Ad
Montreal Canadiens News
Montembeault is expected to start Saturday vs. the Senators.

Montembeault stopped all 48 shots that he faced in Canadiens' shutout win over the Maple Leafs on Wednesday. It was an outstanding start to the season for Montembeault, who was fourth in the NHL in QualityStart% (70.0%) a season ago. Tonight, he'll face the Senators as +139 home underdogs.

Sam Montembeault
Colorado has claimed Kahkonen off waivers from Winnipeg.

The Avalanche have added some depth to their goaltending position behind Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen by claiming Kahkonen from the Winnipeg Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%, but could get an opportunity at the crease in Colorado if Georgiev and Annunen are unable to provide consistent efforts.

Kaapo Kahkonen
Kapanen will make his NHL debut on Thursday vs. Boston.

Emil Heineman will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Kapanen to make his NHL debut. Kapanen was the second-round pick (64 overall) of the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old spent last season with KalPa Kuopio (SM-liiga), where he scored 34 points (14G / 20A) in 51 games.

Oliver Kapanen
Montembeault will start Montreal's season opener on Wednesday vs. Toronto.

The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault in the crease in their season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. After an impressive 2023-24 campaign for a defensively porous Canadiens club, Montembeault is expected to have a heavy workload as the starting netminder this season. In 41 games last season (16-15-9), Montembeault was solid, posting a 3.14 GAA and .903 SV%. That said, he struggled mightily against the Maple Leafs last season, posting an ugly 4.90 GAA and .821 SV% in two contests (0-2-0).

Sam Montembeault
Struble (upper body) is out for Montreal's season opener on Wednesday.

Struble will not play in the Canadiens' season opener on Wednesday due to a upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The 23-year-old defenseman was impressive in his inaugural NHL season, tallying 10 points (3G / 7A), 53 blocks, and 121 hits while averaging 16:07 time-on-ice in 56 games.

Jayden Struble
Patrik Laine is expected to miss two to three months with a sprained left knee.

Montreal was given some semi-good news on Tuesday when it was announced Patrik Laine was only expected to miss two to three months with a sprained left knee from a hit endured by Toronto's Cedric Pare. The 26-year-old winger was acquired from Columbus in late August for a 2026 2nd-round pick and Jordan Harris after he put up six goals, nine points, and 41 SOG in 18 games in 2023-24.

Patrik Laine
Reinbacher underwent surgery to his left knee on Tuesday and is expected to be out for five to six months.

Reinbacher suffered a knee injury in the Canadiens' preseason game vs. the Maple Leafs and is expected to be sidelined until at least early-March. This is a tough blow in a big developmental year for the 2023 No.5 overall pick. The 19-year-old blueliner appeared in 11 AHL games a season ago, scoring two goals with three assists.

David Reinbacher
The Canadiens have acquired Patrik Laine and a 2026 2nd Round Pick from the Blue Jackets for Jordan Harris.

Laine's well-documented time in Columbus has come to an end after he was traded to Montreal alongside a 2026 3rd-round pick for Jordan Harris. The 26-year-old only appeared in 18 games in 2023-24 after a clavicle injury and trip to the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program took his season from him. The 26-year-old has not surpassed 60 points since 2019-20 and is far from his 19-year-old self who had 44 goals and 70 points in 82 games played. He is expected to join Montreal's top-six for the start of the 2024-25 season.

Patrik Laine
The Canadiens signed Kaiden Guile to a six-year deal worth $5.55M AAV ($33.3M total).

Guhle was set to become an RFA at the end of the 2024-25 season, but gets an extension done early and is now signed through the 2030-31 season. The 22-year-old defenseman was selected No.16 overall in 2020 and essentially skipped the AHL after spending four seasons in the WHL. Most recently, he had 22 points (6G / 16A) in 70 games while ranking second among Canadiens' blueliners in TOI/gm (20:51).

Kaiden Guhle
Montreal has signed Arber Xhekaj to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension ($1,300,000 AAV).

Montreal locked up their designated "tough guy" on Tuesday after they signed Arber Xhekah to a two-year, $2.6 million contract extension ($1,300,000 AAV). The undrafted 23-year-old is entering his third NHL season after putting up three goals and 10 points in 44 games played in 2023-24. In 95 career NHL games played, he has 182 PIMs.

Arber Xhekaj
Laine has officially been released from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Laine entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program in December 2023 and has been officially released on Friday which is expected to expedite his trade request from earlier this summer. The 26-year-old former 2nd overall pick has not appeared in more than 56 games since 2019-20 and had only six goals, nine points and 41 SOG in 18 gmaes played in 2023-24.

Patrik Laine
The Red Wings signed Joe Veleno to a two-year contract worth $4.55 million ($2.275M AAV).

Veleno has served primarily as a bottom-6 centre for the Red Wings over the last three seasons. 2023-24 was his best offensive season to date, scoring 12 goals with 16 assists (28 points) in 80 games. Expect Veleno to continue operating in a similar role in 2024-25.

Joe Veleno
The Penguins signed Nathan Clurman to a one-year contract worth $775K.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) added a depth piece on Tuesday after Pittsburgh signed Nathan Clurman to a one-year contract worth $775,000. The 26-year-old has yet to make an NHL appearance but has spent the last three and a half seasons between Colorado's AHL and ECHL teams.

Nathan Clurman
The Predators have re-signed Alexandre Carrier to a three-year deal worth $11.25 million ($3.75M AAV).

Nashville locked up one of its RFAs on Monday after it signed Alexandre Carrier to a three-year deal worth $11.25 million ($3.75M AAV). The 27-year-old just completed his sixth season in Nashville and had four goals, 20 points, 44 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 73 games played in 2023-24.

Alexandre Carrier
The Jets have signed Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year deal worth $1.0 million.

Winnipeg has locked up their backup goaltender on Monday after signing Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year deal worth $1 million. The 27-year-old Finnish netminder spent 2023-24 split between San Jose and New Jersey and had a 7-24-3 record to go with his .898 SV%, and 3.64 GAA.

Kaapo Kahkonen
The Canadiens have signed Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year deal worth $60.8 million ($7.6M AAV).

After a successful second career season in Montreal, Juraj Slafkovsky has signed an eight-year contract extension worth $60.8 million ($7.6M AAV). The 20-year-old was the 2022 1st overall pick and had 20 goals, 50 points, 55 PIMs, and 152 SOG in 82 games played in 2023-24. The 6'3" forward has 24 goals and 60 points in 121 career games played.

Juraj Slafkovsky
Dobson (upper-body) is expected to play in Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.

Dobson did not play the last three games of the season for the Islanders but was at practice on Friday, an encouraging sign that he should be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 24-year-old Dobson had a tremendous season for the Islanders, scoring 70 points (10G / 60A) in 79 games.

Noah Dobson
Dobson (upper-body) returned to the ice for practice on Friday.

Dobson did not play the last three games of the season for the Islanders but was at practice on Friday, an encouraging sign that he could be ready for game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 24-year-old Dobson had a tremendous season for the Islanders, scoring 70 points (10G / 60A) in 79 games.

Noah Dobson