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François Gagnon

François Gagnon is a Canadian sports journalist known for his long-time coverage of the Montreal Canadiens and other hockey teams in French-language media.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

François Gagnon is a Canadian sports journalist best known for his long-time coverage of the Montreal Canadiens and other hockey teams in French-language media. In 2025, he received the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for distinguished hockey journalism. His career is closely tied to the Canadian hockey media landscape, particularly through his work at RDS.

Early life and career

François Gagnon was born in Quebec City, Quebec, on 26 February 1963. He began his journalism career at Le Droit, where he covered the Ottawa Senators. He later wrote for Le Soleil and La Presse before moving into broader hockey coverage.

Work in hockey journalism

Gagnon became known for his extensive coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, a role he has held for more than 30 years. Since 2013, he has worked for RDS as a columnist and commentator, contributing to French-language hockey reporting in Canada.

Award recognition

In 2025, the Hockey Hall of Fame named Gagnon the recipient of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award. The award recognizes members of the hockey-writing profession whose work has brought honour to journalism and to hockey.

Key facts

  • François Gagnon has covered the Montreal Canadiens for more than 30 years.
  • He has worked for RDS as a columnist and commentator since 2013.
  • He previously wrote for Le Droit, Le Soleil, and La Presse.
  • He received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award in 2025.
  • His work is a fixture in French-language hockey media in Canada.
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Canadian context

He is a prominent Canadian French-language hockey journalist whose career is closely tied to coverage of the Montreal Canadiens and the broader Canadian hockey media landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Who is François Gagnon?
François Gagnon is a Canadian sports journalist best known for his hockey coverage, especially of the Montreal Canadiens.
What is François Gagnon known for?
He is known for hockey commentary and reporting in French-language Canadian media, particularly through RDS.
What award did François Gagnon receive?
He received the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2025.
What teams has he covered?
He has covered the Montreal Canadiens and, earlier in his career, the Ottawa Senators.
Where did François Gagnon work before RDS?
He worked for Le Droit, Le Soleil, and La Presse before joining RDS.

References

  1. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/news/francois-gagnon-passion-carried-journalist-to-hockey-hall-of-fame
    Supports: Award recognition, hockey journalism background, and Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award context
  2. NHL.com (French) — https://www.nhl.com/fr/news/prix-elmer-ferguson-francois-gagnon-fera-son-entree-au-temple
    Supports: Career history including Le Droit, Le Soleil, La Presse, and RDS; award details
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Gagnon_(journalist)
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, occupation, and career summary
  4. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/418929/francois-gagnon
    Supports: Separate hockey-player profile that may indicate a different person with the same name; not used for the journalist biography