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An ongoing series following the Canadiens 100 seasons from 1909 to the present.
1910-11 Georges Vezina Arrives On The Scene
1913-14 Rising Canadiens Miss Cannonball
1914-15 A Hard Fall To Last Place
1915-16 The First Of Many Stanleys
1917-18 Malone Paces Canadiens In NHL Launch
1918-19 The Cup That Almost Was
1919-20 Newsy And Joe Malone Battle It Out
1920-21 Aging Canadiens Fall Short
1921-22 Three Musketeers, Two Cleghorns, And One Bad News Newsy
1922-23 The Newsy Era Ends, A New One Begins
1923-24 With Morenz Comes A Second Cup
1924-25 The Forum And Two New Rivalries
1925-26 All That Could Stop Georges Vezina
1926-27 Hainsworth Revives Canadiens
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1930-31 Back To Back Cups Start The Canadiens Decade Off In Roaring Style
1931-32 Morenz Has Hart, But Three - peat Falls Short
1932-33 Newsy Replaces Hart, And Finds Slowing Habs Hearts
From Vezina To Price - 100 Years Of Habs Goalies
From the first brave maskless men to strap on the pads, to todays modern stoppers, follow the evolution of goaltending through the history of the Canadiens. Read all about those who made it, those who missed, and those who became legends that defined their times.
Georges Vezina 1910-1926Mickey Murray And Roy Worters 1929-30
Canadiens Goalies Of The 1930's
Habs Goalies Of The Early To Mid 1940's
Canadiens Goalies In The System 1944-1955
Jacques Plante And The Legend Of The Mask
Habs Goalies: Murphy, Evans, And Binette
Habs Goalies: Charlie Hodge - Yesterday And Today
John Aiken: Pulled from The Crowd To Be A Habs Goalie
Habs Goalies Of The 1950's Farm System
Canadiens Goalies Of The Late 1950's
Former Hab Goalie Claude Pronovost's One Day Of Glory
12 Canadiens Goalies In The System From 1960 to 1965
Lorne "Gump" Worsley 1963-1969
The Rogie Vachon Exposition In Palmarolle
Making A Case For Rogie In The Hall
The Current Canadiens Goaltending Prospects - 2008
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Carey Price signs for 2 years
No "strike". Two weeks before training camp. A reported $5.5m total.
Panic averted. Our top player under 25 (feature up tomorrow) is in the fold. How novel.
Habs Top 25 Under 25: 5-2
by Bruce Peter on Sep 1, 2010 10:10 AM EDT
26 comments
Yeah, we're going to stretch this out just a little bit longer. Of course, by the end of this piece, it should be pretty obvious who we collectively think is the best player under 25 in the organization, but we'll be giving him his own feature regardless. In the meantime, have a look back at the series from the start: the Introduction, #25-21, #20-16, #15-11, and #10-6. Also, another special thanks are due to the crew at the Copper & Blue (yes, I'm a poet and I do know it) for the concept.
#5: Louis Leblanc, C, 19 years old
He's the man who possesses probably the greatest hockey name on this entire list, and he's already a bit of a local legend despite not playing any meaningful games in Canada for the past two years. That will all change this fall, as Leblanc looks to join the list of famous Harvard dropouts such as Bill Gates, Howard Hughes, Robert Frost, and Matt Damon. But it's not like we're putting unrealistic expectations on him or anything... right?
Leblanc will start his post-Crimson journey wearing the decidedly less pretentious maroon of the Montreal Junior Hockey Club after turning professional by signing a 3 year entry level contract with the Montreal Canadiens this August. The year in Verdun should help prepare him for the professional schedule, the media demands of Montreal, and to put him in top form in time for the Canadian U20 World Junior Championships, a team he is expected to make after being a late cut last year. He's already helped the QMJHL team become a hot ticket in Montreal, as the Juniors have already sold out a handful of regular season games well before the start of the season. All this for a player few have actually been able to see play, albeit one that was picked 18th overall by the Canadiens just a year ago.
Leblanc was the 1st overall pick in the 2007 QMJHL midget draft by Val D'Or, even though he had indicated he was not going the major junior route and pursue his education at Harvard. This forced Leblanc to spend another year playing AAA Midget hockey before going to Omaha to join the USHL's Lancers in his NHL draft year (2008-09). This lack of exposure might be the reason the scouting reports on him are quite mixed. Some say his speed is one of his best assets, but others view it as merely average. For what it's worth, when I saw him play at the 2009 U20 Evaluation Camp in Saskatoon, where he played left wing on a line with Matt Duchene, he always seemed to gain a step on the defenders and cause problems with his acceleration. Perhaps not surprisingly for a man who was admitted to Harvard, his hockey smarts are well regarded by everyone, with buzz words like 'crafty' and 'great vision' making frequent appearances in scouting summaries. Rich Michalowski of Premium Scouting sees him as a player in the Sam Gagner mould, a strong two-way talent who will need to develop physically to become a successful pro. His junior coach, Pascal Vincent, sees a lot of Mike Richards in him.
Bonne fête Jean! - A Beliveau Birthday Link Bonanza
by Robert L on Aug 29, 2010 11:43 PM EDT
0 comments
Tomorrow, August 31, 2010, Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau turns 79 in Earth years, but he is a man whose life is as timeless as his legend is eternal.
In Act One of Beliveau's time, he was a graceful and skilled hockey player, a dazzling talent who helped the Canadiens to ten Stanley Cups. He was an exempliary leader on the ice and a role model beyond its bounds. His career in hockey could be said to have been unparalleled.
In Act Two of Jean's time, he parlayed all that the game of hockey did to benefit him, and gracefully and generously used it to the benefit of others through endless acts of charity though his foundation's name and via others. You could look him up under the word "integrity".
As a present to Beliveau fans, especially the younger ones who may not have had the chance to see him play or learn much about him, below are 79 links to explore Le Gros Bill's life and times. (You won't read them all today so I will throw a link to this article in the sidebar so you can check it out when you have the time.)
Habs Top 25 Under 25: 10-6
by Bruce Peter on Aug 27, 2010 12:31 PM EDT
22 comments
Now we're really getting into the heart of the matter. Actual NHL players, top prospects, and recent acquisitions appear on the list as we look at the top 10 Montreal Canadiens under the age of 25. To view the rest of the list, here are players 25-21, 20-16, 15-11 and the introductory piece.
#10: Dustin Boyd, C, 24 years old
Acquired in the trade that sent Sergei Kostitsyn to the Nashville Predators, Boyd is a young centre who had a very strong WHL career and made an appearance for Canada at the 2006 U20 World Junior Championships, where he was teammates with current Canadiens Benoit Pouliot and Tom Pyatt, as well as former Canadiens Kyle Chipchura and Guillaume Latendresse. He was second in scoring on that team to Blake Comeau, with four goals and two assists in six games. Since turning pro, Boyd has played in 210 NHL regular season games, plus 9 playoff games, more than anyone else under 25 in the Canadiens' organization. He hasn't found his scoring touch at this level, however, topping out at 11 goals and 24 points last year with the Calgary Flames and Nashville.
Boyd is an effective defensive player, posting the lowest GA/60 minute figure on Calgary before being traded. He has good speed, and posted the best faceoff numbers of his career after being traded to Nashville. That could be nothing more than a hot streak, because his career faceoff numbers aren't very impressive. For the time being, he's penciled in on either the 3rd or 4th line out of training camp, a role he hasn't escaped so far in his career. Will he be as productive as Sergei Kostitsyn? Probably not, but considering he was a player who forced himself out of town, the Habs could've done worse in getting Boyd in return.
#9: Tom Pyatt, LW/C, 23 years old
Acquired as part of the Scott Gomez trade with the New York Rangers last summer, Pyatt surprised many observers out of training camp by making a push for a roster spot. Eventually, Pyatt forced his way into the regular lineup, a feat that is noteworthy despite the opening night presence of Georges Laraque as an everyday player. Pyatt's game is all about the details: good skating, strong backchecking, aggressive puck pursuit and getting in the passing lanes. It translates well into penalty killing, and he was taking a regular shift on the PK by season's end and into the playoffs.
Pyatt's obvious weakness: his offensive game. He recorded only 5 points in 40 NHL games last year, plus 4 points in 18 playoff games. It's unlikely he'll ever threaten for a spot in the top 6, but some kind of scoring ability is appreciated even from the final 2 lines. He'll have to focus extensively on excelling as a defensive player as a result. He's also a potential Lady Byng candidate: He's recorded only 36 PIM in 156 AHL games, and won the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike player in 2006-07 with only 18 PIMs in 58 games, to go along with 81 points. Most Byng winners are also offensive stars, so Pyatt probably has some work to do in other regards if he's to achieve that kind of accolades as a NHLer.
Habs Top 25 Under 25: 15-11
by Bruce Peter on Aug 25, 2010 9:00 AM EDT
3 comments
The next group of five players were pretty hotly contested amongst our panel. They include several players that appeared in Montreal's lineup at some point during the 2009-10 NHL season, and the panel at large walked away with mixed opinions on their future as a result. Also gracing the list is a well regarded new addition to the team, who the panel hasn't yet formed conclusive opinion on. For players 25-21, click here. For players 20-16, click here. To re-introduce yourself to the panel and the concept of the Top 25 Under 25, click here.
#15: Mathieu Carle, D, 22 years old
After three seasons of apprenticeship in Hamilton, Mathieu Carle is at a crossroads in his career with the Canadiens. A puckmoving blueliner with a right handed shot, Carle has a lot going for him. That's not to mention the fact that he's one of a few Quebecois players in the Habs system that is on the cusp of the NHL. Unfortunately for Carle, what was developing into a breakthrough season was cut short due to injury, something that has held him back in the past. Carle had 15 points in 31 games in Hamilton last year, while being deployed by coach Guy Boucher as his number 1 blueliner to start the year. The role of #1 blueliner was eventually fulfilled by P.K. Subban, who seized the opportunity and now looks to have a regular spot in the 2010-11 Canadiens starting lineup.
