However, its games were cancelled as the 2004–05 NHL lockout could not be resolved in time.
The other 29 teams did not play either due to the labour dispute.
The Canadiens preseason and regular season schedules were announced on July 14, 2004.
[1] The Canadiens were involved in the following transactions from June 8, 2004, the day after the deciding game of the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals, through February 16, 2005, the day the 2004–05 season was officially cancelled.
[2] The 2004 NHL entry draft was held on June 26 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.