2011–12 Montreal Canadiens season
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
season
is the team's 103rd
season in franchise history and their 95th
season in the National Hockey League
since the league was established on November 22, 1917.
had certain issues to address. There were several unrestriced free agents on the team that included, most notably Jeff Halpern
, Roman Hamrlik
, Alex Auld
, Brent Sopel
, Hal Gill
, James Wisniewski
, Mathieu Darche
and Andrei Markov.
The team managed to re-sign Gill, Darche and Markov. On the other hand, no contracts were offered to Halpern, Auld and Sopel, thus allowing them to leave the team. Roman Hamrlik
rejected the Canadiens's one-year offer and instead accepted a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals
. James Wisniewski
let it be known that he would be testing the free agent market (where a bidding war for his services would ensue). On June 29, his negotiating rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
.
On the restricted free agent side, qualifying offers were made to Andrei Kostitsyn
, Max Pacioretty
, David Desharnais
, Yannick Weber
, Ryan White
and Josh Gorges
, all were eventually re-signed. No qualifying offers were made to forwards Dustin Boyd
, Tom Pyatt
, Benoit Pouliot
and defenseman Alexandre Picard
, thus allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.
On the first day of free agency on July 1, Pierre Gauthier addressed two needs, a big body forward and a reliable back-up goaltender. They were successful in signing forward Erik Cole
from the Carolina Hurricanes
to a four-year contract worth $18 million. The need for a capable back-up goaltender to help out Carey Price was also fulfilled when they signed free agent Peter Budaj
from the Colorado Avalanche
to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million.
Another notable transaction during the off-season is the signing of rugged Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin
to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Yemelin, drafted by the team in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
, was under the Canadiens radar for quite some time. He finally agreed to make the jump to North America when a clause was inserted in his contract, stating that he would be able to return to the Kontinental Hockey League
in Russia
should he be unable to crack the Canadiens roster. Yemelin is often compared to fellow Russian and former NHL defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
, who was known for his aggressive physical playing style.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller
, who was part of the Canadiens coaching staff since 2006, confirmed rumours that he was actively seeking a head coaching position in the NHL and would be leaving the team. On June 27, 2011, following his inability to find a head coaching position in the NHL, the Nashville Predators
announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL
affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
.
Following Kirk's departure, general manager Pierre Gauthier announced the appointment of Randy Cunneyworth
and Randy Ladouceur
as assistant coaches. Cunneyworth and Ladouceur were coach and assistant coach respectfully for the Canadiens's AHL
affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
during the previous season. The addition of Ladouceur also provides the team the first former defenseman as an assistant coach since the 2005-06 NHL season
.
The Canadiens started with the team's worst start since 1941. Prior to their first game of the season, defenceman Andrei Markov was placed on the injured reserved list. The Canadiens started the season with a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs
at the Air Canada Centre
. During the game, newly acquired defenceman Chris Campoli
suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
The team's first win of the season was a 5-1 decision against the Winnipeg Jets
at the MTS Centre
, which was the Jets' first game in the newly relocated franchise's history.
The Canadiens played their home opener on October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames
. This coincided with Lars Eller
's first game of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. That same day, the team announced that forward Ryan White had surgery for a sports hernia and was sidelined indefinitely.
On October 23, the team traded longtime prospect Brock Trotter
and their 7th round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Phoenix Coyotes
for forward Petteri Nokelainen
and defenseman Garrett Stafford
.
The team would go on to a six-game losing streak and five-game losing streak at home until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers
on October 26, 2011 at the Bell Centre. Prior to the game, the Canadiens relieved assistant coach Perry Pearn
of his duties, offering him (but he declined) another position in the organization. Pearn was replaced behind the bench by Randy Ladouceur
, who until then was situated in the press box during game time.
November
On November 10th the Canadiens beat the Phoenix Coyotes
3-2 in overtime to continue their winning streak in Phoenix. The Coyotes have not beaten the Canadiens at home ice since December 9, 1998, when they won 4-2.
Defenceman Frédéric Saint-Denis made his NHL debut on November 16 in a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes
at the Bell Centre. The game also saw Carey Price block all 25 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Max Pacioretty was suspended by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan
for three games following a questionable hit on Pittsburgh Penguins
defencemen Kristopher Letang
on November 26th at the Bell Centre. Lang suffered a broken nose but still managed to finish the game. No penalty had been called on the hit.
predicts that the Canadiens will place eighth and qualify for the playoffs.
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011-12 Game Log
|- valign="top"
|
The 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
season
is the team's 103rd
season in franchise history and their 95th
season in the National Hockey League
since the league was established on November 22, 1917.
had certain issues to address. There were several unrestriced free agents on the team that included, most notably Jeff Halpern
, Roman Hamrlik
, Alex Auld
, Brent Sopel
, Hal Gill
, James Wisniewski
, Mathieu Darche
and Andrei Markov.
The team managed to re-sign Gill, Darche and Markov. On the other hand, no contracts were offered to Halpern, Auld and Sopel, thus allowing them to leave the team. Roman Hamrlik
rejected the Canadiens's one-year offer and instead accepted a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals
. James Wisniewski
let it be known that he would be testing the free agent market (where a bidding war for his services would ensue). On June 29, his negotiating rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
.
On the restricted free agent side, qualifying offers were made to Andrei Kostitsyn
, Max Pacioretty
, David Desharnais
, Yannick Weber
, Ryan White
and Josh Gorges
, all were eventually re-signed. No qualifying offers were made to forwards Dustin Boyd
, Tom Pyatt
, Benoit Pouliot
and defenseman Alexandre Picard
, thus allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.
On the first day of free agency on July 1, Pierre Gauthier addressed two needs, a big body forward and a reliable back-up goaltender. They were successful in signing forward Erik Cole
from the Carolina Hurricanes
to a four-year contract worth $18 million. The need for a capable back-up goaltender to help out Carey Price was also fulfilled when they signed free agent Peter Budaj
from the Colorado Avalanche
to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million.
Another notable transaction during the off-season is the signing of rugged Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin
to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Yemelin, drafted by the team in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
, was under the Canadiens radar for quite some time. He finally agreed to make the jump to North America when a clause was inserted in his contract, stating that he would be able to return to the Kontinental Hockey League
in Russia
should he be unable to crack the Canadiens roster. Yemelin is often compared to fellow Russian and former NHL defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
, who was known for his aggressive physical playing style.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller
, who was part of the Canadiens coaching staff since 2006, confirmed rumours that he was actively seeking a head coaching position in the NHL and would be leaving the team. On June 27, 2011, following his inability to find a head coaching position in the NHL, the Nashville Predators
announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL
affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
.
Following Kirk's departure, general manager Pierre Gauthier announced the appointment of Randy Cunneyworth
and Randy Ladouceur
as assistant coaches. Cunneyworth and Ladouceur were coach and assistant coach respectfully for the Canadiens's AHL
affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
during the previous season. The addition of Ladouceur also provides the team the first former defenseman as an assistant coach since the 2005-06 NHL season
.
The Canadiens started with the team's worst start since 1941. Prior to their first game of the season, defenceman Andrei Markov was placed on the injured reserved list. The Canadiens started the season with a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs
at the Air Canada Centre
. During the game, newly acquired defenceman Chris Campoli
suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
The team's first win of the season was a 5-1 decision against the Winnipeg Jets
at the MTS Centre
, which was the Jets' first game in the newly relocated franchise's history.
The Canadiens played their home opener on October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames
. This coincided with Lars Eller
's first game of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. That same day, the team announced that forward Ryan White had surgery for a sports hernia and was sidelined indefinitely.
On October 23, the team traded longtime prospect Brock Trotter
and their 7th round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Phoenix Coyotes
for forward Petteri Nokelainen
and defenseman Garrett Stafford
.
The team would go on to a six-game losing streak and five-game losing streak at home until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers
on October 26, 2011 at the Bell Centre. Prior to the game, the Canadiens relieved assistant coach Perry Pearn
of his duties, offering him (but he declined) another position in the organization. Pearn was replaced behind the bench by Randy Ladouceur
, who until then was situated in the press box during game time.
November
On November 10th the Canadiens beat the Phoenix Coyotes
3-2 in overtime to continue their winning streak in Phoenix. The Coyotes have not beaten the Canadiens at home ice since December 9, 1998, when they won 4-2.
Defenceman Frédéric Saint-Denis made his NHL debut on November 16 in a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes
at the Bell Centre. The game also saw Carey Price block all 25 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Max Pacioretty was suspended by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan
for three games following a questionable hit on Pittsburgh Penguins
defencemen Kristopher Letang
on November 26th at the Bell Centre. Lang suffered a broken nose but still managed to finish the game. No penalty had been called on the hit.
predicts that the Canadiens will place eighth and qualify for the playoffs.
|-
! colspan=11 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011 Pre-season game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # || Date || Opponent || Score || Decision || Location || Attendance || Record || Recap
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 1 || September 20 || Dallas Stars
|| 3-6 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-1-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 2 || September 21 || Buffalo Sabres
|| 1-3 || Mayer
|| Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 3 || September 23 || Ottawa Senators
|| 4-3 SO || Lawson
|| Ottawa, ON || 17,853 || 1-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 4 || September 24 || Ottawa Senators || 2-3 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-3-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 5 || September 25 || Boston Bruins
|| 3-7 || Budaj || Halifax, NS || 10,595 || 1-4-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 6 || September 26 || Boston Bruins || 1-2 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-5-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 7 || September 29 || Tampa Bay Lightning
|| 0-4 || Budaj || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-6-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 8 || October 1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5-1 || Price || Quebec City, PQ || 15,176 || 2-6-0 ||
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011-12 Game Log
|- valign="top"
|
The 2011–12
Montreal Canadiens
season
is the team's 103rd
season in franchise history and their 95th
season in the National Hockey League
since the league was established on November 22, 1917.
had certain issues to address. There were several unrestriced free agents on the team that included, most notably Jeff Halpern
, Roman Hamrlik
, Alex Auld
, Brent Sopel
, Hal Gill
, James Wisniewski
, Mathieu Darche
and Andrei Markov.
The team managed to re-sign Gill, Darche and Markov. On the other hand, no contracts were offered to Halpern, Auld and Sopel, thus allowing them to leave the team. Roman Hamrlik
rejected the Canadiens's one-year offer and instead accepted a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals
. James Wisniewski
let it be known that he would be testing the free agent market (where a bidding war for his services would ensue). On June 29, his negotiating rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
.
