Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens: History, Stats and Everything You Need to Know

The Montreal Canadiens are the oldest professional ice hockey team in the world still active today, and, remarkably, the only founding member of the NHL that's still playing under its original name in its original city. With 24 Stanley Cup titles, in fact, no franchise in NHL history has won more.

Quick Facts: Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens History

Founded in 1909, the Canadiens were originally created to represent Montreal's francophone community, with French-Canadian players and ownership. Founder J. Ambrose O'Brien named the club "Les Canadiens." Later, they joined four other teams to help form the NHL itself in 1917, making them the only founding franchise still playing under its original name in its original city, and then went on to win their first Stanley Cup just seven years later, in 1924.

Why Are They Called the "Habs"?

The nickname "Habs" is short for "Les Habitants," the historic term for the French settlers of Quebec. According to the most widely told story, it caught on in the 1920s after an American sportswriter mistakenly assumed the "H" inside the team's famous "CH" crest stood for "Habitants." In reality, though, the logo represents the club's official French name, Club de Hockey Canadien — the "C" stands for Canadien, and the "H" simply stands for Hockey. Even so, the nickname stuck, and "Habs" remains the team's most popular moniker to this day, alongside others like Le Tricolore and Les Glorieux.

• A dynasty franchise: Since their first two championships in 1916 and 1924, the Canadiens have gone on to add 22 more Stanley Cups — twice in the 1930s, twice in the 1940s, five times in the 1950s, five times in the 1960s, six times in the 1970s, and once each in the 1980s and 1990s.
• A new home: Since 1996, meanwhile, the Canadiens have played at the Bell Centre, after seven decades at the legendary Montreal Forum.
• Recent success: More recently, Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2026 before falling to Carolina, with captain Nick Suzuki winning the Selke Trophy and Cole Caufield taking home the Lady Byng.

Montreal Canadiens' Retired Numbers

The Canadiens have retired 15 numbers, honoring 18 legendary players across their storied history:

A record unmatched anywhere: With 24 Stanley Cups, the Canadiens have won more championships than any other franchise in NHL history — and, remarkably, remain the sole founding NHL team still playing in its original city under its original name.

2025-26 Season Recap

Montreal finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 48-24-10 record before advancing all the way to the Eastern Conference Final, where they were ultimately eliminated by Carolina. Still, it was a breakout year individually: captain Nick Suzuki won the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward, while young sniper Cole Caufield claimed the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and skill.