Montreal Canadiens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montreal CanadiensCanadiens de Montréal |
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| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Atlantic |
| Founded | 1909 |
| History | Montreal Canadiens 1910–1917 (NHA) 1917–present (NHL) |
| Home arena | Bell Centre |
| City | Montreal, Quebec |
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| Colours | Red, white, blue |
| Media | English
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| Owner(s) | Molson family (majority owner) (Geoff Molson, chairman) |
| General manager | Kent Hughes |
| Head coach | Martin St. Louis |
| Captain | Nick Suzuki |
| Minor league affiliates | Laval Rocket (AHL) Trois-Rivières Lions (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 24 (1915–16, 1923–24, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1985–86, 1992–93) |
| Conference championships | 8 (1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1992–93) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 24 (1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1936–37, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2007–08, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2016–17) |
The Montreal Canadiens (officially Club de hockey Canadien, also known as the Habs) are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens play in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. Since 1996, their home games have been at the Bell Centre. Before that, they played at the Montreal Forum for 70 years.
The Canadiens were founded in 1909. They are the oldest continuously operating professional ice hockey team in the world. They are also the only NHL team that existed before the league was even formed. The team is one of the "Original Six" teams, which were the only teams in the NHL from 1942 until 1967. The Canadiens' championship win in 1993 was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup.
The Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup 24 times. This is more than any other team in NHL history. They won 23 of these cups after the NHL was founded. They also held the record for most championships in any major North American sports league until the New York Yankees won their 25th World Series in 1999.
Contents
Team History
The Canadiens team was started by J. Ambrose O'Brien on December 4, 1909. They were one of the first teams in the National Hockey Association (NHA), which was the league before the NHL. The team was meant for the francophone community in Montreal. It was planned to have French-speaking players and owners. The team was named "Les Canadiens," a term used for French speakers at the time.
Their first season in 1909–10 was not very good, as they finished last. After that first year, George Kennedy took over the team. The team improved and won their first Stanley Cup in the 1915–16 season. In 1917, the Canadiens and four other NHA teams formed the NHL. They won their first NHL Stanley Cup in the 1923–24 season, led by Howie Morenz. The team moved from the Mount Royal Arena to the Montreal Forum for the 1926–27 season.
Winning the Stanley Cup
The team started the 1930s with two Stanley Cup wins in a row, in 1930 and 1931. However, during the Great Depression, the Canadiens faced tough times. They lost money and almost moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Luckily, local investors helped keep the team in Montreal. After their rivals, the Montreal Maroons, stopped playing in 1938, some of their players joined the Canadiens.
In the 1940s, the Canadiens became successful again. They were led by the "Punch Line" of Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Toe Blake, and Elmer Lach. From 1953 to 1960, the team won six Stanley Cups. This included a record five wins in a row from 1956 to 1960. New stars like Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Doug Harvey, Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion, Jacques Plante, and Henri (Maurice's younger brother) emerged.
The Canadiens won ten more championships between 1965 and 1979. This included another amazing run of four straight Cups from 1976 to 1979. In the 1976–77 season, they set team records for fewest losses (8) and longest home unbeaten streak (34). They also had the most points (132) in an 80-game season, a record that stood until 2023. In the 1977–78 season, they had a 28-game unbeaten streak, which is the second-longest in NHL history. New 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 became a record-setting coach, led the team to their last five Stanley Cups in the 1970s.
The Canadiens won Stanley Cups in 1986, led by rookie goalie Patrick Roy, and in 1993. This meant they had won at least one championship in every decade from the 1910s to the 1990s. This streak ended in the 2000s. In 1996, the team moved from the Montreal Forum to the Molson Centre, now called the Bell Centre.
Recent Years
After Patrick Roy left in 1995, the Canadiens struggled for a while. They missed the playoffs often and didn't get past the second round until 2010. In the late 1990s, fans worried the team might move to the United States. In 2001, the team was sold to American businessman George N. Gillett Jr.. He agreed that the team could not move to a new city without everyone's approval. The team became profitable again. In 2009, Gillett sold the team to the Molson family and other investors for $575 million.
During the 2008–09 season, the Canadiens celebrated their 100th anniversary. They hosted the 2009 NHL All-Star Game and the 2009 NHL entry draft. On December 29, 2008, the Canadiens became the first team in NHL history to reach 3,000 victories.
For the 2020–21 season, the NHL moved the Canadiens and other Canadian teams to the North Division. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel rules. The Canadiens only played against teams in their division. They played without fans at the start of the season. The Canadiens made it far in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. They beat the Toronto Maple Leafs after being down 3–1 in the series. Then they swept the Winnipeg Jets to reach the semifinals. After beating the Vegas Golden Knights, they reached their first Stanley Cup Final in 28 years. They were also the first Canadian team to do so since 2011. Montreal lost the Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4–1.
In the 2021–22 season, the Canadiens did not do as well. They finished last in the league for the first time since 1940. This was one of the worst seasons in the team's history. They set team records for most losses (49) and most goals against (319). They also had the fewest wins (22) and points (55). Because of this, the team owner, Geoff Molson, decided to "rebuild" the team. The Canadiens finished near the bottom of the league in the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons.
Team Identity
The Canadiens team uses both English and French languages. Announcements and press releases are in both languages. Their website and social media are also bilingual. At home games, the first part of "O Canada" is sung in French, and the rest is in English.
Team Logo and Jersey Design
The Canadiens' classic 'C' and 'H' logo is one of the oldest and most famous in sports. It was first used in the 1917–18 season. The "H" stands for "hockey," not "Habitants," which is a common misunderstanding. The nickname "the Habs" was first used by Tex Rickard, owner of Madison Square Garden, in 1924. He thought the "H" meant "Habitants."
Since 1911, the team's main colors have been blue, white, and red. The home jersey is mostly red with blue and white stripes on the arms, chest, and waist. The away jersey is white with red and blue stripes. This basic design has been used since 1914 and got its current look in 1925. Because of the team's long history, the jersey is sometimes called 'La Sainte-Flanelle' (the holy flannel sweater).
Since 2015, the Canadiens' home red jersey is the only one in the league with the French version of the NHL logo (LNH) on the collar. This shows respect for Montreal's French Canadian heritage. The white away jersey still has the English NHL logo.
The Canadiens wore different designs before 1914. The first jersey in 1909–10 was blue with a white 'C'. The next season had a red shirt with a green maple leaf and a 'C' logo. The season before the current look, they wore a "barber pole" jersey with red, white, and blue stripes. The logo was a white maple leaf with "CAC" on it. All three of these old designs were worn during the 2009–10 season for the team's 100th anniversary.
In the 2020–21 season, the Canadiens introduced a "Reverse Retro" alternate uniform. It was like their red uniform but with blue as the main color. A second version came out in the 2022–23 season. It had a light blue base with white and dark blue stripes.
Recently, the NHL started allowing ads on jerseys. The Canadiens' away jerseys have the Air Canada logo. Their home jerseys have the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) logo.
The Canadiens' colors are a big part of French Canadian culture. In the story "The Hockey Sweater" by Roch Carrier, he described how important the Canadiens and their jersey were in rural Quebec in the 1940s. A part of this story is even on the Canadian five-dollar bill.
Team Motto
The Canadiens' motto is:
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.
This motto comes from the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae. He wrote it in 1915, the year before the Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup. The motto is on the wall of the Canadiens' dressing room. It is also on the inside collar of their new jerseys.
Team Mascot
Since the 2004–05 season, the Canadiens have had an official mascot named Youppi!. He was the first costumed mascot in the team's long history. Youppi! used to be the mascot for the Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Montreal Expos. When the Expos moved to Washington, D.C., Youppi! joined the Canadiens. He was the first mascot in professional sports to switch leagues. Youppi! was also the first mascot in professional sports to be kicked out of a game, which happened when he was with the Expos. In June 2020, Youppi! became the first mascot from a Canadian team to be put into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
In November 2022, the Canadiens also introduced METAL! as an "unofficial official mascot" for their special Reverse Retro games. METAL! was retired before the 2024–25 season.
Team Rivalries
The Canadiens have strong rivalries with two other "Original Six" teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The oldest rivalry is with the Toronto Maple Leafs. They first played against the Canadiens in 1917. The teams have met 16 times in the playoffs, including five Stanley Cup Finals. This rivalry is often seen as a symbol of the English and French language differences in Canada. From 1938 to 1970, they were the only two Canadian teams in the league.
Boston Bruins
The other "Original Six" rival is the Boston Bruins. Since they joined the NHL in 1924, the Bruins have played the Canadiens more than any other team. They have played 34 playoff series, with seven of those being in the finals.
