Montreal Canadiens

An NHL franchise, winners of 24 Stanley Cups. The Canadiens predate the NHL, having been founded in 1909 to join the National Hockey Association. They won their first Stanley Cup in 1916 behind goaltender Georges Vezina.

The Habs were one of four teams that founded the National Hockey League in 1917, as well as one of the Original Six that made up the league for many years. They are arch rivals of both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins.

As a Canadian team "Les Habs" suffer in the era of high salaries. Nonetheless, they win at least once every decade¹. Stars have included Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy. Famous incidents include the Rocket Richard Riots.

They won the Stanley Cup in 1916, 1924, 1930, 1931, 1944, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1986 and 1993.

Team colours: Red, white and blue.

Retired Numbers:

• #1 Jacques Plante (7 Oct. 1995)
• #2 Doug Harvey (26 Oct. 1986)
• #4 Jean Beliveau (9 Oct. 1971)
• #5 Bernard (Boom Boom) Geoffrion (11 March 2006)
• #7 Howie Morenz (2 Nov. 1937)
• #9 Maurice 'Rocket' Richard (Oct. 6, 1960)
• #10 Guy Lafleur (16 Feb. 1985)
• #12 Dickie Moore / Yvan Cournoyer (12 Nov. 2005)
• #16 Henri Richard (10 Dec. 1975)
• #18 Serge Savard (Nov. 18/2006)

  ---

• #99 Wayne Gretzky (league-wide retirement)

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

^{1. Like in 1993: the Pittsburgh Penguins should have won but the Pens lost to the New York Islanders in the 1st round of the playoffs and the Habs won the cup.}

Actually, the Montreal Canadiens championship streak was to go no longer than 6 years without a Stanley Cup. Somehow, someway, they always won a cup within 7 years of the last one. This amazing streak had been in effect since the 1943-44 season. However, that streak is now dead. The 1999-2000 season was 7 years after the last Stanley Cup win (as mentioned above, 1992-93 season) and the Canadiens failed to win the championship that year.

In fact, by failing to even make the playoffs that year, it meant that the Canadiens missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Amazingly, the last time the Montreal Canadiens failed to make the playoffs in consecutive season was the 1920-21 season and the 1921-22 season (back when there were only 4 teams (Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators(the original incarnation), Toronto St. Pats (became the Maple Leafs), and Hamilton Tigers (defunct))).

Saku Koivu                      1999 - Present
Vincent Damphousse              1996-1999
Pierre Turgeon                  1995-Oct.1996
Mike Keane                      1995 (Apr.-Dec.)
Kirk Muller                     1994-1995
Guy Carbonneau                  1990-1994
Guy Carbonneau                  1989-1990 (Co-Cap.)
Chris Chelios                   1989-1990 (Co-Cap.)
Bob Gainey                      1981-1989
Serge Savard                    1979-1981
Yvan Cournoyer                  1975-1979
Henri Richard                   1971-1975
Jean Béliveau                   1961-1971
Doug Harvey                     1960-1961
Maurice "Rocket" Richard        1956-1960
Émile "Butch" Bouchard          1948-1956
Bill Durnan                     1948 (Jan.-Apr.)
Hector "Toe" Blake              1940-1948
Walter Buswell                  1939-1940
Albert Siebert                  1936-1939
Sylvio Mantha                   1933-1936
George Hainsworth               1932-1933
Sylvio Mantha                   1926-1932
Bill Coutu                      1925-1926
Sprague Cleghorn                1922-1925
Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde*        1916-1922
Howard Mc Namara                1915-1916
James Henry "Jimmy" Gardner*    1913-1915
Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde         1912-1913
Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette 1911-1912
Édouard "Newsy" Lalonde         1910-1911
Jean-Baptiste "Jack" Laviolette* 1909-1910