, 2007 |access-date=February 14, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021190414/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=2740485 |archive-date=October 21, 2008}}</ref> and the [[2009 NHL entry draft]].<ref name="PR-2009Draft">{{cite press release|title=Canadiens to host 2009 NHL Entry Draft |publisher=National Hockey League |date=July 15, 2008 |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=368471 |access-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101050353/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=368471 |archive-date=November 1, 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-8000/first-ice-hockey-team-to-win-3000-regular-season-games-/ |title=First ice-hockey team to win 3,000 regular-season games |work=[[Guinness World Records]] |access-date=October 29, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030022325/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-8000/first-ice-hockey-team-to-win-3000-regular-season-games-/ |archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Façade Centre Bell Center Front.JPG|thumb|left|upright|The [[Bell Centre]] with banners celebrating the [[Montreal Canadiens centennial]].|alt=Façade of the Bell Centre. On the wall is a banner celebrating the Canadiens centennial, featuring two players, one in black and white and one in colour, and the Canadiens logo in front of a "100".]]
For the [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]], the league moved the Canadiens along with the other six teams from Canada to the [[North Division (NHL)|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 related to the COVID-19 pandemic|travel restrictions between the United States and Canada]]. All teams in the division played without fans to begin the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian NHL teams getting ready for season-long sprint |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-canadian-teams-north-division-1.5860232 |website=[[CBC Sports]] |access-date=February 24, 2021 |date=January 3, 2021}}</ref> The Canadiens advanced through the [[2021 Stanley Cup playoffs]], beating the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] in the first round of the playoffs 4–3, [[List of teams to overcome 3–1 series deficits #National Hockey League|overcoming a 3–1 Maple Leafs lead in the series]]. The Canadiens then [[Whitewash (sport) #Ice hockey|swept]] the [[Winnipeg Jets]] in the second round, advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadiens win Game 4 in OT, sweep Jets |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/winnipeg-jets-montreal-canadiens-game-4-recap-325114716 |last=Farrell|first=Sean |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=December 16, 2024 |date=June 8, 2021}}</ref> After defeating the [[Vegas Golden Knights]] in the penultimate round, clinching an overtime victory in game 6 of the series, they reached their first [[2021 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]] in 28 years, whilst also being the first Canadian team to do so since the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in [[2011 Stanley Cup Final|2011]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadiens defeat Golden Knights in overtime in Game 6, reach first Stanley Cup Final since 1993 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2021/06/24/canadiens-defeat-golden-knights-advance-stanley-cup-final/5328717001/ |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=December 16, 2024 |date=June 24, 2021|last=Brehm|first=Mike}}</ref> Montreal eventually lost the Stanley Cup Final to the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]], 4–1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Emily |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Tampa Bay Lightning close out Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 to win second straight Stanley Cup|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31780078/tampa-bay-lightning-close-montreal-canadiens-game-5-win-second-straight-stanley-cup|access-date= December 16, 2024 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

In [[2021–22 NHL season|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 NHL season|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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Amours |first1=Tristan |title=Carey Price's health, youth development big off-season storylines for Canadiens |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/carey-price-canadiens-season-wrap-nhl-1.6437293 |website=[[CBC Sports]]|access-date=April 30, 2022 |date=April 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Basu |first1=Arpon |title=One of the worst Canadiens seasons in franchise history ended with a standing ovation and they should learn from it |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3283729/2022/04/30/one-of-the-worst-canadiens-seasons-in-franchise-history-ended-with-a-standing-ovation-and-they-should-learn-from-it/ |website=[[The Athletic]] |access-date=April 30, 2022 |date=April 30, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Potvin |first1=Blain |title=Montreal Canadiens 2021-22 Season: Learning Lessons in Failure |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/canadiens-2021-22-season-learning-lessons-failure/ |website=TheHockeyWriters.com |access-date=April 30, 2022 |date=April 30, 2022}}</ref> In the process, they set team records for most regulation losses (49), most goals against (319), fewest wins (22),{{notetag|name=min70games|Minimum 70-game schedule.}} and fewest points (55),{{notetag|name=min70games}} while their .335 point percentage was the team's third-worst ever, after only the [[1925–26 NHL season|1925–26]] (.319) and [[1939–40 NHL season|1939–40]] (.260) campaigns. As a result, team owner [[Geoff Molson]] authorized a "rebuild" of the roster over an extended period, a first in the modern history of the franchise.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/stu-cowan-geoff-molson-has-his-rebuild-of-the-canadiens-on-track|title=Geoff Molson has his 'rebuild' of the Canadiens on track|work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|last=Cowan|first=Stu|date=March 31, 2023|accessdate=May 13, 2023}}</ref> The Canadiens finished fifth-last in the subsequent [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]] and [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]] seasons.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/with-season-ending-loss-to-bruins-canadiens-cement-41-8-odds-of-a-top-5-draft-pick|title=With season-ending loss to Bruins, Canadiens cement 41.8% odds of a top-5 draft pick|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]]|last=Zurkowsky|first=Herb|date=April 13, 2023|accessdate=May 13, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Leijon|first1=Erik|title=About Last Night: Habs lose season finale but the future looks bright|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/about-last-night-habs-lose-season-finale-but-the-future-looks-bright|newspaper=[[Montreal Gazette]] |access-date=December 12, 2024|date=April 17, 2024}}</ref>

==Team identity==
{{Further|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===
{{multiple image
| title = Early logos used by the Canadiens
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| total_width = 150
| image1 = Logo Canadiens de Montréal 1909-1910.png
| caption1 = Logo used from 1909 to 1910
| image2 = Montreal Canadiens 1912-1913 logo.svg
| caption2 = Logo used from 1912 to 1913
| image3 = MontrealCanadiens1918.png
| caption3 = Original design of the "CHC" logo (1917–1919, 1921–1922)
}}
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",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=370513 |title=Ice Age: Playing the point on many issues – 02/08/2008 |last=Coffey |first=Phil |publisher=National Hockey League |date=February 8, 2008 |access-date=December 12, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719104146/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=370513 |archive-date=July 19, 2011}}</ref> before evolving to its current form in 1952–53. The "H" stands for "hockey", not "Habitants", a popular misconception.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerseys and Logos – 1909 – 1946 |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/jerseys-and-logos/1909-1946 |website=ourhistory.canadiens.com |access-date=March 10, 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324212551/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/jerseys-and-logos/1909-1946 |archive-date=March 24, 2017}}</ref> In Quebec history, [[habitants]] were francophone settlers who farmed the land along both shores of the St. Lawrence River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. As a nickname for the hockey team, "Habitants" is attested in French on 9 February 1914 in a report in ''[[Le Devoir]]'' of a 9–3 win over Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sportetsociete.blogspot.com/2007/11/le-canadien-de-montral-les-origines-du.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503155303/http://sportetsociete.blogspot.com/2007/11/le-canadien-de-montral-les-origines-du.html |archive-date=May 3, 2008|title=Le Canadien de Montréal, les origines du terme HABITANT|last=Foisy|first=Paul|date=November 30, 2007 |website=Sport et Société Québec|access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=VICTOIRE ECRASANTE DU CANADIEN SUR TORONTO |work=[[Le Devoir]] |location=Montreal |page=4 |language=fr |date=February 9, 1914| via=BAnQ numérique |url=http://numerique.banq.qc.ca/patrimoine/details/52327/2792155?docpos=4 |access-date=June 18, 2019}}</ref> According to [[About.com]], the first man to refer to the team as "the Habs" was American [[Tex Rickard]], owner of the [[Madison Square Garden (1925)|Madison Square Garden]], in 1924. Rickard apparently told a reporter that the "H" on the Canadiens' sweaters was for "Habitants".<ref name="theH">{{cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/montreal-canadiens-called-the-habs-2778720 |title=Why are the Montreal Canadiens called the Habs?|website=[[About.com]] |year=2008 |access-date=December 16, 2024 |last=Fitzpatrick |first=Jamie}}</ref> 

Since 1911, the team's primary colours are blue, white and red. The home [[Hockey jersey|sweater]] is predominantly red in colour and features four blue and white stripes: one across each arm, one across the chest and the other across the waistline. The main road sweater is white with a red and blue stripe across the waist, red at the end of both arm sleeves, and red shoulder yokes. The basic design has been in use since 1914 and took its current form in 1925, generally evolving as materials changed.<ref name=jerseys/> Because of the team's lengthy history and significance in Quebec, the sweater has been referred to as {{lang|fr|'La Sainte-Flanelle'}} (the holy flannel sweater).

As of 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/montreal-canadiens-unveil-new-2015-16-jersey/c-771966 |title=Montreal Canadiens unveil new 2015-16 jersey |publisher=Montreal Canadiens|date=June 27, 2015|via=NHL.com |access-date=December 20, 2021}}</ref>

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".<ref name=jerseys>{{cite web|url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/jerseys-and-logos/1909-1946 |title=Our History – Logos and Jerseys |publisher=Canadiens.com |year=2008 |access-date=February 16, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718004302/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/jerseys-and-logos/1909-1946 |archive-date=July 18, 2011}}</ref> All three designs were worn during the [[2009–10 NHL season|2009–10 season]] as part of the Canadiens' [[centenary]].<ref name=cent>{{cite web|url=http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489960 |title=Habs unveil Centennial initiatives |date=September 24, 2008 |access-date=October 31, 2014 |publisher=Canadiens.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101050356/http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489960 |archive-date=November 1, 2014}}</ref>

In the 2020–21 season, the Canadiens unveiled a "[[2022–23 NHL season #"Reverse Retro" jerseys|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reverse Retro alternate jerseys for all 31 teams unveiled by NHL, adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-reveals-adidas-reverse-retro-jerseys/c-319633384|publisher=National Hockey League|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=December 5, 2020|last=Ledra|first=Cristina}}</ref> A second iteration was released in the 2022–23 season, again using the same template but with red relegated to the logo only and featuring a light blue base with white/dark blue/white stripes.<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL Reverse Retro jerseys for all 32 teams unveiled by adidas|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/2022-adidas-nhl-reverse-retro-jerseys-reveal/c-336511528|publisher=National Hockey League|date=October 20, 2022|access-date=October 20, 2022|last=Merola|first=Lauren}}</ref> 

This period also saw the introduction of [[National Hockey League #Corporate sponsors|corporate sponsor advertising]] across NHL-sanctioned equipment, starting with helmet ads and followed by front jersey patches on gameday uniforms. Contextually, the Canadiens' away jerseys feature the [[Air Canada]] logo<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadiens announce Air Canada as official road jersey partner|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/nov-22-canadiens-announce-air-canada-as-official-road-jersey-partner|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|date=November 22, 2023|access-date=December 16, 2024}}</ref> in the upper right chest area whereas the name and shield for the [[Royal Bank of Canada]] (RBC) is stitched onto its home counterpart.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadiens announce RBC as first official game jersey partner|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/canadiens-announce-rbc-as-first-official-game-jersey-partner-335520044|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|date=September 12, 2022|access-date=December 16, 2024}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Civilization-HockeySweater">{{cite web |last=Tarasoff |first=Tamara |title=Roch Carrier and ''The Hockey Sweater'' |publisher=Canadian Museum of History |date=December 10, 2004 |url=http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cpm/catalog/cat2208e.shtml |access-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313223451/http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/cpm/catalog/cat2208e.shtml |archive-date=March 13, 2014}}</ref> The story was later made into an animated short, ''The Sweater'', narrated by Carrier.<ref name="NFB-HockeySweater">{{cite web |author=National Film Board of Canada Production |title=The Sweater |work=NFB – Collection |publisher=National Film Board of Canada Production |year=2008 |url=http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=13316 |access-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218103029/http://onf-nfb.gc.ca/en/our-collection/?idfilm=13316 |archive-date=February 18, 2014}}</ref> A passage from the short story appears on the [[Canadian Journey Series#$5 note|2002 issuance of the Canadian five-dollar bill]].<ref name="CBC-SpiritHockey">{{cite news |publisher=CBC Archives |work=CBC.ca |title=The Spirit of Hockey |year=2008 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/the-spirit-of-hockey/the-hockey-sweater.html |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808224702/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/the-spirit-of-hockey/the-hockey-sweater.html |archive-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref><ref name="HockeyPeoplesHistory-VirtualHotStove">{{cite news |website=CBC.ca |title=The Virtual Hot Stove |year=2008 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/hockeyhistory/virtualhotstove/personalities.html |access-date=September 4, 2008 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606194954/http://www.cbc.ca/hockeyhistory/virtualhotstove/personalities.html |archive-date=June 6, 2008}}</ref>

===Motto===
<blockquote>{{lang|fr|Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut.}}</blockquote>
<blockquote>To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high.</blockquote>
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 Adizero jerseys introduced in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489201 |title=Inside the dressing room |date=August 30, 2006 |publisher=Canadiens.com |access-date=August 29, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030103122/http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=489201 |archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/gallery/gallery-new-nhl-jerseys-for-2017-18|title=Gallery: New NHL jerseys for 2017-18 |date=June 20, 2017 |newspaper=[[Edmonton Journal]] |access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>

