The 2008–09 Montreal Canadiens season is their 99th season of play and 91st in the National Hockey League (NHL). The organization was celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1909. The Montreal Canadiens hosted the 57th NHL All-Star Game at the Bell Centre on January 25, 2009, and the 59th NHL Entry Draft in June 2009, as part of the team's celebrations for its centennial anniversary. Key dates prior to the start of the season include: * The 2008 NHL Entry Draft took place in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 20–21. * The free agency period began on July 1. __TOC__