On the restricted free agent side, qualifying offers were made to Andrei Kostitsyn
, Max Pacioretty
, David Desharnais
, Yannick Weber
, Ryan White
and Josh Gorges
, all were eventually re-signed. No qualifying offers were made to forwards Dustin Boyd
, Tom Pyatt
, Benoit Pouliot
and defenseman Alexandre Picard
, thus allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.
On the first day of free agency on July 1, Pierre Gauthier addressed two needs, a big body forward and a reliable back-up goaltender. They were successful in signing forward Erik Cole
from the Carolina Hurricanes
to a four-year contract worth $18 million. The need for a capable back-up goaltender to help out Carey Price was also fulfilled when they signed free agent Peter Budaj
from the Colorado Avalanche
to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million.
Another notable transaction during the off-season is the signing of rugged Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin
to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Yemelin, drafted by the team in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
, was under the Canadiens radar for quite some time. He finally agreed to make the jump to North America when a clause was inserted in his contract, stating that he would be able to return to the Kontinental Hockey League
in Russia
should he be unable to crack the Canadiens roster. Yemelin is often compared to fellow Russian and former NHL defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
, who was known for his aggressive physical playing style.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller
, who was part of the Canadiens coaching staff since 2006, confirmed rumours that he was actively seeking a head coaching position in the NHL and would be leaving the team. On June 27, 2011, following his inability to find a head coaching position in the NHL, the Nashville Predators
announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL
affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
.
Following Kirk's departure, general manager Pierre Gauthier announced the appointment of Randy Cunneyworth
and Randy Ladouceur
as assistant coaches. Cunneyworth and Ladouceur were coach and assistant coach respectfully for the Canadiens's AHL
affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
during the previous season. The addition of Ladouceur also provides the team the first former defenseman as an assistant coach since the 2005-06 NHL season
.
The Canadiens started with the team's worst start since 1941. Prior to their first game of the season, defenceman Andrei Markov was placed on the injured reserved list. The Canadiens started the season with a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs
at the Air Canada Centre
. During the game, newly acquired defenceman Chris Campoli
suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
The team's first win of the season was a 5-1 decision against the Winnipeg Jets
at the MTS Centre
, which was the Jets' first game in the newly relocated franchise's history.
The Canadiens played their home opener on October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames
. This coincided with Lars Eller
's first game of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. That same day, the team announced that forward Ryan White had surgery for a sports hernia and was sidelined indefinitely.
On October 23, the team traded longtime prospect Brock Trotter
and their 7th round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Phoenix Coyotes
for forward Petteri Nokelainen
and defenseman Garrett Stafford
.
The team would go on to a six-game losing streak and five-game losing streak at home until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers
on October 26, 2011 at the Bell Centre. Prior to the game, the Canadiens relieved assistant coach Perry Pearn
of his duties, offering him (but he declined) another position in the organization. Pearn was replaced behind the bench by Randy Ladouceur
, who until then was situated in the press box during game time.
November
On November 10th the Canadiens beat the Phoenix Coyotes
3-2 in overtime to continue their winning streak in Phoenix. The Coyotes have not beaten the Canadiens at home ice since December 9, 1998, when they won 4-2.
Defenceman Frédéric Saint-Denis made his NHL debut on November 16 in a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes
at the Bell Centre. The game also saw Carey Price block all 25 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Max Pacioretty was suspended by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan
for three games following a questionable hit on Pittsburgh Penguins
defencemen Kristopher Letang
on November 26th at the Bell Centre. Lang suffered a broken nose but still managed to finish the game. No penalty had been called on the hit.
predicts that the Canadiens will place eighth and qualify for the playoffs.
|-
! colspan=11 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011 Pre-season game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # || Date || Opponent || Score || Decision || Location || Attendance || Record || Recap
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 1 || September 20 || Dallas Stars
|| 3-6 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-1-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 2 || September 21 || Buffalo Sabres
|| 1-3 || Mayer
|| Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 3 || September 23 || Ottawa Senators
|| 4-3 SO || Lawson
|| Ottawa, ON || 17,853 || 1-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 4 || September 24 || Ottawa Senators || 2-3 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-3-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 5 || September 25 || Boston Bruins
|| 3-7 || Budaj || Halifax, NS || 10,595 || 1-4-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 6 || September 26 || Boston Bruins || 1-2 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-5-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 7 || September 29 || Tampa Bay Lightning
|| 0-4 || Budaj || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-6-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 8 || October 1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5-1 || Price || Quebec City, PQ || 15,176 || 2-6-0 ||
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011-12 Game Log
|- valign="top"
|
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
is the team's 103rd
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season in franchise history and their 95th
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
since the league was established on November 22, 1917.
Off-season
Heading into the off-season, Canadiens GM Pierre GauthierPierre Gauthier
For the Canadian politician see Pierre Gauthier Pierre Gauthier is an ice hockey administrator in the National Hockey League...
had certain issues to address. There were several unrestriced free agents on the team that included, most notably Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...
, Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
, Alex Auld
Alex Auld
Alexander Auld is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . Auld has also played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars of the NHL...
, Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing the Kontinental Hockey League and previously the National Hockey League .-Vancouver Canucks:...
, Hal Gill
Hal Gill
Harold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays left wing with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Mathieu is the younger brother of long snapper J. P. Darche.-Playing career:...
and Andrei Markov.
