Renee: Ivan Demidov just locked in an eight-year deal. Eight years. For a kid who was runner-up for rookie of the year. And now we have to figure out where he actually fits on this ice.
Joel: It’s a massive commitment. But you also look at the roster sheet and see Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Phillip Danault, Owen Beck... it is crowded up the middle. The math doesn't quite work for everyone starting night one.
Joel: And I’m Joel. Today is our weekly mailbag edition. We’ve got questions about the center ice logjam, the defensive corps upgrades with Noah Dobson, and what happens to Brendan Gallagher after that trade to Vancouver.
Renee: Here is what we are tackling today. First, we answer your burning questions about Ivan Demidov’s extension and the forward group shuffle. Second, we dive into the defensive battles and whether Alex Belzile survives the cut. And third, a lightning round on the opening night matchup against Toronto.
Joel: We are standing at zero wins, zero losses. The season hasn’t tipped off, but the roster construction is done. Let’s get into the mailbag.
Renee: First question comes from @HabsFan88. He asks: 'With Ivan Demidov signing an eight-year extension, does that guarantee him a top-six spot? Or is he going to be buried in the bottom six?' This is huge because last time we talked, Joel, you mentioned speed being the priority.
Joel: Right. Speed is the identity here. Demidov is fast. He’s dynamic. But looking at the center depth chart, you have Nick Suzuki established as the number one. You have Kirby Dach, who has been a high-end talent when healthy. You have Phillip Danault, who brings that two-way reliability. Then you have Owen Beck, Jared Davidson, and Jake Evans.
Renee: So if Demidov can’t play center, where does he go?
Joel: He plays right wing. That’s the only logical fit if he’s not on the first line center. And honestly, that might help him. He gets to pair with Cole Caufield or Patrick Laine. Remember, he was the runner-up for rookie of the year. He doesn’t need to prove he belongs; he needs to prove he can handle the pressure of a top-line role.
Renee: But wait. If he moves to right wing, who loses their spot? We have Josh Anderson, Alex Belzile, Zack Bolduc, Sam Poulin... that is a lot of wingers. Does Alex Belzile finally get sent down? We predicted that last week.
Joel: We did predict Belzile might be cut or sent down. With Demidov locking in for eight years, the organization is signaling they want youth and upside. Belzile is a grinder. He’s good. But in the NHL, especially in Montreal, they love to develop kids. I think Demidov pushes Belzile to the fourth line or potentially the AHL to start the year.
Renee: Ouch. Okay, next question. Sarah from Montreal writes in: 'Brendan Gallagher was traded to Vancouver for future considerations. Is this a win for Montreal? He was a fan favorite.'
Joel: Gallagher spent fourteen seasons in Montreal. That’s loyalty. But from a tactical standpoint, Montreal needed to clear cap space and make room for the younger core. Trading him to a division rival like Vancouver gives them a chance to recoup something, even if it’s just future considerations.
Renee: Future considerations usually means a draft pick or a low-level prospect. It’s not a blockbuster return. But it opens up a roster spot. And frankly, the team is faster without him. They are building for 2027 and beyond, not just hanging on for 2026.
Joel: Exactly. It’s a clean break. Gallagher leaves as a legend. The Canadiens move on to a speed-first identity. It hurts emotionally, but it makes sense structurally.
Renee: Let’s pivot to the defense. Marcus in Toronto asks: 'Noah Dobson is on the roster now. How does that change the blue line compared to last year?' This is a big addition.
Joel: Dobson is a game-changer. He’s an offensive defenseman. He moves the puck well, he joins the rush. When you look at the defensive group, you have Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, Alexandre Carrier, David Reinbacher... adding Dobson creates serious competition.
Renee: So do they all play? Who sits?
Joel: You can’t play nine defensemen. You’re going to have to trim the list. You’ve got Adam Engstrom, Owen Protz, Ethan Samson, Jayden Struble, Maksymilian Szuber, Arber Xhekaj... that is a lot of bodies. Dobson likely slots in as a top-pairing guy alongside Guhle or maybe even pairing with Hutson if the coaches want pure offense.
Renee: And the goalies? Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler, Kaapo Kahkonen, Sam Montembeault. Four netminders. That’s a circus waiting to happen.
Joel: It is crowded. Montembeault is the veteran presence. Kahkonen provides stability. Dobes is the young prospect. Fowler is there for development. Someone is going to be sent down. Probably Fowler or Dobes depending on how training camp goes.
Renee: Alright, let’s take a quick breather. Before we get into the depth chart battles and the fun hypotheticals, we need to talk about something important.
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Renee: Welcome back. We are diving into Segment Two: Roster Battles. Emily from Quebec City asks: 'Who is winning the battle for the second-line center spot? It seems like everyone wants it.'
