Which NHL team is known as the "Habs"?

The NHL team known as the “Habs” is the Montreal Canadiens.

The nickname is generally understood as a shortened form of “Les Habitants,” referring to the French-speaking settlers who established communities along the St. Lawrence River. The Montreal Canadiens were founded in 1909 and remain one of the NHL’s oldest and most historically successful franchises.

The team’s familiar “CH” crest often causes confusion about the nickname’s origin. The “H” stands for “Hockey” in the club’s French name, Club de Hockey Canadien; it does not stand for “Habitants.” The nickname predates the modern logo explanation and has been used by Montreal supporters and sportswriters for more than a century.

Montreal is also called the Tricolore because of its red, white, and blue uniforms. The Canadiens have won more Stanley Cups than any other NHL franchise, although the team’s most recent championship came in 1993. “Habs” identifies Montreal specifically, not Canadian NHL teams generally.