The 2024–25 season marked a clear step forward for the Montreal Canadiens, a young team steadily growing into its identity. With the rebuild passing to the development stage, the team’s on-ice improvements and the individual progress of key players gave fans plenty to cheer about. From milestone performances to stronger special teams, the Canadiens showed they’re no longer just building—they’re beginning to arrive.
Team Success
As a collective, the Canadiens saw significant improvement in both results and overall team play. They notched 10 more wins than the previous season, raising their point total from 76 in 2023–24 to a much more competitive 91 points this year. Offensively, the Habs found the back of the net 11 more times than last season, while tightening up defensively to allow 20 fewer goals—a notable swing in goal differential of +31.
Special teams were a key contributor to that improvement. The power play clicked at a rate nearly 3% higher than the year before, while the penalty kill saw a bump of approximately 4%. While still not elite in either category, the upward trend is a promising sign for a team whose special teams were a sore spot not long ago.
Individual Highlights
On an individual level, the Canadiens witnessed several breakout and bounce-back performances.
Nick Suzuki solidified his role as captain and first-line center, recording a career-best 89 points, including 30 goals. His +19 rating stands out all the more considering the team’s overall goal differential of -20, and it speaks to how consistently he performed against top-line opposition.
Cole Caufield also enjoyed a career year, reaching the 70-point mark for the first time and potting 37 goals—another personal best. What makes this even more impressive is that he accomplished it despite losing his preferred power play spot to Patrik Laine for the 52 games Laine was in the lineup. Caufield’s +9 rating shows he’s evolving into a more complete player.
The emergence of Lane Hutson was one of the season’s biggest stories, not just in Montreal but across the NHL. The rookie defenseman shattered expectations, setting a new Canadiens franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman with 65, surpassing the great Chris Chelios. He also tied the NHL record for most assists by a rookie blueliner in a season with 60. Hutson brought energy, creativity, and a level of poise rarely seen in a first-year player on the back end.
Veteran forward Brendan Gallagher returned to form, reaching the 20-goal plateau for the first time since the 2019–20 season. While he had 14 goals in just 35 games back in 2020–21, this year marked a full, healthy season where he, Josh Anderson, and Christian Dvorak arguably formed the team’s most reliable line from the moment they were assembled.
Speaking of Anderson, though he fell short of his usual 20-goal mark with 15, he embraced a new role with grit and professionalism. He became a regular on the penalty kill and brought a physical edge every night. For his leadership and resilience, Anderson was chosen as the Canadiens’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy and was awarded the team’s Jacques Beauchamp Trophy as the most unsung hero.
Jake Evans came flying out of the gate this season. Though his offensive pace cooled after January, he still matched his career-high in goals (13) and set a new personal best in points with 36, continuing to show his value as a dependable two-way center.
On the blue line, Mike Matheson, who has taken a lot of heat from some of the ban base, saw his role shift significantly with the arrival of Hutson. Tasked with more shutdown responsibilities, his offensive numbers dipped, but his impact remained critical. Logging over 25 minutes a game—seventh most in the NHL—Matheson consistently matched up against opposing top lines, showcasing his durability and team-first mentality.
Between the pipes, Samuel Montembeault reached the 30-win milestone for the first time in his NHL career. Despite some inconsistency and ongoing rebound control concerns, he provided stability when it mattered. With Jakub Dobeš, the 23-year-old rookie, pushing for starts since his call-up, Montembeault showed resilience under pressure. Only Andrei Vasilevskiy and Connor Hellebuyck appeared in more games than Montembeault this season—a testament to his workhorse mentality.
Finally, prospects Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen, and Owen Beck each made appearances that gave fans a glimpse of the Canadiens’ future. Though still early in their development, all three showed flashes of potential and composure that suggest they could be regular contributors down the line.
Looking Ahead
While there’s still work to be done before the Canadiens rejoin the league’s elite, the 2024–25 season was an undeniable step forward. The team posted meaningful improvements in the standings, goal differential, and special teams, while young players blossomed and veterans found renewed purpose. If this year was about progress, next year might just be about turning the corner—and the Canadiens may finally be ready to make some noise.
