This weekend, the NHL account on X sparked a lot of comments when it asked fans what the pettiest hockey grudge they were still holding was. There were plenty of answers that wanted to set the record straight by saying that there were no petty grudges in hockey and that all grudges were valid. A statement which would find a lot of support in Montreal, considering how seriously fans take their hockey in the Mecca of hockey. Here are, in chronological order, the five biggest grudges in Montreal Canadiens history.

1954-55: The Rocket Richard Suspension

On March 13, 1955, there was an altercation in a game between the Habs and the Boston Bruins. As the Canadiens were on a power play, Maurice Rocket Richard was high-sticked and a delayed penalty was called. Once the Bruins touched the puck and the penalty was called, Richard sought revenge on Hal Laycoe, and as linesman Cliff Thompson attempted to restrain a furious Rocket, he was struck by the star. That led to a disciplinary hearing with the league, and NHL President Colin Campbell decided that Richard, who was on his way to win the scoring race, would miss the remainder of the 1954-55 season and the playoffs.

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Unsurprisingly, the ruling was not well received in Montreal. When Campbell showed up to the game between the Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings on March 17, 1955, it sparked what would come to be known as the “Richard Riot,” an event that many would go on to describe as the start of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec. The League president was assaulted in the stands, was thrown various items at, and was slapped and hit with a tomato in the face. The crowd got so unruly that a tear gas bomb was set off and the building was evacuated, forcing the Habs to forfeit the game. A full-blown riot erupted outside as fans felt the Richard suspension was motivated by the fact that he was a French-Canadian.

The following day, Richard took to the airwaves to plead with fans and ask them to support the team rather than protest his suspension. They did, but they didn’t forget, and as Hab Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion passed Richard in the scoring race, the Montreal fans booed him.

1995-96: The End of the Line for Patrick Roy

40 years later, on December 2, 1995, rookie coach Mario Tremblay hung out to dry superstar Patrick Roy when he left him in net in a game against the Red Wings when it was clear that it wasn’t St-Patrick’s night. By the time the coach finally pulled the goaltending legend, he had let in nine goals on 26 shots and had been booed and mocked by the home crowd. Once back on the bench, Roy told team president Ronald Corey that he had played his last game in Montreal. Days later, GM Rejean Houle traded Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ruscinsky, and Andrei Kovalenko, arguably the worst trade in Habs history and one that sent the franchise into a very dark age.

To this day, plenty of fans still hold a grudge against Tremblay for not pulling Roy sooner and against Houle for that awful trade. The fact that Roy went on to win two more Stanley Cups with the Avalanche after the trade while the Canadiens haven’t won a single one since certainly didn’t help.

2009-10: The Jaroslav Halak Trade

The 2010 playoffs will forever be known as the Halak spring in Montreal. That year, Jaroslav Halak wrestled the starting job away from Carey Price and carried the team to a surprise Eastern Conference Final. He ran out of gas in the third round, and the Habs were eliminated in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers, but his performances against the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins as the Canadiens beat both Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby in seven games in the first two rounds were the stuff of legends.

It turned the goaltender into a fan favorite, and in the offseason, as he was about to become an RFA, GM Pierre Gauthier elected to trade him to the St. Louis Blues in what he called a “big picture decision”, deciding to bet on Price’s bright future rather than on Halak’s immediate success. However, the return Gauthier got from the Blues was judged to be far too low, as center Lars Eller, who had only played seven NHL games by then, and tough guy Ian Schultz came to Montreal. Fans felt betrayed that the playoff hero was sent packing, and despite Price turning out the way he did, there are still those who lament the trade. Canadiens fans can certainly hold a grudge.

2010-11: The Chara-Pacioretty Incident

Zdeno Chara from the Bruins became public enemy number one in Montreal when he hit Max Pacioretty, a hit that saw him hit the glass between the two team benches. It was very much as if he had hit a wall, and he fell on the ice unconscious. You could have heard a pin drop in the Bell Centre on that day; Chara silenced an arena that’s always raucous for a Canadiens-Bruins duel. There was real concern in that moment not only for Pacioretty’s health but also for his career. The sniper was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with both a severe concussion and a fractured fourth cervical vertebra.

Canadiens fans never forgot that hit, and they never forgave it either. From that day on, whenever Chara touched the puck on the Bell Centre ice, he was copiously booed by the Habs faithful.

2013-2014: The Turning Point In Price’s Career

Price was on fire in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs; he helped the Canadiens sweep the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round before being one of the key elements of a 7-game win in the second round against the Bruins. The Canadiens fans were hoping he could take them all the way to the 25th Stanley Cup in franchise history, but in the first game of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, he was run over by Chris Kreider, skates first, colliding with the goaltender’s right knee.

