Montreal Canadiens roster moves debated on latest Sortie de zone

Days before their regular-season opener in Toronto against the Maple Leafs, the Montreal Canadiens take centre stage on a new episode of the Sortie de zone podcast, produced jointly by La Presse and Cogeco Média. The panel focuses on whether management should pursue a trade before Tuesday’s game to address needs in the lineup, or if standing pat would be better for the dressing-room chemistry.

Team bubble, media noise and Kent Hughes’ to-do list

Host Jérémie Rainville is joined by Mario Langlois, Richard Labbé and Alexandre Pratt for this fourth episode of season 8. Early on, they examine how well the Canadiens can shield themselves from the intense media landscape and public scrutiny that surrounds the club. The group questions whether the internal "bubble" around the team is strong enough to keep the players focused as the schedule begins.

Attention then turns to general manager Kent Hughes and to how far along he is in his plan. The discussion leans on a telling remark from Hughes, who acknowledged that "there are things we would have liked to accomplish more." That comment serves as a springboard for the panel to explore which files might still be unresolved and how much room the front office has to manoeuvre just before opening night.

A later segment is devoted to the possibility of moves before the first official game. Without naming specific targets, the speakers weigh the pros and cons of altering the roster so close to the start of the season and raise the question of whether any late adjustment could disrupt a group that has been together through camp.

Kaiden Guhle’s status and young stars’ big-money deals

The episode also highlights defenceman Kaiden Guhle, with the panel noting that he is practising with teammates as preparations wrap up ahead of the showdown in Toronto. His presence on the ice becomes part of a broader reflection on how the blue line might shape up when the games begin to count.

To close, Sortie de zone shifts to the financial side of today’s NHL by looking at Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson, presented as very young players already earning major money. The panellists discuss Carlsson’s contract and how deals like his are influencing the way teams think about long-term salary planning and the treatment of top prospects across the league.

Taken together, the episode offers a snapshot of the key questions facing the Montreal Canadiens on the eve of the new season, while tying those concerns to wider trends in contract strategy and cap management around the NHL.