Montreal Canadiens: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

The Canadiens risk losing the rights to a prospect next week

August 15, while it doesn't usually steal the show, is a significant date on the NHL calendar. It's the date on which certain NCAA prospects—if they haven't signed a contract—can become unrestricted free agents.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

'I think the CH is considering trading Arber Xhekaj.'

Arber Xhekaj still doesn’t have a contract for next season. The CH still holds the defenseman’s rights, but no agreement has been announced yet. Is the matter settled, and will the contract be announced early next week?

Lane Hutson News / The Sick Podcast / August 7

Montreal Canadiens Role Profiles: Lane Hutson

As we get into the dog days of summer and until training camp, thesickpodcast.com will profile Montreal Canadiens players based on their expected role for the 2026-27 NHL season.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / August 7

5 Former Canadiens Still Looking for New Homes in Free Agency

We are now more than a month removed from the opening of NHL free agency, and most of the biggest names have already found homes for the 2026-27 season.

Macklin Celebrini News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

How many of the players to grace the cover of each EA NHL video game going back to 'NHL 2000?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / August 7

How the Canadiens Realistically Build on Recent Success for 2026-27

It’s getting dangerously close to where the Montreal Canadiens have to win it all just to meet the same season-over-season standards for success they have unofficially established since finishing in last place in 2022.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / August 7

Kaiden Guhle and the High-Stakes Dilemma Facing Canadiens GM Kent Hughes

There comes a time in every meticulously planned rebuild when a general manager (GM) has to look at his board, swallow hard, and consider trading away something that genuinely hurts to lose.

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / August 6

Fans believe the CH has improved this summer

Aside from the trade that sent Brendan Gallagher to Vancouver, the Habs haven't made any major external trades or signings this summer. I specifically say “external signings” because, internally, Ivan Demidov extended his contract for eight seasons.

Montreal Canadiens News / Viral Sports News / August 6

Canadiens Could Utilize Secret Weapon to Acquire $9.5 Million Star

The Montreal Canadiens continue searching for a reliable top-six forward as they look to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season. General manager

Arber Xhekaj News / Dose.ca / August 6

Arber Xhekaj isn’t the kind of player you trade within the same organization, according to Jeff Marek

Arber Xhekaj has still not signed a contract, and several teams may be interested in him. We know the Leafs have already shown interest, and the Flyers and Flames are following the situation closely.

Alexander Zharovsky News / Dose.ca / August 6

Alexander Zharovsky’s coach 'doesn’t want him to think about Montreal'

Alexander Zharovsky is one of the Canadiens' most promising prospects. The young Russian winger, who had a strong rookie season in the KHL last year, could be part of the solution in Montreal in the years to come.

Montreal Canadiens News / The Hockey Writers / August 6

3 Canadiens Who Could Surprise at Training Camp

Training camp is one of the most exciting times of the NHL calendar. While most roster spots are already spoken for, every year a handful of players exceed expectations and force management to take notice.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / August 5

Canadiens May Have a Good Goaltending Problem

For years, one of the easiest things to say about the Montreal Canadiens was that they were still looking for the next great goaltender. Maybe that problem is disappearing.

Vinzenz Rohrer News / Dose.ca / August 5

Here is the salary Vinzenz Rohrer will earn in Switzerland

Canadian prospect Vinzenz Rohrer surprised many people by signing a three-season contract in Switzerland on Monday. From what we understand, Rohrer will be on loan from the Canadiens next season.

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

The 'NFL 1,500-yard rushers' quiz

The 'Most TDs by NFL franchise' quiz

The 'Last five-hit game by MLB team' quiz

The 'Three-time batting champions' quiz

Montreal Canadiens News / NHL Trade Talk / August 5

Montreal’s Cap Wizardry Has Them Poised for a Blockbuster

Salary cap efficiency is the most important thing to building a championship team in the NHL. More than any other sport, having players locked up to team-friendly cap numbers and competing with young players on entry-level contracts leads to success.

Montreal Canadiens News / Professor Press Box / August 5

The Canadiens Rebuild Is Getting Really Interesting

There’s a point in every rebuild when things start to get a little different. At first, nobody really cares about the standings. You’re collecting prospects, making trades, taking your lumps and telling everybody that the future is coming.

Jayden Struble News / The Sick Podcast / August 5

Montreal Canadiens Role Profiles: Jayden Struble

As we get into the dog days of summer and until training camp, thesickpodcast.com will profile Montreal Canadiens players based on their expected role for the 2026-27 NHL season.

Montreal Canadiens News / Dose.ca / August 5

Season 26-27: My Expectations for Demidov, Kapanen, and Newhook

Last week, I published an article in which I discussed my expectations for Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky heading into the upcoming season.

Kirill Marchenko News / NHL Rumors / August 5

NHL Rumors: Montreal Canadiens Interest in Kirill Marchenko

The Montreal Canadiens would be interested in Kirill Marchenko if he’s made available, but do they have what the Columbus Blue Jackets would want? The Sheet with Jeff Marek: Marco D’Amico on Friday’s episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, when asked about Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko Marek: “Yeah, let’s let’s get into it.

Montreal Canadiens News / Professor Press Box / August 4

Montreal Adds Another Young Defenceman to the Pipeline

The Montreal Canadiens made a small move this week that probably won't get much attention outside of the organization. But these are the kinds of moves that can become important later.

Patrik Laine News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 4

Free Agent Profile: Patrik Laine

It’s safe to say that Patrik Laine‘s career has not gone as planned since he was drafted with the second overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft. In recent years, Laine’s career has been hindered by injuries, significantly diminishing the value he once had.

Montreal Canadiens News / Professor Press Box / August 4

The NHL’s Shortest-Lived Franchise Was in Montreal

The Montreal Canadiens are the oldest and longest-running franchise in National Hockey League history. The NHL version of the team is as old as the league itself, having played its first game on opening night, Dec.

Kent Hughes News / Trade Talk Sports / August 4

Canadiens Reporter Still Believes Kent Hughes Has a Trade Coming

Aside from extending some of their own players, it’s been a very quiet offseason so far for the Montreal Canadiens. Whether it was Matthew Knies, Robert Thomas, or Kirill Marchenko, fans were expecting a splash from GM Kent Hughes after their run to the Eastern Conference Finals.