Braden Haché has landed where he always pictured himself.
The 23-year-old defenseman has officially joined the Montreal Canadiens organization after signing a two-season deal with the Laval Rocket, giving the former San Jose free agent his first chance to work inside the Canadiens system. For Haché, it’s more than a new contract. It’s the realization of a childhood dream.
A lifelong Canadiens fan, Haché grew up in a house that lived and breathed Montreal. His father, Conrad, came from a French-speaking community in New Brunswick where the Canadiens were the team, and that influence clearly stuck. Haché’s favorite player was Brian Gionta, the former Canadiens captain, and he even wore No. 21 in his honor.
He shared one family memory that still stands out.
"My favorite player growing up was Brian Gionta.
He was the captain, so I wore No. 21 in his honor.
I still remember the night Cammalleri got traded off the bench. He was my brother's favourite player. There was a bit of a scene in the house."
- Braden Haché
What Laval is getting is a defenseman with some bite. Haché piled up 120 penalty minutes last season, the most of any AHL defenseman, and he’s not exactly the kind of player opponents enjoy dealing with. He also brings leadership, having worn the captain’s letter with the Saginaw Spirit during their 2024 Memorial Cup championship run.
There’s another layer to his path, too. Haché’s father, Conrad, spent seven seasons working as an NHL linesman, and Braden even did some officiating himself when he was younger. Now, instead of skating in stripes, he’s heading into a new chapter in Laval with the Rocket and taking his first steps in the Canadiens organization.
In Other News...
Canadiens Are Taking A Real Risk With Samuel Montembeault
Samuel Montembeault is still on the Canadiens roster in mid-August, and for now the front office seems content to let the situation play out. Kent Hughes does not appear interested in moving the goaltender when the return would be light, which leaves Montreal in a familiar holding pattern: waiting to see whether a patient approach can turn a limited market into a better one later on.
For the Canadiens, the gamble is obvious. Keeping Montembeault gives them a chance to see if his value rises over the course of the season, but it also means carrying a goalie whose performance has already raised questions about whether he can take a meaningful step forward. If he does not, Montreal could end up spending another year searching for answers while the trade value Hughes is protecting never really materializes. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Gomez Still Hasn't Let Go Of A Painful Canadiens Era
Scott Gomezs time in Montreal still hangs over him in a way that clearly goes beyond the box score. The former first-round pick arrived with expectations and, after a strong first season, his production tailed off during a stretch that included a long scoring drought and growing frustration from both the fan base and the local media, especially after the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh to the Canadiens.
What stands out now is how completely Gomez has stepped away from anything tied to that chapter. He has reportedly kept his distance from Montreal-related conversations and has avoided interviews connected to the team, a sign that the experience left a deeper mark than many old hockey stories do. For Canadiens fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a promising start can turn into a painful legacy. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Linked To Another Winger Ottawa May Not Want To Lose
The Canadiens offseason shopping list may not be finished yet, and one name worth watching is Drake Batherson. Montreal is reportedly interested in the Ottawa winger if the Senators are unable to lock him up to a new contract, which would put a productive division rival squarely on the radar for a team still looking to add more punch on the wing.
Bathersons situation has the potential to shape more than one front offices plans, because Ottawa would prefer not to let a player of that caliber drift into the market. If the Senators cannot bridge the gap, Montreal could be positioned to jump in, but the real intrigue is what kind of contract talks are going on behind the scenes and whether Ottawa can keep the door from opening at all. [Read more 🡒]