Articles for tag: Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield, Florian Xhekaj, Ivan Demidov, Joe Veleno, Josh Anderson, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, Lane Hutson, Martin St. Louis, Nick Suzuki, Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, Patrice Bergeron, Patrik Laine, Sammy Blais, Zachary Bolduc

September 30, 2025

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

September 20, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Kirby Dach’s Second Chance at Becoming a Key Piece of the Montreal Canadiens’ Success

The hum of skates carving fresh ice, the sharp crack of a puck hitting a stick—these are the familiar sounds of an NHL training camp, a symphony of renewed hope. For the Montreal Canadiens, no returning player embodies that hope, and the profound anxiety that accompanies it, more than Kirby Dach. Slated to start camp as the team’s second-line center, the 24-year-old is not just returning from an injury; he’s returning from a nightmare that played out twice, armed with a new body, a new mindset, and the weight of a franchise’s aspirations on his surgically repaired right knee. Déjà

September 17, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Centre of Attention: The Battles That Will Define the Montreal Canadiens’ Season

The faint chill in the air and the smell of freshly scraped ice can only mean one thing: training camp is upon us. For the Montreal Canadiens, this isn’t just a tune-up; it’s the proving ground. After a surprising and exhilarating run to a playoff berth on the back of a 91-point season, the narrative has shifted. The team is no longer a plucky underdog happy to be in the conversation. Now, expectations are real, and the next step in this rebuild is the most difficult one to take. With 60 players descending on camp—42 of them on NHL contracts—roster

September 3, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Brossard Battleground: Key Questions Facing the Canadiens at Training Camp

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

August 21, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Rocket Fuel: The Canadiens’ High-Octane Forward Corps for 2025-26

The days of whispered promises and five-year plans in Montreal are officially over. After a surprisingly potent 2024-25 campaign that saw them crash the playoff party, General Manager Kent Hughes has pushed his chips to the middle of the table. The message sent by an aggressive offseason is clear: the rebuild is over, and the era of contention has begun. Through savvy trades and targeted signings, the Canadiens have assembled a forward group that’s young, dynamic, and dripping with offensive potential. The departures of depth veterans like Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia signal a changing of the guard, making way

August 18, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Anaheim Ducks

The McTavish Standoff: Why the Ducks Might Trade Their Young Star

Another summer in the NHL, another contract dispute threatening to reshape a franchise. This time, the drama is unfolding in sunny Anaheim, where 22-year-old center Mason McTavish, a restricted free agent, remains unsigned. This isn’t just a simple negotiation; it’s a philosophical clash between a player who knows his worth and a general manager with a well-documented, rigid approach to second contracts. As training camps loom, the question is no longer if Mason McTavish will sign, but which jersey he’ll be wearing when he does. A Bridge Too Far: Verbeek’s Philosophy vs. McTavish’s Value At the heart of this impasse

August 13, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Habs on the Brink: 3 Cracks in the Foundation That Could Derail the Canadiens’ 2025-26 Season

Another season is on the horizon, and in Montreal, the familiar ghosts of playoffs past and future are already beginning to stir. The 2024-25 campaign was a tale of two teams: the one that clawed its way into a wild card spot with a respectable 91 points, and the one that was unceremoniously punted from the postseason by a far superior Washington Capitals team. For the long-suffering denizens of the Bell Centre, a taste of playoff hockey was a welcome appetizer, but it’s the main course they truly crave. And as we look ahead to the 2025-26 season, the question

August 10, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Montreal Canadiens

Habs on Notice: 3 Players Who Need to Find Another Gear in 2025-26

The Montreal Canadiens surprised many last season, scratching and clawing their way into the playoffs. It was a year of growth, a sign that the rebuild is finally starting to bear fruit. The young guns showed up, the veterans provided leadership, and for the first time in a while, there was a real buzz around the Bell Centre. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. A first-round exit is a stark reminder that this team is not yet a contender. To take that next step, to become a team that can do some real damage in the postseason, the Habs

August 10, 2025

EdgeHockey Staff

Boston Bruins Montreal Canadiens Nashville Predators New York Rangers Vancouver Canucks

Time to Hit the Panic Button? 6 Players Who Need a Big Bounce-Back Season in 2025-26

Well, another NHL season is in the books, and as the dust settles on the 2024-25 campaign, it’s time to start looking ahead. For some guys, the offseason will be a time for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. For others, it’ll be a summer of soul-searching and hard work, a chance to right the ship after a season they’d rather forget. Every year, there are players who, for one reason or another, just don’t live up to expectations. Whether it’s due to injury, a new system, or a good old-fashioned slump, some guys just can’t seem to find their game.