10. The Calm. When the Canadiens aren't doing well, there tends to be a level of chaos around the team. That's when politicians start whining about them not being French enough and how they're betraying their francophone legacy. It's when rumours start about the players' off-ice activities because there's little to celebrate on the ice. Players get booed, scraps at practice get blown out of proportion and trade proposals occupy the legion of pundits and message boards online. It makes for an uncomfortable environment for the team. On the flip side, when things are going smoothly, all people want to talk about is how much fun the team is to watch. That's where we are right now.
9. The Plan. This isn't 2010 when an eighth-place bubble team shocked the Penguins and Capitals in the playoffs. That was tremendous fun and Jaro Halak stood on his head to keep the train rolling, but it couldn't last. This isn't 2021 when veterans like Shea Weber, Paul Byron and Carey Price sacrificed everything they had left in the tank to drag their team to the Cup finals. This is a carefully-constructed team with measurable year-over-year improvement. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes know what they're doing and they've proven it with great drafting, shrewd trades, excellent cap management and the brilliant decision to hire Marty St.Louis to coach. This team isn't a fluke. It's a team with a plan and that plan is working.
8. Leafs Fans. When Michael Hage led all players in scoring at the recent World Junior Championships, fans unfamiliar with his game looked him up. You could hear the collective tooth grinding from Leafs fans across the country when they found out he was a Habs prospect. They hate Cole Caufield who's got 15 points (11 goals) against their team in 19 games. They despise the fact there's something special happening in Montreal and stagnation in Toronto. Their disgust is palpable and it's glorious.
7. Sportsnet. The corollary to the anger of Leafs fans is the butt hurt of the Toronto-centric Canadian sports broadcasting world. The announcers that audibly root for the Leafs and enjoy pointing out every mistake the Canadiens make; who sound like they're chewing gristle when they have no choice but to highlight a great play in Montreal hate this. And Habs fans love that for them.
6. Class. The team that in recent years traded Mike Cammalleri mid-game, didn't tell him where he was going and made him pay for his game-worn sweater he wanted as a keepsake is gone. The management that forbid pizza and banned the press from team flights is too. So are the people who chose to nickel-and-dime Andrei Markov and drove him away ten games short of a thousand. Now, the class the Canadiens became known for in the age of Beliveau is back. The players are treated with respect and alumni like Markov are honoured as they deserve. Class brings pride in the organization from the owner all the way through to the fans.
5. The Kids. The young Habs are so much fun to watch. Caufield's snipes, Hutson's puck handling, Arber Xhekaj's toughness, Ivan Demidov's no-look pass brilliance and Juraj Slavkovsky's coming-of-age as a power forward bring hope and excitement to every game. Knowing there are more young gems coming up through the system lends fans a sense of optimism they haven't felt for years.
4. Comebacks. The Canadiens are team nobody can count out anymore. They're still a work in progress, but even if they have a rotten second period or give up a crap goal or two, you can't turn off the game in disgust and go to bed before the third anymore. Knowing they always have a chance to make a game of it...and very often come all the way back to win...is exciting. It makes every game a possibility for success.
3. The Olympics. The first-half schedule in this Olympic year has been brutal with multiple back-to-back games, long road trips and little time to practice. The reward for most of the players will be a much-needed Olympic break which will give them a chance to rest and heal up their persistent injuries. Lots of fans are upset Team USA didn't choose to take Caufield or Hutson to the Games, but that oversight on Bill Guerin's part is a gift for the Canadiens who'll need those guys in peak form as they make a run for the playoffs post-Olympics. While it'll be fun to root for Nick Suzuki and Team Canada, but it'll be more fun to watch a reinvigorated Habs team light it up afterwards.
2. Cole Caufield's Face. How can you not love a player whose entire demeanor radiates happiness? Caufield's smile is infectious and he always seems to not only be having fun himself, but to be sharing it with his pals. Every teammate who's asked about off-ice Caufield smiles when they talk about the fun and energy he brings to the room. Fans can just hope he never stops.
And, the number one reason why it's great to be a Habs fan in 2026 is:
1. The Joy. For fans, the day after a Canadiens' win feels different. Colours are a little brighter, the mood is a little lighter and nothing seems as stressful as it does on other days. It feels good to look forward to the next game for the first time in a long while. Fans don't know where their team will end up this year; whether they'll make the playoffs or go deep if they do, but they absolutely know there will be joy. This team has emerged from the tunnel and into the sunshine. At last.
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