The late 1990s was a rough time for the Montreal Canadiens. Only a few years removed from a Stanley Cup in 1992-93, head coach Alain Vigneault wasn’t given much to work with as a result of GM Rejean Houle’s inexperience, and the team struggled accordingly. From 1998-99 to 2000-01, the Habs failed to make the playoffs every single year, something that hadn’t happened since the 1919-20 season, when there were only four teams in the NHL.
Because of this, the rosters from these late 90s teams are a mesh of random minor leaguers and fringe bottom six players, some of which would have most likely never played in the NHL had they not landed in Montreal.