The team managed to re-sign Gill, Darche and Markov. On the other hand, no contracts were offered to Halpern, Auld and Sopel, thus allowing them to leave the team. Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
rejected the Canadiens's one-year offer and instead accepted a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
let it be known that he would be testing the free agent market (where a bidding war for his services would ensue). On June 29, his negotiating rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
On the restricted free agent side, qualifying offers were made to Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrej Aliehavič Kaścicyn , better known as Andrei Kostitsyn, is a Belarusian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . The media have nicknamed him AK-46, a play on his initials and player number in reference to the Soviet AK-47...
, Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was called up from the American Hockey League for the second time on December 12, 2010...
, David Desharnais
David Desharnais
David Desharnais is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
, Yannick Weber
Yannick Weber
Yannick Weber is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward/defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Canadiens in the 3rd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and is the first player in franchise history to wear jersey No...
, Ryan White
Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
and Josh Gorges
Josh Gorges
Josh Gorges is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He is of German ancestry as his grandparents immigrated from Germany to Canada.-Playing career:...
, all were eventually re-signed. No qualifying offers were made to forwards Dustin Boyd
Dustin Boyd
Dustin Boyd is a Canadian professional ice hockey player under contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, Tom Pyatt
Tom Pyatt
Thomas Cullum Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently with Tampa Bay Lightning . He is the son of former NHL player Nelson Pyatt and brother of Phoenix Coyotes forward Taylor Pyatt.-Playing career:...
, Benoit Pouliot
Benoit Pouliot
Benoît Robert Pouliot is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and defenseman Alexandre Picard
Alexandre R. Picard
Alexandre R. Picard is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.-Playing career:...
, thus allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.
On the first day of free agency on July 1, Pierre Gauthier addressed two needs, a big body forward and a reliable back-up goaltender. They were successful in signing forward Erik Cole
Erik Cole
Erik Cole is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He has played most of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also played a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers before returning to Carolina in 2009...
from the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
to a four-year contract worth $18 million. The need for a capable back-up goaltender to help out Carey Price was also fulfilled when they signed free agent Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
from the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million.
Another notable transaction during the off-season is the signing of rugged Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin
Alexei Yemelin
Alexei Emelin is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Yemelin, drafted by the team in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
, was under the Canadiens radar for quite some time. He finally agreed to make the jump to North America when a clause was inserted in his contract, stating that he would be able to return to the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
should he be unable to crack the Canadiens roster. Yemelin is often compared to fellow Russian and former NHL defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
, who was known for his aggressive physical playing style.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller
Kirk Muller
Kirk Christopher Muller is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 19 seasons from 1984–85 until 2002–03...
, who was part of the Canadiens coaching staff since 2006, confirmed rumours that he was actively seeking a head coaching position in the NHL and would be leaving the team. On June 27, 2011, following his inability to find a head coaching position in the NHL, the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
.
Following Kirk's departure, general manager Pierre Gauthier announced the appointment of Randy Cunneyworth
Randy Cunneyworth
Randolph William Cunneyworth is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach. He played professionally in the National Hockey League in a twenty-year career.-Playing career:...
and Randy Ladouceur
Randy Ladouceur
Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs...
as assistant coaches. Cunneyworth and Ladouceur were coach and assistant coach respectfully for the Canadiens's AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
during the previous season. The addition of Ladouceur also provides the team the first former defenseman as an assistant coach since the 2005-06 NHL season
2005-06 NHL season
The 2005–06 NHL season was the 89th season of operation of the National Hockey League . This was the season after the 2004–05 season which had all of its scheduled games canceled due to a labor dispute with the NHL Players Association over the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league...
.
Regular season
OctoberThe Canadiens started with the team's worst start since 1941. Prior to their first game of the season, defenceman Andrei Markov was placed on the injured reserved list. The Canadiens started the season with a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
at the Air Canada Centre
Air Canada Centre
The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The arena is popularly known as the ACC or the Hangar ....
. During the game, newly acquired defenceman Chris Campoli
Chris Campoli
Chris Campoli is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens. Campoli previously played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders.- Junior career :...
suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
The team's first win of the season was a 5-1 decision against the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
at the MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
, which was the Jets' first game in the newly relocated franchise's history.
The Canadiens played their home opener on October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. This coincided with Lars Eller
Lars Eller
Lars Fosgaard Eller is a Danish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft,...
's first game of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. That same day, the team announced that forward Ryan White had surgery for a sports hernia and was sidelined indefinitely.
On October 23, the team traded longtime prospect Brock Trotter
Brock Trotter
Brock Trotter is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played two games in the NHL with the Canadiens during the 2009-10 NHL season.-Playing career:...
and their 7th round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for forward Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and defenseman Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a part of the Montreal Canadiens organization.-Playing career:...
.
The team would go on to a six-game losing streak and five-game losing streak at home until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on October 26, 2011 at the Bell Centre. Prior to the game, the Canadiens relieved assistant coach Perry Pearn
Perry Pearn
Perry Pearn is a former assistant coach of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens.- Coaching career:Pearn was fired along with Head Coach Tom Renney, on February 23, 2009 from his job as assistant coach of the Rangers. Pearn was in charge of the defensive units with the Rangers...
of his duties, offering him (but he declined) another position in the organization. Pearn was replaced behind the bench by Randy Ladouceur
Randy Ladouceur
Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs...
, who until then was situated in the press box during game time.
November
On November 10th the Canadiens beat the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
3-2 in overtime to continue their winning streak in Phoenix. The Coyotes have not beaten the Canadiens at home ice since December 9, 1998, when they won 4-2.
Defenceman Frédéric Saint-Denis made his NHL debut on November 16 in a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
at the Bell Centre. The game also saw Carey Price block all 25 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Max Pacioretty was suspended by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...
for three games following a questionable hit on Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
defencemen Kristopher Letang
Kristopher Letang
Kristopher Allen Letang is a French Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He played junior in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for three seasons, during which time he was selected 62nd overall by the Penguins...
on November 26th at the Bell Centre. Lang suffered a broken nose but still managed to finish the game. No penalty had been called on the hit.
Playoffs
The Canadiens will attempt to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The Hockey NewsThe Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
predicts that the Canadiens will place eighth and qualify for the playoffs.
Standings
Pre-season
| 2011 Pre-season game log | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Date | Opponent | Score | Decision | Location | Attendance | Record | Recap | ||
| 1 | September 20 | Dallas Stars Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... |
3-6 | Price | Montreal, PQ | 21,273 | 0-1-0 | |||
| 2 | September 21 | Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
1-3 | Mayer Robert Mayer (ice hockey) Robert Mayer is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League. He signed a three-year entry-level contract by the Montreal Canadiens in 2008-External links:... |
Montreal, PQ | 21,273 | 0-2-0 | |||
| 3 | September 23 | Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
4-3 SO | Lawson Nathan Lawson Nathan Lawson is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League while signed with the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League.... |
Ottawa, ON | 17,853 | 1-2-0 | |||
| 4 | September 24 | Ottawa Senators | 2-3 | Price | Montreal, PQ | 21,273 | 1-3-0 | |||
| 5 | September 25 | Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
3-7 | Budaj | Halifax, NS | 10,595 | 1-4-0 | |||
| 6 | September 26 | Boston Bruins | 1-2 | Price | Montreal, PQ | 21,273 | 1-5-0 | |||
| 7 | September 29 | Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
0-4 | Budaj | Montreal, PQ | 21,273 | 1-6-0 | |||
| 8 | October 1 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 5-1 | Price | Quebec City, PQ | 15,176 | 2-6-0 | |||
Regular season
{| class="toccolours" width=95% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011-12 Game Log
|- valign="top"
|
The 2011–12
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
is the team's 103rd
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season in franchise history and their 95th
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
since the league was established on November 22, 1917.
Off-season
Heading into the off-season, Canadiens GM Pierre GauthierPierre Gauthier
For the Canadian politician see Pierre Gauthier Pierre Gauthier is an ice hockey administrator in the National Hockey League...
had certain issues to address. There were several unrestriced free agents on the team that included, most notably Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...
, Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
, Alex Auld
Alex Auld
Alexander Auld is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . Auld has also played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars of the NHL...
, Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing the Kontinental Hockey League and previously the National Hockey League .-Vancouver Canucks:...
, Hal Gill
Hal Gill
Harold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays left wing with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Mathieu is the younger brother of long snapper J. P. Darche.-Playing career:...
and Andrei Markov.
The team managed to re-sign Gill, Darche and Markov. On the other hand, no contracts were offered to Halpern, Auld and Sopel, thus allowing them to leave the team. Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
rejected the Canadiens's one-year offer and instead accepted a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
let it be known that he would be testing the free agent market (where a bidding war for his services would ensue). On June 29, his negotiating rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
On the restricted free agent side, qualifying offers were made to Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrej Aliehavič Kaścicyn , better known as Andrei Kostitsyn, is a Belarusian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . The media have nicknamed him AK-46, a play on his initials and player number in reference to the Soviet AK-47...
, Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was called up from the American Hockey League for the second time on December 12, 2010...
, David Desharnais
David Desharnais
David Desharnais is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
, Yannick Weber
Yannick Weber
Yannick Weber is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward/defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Canadiens in the 3rd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and is the first player in franchise history to wear jersey No...
, Ryan White
Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
and Josh Gorges
Josh Gorges
Josh Gorges is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He is of German ancestry as his grandparents immigrated from Germany to Canada.-Playing career:...
, all were eventually re-signed. No qualifying offers were made to forwards Dustin Boyd
Dustin Boyd
Dustin Boyd is a Canadian professional ice hockey player under contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, Tom Pyatt
Tom Pyatt
Thomas Cullum Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently with Tampa Bay Lightning . He is the son of former NHL player Nelson Pyatt and brother of Phoenix Coyotes forward Taylor Pyatt.-Playing career:...
, Benoit Pouliot
Benoit Pouliot
Benoît Robert Pouliot is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and defenseman Alexandre Picard
Alexandre R. Picard
Alexandre R. Picard is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.-Playing career:...
, thus allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.
On the first day of free agency on July 1, Pierre Gauthier addressed two needs, a big body forward and a reliable back-up goaltender. They were successful in signing forward Erik Cole
Erik Cole
Erik Cole is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He has played most of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also played a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers before returning to Carolina in 2009...
from the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
to a four-year contract worth $18 million. The need for a capable back-up goaltender to help out Carey Price was also fulfilled when they signed free agent Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
from the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million.
