A small but noticeable detail from Canadiens practice has put Jakub Dobes under the microscope just hours before the opener.
Marc-Olivier Cook said the goaltender looked unusually laid-back this morning, and the reaction stood out because it wasn’t the kind of presence Dobes has built around himself. Cook pointed to the way Dobes took his time getting back up after goals, describing it as something that seemed off.
"Jakub Dobes seemed… a little off to me this morning.
Very nonchalant. He often took his time getting back up after allowing a goal.
It looked like something was bothering him. Hopefully, it was just a bad day at the office…"
- Marc Olivier Cook
That observation lands awkwardly with the image Dobes created in the playoffs last season, when he turned in memorable performances and emerged as a meaningful piece for the Canadiens because of his fire and passion. Based on the footage from this morning, that edge didn’t seem to be there.
Of course, there’s also the possibility that it was nothing more than a rough day or simple fatigue. Camp has been hard on everyone, and a player can look a little flat without there being anything more behind it.
At the same time, Samuel Montembeault has had a strong run over the past few days, especially after surprising many people and earning his place with the Canadiens out of camp. That contrast between the two goaltenders adds another layer of uncertainty with the season opener looming.
For now, the Canadiens haven’t revealed who will start tomorrow. The club is sticking to its usual silence on the decision as Montreal gets ready to head to Toronto for the first game of the new campaign.
In Other News...
Canadiens Are Counting On Chris Kreider In A Big Way
Chris Kreider arrives in Montreal with the kind of rsum and experience that can change the tone of a lineup quickly. After stops with the Rangers and Ducks, he is set to open the season with the Canadiens on a one-year deal, and his presence immediately gives the club a veteran edge it has been missing. At 34, he is the oldest player on the roster, and he also comes in with a familiar face behind the bench in Martin St. Louis, his former teammate.
For a team trying to keep moving forward, Kreider represents more than just another name added in the summer. The Canadiens are counting on him to settle in fast and help drive play in a prominent role, which puts a spotlight on how quickly he adapts to a new city, a new system and a new set of expectations. Montreal does not have much time to wait on that transition, and his start will be watched closely from the outset. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Have Another Reason To Love The Noah Dobson Trade
Kent Hughes blockbuster deal for Noah Dobson already gave the Canadiens a bona fide top right-shot defenseman, and the price only looks more reasonable as time passes. Montreal sent Emil Heineman and two 2025 first-round picks to the Islanders for Dobson, who is coming off a 47-point season in 80 games and is signed through 2033 at a $9.5 million annual cap hit. For a team trying to keep building around a young core, locking in a player with that kind of role and term is the sort of move that can shape the roster for years.
There is also a draft-side layer to the trade that makes it feel even better for Montreal. The Canadiens used one of their own 2025 picks on Alexander Zharovsky at 34th overall, and he has since been ranked 11th in Corey Pronmans re-ranking of the class. In other words, Montreal may have come out of the deal not only with Dobson, but with a prospect who is tracking higher than some of the players the Islanders selected with the picks they received. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Opener Puts Four Key Storylines Under Pressure In Toronto
The Canadiens will get their 2026-27 season started with an immediate measuring stick, opening on the road against a Maple Leafs team that has been reshaped by a new general manager, a new coach and a wave of roster changes. Montreal, by contrast, is bringing back most of the group from last season, with Chris Kreider joining the mix and giving the top of the lineup a different look around Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield as the team heads into a building where early answers matter.
A lot of the attention around the opener will center on how the Canadiens' younger pieces handle the moment, especially Ivan Demidov, Arber Xhekaj and Jakub Dobes, who is expected to get the start in net. It is the kind of first game that can sharpen the questions around Montreal quickly, because the Canadiens are walking into a matchup against a division rival that has not stood still, while their own core is being asked to show it can keep pace right away. [Read more 🡒]