When the Montreal Canadiens’ front office spoke about wanting the team to be “in the mix” before the season began, they weren’t paying lip service. What they envisioned was meaningful hockey in March—maybe even April—as the next logical step in this rebuild. For one of the youngest teams in the NHL, it was an ambitious yet attainable goal.
Then came the 4-Nations break. When team captain Nick Suzuki pleaded with GM Kent Hughes to keep the core intact, the GM gave him a simple challenge: make it hard for me to break this team up. Suzuki took that to heart. Since that moment, he’s put the team on his back, tallying 37 points in his last 26 games—trailing only Robert Thomas (40), Nikita Kucherov (39), and David Pastrnak (38) in that span.
It wasn’t always smooth sailing. The Canadiens rode the emotional roller coaster that comes with youth and inexperience. There were thrilling win streaks and crushing skids. They stumbled through four failed attempts to clinch a playoff berth down the stretch, but when it mattered most—game 82—they delivered, earning a first-round showdown with Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
The guy some #Habs “fans” were calling an “idiot” after his interference penalty the last game is making them look like “idiots” themselves with two goals so far… #GoHabsGo #Guhle
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-04-17T00:57:43.851Z
With youth come growing pains, and the Canadiens have had their fair share. But the hard lessons, the long season, and the grind of consistency have helped shape this group. For many players, this was the first time learning how to manage expectations, bounce back from adversity, and keep pushing through the slog of an 82-game schedule.
For once, the injury bug took a back seat. After leading the league in man-games lost since their 2021 Cinderella run, Montreal finally enjoyed some health. Whether that’s due to a revamped medical and training staff or better preparation, the impact was clear. A mostly intact roster gave management a much clearer look at what this team truly is—and what it can become.
There were pleasant surprises. Lane Hutson arrived like a bolt of lightning. Veterans like Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson rediscovered their stride, while Christian Dvorak quietly bounced back as well. Newcomers Alexandre Carrier was a stabilizer and Patrik Laine, particularly on the power play, added value. Ivan Demidov, in just two games, has teased the talent that made him such a coveted addition. And in net, Jakub Dobeš provided stability and pushed Sam Montembeault, giving the Canadiens a more reliable tandem.
Martin St-Louis has had his share of missteps, but like his players, he’s grown. And after game 82, it was the players themselves who pointed to their coach as a key reason this team fought its way into the postseason.
As for the Columbus Blue Jackets—they battled until the bitter end and deserve credit for rallying after the devastating loss of Johnny Gaudreau. In a poetic twist, a small piece of Johnny Hockey lives on in Montreal, with Cole Caufield having switched his number from #22 to #13 in his honour.
For the first time since 2021, the Canadiens are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But for most of this group, it’ll be their first taste of playoff hockey in a raucous, sold-out Bell Centre. For Suzuki, for Caufield, for St-Louis—as a coach—it’s a new chapter. For Gallagher, it’s a long-awaited return.
And for the fans?
It’s hope, reborn.
