Off-Season Roundup: Montreal Canadiens

October 3, 2024
Posted in News
October 3, 2024 Noah Pedrazzoli

Noah Pedrazzoli checks in on the rebuilding Montreal Canadiens and how they factor in to the 2024-25 season

The NHL’s most prestigious team was hit with a reality check after their recent trip to the 2021 finals. The Montreal Canadiens Cinderella run was one for the ages, but the franchise now finds itself adapting to a new era. Let’s take a look at how a three-year rebuild has fared for the historic franchise and their trajectory for the upcoming season. 

Upgrades

The Montreal Canadiens spent the summer conducting some housekeeping in which they re-signed some of their budding young stars that are blossoming into everyday NHLers. 

Lane Huston is a defensive prospect that recently signed his entry-level contract with expectations to provide a spark to the Canadiens developing blueline. The 2020 first-rounder is a puck-moving defenseman who needs to continue his fast-tracked development by providing the Canadiens with speed and maneuverability. 

Defenseman Kaiden Guhle was also extended to a six-year deal worth $33.3 million. Guhle had a remarkable season which demonstrated his fit in the Canadiens defensive system. The young star will be relied upon to jumpstart the offense from the blueline and develop alongside Lane Hutson.

A six-year extension has raised the bar for Kaiden Guhle.

The Canadiens also extended their 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovský to an eight-year deal worth $60.8 million. The power forward is a rising star in the league where he is expected to continue his role on the top-line next to Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. Slafkovsky is a clear cornerstone for not only the Canadiens offense, but their franchise overall. 

The past two NHL drafts have been decorated with star power and potential. One such player was drafted fifth overall by the Montreal Canadiens in Ivan Demidov. The Russian playmaker is a dangerous puck handler and speedster projected to make an impact after a quick stint in the KHL to prepare him for a professional career in North America.

The final piece to a relatively sneaky but eventful summer for the Canadiens fanbase was the addition of embattled winger Patrick Laine. The former 44 goalscorer was traded by the Columbus Blue Jackets, alongside a 2026 second-round pick, for defenseman Jordan Harris. The Canadiens acquired an essential piece to their puzzle for a relatively cheap price as they continue to assemble a very promising and scary top-six, as he was projected to play alongside Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook.

“Such a heavy reliance on hype and returns to form in the top-six is a risky gambit out of the gate.”

Needs & Losses

Well, the Montreal Canadiens top-six was headed for a resurgence if not for the devastating preseason injury sustained by Laine. However, Laine or not, this team is still deeply flawed in many ways. 

This edition of the Habs is incredibly top-heavy as the first two lines are outstanding and the pairing of Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle on defense is a menacing pair. But the intended second line of Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, and Patrick Laine was already a line filled with uncertainties. Dach is just coming off two back-to-back season-ending injuries while Laine was in-and-out of the player assistance program before his injury.

Such a heavy reliance on hype and returns to form in the top-six is a risky gambit out of the gate.

The bottom-six is a coin-toss. On one end, there is veteran depth sprawled throughout the lineup combined with a mix of players in need of a prove-it year. Brendan Gallagher, for example, is projected to assume a role on the fourth line which only demonstrates how the franchise is leaning towards a younger, developmental direction for their up-and-coming roster.

Besides Guhle and Mattheson, this team needs defensive depth. Maybe through a trade or their extensive prospect pipeline, the Habs could use a defensive-defenseman to protect their net minders. Unless Arber Xhekaj is able to elevate his game and David Savard can illustrate why the Habs were asking for a first-round pick last trade deadline, this defense will be more of an Achilles heel to a team that clearly needs more time to assemble a more established roster.

As emphasized above, Sam Montembleaut and Cayden Primeaut will need defensive support to sustain the firepower of the Atlantic division. Last season, Montembleaut proved that he can put this team on his back with a less experienced defense, but imagine what he could do with a competent defense to back up his talent.

Canadiens Division Outlook: 5th-7th Place

The Montreal Canadiens are a team making the right moves towards properly competing. They have the misfortune of being in a division where most teams are contending for playoff spots which prohibits them from being considered for a ticket to the big dance.

They’re not quite there yet, as the team is still learning and developing. But under coach Martin St. Louis and general manager Kent Hughes, this team has a very promising future that can one day propel them towards the elite of the NHL.

Catch the latest episode of HNiNY as the boys spoke to Brian Compton of nhl.com about the summer & training camp

Hockey Night in New York returns to cover the New York Islanders all season long with hosts Sean Cuthbert and Stefen Rosner live from Floored Media in Rockville Centre Sundays at 8PM ET! Regular episodes being Sunday October 6th!

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