The Habs depth was tested in Game 6

October 18, 2025 On Saturday morning the Montreal Canadiens announced injuries to core players. Kaiden Guhle will be out four to six weeks while Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine are day-to-day. With the New York Rangers in town, Owen Beck was called up from the Laval Rocket, Joe Veleno drew in, and Arber Xhekaj wasContinue reading “The Habs depth was tested in Game 6”

Game 3 was a wild win for the Habs

October 11, 2025 Three road games in four nights is not a fun way to start the season, but the Montreal Canadiens are going home with four of six points after a 3-2 win in Chicago. Here’s what caught my eye. It took a lot of practice, but the power play converted. I don’t meanContinue reading “Game 3 was a wild win for the Habs”

In the Habs opener, the newbies looked good

October 8, 2025 Game 1 of the 2025-26 season for the Montreal Canadiens is in the books and the event was not as lopsided as the 5-2 score would suggest. Several things caught my eye in the road loss. The Dobson-Matheson pair looked great. It’s one game, but the coach’s theory might have legs. TheContinue reading “In the Habs opener, the newbies looked good”

Habs Preseason Game 3 Notes

September 26, 2025 On Thursday evening the Montreal Canadiens had their third preseason game for 2025-26. The Toronto Maple Leafs were in town and the result was a stinking 7-2 loss. Here’s what caught my attention. The coach is committed to the two top lines. Marty confirmed it to the media that Kirby Dach wouldContinue reading “Habs Preseason Game 3 Notes”

The Habs have some battles and bottom lines in training camp

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 photoContinue reading “The Habs have some battles and bottom lines in training camp”

The plan for the Habs D is entangled with the plan for Mike Matheson

July 14, 2025 The Montreal Canadiens went into the off-season with some obvious questions about their defense group. David Savard had announced his retirement and, with him being one of two right shots on defense, the hole he was leaving was real. The questions were obvious. Would David Reinbacher and/or Logan Mailloux be ready toContinue reading “The plan for the Habs D is entangled with the plan for Mike Matheson”

Three moves to help the Habs

June 26, 2025 This is a segue from this week’s Basu & Godin Notebook podcast where the guys – Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin – played a little game where they took turns being the Habs GM. Each of them identified three off-season moves to improve the Montreal Canadiens for next season. I wantContinue reading “Three moves to help the Habs”

Approaching the 4N break, key Habs storylines could become business

February 2, 2025 The Montreal Canadiens have just 5 games between now and the Four Nations break. 51 games into the 2024-25 season, the Habs have a record of 24-22-5 and have already been on a roller coaster of storylines. From high hopes in training camp to heartbreaker injuries, from giving up on one rookieContinue reading “Approaching the 4N break, key Habs storylines could become business”

After 34 games, the Habs delivered some gifts before taking their Christmas break

December 24, 2024 On Monday night, the Montreal Canadiens played their last game before a short Christmas break. It was a heartbreaking 5-4 regulation loss that snapped their win streak at three games. The record is still a humbling 14-17-3, but in the last 10 games the Habs have shown signs of growth and areContinue reading “After 34 games, the Habs delivered some gifts before taking their Christmas break”

In the Carrier deal, the Habs chose predictability over potential

December 19, 2024 The pending Christmas roster freeze for the 2024-25 season has felt a little like trade deadline, and the Montreal Canadiens got in on the action. On Wednesday night, the Habs traded Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators for Alexandre Carrier. Carrier is currently in year one of a three-year contract that carriesContinue reading “In the Carrier deal, the Habs chose predictability over potential”