If you ask a Rangers fan about that incident, they’ll tell you that Kreider was the innocent victim of a trip by defenseman Alexei Emelin. If you ask a Canadiens fan about it, they’ll tell you that if Kreider were tripped, he wouldn’t have fallen that way. The belief in Montreal was, and still is, that Kreider saw an opportunity to take Price out and he took it.

12 years later, Kreider, who’s now with the Anaheim Ducks, is still booed by the Habs faithful, and that will never change. Price did concede that the hit was part of the problem with his knee, but he wouldn’t call it “The problem” in a 2025 phone interview with The Gazette’s Stu Cowan. He added that he didn’t hold a grudge against Kreider, calling the incident a quick play in the playoffs and that he doesn’t have any ill will toward the power forward.

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Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Hunt has called time on his professional hockey career, bringing an end to a remarkable journey that took him from the BCHL to the NHL, the AHL and ultimately a gold medal with Team Canada.

The 37-year-old Hunt announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, closing the book on a career that spanned nearly two decades and included stops with seven NHL organizations — including the Avalanche.

His connection to Colorado, however, went beyond his time in the NHL.

Before and after his stint with the Avalanche, Hunt became a familiar face within the organization’s AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. He served as the Eagles’ captain and spent two seasons with the club, appearing in 94 games while recording 23 goals and 47 assists for 70 points.

That production was indicative of the offensive ability Hunt consistently displayed throughout his AHL career, while his leadership made him an important figure in the Colorado organization.

Hunt eventually got his opportunity with the Avalanche during the 2022-23 season, appearing in 47 games. The 5-foot-9 defenseman recorded four goals and six assists for 10 points during his lone season in an Avalanche sweater.

While Hunt was never a household name around the NHL, his career was defined by persistence. He continually found ways to carve out a role despite being overlooked because of his size, eventually playing 288 regular-season games at the highest level.

His final professional season came overseas with Sport Vaasa in Finland’s top domestic league. Hunt produced seven goals and 18 assists for 25 points in 53 games during the 2025-26 campaign.

After wrapping up his playing career, Hunt reflected on just how far hockey had taken him.

“Hockey has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. From dreaming about playing in the NHL as a kid, to living that dream for so many years … I am incredibly grateful for every opportunity, every teammate, every coach, every organization, and every person who helped me along the way.”

Hunt’s NHL résumé stretched across parts of 14 seasons. In addition to Colorado, he suited up for the Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild and Vancouver Canucks.

Across those 288 NHL games, he finished with 20 goals and 60 assists for 80 points.

But the NHL represented only a portion of Hunt’s professional career.

He spent the majority of his time in the American Hockey League, appearing in 422 games for the Chicago Wolves, Oklahoma City Barons, Bakersfield Condors, Colorado Eagles and Hershey Bears. Hunt amassed 84 goals and 214 assists for 298 points in those games.

His consistency in the AHL earned him six All-Star selections. Hunt appeared in five consecutive AHL All-Star Games from 2012-13 through 2016-17 before earning another selection in 2022-23.

He also surpassed the 40-point mark four times and produced two 50-point seasons, establishing himself as one of the league’s more productive offensive defensemen.

Hunt’s path to professional hockey began in the BCHL with the Burnaby Express.

Over parts of three seasons, he registered 20 goals and 69 assists for 89 points in 122 regular-season games. His best campaign came in 2007-08, when he erupted for 16 goals and 35 assists for 51 points in 59 games.

That performance helped pave the way to Bemidji State University, where Hunt spent four seasons.

He finished his collegiate career with 24 goals and 88 assists for 112 points in 150 NCAA games before beginning his professional journey.

For a player who entered the hockey world without the imposing frame traditionally associated with NHL defensemen, Hunt’s career was a testament to finding other ways to stand out.

Hunt’s final chapter with Canada provided an especially fitting conclusion to his playing career.

He represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Championship in Finland, recording three assists while helping the country capture a gold medal.

Two years later, Hunt would make his way to Finland permanently for the final season of his professional career.

Now, after years of chasing the game from one league and organization to another, Hunt is stepping away with an NHL career, multiple AHL All-Star selections, a stint as an AHL captain and a world championship gold medal on his résumé.

Hunt’s time as captain of the Eagles further cemented his connection to the organization and the Colorado hockey community — a fitting part of the journey for a defenseman who spent his career proving that size was never going to determine how far he could go.

It’s been quite the off-season for the Chicago Blackhawks. They made a big trade, signed some depth players, and brought back a franchise icon. Now, they are hoping that the 2026-27 season is another improvement over the year prior. 

