Montreal Canadiens: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Mike Matheson: five-year contract extension, according to David Pagnotta

Excellent news. According to David Pagnotta, the Montreal Canadiens are on the verge of announcing a five-year contract extension for Mike Matheson. We knew it was talk, but now it’s more concrete.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Samuel Blais’ return puts Florian Xhekaj’s place in the NHL in jeopardy

The Canadiens currently have four major injuries: Patrik Laine, Kaiden Guhle, Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook. No return is imminent, let’s face it. The solutions, for the time being, include recalls (Adam Engstrom, Joshua Roy, Jared Davidson and Florian Xhekaj have all had their chance) from Laval.

Alexandre Texier News / The Hockey Writers / November 28

Canadiens Add Depth, Not Elite Talent with Blais & Texier

The Montreal Canadiens just earned themselves a do-over with forward Sammy Blais, who they had lost to waivers in the lead-up to the regular season. The jury should be out as to whether or not he’ll make a difference in the end, though.

NHL News / Dose.ca / November 28

Golden Knights: the Canadiens face a club full of problems this afternoon

This afternoon, around 4 p.m. (Quebec time), the Canadiens will be in uniform against the Golden Knights. For the Canadiens, this will be an important duel.

Washington Capitals News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'NHL all-time goal leaders' quiz

How many of the 21 players in NHL history with at least 600 career goals can you name in five minutes?

The '2024-25 NHL points leaders' quiz

The 'Active 40-goal NHL season leaders' quiz

The 'NHL 1,200-points Club' quiz

Andrei Markov News / Dose.ca / November 28

Andrei Markov confirms: he had an offer to continue his career in Montreal

Andrei Markov has had quite a career with the Habs. Despite a few serious injuries, he left his mark and will be rightly honoured next week at the Bell Centre.

NHL News / Yardbarker

Who is the winningest coach for every NHL franchise?

NHL head coaches have to hire good assistants. They have to set an overarching philosophy, juggle lineup configurations, and do the kind of “man management” that is impossible to track statistically.

Arber Xhekaj News / Dose.ca / November 28

Arber Xhekaj could finish the season as the Canadiens’ ninth defenseman, according to Tony Marinaro

Arber Xhekaj is not having the best season of his career. He has just one point in 20 games and a minus-4 rating. He seems to fit less and less into the team’s plans, and even with Kaiden Guhle’s injury, he has to give up his place in the line-up.

Alexandre Texier News / Dose.ca / November 28

'Everything points to Alexandre Texier making his debut tomorrow'

Alexandre Texier is set to play his first game in a Canadiens uniform on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Frenchman reached an agreement with the Canadiens on Sunday, and watched Wednesday’s game from the bridge.

Samuel Blais News / Dose.ca / November 28

Samuel Blais could be recalled on return from Western trip

The Canadiens claimed Samuel Blais in the waivers on Thursday, before sending him to the Laval Rocket a few moments later. However, Blais’ stay in Laval may be shorter than expected.

Florian Xhekaj News / The Sick Podcast / November 27

Florian Xhekaj Bringing Much Needed Energy To Habs

It may only be 2 games into his NHL career, but Florian Xhekaj is proving to be exactly what the Montreal Canadiens need as a gritty energy guy. The younger Xhekaj seems to give everyone a jolt of energy on his line when he’s out there.

NHL News / The Sick Podcast / November 27

The Habs Re-Claim Sammy Blais From Leafs And Send Him To Laval

During the preseason, the Montreal Canadiens were hoping to sneak forward Sammy Blais through waivers down to the Laval Rocket; however, unfortunately, the Toronto Maple Leafs decided to claim the recently signed Sammy Blais for their NHL team.

Alexander Zharovsky News / Dose.ca / November 27

Alexander Zharovsky is back on the 1st wave of his team’s powerplay

Things are going well for Alexander Zharovsky in the KHL. The CH prospect, in his first year in the pros, collected 17 points (seven goals) in his first 21 games of the season with his team.

