The unofficial end of summer for any real hockey fan isn’t Labour Day; it’s the day the players report for medicals and the familiar sounds of skates carving up fresh ice return. For the Montreal Canadiens, the opening of their 2025-26 training camp feels like a significant inflection point. The foundational pieces are largely in place, the prospect pipeline is brimming, and the pressure is subtly shifting from patient development to tangible results.
This year’s camp in Brossard isn’t just about setting the opening night roster; it’s about defining the team’s identity for the season ahead. Internal competition will be fierce, and several key storylines are set to unfold. From a critical return in the top-six to a logjam on the blue line, here are the players and positions to watch as camp gets underway.
The Dach Domino Effect
Let’s not mince words: the single most important variable for the Montreal Canadiens this season is the health of Kirby Dach’s right knee. After being shelved for nearly the entire 2024-25 campaign, the 24-year-old center’s return is the fulcrum upon which the team’s offensive alignment pivots. A healthy, effective Dach solidifies a legitimate 1-2 punch down the middle behind Nick Suzuki, a luxury the franchise has coveted for decades. It lengthens the lineup, creates more favourable matchups for the bottom-six, and unlocks the full potential of wingers like Alex Newhook, who thrive alongside a skilled, play-driving pivot.
Every stride, every cut, and every puck battle Dach engages in during the preseason will be under intense scrutiny. The organization has been optimistic about his recovery, but the jump from rehab skates to the chaotic, high-impact reality of an NHL camp is substantial. Management will be watching his effectiveness, but they’ll also have a contingency plan. Should Dach face a setback or need more time to get up to speed, look for both Newhook and newcomer Zachary Bolduc to get long auditions in a top-six center role. While both are capable, neither offers the same combination of size, skill, and defensive awareness that Dach brings. His successful return isn’t just a storyline; it’s a necessity for the Canadiens to take the next step.
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A Crowded House Down the Middle
Beyond the Dach situation, the competition for the final two center spots will be a compelling subplot. Management made a quiet but telling move this summer by signing veteran Joe Veleno. The 25-year-old UFA is by no means a flashy addition, but he’s a responsible two-way player who provides a steady, professional presence. The word is that Veleno has the “inside track” on a bottom-six role, and the organization will give him every chance to cement himself as a full-time NHLer. He represents the safe, known commodity.
Pushing him from below are two of the organization’s top prospects: Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen. While the front office has been steadfast in its patient approach, a dominant camp from either youngster could force their hand. Kapanen, a year older and with a taste of NHL action, is generally considered to be slightly ahead on the depth chart. Both players, however, are essentially auditioning for two jobs: an unlikely spot on the opening night roster and, more realistically, the role of first call-up from Laval. Their performance will be a key barometer of the prospect pool’s readiness to contribute.
Finding the Right Wingmen: Breakouts, Brawn, and a Bruising Dark Horse
On the flanks, the focus shifts from positional battles to individual evolution. All eyes will be on Juraj Slafkovsky. After a season where the lightbulb didn’t just flicker but became a full-blown floodlight, the 2022 first-overall pick is poised for a true offensive breakout. His burgeoning confidence, coupled with his immense physical tools, has transformed his game. He’s no longer just a big body; he’s a dominant force on the forecheck who uses his size to create space and time. His vision and execution have taken massive leaps forward, and the internal expectation is for a season in the 65-70 point range. Slafkovsky is no longer just a prospect; he’s a foundational piece, and this camp is his launching pad.
Joining the forward corps is Zachary Bolduc, acquired from the St. Louis Blues. Bolduc is expected to be a plug-and-play, versatile power forward. His mandate is clear: retrieve pucks, kill penalties, and contribute offensively. Projections of 20-25 goals and 40-45 points suggest he’ll see significant time on a scoring line and the power play. He’s the type of reliable, hard-working winger winning teams need.
But the real wildcard in the forward group could be Florian Xhekaj. The younger brother of Arber is the definition of a potential camp surprise. At 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds, he brings a unique package of size, offensive touch, and the one element management is actively looking to inject into the lineup: “snarl.” He plays with an edge that can drag his team into the fight, and if he can show that his scoring prowess from the OHL can translate, even in flashes, he could make a compelling case to bypass the AHL entirely.
Reconfiguring the Blue Line
Nowhere is the competition more intriguing than on defense. The acquisition and subsequent record-setting contract for Noah Dobson immediately changes the complexion of the entire blue line. He is a legitimate top-pairing, minute-munching defenseman who brings stability and high-end puck-moving ability. While his ice time might see a slight dip from his Islanders’ days due to a more balanced D-corps, make no mistake: Dobson is the new defensive anchor.
His arrival allows last year’s Calder Trophy winner, Lane Hutson, to be deployed in a role that maximizes his otherworldly offensive gifts. Hutson, who is also projected for another 65-70 point campaign, will continue to quarterback the top power-play unit, free from the burden of having to be the sole offensive driver from the back end.
The real dogfight is for the remaining spots. After an injury-plagued season, 2023 first-rounder David Reinbacher will be making a serious push for a full-time NHL job. This camp is his opportunity to show management that his development is back on track and that he’s ready to handle the rigors of the top league. A strong showing would signal the imminent arrival of another key piece of the future. Meanwhile, the battle for the final pairing and penalty-killing duties promises to be a physical affair, pitting the brute force of Arber Xhekaj against the rugged mobility of Jayden Struble. Both play a punishing style, and their preseason performance will likely determine who secures a regular shift and who starts the year as the seventh defenseman.
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The Understudy Audition
While Samuel Montembeault has a firm grip on the starter’s net, the battle to be his backup will be one of the most direct and intense competitions in camp. On one side, you have veteran Kaapo Kähkönen, a goaltender looking for a fresh start and a chance to prove he can be a reliable NHL presence after a few turbulent seasons. On the other, you have Jakub Dobeš, the young gun who seized the backup role last year and is determined to prove it was no fluke. Dobeš wants to show he’s ready for consistent NHL minutes, while Kähkönen needs to demonstrate he can provide the steady, calming influence expected of a veteran. Every save and every goal allowed in the preseason will be weighed heavily in this two-man race.
Ultimately, this training camp is about crystallization. It’s about raw potential solidifying into defined roles. It’s about young players grabbing the torch and veterans finding their place in a rapidly evolving lineup. The questions are many, but by the time the puck drops on opening night, the answers found in Brossard will have set the course for the Canadiens’ entire season.
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