Quebec Nordiques (1979–1995)
The Canadiens also had a rivalry with the Quebec Nordiques when they existed from 1979 to 1995. This was called the "Battle of Quebec".
Broadcasting Games
Montreal Canadiens games are broadcast in both French and English. CHMP 98.5 is the main French radio station for the Canadiens. CKGM, TSN Radio 690, is the main English radio station.
Regional TV rights in French are held by Réseau des sports (RDS). Regional TV rights in English are held by TSN2. Some games, including all playoff games, are also shown nationally by TVA Sports (French) and Sportsnet or CBC (English).
Recent Season Records
Here are the results for the last five seasons of the Canadiens. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 24 | 21 | 11 | 59 | 159 | 168 | 4th, North | Lost in Stanley Cup Final, 1–4 (Lightning) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 22 | 49 | 11 | 55 | 221 | 319 | 8th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 31 | 45 | 6 | 68 | 232 | 307 | 8th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 30 | 36 | 16 | 76 | 236 | 289 | 8th, Atlantic | Did not qualify |
| 2024–25 | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 91 | 245 | 265 | 5th, Atlantic | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Capitals) |
Players and Team Staff
Current Roster
Updated September 23, 2026
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |  |
Josh Anderson (A) | RW | R | 32 | 2020 | Burlington, Ontario |
| 62 | |
Owen Beck | C | R | 22 | 2022 | Port Hope, Ontario |
| 76 | |
Zachary Bolduc | LW | L | 23 | 2025 | Trois-Rivières, Quebec |
| 45 | |
Alexandre Carrier | D | R | 30 | 2024 | Quebec City, Quebec |
| 13 |  |
Cole Caufield | RW | R | 25 | 2019 | Mosinee, Wisconsin |
| 77 | |
Kirby Dach | C | R | 25 | 2022 | Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta |
| 24 | |
Phillip Danault | C | L | 33 | 2025 | Victoriaville, Quebec |
| 93 |  |
Ivan Demidov | RW | L | 20 | 2024 | Sergiyev Posad, Russia |
| 75 |  |
Jakub Dobeš | G | L | 25 | 2020 | Ostrava, Czech Republic |
| 53 | |
Noah Dobson | D | R | 26 | 2025 | Summerside, Prince Edward Island |
| 42 |  |
Adam Engström | D | L | 22 | 2022 | Jarna, Sweden |
| 71 | |
Jake Evans | C | R | 30 | 2014 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 32 | |
Jacob Fowler | G | L | 22 | 2023 | Melbourne, Florida |
| 21 | |
Kaiden Guhle  |
D | L | 24 | 2020 | Sherwood Park, Alberta |
| 48 | |
Lane Hutson | D | L | 22 | 2022 | Holland, Michigan |
| 91 |  |
Oliver Kapanen | C | R | 23 | 2021 | Timrå, Sweden |
| 22 | |
Chris Kreider | LW | L | 35 | 2026 | Boxford, Massachusetts |
| 8 | |
Mike Matheson (A) | D | L | 32 | 2022 | Pointe-Claire, Quebec |
| 35 | |
Sam Montembeault | G | L | 29 | 2021 | Bécancour, Quebec |
| 15 | |
Alex Newhook | C | L | 25 | 2023 | St. John's, Newfoundland |
| 64 |  |
David Reinbacher | D | R | 21 | 2023 | Hohenems, Austria |
| 20 |  |
Juraj Slafkovský | LW | L | 22 | 2022 | Košice, Slovakia |
| 47 | |
Jayden Struble | D | L | 25 | 2019 | Cumberland, Rhode Island |
| 14 | |
Nick Suzuki (C) | C | R | 27 | 2018 | London, Ontario |
| 85 |  |
Alexandre Texier | LW | L | 27 | 2025 | Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France |
| 72 | |
Arber Xhekaj | D | L | 25 | 2021 | Hamilton, Ontario |
| 63 | |
Florian Xhekaj | LW | L | 22 | 2023 | Hamilton, Ontario |
Honored Players
Retired Numbers
The Canadiens have retired 15 numbers for 18 players. This is the most of any team in the NHL. All these players were born in Canada and won at least two Stanley Cups with the Canadiens. Howie Morenz was the first player to have his number retired, on November 2, 1937. The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all its teams in 2000.
