Canadiens
A preview of the 2025-26 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: Noah Dobson, Zack Bolduc, Joe Veleno, Sammy Blais
Key Departures: David Savard (retired), Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Logan Mailloux, Justin Barron, Michael Thompson
Overview
The Canadiens’ 15-point increase from the previous season ended a three-year playoff drought and kept the franchise streak alive of never going four consecutive seasons missing the playoffs. The Habs could not get past the Capitals in the opening round, eliminated in five games. Following the series, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis told his players, “The pain you feel right now is not close to the joy that is coming.”
The Canadiens had a combined 10-4-1 record against Tampa, Toronto and Florida, highlighted by sweeping all four games in the regular season against the Cup Champions.
Offense
When you look purely at the rankings, Montreal’s jump from 26th in goals scored to 17th last season looks like a significant jump, but the Habs scored only 11 more goals from the previous season and were aided by a bump from seven to 15 empty-net goals.
It was another solid season for Montreal’s two best forwards, Cole Caufield (37 goals) and Nick Suzuki (30 goals, 89 points). For Montreal to keep taking steps forward, they are going to need scoring beyond their top line. Once you get past the top three forwards, Montreal did not have a forward who registered more than 38 points.
Defense
The Canadiens ranked 22nd in goals against and were the only playoff team to finish outside the top 16 in goals surrendered. Lane Hutson, a preseason 10/1 longshot, captured the Calder Trophy as the league’s best rookie. Hutson finished third in team scoring (66 points) and first in assists (60), finishing with 55 points in Montreal’s last 61 games. Montreal bolstered their blue line in the summer, acquiring defenseman Noah Dobson in a sign-and-trade deal with the Islanders.
With Dobson and Hutson, the Habs have two legit scoring threats from the back end, though one NHL scout said to me, “Expect teams to pressure Hutson far more this season and make life a lot tougher on him.” Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier round out a group that St. Louis has said he’d take over any other NHL corps, citing their mix of finesse, grit, and potential.
Goaltending
It will once again be the tandem of Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes for the Canadiens, though Montreal did sign veteran backup Kappo Kakhonen as insurance. Montembeault is coming off a season where he had career bests in wins (31), starts (60), GAA (2.82) and shoutouts (4). Dobes returns as the backup and those who followed me throughout the season will remember that betting on the opposition to score the first goal of the game with Dobes starting was a huge money-maker. The Montreal netminder surrendered the first goal of the game in 15 of his 17 starts.
Player to Watch
All eyes in Montreal will be on Ivan Demidov. The fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft has averaged over a point a game playing in Russia. At +250, Demidov is the shortest shot on the board to win Rookie of the Year. Not since 1967 and 1968 has a team had back-to-back winners of the Rookie of the Year (Bruins – Bobby Orr, Derek Sanderson). A 60-point season from Demidov is not out of the realm of possibility.
Outlook
I am laying off any wagers on the Canadiens to make the playoffs and to go Over their projected point total, for now. One trend to keep an eye on is Montreal was 8-2 as a home favorite last season and are 16-4 in that role over the past three seasons.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 90.5
To Make the Playoffs: +105
To Miss the Playoffs: -135
To Win the Atlantic Division: +1400
To Win the Eastern Conference: +2500
To Win the Stanley Cup: +5000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 40-31-11, 91 points (5th Atlantic, #2 Wild Card)
Over/Under: 41-37-4
Home Favorite: 8-2 // Home Dog: 15-16
Road Favorite: 1-3 // Road Dog: 15-21
Win Score 4 or more: 27 of 40 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 34 of 42
Puck Line Wins: 22 of 40 // Puck Line Losses: 27 of 42
Front End Back-to-Back: 7-8 // Back End Back-to-Back: 7-8
Points Leader: Nick Suzuki – 89
Goal Leader: Cole Caufield – 37
Assist Leader: Lane Hutson – 60
Shots on Goal Leader: Cole Caufield – 240
Blocked Shots Leader: David Savard (retired) – 180, Mike Matheson – 168
Depth Chart
Forwards
Cole Caufield / Nick Suzuki / Juraj Slafkovsky
Patrick Laine / Kirby Dach / Ivan Demidov
Brendan Gallagher / Alex Newhook / Josh Anderson
Joe Veleno / Jake Evans / Zac Bolduc
Defense
Kaiden Guhle / Lane Hutson
Mike Matheson / Noah Dobson
Arber Xhekaj / Alexandre Carrier
Goalies
Sam Montembeault / Jakub Dobes
Power Play Unit 1
Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson
