Hockey

One question per Canadiens member before the season: the rest
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
One question per Canadiens member before the season: the rest
Credit: Getty Images

Recently, I was asked a question by a Canadiens forward on the heels of the start of the season, which is fast approaching. In a little over a month, the season will begin,but it's not just the forwards who have us wondering about the upcoming hockey season. Other members of the organization are in the same boat, so let's get on with it.Kaiden Guhle: can he stay healthy?Kaiden Guhle, when he plays, is really strong and stabilizes the defensive corps. If he could play at least 75 games, it would clearly make a difference – in a good way.Noah Dobson: can he be the defenseman he was in 2023-2024?70 points in 2023-2024 and only 39 last year: who is the real Noah Dobson? Will he be motivated by his new contract or overwhelmed by the Montreal pressure that comes with it?Lane Hutson: can he win Norris?I don't see Hutson winning Norris just yet. However, while I could see him having success in 2024-2025, I couldn't see him rewriting the history book just yet.

Mike Matheson: can he limit the defensive mistakes?I repeat: Mike Matheson is very important for this club. But he would be even more important if he played two or three minutes less per game and limited his mistakes on the ice.Alexandre Carrier: can he be exactly the same player as last year?

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't weep if the Québécois could bring exactly the same to the ice in 25-26 as he did when he first came to town.Arber Xhekaj: can he find his seat?In my opinion, the Canadiens would like nothing better than to see Arber Xhekaj find a seat as a tough but reliable defenseman. If he does, it could be a game-changer.Jayden Struble: can he be consistent?Sometimes Struble looks like an NHL veteran, and sometimes he looks lost. If he wants to play often, he'll have to be the version Martin St-Louis can count on.

David Reinbacher: can he dominate camp?If there's one prospect who will have every chance in the world to show what he can do, it's him. And if he has an excellent camp, he'll put the odds in his favor to help himself quickly find a place in the best league in the world.Adam Engstrom: can he hold his own in the NHL?Not as highly regarded as Reinbacher, Engstrom is nonetheless ahead of the William Trudeau's of this world. If he wants a chance at the top (in case of injury to a regular, in his case), he has to show that he's not going to be a pushover. And that starts at camp.

Samuel Montembeault: can he go for 33 wins?Last year, the keeper had 31 wins in 62 games. That means he won every other game. But in 2025-2026, can he get two more wins… by playing a little less often?Jakub Dobes: can he beat Kaapo Kahkonen at camp?The two goalies are linked by necessity, since they'll be fighting for the #2 position in Montreal. If Dobes, who is not eligible for the waivers, doesn't have a good camp, he won't be putting the odds in his favor.Jacob Fowler: can he dominate right away in Laval?He's not going to show up at camp with the best chances in the world of breaking into the Habs line-up in October, obviously. But a good camp would give him confidence for his first full season in the pros.

'prolongation'

Martin St-Louis and the coaching group: can they keep the guys bringing their game into the game?Martin St-Louis has figured out how to motivate his guys and how to find a good role for them. But we know that every coach is like a bag of milk: it comes with an expiration date.Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton: can they get a #2 center?This was the #1 issue of the off-season and it hasn't been done. Will they be able to find him somewhere this season?

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