Eyes On The Prize
Home ice of Carey Price
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2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #13 Bryce Pickford
Introduction Bryce Pickford had one of the most remarkable seasons any Montreal Canadiens prospect has produced in recent memory. The 20-year-old right-shot defenceman scored 45 goals and 83 points in just 55 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2025-26. He was the only defenceman among the CHL’s top 10 goal-scorers and tied for second among all WHL players in goals despite playing significantly fewer games than the league leader. After his season, the awards followed. Pickford was n...
Wednesday Habs Headlines: Something to prove
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Five players who are looking to seize the spotlight at training camp. [ Journal de Montreal ] Alex Newhook wants to build on his playoff successes. [ RDS ] Brendan Gallagher is now a father of two — the reason why he stayed in Montreal even after being traded to the Vancouver Canucks. [ Montreal Gazette ] Previewing the 2026-27 Canadiens blue line. [ The Hockey Writers ] The competition for that sixth spot is getting more and more in...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #14 Florian Xhekaj
Introduction We’re entering the part of this exercise where the players are expected to become NHLers. Some guys do it through pure talent or high skill levels. Others like Florian Xhekaj do it by being the meanest piece of work on the ice every night, while adding in an unexpected offensive flair in their role. Xhekaj experienced an incredible rise last year after he tallied 24 goals in his rookie campaign with the Laval Rocket. This year saw him pot 17 goals, with 12 assists, all w...
Tuesday Habs Headlines: Examining the group of death that is the Atlantic Division
Montreal Canadiens news and notes The strengths of each of the Canadiens’ rivals in the “group of death” Atlantic Division. [ Journal de Montreal ] NHL Network’s ranking of Nick Suzuki as the ninth-best centre is lower than some expected. [ Montreal Gazette ] Looking at the Canadiens’ timeline for returning to action. [ Journal de Montreal ] Around the league and elsewhere Joe Sakic is confident that Cale Makar will ink a deal with the Colorado Avalanche bef...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #15 Owen Beck
Introduction Owen Beck is not a new prospect, and some would even say he is a known commodity at this point. He was viewed as a promising young centre with a great chance of playing in the NHL when he was drafted in 2022. Now four years later, we have additional information from multiple seasons in the AHL and 27 games in the NHL over the past two years to confirm that initial projection. He was able to score his first goal with the Canadiens last year — after having a couple of bids deni...
Monday Habs Headlines: Nick Suzuki rises in centre rankings
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Nick Suzuki ranks ninth on NHL Network’s top centremen list after being 10th a year ago. [ NHL.com ] Re-evaluating the Josh Anderson trade. [ The Hockey Writers ] Around the league and elsewhere What impact will the San Jose Sharks’ big additions on the blue line have this season? [ NHL.com ] San Jose’s three 2026 first-rounders lead its prospect pool. [ NHL.com ] Anze Kopitar is still spending life in ice rinks as he suppor...
Sunday Habs Headlines: Checking in on Yvon Lambert
Photo: Inauguration du monument érigé en l’honneur du grand Jean Béliveau by Ville de Victoriaville | Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0 Montreal Canadiens news and notes Dave Stubbs chats with Yvon Lambert, who has been a popular patient at Lakeshore General Hospital as he recovers from fractures sustained in a fall. [ NHL.com ] Revisiting the trade of draft picks Montreal made to select Michael Hage. [ The Hockey Writers ] Around the league and elsewhere Bill Daly says an a...
Saturday Habs Headlines: Hayden Paupanekis ready for the challenge of the NCAA
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Hayden Paupanekis is looking forward to the challenge of facing older, more experienced players in the NCAA. [ Montreal Gazette ] The Canadiens and San Jose Sharks are projected to be the top Stanley Cup contenders five years from now. [ The Athletic ] Projecting a lineup with the Laval Rocket’s overhauled roster. [ Journal de Montreal ] The PWHL’s championship trophy, the Walter Cup, has gone missing on its journey to Alberta for Montrea...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #16 L.J. Mooney
Introduction When the Montreal Canadiens selected L.J. Mooney in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft, the immediate reaction was predictable. He was too small. He’s not strong enough. He’s Cole Caufield-lite, without the pedigree. The Habs don’t need more smallish forwards. He quieted a lot of that criticism with his first season in the NCAA, putting up 30 points in 34 games as a freshman. Elite Prospects At 5’8″, Mooney falls well outside the physical profile NHL orga...
