The Montreal Canadiens have been playing in the Atlantic Division since the 2013-14 season. The only season they didn't play in the Atlantic was the historic 2020-21 season when COVID-19 caused there to be an All-Canadian division. It was the season that the Montreal Canadiens upset the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.
The new-look Atlantic Division featured the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.
Montreal Canadiens Division History
The first time that divisions came into play after the Original Six-era ended was in 1967-68. The Canadiens played in the East Division for seven seasons before moving to the Norris Division in the Prince of Wales Conference in 1974-75.
The Canadiens stayed in the Prince of Wales Conferenced amidst realignment in 1981-82, but they moved to the Adams Division. The Adams Division lasted until 1993-94 when the NHL entered the Eastern and Western Conference alignment.
The Canadiens were in the Northeast Division with the Bruins, Sabres, Senators, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Quebec Nordiques.
The NHL moved to the six-division setup in 1998-99, with the Northeast Division consisting of the Canadiens, Bruins, Sabres, Senators, and Maple Leafs. It lasted until 2013 when the Atlantic Division began.