A recent Canadiens-Rangers trade may have done more than just shuffle the roster. It could also have opened the door to a genuine training camp battle for Montreal’s 13th forward spot.
The player in question is Brett Berard, a name that probably won’t ring a bell for a lot of Canadiens fans. But he brings something that matters in this kind of fight: NHL experience. Berard has played 48 games at the top level, including 13 with New York last season.
That’s the edge he carries into camp. In a competition with younger players still trying to break through, that kind of exposure can matter. Florian Xhekaj is one of the other names in the mix, and Berard’s time in the NHL could help him stand out.
He also fits the profile of a player who can add pace. Fast and hard-working, Berard could give a team a useful spark in a limited role.
Still, there’s a catch. At 5-foot-9, he doesn’t bring the physical presence Montreal has been looking for since the start of the summer.
Berard will have to win a spot over Xhekaj and Owen Beck as well. The 13th forward job is about being ready to jump into the lineup whenever needed, so the Canadiens are looking for someone who can stay prepared and make an immediate impact if called upon.
Berard starts the race from behind, but his experience gives him a real chance to make this more interesting than it looked at first glance. It’ll be on him to turn that opening into a roster spot at camp.
In Other News...
Canadiens Still Have One Roster Question Around Xhekaj And Bolduc
Geoff Molson sounded upbeat in a recent interview about where the Canadiens stand after last season, saying he was satisfied with the teams performance and encouraged by the way the roster is developing. He also made clear that Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc remain important pieces in the organizations plans, a notable point with training camp approaching and Montreal still sorting through the edges of its depth chart.
The bigger question is how both players fit once the dust settles. Xhekajs usage has not fully settled into a defined role, and Bolduc remains unsigned after finishing the playoffs on the fourth line, leaving Montreal with one of those familiar late-summer roster puzzles that can shape how a team starts the year. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Roster Puzzle Puts Some Young Pieces In Play
The Canadiens search for help on the right side of their defense has turned into a roster puzzle with real long-term stakes. With future salary-cap room to work with, the front office can afford to think beyond a quick fix, and that has kept attention on a possible move for Zach Whitecloud as Montreal looks to balance its blue line while also adding more size and physicality up front.
What makes the conversation more interesting is the kind of young talent that could be pulled into the discussion if the Canadiens decide to press ahead. Montreal has prospects it would prefer not to move lightly, but it also has to weigh the value of future flexibility against the appeal of helping the current roster now. For the moment, it is still speculation and planning more than action, but the kind of move the Canadiens are considering could reshape more than one part of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Go Only As Far As Ivan Demidov Takes Them
Montreal did not make many sweeping changes this offseason, choosing instead to tinker around the edges while letting the roster largely carry over. The most notable departures were Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno, and the additions were mostly depth pieces aimed at the AHL side, which leaves the Canadiens leaning on internal growth more than outside fixes.
Ivan Demidov is at the center of that bet after a rookie season that put him firmly on the leagues radar and left him second in Calder Trophy voting. He showed plenty of upside, but he also cooled late, and Montreals outlook now hinges on whether he can turn that promise into steadier second-year production. For a team that did not do much to change its ceiling, his next step may end up setting the tone. [Read more 🡒]