Founded in 1909, the Montreal Canadiens are one of a number of franchises flying the flag for Canada in North America’s National Hockey League. They have a loyal support north of the border and have traditionally been one of the most globally popular teams in the NHL.
Part of the reason for that popularity lies in the team’s achievements. With 24 Stanley Cup wins to date, they are the most successful franchise in the history of the NHL. Over time, some great players have featured on the Canadiens’ roster, but who are the best?
Making Up Ground
While they may be the most successful team in NHL history, recent years have been more of a struggle. The Montreal Canadiens haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1993, and according to independent sources, fans face a long wait for title number 25.
While fellow Canadians the Edmonton Oilers are favourites to win the Stanley Cup this season, current betting markets show that Montreal are way down among the underdogs. It’s been tough for Head Coach Martin St Louis to build a team worthy of the name, and it may be the case that the Canadiens’ roster is haunted by some of the great names from the past.
Maurice Richard
There will be some debate over certain inclusions on this list, but many Montreal fans would agree with the name at the top. Maurice Richard enjoyed a long career in the NHL, and he set several records in his time with the Canadiens.
Right winger Richard was a one-franchise man, staying with the Canadiens from 1942 to 1960. He was the first player to reach 50 goals in a season and the first to 500 in a career. He played in 13 All Star games and was the NHL’s most valuable player in 1947.
Playing at a time when the Montreal Canadiens were a dominant force in the league, Maurice Richard featured in eight Stanley Cup winning sides between 1944 and 1960.
Doug Harvey
Defenceman Doug Harvey played alongside Maurice Rchard for much of his career and the two enjoyed similar success on the ice. Harvey was with the Canadiens from 1947 to 1961 and he won the Stanley Cup six times in that period.
A solid and reliable player at the heart of Montreal’s defense, Doug Harvey won the James Norris Memorial Trophy on no fewer than seven occasions. The award is given to the best defensive player in the NHL, and this clearly shows his value to the Canadiens.
Jacques Plante
When the great Montreal players of the 1950s had drifted into retirement, space opened for others to take over. The Canadiens’ teams of the 1960s and 1970s had tough acts to follow, but they achieved their targets.
Jacques Plante began his Montreal career in 1952, and for a time, he played alongside the likes of Doug Harvey and Maurice Richard. The goaltender carried success through until 1965 when he left for the New York Rangers.
Sixty years after he left the team, Plante still holds the record for Canadiens’ appearances and career wins. He’s second to George Hainsworth in terms of shutouts, but many still believe that Jacques Plante is the greatest goalie in Montreal Canadiens history.
Larry Robinson
The inclusion of Larry Robinson on this list brings us more up to date. The Montreal Canadiens dominated the NHL for much of the 1970s, winning six Stanley Cups across the decade.
Defenseman Robinson started his career with the Canadiens in 1973 and his height and build made him an imposing presence at the back. He also had great speed across the ice and could be useful in attack. When he won the James Norris Trophy in 1976/77, Larry Robinson contributed 19 goals across the season.
Howie Morenz
Who was the first great Montreal Canadiens player? Many will point to Howie Morenz who enjoyed a career with the team from 1923 to 1937. Tragically, a broken leg in his final game led to his untimely death at the age of just 34.
Morenz achieved much in his time with Montreal, and was the League’s MVP on three occasions. He also won three Stanley Cups and would have undoubtedly claimed many more had he lived. Howie Morenz’s skill on the ice helped to make the team a dominant force in the pre-war years.
It’s always nice to reflect on history and to look back at an era of success, but Montreal Canadiens fans must also hope that they can get back to the levels that the team has enjoyed in the past.
It’s been over thirty years since a Canadiens side won the Stanley Cup, and recent campaigns suggest that fans will have to wait a little longer. Hopefully, the owners can build a roster worthy of competing at the top, and it won’t be long before we can include more names on this illustrious list.