Montreal Canadiens: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens Exploring Trade Options for Forward

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours from the crew at Last Word on Hockey. We’re just over a week away from the NHL trade deadline, and rumours have been picking up now that the season is back underway.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Injury: The Truth About Patrik Laine

The Canadiens lost their first post-Olympic game… Noah Dobson and Matthew Schaefer showed that they would have been more helpful to Canada than Drew Doughty

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / February 27

Here’s what the Canadiens are looking for in their trades

Does the Canadiens need a winger to play with Nick Suzuki? A center for Ivan Demidov? A defenseman like Ramus Ristolainen? A goalie? Everyone has their own opinion on the matter.

Patrik Laine News / Dose.ca / February 27

'I don’t think Patrik Laine wants to leave Montreal.'

The Patrik Laine situation is a hot potato for the Canadiens. Everyone knows it. The player himself will not be playing before the trade deadline, and the Canadiens are doing everything they can to send him elsewhere for the rest of the 2025-2026 season.

Mikko Rantanen News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NHL active hat trick leaders' quiz

How many of the active NHL players with at least seven hat tricks in their career can you name in five minutes?

The 'NHL all-time goal leaders' quiz

The 'Most 30-goal seasons in NHL history' quiz

The 'Active 100-point NHL seasons' quiz

Rasmus Ristolainen News / Dose.ca / February 27

The Canadiens are interested in Rasmus Ristolainen (as well as other defensemen)

Rasmus Ristolainen is a sought-after defenseman in Philadelphia. The right-hander, who is likely to be traded by next week, must be aware that several teams are interested in him.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 best NHL teams who didn't win the Stanley Cup

In the lore of the NHL, it's the Stanley Cup-winning teams that are remembered the most from seasons past. Yet, when looking back on the best of the best

NHL News / Yardbarker / February 26

Islanders' Matthew Schaefer continues special rookie season with record-setting performance

Winning the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery could turn out to be a major franchise-changing moment for the New York Islanders.

USA’s Brady Tkachuk says team ‘can’t be in control’ of what Trump says

Senators F Brady Tkachuk objects to 'fake' AI-generated White House TikTok

Why Gabe Perreault shouldn't be considered the key piece for rebuilding Rangers

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / February 26

How the Olympics Can Launch Slafkovský’s Game to a New Level

When Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis started talking about the “fog” players feel when they return from the Olympics — and how the experience can still propel them forward — it was hard not to think of Juraj Slafkovsky.

Patrik Laine News / Daily Faceoff / February 26

Canadiens expected to move Patrik Laine before trade deadline

The start to Patrik Laine’s tenure as a Montreal Canadiens was an electric one, as he scored 12 goals in his first 18 games last season. But since then, he hasn’t been a great fit.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / February 26

Potential Trade Destinations for Canadiens’ Patrik Laine

During practice, Patrik Laine skated on what essentially looked like a fifth line for the Montreal Canadiens, a clear indication that he could be out of the lineup for Thursday night’s game.

Zachary Bolduc News / Dose.ca / February 26

Zachary Bolduc: Seeing him left out is a good thing.

Tonight, the Montreal Canadiens will face off against the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre. This will be the Montreal club’s first game since returning from the break… and we know that forward Alex Newhook will be back in the lineup for the occasion.

Alexander Zharovsky News / Dose.ca / February 26

VIDEO: Alexander Zharovsky pulls out all the stops and scores two superb goals

Alexander Zharovsky is not a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL draft. But increasingly, it is becoming clear that some clubs will regret letting him slip to the second round.

Alexandre Carrier News / Dose.ca / February 26

'Alexandre Carrier is definitely a candidate to pack his bags.'

How much will the Canadiens move ahead of the trade deadline, which is eight days away? That’s a question everyone is asking. Obviously, it will depend on the offers on the table.

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / February 26

Zachary Bolduc, Jayden Struble, Jakub Dobes, and Joe Veleno are surplus to requirements in training.

