Canadiens News

EASTERN ATLANTIC

Ivan Demidov • RW • Canadiens

Ivan Demidov Expected to Return to the Ice Friday

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov (foot) is expected to resume skating on Friday. On Thursday, he missed a second straight practice after being hurt in Monday's preseason game against the Ottawa Senators. Demidov took a shot off his foot. The good news for fantasy managers is that Demidov is expected to rejoin his teammates on Friday, and his status for opening night isn't in doubt. During his rookie campaign in 2025-26, Demidov led all first-year players in scoring with 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games. After proving himself as an elite playmaker, he is looking to improve as a finisher and is expected to take another step this season.

3 days ago

Ivan Demidov • RW • Canadiens

Ivan Demidov Impressing in Preseason

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov appears ready to take another "step," Sportsnet's Eric Engels reports. The 20-year-old kicked off the preseason with a power-play goal in a 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, earning praise from Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis. St. Louis highlighted Demidov's ability to create space for himself and noted that he has "another step" to his game. Last season, Demidov made the All-Rookie Team, recording 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games. He could become a point-per-game player quickly if he continues his rapid development.

7 days ago

Kaiden Guhle • D • Canadiens

Kaiden Guhle Ruled Out for 4-5 Weeks

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (adductor) has been ruled out for 4-5 weeks. The team provided an official timeline for Guhle's return on Wednesday after it emerged earlier this week that the 24-year-old blue-liner underwent surgery this offseason. Guhle was also limited by injury last season, appearing in only 39 games. He recorded 11 points (two goals, nine assists), 39 SOG, 63 blocks, 86 hits, and a plus-five rating across 39 regular-season games. According to Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, he has several options to replace Guhle.

Sep 17

Alex Newhook • C • Canadiens

Alex Newhook Re-Ups With Canadiens on Four-Year-Deal

Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook has signed a four-year, $22.2 million contract extension. His new contract will begin next season, after Newhook completes his current four-year, $11.6 million deal. Newhook has progressed well with the Canadiens but had to settle for just 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 42 games last season after fracturing his ankle in November. The 25-year-old stood out with a team-high seven goals and 10 points in the postseason during Montreal's run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Newhook will aim to build on that momentum in 2026-27.

Sep 16

Kaiden Guhle • D • Canadiens

Kaiden Guhle to Miss Start of Season

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (undisclosed) won't be available at the start of the season due to offseason surgery, according to Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports. Guhle appeared to have hurt his left knee during the playoffs, but it's unclear whether the procedure is related to that injury. The 24-year-old also missed time early last season and suited up for just 39 games. He recorded 11 points (two goals, nine assists), 39 SOG, 63 blocks, and 86 hits. Guhle is a big presence on defense, but his fantasy ceiling isn't very high given his limited offensive contributions.

Sep 15

Zachary Bolduc • RW • Canadiens

Zachary Bolduc Signs Contract Extension With Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens winger Zachary Bolduc has re-signed with the team on a four-year contract. He landed a $16.8 million deal as a restricted free agent. The Canadiens acquired Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues last offseason. In 2025-26, he recorded 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 78 outings and led all Canadiens forwards with 170 hits. Coming off back-to-back 30-point campaigns, Bolduc will look to find the next gear in 2026-27. However, fantasy managers shouldn't expect a big leap, as Bolduc will likely be limited to a bottom-six role.

Sep 14

Chris Kreider • LW • Canadiens

Ducks Place Chris Kreider on Unconditional Waivers

Anaheim Ducks left wing Chris Kreider was placed on unconditional waivers on Wednesday with the purpose of terminating his contract. He will become an unrestricted free agent if he goes unclaimed. The veteran forward has one season remaining on a seven-year, $45.5 million contract. Anaheim acquired Kreider last offseason from the New York Rangers. He had a decent campaign, with 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists) in 75 outings. However, Kreider wants to return to the East Coast for family reasons. Kreider's departure also benefits the Ducks, giving the team more flexibility to sign restricted free agent Cutter Gauthier.

