Montreal’s training camp is officially in the books. The Canadiens closed out the preseason Saturday night, finishing with a 4-1-0 record, and confirmed their 23-man roster for the season Sunday — the group they have to formally submit to the NHL by 5:00 PM ET today. It was a short camp by any measure: just 13 days, five preseason games and seven practices to trim 57 players down to a final 23 — 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders. Here’s a full player-by-player breakdown of how everyone who made the team performed, plus a look at the prospects headed back to Laval.
A-Grade Standouts
Lane Hutson (A): Hutson remains the Canadiens’ offensive X-factor. He put up five points, including a goal, in two games and set up both of Cole Caufield’s overtime winners with his playmaking. He doesn’t have to be the biggest player on the ice to be the most dangerous — over the last two seasons he’s racked up 144 points in 164 games, and camp was no different. Simply one of Montreal’s best players all camp long.
Juraj Slafkovsky (A): Coming off a breakout 30-goal, 73-point season, Slafkovsky picked up right where he left off. He had three points Saturday with two new linemates, and opened the preseason with a goal and an assist alongside Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen. His confidence with the puck is night-and-day better, and his chemistry with Demidov in particular looks like it’s only going to keep growing.
Cole Caufield (A): Call him Mr. Saturday Night, or Mr. Overtime — either fits. Caufield scored twice in overtime for preseason game-winners and added another goal Monday, building on a 51-goal season that made him the franchise’s all-time leader in overtime goals. What stands out with Caufield is the timing: so many of his goals are the ones that matter, tying games or sealing them. Don’t be surprised if he’s chasing 50 again this season.
Building Momentum
Phillip Danault (B+): The veteran, acquired in a trade last December, carried his strong second half into camp with three preseason goals. Known first for his 200-foot game and faceoff work, Danault found ways to contribute offensively too. At 33 and in the final year of his contract, this is an important season for him, and a very good camp is a good sign.
Samuel Montembeault (B+): Few expected Montembeault to still be a Canadien after a rough season a year ago — trade rumors and a Laval assignment both felt possible. Instead, after meetings with Martin St-Louis and Kent Hughes, he put in the work over the summer, showed up to camp in better shape, and delivered when it mattered: just one goal allowed on 31 shots. He earned the backup job outright and will open the season with the Canadiens.
Florian Xhekaj (B+): The biggest surprise of camp. With 13 forward spots already accounted for and only a handful of exhibition games to make his case, the odds were long. Xhekaj made it work anyway, leaning on physicality, faceoff wins, forechecking and a strong 200-foot game to force his way onto the roster. A terrific camp — now the job is staying in the NHL.
Ivan Demidov (B+): An injury last Monday cut his camp short, but his first preseason game was excellent — a power-play goal and instant chemistry with Slafkovsky. He’s expected back Tuesday. Demidov stayed in Montreal over the summer and was on the ice nearly every day, and it showed: he looked stronger and faster all camp. With a new contract in hand, don’t be shocked if he pushes toward 70-75 points this season.
Steady and Reliable
Nick Suzuki (B): The reigning Selke winner treated camp like the ten-year veteran he plays like — it was about reps and staying healthy, not chasing highlights. Most of his focus went into building chemistry with new linemate Chris Kreider, which will take time. A solid camp overall from the captain.
Noah Dobson (B): Another strong camp for the veteran defenseman, including a power-play goal Saturday while filling in for Hutson on the top unit. Dobson isn’t flashy, but he handles every detail of the game well — mobility, vision and a heavy shot all on display.
Alex Newhook (B): An ankle injury cut short what was shaping up to be his best NHL season, but he still delivered two Game 7 game-winners in the playoffs. His speed looked fully back in camp, and he remains one of the most versatile players on the roster — capable of playing any forward line, the power play and the penalty kill.
Mike Matheson (B): For a veteran like Matheson, camp is about shaking off summer rust — which he did despite a minor injury heading in. Usually paired with Dobson, he continues to log more minutes than anyone on the team and face top competition every night. He lost some power-play time in the shuffle but remains a penalty-kill mainstay. A good camp for an important piece of the blue line.
Josh Anderson (B): In the final year of his deal, now a father and wearing an “A” on his jersey, Anderson brings leadership and physicality that were on full display in camp. His size and speed are still there, and he competes as hard as anyone, which teammates notice. A good camp, and he looks ready for the season.
Solid, But Room to Grow
Alexandre Carrier (B-): Another player in the final year of his deal, Carrier knows prospects like Reinbacher, Engström and Mittelstadt are pushing from behind. He’s been a versatile, useful piece since being traded to Montreal two years ago, and while his size draws criticism from some fans, the organization values his competitiveness. Camp had its ups and downs, but nothing to be concerned about.
