Following a significant step forward last season, the Montreal Canadiens were highly active during the offseason. General Manager Kent Hughes clearly focused on bolstering the team’s offense throughout this period.
The Canadiens acquired standout defenseman No Dobson from the New York Islanders, trading forward Emil Heinemann and their 16th and 17th picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Shortly afterward, Dobson was secured with an eight-year, $76 million contract, establishing him as a key long-term player for the team.
Montreal didn’t stop there; they also brought in promising young forward Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for prospect Logan Mayu. Bolduc has shown significant potential early in his career, recording career highs last season with 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points over 72 games.
The Canadiens further strengthened their roster depth by adding players like Joe Veleno, Kaapo Kakonen, and Sammy Blais. Additionally, they re-signed young goalie Jakub Dobes to a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $965,000.
Overall, the Canadiens’ offseason moves have been impressive, earning them considerable praise. A recent article by Dom Luszczyszyn on The Athletic ranked Montreal as having the second-best improvement this offseason, just behind the San Jose Sharks.
Given their key additions—such as a top-pairing defenseman in Dobson, a promising forward in Bolduc, and experienced depth players—it’s easy to see why optimism is high for Montreal heading into the 2025-26 season. Although we’ll have to wait and see how they perform on the ice, their roster clearly looks stronger than last year.
According to Puckpedia’s data, the Canadiens have the priciest goaltending in the NHL this season, spending $14.8 million on their goalies—Carey Price, Samuel Montembeault, Kaapo Kakonen, and Jakub Dobes—who collectively account for 15.5% of the team’s salary cap.
Fan Take: Montreal’s aggressive moves this offseason signal a bold commitment to building a competitive and dynamic team. For hockey fans, this means an exciting upcoming season filled with potential breakout performances and a renewed hope for playoff success.