Sep 10

Adam Engstrom • D • Canadiens

Canadiens Open to Trading Adam Engstrom

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Adam Engstrom could be on his way elsewhere, The Athletic's Arpon Basu reports. "It is no secret Engstrom's name is floating around out there," Basu wrote. "Teams have asked about him in trade discussions, and the Canadiens are open to those discussions." Engstrom is a highly rated defensive prospect who appeared in his first 15 NHL games last season. He didn't make a significant impact, but Engstrom also had a very limited role, averaging 13:03 of ice time. The Swedish blue-liner boasts impressive scoring numbers in the minors, with 61 points (15 goals, 46 assists) in 111 appearances. He's a pending restricted free agent, finishing a three-year, $2.69 million deal in 2026-27.

Aug 20

Kirby Dach • C • Canadiens

Canadiens Bring Back Kirby Dach on One-Year Deal

Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach will play out the 2026-27 campaign on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. He received only a slight raise from his previous four-year, $13.45 million deal. Dach, who was a restricted free agent, struggled badly with injuries during his last contract. The 25-year-old was limited to 37 appearances in 2025-26, totaling 15 points (seven goals, eight assists). He's yet to play more than 58 games in a season for Montreal, so Dach's main goal next season should be an injury-free campaign. If he stays healthy, Dach could become a 40-point scorer while averaging about two hits per game.

Jul 18

Jakub Dobes • G • Canadiens

Jakub Dobes Earns Three-Year Extension From Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes has signed a three-year contract extension worth just over $16 million. The new deal will start with the 2027-28 season, giving Dobes a $5,357,575 cap hit. Last term, Dobes emerged as Montreal's No. 1, posting a 29-10-4 regular-season record. He allowed 2.78 goals with a .901 save percentage. The 25-year-old also performed admirably during the playoffs, helping his team reach the Eastern Conference Finals. With fewer than 60 career starts under his belt, Dobes is still likely to have some growing pains, but he has shown the potential to become a top-tier fantasy netminder.

Jul 3

Ivan Demidov • RW • Canadiens

Ivan Demidov Agrees to Eight-Year Extension With Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov has inked an eight-year, $73 million contract extension. The new contract will kick in next offseason when Demidov's entry-level contract has finished. Demidov had an excellent rookie campaign in 2025-26, leading all first-year players with 62 points (19 goals, 43 assists) in 82 games. He added nine points (three goals, six assists) in 19 postseason appearances. While Demidov slowed down late in the season, he's an exciting talent and is bound to become a fantasy stalwart for years to come.

Jul 1

Cole Caufield • RW • Canadiens

Cole Caufield Earns Lady Byng Trophy

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield has been voted the winner of the 2025-26 Lady Byng Trophy, awarded to "the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." This season, Caufield became the first Canadiens player to score 50 regular-season goals since Stephane Richer in 1989-90. He had a career-high 88 points (51 goals, 37 assists) in 81 games. Caufield received only seven minor penalties and 14 penalty minutes. The last time a Montreal player won the Lady Byng Trophy was in 1987-88, when Mats Naslund captured the award. At 25, Caufield has only just gotten started in the NHL and still has untapped fantasy potential.

Jun 5

Nick Suzuki • C • Canadiens

Nick Suzuki Lands Selke Trophy

Montreal Canadiens center Nick Suzuki has been named the 2025-26 Frank J. Selke Trophy winner. He became only the third player in Canadiens history to win the award, which honors the NHL's best two-way player. Suzuki had a standout year, reaching a career high of 101 points (29 goals, 71 assists) and continuing to build his reputation as a strong defensive contributor. The 26-year-old won the Selke Trophy ahead of Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche). For five consecutive seasons, Suzuki has increased his scoring, and with his prime years just beginning, he still has room to improve, a prospect that should excite fantasy managers.

Jun 5

Brendan Gallagher • RW • Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher to Leave Canadiens This Offseason

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher has one season remaining on a six-year, $39 million contract, but he doesn't expect to spend it with the team that drafted him in 2010. "It's pretty clear I'll kind of be moving on here," said Gallagher in an emotional exit interview on Monday. Gallagher's contract carries a $6.5 million cap hit, and he hasn't performed up to the required level. This season, the 34-year-old managed just seven goals and 23 points in 77 games. He was a regular healthy scratch in the playoffs, appearing in only three of Montreal's 19 games. Even a change of scenery probably won't help Gallagher reclaim fantasy relevance.

