2018–19 Montreal Canadiens season

The 2018–19 Montreal Canadiens season was the 110th season for the franchise that was founded on December 4, 1909, and their 102nd in the National Hockey League. Despite a strong effort, the Canadiens failed to qualify for playoff contention, marking the first time the team missed back-to-back postseasons since the 2000–01 season. Finishing the season with 96 points, the Canadiens also tied the record for most points by a non-qualifying NHL team, joining both the 2014–15 Boston Bruins and 2017–18 Florida Panthers.
==Standings==
===Divisional standings===
===Conference standings===
==Schedule and results==
===Preseason===
The preseason schedule was published on June 18, 2018.
2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)	2018 preseason game log: 4–3–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 1–1–0)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Recap
1 	September 17 	New Jersey 	1–3 	Montreal 	 	Lindgren 	19,422 	1–0–0 	Recap
2 	September 19 	Florida 	5–2 	Montreal 	 	Niemi 	19,691 	1–1–0 	Recap
3 	September 20 	Washington 	2–5 	Montreal 	 	Lindgren 	— 	2–1–0 	Recap
4 	September 22 	Ottawa 	2–3 	Montreal 	 	Price 	20,405 	3–1–0 	Recap
5 	September 24 	Montreal 	5–1 	Toronto 	 	Niemi 	18,843 	4–1–0 	Recap
6 	September 26 	Toronto 	5–3 	Montreal 	 	Price 	20,486 	4–2–0 	Recap
7 	September 29 	Montreal 	0–3 	Ottawa 	 	Price 	14,398 	4–3–0 	Recap
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.	
Notes:
 Game was played at Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec.
===Regular season===
The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.
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October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)	October: 6–3–2 (Home: 4–2–0 ; Road: 2–1–2)
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	OT 	Decision 	Attendance 	Record 	Pts 	Recap
1 	October 3 	Montreal 	2–3 	Toronto 	OT 	Price 	19,589 	0–0–1 	1 	Recap
2 	October 6 	Montreal 	5–1 	Pittsburgh 	 	Price 	18,622 	1–0–1 	3 	Recap
3 	October 11 	Los Angeles 	3–0 	Montreal 	 	Price 	21,302 	1–1–1 	3 	Recap
4 	October 13 	Pittsburgh 	3–4 	Montreal 	SO 	Niemi 	21,302 	2–1–1 	5 	Recap
5 	October 15 	Detroit 	3–7 	Montreal 	 	Niemi 	20,323 	3–1–1 	7 	Recap
6 	October 17 	St. Louis 	2–3 	Montreal 	 	Price 	20,137 	4–1–1 	9 	Recap
7 	October 20 	Montreal 	3–4 	Ottawa 	OT 	Price 	18,442 	4–1–2 	10 	Recap
8 	October 23 	Calgary 	2–3 	Montreal 	 	Price 	21,028 	5–1–2 	12 	Recap
9 	October 25 	Montreal 	3–4 	Buffalo 	 	Niemi 	16,112 	5–2–2 	12 	Recap
10 	October 27 	Montreal 	3–0 	Boston 	 	Price 	17,565 	6–2–2 	14 	Recap
11 	October 30 	Dallas 	4–1 	Montreal 	 	Price 	20,506 	6–3–2 	14 	Recap
==Player statistics==
As of April 6, 2019
===Skaters===
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	
 	82	28	44	72	20 	80
 	80	25	33	58	21 	34
 	81	18	35	53	–8 	26
 	81	12	41	53	17 	39
 	82	33	19	52	10 	49
 	63	19	28	47	17 	71
 	82	13	33	46	–5 	28
 	79	11	23	34	1 	26
 	58	14	19	33	15 	28
 	56	15	16	31	16 	17
 	82	11	20	31	10 	32
 	57	13	10	23	0 	14
 	81	5 	17	22	15 	39
 	57	6 	11	17	12 	31
 	71	0 	13	13	17 	6
 	57	3 	8 	11	0 	16
‡ 	36	2 	9 	11	–1 	26
† 	16	4 	6 	10	0 	2
 	39	3 	7 	10	–14	4
† 	25	1 	6 	7 	–4 	0
 	32	3 	2 	5 	–9 	16
 	48	2 	3 	5 	–12	22
 	21	1 	4 	5 	5 	6
‡ 	32	0 	5 	5 	–4 	14
† 	19	0 	4 	4 	1 	11
 	1 	3 	0 	3 	3 	0
 	19	0 	3 	3 	–3 	13
‡ 	18	0 	2 	2 	–1 	4
 	3 	1 	0 	1 	0 	0
 	9 	0 	1 	1 	1 	2
† 	9 	0 	0 	0 	–2 	4
===Goaltenders===
Regular season
Player	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	66	64	3,880:15	35	24	6	161	2.49	1,952	.918	4	0	1	2
 	17	17	968:48 	8 	6 	2	61 	3.78	539 	.887	0	0	1	0
 	1 	1 	65:00 	1 	0 	0	5 	4.62	49 	.898	0	0	0	0
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Canadiens. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Canadiens only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
==Awards and honours==
===Milestones===