Another notable transaction during the off-season is the signing of rugged Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin
Alexei Yemelin
Alexei Emelin is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Yemelin, drafted by the team in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
, was under the Canadiens radar for quite some time. He finally agreed to make the jump to North America when a clause was inserted in his contract, stating that he would be able to return to the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
should he be unable to crack the Canadiens roster. Yemelin is often compared to fellow Russian and former NHL defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
, who was known for his aggressive physical playing style.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller
Kirk Muller
Kirk Christopher Muller is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 19 seasons from 1984–85 until 2002–03...
, who was part of the Canadiens coaching staff since 2006, confirmed rumours that he was actively seeking a head coaching position in the NHL and would be leaving the team. On June 27, 2011, following his inability to find a head coaching position in the NHL, the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
.
Following Kirk's departure, general manager Pierre Gauthier announced the appointment of Randy Cunneyworth
Randy Cunneyworth
Randolph William Cunneyworth is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach. He played professionally in the National Hockey League in a twenty-year career.-Playing career:...
and Randy Ladouceur
Randy Ladouceur
Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs...
as assistant coaches. Cunneyworth and Ladouceur were coach and assistant coach respectfully for the Canadiens's AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
during the previous season. The addition of Ladouceur also provides the team the first former defenseman as an assistant coach since the 2005-06 NHL season
2005-06 NHL season
The 2005–06 NHL season was the 89th season of operation of the National Hockey League . This was the season after the 2004–05 season which had all of its scheduled games canceled due to a labor dispute with the NHL Players Association over the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league...
.
Regular season
OctoberThe Canadiens started with the team's worst start since 1941. Prior to their first game of the season, defenceman Andrei Markov was placed on the injured reserved list. The Canadiens started the season with a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
at the Air Canada Centre
Air Canada Centre
The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The arena is popularly known as the ACC or the Hangar ....
. During the game, newly acquired defenceman Chris Campoli
Chris Campoli
Chris Campoli is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens. Campoli previously played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders.- Junior career :...
suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
The team's first win of the season was a 5-1 decision against the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
at the MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
, which was the Jets' first game in the newly relocated franchise's history.
The Canadiens played their home opener on October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. This coincided with Lars Eller
Lars Eller
Lars Fosgaard Eller is a Danish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft,...
's first game of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. That same day, the team announced that forward Ryan White had surgery for a sports hernia and was sidelined indefinitely.
On October 23, the team traded longtime prospect Brock Trotter
Brock Trotter
Brock Trotter is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played two games in the NHL with the Canadiens during the 2009-10 NHL season.-Playing career:...
and their 7th round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for forward Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and defenseman Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a part of the Montreal Canadiens organization.-Playing career:...
.
The team would go on to a six-game losing streak and five-game losing streak at home until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on October 26, 2011 at the Bell Centre. Prior to the game, the Canadiens relieved assistant coach Perry Pearn
Perry Pearn
Perry Pearn is a former assistant coach of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens.- Coaching career:Pearn was fired along with Head Coach Tom Renney, on February 23, 2009 from his job as assistant coach of the Rangers. Pearn was in charge of the defensive units with the Rangers...
of his duties, offering him (but he declined) another position in the organization. Pearn was replaced behind the bench by Randy Ladouceur
Randy Ladouceur
Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs...
, who until then was situated in the press box during game time.
November
On November 10th the Canadiens beat the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
3-2 in overtime to continue their winning streak in Phoenix. The Coyotes have not beaten the Canadiens at home ice since December 9, 1998, when they won 4-2.
Defenceman Frédéric Saint-Denis made his NHL debut on November 16 in a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
at the Bell Centre. The game also saw Carey Price block all 25 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Max Pacioretty was suspended by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...
for three games following a questionable hit on Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
defencemen Kristopher Letang
Kristopher Letang
Kristopher Allen Letang is a French Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He played junior in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for three seasons, during which time he was selected 62nd overall by the Penguins...
on November 26th at the Bell Centre. Lang suffered a broken nose but still managed to finish the game. No penalty had been called on the hit.
Playoffs
The Canadiens will attempt to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The Hockey NewsThe Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
predicts that the Canadiens will place eighth and qualify for the playoffs.
Standings
Pre-season
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=90% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center"|-
! colspan=11 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011 Pre-season game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # || Date || Opponent || Score || Decision || Location || Attendance || Record || Recap
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 1 || September 20 || Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
|| 3-6 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-1-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 2 || September 21 || Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
|| 1-3 || Mayer
Robert Mayer (ice hockey)
Robert Mayer is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League. He signed a three-year entry-level contract by the Montreal Canadiens in 2008-External links:...
|| Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 3 || September 23 || Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|| 4-3 SO || Lawson
Nathan Lawson
Nathan Lawson is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League while signed with the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League....
|| Ottawa, ON || 17,853 || 1-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 4 || September 24 || Ottawa Senators || 2-3 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-3-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 5 || September 25 || Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
|| 3-7 || Budaj || Halifax, NS || 10,595 || 1-4-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 6 || September 26 || Boston Bruins || 1-2 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-5-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 7 || September 29 || Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
|| 0-4 || Budaj || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-6-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 8 || October 1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5-1 || Price || Quebec City, PQ || 15,176 || 2-6-0 ||
|}
Regular season
{| class="toccolours" width=95% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011-12 Game Log
|- valign="top"
|
The 2011–12
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...
Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
is the team's 103rd
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season in franchise history and their 95th
Montreal Canadiens seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Montreal Canadiens professional ice hockey club. This list documents the records and playoff results for all seasons the Canadiens completed in both the National Hockey Association and the National Hockey League .-NHA :Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins,...
season in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
since the league was established on November 22, 1917.
Off-season
Heading into the off-season, Canadiens GM Pierre GauthierPierre Gauthier
For the Canadian politician see Pierre Gauthier Pierre Gauthier is an ice hockey administrator in the National Hockey League...
had certain issues to address. There were several unrestriced free agents on the team that included, most notably Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern
Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...
, Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
, Alex Auld
Alex Auld
Alexander Auld is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . Auld has also played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars of the NHL...
, Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing the Kontinental Hockey League and previously the National Hockey League .-Vancouver Canucks:...
, Hal Gill
Hal Gill
Harold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
, Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche
Mathieu Darche is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays left wing with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. Mathieu is the younger brother of long snapper J. P. Darche.-Playing career:...
and Andrei Markov.
The team managed to re-sign Gill, Darche and Markov. On the other hand, no contracts were offered to Halpern, Auld and Sopel, thus allowing them to leave the team. Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
rejected the Canadiens's one-year offer and instead accepted a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
let it be known that he would be testing the free agent market (where a bidding war for his services would ensue). On June 29, his negotiating rights were traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
On the restricted free agent side, qualifying offers were made to Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrei Kostitsyn
Andrej Aliehavič Kaścicyn , better known as Andrei Kostitsyn, is a Belarusian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . The media have nicknamed him AK-46, a play on his initials and player number in reference to the Soviet AK-47...
, Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty
Max Pacioretty is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was called up from the American Hockey League for the second time on December 12, 2010...
, David Desharnais
David Desharnais
David Desharnais is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
, Yannick Weber
Yannick Weber
Yannick Weber is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward/defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Canadiens in the 3rd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and is the first player in franchise history to wear jersey No...
, Ryan White
Ryan White
Ryan Wayne White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States, after being expelled from middle school because of his infection. A hemophiliac, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and, when diagnosed...
and Josh Gorges
Josh Gorges
Josh Gorges is a professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League. He is of German ancestry as his grandparents immigrated from Germany to Canada.-Playing career:...
, all were eventually re-signed. No qualifying offers were made to forwards Dustin Boyd
Dustin Boyd
Dustin Boyd is a Canadian professional ice hockey player under contract with Barys Astana of the Kontinental Hockey League.- Playing career :...
, Tom Pyatt
Tom Pyatt
Thomas Cullum Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently with Tampa Bay Lightning . He is the son of former NHL player Nelson Pyatt and brother of Phoenix Coyotes forward Taylor Pyatt.-Playing career:...
, Benoit Pouliot
Benoit Pouliot
Benoît Robert Pouliot is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and defenseman Alexandre Picard
Alexandre R. Picard
Alexandre R. Picard is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.-Playing career:...
, thus allowing them to become unrestricted free agents.
On the first day of free agency on July 1, Pierre Gauthier addressed two needs, a big body forward and a reliable back-up goaltender. They were successful in signing forward Erik Cole
Erik Cole
Erik Cole is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He has played most of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes. He also played a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers before returning to Carolina in 2009...
from the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
to a four-year contract worth $18 million. The need for a capable back-up goaltender to help out Carey Price was also fulfilled when they signed free agent Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj
Peter Budaj is a Slovak professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
from the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
to a two-year contract worth $2.3 million.
Another notable transaction during the off-season is the signing of rugged Russian defenceman Alexei Yemelin
Alexei Yemelin
Alexei Emelin is a Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League...
to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2011-12 season. Yemelin, drafted by the team in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft
2004 NHL Entry Draft
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the lockout which canceled all the games scheduled for the 2004–05 NHL season.- Selections by round :Listed...
, was under the Canadiens radar for quite some time. He finally agreed to make the jump to North America when a clause was inserted in his contract, stating that he would be able to return to the Kontinental Hockey League
Kontinental Hockey League
The Kontinental Hockey League is an international professional ice hockey league in Eurasia founded in 2008. As of 2009, it is ranked as the strongest hockey league in Europe....
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
should he be unable to crack the Canadiens roster. Yemelin is often compared to fellow Russian and former NHL defenceman Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis
Darius Kasparaitis is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman. Known by the nickname Kaspar, he has dual citizenship in both the United States and Russia, and he has played for the Russian national ice hockey team.- Playing career :Kasparaitis left Lithuania for Russia at age 14 after...
, who was known for his aggressive physical playing style.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller
Kirk Muller
Kirk Christopher Muller is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for 19 seasons from 1984–85 until 2002–03...
, who was part of the Canadiens coaching staff since 2006, confirmed rumours that he was actively seeking a head coaching position in the NHL and would be leaving the team. On June 27, 2011, following his inability to find a head coaching position in the NHL, the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
announced that Muller had been hired as the head coach of their AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
.
