The emerging core is coming along at the right time
There is still plenty of time before the Canadiens should be expected to make some noise in the postseason. The good thing about that is that there is time for the top prospects to work their way onto the team and join the core.
The Montreal Canadiens are coming along steadily, the rebuild is full steam ahead, but at a slow, calculated pace.
What's meant by that is Kent Hughes isn't rushing anything, primarily making trades to help the team now that might cost a piece for the future. Player and prospect development has been the top priority and because of that, each player has been able to iron out wrinkles in their game. Regardless of age, even the oldest players have been working on reinventing their game to remain effective.
The timing of the rebuild came one full season after the Canadiens went to the Stanley Cup final. Because of this, a few players got to play during the cup run and are currently leading the core into the future. Guys like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield were pivotal players, despite being two of the youngest talents on the roster.
Remaining from the roster that faced Tampa in the final are just three defenders - Justin Barron, David Savard and Jordan Harris. Up front, there are Josh Anderson, Joel Armia, Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher and Christian Dvorak.
The core of the future
Previously mentioned - Suzuki and Caufield lead the core of young guys hoping to bring the Habs back to the postseason. Not since 1993 have the Canadiens stood at the top with Lord Stanley above their heads in celebration. None of the core players were alive yet.
But they will all be seeking to write a story that the entire fanbase remembers, just like Patrick Roy's brilliance between the pipes. The oldest of the core is the captain who was born in 1999 and Caufield in 2001. But they are familiar with the heartbreak felt from reaching the pinnacle of hockey and coming up short.
Thankfully, however, Hughes and Jeff Gorton are looking to get all their ducks in a row and build a bona fide contender. With Martin St. Louis at the helm, a guy who against all odds made it to the NHL and won a Stanley Cup, things are on the up and up. He handled Juraj Slafkovsky brilliantly and there is hope that he can do the same for the others who are on their way.
Up front, the Canadiens are counting on Joshua Roy, who was a fifth-round selection in 2021 to be a big player for the team. There is also Ivan Demidov, the Habs 2024 fifth overall pick, who is the most intriguing Canadiens prospect with the highest potential to become a top-six talent. Then there are Michael Hage and Filip Mesar, hopefuls to become, at minimum top nine staples.
On the backend, Kaiden Guhle leads the pack of young guys who have established themselves and look to be pillars for the team going forward. The likeliest to join Guhle in the Habs top four of the future and form the core four are Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux. Justin Barron, Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj and Jordan Harris will serve as support pieces on the bottom pair or higher until Reinbacher and Mailloux arrive in Montreal ready for a spot.
Then between the pipes, Samuel Montembeault are holding down the roles right now, but a lot can change for goalies. Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler are hoping to establish themselves as starter and backup options for the Habs in the coming years as well. So, with some time to keep things rolling along and start pushing towards wildcard team status, the Canadiens are coming along nicely.
Patience has been and will be important, while still making sure to develop and push for the next step.
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