Joel: This is the most interesting battle in Montreal right now. You have Nick Suzuki firmly at number one. Then you have Kirby Dach, Phillip Danault, Owen Beck, and now Ivan Demidov pushing from the wing or potentially shifting over.
Renee: Danault is the steady hand. He’s been there forever. But Dach has higher upside. And Beck has been improving every year.
Joel: Danault provides safety. He kills penalties, he plays solid defense. But if the coaches want to push for wins early, they might lean on Dach’s size and skill. However, if Demidov ends up playing center due to an injury or a weird lineup decision, he could steal that second-line job quickly.
Renee: What about the left wing? Juraj Slafkovsky, Brett Berard, Alexandre Texier, Florian Xhekaj. Slafkovsky is the anchor. But who is the second option?
Joel: Berard is the speedy rookie. Texier has had flashes. Xhekaj is physical. I think Slafkovsky takes the majority of minutes on the second line, but Berard is the player to watch in camp. He’s fast, he’s hungry. He could force his way into the lineup.
Renee: Okay, here’s a tough one. David from London asks: 'Is the Atlantic Division too tough? We are currently first in the standings according to some projections, but Boston and Toronto are always strong. Can we really stay there?'
Joel: First, a correction: the record is 0-0-0. The standings are fluid. But yes, the Atlantic is brutal. Toronto has their core. Boston is always dangerous. Tampa Bay has experience. Buffalo is rising.
Renee: We predicted last week that Montreal would finish second with 47-48 wins. Do we still stand by that?
Joel: We do. The gap between first and second isn’t huge. But Toronto and Boston have more consistency. Montreal has the speed, they have the Demidov factor, they have the Dobson upgrade. But consistency is key. If they can avoid injuries to Dach and Suzuki, those 47-48 wins are very achievable.
Renee: And what about the goaltending? If Montembeault starts, is he enough to carry a playoff push?
Joel: Montembeault is reliable. He’s not a superstar, but he won’t lose you games. If Kahkonen is healthy and competing, that’s a good tandem. It’s better than some teams in the division. So yes, the goalie situation is not a weakness.
Renee: One last question for this segment. Chris from Winnipeg asks: 'Lane Hutson is tiny. How does he survive in the NHL with guys like Arber Xhekaj and Kaiden Guhle pounding the board?'
Joel: Lane Hutson is small. Very small. But he is incredibly skilled. His vision, his passing, his ability to navigate traffic is elite. He doesn’t need to hit people. He needs to get the puck out of danger and start the rush. If he stays out of the corners, he’s fine. If he tries to body-check Xhekaj, he’s going to have a bad night.
Renee: Stay out of the corners, Lane. Got it. Alright, we are moving into our final segment. This is the fun stuff. A hypothetical scenario and a lightning round.
Renee: Question from @SpeedySkater: 'If the Canadiens could only keep three players from the current roster for the rest of their careers, who do they pick?'
Joel: That is painful. Nick Suzuki is automatic. He’s the leader. He’s the best player. Cole Caufield is automatic. He scores goals. That’s two.
Renee: Third spot. Patrick Laine? He has the shot, but the injury history. Ivan Demidov? He’s young, but unproven long-term. Kaiden Guhle? Solid defender.
Joel: I’ll go with Patrick Laine. Even with the injuries, when he’s healthy, he changes games. You want that scoring punch. So Suzuki, Caufield, Laine. The holy trinity of offense.
Renee: I disagree. I’m taking Demidov. He’s the future. Laine is a known quantity. Demidov has higher upside. So Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov. Three skaters who define the new era.
Joel: Interesting take. But Laine wins games in the playoffs. Demidov might not be ready for that yet. I’ll stick with Laine.
Renee: Lightning round! Quick answers only. First question: Who wins the opening game against Toronto on September 29th?
Joel: Overtime. We predicted this before. The skills are too evenly matched. Toronto has their star power. Montreal has their speed. It’s going to be a grind.
Renee: Second question: Who is the surprise breakout star this year?
Joel: Owen Beck. He’s been waiting for his moment. With the competition at center, if he gets the opportunity, he could shine.
Renee: Third question: Final prediction for the season. Win-loss record?
Joel: 47-48 wins. Second place in the Atlantic. Playoffs, but probably a first-round exit unless the goaltending steps up massively.
Renee: Agreed. 47-48. Second place. It’s a competitive season. The Canadiens are better than people think. They have the pieces. They just need to gel.
Joel: The Demidov extension signals confidence. The roster is built to compete. Don’t sleep on Montreal this year.
Renee: That’s it for today’s mailbag. We covered Demidov’s deal, the Gallagher trade, the center ice logjam, and our predictions for the opener against Toronto.
Joel: If you enjoyed the analysis, please subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you listen. It helps more fans find us.
Renee: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. Go Habs Go!