Following Kirk's departure, general manager Pierre Gauthier announced the appointment of Randy Cunneyworth
Randy Cunneyworth
Randolph William Cunneyworth is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach. He played professionally in the National Hockey League in a twenty-year career.-Playing career:...
and Randy Ladouceur
Randy Ladouceur
Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs...
as assistant coaches. Cunneyworth and Ladouceur were coach and assistant coach respectfully for the Canadiens's AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs
Hamilton Bulldogs
The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens...
during the previous season. The addition of Ladouceur also provides the team the first former defenseman as an assistant coach since the 2005-06 NHL season
2005-06 NHL season
The 2005–06 NHL season was the 89th season of operation of the National Hockey League . This was the season after the 2004–05 season which had all of its scheduled games canceled due to a labor dispute with the NHL Players Association over the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league...
.
Regular season
OctoberThe Canadiens started with the team's worst start since 1941. Prior to their first game of the season, defenceman Andrei Markov was placed on the injured reserved list. The Canadiens started the season with a 2-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
at the Air Canada Centre
Air Canada Centre
The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The arena is popularly known as the ACC or the Hangar ....
. During the game, newly acquired defenceman Chris Campoli
Chris Campoli
Chris Campoli is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens. Campoli previously played with the Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders.- Junior career :...
suffered a hamstring injury and was sidelined indefinitely.
The team's first win of the season was a 5-1 decision against the Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They began play in the World Hockey Association in 1972, moving to the National Hockey League in 1979 following the collapse of the WHA...
at the MTS Centre
MTS Centre
The MTS Centre is an indoor sports arena and entertainment venue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and home of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League. It is located on the former Eaton's site and is owned and operated by True North Sports & Entertainment. The 440,000 square feet ...
, which was the Jets' first game in the newly relocated franchise's history.
The Canadiens played their home opener on October 13 in a 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. This coincided with Lars Eller
Lars Eller
Lars Fosgaard Eller is a Danish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft,...
's first game of the season following off-season shoulder surgery. That same day, the team announced that forward Ryan White had surgery for a sports hernia and was sidelined indefinitely.
On October 23, the team traded longtime prospect Brock Trotter
Brock Trotter
Brock Trotter is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played two games in the NHL with the Canadiens during the 2009-10 NHL season.-Playing career:...
and their 7th round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft to the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
for forward Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen
Petteri Nokelainen is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
and defenseman Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford
Garrett Stafford is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a part of the Montreal Canadiens organization.-Playing career:...
.
The team would go on to a six-game losing streak and five-game losing streak at home until defeating the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on October 26, 2011 at the Bell Centre. Prior to the game, the Canadiens relieved assistant coach Perry Pearn
Perry Pearn
Perry Pearn is a former assistant coach of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens.- Coaching career:Pearn was fired along with Head Coach Tom Renney, on February 23, 2009 from his job as assistant coach of the Rangers. Pearn was in charge of the defensive units with the Rangers...
of his duties, offering him (but he declined) another position in the organization. Pearn was replaced behind the bench by Randy Ladouceur
Randy Ladouceur
Randall Ladouceur . Ladouceur is a current assistant coach of the Montreal Canadiens. He is a former assistant coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs and former assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs...
, who until then was situated in the press box during game time.
November
On November 10th the Canadiens beat the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
3-2 in overtime to continue their winning streak in Phoenix. The Coyotes have not beaten the Canadiens at home ice since December 9, 1998, when they won 4-2.
Defenceman Frédéric Saint-Denis made his NHL debut on November 16 in a 4-0 win against the Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
at the Bell Centre. The game also saw Carey Price block all 25 shots for his first shutout of the season.
Max Pacioretty was suspended by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...
for three games following a questionable hit on Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
defencemen Kristopher Letang
Kristopher Letang
Kristopher Allen Letang is a French Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League . He played junior in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for three seasons, during which time he was selected 62nd overall by the Penguins...
on November 26th at the Bell Centre. Lang suffered a broken nose but still managed to finish the game. No penalty had been called on the hit.
Playoffs
The Canadiens will attempt to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. The Hockey NewsThe Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
predicts that the Canadiens will place eighth and qualify for the playoffs.
Standings
Pre-season
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=90% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center"|-
! colspan=11 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011 Pre-season game log
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dddddd"
| # || Date || Opponent || Score || Decision || Location || Attendance || Record || Recap
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 1 || September 20 || Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
|| 3-6 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-1-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 2 || September 21 || Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
|| 1-3 || Mayer
Robert Mayer (ice hockey)
Robert Mayer is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League. He signed a three-year entry-level contract by the Montreal Canadiens in 2008-External links:...
|| Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 0-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 3 || September 23 || Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|| 4-3 SO || Lawson
Nathan Lawson
Nathan Lawson is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He is currently playing with the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League while signed with the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League....
|| Ottawa, ON || 17,853 || 1-2-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 4 || September 24 || Ottawa Senators || 2-3 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-3-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 5 || September 25 || Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
|| 3-7 || Budaj || Halifax, NS || 10,595 || 1-4-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 6 || September 26 || Boston Bruins || 1-2 || Price || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-5-0 ||
|- style="background: #ffbbbb;"
| 7 || September 29 || Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
|| 0-4 || Budaj || Montreal, PQ || 21,273 || 1-6-0 ||
|- style="background: #ccffcc;"
| 8 || October 1 || Tampa Bay Lightning || 5-1 || Price || Quebec City, PQ || 15,176 || 2-6-0 ||
|}
Regular season
{| class="toccolours" width=95% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#bf2f38; color:#00285d" | 2011-12 Game Log
|- valign="top"
|
October: 4-5-2, 10 Points (Home: 2-3-2; Road: 2-2-0)