Montreal Canadiens#Team captains

{{Main|History of the Montreal Canadiens}}

The Canadiens were founded by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909, as a charter member of the National Hockey Association (NHA),{{Harvnb|Jenish|2008|pp=9–13}}{{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}} 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.{{harvnb|Jenish|2008|pages=10–11}} The founders named the team "Les Canadiens," a term identified at the time with French speakers.{{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}} The team's first season was not a success, as they placed last in the league. After the first year, ownership was transferred to George Kennedy of Montreal and the team's record improved over the next seasons.{{cite web |url=http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio.php?id_nbr=7823 |title=Canadian Dictionary of Biography online |publisher=Government of Canada Library and Archives |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}} The team won its first Stanley Cup championship in the 1915–16 season.{{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}} In 1917, with four other NHA teams, the Canadiens formed the NHL,{{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}} and they won their first NHL Stanley Cup during the 1923–24 season, led by Howie Morenz.{{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}} The team moved from the Mount Royal Arena to the Montreal Forum for the 1926–27 season.{{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}}

The club began the 1930s decade successfully, with back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 1930 and 1931. However, the Canadiens, along with cross-town rivals the Montreal Maroons, declined both on the ice and economically during the 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.{{Harvnb|Jenish|2008|pp=80–85}} After the Maroons suspended operations following the 1937–38 season, several of their players joined the Canadiens.{{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}}

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

File:There's no action like hockey action by Louis Jaques.jpg in 1962. |alt=Five men playing hockey in a crowded arena.]]

The Canadiens added ten more championships in 15 seasons from 1965 to 1979, with another dynastic run of four-straight Cups from 1976 to 1979.{{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}} In the 1976–77 season, the Canadiens set three still-standing team records – fewest losses (8) in an 80-game season,{{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}} the longest home unbeaten streak (34),{{Cite news |last=Fachet |first=Robert |date=April 4, 1977 |title=Canadiens Bang Upon Capitals, 11-0 |work=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}} and best goal differential (+216){{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}} – and one record that lasted until the 2022–23 Boston Bruins beat it, for the most points (132) in an 80-game season.{{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}}{{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}} The next season, 1977–78, the team had a 28-game unbeaten streak, the second-longest in NHL history.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

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

Following Roy's departure in 1995, the Canadiens fell into an extended stretch of mediocrity,{{Harvnb|Kay|2009|p=126}} missing the playoffs in four of their next ten seasons and failing to advance past the second round of the playoffs until 2010.{{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}} 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.{{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}} Led by club president Pierre Boivin, the Canadiens returned to being a lucrative enterprise, earning additional revenues from broadcasting and arena events. In 2009, Gillett sold the franchise to a consortium led by the Molson family which included The Woodbridge Company, BCE/Bell, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Michael Andlauer, Luc Bertrand and the National Bank Financial Group for $575 million, more than double the $275 million he spent on the purchase eight years prior.{{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}}{{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}}

During the 2008–09 season, the Canadiens celebrated their 100th anniversary with various events,{{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}}

including hosting both the 2009 NHL All-Star Game,{{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}} and the 2009 NHL entry draft.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

File:Façade Centre Bell Center Front.JPG 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 season, the league moved the Canadiens along with the other six teams from Canada to the North Division. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadiens only played against teams in the division in the regular season to avoid travel restrictions between the United States and Canada. All teams in the division played without fans to begin the season.{{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}} The Canadiens advanced through the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs 4–3, overcoming a 3–1 Maple Leafs lead in the series. The Canadiens then swept the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, advancing to the Stanley Cup semifinals.{{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}} After defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in the penultimate round, clinching an overtime victory in game 6 of the series, they reached their first Stanley Cup Finals in 28 years, whilst also being the first Canadian team to do so since the Vancouver Canucks in 2011.{{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}} Montreal eventually lost the Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–1.{{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}}

In 2021–22, the Canadiens were unable to replicate their success from the prior season, ultimately finishing last in the league for the first time since the 1939–40 season and the first time in the NHL's expansion era, in what was one of the worst seasons in the team's history.{{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}}{{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://theathletic.com/3283729/2022/04/30/one-of-the-worst-canadiens-seasons-in-franchise-history-ended-with-a-standing-ovation-and-they-should-learn-from-it/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=April 30, 2022 |date=April 30, 2022}}{{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}} 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 (.319) and 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.{{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}} The Canadiens finished fifth-last in the subsequent 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.{{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}}{{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}}

{{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.

{{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",{{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}} before evolving to its current form in 1952–53. The "H" stands for "hockey", not "Habitants," a popular misconception.{{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}} 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, in 1924. Rickard apparently told a reporter that the "H" on the Canadiens' sweaters was for "Habitants".{{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}} In French, the "Habitants" nickname dates back to at least 1914, when it was printed in Le Devoir to report a 9–3 win over Toronto on the ninth of February.{{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}}{{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}}

Since 1911, the team's primary colours are blue, white and red. The home 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. 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.{{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}}

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".{{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}} All three designs were worn during the 2009–10 season as part of the Canadiens' centenary.{{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}}

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

This period also saw the introduction of 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{{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}} in the upper right chest area whereas the name and shield for the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is stitched onto its home counterpart.{{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}}