Carle isn't blessed with great size, but he's the kind of blueliner that can fill a nice role on the team's bottom pairing if all works out. There is a spot open on the Habs blueline to start the year with the injury to Andrei Markov, but the acquisition of Alexandre Picard makes Carle's chances of cracking the roster on opening night that much more difficult. Carle doesn't possess the PP skills that Picard does, which may be the final factor in sending him back to Hamilton. He would have to clear waivers in order to do so, but with only 3 NHL games and coming off an injury, he's a safe bet to clear waivers after training camp. That is, unless Boucher backs up his assertion last year that Carle was NHL ready and requests the Lightning to take a chance on him.
#14: Ben Maxwell, C, 22 years old
Maxwell ended last season on the Canadiens roster, a late season injury callup who didn't get into much action and was caught in a numbers game with regards to the CBA, which only allows a certain amount of demotions and callups after the trade deadline. He had injury concerns in junior, but has overcome those as a professional with back-to-back healthy seasons. He has progressed steadily at the AHL level, posting 58 points in 73 games as a rookie and 44 points in 57 games as a sophomore. However, in 21 NHL games to date (1 in the playoffs), he has yet to record his first NHL point.
Maxwell is a playmaking centre who can play the high forward position on the powerplay, and even the point if need be. He likes to have control of the play, allowing his teammates to gain favourable positions to lead an offensive attack. He has good skating skills and a decent wrist shot. With the additions of Lars Eller and Dustin Boyd, Maxwell is likely ticketed to Hamilton where he will battle it out with David Desharnais for the top centre spot. He remains eligible to be classified as a rookie for the 2010-11 NHL season, despite playing 21 games over the past 2 years in the NHL.
Habs Top 25 Under 25: 20-16
by Bruce Peter on Aug 24, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
3 comments
In this next group of youngsters, we're starting to hit up some names more familiar to Habs fans, and at #18, we start to hit the range where all panelists were in agreement that the player was one of the 25 best in the organization. We're starting to move away from the question marks and into the guys we all see as potential players for the team at some point, if not already. To view players 25-21, click here. For an introduction to the Top 25 Under 25 concept, click here.
#20: Ian Schultz, RW, 20 years old
Fresh off captaining the Calgary Hitmen to a WHL Championship and a 3rd place finish at the Memorial Cup, Schultz was ready to turn professional in the St. Louis Blues' organization. However, management of the Blues and the Canadiens had other plans, and he was included as one half of the Jaroslav Halak return. Schultz is a big, physical winger who will probably need to make the NHL as much with his fists as with his skates. However, at this point at least, he looks to be more than a potential goon. The younger brother of Washington Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz, he's proven to be a solid goal scorer at the junior level, notching 33 goals over 93 regular season and playoff games last year in a complimentary role. He also racked up 150 PIMS, so the power forward potential is certainly there, although not at an elite level.
The upside on Schultz isn't huge, but he's a safe bet to devleop into a good AHLer and potentially a bottom 6 NHL forward. Where he'll have to excel in the future is the defensive side of the game, showing he won't be a hindrance to his teammates on the ice while maintaining his physical edge. If all goes well, Schultz has the potential to develop into a fan favourite. Maybe not quite the fan favourite level of the guy he was traded for, but a well liked teammate none the less.
#19: David Desharnais, C, 24 years old
There are quite a number of things that stick out about David Desharnais. The first thing people may notice is his size... or lack there of. Desharnais is all of 5'7", 176 lbs., and that height is likely measured with the skates on. The second thing that sticks out are the much higher numbers on his stat line: 2 100 point seasons in the QMJHL, 1 100 point season in the ECHL, and a 100 point pace last year in the AHL (78 points in 60 games). His puck skill and playmaking smarts put him in an elite class amongst AHLers, but there are legitimate concerns over whether he can transfer those skills at the NHL level, where the game is quicker and the opponents are that much stronger.
Desharnais main drawbacks, aside from his size, are his skating ability (described as merely average) and his defensive play. Brian La Rose of Habsworld thinks the key to him making it in the Habs organization could be how new Hamilton Head Coach Randy Cunneyworth deploys him next season, suggesting he try him out in a defensive role. "The road to the NHL, on any team, almost always begins on the bottom line. If Desharnais' defence improves, he may very well have a legit shot down the road somewhere." Desharnais has an outside shot at making the Habs out of training camp, but more than likely will be sent back to Hamilton for one more year, as he is waiver exempt. He made his NHL debut this past year, playing in 6 games and earning 1 point for the Habs.
Habs Top 25 Under 25: 25-21
by Bruce Peter on Aug 23, 2010 12:00 PM EDT
2 comments
Late yesterday, I introduced EOTP's Habs Top 25 Under 25 project. It's based on the series The Copper & Blue have been doing this year, and I've recruited all of EOTP's writers as well as some outside help in the form of Topham from Lions in Winter and Brian La Rose of Habsworld.net. The only requirements for all players in this ranking is that they must be under 25 as of Sept. 15, 2010, and the Montreal Canadiens must hold their NHL rights. These are the results of the votes cast by each panelist, weighted equally.
