Training camp is underway, and the first few days have already given the Canadiens plenty to sort through. The split-squad opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs produced a sweep, but the more important story is what those preseason looks are revealing about Montreal’s roster, its lineup combinations and the early injury picture.
The clearest setback so far is on defense, where Kaiden Guhle is out for four to five weeks after a minor procedure on his adductor muscle late this summer. That leaves a hole in Montreal’s top four right as camp begins, though the team still expects him back early in the regular season.
For now, the absence opens the door for others. David Reinbacher got an elevated look early, and Lane Hutson kept building on what he showed last season by driving play in Saturday’s split-squad action against Toronto.
The blueline situation also keeps Arber Xhekaj in the conversation. He remains a useful option because of the flexibility he gives the staff, and there have even been peripheral discussions about giving him reps at forward if the defense gets crowded once Guhle returns.
Up front, Martin St. Louis is already mixing and matching.
Chris Kreider opened the preseason on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, and he finished that game with a shot and two hits in 17:05 of ice time. That move pushed Juraj Slafkovský into a second-line role with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov.
Slafkovský’s growth as a play-driver gives Montreal room to spread its offense around, and Demidov remains one of the biggest storylines after his standout rookie season.
The battle for bottom-six spots is just as active. Florian Xhekaj is making a hard push for one of those openings, and his physical presence stood out in the split-squad games.
In goal, Samuel Montembeault gave Montreal a strong early showing. In his half-game against the Maple Leafs, he stopped every shot he faced.
The Canadiens now turn to a week that features three preseason games, all against the Ottawa Senators. On Monday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 PM ET, Montreal will face Ottawa at Colisée Vidéotron in Trois-Rivières, QC. Then on Saturday, Sept. 26, the Canadiens have a split-squad doubleheader, with one game at 7:00 PM ET at the Bell Centre in Montreal and another at the same time on the road against the Senators at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa.
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