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.{{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}} The story was later made into an animated short, The Sweater, narrated by Carrier.{{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}} A passage from the short story appears on the 2002 issuance of the Canadian five-dollar bill.{{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}}{{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}}

{{lang|fr|Nos bras meurtris vous tendent le flambeau, à vous toujours de le porter bien haut.}}

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

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

File:Youppi! - 02.jpg

Beginning in the 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 MLB season and became the Washington Nationals.{{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}} 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.{{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}} In June 2020, Youppi! became the first mascot from a Canadian-based club to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.{{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}}

In November 2022, the Canadiens introduced METAL!, an "unofficial official mascot", for the team's Reverse Retro series of games that season.{{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}} METAL! was retired ahead of the 2024–25 season.{{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}}

{{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 Finals. Featuring the two largest cities in Canada and one of the two of the largest fanbases in the league, the rivalry is sometimes dramatized as being emblematic of Canada's English and French linguistic divide.{{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}}{{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}} From 1938 to 1970, they were the only two Canadian teams in the league.

{{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 the playoffs combined. The teams have played 34 playoff series, seven of which were in the finals.{{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}}{{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}}

{{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".{{Cite web |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 |work=Sports Illustrated}}

{{Main|List of Montreal Canadiens broadcasters}}

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

Regional television rights in French are held by Réseau des sports (RDS) under a 12-year deal that began in the 2014–15 season.{{cite web|title=RDS, Canadiens announce 12-year regional rights deal |url=http://www.rds.ca/1.819879 |date=December 20, 2013 |work=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}} A sister to the English-language network TSN, RDS was the only French-language sports channel in Canada until the 2011 launch of TVA Sports,{{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}} 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.

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

TSN2 assumed the English-language regional television rights in the 2017–18 season, with John Bartlett on play-by-play, and Dave Poulin, Mike Johnson and Craig Button on colour commentary.{{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=TSN|access-date=September 15, 2017}}{{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=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}} All other games, including all playoff games, are televised nationally by Sportsnet or CBC.{{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}} Bartlett returned to Sportsnet over the 2018 off-season, and was succeeded by Bryan Mudryk.{{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}}{{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}}

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

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

{{Montreal Canadiens roster}}

{{further|List of Montreal Canadiens award winners}}

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

Collectively, the Canadiens have retired 15 numbers in honour of 18 players,{{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}}

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.{{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}} The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its member teams at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game.{{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}}

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 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 in 1945. The most recent inductee was Pat Burns in 2014.{{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}}

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 (1985), Dick Irvin Jr. (1988), Richard Garneau (1999), Gilles Tremblay (2002), and Pierre Houde (2024).{{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}}

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
• Doug Harvey
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Ambrose O'Brien
• Sam Pollock
• Donat Raymond
• Frank Selke

}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

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

{{div col end}}

{{Main|List of Montreal Canadiens head coaches}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Joe Cattarinich and Jack Laviolette, 1909–1910
• Adolphe Lecours, 1911
• Napoleon Dorval, 1911–1913
• Jimmy Gardner, 1913–1915
• Newsy Lalonde, 1915–1921, 1932–1934
• Leo Dandurand, 1921–1926
• Cecil Hart, 1926–1932, 1936–1938
• Newsy Lalonde and Leo Dandurand, 1934–1935
• Sylvio Mantha, 1935–1936
• Cecil Hart and Jules Dugal, 1938–1939
• Albert "Babe" Siebert, 1939
• Alfred "Pit" Lepine, 1939–1940
• Dick Irvin, 1940–55
• Hector "Toe" Blake, 1955–1968
• Claude Ruel, 1968–1970, 1979–1981
• Al MacNeil, 1970–1971
• Scotty Bowman, 1971–1979
• Bernie Geoffrion, 1979
• Bob Berry, 1981–1984
• Jacques Lemaire, 1984–1985
• Jean Perron, 1985–1988
• Pat Burns, 1988–1992
• Jacques Demers, 1992–1995
• Mario Tremblay, 1995–1997
• Alain Vigneault, 1997–2000
• Michel Therrien, 2000–2003, 2012–2017
• Claude Julien, 2003–2006, 2017–2021
• Bob Gainey, 2006 (January–May), 2009 (March–June) (interim){{cite web |title=Canadiens fire Carbonneau, Gainey takes over as coach |work=ESPN |date=March 9, 2009 |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=3965471 |access-date=February 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171017/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3965471 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |url-status=live}}
• Guy Carbonneau, 2006–2009
• Jacques Martin, 2009–2011
• Randy Cunneyworth, 2011–2012 (interim)
• Dominique Ducharme, 2021–2022
• Martin St. Louis, 2022–present

{{div col end}}

Source: {{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}}

{{See also|List of Montreal Canadiens draft picks}}

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

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{{further|List of Montreal Canadiens records}}

File:Maurice Richard 1945.jpg is the Canadiens' all-time leader in goals. The trophy awarded annually to the NHL's leading goal scorer is named in honour of Richard.{{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}}|alt=Maurice Richard poses for a photographer while wearing his full Canadiens uniform.]]

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history.{{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}} 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

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;Career

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• 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

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;Season

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

{{col div end}}

* Indicates a league record.

Source: {{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}}

;Career

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

{{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}}

* Indicates a league record.

Source: {{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}}

• 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

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{{reflist}}

• {{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}}

{{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]

{{Montreal Canadiens}}

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