The Canadiens ruffle feathers with a controversial choice for tonight's "torch bearer"

The Montreal Canadiens have trotted out a number of franchise icons as their "torch bearer" for home games during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Legends like Yvan Cournoyer, Serge Savard, Kirk Muller, Guy Carbonneau and Larry Robinson have all kicked off pre-game festivities for the raucous crowd at The Bell Center.

Tonight though...

Well, they called on one of the most controversial players in NHL history: Claude Lemieux.

Check it out:

Lemieux carved out one of the most successful — and controversial — careers of the 1990s NHL era. A four-time Stanley Cup champion, Lemieux built his reputation as a playoff performer who thrived in chaos, especially during his memorable years with the Canadiens.

Drafted by Montreal in 1983, Lemieux quickly became known for his combination of scoring touch and abrasive style. While he never possessed elite superstar skill, he elevated his game when the stakes were highest. That was never more evident than during the Canadiens’ 1986 Stanley Cup run, where the young winger played a key supporting role on a team led by rookie goaltender Patrick Roy. Nearly a decade later, Lemieux helped Montreal capture another championship in 1993, scoring crucial goals throughout the playoffs and cementing his legacy as one of hockey’s ultimate postseason agitators.

But Lemieux’s career was equally defined by controversy. He became one of the NHL’s most hated players because of his relentless trash talk, cheap shots, and willingness to cross the line physically. His infamous 1996 hit on Detroit’s Kris Draper while playing for the Colorado Avalanche remains one of the league’s ugliest moments, sparking the legendary Avalanche-Red Wings rivalry. Many fans and players never forgave him for the incident.

Despite the criticism, Lemieux embraced the villain role completely. He understood how to get under opponents’ skin while producing in big moments, a combination that made him both incredibly effective and deeply polarizing throughout his NHL career.