The Montreal Canadiens entered the 2026-27 season with plenty of optimism surrounding their young core. After taking significant steps forward last season, expectations are understandably higher for Martin St. Louis’ squad. However, while there have been some encouraging performances early on, not everyone has lived up to expectations. It is still very early in the season, and there is plenty of time for players to turn things around. Nevertheless, some Canadiens have struggled to find their rhythm, and their performances have raised questions about what they can bring to the lineup moving forward. Here are three Canadiens players who need to step up after disappointing starts to the campaign. Juraj Slafkovsky At just 22 years old, Juraj Slafkovsky remains one of the most important pieces of the Canadiens’ future. The former first-overall pick has shown considerable growth over the past few seasons, and the expectation is that he will continue improving as he gains experience in the NHL. Unfortunately, his start to the 2026-27 season has been somewhat disappointing. One important factor to consider is that Slafkovsky began the season playing alongside Ivan Demidov rather than his usual linemates, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield. However, that does not excuse some of the mistakes Slafkovsky has made. The biggest concern has been his puck management. Too often, the Slovakian forward has tried to do too much with the puck, resulting in unnecessary turnovers and missed opportunities. Instead of making the simple play, he occasionally attempts to force something that simply isn’t there. For a player with his size, strength, and offensive abilities, Slafkovsky does not need to complicate things to be effective. When he uses his body to protect the puck, wins battles along the boards, and creates space for his teammates, he can be extremely difficult to contain. The talent is clearly there, but the Canadiens need him to play a more mature and consistent game. At 22, there is no reason to panic, but it is fair to expect more from someone who is supposed to become a cornerstone of the franchise. Kirby Dach Unfortunately, this is becoming a familiar conversation when discussing Kirby Dach. There was a time when the Canadiens believed Dach could become an important offensive contributor and potentially establish himself as a reliable top-six forward. His combination of size, skating, and skill made him an intriguing piece of Montreal’s rebuilding process. However, several seasons later, the organization is still waiting to see that player consistently. Dach opened the 2026-27 season with an assist against the Toronto Maple Leafs, providing some early optimism. Since then, though, he has failed to register another point. He also carries a minus-4 rating, which certainly does not help his case. Of course, plus-minus is far from a perfect statistic when evaluating a player’s performance, but combined with his lack of offensive production, it reflects a disappointing beginning to the season. He is also the regular player that has played the less minutes per game…
