Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories, and content you may have missed on Monday.
Montreal Canadiens News
The Habs have a serious defensive issue, and it’s become impossible to ignore. The top pairing of Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson has struggled of late, with the numbers suggesting a change is overdue. [Canadiens Defensive Pairings Are In Need Of A Shake-Up]
Not only did the Tampa Bay Lightning outplay the Habs by a wide margin, goaltending continues to be a major sticking point. Both Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes had yet another difficult outing, albeit while playing behind a confused defensive setup. [Canadiens Highlights: Complete Collapse Versus Lightning]
Unsurprisingly, Cole Caufield is among the most clutch players in the league. Or is it clutchiest? Clutcher? Either way, he scores a lot of goals at the best possible time.
Crosby and Caufield. Interesting! Tom Wilson?👏
— Benchrates (@benchrates) December 9, 2025
TOP 1-goal difference or tie Goal Scorers among Forwards
1. Nathan MacKinnon #GoAvsGo 20 Goals
2. Morgan Geekie #NHLBruins 17
3. Cole Caufield #GoHabsGo 15
4. Sidney Crosby #LetsGoPens 15
5. Connor Bedard #Blackhawks 13
6. Bo… pic.twitter.com/YwBnr568ge
The Colorado Avalanche will be wearing their Nordiques jerseys when they visit the Habs on January 29. I have to say, it always bugs me that the NHL is willing to trample the corpses of fans they abandoned long ago just to squeeze a few more dollars out of the nostalgia tree.
🚨 NHL has approved for the Avalanche to wear their blue Nordiques jerseys on Jan 29 at the Canadiens, who will wear their home reds at the Bell Centre. ⚜️ #GoAvsGo #GoHabsGo
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) December 9, 2025
Sportsnaut Network
Now that the Quinn Hughes speculation has exploded, the New Jersey Devils are no longer the lone destination folks are predicting in a potential trade. Elliotte Friedman revealed the Devils and Vancouver Canucks have been in contact about the 26-year-old defenseman, which further fuelled the speculation that a trade could happen as soon as this season, despite the claim that nothing is urgent. [New Jersey Devils]
Coincidence or not, Carter Verhaeghe has been on fire for the Florida Panthers the past few games. Verhaeghe, one may remember, missed last Tuesday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs to be with his wife Casey for the birth of their first child, Rory. Since? Verdaddy, as his teammates are calling him, has been tearing up the scoresheet. [Florida Panthers]
Their age is neither a selling point nor a concern to Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Muse. The Penguins’ third line is currently, and for a foreseeable future, comprised of three rookies, the oldest of which is Ville Koivunen at 22, Rutger McGroarty at 21, and the youngest and most experienced of which is Ben Kindel at 18. [Pittsburgh Penguins]