Friday Habs Headlines: Opening the window
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Craig Button says that the Habs’ window is open for the next six years. [ Montreal Gazette ] Montreal’s young guns are prioritizing their quest for the Cup over a pursuit of riches, says Stu Cowan. [ Montreal Gazette ] The 2023 Draft Class, three years on. [ The Hockey Writers ] Three players who could interest the Canadiens on a PTO. [ Journal de Montreal ] Yvon Lambert is recovering from surgery to treat a fractured hip and femur a...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #17 Bogdan Konyushkov
Introduction The biggest change for Bogdan Konyushkov in the past 12 months happened this summer. Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod terminated the extension he had signed last year to allow the Montreal Canadiens to sign him to his entry-level contract. Montreal immediately loaned him back to Torpedo, for which he will play the full upcoming season in the KHL, but he will be able to join the Canadiens for a playoff push and potentially post-season games come April or May. This will give the Ca...
Thursday Habs Headlines: High praise for Nick Suzuki
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Patrice Bergeron has high praise for Nick Suzuki, saying he has “all the attributes of a true franchise player.” [ Journal de Montreal ] TPS Turku will be retiring Saku Koivu’s No. 11 this October in his hometown of Turku, Finland. [ Journal de Montreal ] Jakub Dobeš could be the NHL’s best bargain this season. [ Montreal Gazette ] Dobeš took time out of his summer to surprise a group of young hockey players at the Canadiens Hockey S...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #18 Vinzenz Rohrer
Introduction It would have been difficult for Vinzenz Rohrer to improve upon his 2024-25 season, one in which he helped the Zurich Lions claim the National League championship and also won the Champions Hockey League tournament. But not only was there no hardware to hoist at the end of his campaign, he also produced half as many points as he had the previous year. With the European league season finished earlier than he and his Zurich teammates would have liked, Rohrer made the trip ...
Wednesday Habs Headlines: A ring for Carey
Montreal Canadiens news and notes The Montreal Canadiens will honour Carey Price in the Bell Centre’s Ring of Honour during their game against the Minnesota Wild on November 10, one day after his induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame. [ TSN | Montreal Gazette | Montreal Canadiens | NHL.com ] The Habs also announced their full 2026-27 special games schedule. [ Montreal Canadiens ] Corey Pronman places the Canadiens no. 3 in a ranking of the best U23 pipelines in the NHL. [ The A...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #19 Owen Protz
Introduction If you like big, old-school defencemen with a penchant for thunderous hits, look no further than Montreal Canadiens 2024 fourth-round pick Owen Protz. The Brantford Bulldogs’ resident bully will turn professional this season at the age of 20, and has made a name for himself as a fearsome presence on the blue line. Elite Prospects His point total fell off last season, but that was never really his game to begin with. Perhaps of more interest for a player who focuse...
Tuesday Habs Headlines: Contracts and Invitations
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc among a number of restricted free agents without a contract yet. [ TVA Sports ] Alexey Vlasov has been invited to the Habs’ rookie camp. [ Twitter ] VLASY !🎯 Alexey Vlasov a reçu une invitation afin de prendre part au camp des recrues des Canadiens de Montréal ! 👏 #GoTigresGo pic.twitter.com/ioV1YUggKn — Tigres de Victoriaville (@TigresVicto) August 18, 2026 Youppi! among the nominees for Best...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #20 Jared Davidson
Introduction It was a tale of two seasons for Jared Davidson. The first half featured fantastic highs including his NHL debut. In the second half, it felt like nothing could quite go his way. He earned an NHL call-up after contributing nine goals and two assists in 13 games for the Laval Rocket by early November. However, his post-NHL time was marked by just seven goals and seven assists in his final 40 games. After a 24-goal season the year before, he scored just 16 times, seeing hi...
