Summer Coolers – Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens enter 2026-27 coming off a breakthrough season that took them all the way to the Eastern Conference Final. Montreal finished third in the Atlantic, fourth in the East, and sixth overall before defeating Tampa Bay and Buffalo in dramatic seven-game series and eventually falling to Carolina in five. But instead of making a blockbuster move to accelerate the process, GM Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are sticking with the youth movement. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether patience is still the right strategy for a Canadiens team that suddenly looks much closer to Stanley Cup contention.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00:00] Martin St. Louis begins his sixth season behind the Montreal bench after guiding the Canadiens to third in the Atlantic and a trip to the Eastern Conference Final.

[00:00:25] Montreal survives Tampa Bay in seven games, including a deciding game where the Canadiens generated remarkably few shots but still found a way to win.

[00:00:40] The Canadiens then defeat Buffalo in overtime in Game 7 before losing to eventual champion Carolina in five games after taking the series opener.

[00:00:55] Montreal finishes seventh offensively, improves defensively from tied for 22nd to tied for 16th, and owns a top-10 power play.

[00:01:00] Despite the playoff success, alarm bells are beginning to sound among those who believe Montreal has been too conservative during the offseason.

[00:01:20] The Canadiens’ only trade acquisition is Brett Berard from the Rangers in exchange for defenseman William Trudeau.

[00:01:40] Neil believes the lack of major moves is intentional. Hughes and Gorton are committed to allowing their young core to continue developing rather than rushing the rebuild.

[00:02:00] Montreal has also benefited from locking up important players before NHL salaries began escalating dramatically.

[00:02:10] Ivan Demidov receives an eight-year contract worth $9.15 million per season beginning next year, making him a major piece of Montreal’s long-term plan.

[00:02:25] Jakub Dobeš has clearly established himself as Montreal’s No. 1 goaltender and receives a three-year deal worth approximately $5.36 million per season beginning next year.

[00:02:40] Sam Montembeault, once a major part of Montreal’s playoff story, remains under contract but has fallen dramatically in the goaltending picture.

[00:02:50] Kirby Dach returns on a one-year, $3.6 million contract after an up-and-down relationship with Canadiens fans.

[00:03:00] Montreal’s free-agent activity remains modest. Kaapo Kähkönen stays in the organization, while Samuel Poulin joins on a one-year deal.

[00:03:20] Neil believes ownership is fully supporting the patient approach, with Geoff Molson continuing to back the management team.

[00:03:35] One familiar face will be missing. Brendan Gallagher leaves Montreal for Vancouver after years as one of the Canadiens’ most recognizable and feisty players.

[00:03:50] Joshua Roy is traded to Utah, while Joe Veleno and Sammy Blais depart for the Rangers and Ottawa respectively.

[00:04:00] Goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler impressed after arriving later in the season and could now become the backup behind Dobeš.

[00:04:15] Michael Hage, Montreal’s 2024 first-round selection, plans to return to Michigan but could potentially see NHL action after his college season concludes.

[00:04:30] David Reinbacher, selected fifth overall in 2023, remains another major prospect who could strengthen a defense already featuring Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson.

[00:04:45] Patrik Laine remains an unrestricted free agent, and Neil does not expect Montreal to bring him back.

[00:05:00] Neil and Vic revisit Laine’s fast start from two seasons ago and Neil’s warning at the time not to be fooled by the early production.

Montreal’s strategy is clear: stay patient. Demidov, Dobeš, Hutson, Reinbacher, Fowler, Hage and the rest of the young core will determine how high this team can climb. After reaching the conference final, expectations have changed—but Hughes and Gorton appear determined not to abandon the plan just because success arrived earlier than expected.