It’s a new dawn for the Montreal Canadiens, and the anticipation in the city is as electric as the ice at the Bell Centre. After a surprising playoff run last spring—a feat few outside Montreal saw coming—the Canadiens are now staring down a season filled with both hope and high expectations. The 2025-26 campaign is on the horizon, and the pressure is mounting for a team that’s no longer flying under the radar. With training camp set to open in the coming days, the spotlight shines on a roster that’s matured, retooled, and, perhaps most importantly, emboldened by last year’s postseason charge.
The excitement kicked off early this weekend, as the Canadiens hosted the first of two prospect games at the Bell Centre on September 13, 2025. For fans, the biggest draw was the debut of Ivan Demidov, a young forward whose arrival has generated buzz throughout the city. According to Marc-Antoin Godin, speaking on the latest episode of “Tellement Hockey,” “the Habs have a few young players who could aspire to an NHL job.” Among them, Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, and Florian Xhekaj are fighting for recognition, but the reality is they’re likely vying for first call-up status rather than permanent roster spots.
Why? The Canadiens’ forward corps is already crowded. Eleven names are set in stone: Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Patrik Laine, Ivan Demidov, Zachary Bolduc, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and Jake Evans. That leaves just one open spot, which most expect to go to Joe Veleno—a recent acquisition who’s already making waves—pushing Samuel Blais to the bubble. With 13 forwards essentially locked in, prospects like Kapanen, Beck, and Xhekaj will almost certainly start the season with the Laval Rocket, Montreal’s AHL affiliate. But as Godin points out, “All three guys will have to give 100%, because when a door opens in Montreal, they’re all going to be first on the recall list.”
On defense, the situation is just as competitive. Seven NHL defensemen are penciled in, which likely means that promising youngsters David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom will begin the year in Laval as well. Reinbacher’s journey is particularly compelling. Once projected to make the big club last September, a serious knee injury derailed his rookie campaign, limiting him to just 23 AHL games. Now healthy, the fifth-overall pick from 2023 is eager to prove he belongs. “There’s no time like the present for Reinbacher to prove himself worthy of his place in the NHL,” notes a recent Sportsnet analysis, highlighting the team’s expectation for him to become a core piece in the years ahead.
It’s not just the young guns who are under scrutiny. The Canadiens’ front office, led by General Manager Kent Hughes, made some significant moves over the summer. The most notable addition is Noah Dobson, a blue-line stalwart expected to bring stability and puck-moving prowess. Zachary Bolduc and Joe Veleno also join the fold, with Veleno’s signing coming after the Canadiens reportedly reached out to free agent Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov’s agent, Shumi Babaev, confirmed, “There are several teams we have spoken to, more than 10 teams. With some, it was positive, but others declined.” Ultimately, Montreal opted for Veleno, a younger, perhaps safer bet, as insurance at center while maintaining confidence in Kirby Dach to drive the second line.
Speaking of Dach, his health remains a pivotal storyline. After missing 105 of the last 164 games due to knee injuries, there’s understandable concern about his ability to anchor the second line alongside Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov. The coaching staff, led by Martin St. Louis, is banking on a full recovery and a return to form. But if injuries linger or chemistry falters, young guns like Bolduc, Joshua Roy, or even Kapanen could be called upon to shake up the lineup.
Last season’s slow start—losing all but four of 11 games in October and dropping five of the first seven in November—served as a harsh lesson. The Canadiens can’t afford a repeat, especially with a compressed schedule this year due to the upcoming Olympics. Every practice, every pre-season game, and every lineup tweak is being scrutinized. The coaching staff is determined to foster a hyper-competitive environment, with “tightening the systems—and the screws, when mistakes are made—in every practice,” as Sportsnet observes. The team’s $4.56 million in remaining salary cap space gives them some flexibility, but roster spots are at a premium.
Penalties and special teams are also under the microscope. With Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, and David Savard all gone from what was the league’s ninth-best penalty kill last year, new faces must step up. Alex Newhook is a likely candidate, but the most intriguing battle is between Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble for a regular penalty-killing role and the coveted sixth defenseman spot. On the goaltending front, Samuel Montembeault is the undisputed starter, but the backup role is up for grabs. Jakub Dobes, just 24 and with limited NHL experience, is competing fiercely with Kaapo Kahkonen, a 29-year-old veteran. The outcome of this duel will be one of the last big questions answered before the regular season opener in Toronto on October 8.
Montreal’s projected lines reflect both continuity and change. The top line of Caufield, Suzuki, and Slafkovsky is set to lead the charge, while the second line—Laine, Dach, and Demidov—carries both promise and uncertainty. Further down, Xhekaj, Newhook, and Bolduc provide youthful energy, with Anderson, Evans, and Gallagher offering experience and grit. On defense, pairings like Guhle-Dobson and Hutson-Matheson suggest a blend of speed and savvy, while Xhekaj-Carrier and Struble round out the group.
Bold predictions? There’s a sense among insiders that Florian Xhekaj could steal a roster spot with his physical, no-nonsense style—“playing the brand of big-boy hockey the Canadiens desperately need,” as one report puts it. But as with so much else in this camp, nothing is set in stone. The days ahead will be filled with competition, surprises, and, inevitably, tough decisions.
For now, the Canadiens are exactly where they want to be: a team on the rise, with a deep prospect pool, a hungry core, and a city ready to believe again. As the opening puck drop approaches, the only certainty is that the journey promises to be as thrilling as it is unpredictable.
