September 21, 2025
The Montreal Canadiens kicked off training camp this week along with 31 other NHL teams. Camp has a different feel this year following a surprise appearance in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The Habs have shifted into a different phase of the build.
Early in camp, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels posted a photo of the groupings to start the Canadiens’ training camp.
There are some battles and some bottom lines that are immediately apparent from these splits.
The coach doesn’t intend to mess up a good first line.
There they are in Group C, Nick Suzuki with Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, and not a whole lot else with them where forwards are concerned. Yes, Joshua Roy will make every effort to show he belongs in Montreal, but he will have a task ahead of him. This group is the top line and the Rocket.
With other fish to fry, why would Marty fix what isn’t broke?
The coach has a plan for the second line… and a plan B… and a plan C.
St. Louis confirmed to the media that the 2C role is Kirby Dach’s to start the season. He will centre Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov. The interesting thing is that this trio is in a very large Group A with a gaggle of players clearly bound for the AHL, and perhaps some backup plans.
The most interesting to me are Samuel Blais, Oliver Kapanen, Joe Veleno and Florian Xhekaj. When signed, I assumed Blais was bound for the extra forward role. Perhaps the Habs will carry 14 this year and another of these guys – perhaps Veleno – will fill that hole.
We saw Kapanen take the 2C role in scrimmage and Xhekaj play beside Demidov in the rookie tournament. As Dach’s health status becomes clearer, Marty’s backup plan will be an interesting storyline to watch.
Group A might be the evidence of the question marks at 2C. It’s definitely evidence of a crowded forward group at camp, and some potential waivers.
The bottom six forward lines are almost sorted.
Predictably, the coach has rolled out Jake Evans between Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher. The other line St. Louis is testing is a little more surprising with Owen Beck placed on the right wing. Alex Newhook appears slated for the centre role and Zachary Bolduc is on the left wing.
Is that slot really Beck’s to lose? Or is he being given a long taste before Kapanen or Veleno replace him?
Marty is betting that the best defense is a good offence.
New addition Noah Dobson is in Group C with the first line, Mike Matheson, Adam Engstrom and some guys bound for demotion. This choice doesn’t look like Matheson is being dealt any time soon. Perhaps an extension really is on the horizon.
The Habs are leaning toward more development for Reinbacher.
He’s placed in Group A with the second line, and Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle who will form a top-four pair, at least initially. Theoretically, the team could carry eight defenders for a while, and allow a longer look for Reinbacher or Engstrom. But both would likely be better served on a top pair in Laval.
The Xhekaj-Struble battle continues.
Arber Xhekaj seems determined to win the third pair role, and pundits claim Struble’s name has been in trade rumours. Both guys are in Group B with Alexandre Carrier. Carrier will anchor the third pair, and give Xhekaj and Struble their best chance to claim the sixth spot.
My bet is that Xhekaj will be given every opportunity to claim a permanent role on the third pair.
We might have a backup goalie battle.
Sam Montembeault is in Group A with some guys who have no chance to stay in Montreal. He is the starter for the Canadiens. Jacob Fowler is in Group C with a 25-year-old without a contract. He will see a lot of ice for the Rocket, with a view to a long career in Montreal.
Group B has Jakub Dobes and Kaapo Kahkonen, who compete for the backup role in Montreal. One of them filled the role for last year’s surprising finish, while the other would have to pass through waivers.
My bet is on Dobes to claim the role, and HuGo will take the chance on Kahkonen making it through waivers.
With the first preseason game getting underway on Monday, the initial cuts should be on the horizon. The coach has already indicated that he won’t wait as long as he did last year to finalize his lines and set them up for good chemistry.
The battles will soon be bottom lines.
Hab At Her 