Berard was acquired in late June for William Trudeau from New York and has signed a one-year, two-way contract with Montreal on Thursday. The 23-year-old former 5th round pick (2020) appeared in 13 games with the Rangers in 2025-26, failing to pick up a point while collecting six PIMs. He is expected to provide Montreal with offensive depth this season and will be competing in training camp for a spot in their bottom-six.
After a successful first season in the KHL with Barys Astana, Reilly Walsh will return to North America after it was announced Wednesday that Montreal had signed Walsh to a one-year, two-way contract. The 27-year-old's only appearance in the NHL came back with New Jersey in 2021-22, where he had an assist in one game played. He is expected to play a key part in Laval (AHL) this upcoming season.
Dobes' role has increased over the past two seasons for the Canadiens, culminating in a solid 2025-26 campaign, in which he posted a serviceable 2.78 GAA and .901 SV% in 43 appearances (29-10-4). That said, the 25-year-old Czech goalie made his real mark in the playoffs, guiding his team to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 2.66 GAA and .908 SV% in 19 games (9-10). Dobes is expected to share the Canadiens' crease this season with Jacob Fowler.
Samson, a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, has yet to play an NHL game and will head to the Montreal Canadiens in a similar depth organizational role. The 22-year-old forward scored 14 points (5G / 9A) last season in 30 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL).
Poulin was drafted 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has not been able to turn his high pedigree into an extended look at the NHL level. The 25-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, scoring 49 points (21G / 28A) in 71 games.
Kahkonen saw extensive NHL looks between 2020 and 2024, but has played exclusively in the AHL over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old goalie posted a 2.73 GAA and .895 SV% last season in 38 games (21-9-7) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
Belzile is an undrafted forward who has spent most of his career in the AHL, playing just 44 NHL games. The 34-year-old scored 62 points (29G / 33A) last season in 66 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
Montreal has secured their young superstar for the remainder of the decade and beyond after they announced on Wednesday that Ivan Demidov has signed an eight-year, $9.125 million contract extension ($73M total). The 20-year-old flashy Russian is coming off an incredible rookie campaign which saw him lead all first-year players in points with 19 goals, 62 points and 34 PIMs in 82 games played.
Szuber was a sixth-round pick of the "Mammoth" in 2022 and has spent the last three seasons primarily in the AHL. In 2025-26, he had 11 goals and 16 assists (27 points) in 65 games with Tucson. This move provides some organizational depth on the blueline for the Habs, but expect Szuber to start the 2026-27 with Laval (AHL).
After two seasons spent between the Rangers and Hartford (AHL), New York has traded Brett Berard to Montreal for William Trudeau. Bedard appeared in 13 games with the Rangers in 2025-26, but failed to pick up a point while collecting six PIMs. He is expected to compete for a bottom-six role in Montreal this upcoming season.
McKown made his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season, scoring two assists in 12 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but has spent all of his time since in the AHL. The undrafted 23-year-old forward scored 25 points (9G / 16A) last season in 63 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).
The Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes with their season on the line in Carolina on Friday. The 24-year-old netminder was once again outstanding in a losing effort in Game 4, turning away 40 of the 43 shots he faced in the 4-0 loss. Just as they've been all series, the Habs are sizable underdogs in a must-win Game 5, entering action at +200 on the money line.
For the first time this postseason, Dobes has lost two straight, but will look to rebound on Wednesday in Game Four. Despite being in a 2-1 series deficit, Dobes has remained reliable between the pipes, posting a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% through 17 outings this postseason (9-8). The Canadiens hope to even the series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2, entering Game Four as +132 home underdogs.
For the first time this postseason, Dobes has lost two straight, but will look to rebound on Wednesday in Game Four. Despite being in a 2-1 series deficit, Dobes has remained reliable between the pipes, posting a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% through 17 outings this postseason (9-8). The Canadiens hope to even the series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2, entering Game Four as +132 home underdogs.
Dobes allowed three goals on 26 shots in Game 2 on Saturday night, as the Hurricanes escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory and evened up the series. The 24-year-old netminder has started all 16 of Montreal's playoff games, posting a 9-7 record and a .909 SV%. Dobes and the Habs are yet to lose consecutive games this post-season, but they do enter the action tonight as slight home underdogs at +120 on the money line.
Joe Veleno will likely draw back into Montreal's lineup on Monday for Game Three, resulting in Kapanen being a healthy scratch. Kapanen has suited up in three consecutive games for Montreal, but has been used sparingly. He had a -2 plus/minus and two penalty minutes in the team's 3-2 overtime loss in Game Two.
Dobes was fantastic in Montreal's Game 1 victory over Carolina after he stopped 28 of 30 shots against (.929 SV%) on route to a 6-2 Canadiens victory. The 24-year-old has yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs despite starting all 15 games for Montreal. He currently has an impressive 9-6-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% in the playoffs and will look to give Montreal a 2-0 series lead as they head to Raleigh on Saturday.
Dobes stopped 37 of 39 shots in the Canadiens' Game 7 win in Buffalo on Monday. It was Dobes' best performance of Round 2, where he finished with a 3.03 GAA and .897 SV% in seven games. In the first and second round combined, Dobes is 8-6-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games. Tonight he will start Game 1 in Carolina, a team he was 3-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .922 SV% against this season.
Struble has not played since Game 7 vs. the Lightning, sitting out the entire second-round vs. Buffalo. Struble is expected to replace Arber Xhekaj in the lineup for Game 1 in Carolina. Struble has not picked up a point in seven playoff games this season or in nine career playoff games.
Xhekaj played in all seven games vs. the Sabres, but is expected to be replaced by Jayden Struble in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Xhekaj has picked up one goal, one assist and 45 hits in 13 playoff games.
