With the final preseason game now in the rearview mirror, the Canadiens have made their final roster cuts and announced the deserving names of the players that will don the bleu-blanc-et-rouge jerseys for the 2025-26 season. The team has managed to make some linear progression in terms of overall point progression since the rebuild began, but this year, it’s different. An unexpected visit to the playoffs last year has sent a sense of optimism through the entire organization and for the first time, the Habs, have changed their yearly goals from, “being in the mix”, to “ making the playoffs”. The rebuild, although not yet complete, has begun it’s next phase. This message was reflected in the offseason with some familiar faces leaving town and some fresh talent arriving.

Out With The Old, In With The New

The Canadiens have seen the departures of Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, Emil Heineman, and David Savard this offseason. Dvorak and Armia were lost through free agency, signing deals in Philadelphia and Los Angeles respectively. David Savard has hung up his skates and Emil Heineman was sent to Long Island in a package for highly touted defenceman, Noah Dobson. Young rear-guard, Logan Mallioux found himself on the outside looking in. With an abundance of young talented blue-liners knocking on the door, of an already full house, the Habs were able to move Mallioux and bring in rookie scorer, Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues. Bolduc was impressive with the Blues last season, scoring 19 goals in his rookie season. Notably, locking down a bumper spot on the power play and taking advantage of a very heavy shot. Other players lost of less “impact”were Michael Pezzetta, Cayden Primeau, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard.

GM Hughes opted to take some bigger swings this offseason. A clear signal that the team was ready to take the next step. Just before Free Agency, the Habs traded picks 16 and 17 of the 2025 draft along with Emil Heineman to the Islanders for Noah Dobson. Dobson immediately signed an eight-year contract extension with the Canadiens worth $76 million (9.5 million anually), making him the highest-paid player on the Canadiens. A few days later on July 1st, Hughes was busy once again, bolstering his offence by acquiring Zachary Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in a one-for-one swap with young prospect Logan Maillioux. Bolduc, from Quebec, grew up cheering for the Habs and will now get to live his childhood dream.

“ I grew up a Habs fan and now I have the oppportunity to play for them, so I’m just super excited.” Bolduc said of the trade.

Hughes also rounded out the lineup, signing 6’1” centreman, Joe Veleno to a 1-year, $900,000 deal, Sammy Blais to a 1-year $775,000 deal and experienced goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen to a 1-year $1.15 million deal.

Here’s a look at who’s in and who’s out heading into the new season:

A Quick Recap

The vibes in Montreal haven’t been this positive for a long time. After many patient years of pain and low expectations, the seeds of the rebuild have finally begun to bear fruit. That fruit came in the form of an unexpected playoff birth, despite many analysts predicting a lowly finish. Suzuki and his Habs have shown ownership that they have grown into players that can take matters into their own hands and with that have been rewarded with some fresh talent to begin the 2025 season. This preseason was therefore lacking when it came to roster openings up for grabs. Savard was replaced with Dobson, and Heineman with Bolduc. In my eyes, at least on paper, a sizable upgrade. With Dach finally coming back from injury and getting the opportunity to be the teams second line centre, any player hoping to nab a spot in the line-up would really have to do something special.

The Habs finished the preseason with a 4-2-0 record and few names stood out to be amongst the group. Sammy Blais was an absolute monster on the forecheck. He was a nuisance to any opposing teams defenceman and was able to create a lot of havoc and turnovers as a result. Joe Veleno, looked fast and smooth and seems to have a very good hockey mind. He looked better than I personally expected when initially signed. Filip Mesar was fast and decisive. He was cut earlier in training camp but I believe he still has more to offer and hopefully will be able to show why he was chosen in the first round if he’s able to stay healthy. Adam Engstrom seemed like an NHL ready defenceman. He is extremely fluid and confident in his decision making. I believe he will be next in line to earn a call-up barring any injuries during the year. Vinzenz Rohrer was very fast and relentless. I am interested to follow his year in the minors this year to see how his game progresses. Lastly, and for good reason, Florian Xhekaj. He was the standout at camp for me and I was almost convinced he would crack the lineup. He fought, he scored, he hit and for a young guy, he did not look out of place playing along side NHL talent. NHL be warned, the Montreal Canadiens are going to be a handful if at some point there are two Xhekaj’s patrolling the ice. I couldn't help myself but be drawn into the preseason games this year because of this storyline alone.

Your 2025 Montreal Canadiens

Today, the Montreal Canadiens made 5 roster moves and with that solidified the roster for the 2025-26 season. Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom have been loaned to the Laval Rocket in the American Hockey League. Forward Sammy Blais and Kaapo Kahkonen were placed on waivers at 2:00 PM ET. We will find out if anyone was claimed in 24 hours. Although I would have love to see Xhehaj and Blais on the team, I do believe these are the right moves given the position the Canadiens are in at this point in time. Xhekaj would not have gotten consistent playing time this year with the teams depth and he will benefit from consistent playing time in the minors to shape out his game.

