Arber Xhekaj will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, allowing Struble to suit up for the first time this season. The 24-year-old Struble played 56 games in 2024-25, recording 13 points (2G / 11A) and 124 hits.

After a loss on opening night, the Canadiens have won three straight and will turn to Dobes between the pipes on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Dobes was solid in his only outing this season, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Czech netminder earned himself the backup role in Montreal last season after posting a 2.74 and .909 SV% in 16 appearances (7-4-3). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as -148 home favorites against a Predators team that has points in three of their first four games (2-1-1).

The Canadiens are off to a 2-1-0 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 26-year-old Montembeault played a career-high 62 games in 2024-25 (31-24-7), recording a solid 2.82 GAA and .901 SV%. He has a 2.54 GAA and .894 SV% through two games this season and should have a heavy workload again in 2025-26. The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Kraken team off to a 2-0-0 start.

The 2024-25 Calder trophy winner for the NHL's best rookie has been rewarded with a lucrative eight-year contract extension worth $8.85 million AAV. The 21-year-old defenseman scored an impressive 66 points (6G / 60A) in 82 games with the Canadiens last season. Hutson is off to a slower start to his sophomore season, with only one point (0G / 1A) in his first three games, but is likely due for another productive season quarterbacking Montreal's top powerplay unit.

Bolduc missed Friday's practice and Saturday's preseason finale and was considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Bolduc will make his Canadiens debut after tallying 19 goals and 17 assists with the Blues last season.

Starting their 2025-26 season with a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes on the tail-end against the Detroit Red Wings. Dobes established himself as a serviceable netminder last season, outdueling Cayden Primeau to secure sole possession of backup duties behind Samuel Montembeault. The 24-year-old Dobes posted a 2.74 GAA, .909 SV%, and one shutout in 16 appearances (7-4-3) last season, his first taste of NHL action.

The Canadiens will start their 2025-26 campaign by turning to Montembeault between the pipes on the front end of a back-to-back set. The Canadiens are coming off a successful season in which they snuck into the playoffs, aided by a strong campaign from Montembeault, who posted a 2.82 GAA, a .901 SV%, and four shutouts in 62 appearances (31-24-7). The Canadiens will start the season on the road, entering their contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs as +135 underdogs.

Bolduc missed Friday's practice and Saturday's preseason finale and is considered day-to-day as the regular season approaches. For now he's considered questionable to play in the season opener on Wednesday. Expect Joe Veleno to replace him in the lineup if Bolduc can't play.

Demidov left Tuesday's game with a wrist injury, but the Canadiens said he was pulled for "precautionary reasons." Demidov was also held out of the lineup for Saturday's preseason finale, but there's no concern for his availability for the season opener on Wednesday.

Dobson returned to the Canadiens' lineup in Saturday's preseason finale after suffering a groin injury vs. Toronto on September 25th. Dobson, who was acquired in a big trade with the Islanders this offseason, is expected to open the season on a pair with Mike Matheson.

Bolduc was acquired by the Canadiens in the offseason and his team debut might have to wait, as he is day-today with a lower-body injury. Bolduc is a 22-year-old right-winger who was drafted in the 1st round (17th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. Across 72 games with St. Louis in his first full season in 2024-25, he had 19 goals, 36 points and a +20 plus/minus.

Demidov did not finish Tuesday's preseason game but appears to be on the mend after practicing on Thursday. It's unclear if the 19-year-old will play in Montreal's preseason finale on Saturday but his availability for their season opener seems promising.

With Montreal off on Wednesday, Ivan Demidov's injury update will have to wait until Thursday after the 19-year-old prospect left Tuesday's preseason game vs. Ottawa following a slash from Nick Cousins. Demidov is the current favourite to win the Calder Trophy after putting up 19 goals and 49 points in SKA St. Petersburg (KHL) last season.

The Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has battled injuries early in his professional career and will be sidelined again to start the 2025-26 season. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game and was limited to only 10 contests with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, scoring five points (2G / 3A).

Montreal shed Carey Price's $10.5 million contract alongside a 2026 5th round pick and acquired a 22-year-old Gannon Laroque from San Jose. Laroque was San Jose's 2021 4th-round pick (103rd overall) and spent his first pro season injured, playing only 18 total games between San Jose (AHL) and Wichita (ECHL) last season. He is expected to report to Laval for the 2025-26 campaign.

Struble has appeared in 56 NHL games in each of the last two seasons, most recently posting 13 points (2G / 11A), 124 hits and 54 blocks in 2024-25. Struble became a reliable partner for rookie Lane Hutson, posting a 60.7 xG% together, the best of any Canadiens' pairing. Entering 2025-26, Struble will likely be in the mix to be the No.6 defenseman, and his strong play alongside Hutson last season should give him the upper hand.

Velno was bought out by the Seattle Kraken a few weeks ago and has found a new home in Montreal after agreeing to a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Canadiens. The 25-year-old forward was once Detroit's 2018 first-round pick (30th overall) and has spent the last five seasons in the NHL, splitting time between the Red Wings and Blackhawks. He appeared in 74 games between Chicago and Detroit in 2024-25, picking up eight goals, 17 points and a -23 plus/minus.