A History Of Montreal Canadiens Jersey Number Changes

Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield recently announced he’d be honouring his late friend and countryman, Johnny Gaudreau, by switching his jersey number from No.22 to No.13.  Players tend to pick a number early in their careers and stick with it, however, changes aren’t as rare as you’d expect, as trades and incoming players can sometimes force a skater to pick a new jersey number.

Montreal Canadiens Jersey Number Changes

Tomas Plekanec: No.35 to No.14

Tomas Plekanec played over 1000 games in the NHL, making his No.14 rather iconic for Habs fans, even if it has since been taken over by captain Nick Suzuki, another stalwart forward. But when he first appeared in a Canadiens uniform in 2003-04, Plekanec wore No.35, which is typically used by goaltenders. Prior to his arrival in the NHL, No.35 was used by both Andy Moog and Stephane Fiset. Since the switch, the number has featured on Canadiens goaltenders such as Alex Auld, Dustin Tokarski, Charlie Lindgren, Al Montoya, and Samuel Montembeault, the team’s current starter.

It’s worth noting Plekanec enjoyed a career year in 2007-08, the first season in which he used his new number.

We’d like to apologize in advance for the quality of the NHL footage less than 20 years ago. It’s terrible, and there’s nothing we can do about it, except appreciate the advent of high-definition TV.

Brendan Gallagher: No.73 to No.11

Ever since Brendan Gallagher made his NHL debut, fans have been treated to a player who possesses an elite work rate, making him one of the most entertaining players in the organization. But not everyone will remember that the mighty mite originally wore No.73  during a stretch of his rookie campaign.

It did not last long, as the Canadiens traded for Michael Ryder, a veteran player who had worn the number throughout most of his career, including a previous stint with the Habs. As is NHL tradition, Gallagher graciously gave up his number, and opted to go with No.11 for the remainder of his tenure with the Canadiens.

There’s no word whether Ryder paid for the privilege, as NHL players will typically offer a watch, or something similar, in exchange for a teammate liberating their preferred number. A good example is Brett Kulak, who was generously given a Rolex by Ilya Kovalchuk once he switched from No.17 to No.77. Gallagher is quoted as saying: “I heard Rolex makes nice watches,” following the switch.

Jonathan Drouin: No.92 to No.27

Jonathan Drouin joined the Canadiens in 2017-18, as general manager Marc Bergevin attempted to finally solve the longstanding issue with the lack of depth and talent at the centre position. Bergevin paid a hefty price, sending top prospect Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay in exchange for the former Halifax Mooseheads forward.

Drouin started his career in Montreal wearing No.92, as his preferred No.27 was not available. Once blueliner Alexander Romanov was dealt to the New York Islanders, Drouin went back to No.27, the number he wore upon arriving in the NHL in 2014-15.

Scott Gomez: No.91 to No.11

There was a sense of anticipation when Scott Gomez came to Montreal ahead of the 2009-10 season, and with good reason, too. Not only did he win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie Of The Year in 1999-00, but he also helped the New Jersey Devils win their second Stanley Cup in four years.

Gomez started out wearing No. 91 with the Habs, as his usual No.23, Hall of Famer Bob Gainey’s number, was retired by the team. The excitement quickly faded after his first year with the team, a season that led to just 12 goals and 47 assists in 78 games, an underwhelming result given the Habs paid a king’s ransom to acquire him from the New York Rangers. Sadly, it would end up being his most productive season with the team.

He would end up picking No.11, a popular jersey number in Montreal that had been previously worn by former captain Saku Koivu, among others, during their time with the Canadiens. The number change failed to spark Gomez’s offensive prowess, as evidenced by his lack of goals in an entire calendar year. His time in Montreal ended unceremoniously when the team asked him to stay home for the entirety of the 2013 season, prior to buying out the final two seasons of his contract.

Mathieu Schneider: No.18 to No.8, No.8 to No.27, No.27 to No.24

If there’s one player who epitomizes the concept of number changes, it has to be defenceman Mathieu Schneider, who wore four different numbers during his time with the organization.

Schneider, known for his offensive creativity, started his NHL career in 1987. When he first showed up for a Canadiens training camp he had No.18 on his jersey, a number he wore for three seasons. In his fourth year, Schneider decided to pick No.8, a number that is typically reserved for defencemen. His stint with that number did not last long, as he would switch to No.27 less than two years later.

He would go on to play for several NHL teams, seven to be precise, before returning to the Montreal Canadiens in 2008-09, where he donned No.24 in 23 games with the team that originally drafted him. Schneider would end up playing for 10 teams before hanging up his skates in 2009-10.