===Mascot===
[[File:Youppi! - 02.jpg|thumb|The Canadiens mascot, Youppi!, poses for photographs at a Rogers Media event]]
Beginning in the [[2004–05 NHL season|2004–05 season]], the Canadiens adopted [[Youppi!]] as their official mascot, the first costumed mascot in their long history. The foregoing was the longtime mascot for [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB)'s [[Montreal Expos]] but was dropped from the franchise when they moved to [[Washington, D.C.]] prior to the [[2005 Major League Baseball season|2005 MLB season]] and became the [[Washington Nationals]].<ref name="NBC">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/expos-are-gone-youppi-moves-to-the-habs-1.548418 |title=Expos are gone, Youppi! moves to the Habs |work=[[CBC Sports]] |date=September 18, 2005 |access-date=June 13, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214071256/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/expos-are-gone-youppi-moves-to-the-habs-1.548418 |archive-date=December 14, 2014}}</ref> With the changeover, 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 dating back to his time with the Expos.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rudin |first1=David |title=Today is the anniversary of Youppi getting ejected from an Expos game|date=August 23, 2018 |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/today-is-the-anniversary-of-youppi-getting-ejected-from-an-expos-game |work=[[Montreal Gazette]] |access-date=June 4, 2021}}</ref> In June 2020, Youppi! became the first mascot from a Canadian-based club to be inducted into the [[Mascot Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/youppi-first-canadian-mascot-inducted-mascot-hall-fame/|title = Youppi! First Canadian mascot inducted into Mascot Hall of Fame|website=[[Sportsnet]]|date=June 14, 2020|access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref>

In November 2022, the Canadiens introduced METAL!, an "unofficial official mascot", for the team's Reverse Retro series of games that season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/metal-debuts-at-canadiens-game/c-337519458|title=METAL! debuts at Canadiens game|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com|access-date=February 24, 2023|date=November 12, 2022}}</ref> METAL! was retired ahead of the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/metal-retires-ahead-of-2024-25-season|title = METAL! retires ahead of 2024-25 season|publisher=Montreal Canadiens|via=NHL.com|date=October 9, 2024|access-date=December 12, 2024}}</ref>

===Rivalries===

====Toronto Maple Leafs====
{{Main|Canadiens–Maple Leafs rivalry}}
The Canadiens have developed strong rivalries with two fellow Original Six franchises, with whom they frequently shared divisions and competed in postseason 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 Final]]. 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 Canadian|English]] and [[French Canadian|French]] linguistic divide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bcf1098e-b0b3-43cc-bc60-83b96fe24d50&sponsor=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150405021846/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bcf1098e-b0b3-43cc-bc60-83b96fe24d50&sponsor= |archive-date=April 5, 2015|title=A rivalry like none other|work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|date=November 9, 2008|access-date=March 31, 2015 |author=Stubbs, Dave}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/opponent/Toronto-Maple-Leafs |title=Toronto Maple Leafs – Canadiens rivalry: notable moments |publisher=Montreal Canadiens official website |access-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313172705/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/opponent/Toronto-Maple-Leafs |archive-date=March 13, 2015}}</ref> From 1938 to 1970, they were the only two Canadian teams in the league.

====Boston Bruins====
{{Main|Bruins–Canadiens rivalry}}
The team's other Original Six rivals 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 [[List of the most frequent NHL playoff series|the playoffs]] combined. The teams have played 34 playoff series, seven of which were in the finals.<ref name=Canadiens.com>{{cite web |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/opponent/Boston-Bruins |title=Boston Bruins—Canadiens rivalry |access-date=January 9, 2011 |work=Canadiens.com |publisher=National Hockey League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708113412/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/opponent/Boston-Bruins |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Games>{{cite news|title=It's just like old times for the fans|first=Michael|last=Whitmer|work=[[Boston Globe]]|date=April 17, 2009|page=C6}}</ref>

====Quebec Nordiques (1979–1995)====
{{Main|Battle of Quebec (ice hockey)}}
The Canadiens also had an intraprovincial rivalry with the [[Quebec Nordiques]] during their existence from 1979 to 1995, nicknamed the "[[Battle of Quebec (ice hockey)|Battle of Quebec]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Murphy |first=Austin |date=May 4, 1987 |title=THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1987/05/04/the-battle-of-quebec-when-provincial-neighbors-montreal-and-quebec-meet-in-the-playoffs-its-war|access-date=December 16, 2024 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]}}</ref>

==Broadcasting==
{{Main|List of Montreal Canadiens broadcasters}}
Montreal Canadiens games are broadcast locally in both the French and English languages. [[CHMP-FM|CHMP 98.5]] is the Canadiens' French-language radio flagship.<ref name="fagstein-habs15"/> As of the [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]], the team's regional television in both languages, and its English-language radio rights, are held by [[Bell Media]].<ref name="tsn-newrights2017"/> [[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 NHL season|2011–12 season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bell Media's THE TEAM 990 Becomes Official Radio Broadcaster of the Montreal Canadiens in New Seven-Year Deal |url=http://www.bellmediapr.ca/bellmediaradio/releases/release.asp?id=13913&yyyy=2011|publisher=Bell Media (press release)|access-date=August 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408233811/http://www.bellmediapr.ca/bellmediaradio/releases/release.asp?id=13913&yyyy=2011 |archive-date=April 8, 2012}}</ref> In June 2017, Bell Media reached a five-year extension.<ref name="tsn-newrights2017"/>

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|2014–15 season]].<ref name=tsn-rdscanadienscontract>{{cite web|title=RDS, Canadiens announce 12-year regional rights deal |url=http://www.rds.ca/1.819879 |date=December 20, 2013 |work=[[Réseau des sports|RDS]] |access-date=December 22, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529091413/http://www.rds.ca/1.819879 |archive-date=May 29, 2014}}</ref> A sister to the English-language network [[The Sports Network|TSN]], RDS was the only French-language sports channel in Canada until the 2011 launch of [[TVA Sports]],<ref name="tvasports-gazette">{{cite web |last=Magder |first=Jason |title=New TVA Sports channel takes a shot at RDS |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|url=http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=2cbb638a-16e2-4a4c-af53-92775a09989f |access-date=July 27, 2011|date=June 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115249/http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=2cbb638a-16e2-4a4c-af53-92775a09989f |archive-date=August 26, 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref name="gandm-tvarogers"/>

With TVA Sports becoming the national French rightsholder in the 2014–15 season through a sub-licensing agreement with [[Sportsnet]],<ref name="gandm-tvarogers">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/hockeys-french-connection/article15642270/ |title=TVA to pay Rogers $120-million a year to be NHL's French-language broadcaster |first=Sophie |last=Cousineau |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=November 28, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |location=Toronto |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201031729/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/hockeys-french-connection/article15642270/ |archive-date=December 1, 2013}}</ref> 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 [[Blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]] outside the Canadiens' home market of Quebec, [[Atlantic Canada]] and parts of Eastern Ontario shared with the [[Ottawa Senators]].<ref name=tsn-rdscanadienscontract/> At least 22 Canadiens games per season (primarily through its Saturday night ''[[La Soirée du hockey #Present day|La super soirée LNH]]''), including all playoff games, are televised nationally by TVA Sports.<ref>{{cite web|title=TVA Sports dévoile son calendrier |work=[[TVA Sports]]|date=August 5, 2014 |url=http://www.tvasports.ca/2014/08/05/tva-sports-devoile-son-calendrier-1|access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref><ref name=nhl-tvasports>{{cite web|title=NHL, TVA Sports launch French-language agreement |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=729553|last=Basu|first=Arpon |date=September 3, 2014 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=September 21, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092341/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=729553 |archive-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>

