New Additions: D Noah Dobson (from NYI), F Zachary Bolduc (from STL), G Kaapo Kahkonen (1yr x $1.15M), F Sammy Blais (1yr x $775k), F Joe Veleno (1yr x $900k)

Subtractions: F Emil Heineman (to NYI), G Cayden Primeau (to CAR), D Logan Mailloux (to STL), G Carey Price (to SJS), D David Savard (FA), F Michael Pezzetta (to TOR)

Retentions/Extensions: D Noah Dobson (8yr x $9.5M AAV), F Alex Belzile (1yr x $775k), G Jakub Dobes (2yr x $965k AAV), D Jayden Struble (2yr x $1.4125M AAV)

The Canadiens are the most young and exciting team in the NHL. Following a surprise appearance in the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, the Habs fell back down to earth and finished last in the Atlantic Division three years in a row. Heading into last season, there were people who thought another year near the bottom of the league was coming, but some optimists felt like if things went their way, Montreal could challenge for a playoff spot. Halfway through the season, it seemed like the first group of people were right, as the team was 31st in the league on December 1st, 2024, one point ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks. But the team began to click and went 31-19-8 after that, and secured the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 91 points. They were defeated in the first round in five games by the Washington Capitals, they were just happy to be there, and showed some fight, as the series was closer than the final result suggests.

The team is led by captain Nick Suzuki, who was coincidentally traded to Montreal in a package that sent former captain Max Pacioretty to Vegas. Since debuting in 2019, he has improved year after year, seeing an increase in his points per game each season. This past year he led the team in scoring with 89 points in 82 games. If he continues the trend of improving each season, Suzuki could break the 100 point mark for the first time in his career, and the first time a Canadien would have done so since 1986. His linemate, Cole Caufield, led the team in goals, with a career best 37 goals in 82 games. Caufield is the team’s best pure goalscorer and will look to score 40+ for the first time in his career this season. The two of them are instrumental in the success of this team, both in scoring, and as leaders for the young squad.

I would be remiss if I went any longer without mentioning the 2025 Calder Trophy winner, 21 year old defenceman Lane Hutson. After two great years in college with Boston University, Hutson made his NHL debut at the end of the 2023-24 season, where he impressed fans by getting two assists in two games. There was excitement about what he would add to the team in 2024-25, but he would have to earn his role, as Mike Matheson was excellent in the PP1 defenceman role the previous year (11 goals, 51 assists). It did not take long for Hutson to take over, as 26 of his 66 points were recorded on the power play. Hutson set the franchise record for points by a rookie defenceman. He had 5 assists in the Habs 5 playoff games, turning heads with his playmaking ability.

It could be back to back seasons where the Calder winner is a Montreal Canadien, as the favourite for the award this year is Russian winger Ivan Demidov. Just like Hutson, Demidov played in two games at the end of the season after coming over from the KHL. He had a goal and an assist in the regular season, and 2 assists in the playoffs. The flashy forward is expected to play in the top six and should see lots of time with the first powerplay unit. A year after the rookie defenceman point record was broken, it would not be surprising if Demidov is close to breaking the franchise’s overall rookie points record as a key piece in what projects to be one of the most exciting offenses in the league. The current record is held by Kjell Dahlin and Mats Naslund who both had 71 points in their rookie season.

Adding to a group that features Hutson and Matheson, the Canadiens went out and made a huge move to get another offensive defenceman, Noah Dobson. The former Islander (who is also from Prince Edward Island), is coming off a down year. He was great the year before, recording 70 points in 79 games, but followed it up with 39 points in 71 games this past season. Wanting to get paid like a number one defenceman, the Islanders were not on the same page, and began to field offers for the 25 year old. Montreal offered depth forward Emil Heineman along with two 2025 first round picks (16th and 17th overall), and the Isles agreed, and completed a trade that makes him the highest paid player on the Canadiens roster, making $9.5M per year over the next eight seasons. Montreal is paying him based on his 2023-24 production, and if he cannot get back to that version of himself, they might have overpaid. The rest of the defensive corps is super young, with players like Kaiden Guhle (23), Jayden Struble (24), Arber Xhekaj (24). Matheson (31) and Alex Carrier (28) are the oldest of the bunch.

Filling out the rest of the top six are three former top three picks, Juraj Slafkovsky (1st overall in 2022), Kirby Dach (3rd overall in 2019), and Patrik Laine (2nd overall in 2016). A great ensemble of complimentary players. Slaf, the former first overall pick has scored 50 and 51 points in the past two seasons, and seeks to take his game to another level. Dach has been solid when healthy, but health has been a big issue for him, as he has only played in 117 games in three seasons with the Canadiens. Laine is no longer expected to be a team’s top forward, but he can still show flashes of excellence and the goal scoring touch has not left him. Depth forwards include Alex Newhook, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Zachary Bolduc, who was acquired this offseason from St. Louis in exchange for Logan Mailloux.

The team parted ways with legendary goaltender Carey Price this offseason, trading him to San Jose in a strictly cap related move. Price had only appeared in five games since the 2021 Cup Final, as his career has unfortunately been ended by injuries. Sam Montembeault is the starting goalie now and provides a solid option in net. He played in 62 games last season and unfortunately got injured in the playoffs, amid an excellent series versus Washington. Jakub Dobes had to take over for him, and did alright considering his experience. Dobes and Kaapo Kahkonen will provide depth goaltending behind Montembeault who appears to be heading towards another heavy workload this season.

Even without the playoff appearance last season, people would still be picking the Canadiens to be a sneaky playoff team this season, as their young core has shown lots of promise, and adding Dobson, combined with a full year of Demidov has people excited for what this team can be. But considering they did in fact make the playoffs last season, it would almost be disrespectful to leave them out of the playoffs this year. Well, I do not mean to be disrespectful, but I think there is a real chance that the Habs miss the postseason this year. They had the lowest team point total of all playoff teams last year with 91, won less than 50% of their games with 40 wins, and I have questions surrounding their ability to keep the puck out of their own net. They will be an exciting team to watch, the kind of team that wins games 5-4, but that might not be the way to get things done. That being said, I think they certainly can make the playoffs again, but do not be surprised if there are some growing pains this year (to be expected with a young team) and they miss the postseason.