The complete Montreal Canadiens 2026-27 guide: full roster with photos, players to watch, team leaders, key dates on the schedule and last season's recap.
An Eastern Conference Final last spring, a 101-point captain, a Calder-winning defenceman and an 84-game season that just got underway: the Montreal Canadiens have not been this fun to follow in a long time. Here is our complete guide to the 2026-27 season, updated as the season goes: roster, players to watch, schedule and dates to circle.
- Head coach: Martin St-Louis. Captain: Nick Suzuki.
- 84-game season, 42 at the Bell Centre, from September 29, 2026, to April 10, 2027.
- 3-3-1 record after seven games, as of October 15.
- Last season: 101 points for Suzuki, 50 goals for Caufield, and an Eastern Conference Final loss to Carolina.
The Canadiens 2026-27 roster
The Canadiens have 26 players on the NHL roster: 15 forwards, 8 defencemen and 3 goalies. Ivan Demidov suffered a lower-body injury in early October, and the team announced he would miss two to four weeks. On the way out, Brendan Gallagher, Patrik Laine and Joe Veleno are no longer with the team, while forward Chris Kreider was added.
Cole Caufield
Nick Suzuki (C)
Juraj Slafkovsky
Chris Kreider
Kirby Dach
Alex Newhook
Josh Anderson
Phillip Danault
Jake Evans
Zachary Bolduc
Alexandre Texier
Oliver Kapanen
Florian Xhekaj
Ivan Demidov (injured)
Lane Hutson
Noah Dobson
Mike Matheson
Alexandre Carrier
Arber Xhekaj
Adam Engstrom
Samuel Montembeault
Jakub Dobes6 players to follow this season
Canadiens leaders as of October 15
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Suzuki | 7 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Lane Hutson | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Josh Anderson | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Zachary Bolduc | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Cole Caufield | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Chris Kreider | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Alex Newhook | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
In net, Jakub Dobes opened the season as the starter, and 21-year-old Jacob Fowler is 2-1 with a .906 save percentage in three games.
The schedule: dates to circle
For the first time, the NHL season has 84 games. The Canadiens play 42 at the Bell Centre. Here are the next games and the big dates of the season (Eastern time):
| Date | Game | Why watch |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 17 | Sabres @ Canadiens | Rematch with Buffalo, beaten in a shootout on October 13 |
| Oct. 20 | Sharks @ Canadiens | Last game before a four-game western road trip |
| Oct. 31 | Penguins @ Canadiens | Halloween night at the Bell Centre |
| Nov. 7 | Canadiens @ Maple Leafs | Back in Toronto, on a Saturday night |
| Dec. 26 | Maple Leafs @ Canadiens | The holiday classic, at 7 p.m. |
| Dec. 31 | Canadiens @ Lightning | The last game of 2026, in the afternoon |
| Jan. 6 | Bruins @ Canadiens | The Bruins' first visit to the Bell Centre |
| Jan. 26 | Hurricanes @ Canadiens | The team that ended the 2026 run |
| April 10 | Canadiens @ Senators | Last game of the regular season |
2025-26 recap: the season that changed everything
The Canadiens had one of their best seasons in years. Nick Suzuki reached 101 points, Cole Caufield scored 50 goals and Lane Hutson added 78 points from the blue line. In the playoffs, Montreal beat Tampa Bay in seven games, then Buffalo in seven, before falling 4-1 to Carolina in the Eastern Conference Final. A loss that still stings, and a 3-3-1 start that shows nothing is guaranteed. Revisit our October 6 recap against the Hurricanes.
To go further: who is Nick Suzuki, who is Lane Hutson, the roster, key dates and brands to watch at the start of the season, and our live coverage of the game in Washington.
Canadiens 2026-27: your questions
Who is the captain of the Montreal Canadiens?+
Nick Suzuki, captain since September 12, 2022.
Who coaches the Canadiens?+
Martin St-Louis is the Canadiens' head coach.
How many games do the Canadiens play in 2026-27?+
84 games, 42 at the Bell Centre. The regular season ends on April 10, 2027, in Ottawa.
When do the Canadiens host the Maple Leafs?+
On December 26, 2026, and again on March 22, 2027.
Is Ivan Demidov injured?+
Yes. On October 6, Montreal announced a lower-body injury and an absence of two to four weeks.
How far did the Canadiens go in the 2026 playoffs?+
To the Eastern Conference Final, lost 4-1 to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sources: NHL.com, NHL.com, Canadiens vs Maple Leafs, Daily Faceoff, Field Level Media, The Canadian Press via Castanet, NHL.com, 2026 playoffs.
