The Canadiens have released their roster for the 2026 Rookie Camp, inviting 23 players to Brossard and Gatineau ahead of a training camp that opens in less than two weeks. The group runs from September 11-15, with a two-game Prospect Challenge against Winnipeg and Ottawa built into the schedule — the first real look at Montreal’s next wave before the puck drops on 2026-27.

Who’s In: 13 Forwards, 7 Defensemen, 3 Goaltenders

Of the 23 invitees, 10 hold Canadiens draft rights — including four picks from this summer’s 2026 draft — while the other seven are attending on a tryout basis, mostly out of the QMJHL and OHL. The rest fill out the group on AHL free-agent deals already on file with Laval.

Three players arrive to camp already under an NHL contract with Montreal, though they got there three different ways. Tyler Thorpe played a full season with Laval. Luke Mittelstadt didn’t turn pro until his NCAA career at Minnesota was over, joining the Rocket for just nine regular-season games and five more in the playoffs. Owen Protz, by contrast, spent all of last season in the OHL with Brantford rather than with Laval at all — this camp is effectively his first exposure to the organization’s pro setup.

The 2026 Draft Class Gets Its First Look

Four of this year’s draft picks are in the room for the first time as Canadiens property. Defenseman Jean-Samuel Daigneault (7th round, 221st overall) spent last season with Muskegon of the USHL. Fellow blueliner Brayden Klimpke (4th round, 117th overall) put up 47 points in 68 games with Saskatoon of the WHL. Winger Parker Trottier (7th round, 189th overall) comes out of the U.S. National Development Team Program, while forward Wesley Royston (7th round, 190th overall) split last season between Erie and Owen Sound of the OHL, finishing with 10 goals and 15 points in 46 games after the move to Owen Sound.

Three More Familiar Names Already on Montreal’s Draft Board

Beyond this year’s class, three more invitees already hold Canadiens draft rights from previous years. Goaltender Arseni Radkov, a 2025 3rd-round pick, split last season between Blainville-Boisbriand and Saint John in the QMJHL and has since moved to Val-d’Or for 2026-27. Defenseman Andrew MacNiel, a 2025 pick, is back at rookie camp for a second look after a season split with Kitchener that included a Memorial Cup run. And goaltender Mikus Vecvanags, a 2024 pick out of Latvia, spent most of last season with Victoria of the BCHL, with stops in the QMJHL and at the World Juniors for Team Latvia mixed in.

Rookie Camp Schedule

Date	Event	Time
Friday, September 11	On-Ice Training — CN Sports Complex Media availability with selected players after practice	10:00 a.m.
Saturday, September 12	Game: Jets vs. Canadiens — Slush Puppie Centre Media availability with Daniel Jacob and selected players after the game	1:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 13	Game: Canadiens vs. Senators — Slush Puppie Centre Media availability with Daniel Jacob and selected players after the game	6:00 p.m.
Monday, September 14	Canadiens Golf Tournament — Laval-sur-le-Lac Golf Club Day off for players; no Rookie Camp media availability	8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, September 15	On-Ice Training — CN Sports Complex Media availability to conclude Rookie Camp after practice	10:00 a.m.

Daniel Jacob, entering his stint as Laval’s head coach, leads the evaluation staff alongside assistants Martin Laperrière, Ilya Ejov and David Urquhart.

None of this decides anything on its own — rookie camp is an evaluation exercise, not a roster battle — but it’s the first real data point of the summer on where the organization’s pipeline actually stands heading into main camp later this month.