The Montreal Canadiens, also known as the Habs, are an iconic ice hockey team in North America. But who are they, why do their supporters feel such pride for them, and what’s the toll on players of this?
The Habs are part of the Original Six, a group of teams that defined the early days of the National Hockey League (NHL). This means they are one of the older teams in the NHL. The result? They have generations of supporters. This means generations of passion, admiration, loyalty, and of course generations of frustration and disappointment. Ice hockey is the national winter sport of Canada, so every single Quebecer is part of the Habs fanbase – it’s in their blood.
Aside from their longevity, the Habs are very popular because they are a Canadian team. In the NHL, only seven of the thirty-two teams are Canadian. Even though the sport is Canadian by nature, the NHL executives prefer to add American teams when it comes to expanding the league, mainly because they bring in more money. An example of this includes the recent addition of the Vegas Golden Knights, a hockey team that’s been added despite its unconventional location. So, for the small number of Canadian teams, the supporters have a lot of pride. This is especially true for the Habs, because they represent all of French-speaking Canada. Quebecers and Acadians use the Habs to show their francophone pride.
The Habs have catapulted the careers of numerous French-Canadian talents, such as Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard. In the early years of the NHL, the success of Rocket Richard was very important because it proved that French Canadians were as respected as anglophone Canadians. Now, the end-of-season award given to the NHL’s top goalscorer is named after Rocket Richard, showing the legacy of these French-Canadian players. Today, during Habs games, all the announcements are in French and English. It’s a small gesture, but for the French-speaking fans in the stadium, it’s a symbol of equality for French Canada.
The Habs are also the most successful team in NHL history, winning the Stanley Cup 24 times. Unfortunately, the last time was in 1993, but don’t worry because the future looks bright for the Habs. They have a young and feisty core, with players like Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Arber Xhekaj. The average age of the team is around 26, making them the 4th youngest team in the NHL.
While all of this sounds positive, it can actually be detrimental to players on the team. The amount of pressure they feel putting on the Habs sweater cannot be underestimated. The hockey market in Montreal and Quebec is intense. Fans and the media expect players to give it their all, and they don’t mind unleashing their worst if the result doesn’t go their way. As a past-Hab put it, “Montreal is a great place to play… when the team wins.” The scrutiny in the media is immense – newspapers, radio stations, and of course social media follow every decision made by Habs players and management. These outlets analyse every single interview quote, unlucky pass, and starting lineup. Players aren’t that enthusiastic about playing for a team where their every move is dissected by reporters. It is especially a lot to handle for young players.
The thirst for hockey in Montreal is insatiable, and this is exacerbated by the lack of any other major sports team. In Toronto, if the Leafs lose in the playoffs again, the media can shift its focus onto the NBA team or the World Series. Montreal, on the other hand, is hockey hockey hockey. The only other sports team that could take the spotlight off the Habs is CF Montreal (Major League Soccer), but hockey is still the undisputed monarch. Playing in Montreal’s hockey market, as opposed to a place like Los Angeles where the fanbase is smaller and the city is instead focused on baseball and American football, creates high pressure for players.
Another factor leading to pressure of playing in Montreal is, unfortunately, its past success. While several of the team’s Stanley Cups came during the Original Six era where there were only 5 other teams to compete with, they still hold a lot of weight among fans. Since the team was good enough to win decades ago, people still expect that now, even though the NHL has changed so much. The last time the Habs won the Stanley Cup was when 24 NHL teams competed.
What’s the result of all of this? Not only does it take a huge toll on the mental health of the players, it is also horrific for their physical health. As soon as the Montreal media brands a player as a generational talent, or ‘the face of the Habs’ they are forced to perform day in, day out, no matter what. Hockey is a brutal sport on the body without all of this external pressure. Carey Price and Shea Weber, former Habs, ended their careers by playing through injury. They would rather tear muscles than risk being scrutinised in the media for skipping a few games.
So, while the Habs are a brilliant, iconic force in hockey, and they bring together multiple generations of an entire province, the impacts of this can be harmful. With so much pressure, players are often discouraged from accepting a trade to Montreal where they will be under a microscope. The success and pride of the Habs is truly a double edged sword.
Next week on The Price of Being Iconic series: Scuderia Ferrari F1 Team!
