Marc Dumont
Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories, and content you may have missed on Monday.
Montreal Canadiens News
We’ve reached the top spot in our annual Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. Dynamic forward Michael Hage took the No. 1 position, due to his elite skill set, not to mention that he’s already established himself as one of the top players in the NCAA. It remains to be seen how long he’ll stay in the NCAA, and whether the Habs will want him to spend some time in the AHL before graduating him to the NHL, but there’s no doubt Hage represents Montreal’s best hopes to produce an elite player from their current prospect pool. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 1 Dynamic Michael Hage]
Our analyst Roni Hermo took a deep dive on the statistics produced by Samuel Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, as well as Jacob Fowler, and the results may shock you! Okay, sensationalism aside, Roni always does fantastic work, and in this case, he shed some important light on the current situation. While Dobes has managed to win more games, the numbers suggest Montembeault has also played relatively well. [Canadiens Analysis: – Which Goalie Should Start Down The Final Stretch Of The Season]
The Canadiens are reportedly interested in trading for Robert Thomas, but the cost will be sky-high. It makes sense, as Thomas is in his statistical prime, and you rarely see a player of his talent become available for trade. According to the report, the trade package would have to include top Canadiens prospect Hage, among others.
Sources indicate that the #GoHabsGo are one of the interested teams circling around Robert Thomas.
— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) March 2, 2026
That being said, the price set by Doug Armstrong is too high for the Habs at this time.
The Blues reportedly want Michael Hage in any package for Thomas.https://t.co/GOp9eeQdP7
The Laval Rocket continue to do things right. On top of becoming the centre of entertainment in Laval, they’re set to honour firefighters on the weekend with a new jersey. They will then auction the jerseys, with the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. It’s a great initiative that’s clearly worthy of our support. On that note, even if they weren’t supporting an important charity, I’d still suggest going to see the Rocket, as it offers the best bang for your buck when it comes to the entertainment budget. Families, in particular, benefit from the reasonable costs, the great atmosphere, and the fantastic amenities at Place Bell.
Prêts à tout
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 2, 2026
Ready for everything
Le Rocket portera cet uniforme lors du match Tout feu tout flamme en collaboration avec le Service de sécurité incendie de Laval au profit de la Société canadienne du cancer, samedi prochain à la Place Bell. Les chandails seront disponibles à… pic.twitter.com/wp6gh57Nvx
Adam Nicholas continues to be one of the most important members of the Canadiens organization, helping young players develop into confident NHLers.
On top of that, he also has a pretty darn good shot!
Habs prospect Michael Hage with the assist to spring a breakaway goal by Michigan
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 28, 2026
pic.twitter.com/2X5RWTFlRz
ICYMI: Netminder Jacob Fowler took the No. 2 spot in our Canadiens prospect rankings. All things considered, he’s shown he can be a dominant presence in every league, from the USHL to the NHL, but we should guard against thrusting him into the NHL spotlight too early. He still needs to absorb as much experience as possible in the AHL before the pressure of becoming Montreal’s starter comes into play. [Canadiens Top 20 Prospects – No. 2 Stoic Fowler]
Sportsnaut Network
The 2026 NHL Trade Deadline is under a week away. The New Jersey Devils are out of playoff position and are likely gearing up for next season. After all, it is in GM Tom Fitzgerald’s DNA to prepare in the Spring to retool in the Summer. It’s what he did when he acquired Jake Allen two deadlines ago. Despite few players on expiring contracts, the Devils still have value to move next Friday with some short-term deals with favourable cap hits. [New Jersey Devils]
The Toronto Maple Leafs are poised to be very busy sellers this week. The trade deadline hits on Friday at 3pm Eastern. Pending unrestricted free agents are the most likely candidates to go, though much of the team is available for the right price. [Toronto Maple Leafs]
The Minnesota Wild are looking for upgrades at center going into the NHL trade deadline. After trading for defenseman Quinn Hughes, the Wild hope to round out their roster for a major push at the Stanley Cup. Now, Minnesota is being linked to a big trade for an Olympic gold medallist for Team USA. [Minnesota Wild]