It’s game day for the Canadiens. For the first time in ages, Martin St-Louis’s men will play a game at the Bell Centre tonight. The New York Islanders will be their opponents.

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / February 26

Ryan O’Reilly: 'Unlikely he’ll say yes to a trade to Montreal'

Ryan O’Reilly does not have a no-trade clause in his contract. However, because he is a quality veteran, Barry Trotz has decided that he will not trade him (if he ever ends up being sent elsewhere, of course) to a place against his will.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'Most multi-three NBA games' quiz

The 'Cy Young winners of the 2000s' quiz

The 'Last 1K-rushing-yard season by team' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals by an American' quiz

David Reinbacher News / Dose.ca / February 26

'David Reinbacher has made tremendous progress.'

David Reinbacher has been a source of concern for many since he was drafted. With all the games the Austrian has missed due to injuries, he has never really been able to develop to his full potential.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / February 25

How High Is Juraj Slafkovský’s Ceiling With the Montreal Canadiens?

If you only checked in on the Olympics here and there, you might’ve missed how good the Montreal Canadiens Juraj Slafkovsky was for Team Slovakia. But if you watched even a little, you saw it right away: this kid has taken a real step.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / February 26

The Canadiens have two important trade needs to address

The Montreal Canadiens are undoubtedly a team to keep an eye on leading up to the 2026 NHL trade deadline. The Habs currently hold the second-place spot in the Atlantic Division standings with a 32-17-8 record and 72 points.

Alex Newhook News / Pro Hockey Rumors / February 25

Canadiens To Activate Alex Newhook From Injured Reserve

The Canadiens will activate Alex Newhook from injured reserve before tomorrow’s game versus the Islanders, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports. The speedy forward is set for his first appearance in over three months after sustaining an ankle fracture on Nov.

Alex Newhook News / Daily Faceoff / February 25

Canadiens’ Alex Newhook to play first game since November

A long-awaited return is for a player poised to help the Montreal Canadiens in their push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was announced on Wednesday that forward Alex Newhook is expected to be in the lineup on Thursday night, when the Canadiens take on the New York Islanders in their first game back from the Olympic break.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL on ClutchPoints / February 25

Canadiens’ dream, nightmare scenario for 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The Montreal Canadiens (32-17-8) are clearly coming of age. After making the playoffs a year ago, the Canadiens are in second place behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / February 25

5 Must-Win Canadiens Games Following 2026 Olympic Break

With 25 games remaining, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves in an enviable spot following the Olympic break. They’re 32-17-8, in second place in the Atlantic Division and facing a relatively weak schedule remaining, at least compared to the teams they’re fighting for playoff position.

Juraj Slafkovsky News / The Sick Podcast / February 24

NHL Legend Sees Younger Self In Juraj Slafkovsky

On Monday, a Slovak news outlet published an article featuring an interview with NHL legend and future Hockey Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr, in which he discussed the Olympics and his admiration for Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky‘s game.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / February 24

3 Lessons the Canadiens Can Apply From Last Season’s Hot Finish to the Post-Olympic Break

If there’s one stretch that defined the Montreal Canadiens’ identity last season, it was the run that followed the 4 Nations Face-Off break. In a tight Eastern Conference race, the Habs flipped a switch and went from fringe contender to legitimate playoff team.

Montreal Canadiens News / Professor Press Box / February 24

Canadiens Slafkovský Was as Big as the Moment

Every once in a while, you watch a guy and think that he’s built for the bright lights. That was Montreal Canadiens Juraj Slafkovský at the Olympics. Slovakia didn’t end up on the podium—they finished fourth after a rough bronze-medal loss—but Slafkovský was easily their go-to guy.

Bryce Pickford News / The Sick Podcast / February 24

Bryce Pickford Picking Up Where He Left Off

Montreal Canadiens prospect Bryce Pickford came back to action this past weekend with the Medicine Hat Tigers after missing the last month with an upper-body injury.