As the Montreal Canadiens fight to hang onto a playoff spot, a handful of veteran players are helping steer the ship with consistent, determined play. Some names are obvious—like captain Nick Suzuki. Others are flying well under the radar.
One of those under-appreciated contributors? Pending UFA center Christian Dvorak.
When the Canadiens lost Phillip Danault to free agency and Jesperi Kotkaniemi to an offer sheet, then-GM Marc Bergevin made what many considered a desperate move. On September 4, 2021, Montreal acquired Dvorak from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2022 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder. At the time, the 6-foot-1 pivot was coming off a season in which he scored 17 goals in 56 games.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse.
Dvorak arrived after the Habs’ magical Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Final—a run that left the team physically and emotionally drained. Key veterans like Carey Price, Shea Weber, and Paul Byron had to call it a career, stepping away due to injuries. Others, including Joel Edmundson, Brendan Gallagher, and Joel Armia, soldiered on through pain. Over the next three seasons, no team in the NHL lost more man-games to injury than Montreal, and the club plunged into a full-scale rebuild.
As for Dvorak, he struggled to live up to the expectations that came with his $4.45 million cap hit.
Turning the Corner
Fast forward to this season—and it’s a different story.
Dvorak began the year on the fourth line but was eventually reunited with veterans Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher. All three had something to prove, and they’ve responded in kind.
While Anderson and Gallagher’s bounce-backs have made headlines, Dvorak’s resurgence has largely flown under the radar. Maybe it’s because of his quiet nature, or the fact that he rarely smiles during interviews—but he’s not exactly the go-to guy for media soundbites.
What he is, however, is the type of player coaches love. Reliable in the defensive zone, strong on faceoffs, and capable of contributing offense from the bottom six. He’s also quietly become a respected leader in the room.
Need proof? Take a look at the postgame “Circle of Friends” celebrations. Alongside core young stars like Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kirby Dach (when healthy), you’ll spot Dvorak right there with them.
Stat Line Speaks
Offensively, Dvorak has notched 11 goals and 30 points this season. But since March 15th, he’s tied with Gallagher for third on the team in scoring—racking up 10 points in 10 games. That’s just two back of Suzuki and one behind rookie phenom Lane Hutson. More than Slafkovsky and Caufield over that stretch. And those guys see regular time on the top power play unit.
Did you know…The Gallagher (4) – Dvorak (5) – Anderson (4) line has a combined 13 goals in the #Habs last 10 games? Suzuki, Caufield and Slafkovsky, all with first PP time, have 12. #GoHabsGo
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-04-04T12:01:59.078Z
Looking Ahead
A reader recently asked if the Canadiens might consider re-signing the 29-year-old center.
Given the team’s pressing need for a legitimate second-line center who can consistently produce, and the recent extension of Jake Evans, the odds aren’t great. Add in the emergence of Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen—two promising young centers knocking on the NHL door—and it becomes even less likely.
Whoever signs Christian Dvorak this summer is going to get a very, very solid 4th line center or a decent 3rd line center, depending on how the team chooses to use him. #Habs
For Dvorak, this might be a classic case of “too little, too late.” His days in a Canadiens jersey are probably numbered. Still, he’s making the most of the time he has left—doing everything he can to help push this team toward the postseason.
And in the quiet, understated way that defines him, he’s making an impact.