Jun 2

Patrik Laine • RW • Canadiens

Patrik Laine Looking Forward to Free Agency

Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine will not stay with the team for next season. The Finnish forward ended the season on Injured Reserve despite being ready to play soon after New Year's, indicating he clearly isn't part of the plans in Montreal. "I'm excited to see new opportunities and see where it goes," Laine told reporters in his exit interview on Monday. "We'll see where the wind takes me." Laine is set to end his tenure with the Canadiens after posting just 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 57 games over two seasons. He has struggled to stay healthy for several years, which has dropped Laine's fantasy value to an all-time low.

Jun 2

Lane Hutson • D • Canadiens

Lane Hutson Posts a Power-Play Assist in Game 5 Loss

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson contributed a power-play assist in Friday's season-ending 6-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He set up Cole Caufield midway through the third period. Hutson was among Montreal's leading scorers throughout the postseason, but the Hurricanes proved too tough a nut to crack for the team. The 22-year-old finishes the playoffs with 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in 19 games -- only three blue-liners in franchise history have been more productive in a postseason campaign. Hutson also enjoyed a big regular season, totaling 78 points (12 goals, 66 assists) in 82 outings. He's just two years into his NHL career, and the best is definitely yet to come from Hutson.

May 30

Cole Caufield • RW • Canadiens

Cole Caufield Nets a Power-Play Goal in Season-Ending Loss

Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield scored a third-period power-play goal in Friday's 6-1 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes. It was too little, too late, as the Canadiens were once again overwhelmed and eliminated in five games. Caufield had a disappointing postseason. He managed only 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 19 games and was limited to three even-strength points. During the regular season, Caufield averaged at least a point per game for the first time in his career, with 51 goals and 37 assists in 81 contests. He became the first Canadiens player in 36 years to score at least 50 regular-season goals, setting a high bar for himself in the next campaign.

May 30

Ivan Demidov • RW • Canadiens

Ivan Demidov Contributes an Assist in Losing Effort

Montreal Canadiens right wing Ivan Demidov finished Monday's 3-2 overtime loss in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes with an assist. He helped Mike Matheson score Montreal's first goal of the game. Demidov registered his second point of the series after being among the goal-scorers in Montreal's big 6-2 Game 1 victory. Throughout the playoffs, Demidov has primarily made an impact on the power play, but each of his last two points has come at even strength. He has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games. One more point would tie the young Russian for the fifth-most playoff points by a rookie in franchise history. Demidov will have at least two games to reach that mark, starting with Game 4 on Wednesday.

May 26

Lane Hutson • D • Canadiens

Lane Hutson Records Power-Play Goal in Game 3 Loss

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson returned to the score sheet in Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, scoring a power-play goal in a 3-2 overtime defeat. Hutson's goal sent the game into overtime, where Montreal suffered a second consecutive loss. It was a painful ending for the team, but the Canadiens will take some joy in knowing Hutson collected his first point of the series. He's played a key role throughout the postseason, recording 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 17 games. However, two-thirds of Hutson's points (10) have come on the power play, and Montreal is facing a team with a 93.5% penalty-kill rate in the Eastern Conference Finals, making it tougher for him to generate offense.

May 26

Oliver Kapanen • C • Canadiens

Oliver Kapanen Sitting as Healthy Scratch Monday

Montreal Canadiens forward Oliver Kapanen will be a healthy scratch for Game 3 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. During the regular season, Kapanen finished third among rookies with 22 goals and had 37 points in 82 contests. But the 22-year-old has failed to replicate that form in the playoffs, going scoreless in all seven appearances. Kapanen will be replaced in the lineup by Joe Veleno, who has been a healthy scratch in each of the last three games. Veleno has one assist in six postseason outings. He will add more muscle to the lineup and provide a strong option at the faceoff dot -- Veleno has won 63.6% of his draws in the playoffs.

May 25

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