Regular season
Player 	Milestone 	Reached 	Ref
Jesperi Kotkaniemi 	1st career NHL game1st career NHL assist1st career NHL point 	October 3, 2018 	
Max Domi 	100th career NHL assist 	October 3, 2018 	
Jonathan Drouin 	100th career NHL assist 	October 13, 2018 	
Tomas Plekanec 	1,000th career NHL game 	October 17, 2018 	
Jordie Benn 	400th career NHL game 	October 23, 2018 	
Jesperi Kotkaniemi 	1st career NHL goal 	November 1, 2018 	
Phillip Danault 	200th career NHL game 	November 3, 2018 	
David Schlemko 	400th career NHL game 	November 16, 2018	
Andrew Shaw 	100th career NHL assist 	November 24, 2018	
Andrew Shaw 	200th career NHL point 	December 2, 2018 	
Andrew Shaw 	100th career NHL goal 	December 6, 2018 	
Charles Hudon 	100th career NHL game 	December 19, 2018	
Carey Price 	300th career NHL win 	December 20, 2018	
Phillip Danault 	1st career NHL hat-trick 	December 22, 2018	
Nicolas Deslauriers	300th career NHL game 	January 10, 2019 	
Joel Armia 	200th career NHL game 	January 10, 2019 	
Jeff Petry 	200th career NHL point 	January 14, 2019 	
Jordie Benn 	100th career NHL point 	January 15, 2019 	
Carey Price 	600th career NHL game 	February 9, 2019 	
Shea Weber 	900th career NHL game 	February 14, 2019	
Jonathan Drouin 	300th career NHL game 	February 17, 2019	
Paul Byron 	400th career NHL game 	February 19, 2019	
Artturi Lehkonen 	200th career NHL game 	February 21, 2019	
Brendan Gallagher 	1st career NHL hat-trick 	February 21, 2019	
Victor Mete 	100th career NHL game 	February 23, 2019	
Andrew Shaw 	1st career NHL hat-trick 	February 26, 2019	
Joel Armia 	1st career NHL hat-trick 	March 1, 2019 	
Shea Weber 	200th career NHL goal 	March 8, 2019 	
Jeff Petry 	600th career NHL game 	March 19, 2019 	
Max Domi 	200th career NHL point 	March 23, 2019 	
Tomas Tatar 	500th career NHL game 	March 23, 2019 	
Max Domi 	300th career NHL game 	March 28, 2019 	
Andrew Shaw 	500th career NHL game 	March 28, 2019 	
Ryan Poehling 	1st career NHL game1st career NHL goal1st career NHL point1st career NHL hat-trick	April 6, 2019 	
==Transactions==
The Canadiens have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.
===Trades===
Date	Details 	Details 	Ref
 	To Edmonton OilersWSH's 2nd-round pick in 2018 	To Montreal Canadiens3rd-round pick in 20185th-round pick in 2018 	
 	To San Jose SharksEDM's 4th-round pick in 2018 	To Montreal CanadiensVGK's 4th-round pick in 2018FLA's 5th-round pick in 2018 	
 	To Calgary FlamesWPG's 4th-round pick in 2018 	To Montreal Canadiens4th-round pick in 2019 	
 	To Chicago BlackhawksFLA's 5th-round pick in 2018	To Montreal Canadiens5th-round pick in 2019 	
 	To Philadelphia Flyers7th-round pick in 2019 	To Montreal CanadiensMTL's 7th-round pick in 2018 	
 	To Edmonton OilersHayden Hawkey 	To Montreal Canadiens5th-round pick in 2019 	
 	To Winnipeg JetsSimon Bourque 	To Montreal CanadiensJoel ArmiaSteve Mason7th-round pick in 20194th-round pick in 2020	
 	To Calgary FlamesKerby Rychel 	To Montreal CanadiensHunter Shinkaruk 	
 	To Vegas Golden KnightsMax Pacioretty 	To Montreal CanadiensTomas TatarNick Suzuki2nd-round pick in 2019 	
 	To Calgary FlamesMatt TaorminaRinat Valiev 	To Montreal CanadiensBrett Kulak 	
 	To Minnesota WildWilliam Bitten 	To Montreal CanadiensGustav Olofsson 	
 	To Philadelphia FlyersByron FroeseDavid Schlemko 	To Montreal CanadiensChristian FolinDale Weise 	
 	To Los Angeles KingsCGY's 4th-round pick in 2019 	To Montreal CanadiensNate ThompsonARI's 5th-round pick in 2019 	
 	To Arizona CoyotesMichael Chaput 	To Montreal CanadiensJordan Weal 	
===Free agents===
Date	Player 	Team 	Contract term	Ref
 	Kenny Agostino 	from Boston Bruins 	1-year 	
 	Daniel Carr 	to Vegas Golden Knights 	1-year 	
 	Michael Chaput 	from Chicago Blackhawks 	2-year 	
 	Adam Cracknell 	to Toronto Maple Leafs 	1-year 	
 	Zachary Fucale 	to Vegas Golden Knights 	1-year 	
 	Xavier Ouellet 	from Detroit Red Wings 	1-year 	
