Connor McDavid didn’t exactly hand the Canadiens a roadmap to his future, but his words about Montreal are still enough to get people talking.
The Oilers captain described Montreal as a special place to play hockey, pointing to the energy inside the Bell Centre and the passion of Canadiens fans. According to Félix Séguin, McDavid called the building electric and said the games there are always intense. He also said he enjoys getting booed when he plays in Montreal, though he singled out the support he felt from the crowd during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
That tournament gave McDavid another look at the Bell Centre stage. Team Canada played two games there, and McDavid finished with a goal and an assist.
For Canadiens fans, the bigger takeaway is obvious: when a player of McDavid’s stature speaks that way about Montreal, people are going to listen. Still, there’s no reason to treat this as a sign of anything more than admiration for now. McDavid is 29, in the first year of a two-year contract, and his focus remains on winning a Stanley Cup after coming painfully close twice in Edmonton.
His production remains as elite as ever. Through eight games, he has 23 points, including six goals, along with a plus-19 rating. His annual cap hit sits at $12.5 million.
So yes, Montreal got a flattering review from one of the game’s biggest stars. But a future Canadiens deal is a very different conversation. McDavid’s comments don’t point to a decision on the horizon - they just leave the door open enough for fans to dream a little.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Just Gave Canadiens Fans A Reason To Revisit This Dream
Dylan Larkins name still has a way of lighting up the Bell Centre, and a recent visit by the Red Wings captain only fed that old Canadiens daydream a little more. Montreal fans gave him a notable reception, the kind that reminds everyone how easily a big-name center can become part of the citys ongoing wish list, especially when the organization is always looking for ways to upgrade down the middle.
Larkin didnt exactly pour cold water on the whole scene, either, praising the atmosphere in Montreal and calling it one of hockeys best arenas. Even so, the practical side of the story has not changed much, with Montreal not currently listed among the 10 teams on his reported trade request list and no deal anywhere near confirmed. For now, it is still more reminder than resolution, but it was enough to make Canadiens fans revisit a dream they know well. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Win Exposed A Sabres Problem Fans Have Seen Before
The Sabres have made a habit of flirting with disaster, and the latest example came in a 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal after Buffalo clawed its way back into the game. There are signs of progress in spots, with Jack Quinn, Josh Doan and Josh Norris all showing better form, but the bigger picture still looks familiar: too much inconsistency, too little clean defensive hockey, and not enough margin for error when the game tightens.
What has made the trend harder to ignore is how often Buffalo has had to lean on late rallies just to collect points. That approach can keep a team afloat for a night, but it is not a recipe for staying competitive over the long haul, especially when the margins are so thin in the standings. The Canadiens exposed that reality again, leaving the Sabres with another reminder that the comeback formula only works so many times before it catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Came Shockingly Close To A Franchise What-If With Brett Hull
Brett Hull recently reopened one of the more fascinating what-ifs in Canadiens history, saying he was very close to signing with Montreal in 2001 before ending up in Detroit instead. The timing alone makes it intriguing for Canadiens fans, since Hull was still a proven scorer with a chance to alter the direction of the franchise, even if landing him would not have guaranteed instant contention.
On a podcast, Hull recounted the kind of recruiting pitch that makes these stories linger, including a conversation with Canadiens icon Jean Bliveau as Montreal tried to make its case. What tipped the balance away from the Canadiens was a late push from Detroit, and Hull wound up with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 instead of becoming part of a very different Montreal chapter. [Read more 🡒]