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | Date of honour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacques Plante | G | 1952–1963 | October 7, 1995 |
| 2 | Doug Harvey | D | 1947–1961 | October 26, 1985 |
| 3 | Emile Bouchard | D | 1941–1956 | December 4, 2009 |
| 4 | Jean Beliveau | C | 1950–1971 | October 9, 1971 |
| 5 | Bernie Geoffrion | RW | 1950–1964 | March 11, 2006 |
| Guy Lapointe | D | 1968–1982 | November 8, 2014 | |
| 7 | Howie Morenz | C | 1923–1937 | November 2, 1937 |
| 9 | Maurice Richard | RW | 1942–1960 | October 6, 1960 |
| 10 | Guy Lafleur | RW | 1971–1985 | February 16, 1985 |
| 12 | Dickie Moore | LW | 1951–1963 | November 12, 2005 |
| Yvan Cournoyer | RW | 1963–1979 | November 12, 2005 | |
| 16 | Henri Richard | C | 1955–1975 | December 10, 1975 |
| Elmer Lach | C | 1940–1954 | December 4, 2009 | |
| 18 | Serge Savard | D | 1966–1981 | November 18, 2006 |
| 19 | Larry Robinson | D | 1972–1989 | November 19, 2007 |
| 23 | Bob Gainey | LW | 1973–1989 | February 23, 2008 |
| 29 | Ken Dryden | G | 1970–1979 | January 29, 2007 |
| 33 | Patrick Roy | G | 1984–1995 | November 22, 2008 |
Hall of Fame Members
Many Montreal Canadiens players and staff are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Thirty-seven players are from three famous winning periods: 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 inducted in 1945. Shea Weber was the most recent, in 2024.
Several non-players (called "builders") connected to the club are also in the Hall of Fame. The first was vice president William Northey in 1945. The most recent was Pat Burns in 2014.
Seven Canadiens broadcasters have also won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Team Captains
- 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
- 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
- Guy Carbonneau, 1990–1994
- Kirk Muller, 1994–1995
- Mike Keane, 1995
- 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
Head Coaches
- 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, 2009
- Guy Carbonneau, 2006–2009
- Jacques Martin, 2009–2011
- Randy Cunneyworth, 2011–2012
- Dominique Ducharme, 2021–2022
- Martin St. Louis, 2022–present
First-Round Draft Picks
The Canadiens have picked many talented players in the first round of the NHL draft. Here are some of their top picks:
- 1963: Garry Monahan (1st overall)
- 1968: Michel Plasse (1st overall)
- 1969: Rejean Houle (1st overall)
- 1971: Guy Lafleur (1st overall)
- 1973: Bob Gainey (8th overall)
- 1980: Doug Wickenheiser (1st overall)
- 1984: Petr Svoboda (5th overall)
- 1993: Saku Koivu (21st overall)
- 1995: Terry Ryan (8th overall)
- 2001: Mike Komisarek (7th overall)
- 2005: Carey Price (5th overall)
- 2007: Ryan McDonagh (12th overall)
- 2012: Alex Galchenyuk (3rd overall)
- 2016: Mikhail Sergachev (9th overall)
- 2018: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (3rd overall)
- 2019: Cole Caufield (15th overall)
- 2022: Juraj Slafkovsky (1st overall)
- 2023: David Reinbacher (5th overall)
- 2024: Ivan Demidov (5th overall)
Team Records
Top Scorers in Team History
These are the top ten players with the most points in the Canadiens' history.
- * – current Canadiens player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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Player Records
- Career Records
- Most seasons played: 20, Henri Richard
- Most games played: 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
- Season Records
- 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 by a 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 by a defenceman: 85, Larry Robinson (1976–77)
- Most points in a season by a rookie: 71, Mats Naslund (1982–83); Kjell Dahlin (1985–86)
- Most goals in a season by a defenceman: 28, Guy Lapointe (1974–75)
* Indicates a league record.
Goaltender Records
- Career Records
- Most games played: 707, Carey Price
- Most seasons played: 16, Georges Vezina
- Most shutouts: 75, George Hainsworth
- Most wins: 360, Carey Price
- Season Records
- 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)*
* Indicates a league record.
More About the Canadiens
- 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
See also
In Spanish: Montreal Canadiens para niños