Monday Habs Headlines: Jakub Dobeš named among league’s top goalies
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Jakub Dobeš ranks as the NHL’s 10th-best goalie in NHL Network’s pre-season ranking. [ NHL.com ] Around the league and elsewhere Jack Hughes’s health and the quality of the goaltending remain the key talking points for the New Jersey Devils. [ NHL.com ] The top five prospects in the Devils organization. [ NHL.com ] Logan Stankoven took the Stanley Cup to his hometown school and hospital. [ NHL.com ]
Remember When … the Canadiens turned the captaincy into a competition
The Montreal Canadiens has never been accused of being a boring franchise. This series is a look back at the moments that made you throw your hands up, lose your mind, ugly cry, hold your breath, scratch your head, and cheer so loudly you scared the dog…sometimes all at once. If you were there the first time around, you know. If you weren’t, hop in the DeLorean cause we’re going back in time. C-less Every summer, the Montreal Canadiens keep with the trend of giving their fanbase some...
Sunday Habs Headlines: L.J. Mooney aims to be Montreal’s next small star
Montreal Canadiens news and notes L.J. Mooney is confident in his abilities despite his small stature, and seeing the success of Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson in Montreal gives him even more faith in a future as an NHLer. [ Montreal Gazette ] The Canadiens are in great shape salary-cap wise, unlike a couple of rebuilding teams in the Pacific Division that either chose or were forced to spend big this off-season. [ Sportsnet ] The relationship throughout the dynasty years betwe...
Saturday Habs Headlines: Kent Hughes’s worst trades
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Looking at some of the trades of Kent Hughes’s tenure that haven’t panned out. [ Montreal Gazette ] What Jakub Dobeš can do for an encore after a stellar rookie season is a top question heading into the new campaign. [ NHL.com ] Contracts for the standout rookies Dobeš and Ivan Demidov have been the top moves made this off-season. [ NHL.com ] Was Demidov’s contract one of the final eight-year deals the NHL will see? [ TSN ] Demidov w...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #21 Timofei Runtso
Introduction The 2026 NHL Draft was a shift in mentality for the Montreal Canadiens. It wasn’t as hyped or celebrated as some of their previous draft classes. There was no steal or standout gems taken early, as most of the draft was built around filling needs and targeting specific attributes. Late in the second round, they made an aggressive move to trade up four positions to select a player whose development curve caught the attention of their scouting department. After going undra...
Friday Habs Headlines: More accolades for Juraj Slafkovský
Montreal Canadiens news and notes Juraj Slafkovský has been named the first-ever Honorary Citizen of the village of Budimir. [ Montreal Canadiens ] Slafkovský has also won Slovakian Hockey Player of the Year for the fourth time. [ Dennik Sport (Slovak) ] Three Habs facing a make-or-break training camp. [ The Hockey Writers ] Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc have no issues with the lack of major moves by management this off-season. [ Journal de Montreal ] Noah Dobso...
Montreal Canadiens sign Sasha Pastujov to one-year, two-way contract
The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Sasha Pastujov to a one-year, two-year contract the team announced on Thursday. Les Canadiens s'entendent sur les termes d’un contrat d’une saison (2026-2027) à deux volets avec l’attaquant Sasha Pastujov. The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract (2026-27) with forward Sasha Pastujov. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/id8kL7s2Tz — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) August 13, 2026 Pastujov was acquired by the Canadiens...
2026 Montreal Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #22 Hayden Paupanekis
Introduction Coming in at number 22 is Hayden Paupanekis, a hulking 6’5″ centre from the WHL. The Montreal Canadiens have struck a solid balance of adding size and skill with their picks at the NHL draft, and the former was what they had in mind when they traded up to get Paupanekis in the third round in 2025. A prototypical power forward, he spent his 2025-26 season with the Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets, his first full season with that club. Marginal improvement was achieved, b...
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