[[TSN2]] assumed the English-language regional television rights in the 2017–18 season, with [[John Bartlett (sportscaster)|John Bartlett]] on play-by-play, and [[Dave Poulin]], [[Mike Johnson (ice hockey)|Mike Johnson]] and [[Craig Button]] on colour commentary.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-s-regional-nhl-coverage-features-191-games-1.857572|title=TSN's regional NHL coverage features 191 games |date=September 15, 2017|work=[[The Sports Network|TSN]]|access-date=September 15, 2017}}</ref><ref name="tsn-newrights2017">{{cite web|title=TSN becomes official English-language regional broadcaster for Habs |date=June 13, 2017 |url=https://www.tsn.ca/tsn-becomes-official-english-language-regional-broadcaster-for-habs-1.777777 |work=[[The Sports Network|TSN]]|access-date=June 13, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613193709/http://www.tsn.ca/tsn-becomes-official-english-language-regional-broadcaster-for-habs-1.777777 |archive-date=June 13, 2017}}</ref> All other games, including all playoff games, are televised nationally by [[NHL on Sportsnet|Sportsnet or CBC]].<ref name=sn-habs2015>{{cite web|title=Canadiens, Sportsnet ink new regional deal |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/canadiens-sportsnet-ink-new-regional-deal/ |website=[[Sportsnet]] |access-date=September 2, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905034517/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/canadiens-sportsnet-ink-new-regional-deal/ |archive-date=September 5, 2014}}</ref> Bartlett returned to Sportsnet over the 2018 off-season, and was succeeded by [[Bryan Mudryk]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/canadiens-on-tv-2018-19-bryan-mudryk-is-new-voice-on-tsn-broadcasts |title=Canadiens on TV 2018-19: Bryan Mudryk is new voice on TSN broadcasts|date=October 2, 2018|work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|access-date=October 4, 2018|last=Faguy|first=Steve}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/hockey/nhl/hockey-inside-out/john-bartlett-exits-tsn-habs-coverage-will-handle-leafs-for-sportsnet|title=John Bartlett exits TSN Habs coverage, will handle Leafs for Sportsnet|date=August 17, 2018 |work=[[Montreal Gazette]]|access-date=August 23, 2018}}</ref>

English-language regional rights were previously held by [[Sportsnet East]] (with [[CJNT-DT|CJNT ''City Montreal'']] as an overflow channel), under a three-year deal that expired following the [[2016–17 NHL season|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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sportsnet Announces Montreal Canadiens Regional Broadcast Team |url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/sportsnet-announces-montreal-canadiens-regional-broadcast-team/ |website=[[Sportsnet]] |access-date=October 3, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141004173647/http://www.sportsnet.ca/sportsnet-announces-montreal-canadiens-regional-broadcast-team/ |archive-date=October 4, 2014}}</ref><ref name="fagstein-habs15">{{cite web|url=http://blog.fagstein.com/2014/08/18/nhl-regional-schedule-2014-15/ |title=NHL broadcast schedule 2014–15: Who owns rights to what games |author=Faguy, Steve|work=Fagstein |date=August 18, 2014 |access-date=August 23, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822160027/http://blog.fagstein.com/2014/08/18/nhl-regional-schedule-2014-15/ |archive-date=August 22, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/643009/tsn-acquires-regional-rights-to-24-montreal-canadiens-games |title=TSN Acquires Regional Rights to 24 Montreal Canadiens Games |access-date=March 10, 2025 |work=[[CTV News]] (press release) |date=October 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912043916/https://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/643009/tsn-acquires-regional-rights-to-24-montreal-canadiens-games |archive-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref>

==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''
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="font-weight:bold; background-color:#ddd;"
| Season || GP || W || L || OTL || Pts || GF || GA || Finish || Playoffs
|-
| [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21]] || 56 || 24 || 21 || 11 || 59 || 159 || 168 || 4th, North || Lost in [[2021 Stanley Cup Final|Stanley Cup Final]], 1–4 ([[Tampa Bay Lightning|Lightning]])
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[2021–22 NHL season|2021–22]] || 82 || 22 || 49 || 11 || 55 || 221 || 319 || 8th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23]] || 82 || 31 || 45 || 6 || 68 || 232 || 307 || 8th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24]] || 82 || 30 || 36 || 16 || 76 || 236 || 289 || 8th, Atlantic || Did not qualify
|-
|[[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25]] || 82 || 40 || 31 || 11 || 91 || 245 || 265 || 5th, Atlantic || Lost in first round, 1–4 ([[Washington Capitals|Capitals]])
|}

