Where do the Canadiens rank in playoff series wins since 2009?

The Montreal Canadiens may not win another playoff series until the latter half of the 2020s, but let’s avoid making the mistake that this team has spent most of its time in the same mold as the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings - two teams that haven’t won a single series in over a decade.

For as poorly as things have looked for the Habs over the past few seasons, they stack up well against the NHL in terms of playoff series wins since 2009. In fact, with nine series wins, they rank in the top half of the league, even if they never won that elusive Stanley Cup in that same span. 

Currently, they are tied for 11th with the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues as far as league rankings go, and even if the Stars win the Western Conference Finals, the Habs will still hold the 11th spot. 

Canadiens are 11th in playoff series wins between 2009 and 2024

Now the question bodes: When will the Habs win another playoff series? Right now, it’s hard to tell, as they are playing in a tough Atlantic Division. The Habs are dealing with the usual culprits: Toronto, Florida, Boston, and Tampa, but an ascending Detroit Red Wings and a Lindy Ruff-led Buffalo Sabres team will provide additional challenges for at least the next two seasons. 

However, the Canadiens are also building a strong team, so perhaps in the next couple of seasons, this could be a seven-team race heading into the back half of the decade, as the top four teams in the Atlantic probably aren’t going anywhere in terms of relevancy. If the Habs can work their way into a top three spot or steal a wild card, they’ll be in a position to add another series win sooner rather than later. 

That said, even if the Habs don’t manage to win another series any time soon, they can nonetheless make things interesting once the current incarnation of their team gains a little more experience. 

(Additional information provided by Hockey-Reference)