Cole Caufield didn’t wait long to turn Montreal’s 2-1 road win over the Winnipeg Jets in the 2026 Heritage Classic into something bigger.
After the Canadiens finished off the victory on Sunday night, TNT’s Jackie Redmond asked the 50-goal scorer about the Montreal fans who made the trip to Winnipeg for the outdoor game. Caufield answered with a line that landed loudly.
"Best fans in the league, I think they obviously travel well but we might be Canada's favourite team, you can tell by tonight," Caufield said.
The comment set off immediate conversation about whether Caufield was essentially putting the Canadiens forward as “Canada’s Team” - a big label, but one that at least has some support when you look at what Montreal has done lately.
The Canadiens’ rise is hard to ignore. Edmonton has been the country’s standard-bearer in recent years, with two trips to the Stanley Cup Final and a core still built around Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
But Montreal has been climbing faster than any other Canadian club, coming off an Eastern Conference Final run and going deeper in the playoffs than any other team from north of the border. The Oilers and Ottawa Senators were the next closest, and both were bounced in the first round, so on recent postseason results alone, Caufield’s point carries weight.
The regular-season picture adds another layer. Edmonton and Ottawa each have two more wins than Montreal, while the Toronto Maple Leafs have one more win than the Canadiens.
Toronto, though, is coming off a convincing 7-2 road win over Edmonton on Saturday. Montreal already beat Toronto 3-2 in the season opener, but the Maple Leafs’ roster overhaul means the second meeting could look very different once they settle in together.
For all the debate, Montreal’s recent track record against Canadian opponents gives Caufield’s claim real teeth. The Canadiens have beaten the Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks four straight times, the Jets three straight, and the Flames twice in a row.
Against Ottawa, they’ve won six of the last eight. The one team that has held its own is Edmonton, which has split its last four games with Montreal, two wins apiece.
That makes the next stretch worth watching. The Canadiens will see the Jets again on November 3, then meet the Maple Leafs a second time on Saturday, November 7. Edmonton is also on the schedule twice more, on December 14 and January 30.
Whether the Canadiens have truly earned the title of “Canada’s Team” will keep getting argued, but Caufield’s case is clear enough: recent playoff success, strong results against most of the country’s other clubs, and a young core that looks set to stay in Montreal red for years to come.
In Other News...
Nick Suzukis Absence Suddenly Looks Bigger Than Canadiens Fans Hoped
Nick Suzukis absence is starting to feel more substantial for the Canadiens than it did at first glance, even as the team has kept winning without its captain. Suzuki is sidelined with an upper-body injury and will head back to Montreal after the Heritage Classic rather than stay with the club on the road trip, where he has been working through recovery with the teams medical staff.
The short-term good news is that Montreal has found a way to keep stacking results without him, but the bigger picture around Suzuki is less clear. He is expected to be out for a stretch, and there is at least some concern that he may not have been fully healthy even before this latest setback, which makes his status one of the more important things to watch once the Canadiens return home. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Painful Goalie Decision As Montembeault Nears Return
Samuel Montembeaults return is getting closer, and for the Canadiens that means the calendar is starting to squeeze a goaltending picture that was already crowded. Jacob Fowler has taken over as the primary option in net, while the organization has tried to manage its depth with Montembeault and Jakub Dobes both still on the roster.
The complication is that Montreal cannot simply shuffle its way out of the problem. Montembeault and Dobes would have to clear waivers to go to Laval, and with Montembeaults contract set to expire next summer, the front office is staring at a decision that could shape both the present and the near future. Recent signings around the league may also make the trade market less straightforward than it looked a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Draw A Firm Line As Trade Push Heats Up
The Canadiens have been busy enough in the trade market to keep their phones ringing, but one name appears to be off limits no matter how active the talks get. NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported that Montreal has no intention of moving top prospect Michael Hage, even as his name has surfaced in discussions around the league, a reminder that the front office is looking for ways to improve without stripping away one of its most promising young pieces.
Montreals willingness to explore deals has clearly not changed its view of Hages value, and that matters for a club trying to balance the present with the future. The Canadiens also had a timely boost on the ice, edging the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic behind Jacob Fowlers 33-save effort, but the bigger question for the organization may be how far it is willing to go when rival teams come asking for help. [Read more 🡒]