The following players are either viewed as longshots by the panel, or they are players that are well out of the limelight but possess legitimate potential. All five of the players did not garner a top 25 placement from every panelist, and there was generally a wide range of opinion amongst the panelists who put the player on their ballot. Over and over again, the idea of whether a player was likely to make an impact on the Habs roster was prominent in the panelists minds.
#25: Maxim Trunev, RW, 20 years old
Trunev is a bit of a question mark going forward, as he currently plays for Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL. He has progressed nicely through the Russian junior ranks, and due to the lack of a transfer agreement between the KHL and NHL, the Habs hold his NHL rights indefinitely, allowing them exclusivity to sign him when his KHL contract expires. Trunev was taken 3rd overall in the 2008 CHL Import Draft by the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, but never reported due to his KHL contract. He made his IIHF debut this past year at the U20 World Junior Championships in Saskatoon and Regina, tallying 4 points in 6 games on Team Russia's second line.
Trunev's greatest assets are his speed and shot. While he has yet to be placed in a scoring role in the KHL, he projects very well there to become a top line forward. He likes to lead offensive rushes across the blue line and drive to the net, but he tends to stick to the perimeter when his team is setting up in the offensive zone. He doesn't possess great size, but he's big enough that his size won't be a factor in holding him back. He's still quite young, as he will only turn 20 on Sept. 7, so there is still good reason to keep an eye on his development in the coming years. Of course, whether or not he'll commit himself to leaving a potentially lucrative KHL career for a shot at making the Montreal Canadiens has yet to be seen. There are currently no talks to bring him over.
Habs Top 25 Under 25: Introduction
by Bruce Peter on Aug 22, 2010 10:23 PM EDT
1 comment
If you're a follower of SB Nation, you may be already aware of this concept. The Edmonton Oilers blog, The Copper & Blue, has run this twice in the past year as a look ahead for their team's future. So, with training camp coming up next month, I figured it'd be a good idea to poll the talent here at Eyes on the Prize to see what we thought, good or bad, about the guys our favourite team has in the same group. We're hardly perfect guys for the job, we aren't scouts for anyone currently, but we're passionate followers of the team and always keep an eye out for talent that could help the team win games down the line.
But first a few words about the concept. Top 25 Under 25 is about comparing players based on their age, not their pro hockey experience. When you eliminate players that are already contributing NHLers, you don't always give an accurate depiction of what the future of the team entails. All players that are signed to a NHL contract are under the control of their parent team until at least age 25... players cannot become UFA's before that age unless the team decides to buy them out or not submit a qualifying offer on their contract. The Habs actually possess two players that were not qualified by their teams this June: Benoit Pouliot and Dustin Boyd. But come next year, the Habs will again have the option of qualifying both those players based on their current deals.
It also is pretty common knowledge that players don't reach their peak production years until about the age of 25. They might be as good as they're going to be at age 21... we can't say that with 100% certainty that they will improve. But it's reasonable to assume players will get better if they are under 25 years old. Once they hit 25, that becomes less likely. It's a good age to use as a measuring stick.
So we're looking at players that will be under 25 on Sept. 15. Sept. 15 is the date that, in a player's draft year, they use as a cutoff. Each entry draft pits players that will turn 18 between Sept. 16 the previous calendar year and Sept. 15 of the current year. It also is an approximate starting point for NHL training camps, meaning no player can report to a training camp before their 18th birthday (at least roughly).
Each panelist was asked to submit their own top 25. Each player was then given points for their placement: 1st place got 25 points, 2nd place 24 points, and so on down to 25th place getting 1 point. I then took out the highest and lowest scores of each player to eliminate any potential personal bias to arrive with a total that reflects the general assessment of the panel. This last step did very little to change the results, and really only had an effect on the lower ranked players, but the players at the lower end ended up being guys generally liked by the majority of the panelists. Just as an added note, it should be known that new acquisition Karri Ramo was not included in the ranking, as the voting was originally done with Cedric Desjardins involved. His votes were discounted and we didn't bother to include Ramo due to the group not being familiar enough with him at this point.
For the list itself, click here for players 25-21, here for players 20-16, and here for 15-11.
And now, without further ado, the EOTP scouts:
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1993
Patrick Roy's heroics, 10 straight OT wins, Eric Desjardins hat trick, and McSorley's illegal curve. A Cup win for the ages! It took an NHL record 10 overtime wins but the Montreal Canadiens prevailed winning their 24th Stanley Cup. This win gave the city of Montreal a Stanley Cup in every decade going back to the late 19th century when the Cup was first awarded. Goaltender Roy became the third player in history to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy twice, also having won it in 1986. He played very well, losing but four games over four full series. After defeating Quebec, Buffalo, and the New York Islanders, Montreal came up against Wayne Gretzky and the Los Angeles Kings. Hockey was hitting a feverish pitch in the west and Gretzky, as in the past, was the playoff scoring leader. Los Angeles opened the series with a 4-1 win at the Montreal Forum. But the Canadiens bounced back winning three straight overtime games and then taking home the Stanley Cup with a 4-1 win of their own at home. This would be the last Stanley Cup appearance for Wayne Gretzky.
1986
In the first all Canadian final since 1967, the Montreal Canadiens won their 23rd Stanley Cup, an NHL record. Rookie goaltender Patrick Roy was sensational posting a 1.92 goals against average in 20 games. He became the youngest winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy at the tender age of 20. Roy's playoff run made a name for himself and reminded fans of former Montreal goaltender Ken Dryden who also won the Cup as a rookie, back in 1971. The Habs offensive sparkplug was Swedish winger Mats Naslund, who recorded seven points in the final. After the Flames won the first game of the final, the Canadiens Brian Skrudland doused Calgary's hopes by scoring 9 seconds into overtime in game two. Montreal took the next three to win their 23rd Cup, but Calgary would revenge this defeat three years later, defeating the Habs in the 1989 rematch.
1979
Yet another Montreal Canadiens dynasty was capped off with this, their fourth straight Stanley Cup victory. What was more remarkable, perhaps, was that this was the second time Montreal had won four straight dating back to 1960 when they won five straight. The final series against the Rangers was perhaps anticlimactic, coming off the heels of a legendary battle with the Bruins. This was the Canadiens sixth cup of the 1970's decade. Bob Gainey won the Conn Smythe Trophy, scoring 16 points in 6 games. Ken Dryden, Yvan Cournoyer, and Jaques Lemaire retired after the season, having combined for an amazing 24 Cup rings together. This would also be coach Scotty Bowman's last year behind the Canadiens bench having coached his fifth Stanley Cup title.
1978
Finishing only one win shy of another 60 win regular season, Montreal only needed nine games to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Montreal's hard line defenseman and Conn Smythe winner Larry Robinson tied Guy Lafleur for the overall points lead in the playoffs. Vezina winner Ken Dryden was stellar in the finals, surrendering a league low 1.89 goals against average. Montreal defeated Boston in six games to win their third straight, and 21st Stanley Cup in total. The silverware spree for the Habs continued at season's end. Lafleur claimed the Hart, Art Ross and Pearson awards, captain Bob Gainey won the first ever Selke Trophy, and Dryden, as mentioned, won the Vezina, sharing the honour with Michel Larocque.
1977
Montreal proved to be unstoppable in their quest for a second straight Stanley Cup. They won a record 60 games in the regular season, including an incredible 33-1 home record! The playoffs were no different. Montreal rolled over the Bruins in the finals, taking the Cup in a four game sweep. Guy Lafleur led the playoff scoring race tallying 26 points in 14 games. Come season end he was awarded the Conn Smythe, Hart, Art Ross and Pearson trophies. Defenseman Larry Robinson won the Norris Trophy, Ken Dryden and Michel Larocque shared the Vezina and coach Scotty Bowman won his first Jack Adams Award.
1976
For the third year in a row, the Philadelphia Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. Unlike the previous two years, however, Philadelphia came up against a much stronger team. The Montreal Canadiens had won a regular season record 58 games and cruised past Chicago and the New York Islanders, losing only one game in the process. The Flyers could not defeat the powerhouse Canadiens and were swept in four games. Montreal's Guy Lafleur led all skaters with seven points in the final series. One bright spot for Philadelphia was Reggie Leach who scored a record 19 post season goals and took home the Conn Smythe Trophy. Canadiens defenseman Serge Savard summed up the feelings of the hockey world, stating, "This is not only a victory for the Canadiens; it is a victory for hockey. I hope that this era of intimidation and violence that is hurting our national sport is coming to an end. Young people have seen that a team can play electrifying, fascinating hockey while still behaving like gentlemen."
1973
In what was a rematch of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals, the Montreal Canadiens met the Chicago Black Hawks in the final for the second time in three years. The series pitted the league's top two netminders, Ken Dryden of Montreal and Tony Esposito of Chicago. However this series was far from a defensive battle. In fact, in four of the six games, the teams combined for ten or more goals. Montreal prevailed winning the Cup in Chicago. This would be Henri Richard's 11th Cup win, a record, and coach Scotty Bowman's first. Yvan Cournoyer scored 15 goals to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy.
1971
After missing the playoffs in 1970 for the first time since 1948, the Montreal Canadiens entered the 1970-71 season on a mission. Starting the post season against the heavily favored Bruins, the Canadiens surprised their rivals in stunning fashion. The late season additions of goaltender Ken Dryden and Frank Mahovlich made the Habs a stronger foe, and the Canadiens upset Boston in seven games. The Habs cruised past Minnesota and went on to defeat the Chicago Black Hawks in a thrilling seven game final. Henri Richard was the hero of game seven, scoring two goals in Montreal's come from behind 3-2 win. Rookie netminder Dryden stole the playoff limelight by posting a 3.00 goals-against average in 20 playoff games. Dryden was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy in the process. Montreal collected their 17th Stanley Cup win, and said goodbye to captain Jean Beliveau, who retired at the conclusion of the season.
1969
Montreal coach Claude Ruel became the 11th coach in NHL history to win a Cup in his rookie season. The Canadiens lost only two playoff games en route to defeating the St. Louis Blues in the finals for the second straight season. Montreal goaltender Rogie Vachon held St. Louis at bay, allowing only three goals in the four games. The Habs Serge Savard became the first defenseman to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP with a strong two way performance.
