Despite never hoisting the Stanley Cup, Canadiens' longtime captain, Saku Koivu, left a lasting legacy in Montreal, perhaps as the team's most beloved leader.
When the Montreal Canadiens selected Koivu with the 21st overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft, few could have imagined the kind of impact the centreman from Finland would have on the franchise. Now, in 2025, 11 years after his retirement, his legacy remains as potent as ever in the hearts of Habs fans.
Koivu's story goes far beyond hockey.