It’s just not the glorious history of the 24 Stanley Cups won by the Canadiens that makes Montreal one of the best hockey cities in the world along with Las Vegas and Toronto.
For the seventh time, the Bell Centre has been recognized as having the best ice surface in the NHL, according to the league’s annual NHLPA Player Poll released Tuesday.
Of the 585 players surveyed, 44.96% selected the Canadiens’ home rink as having the highest-quality ice—an increase from 34.48% in last year’s poll. The Bell Centre continues to set the standard for optimal playing conditions, far outpacing its nearest competitors. Rogers Place in Edmonton came in second with 14.87% of the vote, followed by Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre (10.77%), Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center (7.52%), and T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (4.62%).
The annual poll, conducted by the NHL Players’ Association, reflects opinions on various aspects of the league environment, including facilities, travel, and player style.
On that note, Canadiens forward Patrik Laine also received recognition, finishing fourth (3.80%) in voting for the league’s best-dressed players. He was ranked alongside other well-known fashion-forward names, including David Pastrnak and Auston Matthews (tied at 15.75%), William Nylander (12.90%), and Roope Hintz (2.09%).
The results underscore both the Bell Centre’s continued excellence in ice quality and the Canadiens’ growing presence in the off-ice style conversation. They were also ranked fifth in last year’s poll of the ‘toughest arena’ for visiting teams to play in receiving 4.66% of the vote. That was well behind the top choice–Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena–with 31.36%.