1968
This was the first season for the NHL's six new teams. Expansion introduced a longer regular season and playoff schedule. The Montreal Canadiens, after losing in 1967 to Toronto, were able to sweep the first expansion team to reach the finals, the St. Louis Blues. The Canadiens lost only one game in the playoffs, and handed the Blues a ticket back to St. Louis with a 3-2 win in Montreal in game four. This would be the eighth and last Stanley Cup for legendary coach Hector "Toe" Blake. The Conn Smythe Trophy was awarded to a player on the losing team for the second time in history. St. Louis goaltender Glenn Hall captured the prize, playing in 18 games and posting a 2.43 goals against average.
1966
The Montreal Canadiens, fresh off a Stanley Cup celebration, went into the 1965-66 season with a strong team and desire to repeat, and finished the season in first place. They met the Toronto Maple Leafs in the semi finals, and made short work of the Leafs, eliminating them in four straight games. Meanwhile, Detroit and Chicago met to decide who would challenge Montreal for the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings won the series four games to two, to enter the fray for the Stanley Cup. Detroit won the first two games of the final, with Roger Crozier at his acrobatic best in goal. But Montreal persevered to win the next four straight, and took the series four games to two to win their second straight Stanley Cup. Henri Richard scored the overtime Cup-winning goal in game six. Although his team lost the final, Detroit goaltender Roger Crozier posted a 2.17 goals-against average in 12 games and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.
1965
First place Detroit was challenged by the Chicago Black Hawks in one semi-final series, while the two Canadian teams, Montreal and Toronto, battled in the other. It took seven games, but the Black Hawks eliminated the Red Wings, and the Habs pushed the Leafs aside four games to two, ending Toronto's three-year Cup run. Montreal's Gump Worsley played in his first Stanley Cup final after 12 seasons in the NHL. The Canadiens won the series against Chicago four games to three, but three of those four victories came by shutout. Charlie Hodge recorded one shutout, while the veteran Worsley played four games, recording two shutouts, most notably shutting out Chicago in game seven to lift Montreal to the Stanley Cup title. Captain Jean Beliveau won the first-ever Conn Smythe Trophy for Most Valuable Player in the playoffs, scoring 16 points in 13 games.
1960
On April 14, 1960, the Montreal Canadiens set a record that still stands. They won their fifth straight Stanley Cup championship. Montreal did not lose a single game in the playoffs. This season featured Jacques Plante donning a mask for the first time in the playoffs. He was able to hold Toronto to just five goals in four games, including a 4-0 shutout in game four, the Stanley Cup winner. Maurice "Rocket" Richard played in the final four games of his marvellous career, scoring the 34th goal of his playoff career during these finals.
1959
Breaking the previous record of three consecutive Stanley Cup wins, the Montreal Canadiens won their fourth Cup with a four to one series win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto, undefeated in playoff overtime games that season, was unable to beat the star-laden Canadiens. For the first time in his brilliant career, Maurice Richard was held pointless in the post-season. Unfortunately, the Rocket's injuries limited him to only four out of the 11 games Montreal played. The Habs' Bernie Geoffrion and Ralph Backstrom paced all scorers with seven points apiece in the Final series.
1958
For a second consecutive year, the Montreal Canadiens met the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final. Boston was coming off a high scoring series in which they defeated the New York Rangers, outscoring them 28 to 16. Maurice Richard led the playoffs in scoring with 11 goals. It took Montreal six games to defeat the Bruins, completing the series win with a 5-3 victory at the Boston Garden. This third straight Stanley Cup win equalled the previous record set by Toronto, who won Stanley Cups in 1947, 1948 and 1949.
1957
Many did not expect Boston to defeat Detroit in the semi-finals. They did, however, and were matched up against the Montreal Canadiens in a battle for the Stanley Cup. Montreal, coming off a 4-1 series win against New York, defeated the Bruins by the same series score. Maurice Richard scored four goals in game four, tying Ted Lindsay's record for most goals in a Stanley Cup game. The Canadiens won their second straight Stanley Cup as netminder Jacques Plante allowed but five goals in five games in the finals.
1956
With a 4-1 series win over Detroit in 1956, Montreal started a consecutive championship streak that would reach five?a record to this day. Rookie coach Toe Blake replaced Dick Irvin, and Henri Richard, brother of Maurice, started his playing career. Henri would go on to win an unprecedented 11 Stanley Cup rings. Jean Beliveau scored seven goals to set the all time record for goals in the finals, including one in each game. Montreal won the Stanley Cup at home with a 3-1 triumph in game five.
1953
Montreal netminder Gerry McNeil replaced Jacques Plante after the first two games of the final between the Canadiens and Boston. Plante had won the first game of the series, but lost the second. McNeil won three straight to help Montreal win the Stanley Cup. And he did it in all-star fashion as well, earning two shutouts and a 7-3 win in game four. Maurice Richard led the Habs offensively with four goals in the final. This was Montreal's first Stanley Cup win in seven years. This Cup win was incidentally the first for Plante and Doug Harvey, as well as the last for veteran Elmer Lach.
