The Canadiens’ strong start to the 2026-27 season has given the fan base plenty to enjoy, and there’s another layer to watch as the year unfolds: three veterans are creeping toward major career milestones.
Nick Suzuki is the headline name in that group. Montreal’s captain sits at 488 career NHL points, leaving him 12 shy of 500. At 27 years old, he’s already built a résumé that puts him among the league’s most dependable and productive centers, and his 101-point season in 2025-26 only reinforced that status.
The only catch is timing. Suzuki is currently out with an injury expected to keep him sidelined for two to four weeks, so the milestone will have to wait.
Once he’s back, though, 500 points should be within reach before long. Since arriving in the NHL in 2019-20, he has steadily grown into a centerpiece for Montreal, and this next mark would be another step in that climb.
Chris Kreider is also closing in on a major number, though his chase is measured in games rather than points. The veteran forward is at 971 regular-season appearances and needs 29 more to hit 1,000. Drafted 19th overall by the New York Rangers in 2009, Kreider carved out a long career on the strength of his speed, physical play, and finishing touch.
His peak offensive season came in 2021-22, when he scored 52 goals and finished with 77 points. That year showed exactly how dangerous he can be, especially around the crease and on the power play.
Now with the Canadiens, he brings those same traits - along with leadership and playoff experience - to a younger roster. If he stays healthy and keeps playing regularly, 1,000 games should arrive later this season.
Phillip Danault is the one who could get there first. The center is set to play his 800th NHL game on Saturday night. Drafted 26th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011, Danault has built his reputation on the defensive side of the puck, becoming one of the league’s most trusted shutdown centers.
His first run in Montreal started after a 2016 trade from Chicago, and he quickly became a key piece for the Canadiens with his faceoff work, defensive reads, and ability to handle top competition. He later moved on to the Los Angeles Kings before returning to Montreal. Danault has never been defined by scoring, but his value has always been in the details: killing penalties, matching up against dangerous lines, and bringing stability down the middle.
Hitting 800 games speaks to the kind of player he’s been for a long time - steady, professional, and effective. For Montreal fans, it adds a nice touch that this milestone is coming in a Canadiens sweater again.
With Suzuki nearing 500 points, Kreider on the doorstep of 1,000 games, and Danault about to reach 800, Montreal has three individual milestones worth tracking alongside its team success.
In Other News...
Canadiens Just Got Pulled Into A Dylan Larkin Roster Watch
The Canadiens have found themselves attached to one of the more intriguing names on the trade market, with Montreal reportedly putting young talent into the conversation around Dylan Larkin. The Red Wings center remains a significant target, and the way the Canadiens are positioning their assets suggests they are at least serious about seeing where this can go. For a club still sorting out its long-term picture, the chance to land a player of Larkins caliber naturally changes the temperature around any discussion.
There is still a major hurdle in the process, though, and it could end up being the one that matters most. Larkin has not yet given Montreal the green light as a destination, even as talks continue and his suspension from Detroit adds another layer to the situation. Sources say the Canadiens could be prepared to build an offer around prospects and draft picks, but for now the real question is whether the sides can get past the approval stage and into something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Be Getting Boxed Out Of Dylan Larkin Sweepstakes
The Canadiens have been circling the center market for a while, and Dylan Larkin has naturally become one of the more intriguing names to watch. Detroit has suspended him without pay after he refused to play, and the Red Wings are still working through trade discussions with multiple teams, with Montreal believed to be among the clubs at least in the mix. For a Canadiens front office looking to add help down the middle, it is the kind of situation worth monitoring closely.
Still, the path to Montreal does not look especially clean. Larkin has not expanded his preferred destination list, and the Canadiens are not on it, which leaves Montreal waiting on a player who may never view them as a landing spot. With the market for centers already thin and alternatives such as Ryan O'Reilly and Mark Scheifele also in the conversation, the Canadiens may have to decide whether to keep pressing on Larkin or pivot before the rest of the league leaves them behind. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Are Turning This Surprise Surge Into Something Much Bigger
The Canadiens have quietly turned a strong little run into something far more meaningful, winning five of their last six and climbing to second in the Atlantic Division. What makes the stretch stand out is how they have managed it without some important pieces, while also working through earlier power-play issues that could have slowed them down. Instead, Montreal has found ways to keep stacking points, nudging its goal differential to plus-5 and looking more stable by the night.
Jacob Fowler has given the club a lift in goal, and the blue line has done plenty of heavy lifting too, with Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier all helping steady things. Up front, Cole Caufield has been part of the push as the Canadiens keep finding contributions in different places, which is exactly the kind of depth a team needs when the lineup is not at full strength. The bigger question now is how long this surge can keep rolling, and whether Montreal can keep turning a surprising burst into something that lasts. [Read more 🡒]