Jakub Dobes (B-): One of last year’s biggest surprises and a big reason the Canadiens made the Eastern Conference Final, Dobes enters the season as the named No. 1 goaltender on a new contract. His camp was just okay — a touch below expectations — though his final start came in Ottawa behind a lineup stocked with AHL players, which is worth factoring in.
Oliver Kapanen (B-): After a 22-goal rookie season that cooled off in the second half and playoffs, Kapanen has more or less been handed the second-line center job. He’s a smart, responsible player, but his camp was average outside of the Slafkovsky-Demidov tandem. He’ll have to earn and keep that second-line spot as the season goes.
Chris Kreider (B-): Signed just days before camp opened after being released by Anaheim, Kreider found himself on the first line with Suzuki and Caufield almost immediately. He scored in classic Kreider fashion, crashing the net for a rebound. Chemistry with his new linemates isn’t quite there yet, but at 35, another 20-goal season is well within reach once it clicks.
Jake Evans (B-): A new father of twins, the seventh-round pick continues to have to earn every bit of his roster spot. Evans plays a Danault-like game — responsible on faceoffs and in the defensive zone, and a key penalty killer. A decent camp, though a bit more involvement in his two games would have been nice to see.
Alexandre Texier (B-): Still fighting to lock down a permanent spot, Texier missed some chances and made a few questionable decisions in camp, even as his puck protection, speed and hands remained evident. He needs to tighten up defensively, and with no special-teams role and bottom-six minutes only, his opportunities to show more are limited. He’s signed through next season after being claimed off waivers from St. Louis.
Zachary Bolduc (B-): After signing a new four-year deal worth roughly $4 million a season, expectations were high — but the forechecking intensity that fueled his strong playoff run didn’t show up in camp. He needs to find that game again, and there’s real pressure on him to prove he’s worth the investment. His shot remains a weapon, and a spot on the second power-play unit should help him find the net more often.
Fighting for Their Spot
Arber Xhekaj (C): Signing a one-year deal just a day before camp opened wasn’t the ideal way to start, and nothing is guaranteed for him anymore with Adam Engström now also in the picture. His toughness and physicality still matter to this team, but he needs to sharpen the rest of his game to stay in the lineup. An up-and-down camp, and once Kaiden Guhle returns and the Canadiens have eight healthy defensemen, expect a rotation — with David Reinbacher waiting in Laval for his shot.
Jayden Struble (C): Also in the final year of his contract and fighting for a job, Struble spent much of camp paired with Arber Xhekaj. He had good moments, including a goal, but also mistakes — he was at fault on the first goal allowed in Saturday’s Ottawa game. Trade chatter has followed him, and his camp lacked the intensity and physicality that’s usually his calling card.
Adam Engström (C): Engström won his battle with Reinbacher for the final roster spot after two strong seasons in Laval, and now has to prove himself at the NHL level behind Struble and Xhekaj. His camp was best described as average — he can play both sides, skates well and moves the puck, but needs to play with more physicality to win his battles. The talent is there, and he should keep improving, even in a crowded left-side defense group.
Under Pressure
Kirby Dach (D): Signed to a one-year deal over the summer, Dach looked like a player who needed to show up with an edge and prove the doubters wrong. Instead, there was little urgency and even less intensity in a camp that fell flat given his precarious spot on the roster. It’s a discouraging start, and it’s difficult to see him finishing the season in Montreal.
Prospects Headed Back to Laval
David Reinbacher (B): Reinbacher had an excellent camp, but limited game action over the past two seasons may have worked against him. Many expected the right-shot defenseman to stick with Montreal, and while that didn’t happen, it isn’t a knock on his game — he showed he can play at this level, and a call-up during the season looks likely.
Luke Mittelstadt (B): Mittelstadt was never a realistic bet to make the team, but he left a strong impression on the coaching staff with a good camp overall. He’s a name worth watching in Laval this season, even if he’s another left-shot defenseman in an already crowded pipeline.
Owen Beck (B-): In his fourth training camp with the organization, Beck started slow but finished strong. A crowded forward group — and a standout camp from Florian Xhekaj — limited his opportunities, but he remains a smart, responsible player. A call-up at some point during the season looks like a good bet.
Coach’s Take
Overall, it was a good camp for the Canadiens, and now it’s behind them. What’s ahead is an 84-game grind, and a lot can happen over that stretch — trades, injuries, call-ups are all part of the territory, especially with so many players entering the final years of their contracts. Management is still looking for ways to improve this team, and nobody knows exactly when that move comes. But this is a good team, and I expect the Canadiens to be right back in the playoff picture this season.
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