The Montreal Canadiens were the measure of success in the National Hockey League for many years. There were some decades where winning a couple of Stanley Cups would be deemed a disappointment. For the second straight decade and only the second time in their great history, the Canadiens failed to win a Stanley Cup.
The Canadiens did have some success in the past ten years. The made it to the Eastern Conference Final twice. They won their division twice. They had a Norris Trophy winner. They had a Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner as well.