Marc Dumont
Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories, and content you may have missed on Wednesday.
Montreal Canadiens News
Even though it’s more fun to poke fun at the Toronto Maple Leafs than to analyze their downfall, there are some important lessons worth keeping in mind for the Montreal Canadiens as they attempt to become legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. [Top 5 Lessons The Canadiens Can Learn from Toronto’s Demise]
ICYMI: Maple Leafs Sports And Entertainment President and CEO Keith Pelley admitted his franchise underestimated teams in their division, noting that both the Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres surprised the Leafs with their success. All things considered, Buffalo finally breaking free from the basement of the NHL was somewhat of a surprise, but everyone in the NHL was well aware that the Canadiens are a team on the rise. [Leafs President Admits He Didn’t See The Canadiens Coming]
Pierre Lebrun suggests the Canadiens will want to sign head coach Martin St-Louis to a contract extension, sooner than later. It’s important to note that Lebrun was just speaking out loud, rather than reporting. The Habs exercised a two-year option with St-Louis when his contract was up for renewal in 2024, which means it is set to expire in 2026-27.
Pierre LeBrun: I don't think the Canadiens' management will want Martin St. Louis to spend the entire next season on an expiring contract; I have a feeling that before the season starts next fall, they'll want to sign [him] – (*translated) RDS (3/26)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) April 1, 2026
Shockingly, or not, the Canadiens have looked much better since reuniting their best players on the first line. There was some logic in wanted to spread the wealth throughout the lineup, but that was essentially messing with as close as it gets to perfection, a cardinal sin in hockey roster management. The forwards, along with Lane Hutson, were among the most productive players in March.
Four different Habs players are on the Best Team of March:
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 1, 2026
Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky & Lane Hutson pic.twitter.com/jV7ypPpLq6
Speaking of the first line in March, Cole Caufield managed to score 12 goals, becoming the first Habs forward to do so since Guy Lafleur in 1976.
Cole Caufield
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) April 1, 2026
First Canadiens player to score 12 goals in the month of March since Guy Lafleur in 1976#GoHabsGo
He also scored a go-ahead goal for the 27th time of the season, the third-most in NHL history, trailing only goal-scoring legends Brett Hull and Pavel Bure.
Cole Caufield recorded his 27th go-ahead goal of the season and passed David Pastrnak (26 in 2022-23) for the third most in a single campaign in NHL history. Only Brett Hull (39 in 1990-91) and Pavel Bure (28 in 1999-00) have more.
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 1, 2026
Tune in 🌎: https://t.co/dT34F4MhkC https://t.co/J8uQmFZEQ6
Sportsnaut Network
Alex Ovechkin could be in the final days of his NHL career. Following the 2025-26 NHL season, Ovechkin is set to become an unrestricted free agent; however, no one expects him to leave the Washington Capitals. Instead, the 40-year-old forward has to decide on retirement, and one NHL insider has provided an update on a possible scenario. [Washington Capitals]
The NHL has been successful with its new expansion teams over the years. In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights debuted and won their first Stanley Cup in 2023. Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken debuted in 2021 and continue to push for a second playoff berth. In fact, another city has emerged as an unexpected candidate: New Orleans. [NHL]
The New Jersey Devils have dominated their cross-Hudson-rival New York Rangers for much of the past two seasons. But the Rangers finally punched back Tuesday, both literally and metaphorically. The Rangers dominated from the game’s outset, then Igor Shesterkin delivered a knockout blow to both Jacob Markstrom and the Devils by winning the goalie fight and the game. [New Jersey Devils]