==Players and personnel==

===Current roster===
{{Montreal Canadiens roster}}

===Honoured members===
{{further|List of Montreal Canadiens award winners}}

====Retired numbers====
[[File:Chandails rétirés CH, Plante, Moore, Harvey, M.Richard, Bouchard, Lach, Morenz.jpg|thumb|right|Some of the retired numbers at Bell Centre, photographed in 2010]]
Collectively, the Canadiens have [[retired number|retired 15 numbers]] in honour of 18 players,<ref name="Retired">{{cite web
 |author=Club de hockey Canadien 
 |title=Montreal Canadiens – Retired Jerseys 
 |publisher=National Hockey League 
 |year=2008 
 |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/index/retired-jerseys#/dashboard/players/ 
 |access-date=February 23, 2014 |url-status=live 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015060706/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/index/retired-jerseys 
 |archive-date=October 15, 2013}}
</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=4715072 |title=Canadiens celebrate 100th anniversary |date=December 4, 2009 |work=[[ESPN]] |access-date=October 29, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030050345/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4715072 |archive-date=October 30, 2014}}</ref> The NHL retired [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s No. 99 for all its member teams at the [[50th National Hockey League All-Star Game|2000 NHL All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game |work=[[CNN Sports Illustrated]] |date=February 6, 2000 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112022319/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/2000/nhl_allstar/news/2000/02/06/gretsky_99/ |archive-date=November 12, 2013}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style= "background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#A6192E 5px solid;border-bottom:#001E62 5px solid;"|Montreal Canadiens retired numbers
|-
! width=40px | No.
! width=150px |Player
! width=40px |Position
! width=100px |Tenure
! width=150px |Date of honour
|-
| '''1''' || {{sortname|Jacques|Plante}} || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1952–1963 || October 7, 1995
|-
| '''2''' || {{sortname|Doug|Harvey|Doug Harvey (ice hockey)}}|| [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1947–1961 || October 26, 1985
|-
| '''3''' || {{sortname|Emile|Bouchard|Émile Bouchard}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1941–1956 || December 4, 2009
|-
| '''4''' || {{sortname|Jean|Beliveau|Jean Béliveau}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1950–1971 || October 9, 1971
|-
| rowspan="2"|'''5''' || {{sortname|Bernie|Geoffrion}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1950–1964 || March 11, 2006
|-
| {{sortname|Guy|Lapointe}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1968–1982 || November 8, 2014
|-
| '''7''' || {{sortname|Howie|Morenz}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1923–1937 || November 2, 1937
|-
| '''9''' || {{sortname|Maurice|Richard}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1942–1960 || October 6, 1960
|-
| '''10''' || {{sortname|Guy|Lafleur}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1971–1985 || February 16, 1985
|-
| rowspan="2"| '''12''' || {{sortname|Dickie|Moore|Dickie Moore (ice hockey)}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || 1951–1963 || November 12, 2005
|-
| {{sortname|Yvan|Cournoyer}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]] || 1963–1979 || November 12, 2005
|-
| rowspan="2"|'''16''' || {{sortname|Henri|Richard}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1955–1975 || December 10, 1975
|-
| {{sortname|Elmer|Lach}} || [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]] || 1940–1954 || December 4, 2009
|-
| '''18''' || {{sortname|Serge|Savard}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1966–1981 || November 18, 2006
|-
| '''19''' || {{sortname|Larry|Robinson}} || [[Defenceman (ice hockey)|D]] || 1972–1989 || November 19, 2007
|-
| '''23''' || {{sortname|Bob|Gainey}} || [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]] || 1973–1989 || February 23, 2008
|-
| '''29''' || {{sortname|Ken|Dryden}} || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1970–1979 || January 29, 2007
|-
| '''33''' || {{sortname|Patrick|Roy}} || [[Goaltender|G]] || 1984–1995 || November 22, 2008
|}

====Hall of Fame====
The Montreal Canadiens have an affiliation with a number of inductees to the [[Hockey Hall of Fame]]. 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 Vézina|Georges Vezina]] were the first Canadiens given the honour in 1945, while [[Shea Weber]] was the most recently inducted, in 2024. Along with players, a number of inductees from the builders category are affiliated with the club. The first inductee was vice president [[William Northey (ice hockey)|William Northey]] in 1945. The most recent inductee was [[Pat Burns]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMembersByName.jsp?type=Builder|title=Legends of Hockey – Builders|publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=October 31, 2014|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116070715/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMembersByName.jsp?type=Builder|archive-date=November 16, 2014}}</ref>

In addition to players and builders, seven broadcasters for the Montreal Canadiens have been 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 five award recipients are [[Doug Smith (sportscaster)|Doug Smith]] (1985), [[Dick Irvin Jr.]] (1988), [[Richard Garneau]] (1999), [[Gilles Tremblay (ice hockey)|Gilles Tremblay]] (2002), and [[Pierre Houde]] (2024).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hhof.com/general/fosterhewittmemorialaward.html|title=Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winners |access-date=December 12, 2024 |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame}}</ref>

'''Players'''
{{Columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Marty Barry]]
* [[Jean Beliveau]]
* [[Toe Blake]]
* [[Emile Bouchard]]
* [[Harry Cameron]]
* [[Guy Carbonneau]]
* [[Chris Chelios]]
* [[Sprague Cleghorn]]
* [[Yvan Cournoyer]]
* [[Gord Drillon]]
* [[Ken Dryden]]
* [[Dick Duff]]
* [[Bill Durnan]]
* [[Tony Esposito]]
* [[Bob Gainey]]
* [[Herb Gardiner]]
* [[Bernard Geoffrion]]
* [[Doug Gilmour]]
* [[George Hainsworth]]
* [[Joe Hall (ice hockey)|Joe Hall]]
* [[Doug Harvey (ice hockey)|Doug Harvey]]
* [[Tom Johnson (ice hockey)|Tom Johnson]]
* [[Aurele Joliat]]
* [[Elmer Lach]]
* [[Guy Lafleur]]
* [[Newsy Lalonde]]
* [[Rod Langway]]
* [[Jacques Laperriere]]
* [[Guy Lapointe]]
* [[Jack Laviolette]]
* [[Jacques Lemaire]]
* [[Frank Mahovlich]]
* [[Joe Malone]]
* [[Sylvio Mantha]]
* [[Dickie Moore (ice hockey)|Dickie Moore]]
* [[Howie Morenz]]
* [[Reg Noble]]
* [[Buddy O'Connor]]
* [[Bert Olmstead]]
* [[Didier Pitre]]
* [[Jacques Plante]]
* [[Ken Reardon]]
* [[Mark Recchi]]
* [[Henri Richard]]
* [[Maurice Richard]]
* [[Larry Robinson]]
* [[Patrick Roy]]
* [[Denis Savard]]
* [[Serge Savard]]
* [[Steve Shutt]]
* [[Babe Siebert]]
* [[Tommy Smith (ice hockey)|Tommy Smith]]
* [[Pierre Turgeon]]
* [[Rogatien Vachon]]
* [[Georges Vezina]]
* [[Shea Weber]]
* [[Gump Worsley]]
* [[Roy Worters]]
}}

'''Builders'''
{{Columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Scotty Bowman]]
* [[Pat Burns]]
* [[Joe Cattarinich]]
* [[Leo Dandurand]]
* [[Tommy Gorman]]
* [[Dick Irvin]]
* [[Hartland Molson]]
* [[William Northey (ice hockey)|William Northey]]
* [[Ambrose O'Brien]]
* [[Sam Pollock]]
* [[Donat Raymond]]
* [[Frank Selke]]
}}

===Team captains===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Jack Laviolette]], 1909–1910, 1911–1912
* [[Newsy Lalonde]], 1910–1911, 1912–1913, 1916–1922
* [[Jimmy Gardner (ice hockey)|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
* [[Babe Siebert|Albert "Babe" Siebert]], 1936–1939
* [[Walter Buswell]], 1939–1940
* [[Toe Blake]], 1940–1948
* [[Bill Durnan]], 1948 <small>(January–April)</small>
* [[Émile Bouchard|Emile Bouchard]], 1948–1956
* [[Maurice Richard]], 1956–1960
* [[Doug Harvey (ice hockey)|Doug Harvey]], 1960–1961
* [[Jean Béliveau|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 <small>(co-captains)</small>
* Guy Carbonneau, 1990–1994
* [[Kirk Muller]], 1994–1995
* [[Mike Keane]], 1995 <small>(April–December)</small>
* [[Pierre Turgeon]], 1995–1996
* [[Vincent Damphousse]], 1996–1999
* [[Saku Koivu]], 1999–2009
* [[Brian Gionta]], 2010–2014
* [[Max Pacioretty]], 2015–2018
* [[Shea Weber]], 2018–2022
* [[Nick Suzuki]], 2022–present
{{div col end}}

