Montreal Canadiens

October 26, 2025

The Laine Paradox: How an $8.7M Injury May Be Solidifying the Canadiens’ Identity

When news broke that Patrik Laine would be sidelined for three to four months following core muscle surgery, the collective groan from the Bell Centre faithful was predictable. Losing a former 40-goal scorer with one of the most lethal shots in the NHL is, by any definition, a significant blow. Laine, who had been out since mid-October with what was initially dubbed a minor lower-body issue, underwent a procedure for a sports hernia and isn’t expected back until late January at the earliest. This is a massive piece of offensive hardware removed from the lineup. Yet, as the Canadiens continue

October 25, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Ivan Demidov’s Elite Impact and the Questions Facing the Canadiens & Coach St. Louis

The pre-season hype surrounding Ivan Demidov was immense. Pegged by most as the favourite to win the Calder Trophy, the 19-year-old entered Montreal with the weight of a franchise’s expectations on his shoulders. Eight games into his rookie campaign, it’s safe to say he isn’t just meeting those expectations; he’s fundamentally altering the team’s offensive landscape. The Montreal Canadiens are sitting at 6-2-0, good for first place in the Atlantic Division in this young season, and while Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are carrying their share of the load, the rookie is a primary catalyst for this early success. He

October 25, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Edmonton Oilers Montreal Canadiens

When the Whistle Becomes the Story: Inside the Oilers & Canadiens Officiating Controversy

There are regulation losses, and then there are nights that leave a franchise questioning the very integrity of the game’s management. What transpired in Montreal, culminating in a 6-5 victory for the Edmonton Oilers, was unequivocally the latter. The Montreal Canadiens were not just winning; they were dominating. Holding a 5-3 lead early in the third period—built on a blistering four-goal surge in just over four minutes—Martin St. Louis’s squad was demonstrating its most “complete game” at 5-on-5, according to the head coach. They had taken a high-powered Oilers team and, for long stretches, neutralized them. Then, the script wasn’t

October 22, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

A Good Problem to Have: The Canadiens Have a Competition Brewing in the Crease

Early-season storylines in the NHL are often a mix of statistical noise and genuine trends. In Montreal, just weeks into the 2025-26 campaign, a significant development is unfolding in the one area that looked most settled: the blue paint. The Canadiens don’t have a goaltending crisis; they have a goaltending competition. And for a team looking to build on last season’s playoff appearance, this burgeoning battle between incumbent Samuel Montembeault and challenger Jakub Dobeš is the best-case scenario management could have hoped for. Previously on the EDGE – Canadiens Front Office Rewarded for Swift Rebuild – Gorton & Hughes Get

October 15, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Front Office Rewarded for Swift Rebuild – Gorton & Hughes Get Extensions

The Montreal Canadiens have locked up the architects of their resurgence, signing President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and General Manager Kent Hughes to multi-year contract extensions. The deals, announced Tuesday, will keep the duo in Montreal until the 2030-31 season. The extensions serve as a vote of confidence from owner Geoff Molson, who has entrusted Gorton and Hughes with the franchise’s direction since late 2021 and early 2022, respectively. The timing of the announcement, just a day after the club inked a team-friendly extension with rising star defenseman Lane Hutson, underscores the synergy between management and the team’s young

October 15, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Analyzing the Canadiens’ Masterful Lane Hutson Extension

While many were enjoying their Thanksgiving turkey, Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes was carving out the future of his franchise. On Monday, the team announced an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension for star defenseman Lane Hutson. The deal, which kicks in for the 2026-27 season, secures a foundational piece of the Canadiens’ blue line through 2033-34 and sends a clear message to the rest of the league: Montreal’s rebuild is accelerating, and it’s being built on a bedrock of elite, young talent. At first glance, the numbers are substantial. An Average Annual Value (AAV) of $8.85 million for a

October 9, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

What’s Keeping the Montreal Canadiens & Lane Hutson From a Contract Extension?

It’s the kind of contract negotiation that should be easy. You have a 21-year-old phenom, a dynamic, puck-moving defenseman fresh off a 66-point Calder Trophy-winning season. You have a franchise desperate to lock in its young core for the long haul. The two sides even agree, more or less, on the money. Yet, the extension for Lane Hutson and the Montreal Canadiens is anything but easy. Instead, according to sources close to the situation, the talks have been tense, emotional, and frankly, “a bit of a mess.” The roadblock isn’t about dollars and cents. It’s about philosophy. It’s a complex,

October 8, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Beyond the Rebuild: Why the Montreal Canadiens Are Aiming Higher in 2025-26

The air in Montreal feels different this October. The familiar autumn chill is still there, but it’s laced with something that has been absent for a few seasons: genuine, weighty expectation. The era of celebrating moral victories and scrutinizing draft lottery odds is officially over. For the Montreal Canadiens, the 2025-26 season isn’t about making the playoffs; it’s about what they can do once they get there. After a gritty, character-building 2024-25 campaign that saw them defy the odds and sneak into the postseason, the message from the top down is clear. General Manager Kent Hughes and Head Coach Martin

October 7, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens Get a Bold Opening Night Lineup From Coach St. Louis

The air in Brossard had a different feel on Monday. After weeks of training camp battles, bubble players holding their breath, and management’s final cuts, the Montreal Canadiens held their first official practice of the 2025-26 season. With the 22-man roster now set in stone ahead of Wednesday’s season opener, we finally got our first glimpse into the mind of head coach Martin St. Louis. The resulting line combinations are a fascinating cocktail of stability, bold proclamations, and at least one high-stakes gamble that will dominate conversations leading up to puck drop. While the top of the lineup card looks

September 30, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

The St. Louis Shuffle: Inside the Canadiens’ Final Roster Decisions & Middle-Six Mayhem

As the scent of hot dogs and stale popcorn begins to replace the smell of freshly cut grass, another NHL training camp is drawing to a close. For the Montreal Canadiens, the end of the preseason signifies a return to a familiar problem, albeit one with a refreshing new twist. For years, the question was who could capably fill out the NHL roster. Now, as the team trims the fat and gets down to the final cuts, head coach Martin St. Louis is facing what he rightly calls a “good problem to have.” With a roster now sitting at 27