Our History
24 Stanley Cup championships. Generations of legends. The passion that defines Montreal. The most glorious history in professional hockey.
All 24 Stanley Cup Championships
The most decorated franchise in NHL history
The Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup, defeating the Portland Rosebuds of the PCHA in a best-of-five series. This was the first time a team from the NHA defeated a West Coast opponent for the Cup. Newsy Lalonde led the charge with his scoring prowess.
Montreal defeated the Vancouver Maroons in the semifinal and then swept the Calgary Tigers to claim the Cup. Howie Morenz, in his rookie season, showed flashes of the brilliance that would make him a legend. The Canadiens dominated the playoffs behind strong goaltending from Georges VĂ©zina.
The Canadiens swept the defending champion Boston Bruins in the best-of-three final. Howie Morenz was at the peak of his powers, dazzling crowds with his speed and skill. The Habs dominated the series with superior skating and goaltending from George Hainsworth.
Montreal defended their title by defeating the Chicago Black Hawks in a hard-fought five-game series. Howie Morenz and Aurèle Joliat continued their dominant partnership, and George Hainsworth was stellar in net. The Canadiens became back-to-back champions.
The Canadiens swept the Chicago Black Hawks in dominant fashion. The legendary Punch Line of Maurice Richard, Toe Blake, and Elmer Lach dismantled every opponent. Maurice Richard had exploded with 12 playoff goals, including 5 in the semifinal against Toronto.
The Canadiens dispatched the Boston Bruins in five games to claim their sixth Stanley Cup. Elmer Lach led the playoffs in scoring, and Maurice Richard continued his postseason dominance. The Punch Line was still the best forward unit in hockey. The series-clinching goal came in overtime of Game 5.
Elmer Lach scored the Cup-winning goal in overtime of Game 5 to beat the Boston Bruins. Jacques Plante made his first notable playoff appearances in relief. Maurice Richard led the team in playoff goals as the Canadiens began building toward their dynasty years.
The start of the greatest dynasty in NHL history. Under rookie coach Toe Blake, the Canadiens demolished the Detroit Red Wings. Jean BĂ©liveau led all scorers, and the team's depth was overwhelming. This was the first of five consecutive Stanley Cups.
The Canadiens continued their dynasty run, dispatching the Bruins in five games. Maurice Richard was magnificent in the playoffs, and the Habs' power play was virtually unstoppable. The depth and talent of this roster made them heavy favorites entering every series.
Three in a row. The Canadiens beat the Bruins again, this time in six games. Maurice Richard, now in the twilight of his career, remained a force in the playoffs. The team's system under Toe Blake was flawless, combining offensive firepower with suffocating defense.
Four straight. The Canadiens crushed the rival Toronto Maple Leafs in five games. Jacques Plante was sensational in goal, and the depth of talent was simply too much for Toronto. Marcel Bonin emerged as an unlikely playoff hero with clutch scoring.
Five in a row — a feat that may never be matched. The Canadiens swept the Maple Leafs and went 8-0 through the entire playoffs. Maurice Richard played his final games, Henri Richard stepped up as a leader, and Jean Béliveau was majestic. The greatest dynasty in NHL history was complete.
Jean BĂ©liveau was awarded the inaugural Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. The Canadiens came back from a tough seven-game series against the Black Hawks, winning the deciding Game 7 in Montreal. BĂ©liveau's leadership and clutch scoring carried the team.
Henri Richard scored the Cup-clinching goal by diving headfirst into the crease in a controversial finish to Game 6. The goal remains one of the most debated in Stanley Cup history. Roger Crozier of Detroit won the Conn Smythe despite being on the losing side.
In the first year of NHL expansion, the Canadiens swept the expansion St. Louis Blues. The talent gap between the Original Six and expansion teams was enormous, and Montreal was dominant throughout. Jean BĂ©liveau and the veterans led the way in what was Toe Blake's final Cup as coach.
Under first-year coach Claude Ruel, the Canadiens again swept the St. Louis Blues. Serge Savard won the Conn Smythe Trophy, becoming the first defenseman to do so. Jean BĂ©liveau, in his twilight years, remained a dominant force. The sweep underscored Montreal's continued superiority.
Rookie goaltender Ken Dryden delivered one of the greatest upset performances in playoff history. After shocking the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the opening round, the Canadiens beat Chicago in seven games. Dryden won the Conn Smythe Trophy before he had even won the Calder Trophy as best rookie.
Scotty Bowman's first Cup as head coach. Yvan Cournoyer, 'The Roadrunner,' earned the Conn Smythe Trophy with his blazing speed and 15 playoff goals. The Canadiens beat Chicago in six games. This Cup marked the beginning of the Bowman era in Montreal.
The Canadiens swept the defending champion Broad Street Bullies to reclaim the Cup. This was the beginning of Montreal's second great dynasty. Guy Lafleur was electrifying, and the team's speed and skill overwhelmed Philadelphia's physical style. Remarkably, Reggie Leach of the Flyers won the Conn Smythe despite being swept.
Often called the greatest team in NHL history, the 1976-77 Canadiens lost only 8 games all season (60-8-12) and swept the Bruins in the final. Guy Lafleur won the Conn Smythe Trophy. The team's combination of speed, skill, toughness, and goaltending was unmatched. They went 12-2 through the entire playoffs.
Larry Robinson won the Conn Smythe Trophy with a dominant two-way performance. The Canadiens beat the Bruins again in six games for their third consecutive Cup. The team remained a juggernaut, losing only 10 regular-season games (59-10-11). Robinson's combination of size, skating, and skill was unmatched among defensemen.
The Canadiens won their fourth consecutive Cup and Scotty Bowman's fifth with the team. Bob Gainey won the Conn Smythe Trophy for his relentless two-way play, validating the importance of defensive forwards. This was the final Cup for several dynasty-era players including Jacques Lemaire and Ken Dryden, who both retired after the series.
Rookie goaltender Patrick Roy, just 20 years old, carried the Canadiens to an improbable Cup victory. Roy was sensational throughout the playoffs, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP. The Canadiens were not expected to go far but Roy's brilliance — combined with clutch contributions from veterans like Bob Gainey, Larry Robinson, and Mats Naslund — delivered the franchise's 23rd Cup.
The most recent Cup in franchise history, highlighted by a record 10 consecutive overtime victories in the playoffs. Patrick Roy was again the hero, winning his second Conn Smythe Trophy. In Game 2 of the final against Wayne Gretzky's Kings, coach Jacques Demers called for a stick measurement on Marty McSorley's blade — it was illegal, leading to a power-play goal that tied the game and shifted the series. The Canadiens won the Cup on home ice at the Montreal Forum.
Canadiens Legends
The greatest players to ever wear the CH
Maurice Richard
"Rocket Richard"
Right Wing · 1942–1960
The Rocket. The first player to score 50 goals in 50 games and 500 career goals. A fierce competitor whose intensity and passion defined the Canadiens for nearly two decades. His suspension in 1955 sparked the Richard Riot, a pivotal moment in Quebec history.
Jean BĂ©liveau
"Le Gros Bill"
Center · 1950–1971
Le Gros Bill. The ultimate gentleman of hockey and captain of the Canadiens for a decade. Won 10 Stanley Cups as a player and 7 more as an executive. His grace on and off the ice made him the soul of the franchise.
Guy Lafleur
"The Flower"
Right Wing · 1971–1985
The Flower. With his flowing blond hair and electrifying speed, Lafleur was the face of the Canadiens dynasty of the late 1970s. Six consecutive 50-goal seasons and a style that captivated fans across the hockey world.
Patrick Roy
"Saint Patrick"
Goaltender · 1984–1995
Saint Patrick. Revolutionized goaltending with the butterfly style. Won two Stanley Cups in Montreal, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy both times. His playoff heroics as a rookie in 1986 remain legendary.
Jacques Plante
"Jake the Snake"
Goaltender · 1952–1963
Jake the Snake. A revolutionary goaltender who forever changed hockey by popularizing the goalie mask in 1959. Won six Stanley Cups and seven Vezina Trophies. A true innovator who also pioneered the art of playing the puck behind the net.
Henri Richard
"The Pocket Rocket"
Center · 1955–1975
The Pocket Rocket. The most decorated champion in NHL history with 11 Stanley Cups. Smaller than his brother Maurice but equally tenacious, Henri spent his entire 20-year career in Montreal and captained the team from 1971 to 1975.
Larry Robinson
"Big Bird"
Defenseman · 1971–1989
Big Bird. One of the greatest defensemen in NHL history and a key member of the Big Three alongside Savard and Lapointe. His combination of size, skill, and physicality anchored the Canadiens dynasty of the 1970s.
Ken Dryden
Goaltender · 1970–1979
A dominant goaltender who won the Conn Smythe Trophy before winning the Calder Trophy. In just eight NHL seasons, Dryden amassed six Stanley Cups and five Vezina Trophies. His iconic pose leaning on his stick remains one of hockey's most recognizable images.
Yvan Cournoyer
"The Roadrunner"
Right Wing · 1963–1979
The Roadrunner. One of the fastest skaters in NHL history, Cournoyer was a clutch playoff performer who won 10 Stanley Cups. He scored the Cup-winning goal in 1973 and earned the Conn Smythe Trophy that year.
Doug Harvey
Defenseman · 1947–1961
Widely considered the greatest defenseman of his era and one of the best ever. Harvey controlled the pace of the game like no other blueliner, quarterbacking the power play and anchoring the defense during the Canadiens' five consecutive Stanley Cups from 1956 to 1960.
Howie Morenz
"The Stratford Streak"
Center · 1923–1937
The Stratford Streak. Hockey's first superstar, Morenz was named the greatest hockey player of the first half of the 20th century. His blazing speed and dynamic play filled arenas across North America and helped establish the NHL.
Dickie Moore
Left Wing · 1951–1963
A tough, skilled winger who played through injuries that would sideline most players. Moore won the Art Ross Trophy twice, including the 1958-59 season when he set an NHL points record with 96 points while playing with a broken wrist.
Serge Savard
"The Senator"
Defenseman · 1966–1981
The Senator. A smooth, intelligent defenseman and part of the legendary Big Three with Robinson and Lapointe. Won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1969 and later served as general manager, building the 1986 and 1993 Cup teams.
Bob Gainey
Left Wing · 1973–1989
Called 'the most complete player in hockey' by Soviet coach Viktor Tikhonov. Gainey was the ultimate two-way forward and captain who defined defensive excellence. The Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward, was practically created for him.
Saku Koivu
"The Finnish Flash"
Center · 1995–2009
Captain Koivu. Though he never won the Stanley Cup, his courageous battle against cancer and triumphant return to the ice in 2002 made him one of the most beloved Canadiens of the modern era. His heart and leadership transcended statistics.