===Head coaches===
{{Main|List of Montreal Canadiens head coaches}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Joseph Cattarinich|Joe Cattarinich]] and [[Jack Laviolette]], 1909–1910
* [[Adolphe Lecours]], 1911
* [[Napoléon Dorval|Napoleon Dorval]], 1911–1913
* [[Jimmy Gardner (ice hockey)|Jimmy Gardner]], 1913–1915
* [[Newsy Lalonde]], 1915–1921, 1932–1934
* [[Léo Dandurand|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
* [[Babe Siebert|Albert "Babe" Siebert]], 1939
* [[Alfred Lépine|Alfred "Pit" Lepine]], 1939–1940
* [[Dick Irvin]], 1940–55
* [[Toe Blake|Hector "Toe" Blake]], 1955–1968
* [[Claude Ruel]], 1968–1970, 1979–1981
* [[Al MacNeil]], 1970–1971
* [[Scotty Bowman]], 1971–1979
* [[Bernie Geoffrion]], 1979
* [[Bob Berry (ice hockey)|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 (ice hockey)|Claude Julien]], 2003–2006, 2017–2021
* [[Bob Gainey]], 2006 <small>(January–May)</small>, 2009 <small>(March–June) (interim)</small><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Canadiens fire Carbonneau, Gainey takes over as coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3965471 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171017/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3965471 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=February 16, 2011 |website=[[ESPN]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>
* [[Guy Carbonneau]], 2006–2009
* [[Jacques Martin (ice hockey)|Jacques Martin]], 2009–2011
* [[Randy Cunneyworth]], 2011–2012 <small>(interim)</small>
* [[Dominique Ducharme (ice hockey)|Dominique Ducharme]], 2021–2022
* [[Martin St. Louis]], 2022–present
{{div col end}}

Source: <ref>{{cite web |title=MTL Records - Montréal Canadiens - History |url=https://records.nhl.com/mtl/franchises/montreal-canadiens/history |website=records.nhl.com |access-date=November 22, 2023}}</ref>

===First-round draft picks===
{{See also|List of Montreal Canadiens draft picks}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[1963 NHL amateur draft|1963]]: [[Garry Monahan]] (1st overall)
* [[1964 NHL amateur draft|1964]]: [[Claude Chagnon]] (6th overall)
* [[1965 NHL amateur draft|1965]]: [[Pierre Bouchard]] (5th overall)
* [[1966 NHL amateur draft|1966]]: [[Phil Myre]] (5th overall)
* [[1967 NHL amateur draft|1967]]: [[Elgin McCann]] (8th overall)
* [[1968 NHL amateur draft|1968]]: [[Michel Plasse]] (1st overall), [[Roger Belisle]] (2nd overall), and [[Jim Pritchard]] (3rd overall)
* [[1969 NHL amateur draft|1969]]: [[Réjean Houle|Rejean Houle]] (1st overall), and [[Marc Tardif]] (2nd overall)
* [[1970 NHL amateur draft|1970]]: [[Ray Martynuik]] (5th overall), and [[Chuck Lefley]] (6th overall)
* [[1971 NHL amateur draft|1971]]: [[Guy Lafleur]] (1st overall), [[Chuck Arnason]] (7th overall), and [[Murray Wilson]] (11th overall)
* [[1972 NHL amateur draft|1972]]: [[Steve Shutt]] (4th overall), [[Michel Larocque]] (6th overall), [[Dave Gardner (ice hockey)|Dave Gardner]] (8th overall), and [[John Van Boxmeer]] (14th overall)
* [[1973 NHL amateur draft|1973]]: [[Bob Gainey]] (8th overall)
* [[1974 NHL amateur draft|1974]]: [[Cam Connor]] (5th overall), [[Doug Risebrough]] (7th overall), [[Rick Chartraw]] (10th overall), [[Mario Tremblay]] (12th overall), and [[Gord McTavish]] (15th overall)
* [[1975 NHL amateur draft|1975]]: [[Robin Sadler]] (9th overall), and [[Pierre Mondou]] (15th overall)
* [[1976 NHL amateur draft|1976]]: [[Peter Lee (ice hockey)|Peter Lee]] (12th overall), [[Rod Schutt]] (13th overall), and [[Bruce Baker (ice hockey)|Bruce Baker]] (18th overall)
* [[1977 NHL amateur draft|1977]]: [[Mark Napier (ice hockey)|Mark Napier]] (10th overall), and [[Norm Dupont]] (18th overall)
* [[1978 NHL amateur draft|1978]]: [[Danny Geoffrion]] (8th overall), and [[Dave Hunter]] (17th overall)
* [[1980 NHL entry draft|1980]]: [[Doug Wickenheiser]] (1st overall)
* [[1981 NHL entry draft|1981]]: [[Mark Hunter (ice hockey)|Mark Hunter]] (7th overall), [[Gilbert Delorme]] (18th overall), and [[Jan Ingman]] (19th overall)
* [[1982 NHL entry draft|1982]]: [[Alain Héroux|Alain Heroux]] (19th overall)
* [[1983 NHL entry draft|1983]]: [[Alfie Turcotte]] (17th overall)
* [[1984 NHL entry draft|1984]]: [[Petr Svoboda]] (5th overall), and [[Shayne Corson]] (8th overall)
* [[1985 NHL entry draft|1985]]: [[José Charbonneau|Jose Charbonneau]] (12th overall), and [[Tom Chorske]] (16th overall)
* [[1986 NHL entry draft|1986]]: [[Mark Pederson]] (15th overall)
* [[1987 NHL entry draft|1987]]: [[Andrew Cassels]] (17th overall)
* [[1988 NHL entry draft|1988]]: [[Éric Charron|Eric Charron]] (20th overall)
* [[1989 NHL entry draft|1989]]: [[Lindsay Vallis]] (13th overall)
* [[1990 NHL entry draft|1990]]: [[Turner Stevenson]] (12th overall)
* [[1991 NHL entry draft|1991]]: [[Brent Bilodeau]] (17th overall)
* [[1992 NHL entry draft|1992]]: [[David Wilkie (ice hockey)|David Wilkie]] (20th overall)
* [[1993 NHL entry draft|1993]]: [[Saku Koivu]] (21st overall)
* [[1994 NHL entry draft|1994]]: [[Brad Brown]] (18th overall)
* [[1995 NHL entry draft|1995]]: [[Terry Ryan (ice hockey, born 1977)|Terry Ryan]] (8th overall)
* [[1996 NHL entry draft|1996]]: [[Matt Higgins (ice hockey)|Matt Higgins]] (18th overall)
* [[1997 NHL entry draft|1997]]: [[Jason Ward (ice hockey)|Jason Ward]] (11th overall)
* [[1998 NHL entry draft|1998]]: [[Eric Chouinard]] (16th overall)
* [[2000 NHL entry draft|2000]]: [[Ron Hainsey]] (13th overall), and [[Marcel Hossa]] (16th overall)
* [[2001 NHL entry draft|2001]]: [[Mike Komisarek]] (7th overall), and [[Alexander Perezhogin]] (25th overall)
* [[2002 NHL entry draft|2002]]: [[Chris Higgins (ice hockey)|Chris Higgins]] (14th overall)
* [[2003 NHL entry draft|2003]]: [[Andrei Kostitsyn]] (10th overall)
* [[2004 NHL entry draft|2004]]: [[Kyle Chipchura]] (18th overall)
* [[2005 NHL entry draft|2005]]: [[Carey Price]] (5th overall)
* [[2006 NHL entry draft|2006]]: [[David Fischer (ice hockey)|David Fischer]] (20th overall)
* [[2007 NHL entry draft|2007]]: [[Ryan McDonagh]] (12th overall), and [[Max Pacioretty]] (22nd overall)
* [[2009 NHL entry draft|2009]]: [[Louis Leblanc]] (18th overall)
* [[2010 NHL entry draft|2010]]: [[Jarred Tinordi]] (22nd overall)
* [[2011 NHL entry draft|2011]]: [[Nathan Beaulieu]] (17th overall)
* [[2012 NHL entry draft|2012]]: [[Alex Galchenyuk]] (3rd overall)
* [[2013 NHL entry draft|2013]]: [[Michael McCarron]] (25th overall)
* [[2014 NHL entry draft|2014]]: [[Nikita Scherbak]] (26th overall)
* [[2015 NHL entry draft|2015]]: [[Noah Juulsen]] (26th overall)
* [[2016 NHL entry draft|2016]]: [[Mikhail Sergachev]] (9th overall)
* [[2017 NHL entry draft|2017]]: [[Ryan Poehling]] (25th overall)
* [[2018 NHL entry draft|2018]]: [[Jesperi Kotkaniemi]] (3rd overall)
* [[2019 NHL entry draft|2019]]: [[Cole Caufield]] (15th overall)
* [[2020 NHL entry draft|2020]]: [[Kaiden Guhle]] (16th overall)
* [[2021 NHL entry draft|2021]]: [[Logan Mailloux]] (31st overall)
* [[2022 NHL entry draft|2022]]: [[Juraj Slafkovský|Juraj Slafkovsky]] (1st overall), and [[Filip Mešár|Filip Mesar]] (26th overall)
* [[2023 NHL entry draft|2023]]: [[David Reinbacher]] (5th overall)
* [[2024 NHL entry draft|2024]]: [[Ivan Demidov (ice hockey)|Ivan Demidov]] (5th overall), and [[Michael Hage]] (21st overall)
{{div col end}}

==Franchise individual records==
{{further|List of Montreal Canadiens records}}

===Franchise scoring leaders===
[[File:Maurice Richard 1945.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Maurice Richard|Maurice 'Rocket' Richard]] is the Canadiens' all-time leader in goals. [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy|The trophy]] awarded annually to the NHL's leading goal scorer is named in honour of Richard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashrocketrichard.shtml |title=Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy |publisher=Hockey Hall of Fame |access-date=April 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628064124/http://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashrocketrichard.shtml |archive-date=June 28, 2017}}</ref>|alt=Maurice Richard poses for a photographer while wearing his full Canadiens uniform.]]
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Regular Season – All Skaters – Career for Franchise – Career Points – NHL.com – Stats|url=https://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?reportType=allTime&seasonFrom=19171918&seasonTo=20242025&gameType=2&playerPlayedFor=franchise.1&sort=points,goals,assists&page=0&pageSize=50|publisher=[[National Hockey League]]|access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref> Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.
* {{Color box|#CCFFCC|*|border=darkgray}} – current Canadiens player
'''''Note:''' Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game''
<!--PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE STATISTICS MID-SEASON, AS IT CREATES MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES, AND WIKIPEDIA'S PURPOSE IS NOT TO PROVIDE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE STATISTICS. PLEASE SAVE THE UPDATING OF STATISTICS UNTIL THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON AND/OR PLAYOFFS.-->
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#A6192E 5px solid; border-bottom:#001E62 5px solid;"|Points
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Player || Pos || GP || G || A || Pts || P/G
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Guy Lafleur]] || RW || 961 || 518 || 728 || '''1,246''' || 1.30
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jean Béliveau|Jean Beliveau]] || C || 1,125 || 507 || 712 || '''1,219''' || 1.08
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Henri Richard]] || C || 1,256 || 358 || 688 || '''1,046''' || .83
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Maurice Richard]] || RW || 978 || 544 || 422 || '''966''' || .99
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Larry Robinson]] || D || 1,202 || 197 || 686 || '''883''' || .73
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Yvan Cournoyer]] || RW || 968 || 428 || 435 || '''863''' || .89
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jacques Lemaire]] || C || 853 || 366 || 469 || '''835''' || .98
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Steve Shutt]] || LW || 871 || 408 || 368 || '''776''' || .89
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Bernie Geoffrion]] || RW || 766 || 371 || 388 || '''759''' || .99
|- 
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Saku Koivu]] || C || 792 || 191 || 450 || '''641''' || .81
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#A6192E 5px solid; border-bottom:#001E62 5px solid;"|Goals
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Player || Pos || G
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Maurice Richard]] || RW || 544
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Guy Lafleur]] || RW || 518
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jean Béliveau|Jean Beliveau]] || C || 507
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Yvan Cournoyer]] || RW || 428
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Steve Shutt]] || LW || 408
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Bernie Geoffrion]] || RW || 371
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jacques Lemaire]] || C || 366
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Henri Richard]] || C || 358
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Aurèle Joliat|Aurele Joliat]] || LW || 270
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Mario Tremblay]] || RW || 258
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#A6192E 5px solid; border-bottom:#001E62 5px solid;"|Assists
|-
! style="text-align:left;"|Player || Pos || A
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Guy Lafleur]] || RW || 728
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jean Béliveau|Jean Beliveau]] || C || 712
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Henri Richard]] || C || 688
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Larry Robinson]] || D || 686
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Jacques Lemaire]] || C || 469
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Andrei Markov (ice hockey)|Andrei Markov]] || D || 453
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Saku Koivu]] || C || 450
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Yvan Cournoyer]] || RW || 435
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Maurice Richard]] || RW || 422
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[Elmer Lach]] || C || 408
|}
{{col-end}}

===Records – skaters===
'''Career'''
{{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]]
* Most Stanley Cups: 11*, Henri Richard
{{col div end}}

'''Season'''
{{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 Näslund|Mats Naslund]] (1982–83); [[Kjell Dahlin]] (1985–86)
* Most goals in a season, defenceman: 28, [[Guy Lapointe]] (1974–75)
{{col div end}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Indicates a league record.

