Canadiens face wide range of expert predictions for upcoming season

With the Montreal Canadiens set to open their season within 24 hours, six La Presse columnists have laid out a wide spectrum of expectations, ranging from another impressive playoff run to a step back that could leave the club on the outside looking in.

Playoff outlook: from quick exit to conference contender

On the big-picture question of how far the Canadiens can go, the panel is sharply divided. Two writers see Montreal as a genuine force in the Eastern Conference, capable of topping 100 points again, finishing among the top four teams and having the tools to reach at least the second round, if not the final four.

Others strike a more cautious tone. Some predict a playoff berth but an early exit in the first round, arguing that last spring’s storyline will be tough to repeat in an Atlantic Division viewed as even stronger than a year ago. One columnist goes further and forecasts that Montreal will miss the post-season altogether, pointing to lingering defensive issues and questioning whether last season’s offensive surge can realistically be sustained.

Reinbacher, Newhook, Kapanen and Montembeault under the spotlight

When it comes to breakout candidates, David Reinbacher is a popular choice. One prediction has him locking down a spot in the club’s top four on defence and helping to balance the blue line by allowing Alexandre Carrier to slide into a more sheltered role on the third pair. Others focus on Alex Newhook, suggesting his speed, edge and versatility could carry over the momentum he built in last spring’s playoffs.

Oliver Kapanen and Samuel Montembeault are also central to the discussion. Kapanen is described by one columnist as a player who could regain a prominent role and deliver meaningful offence after being scratched at times in the playoffs, while another flags him as a prime regression candidate after an unusually high five-on-five shooting percentage last season. Montembeault is portrayed as having all the tools to re-establish himself as a full-time NHL goaltender, whether that ultimately happens in Montreal or somewhere else.

On the flip side, there is deep skepticism around Kirby Dach. Three writers suggest the relationship between Dach and the organization may be nearing a breaking point, envisioning a 2026-27 campaign that pushes the Canadiens toward a parting of ways despite multiple opportunities already given. Goaltender Jakub Dobeš is singled out as another possible step-back candidate after setting a very high bar last season, while expectations surrounding Chris Kreider are labelled as potentially unrealistic given his age and heavy reliance on power-play production.

Caufield’s goal total, second-line centre puzzle and Kreider’s impact

Cole Caufield remains the offensive focal point in every scenario. All six columnists anticipate another strong scoring year, generally placing him somewhere in the 40-to-50-goal range. Several stress that even reaching 40 goals is an elite benchmark in the modern NHL and caution against assuming he can be a 50-goal scorer every season, although one analyst openly embraces the optimistic view and says he likes “round numbers: 50.”

The identity of the second-line centre is more contentious. Oliver Kapanen is the leading internal option in the eyes of several writers, largely because the coaching staff moved him into that role at the start of camp, giving him a chance to ride shotgun with skilled wingers such as Ivan Demidov and Juraj Slafkovský. Others, however, believe Alex Newhook will end up playing more games in the middle on that line, or even argue that management will ultimately need to acquire a new centre, doubting that Kapanen or Jake Evans can anchor the role long term.

Chris Kreider’s projected production in Montreal rounds out the panel’s exercise. Estimates for his season total range from roughly 40 points to the mid-50s, with his time in the top six and on the power play seen as key to his output. At the same time, his age, injury risk and the likelihood of reduced usage on the first power-play unit compared with previous stops, including a recent stint in Anaheim, temper expectations and highlight the uncertainty that still surrounds the veteran winger’s impact.