The Canadiens are heading toward 2026-27 with a roster that finally looks built to survive the grind of a full season. Martin St. Louis has options everywhere now, and the real challenge is less about finding bodies than sorting out which combinations make the most sense by opening night.
Up front, the top unit still looks locked in. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky remain together, and it’s easy to see why. Suzuki drives the line, Caufield finishes chances at a dangerous rate and Slafkovsky gives the trio the power-forward presence that makes the whole thing work.
Behind them, Montreal has the kind of depth it has been missing for a while. Alex Newhook, Jake Evans and Ivan Demidov project as the second line in this look, though the biggest question is the middle.
The Canadiens have been searching for the right center to play with Demidov, and Evans would be the likely opening-night answer even if it’s not the cleanest fit. The other path would be to reunite Oliver Kapanen with Demidov, just as Montreal did during the 2025-26 regular season.
The rest of the forward group brings a different mix of ingredients. Zachary Bolduc, Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson form a line with skill, experience and bite, while Alexandre Texier, Oliver Kapanen and Kirby Dach round out a fourth unit that gives the club more usable depth than it has had in years. That internal competition is a big change for an organization that was thin only a few seasons ago.
On the back end, the picture is steadier. The defense group is projected to look the same as it did last season, and it carries a balance of offense, responsibility and physical play.
Montreal still does not have a clear partner for Lane Hutson, so Kaiden Guhle or Jayden Struble would likely open the year beside him. One of those two has already spent time with Hutson over the last couple of seasons, and that familiarity could matter.
The second pair of Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson stands out as a puck-moving duo with real upside. Both can handle big minutes and both can help the Canadiens transition quickly from defense to attack, which gives St. Louis another dangerous combination to lean on.
The final defense spot may come down to Arber Xhekaj and Struble during training camp. Struble could have the edge because of his steadiness and his simple, dependable game next to Carrier.
Xhekaj, though, brings a different kind of value. His physicality, toughness and willingness to stand up for teammates can swing a game in a hurry.
In goal, the Canadiens have another decision to sort through. Samuel Montembeault is still in the organization, which keeps the door open for a real battle in camp.
But Jakub Dobes is the projected starter here after handling pressure well during last year’s playoff run. His calm approach and athleticism have given Montreal reason to believe he can grow into a long-term No.
Jacob Fowler also looks ready for the next step after another strong year of development. The idea here is not to throw him into a huge workload right away, but to share the net with Dobes and ease him into NHL duty.
The extra skaters in this projection are Montembeault, Xhekaj and Owen Beck. Montembeault gives the Canadiens insurance if injuries hit or if they decide to carry three goalies at different points.
Beck remains one of the more dependable young forwards in the system and could push his way into the lineup. Xhekaj, meanwhile, provides blue-line depth.
Taken as a whole, this is a roster that looks a lot more mature than the one Montreal was rolling out during the rebuild. It’s younger, deeper and more competitive. Training camp will still decide plenty, but if the Canadiens open the season anywhere close to this group, they should be in position to chase a playoff spot while continuing to build toward bigger things.
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Kaiden Guhle Could Be The Canadiens Blue Line Answer At Last
Kaiden Guhles path with the Canadiens has been shaped as much by the training room as by the ice, with injuries repeatedly interrupting the kind of steady growth teams want from a young defenseman. Even so, the latest playoff run offered a very different look. Over 19 games, he chipped in eight assists and played with a level of confidence that suggested he was finally settling into the role Montreal has long envisioned for him.
The encouraging part for the Canadiens is that Guhle did not do it alone. His work beside Lane Hutson showed real promise, and the two are expected to keep forming a defensive pair when next season begins. For a blue line that has spent years searching for reliable answers, that kind of chemistry matters, especially when it comes from a player whose development has already been tested so many times. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Fans Can't Ignore The Patrik Laine Reunion Debate
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Montreals handling of Laine only sharpened that uncertainty. He barely got on the ice for the Canadiens, then a core-muscle injury sent him to surgery and kept him out for months, leaving his return to form very much an open question. For Winnipeg, the appeal is obvious: there is still a version of Laine that fits the franchises history and could help in the right role. The risk, of course, is figuring out whether that player is still there at all. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Wont Like Where This Arber Xhekaj Buzz Is Going
Kaiden Xhekaj remains a name the Canadiens still value, but the contract picture around him has not come together yet. The 21-year-old is a restricted free agent for the next two years before he would reach unrestricted status in 2028, and the fact that he did not file for arbitration has left the process open-ended rather than headed toward a clear deadline.
The uncertainty is made a little more noticeable by the way his role shrank last season, with his ice time dipping to a career-low 11:25 in 65 games and dropping even further in the playoffs. Montreal would prefer to sort out a deal and keep the situation from lingering, but for now the sides are still working without a finished agreement in place. [Read more 🡒]