With over a century worth of history, the Montreal Canadiens are one of the most iconic franchises in the NHL. Known officially as Le Club de Hockey Canadien, which translates to the Canadian Hockey Club, the Canadiens are often referred to as the Habs, a reference to the French settlers who farmed along the shores of the St. Lawrence River in modern-day Quebec. They are one of the NHL’s Original Six teams and have won more Stanley Cups than any other franchise.

In the Beginning

The Canadiens were founded in 1909 with the idea that they would represent the French-speaking community in Montreal. Success was hard to find at first, as Montreal won just two of their 12 games during their inaugural season in 2010. However, the Canadiens managed to win their first Stanley Cup in 1916. Championships would follow in 1924, 1930, and 1931 before the Canadiens truly came into their own as a franchise.

A Trilogy of Dynasties

Of the nine dynasties the NHL officially recognizes, the Canadiens own three of them. The first came when they won five consecutive Stanley Cups between 1956 and 1960 while leading the NHL in points during the regular season four times during that span. The second dynasty came in the form of four Stanley Cups in five years between 1965 and 1969, while the third was a string of four Cups in a row from 1976 to 1979. Just for good measure, the Canadiens also won the Stanley Cup in 1971 and 1973, continuing their dominance in between dynasties.

The Glory Days Are Over

Even after their most recent dynasty ended after the 1979 Cup, Montreal has continued to be one of the pre-eminent NHL teams. They reached the playoffs every year from 1971 to 1994, winning Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1993. But they haven't even reached the Finals since '93, meaning they’ve never lifted the Cup in the Bell Centre. Montreal’s enthusiasm for hockey isn’t over, but the team's glory days appear to be in the past – or at least on hold.