As I sip my morning coffee, I find myself searching for something fresh to say about our beloved Montreal Canadiens—something that hasn’t already been chewed up and spit out by bloggers, podcasters, or media pundits. And honestly? I’m drawing a blank.
With my move to Costa Rica getting closer and all the noise from south of the border—not to mention our own looming Canadian elections—it feels like the distractions are drowning out the original content I’d usually be inspired to write.
Between daydreams of sipping world-class coffee while watching toucans and howler monkeys, and the to-do list ahead of tonight’s big game against Washington, I pause to reflect. What is it about this young Habs team that’s so special? What makes them defy expectations again and again?
For starters—they’re young. Very young. Led by Nick Suzuki, the youngest captain in Canadiens history, a player who’s grown remarkably both on the ice and in the locker room. Since Kent Hughes challenged him to prove why he shouldn’t move pending free agents, Suzuki has carried this team on his back—and they’ve followed without hesitation.
Their top goal-scorer, Cole Caufield, has been counted out his entire life. Too small, they said. But he’s made a career out of proving people wrong—at every level, including the NHL and the playoffs.
Rounding out their top line is Juraj Slafkovsky, who only just turned 21 less than a month ago. Despite having just 52 combined playoff games between them, this trio was the team’s biggest threat in Game 1—pushing the Habs into overtime and planting seeds of doubt in the Capitals’ minds.
On the back end, there’s Kaiden Guhle—23 years old, but playing like a seasoned vet. With echoes of Shea Weber in his game, Guhle is calm, smart, physical, and solid in his own zone. While the spotlight often lands on Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson, Guhle is the anchor of that blue line—reliable, balanced, and playoff-ready.
Speaking of Hutson—the kid’s barely gotten his feet wet in the NHL, but he’s already showing flashes of brilliance. At just 5’9″, he was targeted early in the game by Washington’s bigger forwards. He looked shaky at first, but then came the adjustment—and that’s what makes him special: he learns fast. Yes, he missed a couple of checks that led to goals. But you can bet he’ll come back better.
Then there’s Ivan Demidov—electric in his NHL debut and flashing his potential again in Game 2, albeit with limited ice time. But that was regular-season hockey. It’s a big step from the KHL to NHL playoffs against a very big and experienced Washington team… and it shows.
Add in Emil Heineman, Jayden Struble, Oliver Kapanen, Arber Xhekaj and Jakub Dobeš—none of whom had a single NHL playoff game under their belt coming into this series. Then you have David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Owen Beck, Michael Hage and Jacob Fowler still developing—and you start to see the picture.
Summing it up
This team has been proving the doubters wrong all season. They were written off more than once—back in late November, again by the Four Nations break in February—and yet, they’ve never stopped battling.
They rarely start strong. First periods often end with them trailing. But when it comes to comebacks, nobody does it better. In fact, they led the NHL in wins when trailing after two periods. That’s not luck. That’s character. That’s heart. And now they’re showing it when it matters most—when the stakes are highest.
As I head for a coffee refill and get on with my day of packing and prepping, I find myself searching for the right word to define this version of the Montreal Canadiens. And I think I’ve found it: Resilience.
With every shift, with every playoff minute, this team is gaining experience. They’re maturing—individually and collectively. And if Kent Hughes can continue adding the right pieces, filling the gaps with smart moves, it’s that resilience that will set this group apart. That’s what’ll make them more than just a promising team. It’ll make them contenders.
The future is bright in Montreal, folks. Soak it in. Win or lose, crack a cold one, kick back, and watch this team grow. And in a not too distant future, while I sit with a cocktail in hand, ocean breeze in the air, sunset on the horizon—I will be thinking of all of you, still cheering on the team I’ve loved my whole life.