 	Matthew Peca 	from Tampa Bay Lightning 	2-year 	
 	Tomas Plekanec 	from Toronto Maple Leafs 	1-year 	
 	Chris Terry 	to Detroit Red Wings 	2-year 	
 	Jeremy Gregoire	to Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Tom Parisi 	to Cardiff Devils (EIHL) 	1-year 	
 	Joel Teasdale 	from Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)	3-year 	
 	Logan Shaw 	to San Diego Gulls (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Otto Leskinen 	from KalPa (Liiga) 	2-year 	
 	Alex Belzile 	from Laval Rocket (AHL) 	1-year 	
 	Antti Niemi 	to Jokerit (KHL) 	1-year 	
===Waivers===
Date	Player 	Team 	Ref
 	Jacob de la Rose	to Detroit Red Wings	
 	Nikita Scherbak 	to Los Angeles Kings	
 	Kenny Agostino 	to New Jersey Devils	
===Contract terminations===
Date	Player 	Via 	Ref
 	Steve Mason 	Buyout 	
 	Jeremiah Addison	Mutual termination	
 	Tomas Plekanec 	Mutual termination	
 	Michal Moravcik 	Mutual termination	
===Retirement===
Date	Player 	Ref
 	Tomas Plekanec	
===Signings===
Date	Player 	Contract term	Ref
 	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	3-year 	
 	Jacob de la Rose 	2-year 	
 	Joel Armia 	1-year 	
 	Phillip Danault 	3-year 	
 	Hunter Shinkaruk 	1-year 	
 	Michael McCarron 	1-year 	
 	Josh Brook 	3-year 	
 	Paul Byron 	4-year 	
 	Cale Fleury 	3-year 	
 	Ryan Poehling 	3-year 	
 	Cayden Primeau 	3-year 	
 	Christian Folin 	1-year 	
 	Nate Thompson 	1-year 	
 	Jordan Weal 	2-year 	
 	Brett Kulak 	3-year 	
 	Xavier Ouellet 	1-year 	
 	Gustav Olofsson 	1-year 	
==Draft picks==
Below are the Montreal Canadiens' selections at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Round	# 	Player 	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 	3 	Jesperi Kotkaniemi	C 	 	Assat (Liiga)
2 	35 	Jesse Ylonen 	RW 	 	Espoo United (Mestis)
2 	381 	Alexander Romanov 	D 	 	Krasnaya Armiya (MHL)
2 	562 	Jacob Olofsson 	C 	 	Timra IK (Allsvenskan)
3 	66 	Cameron Hillis 	C 	 	Guelph Storm (OHL)
3 	713 	Jordan Harris 	D 	 	Kimball Union Academy (USHS)
4 	974 	Allan McShane 	C 	 	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
4 	1235	Jack Gorniak 	RW 	 	West Salem High School (USHS)
5 	128 	Cole Fonstad 	C 	 	Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
5 	1336	Samuel Houde 	C 	 	Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
7 	1907	Brett Stapley 	C 	 	Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
Notes:
# The Chicago Blackhawks' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on February 26, 2016, that sent Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise to Chicago in exchange for Phillip Danault and this pick.
# The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on February 25, 2018, that sent Tomas Plekanec and Kyle Baun to Toronto in exchange for Kerby Rychel, Rinat Valiev and this pick.
# The Edmonton Oilers' third-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent Washington's second-round pick in 2018 (62nd overall) to Edmonton in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2018 (133rd overall) and this pick.
# The Montreal Canadiens' fourth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on November 23, 2017, that sent Torrey Mitchell to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade).
# The Vegas Golden Knights' fourth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent Edmonton's fourth-round pick in 2018 (102nd overall) to San Jose in exchange for Florida's fifth-round pick in 2018 (139th overall) and this pick.
# The Edmonton Oilers' fifth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent Washington's second-round pick in 2018 (62nd overall) to Edmonton in exchange for a third-round pick in 2018 (71st overall) and this pick.
# The Montreal Canadiens' seventh-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent a seventh-round pick in 2019 to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
==References==
Category:Montreal Canadiens seasons
Montreal Canadiens