Excitement is running high in Montreal as the Canadiens welcome their newest addition, Zachary Bolduc, to the roster. With his impressive pedigree and first-round draft status, Bolduc’s arrival has sparked a wave of optimism among fans and experts alike.

The trade that brought him to the Habs has already been hailed as a stroke of genius by some, raising expectations for what he might bring to the ice this season.

But as the dust settles on this headline-grabbing acquisition, a surprising controversy has begun to simmer beneath the surface. Instead of celebrating the bold move by general manager Kent Hughes, a vocal segment of the fanbase is fixated on a single, unexpected detail—one that has nothing to do with Bolduc’s skills or potential, but rather a choice that’s both highly visible and deeply symbolic.

Why has this decision stirred such strong emotions? What is it about this seemingly small matter that has left some supporters feeling disrespected, while others see it as a sign of admiration?

As the Canadiens prepare for a new chapter, we take a closer look at the story behind the controversy—and why it’s resonating so powerfully with fans across Montreal.

Photo credit: Montreal Canadiens

While the newcomer to the Montreal Canadiens, Zachary Bolduc, is generating excitement among fans, some of them are upset about a decision he has made.

When the Canadiens announced the acquisition of Zachary Bolduc, many fans and experts could hardly believe it: how did the Habs manage to land a young player of Bolduc’s caliber, a first-round pick of the Blues, while only giving up Logan Mailloux in return?

If Kent Hughes’ genius was once again demonstrated through this acquisition, some fans are nonetheless questioning Zachary Bolduc’s choice of number.

We’re talking here about #76, previously worn by a certain player named PK Subban.

Canadiens fans ERUPT in OUTRAGE as Zachary Bolduc’s JERSEY NUMBER decision is called ‘DISRESPECTFUL’—social media EXPLODES with furious reactions, legendary players’ legacies are questioned, and the team faces UNPRECEDENTED BACKLASH that could SHAKE the locker room and ignite a FIRESTORM of controversy in Montreal!

“Disrespectful”: Canadiens fans upset over Zachary Bolduc’s choice of number

Although PK Subban’s number is not retired and likely never will be, many fans still hold the former Canadiens defenseman in endless admiration.

That’s why we weren’t overly surprised to see a few outraged reactions online from fans shocked by Bolduc’s decision to keep number 76 with the Canadiens.

One fan even went so far as to call Bolduc’s decision “disrespectful.” To everyone who might share that feeling, we’d like to remind you that Zachary, who is barely 22 years old, himself grew up admiring PK Subban’s exploits with the Canadiens. He knows very well what Subban represents for the organization, and we should rather see his choice as a mark of respect toward Subban.

Of course, we’re talking here about a minority of fans. Most of us are simply excited at the thought of seeing his first strides in the bleu-blanc-rouge uniform.

Let’s recall that several experts, including Simon “Snake” Boisvert, see the Mailloux-Bolduc trade as a true masterstroke by Kent Hughes.