Montreal Canadiens
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Montreal Canadiens, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Chris Kreider
Key Departures: Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno
Overview
For the second consecutive season, the Canadiens had a 15-point increase, going from 76 points in 2023-24 to 106 points in 2025-26. It was also the first time in five seasons they earned a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. After blowing out the Carolina Hurricanes 6-2 in game one, the Habs lost the next four games, were outscored 16-5, and were eliminated in five games. Cole Caufield became Montreal’s first 50-goal scorer (51) since Stephane Richer in 1990. Nick Suzuki became the Habs first 100-point player since Mats Naslund had 110 in the 1985-86 season.
Offense
The Canadiens scored 279 goals, the seventh-best total last season, up from 17th in 2024-25. In addition to Caufield’s 51 goals, Nick Suzuki cracked the century mark with 101 points and won the Selke Award for the best defensive forward. Juraj Slafkovsky busted out for his first 30-goal season, and Ivan Demidov had 19 goals in his rookie campaign. The Habs are betting this is just the tip of the iceberg for Demidov, locking him up with an eight-year extension worth $9.15 million a year. His 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) led all rookies in scoring. Just before training camp, the Habs signed free agent forward Chris Kreider (22 goals, 50 points last season) to a one-year contract after the Anaheim Ducks needed to create cap space and terminated the veteran’s contract. Montreal is still searching for an upgrade at second-line center.
Defense
The Canadiens’ strength, in many ways, is their blueline. The Canadiens’ defensemen put up 43 goals and 213 points, ranking them second in the NHL, behind the Avalanche blueline with 53 goals and 233 points. Lane Hutson followed up his rookie season (six goals, 66 points), in which he was named Rookie of the Year, by doubling his goal total (12) and finishing with 78 points. Cale Makar and Zach Werenski were the only two defensemen to have more points than Hutson. Noah Dobson matched Hutson’s 12 goals in his first season with the Habs, giving Montreal two legitimate scoring threats from the back end. Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Alexandre Carrier, Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj round out the group. Head coach Martin St. Louis has said he’d take his group over any other NHL “D-core,” citing their mix of finesse, grit, and potential.
Goaltending
Jakub Dobes entered the 2025-26 season as the number two goalie and eventually wrestled the starting job from Samuel Montembeault. Dobes started 42 of the 82 games and earned 29 of Montreal’s 39 wins. His solid season earned him a new three-year contract worth just over $16 million. The Canadiens need to decide whether to bring back veteran Sam Montembeault, who is in the final year of his deal as the backup, or go with youngster Jacob Fowler. Fowler, considered the goalie of the future, played 17 games for the Canadiens last season (9-6-2), and may be better served as the number one goalie for the Laval Rocket (AHL).
Player to Watch
After playing the first four games of the Canadiens’ opening-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Oliver Kapanen was a healthy scratch for 12 of Montreal’s remaining 15 playoff games. Kapanen, one of four Habs players to crack the 20-goal mark (22 total) in the regular season, was held without a point in the postseason and limited to just four shots on goal. Montreal hopes there won’t be a playoff hangover for the 23-year-old in the 2026-27 season and that he can ultimately fill the role of the team’s second-line center.
Outlook
If Jakub Dobes can pick up where he left off last season, I see no reason why the Canadiens can’t make a third consecutive trip to the playoffs. What hurts Montreal in making it past the Conference Final and winning a Stanley Cup is a lack of size among their best players. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson are all under six feet tall. Whether it’s Carolina, Washington, or Florida, all three have skill equal to or better than Montreal and the size to wear them down.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 98.5 (Over -110, Under -120)
To Make the Playoffs: (-180)
Miss the Playoffs: (+145)
To Win the Division: (+600)
To Win the Eastern Conference: (+1300)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+2200)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 48-24-10 (106 points, 3rd Atlantic Division)
Over/Under: 46-32-2
Home Favorite: 15-14 // Home Dog: 6-4
Road Favorite: 7-6 // Road Dog: 14-13
Win Score 4 or more: 34 of 48 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 28 of 34
Puck Line Wins: 23 of 48 // Puck Line Losses: 17 of 34
Front End Back-to-Back: 9-7 // Back End Back-to-Back: 9-7
Points Leaders: Nick Suzuki – 101
Goal Leader: Cole Caufield – 51
Teams First Goal Leader: Cole Caufield – 12
Assist Leader: Nick Suzuki – 72
Shots on Goal Leader: Cole Caufield – 258
Blocked Shots Leader: Noah Dobson – 188
Depth Chart
Forwards
Cole Caufield / Nick Suzuki / Juraj Slafkovsky
Chris Kreider / Jake Evans / Ivan Demidov
Alex Newhook / Phillip Danault Josh Anderson
Alexander Texier/Zach Bolduc / Oliver Kapanen / Kirby Dach
Defense
Mike Matheson / Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble / Lane Hutson
Kaiden Guhle / Alexandre Carrier
Goalies
Jakub Dobes / Jacob Fowler
