Episode
Summer Coolers – Montreal Canadiens
- Podcast
- NHL Wraparound Podcast
- Published
- Sep 13, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 332
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Summer Coolers – Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens enter 2026-27 coming off a breakthrough season that took them all the way to the Eastern Conference Final. Montreal finished third in the Atlantic, fourth in the East, and sixth overall before defeating Tampa Bay and Buffalo in dramatic seven-game series and eventually falling to Carolina in five. But instead of making a blockbuster move to accelerate the process, GM Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are sticking with the youth movement. Neil Smith and Vic Morren examine whether patience is still the right strategy for a Canadiens team that suddenly looks much closer to Stanley Cup contention. IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00:00] Martin St. Louis begins his sixth season behind the Montreal bench after guiding the Canadiens to third in the Atlantic and a trip to the Eastern Conference Final. [00:00:25] Montreal survives Tampa Bay in seven games, including a deciding game where the Canadiens generated remarkably few shots but still found a way to win. [00:00:40] The Canadiens then defeat Buffalo in overtime in Game 7 before losing to eventual champion Carolina in five games after taking the series opener. [00:00:55] Montreal finishes seventh offensively, improves defensively from tied for 22nd to tied for 16th, and owns a top-10 power play. [00:01:00] Despite the playoff success, alarm bells are beginning to sound among those who believe Montreal has been too conservative during the offseason. [00:01:20] The Canadiens’ only trade acquisition is Brett Berard from the Rangers in exchange for defenseman William Trudeau. [00:01:40] Neil believes the lack of major moves is intentional. Hughes and Gorton are committed to allowing their young core to continue developing rather than rushing the rebuild. [00:02:00] Montreal has also ben…