Sweaters and hockey have been synonymous with each other since the infancy of the sport. Teams have been identified by their iconic colours and patterns. Some of them are classic while others are classically awful. This summer our annual series focuses on the best and the worst sweaters in each team’s history. Today we have the best and the worst Montreal Canadiens sweaters in team history.
Montreal Canadiens Sweaters: The Best and Worst
How We Did It?
We at Last Word on Hockey used a variety of methods to compile this list. Polling came from social media, our writers, and fans. We wanted to get a variety of opinions when we put out our list. This compilation will likely spur debate. However, we wanted to see who had the most memorable sweaters in each team’s history. Let’s put our best foot forward with the best sweaters.
The Best of the Montreal Canadiens
The Reds
These red sweaters are synonymous with the franchise pretty much since the Canadiens inception. The “C” and the “H” sit on a blue stripe that is on a red base. One fun fact is that the “H” stands for Hockey and not Habs. Montreal has had some form of the red and blue sweater since the 1917 season.
On this day in 2000, the hockey world lost Maurice Richard #Habs365 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/kULmEPezLb
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) May 27, 2024
The Canadiens actually had the letters “C” and “A” interlocking at first before the CH. There was even a time that the Habs had a logo that said “World Champions” on it in the 1924-25 season.
These sweaters are iconic and a part of the NHL’s rich history. They became the home sweaters in 2003-04 and will likely be the Canadiens home sweaters until the world stops spinning.
The Bleu Blanc Rouge
Before the switch in the early part of the century, Montreal wore white sweaters with red shoulder yokes and the CH logo. Teams felt a sense of dread going into the Montreal Forum in the 70s and 80s and seeing those sweaters.
The franchise had some sort of a white sweater since the 1935-36 season, but it took some time to formulate the trademark white sweater. Its final form first took shape in the 1941 season, but it was temporarily displaced for another white sweater that we’ll talk about later on.
However, the famous white uniform would return in the 1947-48 campaign and stay put with minimal changes. These will likely stay the same as long as the NHL or the Canadiens franchise exists.
The Other White Sweater
Many fans know the white sweater that we previously talked about. However, the Habs wore a white sweater that was a pallet swap of their traditional red uniform.
We’re referring to the white sweaters first donned in the 1944-47 seasons before reverting back to the trademark white sweaters. There was a blue stripe, but with a white base instead of a red one.
These sweaters returned in the 2006-07 season when they were an alternate sweater. They were also part of the 100th anniversary collection from 2008-10 and also a variation at the 2016 Winter Classic. These are underrated sweaters and should return with another big Habs anniversary.
The Worst of the Montreal Canadiens
The Barber Poles
SpongeBob Squarepants once sang “the best time to wear a striped sweater is all the time.” However, no one should wear these sweaters at any time.. under any circumstance. These ones are just awful and one of the worst sweaters of all-time according to a number of outlets.
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2009-10 Reebok On-Ice Authentic Montreal Canadiens Centennial "Barber Pole" Jersey! The Habs had five centennial style jerseys!
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— Premier Vintage Jerseys (@PVJerseys) April 29, 2021
Montreal wore these uniforms in the 1912-13 season and Les Habitantes looked awful in them. We thought these were relegated to the trash bin of history. However, these dreadful-looking sweaters returned during the Canadiens 100th anniversary celebration.
Just imagine if these were on the backs of the Habs during their dynasty years? These things are an assault on the eyes and need to be just remembered in pictures. The thought of Jean Beliveau or Maurice Richard in these would shake us.
The Leafs-Looking Sweater
Montreal’s first sweater had a very unsettling look to it. One thing the Canadiens hate is the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Habs original jersey had a very Leafs-like look to it.
This was the original sweater that Montreal wore when the hockey club was first founded. Red wouldn’t enter the picture until the barber poles, but things would get better for Montreal.
We love honouring the past, but some Canadiens fans would rather not be reminded to a link to their most-hated rival.
The Reverse Retro
Montreal went with going blue on both of their Reverse Retro sweaters. Both of these uniforms didn’t really hit the mark, but we like the 2022-23 editions just a little bit better.
Many fans in Quebec do miss the Montreal Expos, which the second Reverse Retros play off of. The first ones in 2021 have a lot of dark blue in them.
This was a straight bleu/rouge colour swap according to NHL Uniform Database.
Other Considerations
Montreal had a kind of Christmas sweater in the 1910-11 season with some green on it. These ones were part of the 100th anniversary celebration and actually excellent.
The Canadiens did don a white “C” in the early 1920s, but it’s nowhere near as iconic as the the red one the team has worn for decades.
Main photo by: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
