Canadiens aim for playoff return as expectations rise: ‘It gets tougher now’

MONTREAL — Nick Suzuki’s expectations haven’t changed.

The Montreal Canadiens captain predicted his team could make the playoffs last season when few outside the organization believed it.

Now, with pressure mounting ahead of the new campaign, Suzuki is doubling down.

“My goal is to make the playoffs,” he said when training camp opened last month. “I said that last year and no one really took it that seriously, but I think as a group we really see ourselves there again.”

The Canadiens exceeded expectations last season. The question now is whether they can live up to them.

After reaching the playoffs for the first time in four years, Montreal is no longer the underdog. And on paper, the Canadiens look well-positioned for a return.

Montreal’s hockey brass injected more energy into an already feverish fan base this summer by trading for Noah Dobson — signing the 70-point defenceman to an eight-year deal — and acquiring promising young forward Zack Bolduc.

Ivan Demidov, a dynamic talent and early rookie-of-the-year favourite, will also be on board for the entire campaign after joining late last season.

“It’s the most talented team since I’ve been here,” said general manager Kent Hughes, who took over in January 2022.

The already-young Canadiens became even younger by parting with depth forwards Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia in free agency, while veteran defenceman David Savard retired.

But the talented core of Suzuki, winger Cole Caufield, forward Juraj Slafkovsky and Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson is a year older — with playoff experience.

“We’ve grown up a little bit,” Suzuki told reporters Monday in Brossard, Que. “We’ve gotten a lot of nice, talented new players coming in, and that’s going to help our group moving forward.

“We have higher expectations from the outside, higher expectations inside. We’ve got a ton of talent, I think the most talent that we’ve had in a long time.”

Still, a lot went right for the Canadiens to punch their playoff ticket. Montreal sat second-last on Dec. 1, but Suzuki, Hutson and goalie Sam Montembeault led a 15-5-6 run up the standings after February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Canadiens grabbed the last wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with only 91 points — a total that would have missed the playoffs in the West — and lost in five games to Washington in Round 1.

“It’s a different challenge for us,” veteran winger Brendan Gallagher said. “It doesn’t get easier, it gets tougher now. Last year to just get the opportunity to play playoff games was a grind, and for us it’s starting over, and now you come in with those expectations.”

Returning to the playoffs, Gallagher has learned over 13 seasons, isn’t easy — especially in the Atlantic Division.

Toronto, Tampa Bay and Florida — even without injured captain Aleksander Barkov — have been perennial playoff teams. Ottawa, like Montreal, broke out of its rebuild with a post-season berth in 2024-25, while Buffalo and Detroit look to do the same this season. Boston, meanwhile, seeks a playoff return after a down season.

“Every team feels like they improved in the off-season, every team feels like they got better. Just because you jumped a few teams in the standings, doesn’t mean those teams aren’t there,” Gallagher said. “There’s not a team in our division that doesn’t feel like they’re going to be competitive this year.

“It’s going to be tough, competitive, intense hockey.”

And it begins Wednesday, when the Canadiens open their season in Toronto.

CALDER REPEAT?

Bobby Orr and Derek Sanderson — with Boston in 1967 and 1968 — were the last teammates to win the Calder Trophy in back-to-back years. Hutson and Demidov could be next if the Russian winger lives up to the hype.

The 19-year-old Demidov flashed his hands and playmaking with a goal and an assist in his NHL debut late last season, adding two assists in five playoff games.

“Honestly, I think he’s the most talented guy that I’ve played with,” said Bolduc, who played his first two seasons with the St. Louis Blues. “Tremendous player and he’s basically doing whatever he wants with the puck.”

CENTRE DEPTH

The Canadiens have some holes in their lineup down the middle behind Suzuki. The captain anchors the top line, while Jake Evans fills a shutdown role on the fourth. The Canadiens will rely on some combination of Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen on the second and third lines to open the season.

The need for a second-line centre is a constant talking point on local sports radio.

Dach was expected to form a one-two punch with Suzuki before consecutive season-ending knee injuries derailed his progress, but the former third overall pick will have another chance to claim that spot.

LAINE’S BEST VERSION?

Winger Patrik Laine declared he would enter the season as his “best version” after a roller-coaster past few years in the NHL.

Head coach Martin St. Louis — who moved Laine up and down the lineup during training camp — knows the 27-year-old Finn can score on the power play, but wants to see consistent 5-on-5 play.

“His last two games in pre-season, his 5-on-5 play is the best I’ve seen,” St. Louis said of Laine, who’s entering the final year of his contract.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 6, 2025.