Part of making these additions is taking up roster spots from guys who thought they might have cracked the lineup. This has become a hard team to make for every player on the bottom half of the roster, especially at forward. 

Multiple players with significant NHL experience may be on the outside looking in. It’s good to have depth, but some of these guys may begin the year in the AHL because of the additions pushing them down. 

3 Blackhawks Who Will Find It Difficult To Crack Opening Night LineupThe Chicago Blackhawks have many forwards who are capable of playing in the NHL. Some of them will be out on Opening Night because of the limited space.

It’s even harder for unproven prospects at this stage of their careers. If one of these rookies, not including Roman Kantserov, makes the team out of camp, it would mean that they were sensational in camp and the preseason: 

Sacha Boisvert

Sacha Boisvert was one of the best freshmen in the NCAA two years ago at the University of North Dakota. One year later, he transferred to Boston University, where things didn’t go as smoothly due to injury and inconsistencies. As a former first-round pick by the Blackhawks, he has the pedigree to eventually be a great contributor on a winning team. 

After his 2025-26 season at BU ended, he signed his entry-level deal with Chicago and played in 7 games. In those seven games, he had one goal and one assist, along with a fight to emphasize the physical nature of his game. Sometimes, he looked outmatched when it came to size and strength, despite being a physical player, but his skills belong in the NHL even now. 

This summer, a lot has been made about his bulking up. With the additions made to Chicago’s lineup, the AHL will be a great place for him to work on his game at the pro level before graduating to the NHL full-time. Injuries and potential trade deadline selling could force Boisvert into the lineup at some point, but starting in the AHL feels realistic. 

AJ Spellacy

At the end of the season, it seemed like AJ Spellacy would have a chance to impact the Chicago Blackhawks as soon as opening night. Everywhere he goes, whether it be major junior or the World Junior Championships, Spellacy makes a difference. 

Spellacy, a third-round pick (72nd overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, was not a high-end offensive producer with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. He did, however, have a knack for scoring big goals when the lights were brightest, and that applied to his time with Team USA at the World Juniors. 

Spellacy has the tools to be a solid bottom-six forward in the NHL. His ceiling might not be as high as other prospects, but his floor is much higher. He is NHL-ready now on a team that could afford to play prospects in middle-six roles for a while. 

For now, Spellacy will have to make his pro hockey debut as a member of the Rockford IceHogs (AHL). That league is perfect for him, as he will be able to prepare for the NHL by playing pro hockey against good players who are hungry to reach the NHL themselves.

There is a specific role that will have to open up for Spellacy to make his NHL Debut, but he will stay ready in the AHL under the development staff there.

Marek Vanacker

Marek Vanacker is an incredibly skilled forward whom Chicago took with the 27th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He is one of the many Brantford Bulldogs to enter the Chicago Blackhawks system over the last handful of years. 

In 2025-26, Vanacker took his game to another level to follow up his injury-riddled season the year before by having 47 goals and 35 assists in 82 games played. Those 47 goals led the OHL, beating out former Blackhawks prospect Jack Pridham by one. 

Now, after all of that success, he is a bit blocked at the NHL level for now. As moves are made within the organization, Vanacker is going to get his chance, but the Rockford IceHogs will be calling his name on Opening Night unless he is so spectacular in the preseason that the Hawks have no choice but to play him. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Brad Hunt has officially called it a career.

The former Minnesota Wild defenseman announced his retirement from professional hockey on social media, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade and took him through the NHL, AHL and Europe.

Hunt's journey to the NHL was anything but conventional. Undrafted out of Bemidji State University, the Maple Ridge, British Columbia native worked his way through the ECHL and AHL before making his NHL debut with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2013-14 season.

Over parts of 10 NHL seasons, Hunt appeared in 288 regular-season games with the Oilers, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. He finished his NHL career with 26 goals, 60 assists and 86 points.

Minnesota fans will remember Hunt from his three seasons with the Wild from 2018-21.

After being acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights during the 2018-19 season, Hunt carved out a role as a dependable depth defenseman with an offensive touch. He played 100 games for Minnesota, recording 12 goals and 13 assists for 25 points while quarterbacking the second power-play unit at times.

His best offensive season came in 2019-20 when he set NHL career highs with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points in 59 games.

Following his stint with the Wild, Hunt spent the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks before helping the Colorado Avalanche during the 2022-23 campaign. He later continued his career overseas before announcing his retirement. 

Although he never became a full-time top-four defenseman, Hunt's perseverance made him one of hockey's better underdog stories. From going undrafted to reaching nearly 300 NHL games, he proved that determination and offensive skill could earn a lengthy career at the highest level.

