Our history - The historical website of the Montreal Canadiens

THE REGULAR SEASON

The team’s management goes with a youth movement heading into the 1938-39 season as Aurele Joliat, Pit Lepine and Marty Burke are told that their services are no longer required.

This change in direction doesn’t bring about the desired results as the Canadiens lose their first seven games of the season.

At the end of the streak, goalie Wilf Cude leaves the net in tears with a shower of boos raining down on him. The team doctor commits him to rest and Cude doesn’t return to his post until January. Claude Bourque takes over in goal during his absence.

After a series of four wins in five games, the Habs hit the skids again and lose six straight in December. From December 13 to January 15, the team wins once and loses eight more times.

At the end of January, team management has seen enough and manager Jules Dugal replaces coach Cecil Hart behind the bench. The move ends Hart’s nine-year association with the team, divided into two stints, that includes two Stanley Cup wins.

The veteran’s departure allows left winger Toe Blake an opportunity to flourish and he becomes the second player in team history to both lead the NHL in scoring and win the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. He joins Howie Morenz, who accomplished the feat twice, in 1927-28 and again in 1930-31. Blake scores 24 goals and adds 23 assists for a total of 47 points.

With the Montreal Maroons suspending operations, the league is reduced to seven teams grouped into one division. The Canadiens finish in sixth place with a 15-24-9 record and claim the final playoff spot.