The Montreal Canadiens are heading into the 2025-26 NHL season with revamped expectations. After losing in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Patrik Laine and the Habs are eyeing better results this time around. However, it might not be enough for a Stanley Cup champion to come out of retirement and return to the organization.
The Habs proved to be ahead of schedule with their rebuild. Instead, the Canadiens etched their name among the candidates to come out of the Atlantic Division. That is a very tall order, nevertheless.
Laine and company are thrilled by the challenge, though, and eager to get to work and defy all odds. Last season was a pleasant surprise, but it might all be in vain if the Habs don’t build on it any further. The roster features Calder Memorial Trophy winner Lane Hutson, a rising star duo in Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, and a solid netminder in Sam Montembeault. That is in addition to other, perhaps more raw, talents like Laine and Juraj Slafkovsky.
The future is looking bright in Quebec’s metropolis, and perhaps the Canadiens will provide more jubilation to the City of Festivals. It could be enough to draw players out of retirement to join, but Stanley Cup champion David Savard has ruled out that scenario.
“I already miss it and I know I’m going to miss it next year, but it’s important to know when to step away,” Savard admitted, via Reseau des sports (RDS). “I made that decision because it was getting harder and harder to keep up with the NHL.”
Tough love
Playing in the NHL is tough as it is. However, it’s common knowledge that the work only gets harder when playing for a Canadian franchise. And even though there are only seven of them, Montreal is one that stands head and shoulders above many of the rest when it comes to pressure and expectations from fans. On that note, Savard made something clear about playing for the Habs.
“Montreal is a market that comes with its ups and downs, but if you show up with a good attitude and work hard, the fans are going to love you. They’re going to have fun and be successful, I’m sure of it,” he added. “When things are going well, there’s no better market to play hockey in.“
New face in town
After Savard announced his decision to hang the skates and step away from the NHL, the Canadiens’ average age on defense went even further below. The 35-year-old’s exit also made way for the arrival of Noah Dobson, who has been one of the biggest moves in the offseason.
“He’s a very talented guy,” Savard commented on Dobson. “I had the chance to play against him and he’s a defender who excels offensively, but who is also very good in his zone. He will come and stabilize the defense and he already has a lot of experience despite his young age.”
Making it out of the Atlantic
The Atlantic Division can easily make the case to be dubbed the toughest in the NHL. Stacked with contenders and teams looking to make a statement, the climb only gets steeper for the Habs.
Sharing a division with hated rivals such as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins is one thing. But Montreal must also compete directly with the reigning Stanley Cup champs, the Florida Panthers, and the team that won back-to-back Cups to start the decade, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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To wrap things up, the division features two franchises desperate for success and clearly on the rise: the Ottawa Senators and the Detroit Red Wings. And lastly, and at the moment least, the Buffalo Sabres, who might not feel like a threat right now but are trending toward being very competitive in a few years. That is, of course, if Buffalo doesn’t shoot itself in the foot, which is a tough challenge on its own.