Jakub Dobes didn’t exactly dress up his thoughts on hockey, and that’s part of why he keeps standing out in Montreal.
In a recent interview with TVA Sports, the Canadiens goaltender explained why he makes a point of getting back to the city early every summer. His answer was more direct than most players would ever be willing to give.
“Towards the end of the year, you're kind of sick of playing hockey and doing all that, but you take a one- or two-week break and you want to jump right back into it. As a team, we love to play hockey, and we just want to be in Montreal and be here. I always come here early because I enjoy my time here, and a lot of guys come here early because they feel the same.”
Dobes has never been shy about speaking his mind, and this was another clean example of that. He acknowledged something plenty of players probably feel but rarely say out loud: the grind can wear you down, even when you love the sport.
At the same time, his message about Montreal came through loud and clear. He says he enjoys being there, and he’s not the only one on the roster who feels that way, which is why he arrives early alongside several teammates.
That matters a little more coming off the spring he just had. Dobes secured the starting goaltender job without much argument after a spectacular run, and now all eyes will be on him again once training camp opens and, eventually, when the Canadiens’ season begins.
In Other News...
Canadiens Still Have One Roster Question Around Xhekaj And Bolduc
Geoff Molson sounded upbeat in a recent interview about where the Canadiens stand after last season, saying he was satisfied with the teams performance and encouraged by the way the roster is developing. He also made clear that Arber Xhekaj and Zach Bolduc remain important pieces in the organizations plans, a notable point with training camp approaching and Montreal still sorting through the edges of its depth chart.
The bigger question is how both players fit once the dust settles. Xhekajs usage has not fully settled into a defined role, and Bolduc remains unsigned after finishing the playoffs on the fourth line, leaving Montreal with one of those familiar late-summer roster puzzles that can shape how a team starts the year. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Roster Puzzle Puts Some Young Pieces In Play
The Canadiens search for help on the right side of their defense has turned into a roster puzzle with real long-term stakes. With future salary-cap room to work with, the front office can afford to think beyond a quick fix, and that has kept attention on a possible move for Zach Whitecloud as Montreal looks to balance its blue line while also adding more size and physicality up front.
What makes the conversation more interesting is the kind of young talent that could be pulled into the discussion if the Canadiens decide to press ahead. Montreal has prospects it would prefer not to move lightly, but it also has to weigh the value of future flexibility against the appeal of helping the current roster now. For the moment, it is still speculation and planning more than action, but the kind of move the Canadiens are considering could reshape more than one part of the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Go Only As Far As Ivan Demidov Takes Them
Montreal did not make many sweeping changes this offseason, choosing instead to tinker around the edges while letting the roster largely carry over. The most notable departures were Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno, and the additions were mostly depth pieces aimed at the AHL side, which leaves the Canadiens leaning on internal growth more than outside fixes.
Ivan Demidov is at the center of that bet after a rookie season that put him firmly on the leagues radar and left him second in Calder Trophy voting. He showed plenty of upside, but he also cooled late, and Montreals outlook now hinges on whether he can turn that promise into steadier second-year production. For a team that did not do much to change its ceiling, his next step may end up setting the tone. [Read more 🡒]