The Montreal Canadiens are only two games into the 2025-26 NHL season. However, we are already beginning to learn some things about the team and what the future may hold for the rest of the year. The Canadiens have been on the road to start the year, going 1-1 in their first two contests. They lost their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game they largely outplayed their opposition. Then on Thursday, they put a beatdown on the Detroit Red Wings in their home opener. Let’s take a look at what we’ve learned so far in the early season for the Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens Early Season
Offseason Additions Paying Off Early
The Montreal Canadiens made two major acquisitions in the offseason. The first was trading for Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. Dobson has been playing big minutes thus far on Montreal’s top-pair, as well as quarterbacking the team’s second power play unit. Initially, when it was announced that veteran Mike Matheson would be paired with Dobson, it raised some question marks. However, the duo has looked stellar through their first two games together. Having Dobson gives Montreal another puck mover on defence. It also allows Lane Hutson to gain some more favourable matchups. Dobson has also been a big part of the team’s penalty kill. This was a major question mark after losing David Savard, Christian Dvorak, and Joel Armia in the summer. Overall, it appears as though Dobson was worth the cost of acquisition for Montreal.
Their second major addition was forward Zachary Bolduc. The Canadiens traded prospect Logan Mailloux to St. Louis in exchange for Bolduc’s services. Thus far, he has found the back of the net in each of his first two games. He is currently playing on a line with Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher, and it appears that he’s found instant chemistry with the Habs veteran forward. His addition gives Montreal some much-needed scoring depth behind the top line.
Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach Situation
There haven’t been many negatives through the Canadiens first two games. But if we were to point out some, it would be the Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach situations. While it’s still very early in the season, it’s unclear whether Dach can be the team’s second-line centreman moving forward. It seems as though Oliver Kapanen and Jake Evans are playing better behind him to begin the year. Dach has no value on the trade market currently, so he’ll finish out the year in Montreal. But right now, he is a shell of the player we saw two years ago. However, being insulated between Bolduc and Gallagher may help him find his game. For what it’s worth, Dach hasn’t been bad per se, but he struggles in the faceoff dot and doesn’t protect the puck as well as someone with his frame should.
As for Laine, he sticks out like a sore thumb when looking at the team’s lineup. A talented scorer on the fourth line doesn’t make a lot of sense. But to Martin St. Louis‘ credit, this is the right move for Laine and the Canadiens. Similar to Dach, Laine is being insulated by playing with Evans and Josh Anderson. Furthermore, there is nowhere else to put him in the lineup. The two middle-six lines are playing well and have found chemistry. Putting Laine with either Demidov or Dach seems like it could be a defensive disaster. Laine hasn’t found chemistry with any Canadiens forward since being acquired by Montreal. For now, being a power play specialist, who is insulated on the fourth line, will have to be his role.
Montreal Canadiens Need to Secure Lane Hutson Deal
So far, the reigning Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson has been held pointless in his first two games. This itself isn’t a cause for concern, as he has been generating offensive chances. However, we have also seen some uncharacteristic plays from Hutson at times. That includes puck bobbles, missed passes and assignments. Overall, he doesn’t quite look as poised with the puck as we have been accustomed to seeing. His body language at times hasn’t been overly positive either. It’s not a stretch to think the pressures of his contract situation, as well as the Team USA omission, could be weighing on the young defenceman. The Canadiens should look to ink up Hutson as soon as possible to avoid any distractions lingering into the season. Overall, though, there is no real cause for concern for an immense talent like Lane Hutson.
Canadiens Off to Solid Start Overall
While it’s extremely early, the Canadiens look strong to begin the year from top to bottom. Their pace and defensive structure are leaps and bounds ahead of what we saw this time last year. The new offseason additions are looking great, the top line looks poised for another dominant year, goaltending has been solid, and rookie Oliver Kapanen has taken that next step. There are still some kinks to figure out, but the Montreal Canadiens should be in the mix for a playoff spot once again this season.
Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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