Joshua Roy News / The Hockey Writers / November 27

It May Be Time for the Canadiens to Move on From Joshua Roy

The Montreal Canadiens’ roster decisions have grown sharper, more urgent, and more revealing at this stage of the rebuild. Prospects are no longer evaluated in isolation; they are measured against teammates fighting for the same opportunities.

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / November 27

Samuel Montembeault against the Knights | Jakub Dobes against the Avalanche

Well, we’ve got more details on goaltending for the Canadiens’ two games against the Golden Knights and the Avalanche. Tomorrow, Samuel Montembeault will play in Vegas.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / November 27

Pronger Weighs in on Canadiens’ Hutson’s Path to NHL Maturity

Every so often, during a Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, someone says something that cuts through the usual clichés and hits hard on a player. That happened this past weekend when Chris Pronger, of all people, delivered one of the most unexpected breakdowns of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson that I’ve heard yet.

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

The 'Turkey Leg/Galloping Gobbler winners' quiz

The 'Three-TD, Three-INT NFL games' quiz

The 'Most 3-TD, 0-INT NFL games' quiz

The 'Most catches by an NFL running back' quiz

Samuel Blais News / Dose.ca / November 27

Samuel Blais leaves for Laval

The Canadiens have confirmed the news. Samuel Blais, freshly claimed by the club, is off to the AHL. The Habs had the right to send him down immediately because they were the only club to have tried to claim him at the waivers.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / November 27

Canadiens re-claim Sammy Blais off waivers from Maple Leafs

The Montreal Canadiens have re-claimed forward Sammy Blais off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs, The Athletic‘s Chris Johnston (among others) reported Thursday afternoon.

Montreal Canadiens News / Pro Hockey Rumors / November 27

Canadiens claim Sammy Blais

Sammy Blais is headed back to Montreal, as insider Elliotte Friedman has shared that the Canadiens claimed the forward this afternoon. The 29-year-old forward, signed to a one-year deal with the Habs last July, was lost on waivers to Toronto in October, before finding himself back on the wire yesterday.

Adam Engstrom News / Pro Hockey Rumors / November 27

Adam Engstrom generating trade interest

In an episode of The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro from earlier this week, insider Pierre Lebrun of TSN shared that several teams have looked into Adam

Sidney Crosby News / NHL Trade Talk / November 27

Insider Offers Latest On Canadiens Link to Crosby Trade

The Sidney Crosby–Montreal Canadiens buzz refuses to fully die, and this week it flickered back to life thanks to Chris Johnston’s latest mailbag in The Athletic.

Chris Chelios News / Dose.ca / November 27

Brett Hull had decided to sign for Montreal, but Chris Chelios changed his mind

Do you want a good one? Brett Hull, on his podcast, recounted an old anecdote from the past that shows how things can sometimes change very quickly, in the hockey world.

Nick Suzuki News / Field Level Media / November 27

Nick Suzuki nets pair as Canadiens edge Mammoth

Nick Suzuki scored twice in a three-point outing and Ivan Demidov completed the comeback as the Montreal Canadiens claimed a 4-3 victory over the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City on Wednesday.

Ivan Demidov News / The Sick Podcast / November 26

Alex Kovalev Gives Advice To Ivan Demidov And Reportedly Rejected A Tribute Night At The Bell Centre

On Wednesday, in an article that RG Media’s Sergey Demidov (no relation to Ivan) wrote about an interview he recently had with former Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Kovalev, it was stated that the Russian star recently rejected a proposed offer to come to Montreal for a tribute night in his honour.

Adam Engstrom News / Daily Faceoff / November 26

Canadiens’ Adam Engstrom to make NHL debut Wednesday vs. Mammoth

The Montreal Canadiens announced Wednesday afternoon that defense prospect Adam Engstrom will make his NHL debut against the Utah Mammoth that night. The Canadiens officially recalled Engstrom from the AHL’s Laval Rocket on Sunday, the same day they signed center Alexandre Texier to a one-year contract.

Alexandre Texier News / Last Word On Sports / November 26

Alexandre Texier’s Potential Impact with the Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens acquired yet another Francophone on Sunday. However, this player hails from France, not Quebec. Montreal signed forward Alexandre Texier to a one-year deal after St.