1946
World War II had come to a conclusion, and the influx of 40 NHL players returning from military service changed the complexion of the National Hockey League considerably. The Montreal Canadiens finished first for a third straight season, and were going to face the third place Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. The other round found Boston being challenged by the fourth place Red Wings. Montreal blanked the Black Hawks in four games to progress to the final, while Boston eliminated Detroit four games to one to earn entrance to the championship series. Montreal and the Bruins battled hard, with three of the games needing overtime to decide a winner. But when all was said and done, the Canadiens were presented with the Stanley Cup for a sixth time. Elmer Lach and Maurice Richard, the former accounting for a series-high seven points, led Montreal in the finals.
1944
First place Montreal was facing the third place Leafs in round one, while second place Detroit was challenged by Boston, the fourth place finishers during the regular season. The Leafs were using Paul Bibeault in goal. Bibeault had been borrowed from the Canadiens partway through the season to replace Turk Broda. Maurice Richard scored five goals in the second game of the series. In game five, the Canadiens trounced Toronto 11-0 to win the series four games to one. In the other series, the Black Hawks knocked Detroit out of playoff competition, four games to one as well. That set the showdown for a Canadiens-Chicago final. But Montreal wasn't to be denied. They won the Stanley Cup in four straight games to win their first championship since 1930-31. The Canadiens' potent Punch Line of Toe Blake, Maurice Richard and Elmer Lach led the charge, accounting for 10 of Montreal's 15 goals in the final series.
1931
After winning their respective divisions, the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins met in a best of five series to decide who would advance to the Stanley Cup final. It took all five games, but the Canadiens won the series, winning each of their three games in overtime. Elsewhere, the New York Rangers beat the Maroons of Montreal in a two game total goal series, while Chicago earned a victory over the Maple Leafs with an overtime goal in the second of their two games. Facing the Rangers in the semi-final, Chicago shut out New York in both games of their two game total goal series to win entrance to the Stanley Cup final. Game one between the Canadiens and Black Hawks was won by Montreal in overtime. The second game of the best of five series went to Chicago?again, in overtime. Game three also went into overtime, with Chicago emerging with the victory. Montreal fought back and won the next two contests (in regulation time) to earn the Stanley Cup. It was the second straight Cup celebration for the Canadiens.
1930
The Montreal Maroons were the class of the Canadian Division, finishing first. In the American Division, Boston catapulted by the competition finishing with 77 points?30 more than the second place Chicago Black Hawks. The two division winners met in the semi-final to decide which team would win a berth in the Stanley Cup final. Boston prevailed with a three game to one victory in the best of five series. In the quarterfinals, the Montreal Canadiens outscored Chicago, while the Rangers outscored Ottawa. The semi-final, therefore, saw New York pitted against the Canadiens. In a best of three series, Montreal won two games to advance to the Cup final against Boston. The Bruins, defending the Stanley Cup, were confident that they could defeat the Canadiens in the best of three series, but were astonished when Montreal blanked them 3-0 in game one with George Hainsworth posting the shutout. The Habs again surprised the Bruins, defeating them by a 4-3 score to win the Stanley Cup. It was the only time all season that the Boston Bruins would lose two games in a row.
1924
In order to claim the Stanley Cup, the Montreal Canadiens needed to defeat both the WCHL Champion Vancouver Maroons and the PCHA Champion Calgary Tigers. Billy Boucher scored three of the Canadiens' five goals, including both game winners, to eliminate Vancouver. And versus Calgary, Montreal's 21-year-old rookie Howie Morenz registered a hat-trick in games one and two as the Habs completed the sweep. Game two of the final series was played in Ottawa to take advantage of the artificial ice surface.
1916
In 1916, the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey Association won their first of 24 Stanley Cups. The Canadiens, winners of the NHA, faced the Rosebuds from Portland in a best of five competition. For the first time, a best of five Stanley Cup championship went the distance. After the Rosebuds won game one, 2-0, Montreal captured games two and three to gain the advantage. Portland came back to even the series in game four to set up the deciding fifth game. In the final match, the Canadiens bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit to score two unanswered goals, with seldom-used Goldie Prodgers netting the Cup winner.
1 - Jacques Plante
Won the Hart Trophy (1964), the Vezina six times (1956 through 1960 & 1962) and was elected to six NHL All-Star teams. Popularized the goalie mask. Member of the Hall of Fame.
2 - Doug Harvey
Won the Norris Trophy for four consecutive years and was elected to ten NHl All-Star teams. A 6 time Stanley Cup winner. Member of the Hall of Fame.
4 - Jean Beliveau
Second all time in points on the Canadiens, Beliveau has won the Hart, Art Ross and Conn Smythe trophies. Winner of ten Stanley Cups as a player, his excellence on the ice is surpassed by his class and dignity away from the rink. Beliveau's name is engraved on the Stanley Cup a total of 17 times. Memeber of the Hall Of Fame.
