Montembeault will make his season debut for the Canadiens on Saturday against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Montembault is coming off the busiest season of his young career which saw him play in 40 games (16-19-3), recording a 3.42 GAA and .901 SV%. Montembault was fantastic in his only matchup against the Blackhawks last season, recording 30 saves in a 3-2 shootout victory.
Heineman was fighting for a final spot on Montreal's opening night roster but unfortunately has been informed Monday that he will be returned to Laval (AHL) on loan for the start of the 2023-24 season. The 21-year-old winger was drafted by Montreal in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft (43rd overall) and has yet to make his NHL debut. He returns to Laval where he had seven goals, two assists, six PIMs, and a +5 plus/minus in a short, yet impressive 11-game debut in 2022-23.
On Monday, the Canadiens announced that Newhook was day-to-day, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he is confident that Newhook will be ready for the start of the season. Newhook, who had 30 points (14G / 16A) in 82 games last year, was acquired from the Avalanche in the offseason. The 22-year-old is expected to open the season as a bottom-6 option for the Habs.
Novak had seven goals, five assists, and six PIMs across 14 games with the Allen Americans (ECHL) in 2022-23 and has been traded from Ottawa to Montreal for future considerations. The 24-year-old forward was drafted by Ottawa in the seventh round of the 2018 draft (188th overall) and has never played at a higher level than the ECHL after joining Allen from Northeastern (NCAA) at the end of his collegiate career in 2022-23.
Byron had 98 goals, 208 points, 139 PIMs, and a +31 plus/minus through 12 NHL seasons and 521 games played and officially retired from the NHL on Tuesday. The 34-year-old left-winger last played for Montreal in 2021-22 and had four goals, seven points, and only 33 SOG through 27 games before missing the majority of the year due to reoccurring hip issues.
Lindstrom was a second-round pick in the 2017 draft and has been in and out of the Red Wings' lineup over the last four seasons. The 24-year-old had eight points (1G / 7A) in 36 games last season and will be a No.6/No.7 defenseman in Montreal during the 2023-24 season.
Lindstorm had a goal, seven assists, 18 SOG, 20 PIMs and a -16 plus/minus through 36 games played with Detroit in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year contract worth $950,000 AAV. The 24-year-old defensemen was drafted in the second-round of the 2017 NHL Draft (38th overall) and has two goals, and 25 points across 128 career NHL games played.
Newhook had 14 goals 16 assists, 116 SOG, and 22 PIMs across 82 games played with Colorado in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract ($2,900,000 AAV) with Montreal. The 22-year-old's rights were acquired by Montreal for a pair of early round draft picks and a prospect earlier in the month. The American centre was the Avalanche's 2019 first-round pick (16th overall) and has 27 goals and 66 points across 159 career NHL games.
The Canadiens drafted Reinbacher No.5 overall in this summer's NHL draft, making him the first defenseman off the board. The 18-year-old had 22 points (3G / 19A) in 46 games with Kloten HC of the National League (Switzerland). He also represented Austria in the 2022 and 2023 World Juniors, posting four assists in nine combined games.
Harvey-Pinard had 14 goals, six assists, 58 SOG, 10 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through 34 games with Montreal in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract extension. The 24-year-old left-winger was a seventh-round pick in 2019 (201st overall and broke out in 2022-23 as the rest of the Canadiens roster struggled.
Hoedenmaker had 11 goals, 27 assists, 114 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 65 games with Toronto (AHL) in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, entry-level contract worth $845,000 with the Edmonton Oilers. The 24-year-old undrafted defensemen has yet to make his NHL debut but has slowly risen through the leagues after a strong season in the ECHL with Newfoundland in 2021-22.
Carrier had two goals, seven assists, 48 SOG and 27 PIMs across 43 games played in 2022-23 with Nashville and has signed a one-year contract extension worth $2.5 million. The 26-year-old defenseman will be entering his sixth season in Nashville, having picking up six goals and 42 points across 144 career games.
Newhook was the No.16 overall pick in 2019 and has tallied 66 points (27G / 39A) in 159 career NHL games since turning pro in 2021. Most recently, he had 30 points (14G / 16A) in 82 games, averaging 13:57 ATOI. He should play a larger role with the Canadiens and could play more on the wing, similar to what Montreal did with Kirby Dach in 2023.
Caufield was limited to just 46 games during the 2022-23 season but set a career-best with 26 goals while adding 10 assists (36 points). The new deal makes Caufield the second-highest-paid skater in Montreal, behind Nick Suzuki ($7.875M AAV).
Condotta had 16 goals, 14 assists, 61 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 71 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL) and has been recalled to Montreal on an emergency basis and is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday. The 25-year-old joined the Canadiens as an undrafted free agent in 2021-22 after finishing school at UMass-Lowell (NCAA).
Montembeault allowed seven goals on 46 shots (.848 SV%) for his third loss in four games as he was defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs in his previous start. The 26-year-old has been the better of the two Canadien goaltenders this season, with his 16-17-3 record, 3.36 GAA and .904 SV%. He takes on the New York Islanders, who have won four of their last seven contests and are 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.94).
Primeau allowed five goals on 21 shots against the Red Wings on Tuesday. Primeau returns to the AHL, where he's gone 16-15-6 with a 3.12 GAA and .905 SV%.
