The main storylines for the Montreal Canadiens during the Olympic Break revolve around the 2026 Trade Deadline and the “Habs Quartet” playing in Milan.
The “Habs Quartet” at the Olympics
With the NHL paused, all eyes are on the four Canadiens players in Italy. Their roles have varied significantly:
Juraj Slafkovsky (Slovakia): The indisputable star of his national team. After being the MVP of the 2022 Olympics as a teenager, he is now carrying the offense for Slovakia (Group B) and looking to secure another medal.
Nick Suzuki (Canada): Playing a big role on a stacked Team Canada roster (Group A).
Alexandre Texier (France): A leader for the French team, though they face an uphill battle in the Qualification Playoffs.
Oliver Kapanen (Finland): Playing a depth forward role for a strong Finnish squad.
Notable Snub: Cole Caufield remains a major topic of conversation during the break. Despite his goal-scoring prowess for Montreal, he was left off the Team USA roster, giving him a full two weeks of rest while his teammates compete.
Buyer or Seller? Buyer!
General Manager Kent Hughes faces a critical decision when the league resumes. The NHL Trade Deadline is March 6, 2026. The Canadiens entered the break in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The team is competitive enough to be considered a “buyer” (looking for “playoff grit” or depth centers), but they also have a logjam of forwards.
Speculation persists that the team may need to trade a veteran forward or a young defenseman (like Jayden Struble) to balance the roster and salary cap, especially with players returning from injury.
Patrik Laine’s Imminent Return & Trade Rumours
The Olympic break serves as a perfect rehabilitation window for Patrik Laine. Laine has been out since late October following core muscle surgery. He began skating before the break and is officially considered “close.”
He is expected to be ready to play when the Canadiens resume their season on Feb. 26 against the New York Islanders. His return adds elite scoring but complicates the lineup, forcing the coaching staff to reshuffle the top six. Speculation abounds that he may be traded before the trade deadline.
Goaltending Questions
Before the break, starter Samuel Montembeault struggled, posting sub-.900 save percentages in key losses. The coaching staff will use this reset to decide if they need to lean more heavily on Jakub Dobes for the final playoff push or trust Montembeault to regain his form.
Related – Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
Men’s Olympic Hockey Schedule This Week
| Date | Event / Storyline | Time (ET) |
| Tue, Feb 17 | Olympic Qualification Playoffs (Teams ranked 5th-12th) Watch for: Alexandre Texier (France) | 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Wed, Feb 18 | Olympic Quarterfinals Watch for: Nick Suzuki (Canada), Juraj Slafkovsky (Slovakia) | 6:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Thu, Feb 19 | No Men’s Games (Women’s Medal Games) | N/A |
| Fri, Feb 20 | Olympic Semifinals | 10:40 AM & 3:10 PM |
| Sat, Feb 21 | Bronze Medal Game | 2:40 PM |
| Sun, Feb 22 | Gold Medal Game | 8:10 AM |
AI tools were used to support the creation or distribution of this content, however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of The Hockey Writers editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our Editorial Standards page.