5 - Bernie Geoffrion
Won the Calder Trophy (1952), the Art Ross (1955, 1961), the Hart Memorial (1961). Nicknamed "Boom Boom" after helping popularize the slap shot. Son in law of Habs great, Howie Morenz. Passed away the day his sweater was retired. Member of Hall of Fame.
7 - Howie Morenz
Hockeys first superstar. Won the Hart Trophy three times (1928, 1931, and 1932), was the scoring leader twice (1928 & 1931) and was elected to three NHL All-Star teams. Died following an injury sustained during a game. Member of Hall of Fame.
9 - Maurice Richard
Won the Hart Trophy in 1947 and was selected to 14 NHL All-Star teams. First player to score 50 goals, a feat accomplished in 50 games in 1944-45. Best goal scorer in Canadiens history with 544 regular season goals and 82 playoff goals. Richard is the fire in the Habs long burning torch. Member of Hall of Fame.
10 - Guy Lafleur
Won Hart Trophy (1977 and 1978) the Art Ross (1976, 1977, 1978), the Conn Smythe (1977) and was selected to the NHL First All Star team six times. First player to score 50 or more goals during six consecutive seasons. Member of the Hall Of Fame.
12 - Dickie Moore
Won Art Ross Trophy in 1958 and 1959, the second while playing with a broken wrist for half a season. Was selected to three NHL All-Star teams. Won Stanley Cup 6 times. Member of the Hall of Fame.
12 - Yvan Cournoyer
Won Conn Smythe Trophy in 1973 with a record setting 15 playoff goals in 17 games. A second All Star team member four times between 1969 and 1973, the Roadrunner was nicknamed so for blazing speed and exhilerating rushes with the puck. Won Stanley Cup 10 times between 1965 and 1979. Member of the Hall Of Fame.
16 - Henri Richard
Selected to four NHL All Star teams, and a winner of the Bill Masterton Trophy in 1974. Won Stanley Cup 11 times, an NHL record that will never be broken. The Pocket Rocket was the consumate team player, often sacrificing himself both physically and defensively for the good of the team. Member of Hall of Fame.
18 - Serge Savard
Winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy (1969), and Bill Masterton Trophy (1979). Won Stanley Cup 8 times, an NHL record for defenseman. Later became the General Manager for the last two Canadiens Cup championships. Member of Hall of Fame.
19 - Larry Robinson
Winner of Conn Smythe Trophy in 1978. First All Star Team defenseman in 1977, 1979, and 1980. Winner of James Norris Memorial Trophy in 1977and 1980. Second All Star Team member in 1978, 1981, and 1986. Robinson was perhaps a hybrid of Bobby Orr and Eddie Shore, as he could be both sleek and fierce in his determination. Winner of 6 Stanley Cups. Member of Hall of Fame.
23 - Bob Gainey
Winner of Conn Smythe Trophy in 1979 and the Frank J. Selke Trophy four years running from 1978 to 1981. Gainey was so proficient in his role as a defensive player, that an award was created for the type of forward he embodied. Winner of 5 Stanley Cups. Member of Hall Of Fame.
29 - Ken Dryden
Selected to five NHL All Star teams. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy in 1972 after winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1971. Winner of 5 Vezina trophies. Won Stanley Cup 6 times, a record shared for NHL goaltenders with Jacques Plante. Dryden was nothing like the typical hockey player, later writing the best selling hockey memoir "The Game", before moving into federal politics. Member of the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
33 - Patrick Roy
Six time All Star team member has won 3 Vezina Trophies and 5 Jennings Trophies. The member of the 1986 All Rookie team revolutionized goaltening by popularizing the butterfly style. Won two of four Stanley Cups with Montreal and was named Conn Smythe Trophy winner three times in his career - a benchmark. A member of the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
About this site.
I've always envisioned that my site would both read as a book historically, and an online magazine currently. I want this space to be a site that would be returned to by visitors even on non game days, and in the summertime, simply for reading pleasure.
Of course it will detail the daily goings on of the club, but along with trying to capture the essense of the present, it will also be backwards gazing and forward glancing at all times. As an empassioned Habs fan myself, I feel that doing things in any other way would be to shortchange the intelligence of the reader.
If you are here, it is because you are cheering for a team that is over 100 years old. You and I, and the Canadiens, weren't born yesterday!
There is tons to learn from in the history of the team that is applicable to it going forward towards its next Stanley Cup. Players, coaches, and managers are all human beings in the bottom line. They are as infallable and just as imperfect as we non participant fan onlookers are in real life. With that notion in mind, I often try to scope that human dimension in understanding the workings inside the game when it comes to running a hockey club.
We have all been young once. We age, gain from experience, and grow as people. Hockey teams are no different. At certain times in our lives, we will require patience, understanding, experience and vision. Again, hockey is no different.
If you have read this far, perhaps you have grasped the notion that we are not all that far removed from the heroes we worship on a hockey rink. If you have gotten the gist of that idea, you should warm to this site quite easily.
Welcome to the Montreal Canadiens encyclopedia of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Put on your seatbelt and enjoy this long ride!
For more about me, who I am and where I come from, read the "About me" sidebar directly below.
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