The Montreal Canadiens’ training camp gets underway next week, and fans are eagerly anticipating what looks poised to be a standout 2026-27 season. As the roster continues to take form, a few key questions will demand answers through the decisions the organization makes.
Here are the three most pressing:
3. Where Will Slafkovsky Play?
By all logic, Juraj Slafkovsky should find himself on the top line alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield — the lineup where he thrived during the playoffs and has spent the bulk of his recent seasons. That said, this is far from a foregone conclusion, given how productive he was after being shifted to the second line for a significant stretch of the campaign.
To break it down: Slafkovsky totaled six goals and three assists through his first 18 games before the move to the second line, which coincided with an injury to Alex Newhook. In the 42 games that followed — prior to returning to the top line — he recorded 15 goals and 38 points, effectively producing at a point-per-game clip.
On paper, it’s compelling: Slafkovsky finished with an impressive 30 goals and 73 points overall, and the bulk of that production came while centering the second line. That alone makes a strong case for reuniting him there in 2026-27. Yet of those 73 points, only 35 came alongside Suzuki and Caufield across 40 games. The Canadiens need to evaluate his season in three distinct phases: his early time on Line 2 before the shift, and his return to the top line afterward.
It’s worth remembering that he managed just nine points in his first 18 contests. That means in the final 22 games of the season, after returning to the top line, he exploded for 26 points — nine of them goals. Detailed breakdowns of both Suzuki’s and Caufield’s seasons further reveal that they too benefited from pairing with Slafkovsky down the stretch.
Admittedly, with the exception of Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Slafkovsky’s offense fell off sharply in the postseason — a trend shared by Caufield and, to a lesser degree, Suzuki. However, until there’s evidence that those scoring droughts carry over into the regular season, where checking won’t be as rigorous, it makes sense to go back to the well. Especially considering that Newhook thrived playing alongside Demidov when healthy. After netting seven goals through two rounds — including the series-winner each time — Newhook has earned another opportunity in what would otherwise be Slafkovsky’s spot.
2. Does Kent Hughes Make a Trade?
The projected third member of that second line, Kapanen, has drawn criticism after his production declined to close out the regular season and into the playoffs, where he was a frequent healthy scratch. Still, his season was undeniably a success: 22 goals and 37 points — a near-rookie-leading output.
It’s only natural, though, to question how much of that production was genuinely driven by Kapanen versus the chemistry with Demidov and Slafkovsky, and whether he’s truly the best fit to anchor that second line going forward.
I’d be worried if the model said Kapanen was driving his line… He’s playing his role well enough right now, finishing and filling in blanks. His results away from Demidov are catastrophic, and I don’t know that his 22.5% sh % with Demidov is refelctive of his true talent. pic.twitter.com/0BIaEAKOqA
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) January 15, 2026
As things stand, given the pieces general manager Kent Hughes currently has at his disposal, Kapanen probably is the right call. He did score 22 goals on that line — nothing to dismiss, particularly for a rookie. However, with rumors last season linking the Canadiens to Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues and other established center options, it’s hard not to wonder whether the Habs would prefer acquiring someone with more proven ability to drive possession independently, someone who could center Demidov with greater certainty.
With the emergence of goaltender Jakub Dobes and last offseason’s acquisition of right-handed defenseman Noah Dobson, the second-line center spot — the very position where the Canadiens ended up using fourth-liner Jake Evans in the playoffs — represents their most significant gap. If Hughes pulls the trigger on a trade, logic dictates it would be to address precisely that need.
The real question is how patient he’ll be. With mounting pressure to make a splash this coming season, Hughes could easily be persuaded to act early, particularly given that the Habs narrowly missed winning the Atlantic Division last year. Their inferior seeding forced them into a seven-game Round 1 against the Lightning and a seven-game Round 2 against the division-champion Buffalo Sabres — both grueling series that no doubt softened the team ahead of their Round 3 matchup with the eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.
1. Which Rookies Make the Cut?
This likely wouldn’t even be a question if Michael Hage — the presumptive heir apparent to the second-line center role once he turns pro — had signed at the end of last season. That move would have given the Canadiens yet another potential Calder Memorial Trophy candidate, following Lane Hutson’s win in 2025 and Demidov’s near-miss last season. Based on Hage’s ceiling, one would expect the organization to have moved quickly to feature him in that spot, especially with Kapanen seemingly better suited for the bottom six. Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be, as Hage returned to university for another season.
The silver lining is that this could open a roster spot for a rookie such as Florian Xhekaj or Owen Beck up front, with only 12 forward spots seemingly locked in — including that of Zachary Bolduc, who remains an unsigned restricted free agent. Additionally, the Canadiens have yet to sign Arber Xhekaj on defense, raising questions about how many blueliners they’ll carry out of camp.
Realistically, that number could reach as high as eight. Xhekaj would presumably join Hutson, Dobson, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Kaiden Guhle, and Jayden Struble on the blue line. The final spot likely comes down to rookies David Reinbacher — who reportedly holds the inside track after being selected fifth overall in 2023 — and Adam Engstrom.
If the Canadiens go with eight defensemen and 13 forwards, they’d be forced to dress just two goalies rather than maintain the three-goalie rotation that’s been discussed in some circles — despite that approach not working well last season. Given that the Habs ultimately relied on Dobes and rookie Jacob Fowler, who remains Calder-eligible, as their playoff tandem, it seems likely that Sam Montembeault would be the odd man out.
However, nothing is set in stone — particularly since Fowler is exempt from waivers and would be the easiest to send down to the American Hockey League. Barring a disappointing training camp on his part, it’s difficult to envision the team going that route. Hard to imagine, but far from impossible — adding yet another layer of intrigue heading into training camp.
