George Gillett Jr.'s passing has hit the Canadiens organization hard as Martin St-Louis and Montreal enter a new season carrying heavy news.
The Canadiens announced Wednesday that Gillett died September 22 at the age of 87. He owned the franchise from 2001 through 2009.
For an organization built around history, former players and generations of ownership, this is a painful loss tied directly to an important chapter of the club's modern era.
Current owner, president and CEO Geoff Molson offered condolences to Gillett's family while remembering the connection he built with Montreal during his years in charge.
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Molson also pointed to the appreciation Gillett earned inside the organization, a reminder that his impact went beyond business decisions and ownership papers.
Gillett took control of the Canadiens and the Molson Centre on January 31, 2001, beginning an eight-year run that included several unforgettable moments.
George Gillett Jr. leaves a lasting Canadiens chapter
One of the most emotional came on April 9, 2002, when Saku Koivu returned to the ice following his battle with cancer, producing one of the defining Bell Centre scenes of that era.
Months later, the Canadiens' home officially became the Bell Centre on September 1, 2002, another major change that arrived during Gillett's ownership.
His tenure also reached into preparations for Montreal's centennial season, connecting his ownership period to a celebration that carried enormous meaning for the franchise and its supporters.
Gillett's sports interests eventually stretched overseas as well. He became an owner of Liverpool FC in 2007 while remaining connected to the Canadiens.
His Montreal chapter closed on June 20, 2009, when the Canadiens, Bell Centre and Groupe Spectacles Gillett were sold to the Molson family.
That transaction ended his ownership run, but it didn't erase the place he held during a memorable stretch of Canadiens history.
For the Habs organization, Wednesday became about remembering the man behind that period and recognizing the family now grieving his loss.
George Gillett Jr. was 87, and his name will remain tied to a Canadiens era that included change, emotion and moments Montreal fans still remember.
Will George Gillett Jr. be remembered as an important Canadiens owner?
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