The 2005–06 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's 97th season, 89th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canadiens would qualify for the 2006 playoffs, eventually being eliminated in the conference quarterfinals by the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.

Offseason

Regular season

Claude Julien started the season as coach but was fired and replaced on an interim basis by general manager Bob Gainey on January 14. The Canadiens's number one goaltender Jose Theodore was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. His place was taken by Cristobal Huet. Huet would lead the league in save percentage of 92.9% and placed fourth overall in goals against average of 2.20.

Final standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

The Canadiens placed 3rd in the Northeast division, and seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens played the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in the first round and lost four games to two. The Canadiens were winning 2–0 in the series when Saku Koivu sustained a serious injury to his left eye. Hurricanes forward Justin Williams attempted to lift Koivu's stick but instead struck him in the eye. Koivu was rushed to the hospital, where he would remain overnight and for the remainder of the playoffs. Koivu remained out of the lineup for the rest of the series and underwent surgery to repair a detached retina during the off-season.

Eastern Conference Quarter-finals: vs. (2) Carolina Hurricanes

Player statistics

Scoring

Goaltending

Awards and records

Awards

Milestones

Transactions

The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the 2004–05 NHL season was officially cancelled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Players acquired

Players lost

Signings

Draft picks

Montreal's draft picks at the 2005 NHL entry draft held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario.