Top Canadiens Storylines Set to Define Their 2026 Offseason

The Montreal Canadiens have heightened expectations to near-insurmountable levels. After reaching the Eastern Conference Final by upsetting the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in the first two rounds, they’ve effectively raised the bar for what will be an acceptable outcome in 2026-27.

To achieve said outcome, general manager Kent Hughes has his work cut out for him this summer. What follows aren’t as much priorities as storylines to follow as fans, though. Here are the Canadiens’ top ones this offseason as he goes about continuing the rebuild, but also building on a hugely successful spring:

Gallagher’s Potentially Impending Departure

Canadiens fans didn’t have to wait long for the first offseason domino to at least teeter. Soon after the team had gotten eliminated, forward Brendan Gallagher openly mourned his Habs tenure, despite having another year under contract. Based on the fact he was scratched for all but three games of the offseason (and got scratched to end the regular season), he described it as seeing the writing on the wall in terms of his time with the team drawing to a close.

Now, nothing has been made official and Gallagher can still theoretically return for 2026-27. However, it’s hard to envision a) the Canadiens doing a 180 and suddenly realizing he can help them get over the hump or b) Gallagher walking back his comments and reconciling with hockey operations after seemingly having been disrespected to the degree he has (based on his perception).

All that having been said, Gallagher is logically the surest-fire non-free-agent who won’t be back for next season. While goalie Samuel Montembeault, who also has a year left on his deal, is also a candidate to move on, after having effectively been usurped as the team’s No. 1 by Jakub Dobes, he a) hasn’t been with the Canadiens nearly as long as Gallagher and b) can theoretically stay on as a backup if the Habs decide to send Jacob Fowler down to minors (as the latter is still waiver-exempt).

There just doesn’t seem to be a similar path for Gallagher to stay in town. It just remains to be seen where he’s traded and for what.

Whether the Knies Trade Actually Happens

You would have thought, with the regime change in Toronto and the Maple Leafs having won the first-overall pick at the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, they’d be the first to kibosh the reported deal involving Matthew Knies that fell through at the trade deadline. However, considering the Leafs just traded away Joseph Woll, their arguable best chance at a No. 1 goalie in the system, maybe they are leaning into a full-scale rebuild. So, sending Knies to the Canadiens for a bevy of futures could make sense in their minds.

Even so, that wouldn’t necessarily mean it behooves the Canadiens to go ahead with the deal following a successful postseason, in which they went further than anyone reasonably expected (without Knies). If the Leafs are still game though, a young, potential point-per-game winger would at least be tempting to help fill out the Habs’ top six.

Whether the Canadiens Trade for a Center Instead

Nevertheless, the priority should be a centre, if for no other reason than the Canadiens felt like they had no choice but to play bottom-six-forward Jake Evans down the middle on the second line in the playoffs. So, especially after winger Alex Newhook had a great playoffs, it’s logical for the Habs to instead use whatever assets they had been reported as sending the Leafs’ way for Knies (Alexander Zharovsky, another top prospect and two first-round picks) and package them towards acquiring that ever-elusive second-line centre.

Hell, add in the team’s first-round pick to the list of assets that could be dealt as well. That’s the expectation anyway. So, from the jump this offseason, especially because they’re only slated to make their pick at No. 28, far fewer analysts and fans alike are assessing the best fits for the team. It becomes a crapshoot after a certain point, anyway.

Via trade, the Canadiens have of course been linked to several fairly high-profile options at centre, each of whom would realistically cost a fair deal (probably more than Knies). So, Hughes can be excused for perhaps balking at the mere idea of pulling the trigger and deciding to wait for prospect Michael Hage to sign instead.

Granted, that would only happen at the end of next season at the earliest, prompting suggestions the Canadiens should just include him in any deal, as an entire season is a long time to wait to fill the role in question, especially for a team with ambitions of contending. So, that’s one option. Free agency unfortunately isn’t, at least not much of one to find a centre, anyway.

What the Canadiens Will Do in Free Agency

This summer’s free agent class is especially thin down the middle, with a 38-year-old Claude Giroux representing the best option. Seeing as he’s coming off a one-year deal and would probably be looking for another short-term contract, he wouldn’t be a bad target per se. However, when names like an in-his-prime Robert Thomas have been bandied about it’s hard to see Giroux as anything other than a last resort. Even then, considering his personal and contract history, you’d have to think he’ll likely re-sign with the Ottawa Senators (if anywhere).

One thing that cannot be denied is how, for the first time in a long time, it makes sense for the Canadiens to take on a more active role in free agency, with other needs having presented themselves. Whether it’s on the right side on defense (Darren Raddysh, Rasmus Andersson, Jacob Trouba) or on the wing (Alex Tuch, Anthony Mantha, Mason Marchment), the Habs certainly have means and motive to chase someone of significance. They very well may not and focus once again on the bottom of the lineup, but it’s at least easy to envision them making a splash, whereas in the recent past it made close to zero sense.

When Demidov Will Sign an Extension

Just like last season, when defenseman Lane Hutson’s extension cast a shadow over the team’s offseason, the biggest free agent the Canadiens can sign is still within their own organization. Forward Ivan Demidov, who just fell short of following up Hutson’s 2024 Calder Memorial Trophy with a second consecutive rookie-of-the-year award, can sign an extension as soon as July 1, and all onlookers will be sweating until a deal gets done and the talented Russian is locked up into the long term, which is what is largely expected.

However, keep in mind Hutson only signed his eight-year, $70.8 million extension on Oct. 13, after the season had started. So, it’s possible this specific storyline drags into 2026-27. However, as Sportsnet’s Eric Engels explained in a recent piece, it’s unlikely to, as the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which would cap signing bonuses at 60% over contract terms, kicks in on Sep. 16. While the Canadiens have other restricted free agents to re-sign, none are surrounded by the same level of intrigue as (or match the skill of) Demidov.

Both sides seem to want to get something done, which bodes well for harmonious negotiations and the prospects of all parties, including fans who are eager to see the Canadiens build on their recent success. Demidov obviously figures heavily into their chances of contending for the Stanley Cup. And, after they just reached the Eastern Conference Final, it’s clear what the goal is, which will be a recurring theme this summer all on its own. That’s not as much a storyline as it is a hypothetical happy ending, though. And it would only come a full year from now. Thankfully, at least the summer should fly by. There’s plenty going on to keep everyone’s attention.