11 Best Montreal Canadiens Players of All Time

The Montreal Canadiens are the most successful team in NHL history and one of the winningest franchises in North American sports.

Led by Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur, and Larry Robinson, the Habs dominated the NHL for decades and enjoyed three different dynasties (as recognized by the Hockey Hall of Fame) between 1955 and 1979.

11 Best Montreal Canadiens Players of All Time

11 Greatest Canadiens of All Time

1. Jean Beliveau

Known as one of the classiest players in NHL history, Jean Beliveau earned respect with the way he played and because he was a serial winner.

Beliveau’s statistics are eye-popping. He ranks second in franchise history in goals, assists, and points, and he is just one of five players to skate in over 1,000 games for the Habs.

As jaw-dropping as those numbers are, the most impressive part of Beliveau’s career is that he is one of three players to win at least 10 Stanley Cups.

2. Maurice Richard

The owner of one of the most famous nicknames in hockey history, Maurice “Rocket” Richard rewrote the record book during his NHL career.

He was the best player on the only team in league history to win five consecutive Stanley Cups, and he became the first 50-goal scorer in league history in 1944-45, doing so in 50 games.

Richard’s 544 goals are still the most in franchise history, and his impact on Canadian culture was so profound that he was named one of the inaugural members of the Order of Canada in 1967.

The Rocket Richard Trophy is awarded to the player who scores the most goals each season.

3. Guy Lafleur

You couldn’t miss Guy Lafleur.

An elegant playmaker and speedy skater, Lafleur’s trademark blonde locks became part of hockey lore in the 1970s.

But there was a lot more to Lafleur than stylish locks and loud outfits. “The Flower” recorded six 100-point seasons in a row from 1974-1975 to 1979-1980, and he led the Habs to five Stanley Cups during that span.

Lafleur’s 1,246 points are the most in franchise history.

4. Larry Robinson

One of the best all-around defencemen in NHL history, Larry Robinson was a stalwart on the Habs’ blueline during their dynasty years in the 1970s.

Known as “Big Bird” for his size, Robinson excelled in all three zones and was regularly tasked with shutting down the opposition’s best line. 

Robinson’s plus-730 is the best plus/minus rating in NHL history.

With Robinson patrolling the blueline behind an offensive force like Lafleur, it’s no wonder the Canadiens were always listed among the favourites in the Stanley Cup odds in this era.

5. Patrick Roy

Patrick Roy marched to the beat of his own drum, but it worked.

A fan of the Quebec Nordiques, Roy disliked the rival Canadiens growing up. As fate would have it, Roy would quickly become a fan favourite in Montreal.

Roy was a dominant force in the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs, posting a 15-5 record and a .923 save percentage en route to a championship. Roy, 20, became the youngest player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Roy’s playoff heroics were on full display seven years later when he won 16 of 20 games and posted a .929 save percentage to lead Montreal to the 1993 Stanley Cup. 

With Roy in his prime, the Canadiens regularly had the best hockey odds to win the Stanley Cup. 

6. Henri Richard

Henri Richard’s winning ways transcend hockey. 

Not only is he the only player in NHL history to win 11 Stanley Cups, but he is tied with Bill Russell of the NBA for the most championships among the four major sports in North America.

No player in Canadiens’ history has played more games than Richard, who also ranks third in franchise history with 1,046 points.

7. Yvan Cournoyer

A bridge between two dynasty teams, few players in the NHL could match the speed and creativity of Yvan Cournoyer. 

Cournoyer played 16 seasons in Montreal and won a Stanley Cup in half of them. When he retired in 1979, he trailed only Beliveau and Maurice Richard on the Canadiens’ all-time scoring list.

8. Bob Gainey

The fact that Bob Gainey is considered a Montreal legend despite some modest offensive statistics tells you everything you need to know about him.

One of the best two-way forwards of all time, Gainey won the Selke Trophy four times and was regularly matched up with the opposition’s best line. 

Gainey’s elite defensive play helped Montreal capture five Stanley Cups during his tenure, which lasted 1,160 games.

9. Jacques Lemaire

Another serial winner, Jacques Lemaire has eight Stanley Cup rings to his credit. 

An elite playmaker, Lemaire developed incredible chemistry with Lafleur and Steve Shutt. Lemaire’s defensive instincts also allowed for his more offensively inclined wingers to take risks knowing that their centreman would have their back.

Lemaire averaged 0.98 points per game in his 12 seasons with the Canadiens.

10. Ken Dryden

One of hockey’s greatest personalities, Ken Dryden wrote the book (literally) on goaltending.

Dryden was surprisingly named the starter for the 1971 Stanley Cup playoffs despite only having six games of NHL experience under his belt at that time.

It turned out to be the right decision. Dryden posted a .914 save percentage en route to a Stanley Cup. He was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for his efforts.

That would be a sign of things to come.

By the time Dryden’s career ended he had won the Calder Trophy, five Vezina Trophies, and won the Stanley Cup six times.

Dryden published “The Game” in 1983. It is considered one of the best hockey books of all time. 

11. Saku Koivu

An inspirational leader on and off the ice, Saku Koivu became the first European-born captain of the Montreal Canadiens in 1999. 

Koivu’s 641 points are the 10th most in franchise history, but his perseverance defined his career.

Diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma before the 2001-2002 season, Koivu was expected to miss the entire campaign, and his career was in jeopardy. He would return at the end of the season for a handful of games and was given an eight-minute standing ovation by the crowd at the Molson Centre.