His retirement closes the book on a professional career defined by resilience, adaptability and an unwavering commitment to chasing the NHL dream.

Among the holes left unaddressed by the Philadelphia Flyers this offseason was defense, where the club added only Simon Benoit at the expense of Emil Andrae. If the Flyers want to take another step in the rebuild, they'll need to do more than that.

Fortunately, a young, potential future top four defenseman can be had via trade, and they needn't look very far to find him.

Elsewhere in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes have yet to agree to a new contract with restricted free agent defenseman Alexander Nikishin who, according to himself, would like north of $8 million a year on his next deal.

"Earlier, when asked about rumors that he wants $8 million per season on his new deal, the defenseman smiled and said: 'More.'" RG's Daria Tuboltseva wrote in her exclusive interview with Nikishin.

"My agents handle that. I don't push the situation much, they take care of everything themselves. If something concrete comes up, they'll call me. Right now there's nothing concrete about the contract," Nikishin said. "The salary cap keeps growing, and defensemen are getting bigger salaries. You can already feel the difference. I think contracts will keep getting bigger and bigger over time."

By the sounds of it, Nikishin, 24, is backing himself to earn his improved salary and do the Hurricanes, or a team like the Flyers, a favor by taking the money now instead of later.

With the Leo Carlsson offer sheet and trade links to Zach Werenski, it's been well-established that the Flyers are able and willing to spend big money to improve their roster.

Nikishin, with 11 goals and 33 points in his first NHL season, would provide an upgrade already, even while not yet reaching his full potential.

Flyers Should Lure Alexander Nikishin Away From Hurricanes with Matvei Michkov's HelpDefenseman Alexander Nikishin is the perfect trade target for the Philadelphia Flyers this late into the offseason.

Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale were the only Flyers defensemen to crack 30 points last season, and they were also the only two to have more than five goals (Sanheim had 11).

The young Russian blue liner already has 17 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience, winning it all with the Hurricanes this year while playing in a reduced role, and he's also a former teammate of Matvei Michkov's from their SKA St. Petersburg days in the KHL.

With Nikishin in need of a new contract and the Flyers willing to spend, plus the added element of familiarity, the trade fit between the two sides is obvious.

However, at the same time, other teams are pursuing the 6-foot-3 defender, and the Flyers will have to beat them to the punch if they are serious about making another upgrade this summer.

Recently, it was reported that the St. Louis Blues have interest in trading for Nikishin, and other teams will begin to realize soon, too, that the 24-year-old is worth the chase.

The Blues have enjoyed great success going this kind of route before, landing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg with offer sheets that pried them out of Edmonton.

If a team like St. Louis is willing to pony up again, even if not necessarily an offer sheet, that might say something about Nikishin.

According to PuckPedia, the Flyers have $14.88 million in cap space remaining and only need to re-sign Nikita Grebenkin, so the decision to trade for and re-sign Nikishin is entirely up to them.

Some of Vancouver’s minor hockey associations are expressing their concern over the Vancouver Canucks’ potential practice facility project. 

In a joint statement released on Friday, the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey Association said the following regarding the Canucks’ recent practice facility update of signing an MOU to build at Britannia Ice Rink. 

“...We are disappointed by the report that the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Canucks are exploring building a practice facility that could leverage an existing community rink at Britannia without creating desperately needed new ice capacity.

“The City of Vancouver has not added a net new municipal ice sheet since the 1970s, yet demand for ice time remains exceptionally strong and continues to grow. Minor hockey associations throughout the city are operating at capacity and, in some cases, turning away prospective players because sufficient ice time is not available. The shortage impacts not only minor hockey but also a wide range of community ice users, including figure skating, adult recreation leagues, and other ice sport organizations.” 

In the project proposal released on Thursday, the Canucks and City of Vancouver’s plan indicates that, rather than building a brand-new facility itself, the construction process will focus on creating a separate section attached to the pre-existing rink, referred to as the “training venue.” 

With this in mind, the statement made by the Vancouver Angels, Vancouver Thunderbirds, and Vancouver Minor Hockey outlines how the idea of a new practice facility complex, one they compare to the Seattle Kraken’s Community Iceplex, could be “a conversation worth having” regarding its benefit to both the team, the city, and the communities being impacted by potential work done at Britannia. 

“A partnership involving the Vancouver Canucks, the City of Vancouver, and a private-sector development or operating partner could help expand ice access, manage capital costs, and create a lasting legacy for future generations of Vancouver families,” they state. 

The full statement can be found via @vanminorhockey on Instagram. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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