With those moves, we can conclude that the Habs brass have elected to go with 13 forwards and 7 defenceman. Joe Veleno being the one player that has made the team out of camp.This is how the team shapes up as well as line projections:

Can the Canadiens take another step forward and build on last year’s success? I’ll let you decide.

When a young man shows up armed with “an endocrinologist report” at an NHL Draft Combine you can look at it a few different ways. I’d venture to say that most people would laugh or shrug it off, but if you were to really think about it, what drives a person to do something like that? It’s not exactly normal. If it was, you wouldn't be reading about it, would you? Well, this is exactly what Lane Hutson did at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo in 2022.

NHL D-men were big, rugged, strong and ideally, at least 6’0 tall. Scouts, when assessing a player who has all the tools and a big frame with room to fill out, often hold these players in high regard. They’re the players who get picked off in the first round of any draft. They see a player that can play hockey AND withstand the long, gruelling grind of an NHL season. They see a player who can become the very backbone of a team and carry them through the playoffs. Well, what did they see in Lane Hutson? Lane, with 148 lbs encompassing his 5’8 frame, did not necessarily fit the mould. He was a damn good hockey player, but he was small. Too small? Well, many scouts at the time struggled with this. Was Lane Hutson too small for the NHL or was he dynamic and shifty enough that it wouldn’t be an issue? Every scouting report I read mentioned his size as a red flag, but also recognized the elite skill set.

“His lack of size and strength could hold him back at the NHL level, even if his skating and hockey sense are elite.”

-Dobber Prospects

“He is so dynamic that he could be a big miss for a team that passes on him because of his size”

-McKeen’s

Players know their skill set and they know their weaknesses. In today’s world, they have access to top of the line coaching, videography, advanced stats and an abundance of online material critiquing and praising their every move. It’s everywhere! Professional athletes are highly motivated individuals who are hardwired to improve. They eat, sleep and breathe their game. It’s what makes them who they are. It’s why they earn the money they earn and why people pay big money to see that talent live. Lane Hutson is no different, and you can imagine that leading up to the draft he was likely seeing the reports about him. Everyone praised his skating, hockey IQ, vision, playmaking, and edgework. All of these were within his control, He could work on and develop these. He had one red flag; his size. What does a highly motivated teenager who can envision that the one thing he can’t change could be the very reason his dreams of playing in the NHL may not happen? For Lane, it was to hire an endocrinologist to provide him with a report stating that in short says, he’s not done growing. Lane showed up at the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo armed with that document so he could defend his one red flag with cold hard data. It’s an unprecedented move and an admirable one at that. It ultimately speaks to his willingness to go that next level and do what it takes to get what he wants. From that viewpoint, in regards to NHL qualities, that’s one that goes a long way. It speaks to his drive. When everything is on the line, you can ensure that he will be the one to lay it all out there.

“A report from Hutson’s endocrinologist indicated his bone age is delayed relative to his biological age, which means his frame still has more than a full year of additional bone growth to go. ‘

‘It’s just something I thought I’d share with them,’ Hutson said. ‘And they’re like, “Oh, that’s good, we’re glad you came prepared.” I think every question in the room is usually about my size, it’s the obvious thing. But I’m not too worried either way.’”

— [Sportsnet, Ryan Dixon]

The Montreal Canadiens Are Proud to Select

The Montreal Canadiens picked Lane Hutson 62nd overall at the 2022 NHL Draft in the second round. Drafting at home in Quebec, the Habs picked Juraj Slafkovsky first overall and blew the roof off the building by trading Romanov to Long Island for the 13th Overall selection and flipping that pick to Chicago for Kirby Dach. ←Link Here. Many teams felt that Hutson had the skill set to get picked in the first, but the size factor held many GMs back from pulling the trigger. Hutson fell to the second where it was more palatable to take a small swing for high upside. The Canadiens, being in the midst of a rebuild, had the unique ability to slowly develop their prospects properly in the minors. It was a no-brainer.

Hutson followed up his draft year with 1.23 and 1.29 Pts/GP respectively in the NCAA before making his debut with the Canadiens at the end of the 2023/24 season. It was a small sample size but one that brought optimism to Habs fans, who much to their disappointment, had to wait for an entire offseason to see what Hutson had to offer. In 2024/25, the Hutson show began, although a little slowly at first. Coach Marty chose to ease the freshman in, deploying him in mainly offensive zone starts and lower down in the lineup. As the season wore on, there was no easing him in any longer. Hutson burst through the gates, snagging a unit one power play spot and gaining the respect of his coaches and teammates. He quickly became one of Montreals most utilized weapons, making history along the way. His 60 assists were the most by a rookie defenceman in a season, tying Larry Murphy (1980-81) for the NHL record. He was the first rookie defenseman to hit the 50 assist mark in a season in 38 years. His 66 points ranks him fifth all time in rookie defensemen point totals (tied with Phil Housley). He later won the Calder Trophy for NHL’s best rookie. It’s safe to say that the small swing has produced big upside.

Raising the (Already High) Bar

As I’ve previously stated, many scouts’ knock against Lane Hutson was his size. The other one, not as often mentioned was his shot. This is something I repeated to myself and other fans numerous times last season. “If Lane can improve his shot, he’ll be unstoppable”. I believe that wholeheartedly . This is a personal opinion, I know, but, I think that Hutson’s biggest knock against him is not his size at all. He’s been small his entire life. He’s excelled at every level he’s ever played at with that smaller frame. Smaller guys have a lower centre of gravity and learn to use leverage to outmuscle larger opponents at a young age. It’s not new to them; they adapt. As much as there are many disadvantages to being a smaller player in the NHL, there are also advantages that get overlooked. Hutson’s speed and maneuverability are some of his strongest assets. He is able to change direction in a split second and often at a faster pace than most other players in the league. His smaller stature allows him to move at that pace. Pair that with his ability to see the game two or three steps ahead and you have someone who, despite their size, actually has an advantage to work with. I truly believe Hutson’s shot is his weak link, but it’s improvable. If you’ve followed him throughout the offseason, you’d see that, well… he doesn’t really have an offseason. Hockey is his entire personality and he’s clearly a guy that wants to improve in all facets and be one of the best to lace up a pair of skates. There are numerous clips of him working his shot this summer and I’ve actually noticed quite an improvement myself. It’s noticeable on screen. If it’s able to translate to on-ice production this season then the whole league should be on notice. Having a mentor in Patrik Laine may also help out...just a little.

The passing is ELITE. The skating is ELITE. If the shot gets dialed in this season, well… the NHL is going to have a Lane Hutson problem! What do you guys think?

OH, and one more thing. If you were wondering… Hutson is now 5’10, 163 lbs.

To the dismay of many across the nation, the leaves have begun falling from the trees; signalling the end of summer. The days are getting shorter and the evening temperatures are dropping. Not to worry, folks! That’s not the only thing that’s dropping. Hockey season is a stick lengths away and we are now just 14 days away from puck drop. The Montreal Canadiens, whom last year, many experts had pegged for a lowly finish in the bottom of the rankings, managed to pull off some end of season magic to squeak their way into a playoff berth. The wildcard race in the east left many gripping the edge of their couch cushions, night and night again. Each and every game, a must win; teams played a seemingly never-ending game of musical chairs. Fans were blessed with enduring the highs and lows of playoff-style hockey well before the season’s end. Montreal had opportunities to clinch in three games, losing in regulation to the Senators, in OT to the Leafs, and losing in a shootout to a weak Blackhawks team. Finally, the Habs managed to top the Hurricanes with a 60 assist season for Lane Hutson as the cherry on top. This would be their first playoff appearance since their underdog run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2021.

Dach, selected 3rd OA to the Chicago Blackhawks, was seen as a future star, standing 6’4” with great vision, skating, playmaking abilities and a knack for puck protection. Unfortunately, the injuries, often significant, came early and often. A fractured wrist in a pre tournament game at the 2020 World Juniors required surgery, knocking him out of the tournament and most of the 20-21 season. He was limited to just 18 games. In 2021, he managed to play 70 games, putting up 9G, 17A, for 26 points but was often viewed as playing timid by analyst at the time, a sign that maybe the wrist was not quite at 100 percent. The 2022 NHL Entry Draft was held in Montreal. After picking Juraj Slafkovsky with the 1st overall selection the Canadiens sent young, rugged defenceman, Alexander Romanov and the 98th overall pick to the Islanders for the 13th overall selection. They immediately packaged that 13th pick with the 66th overall pick to acquire Fort Saskatchewan native, Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks. Before even suiting up for Le CH, Dach was signed to a 4-year, $13.45M deal. A vote of confidence. Montreal had, what they believed, to be their 2nd line centre behind captain, Nick Suzuki. Or atleast one that had all the ingredients to be just that. This would put an end to the Habs long winded battle to shore up the 1st and 2nd line centre positions. Given the history, it was a gamble. However, Kent Hughes and Geoff Gorton believed it would be one that would pay off.

Dach’s tenure with Montreal started off on a positive trend. Many fans clamoured about how Kent Hughes undoubtedly “fleeced” the Chicago Blackhawks with the move. In the first 58 games, Dach set personal bests in Goals and Assists with 14 and 24 respectively, ending the year with 38 points. Thats a healthy improvement with 10 more points in 12 less games than his best season in “The Windy City”. As we all know, things went downhill from here. The following season, Dach suffered a season ending ACL & MCL injury to his right knee in just the second game of the year. The following season, he injured the same knee and underwent surgery.

Reason For Optimism

The city of Montreal is beaming in optimism. Maybe it’s the unexpected playoff appearance? Maybe it’s a full season of young phenom, Ivan Demidov? Maybe, it’s the acquisition of a young stud by the name of Noah Dobson, fresh off of signing a long term deal in La Belle Province. Let us not forget Trois-Rivieres own, Zachary Bolduc. The rebuild has hit another milestone, and with that the expectations for the team have risen. Kent Hughes and company has made some bold moves, shoring up some weak spots in the team, but there is still a hole at 2nd line centre. We’ve heard about the rumours of Sidney Crosby and Mason MacTavish and I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t lose my mind to see Sid the Kid suit up in the bleu-blanc-rouge. However, until something happens, it’s all just speculation and I want to focus on the team we have on the ice as we speak. Up the middle we have Suzuki as a lock at first line centre, Alexander Newhook at third and Jake Evans on the 4th. So far at camp Dach has been slotted in at number two with Laine and Demidov on the flanks. Although, during scrimmages it seems Dach is not quite ready for contact as young Finnish centre, has taken that spot. Aside from any unexpected Kent Hughes magic, it seems quite apparent that Kirby Dach will be given the keys and is expected to drive that line to start the season. Dach has his sights set on being ready for game one and in the early stages of camp he has looked strong! As Habs fans we have dealt with our fair share of pain over the years and maybe it’s a little difficult to latch onto hope that Dach is able to come back from two very significant injuries to fill that highly critical role. I get it. I want all the stars to align and when I daydream about a primed and healthy Kirby Dach, I get little butterflies in the pit of my stomach. BUT, what if he gets hurt, again? Its possible, but I don't want to focus on the negatives. I want to think about the glimpses of Kirby Dach in year one with the Canadiens. The Kirby Dach that absolutely mowed over Cal Clutterbuck while carrying the puck without batting a single eyelash or losing a single stride. The Kirby Dach that drove the play, while playing with Suzuki and Caufield. I mean, lets not forget the capabilities here. I know it's been awhile, but the talent is there. The size, the stick handling, the vision, the strength, the skating is all still there. A healthy Dach is a legitimate threat and a viable option up the middle for the Canadiens 2nd line. He just needs to tie it all together and get in some consistent playing time under his belt. Will we see a healthy Dach? Time will tell.

Dach has remained very positive despite the many reasons to engulf himself in pity. He has taken the proper time and steps necessary to rehab from injury in the offseason and train. No one knows how important this season is more than the man himself. This being a contract year, it really drives that point home.

What History Tells Us

Dach is definitely not the first NHLer or athlete to endure an injury of this caliber, and he won’t be the last. What are the realistic expectations? Can he come back in top form after not playing an NHL game in 212 days? Or, does he need another season of consistent hockey to “catch-up” and maintain his original form. Is it even possible? These are the things we need to look at. I wanted to dive a little deeper here and see if this sort of thing has ever been done before. Has anyone, in particular, an NHL player, come back from these injuries in the past? If so, how did their production and play compare to previous years?

A study published by the “American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMES) looked at exactly that. I will link the study below for anyone interested in the scientific side of things, but to summarize, Dach’s MCL + ACL injury falls into the best case subgroup of all the multilligament knee injuries studied.

Looking back, there are a couple notable names that have been in Dach’s shoes and have come back to the NHL and contributed; one being Joe Thornton. Thornton sustained this injury at 37 years old and managed to come back in the playoffs that year and play multiple seasons after. Uwe Krupp sustained the same injury in the first game of the 1995-96 season. He returned that same year scoring 16 points in 22 playoff games. These are just a couple of examples to gain insight from. One could argue in Dach’s case, he may have the advantage of better sports medicine and recovery protocols, as well as being much younger than both Krupp and Thornton. Take from it what you will, but I choose remain optimistic as the stats show a favourable outcome.

In reality, Kent Hughes could pull off another under the radar trade for a 2nd line centre that not even the most connected insiders saw coming. For the time being, I’m on team Dach. The Montreal Canadiens are an exciting group and I cannot wait to see what the season has in store, whether I am right or wrong. What do you guys think? Can Kirby Dach make the most of this opportunity? Let us know!

Demidov-Dach-Laine Highlights from Scrimmage

Multiligament knee injuries in NHL players (AOSSM/PMC study).