Sources: <ref>{{cite web |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/records/regular_skaters |publisher=Montreal Canadiens |title=Season records – Individual records – Skaters {{!}} Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens |access-date=December 12, 2008 |archive-date=September 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922044450/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/records/regular_skaters}}</ref><ref name="NHL-StanleyCup-skater">{{cite web
| url = https://records.nhl.com/records/playoff-skater-records/stanley-cups/skater-most-stanley-cups-won-career
| title = Playoff Skater Records: Most Stanley Cups Won, Career
| year = 2025
| publisher = National Hockey League
| access-date = November 4, 2025
}}</ref>

===Records – goaltenders===
'''Career'''
{{div col}}
* Most games played: 712, [[Carey Price]]
* Most seasons: 16, [[Georges Vézina|Georges Vezina]]
* Most shutouts: 75, [[George Hainsworth]]
* Most wins: 361, Carey Price
* Most Stanley Cups: 6*, [[Ken Dryden]], [[Charlie Hodge (ice hockey)|Charlie Hodge]], [[Jacques Plante]]
{{col div end}}

'''Season'''
{{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)
{{col div end}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Indicates a league record.

Sources: <ref>{{cite web |url=http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/records/regular_goalies |publisher=Montreal Canadiens |title=Season records – Individual records – goaltenders {{!}} Historical Website of the Montreal Canadiens |access-date=December 12, 2008 |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413233523/http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/records/regular_goalies}}</ref><ref name="NHL-StanleyCup-Goalie">{{cite web
| url = https://records.nhl.com/records/scf-goaltender-records/stanley-cups/scf-goalie-most-stanley-cups-won-career
| title = Stanley Cup Final Goaltender Records: Most Stanley Cups Won, Career
| year = 2025
| publisher = National Hockey League
| access-date = November 4, 2025}}
</ref><ref name="Canadiens-Goalie-career-games">{{cite web
| url = https://records.nhl.com/mtl/records/goaltender-records/seasons-and-games/most-games-played-career
| title = Montréal Canadiens Goaltender Records: Most Games Played, Career
| year = 2025
| publisher = National Hockey League
| access-date = November 6, 2025}}
</ref><ref name="Canadiens-Goalie-career-wins">{{cite web
| url = https://records.nhl.com/mtl/records/goaltender-records/wins/most-wins-career
| title = Montréal Canadiens Goaltender Records: Most Wins, Career
| year = 2025
| publisher = National Hockey League
| access-date = November 6, 2025}}
</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bell Sports Complex]]
* [[List of Montreal Canadiens award winners]]
* [[List of Montreal Canadiens players]]
* [[List of Montreal Canadiens goaltenders]]
* [[List of Montreal Canadiens general managers]]
* [[List of Montreal Canadiens presidents]]
* [[Montreal Junior Canadiens]]

==Notes==
{{notefoot}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Honoured Members: Hockey Hall of Fame |year=2003 |isbn=1-55168-239-7 |author=Hockey Hall of Fame |publisher=Fenn Publishing |location=Bolton, Ontario}}
* {{Cite book |first=D'Arcy |last=Jenish |year=2008 |title=The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory |url=http://darcyjenish.com/works/the-montreal-canadians/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513150705/http://darcyjenish.com/works/the-montreal-canadians/ |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |publisher=Anchor Canada |isbn=978-0-385-66325-0 |access-date=May 13, 2020}}
* {{cite journal |editor-last=Kay |editor-first=Jason |year=2009 |title=A Century of Montreal Canadiens |periodical=The Hockey News |issn=0018-3016}}
* {{Cite book |last = Leonetti|first = Mike|year =2003 |title = Canadiens legends: Montreal's hockey heroes |url =https://books.google.com/books?id=y1hfngEACAAJ |publisher=Raincoast Books |isbn= 1-55192-731-4}}
* {{Cite book |title=The Montreal Canadiens |last=Mouton |first=Claude |year=1987 |publisher=Key Porter Books |location=Toronto, ON |isbn=1-55013-051-X}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/sports/hockey/montreal-canadiens-at-100/first-hockey-team-on-tv.html CBC Digital Archives: Montreal Canadiens at 100]
<!-- READ [[WP:EL]] before adding any links -->

{{Montreal Canadiens}}
{{Navboxes|titlestyle=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#A6192E 5px solid; border-bottom:#001E62 5px solid;|list1=
<!--need for tech reasons-->
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Vancouver Millionaires]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1916 Stanley Cup Final|1915–16]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Seattle Metropolitans]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1924 Stanley Cup playoffs|1923–24]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Victoria Cougars]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Boston Bruins]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1929–30 NHL season|1929–30]], [[1930–31 NHL season|1930–31]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1943–44 NHL season|1943–44]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1945–46 NHL season|1945–46]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1952–53 NHL season|1952–53]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Detroit Red Wings]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1955–56 NHL season|1955–56]], [[1956–57 NHL season|1956–57]], [[1957–58 NHL season|1957–58]], [[1958–59 NHL season|1958–59]], [[1959–60 NHL season|1959–60]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1964–65 NHL season|1964–65]], [[1965–66 NHL season|1965–66]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1967–68 NHL season|1967–68]], [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Boston Bruins]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Boston Bruins]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Boston Bruins]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Boston Bruins]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Philadelphia Flyers]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Philadelphia Flyers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1975–76 NHL season|1975–76]], [[1976–77 NHL season|1976–77]], [[1977–78 NHL season|1977–78]], [[1978–79 NHL season|1978–79]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[New York Islanders]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Edmonton Oilers]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[Edmonton Oilers]]}}
{{s-bef|before = [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]}}
{{s-ttl|title = [[Stanley Cup]] champions|years = [[1992–93 NHL season|1992–93]]}}
{{s-aft|after = [[New York Rangers]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Montreal Canadiens seasons}}
{{NHL}}
{{Bell Canada}}
{{Quebec Sports}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Ice hockey|Canada}}
{{Authority control}}
<!-- en-CA -->

[[Category:Montreal Canadiens| ]]
[[Category:National Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Quebec]]
[[Category:Atlantic Division (NHL)]]
[[Category:Events of National Historic Significance (Canada)]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1909]]
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Montreal|Can]]
[[Category:National Hockey Association teams]]
[[Category:National Hockey League in Quebec]]
[[Category:National Hockey League teams based in Canada]]