The Canadiens open their 2026-27 season on the road against Toronto, and there’s no shortage of storylines around a team that looks familiar in most places but noticeably different in a few key spots.
Montreal won three of four against the Maple Leafs last season, but that edge won’t mean much if Toronto’s overhaul looks as advertised. The Leafs come in with a new general manager, a new head coach, and a roster that has been reshaped by the additions of Gavin McKenna, Sergei Bobrovsky, and possibly Kirill Marchenko, who was traded by the Blue Jackets on Monday.
For Montreal, the core remains largely intact after a run to the Eastern Conference Final, with Chris Kreider standing out as the major new face. He’s also the first player to keep an eye on when the puck drops.
Kreider has been moved onto the top line in training camp, replacing Juraj Slafkovsky alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. That gives Montreal a different look at the net-front, where Kreider’s strength can create space and scoring chances for Suzuki, who is so dangerous when he’s carrying the puck. The Canadiens want more balance across the lineup, but the reality is the top line still has to drive this team, and this matchup should give that trio an immediate test in what could turn into a high-scoring game.
Another name worth watching is Ivan Demidov, who could help ease some of that pressure. Montreal didn’t wait long before locking him in with a new nine-year extension this summer, and he now looks like a player capable of swinging games.
The concern around his line has been at center, and the Canadiens got hit with another wrinkle on Monday when Oliver Kapanen missed practice with a lower-body injury. Martin St.
Louis said Kapanen will not play against Toronto and will be replaced by Alex Newhook.
Newhook is coming off an excellent playoff stretch, which makes his spot in this opener especially important. Still, Demidov is the one who has to drive that line if Montreal wants it to matter.
On the back end, Arber Xhekaj enters the season with something to prove. He was the final Canadiens player to re-sign, in part because he wanted more clarity about where he fits on the blue line.
This is his chance to show he deserves a permanent role. That said, the window may not be as open as it once seemed, because Kaiden Guhle is already back skating at practice after offseason surgery.
Guhle remains in a non-contact jersey, but it’s still a meaningful step toward a return. Xhekaj’s physical edge could be valuable right away against Toronto.
In goal, Jakub Dobes is the likely starter to begin the year, and Montreal needs him ready. He was excellent down the stretch last season and carried that into the playoffs, helping push the Canadiens as far as they went.
This preseason, though, he has looked less settled, including a game in which he allowed four power-play goals. That won’t be a major concern unless it carries into October, but Toronto has enough shooters to make this a serious early test.
Dobes may need a few big saves just to keep Montreal in the fight.
In Other News...
Canadiens Goalie Situation Suddenly Feels Unsettled Before The Opener
The Canadiens goaltending picture has taken on a little more uncertainty on the eve of the opener, with practice offering a contrast that was hard to miss. Samuel Montembeault looked sharp, while Jakub Dobes drew attention for appearing more nonchalant and slow to recover after goals, which stood out as unusual enough to raise questions about where he is physically and where the crease battle stands.
There still has been no official word on Dobes condition, and Montreal has not announced a starter for the season opener against Toronto. For a team that has spent camp sorting out its depth and roles, the silence around the position only adds to the sense that the final answer may not be settled just yet. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]