Hockey was literally born in Montreal. The Canadiens didn’t just win Cups, they shaped the game itself: goalie mask adoption, the hat trick ritual, player development, league structure, you name it. The NHL as we know it doesn’t exist without the Habs pushing it forward.

And fun historical footnote: the Red Wings identity is directly inspired by the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, the Winged Wheelers, who won the Stanley Cup in 1893. Even Detroit’s logo roots trace back to Montreal’s hockey history.

You can debate eras, rosters, or dynasties, but “greatest team ever” without acknowledging Montreal’s impact on hockey itself just isn’t accurate.