The Montreal Canadiens have signed defence prospect Owen Protz to his three-year entry-level contract. The deal will begin in the 2026-27 season.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2026-27 to 2028-29) with defenseman Owen Protz. News release ↓ #GoHabsGo https://t.co/l4rvU5BvDC — Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 27, 2026
Protz just completed the OHL’s regular-season schedule, helping the Brantford Bulldogs claim the best record in t...
The majority of the remaining games for the Montreal Canadiens are against playoff, or playoff-hopeful teams, and Thursday night was no different. To finish their three-game home stand before hitting the road, they hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have been major risers in the Metropolitan division of late. Once again overcoming a lethargic start to the game, the Habs took a very close 2-1 victory, allowing them to head off for their road trip on a high note.
A third period marker fr...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Michael Hage is one of the exciting NHL prospects competing in the NCAA tournament. [ Sportsnet ]
Logan Sawyer and Emmett Croteau’s seasons are over, after being eliminated from the NCAA tournament in the first round. [ RDS ]
Could Martin St-Louis have given Cole Caufield a crack at an empty net as the winger strives for 50? [ Journal de Montreal ]
Is the head coach in line for a new contract during the offseason? [ RDS ]
Has Jayden ...
First period
Well it’s looking a lot like the start versus the Hurricanes two days ago, with the Blue Jackets winning every puck battle in Montreal’s zone to maintain constant pressure.
Jakub Dobeš has made four saves in the opening two minutes, although one of them was the result of a poor rebound he allowed.
Passes are also an impossible thing for them at the moment, also like the previous game.
Dobeš has become a third defenceman once again trying to break the forechec...
Game 71: Montreal Canadiens vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Blue Jackets region: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Montreal’s week off difficult opponents continues with the marching Columbus Blue Jackets in town. Columbus is trying to solidify its standing in second place in the Metropolitan Division, while the Canadiens are looking to use one of their two games i...
Game 71: Montreal Canadiens vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Blue Jackets region: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Around this time last season, the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets were battling each other for the final wild-card spot, putting together excellent finishes to overcome poor starts to the season. In the end, it took Montreal going 7-1-2 in the ...
It was only 10 days ago where the Montreal Victoire had a 3-0 lead in the third period against a team they could leapfrog in the standings. That afternoon, they lost to the Boston Fleet 4-3, and after the game the players and coach Kori Cheverie said it was a learning opportunity.
Fast forward to Wednesday night, and the Victoire held on to a 3-0 win on the road against the Minnesota Frost to move into second place in the PWHL with eight games remaining.
The win moved the Victoire to...
With just nine games left on the schedule, the Laval Rocket were down to the nitty-gritty of their schedule as they tracked down a second straight North Division title. With their magic number sitting at 19 points, the Rocket would need some help from teams playing the Syracuse Crunch down the stretch in order to reach that goal. It would be an uphill battle for the Rocket as it was announced that leading scorer Laurent Dauphin would be out with an injury for the rest of the regular season.
...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Jakub Dobeš is thriving under new goalie coach Marco Marciano, inching closer to the coveted no. 1 goaltender spot. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Dobeš knows his limits when it comes to speaking to the media. [ Journal de Montreal ]
The Canadiens have mastered the art of the comeback this season. [ Journal de Montreal ]
But can their style of play get the job done in the playoffs? [ Montreal Gazette | HIO ]
Of the 13 games remaining, five sta...
Needing a win to keep pace in the Atlantic playoff race, the Montreal Canadiens hosted the top team in the entire conference on Tuesday in the form of the Carolina Hurricanes. After a horrific start saw them down two goals in the first period, they went on to score five unanswered goals, securing two points that didn’t seem within the realm of possibility in the early goings.
At the centre of their comeback win was Jakub Dobeš, who stonewalled the Hurricanes after their two early goals.
...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
The youngsters on the Laval Rocket have taken a step forward. [ RDS ]
Recently acquired goaltender Hunter Shepard brings a Calder Cup pedigree to Laval. [ Montreal Gazette ]
Phillip Danault knows what Zachary Bolduc is going through as the younger forward navigates a goal drought. [ RDS ]
Is Cole Caufield a legitimate threat for the Rocket Richard Trophy? [ TSN (Video) ]
The five biggest games left on the Habs schedule. [ The Hockey ...
First period
Josh Anderson is back in the lineup, but his first shift doesn’t last very long as he gets sent off for interference a second after Phillip Danault won a defensive-zone faceoff.
Nikolaj Ehlers, the hottest goal-scorer for the Hurricanes, tries to send a pass to Seth Jarvis at the top of the crease, but instead Mike Matheson deflects the puck behind Jakub Dobeš in his attempt to cut off the pass.
The puck gets behind Lane Hutson and Taylor Hall turns it into a brea...
Game 70: Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Hurricanes region: FanDuel Sports Network South Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
Thank to three wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the past two weeks, the Carolina Hurricanes have all but locked up the Metropolitan Division by taking a 10-point lead over their nearest competitor. Now the Hurricanes are about to get a heavy dose of t...
The Montreal Victoire made a series of roster moves on Tuesday morning ahead of their game against the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday. The team signed defender Nadia Mattivi to a standard contract and placed captain Marie-Philip Poulin on long-term injured reserve with a lower-body injury.
Poulin’s placement was retroactive to March 15, and the earliest she would be available to return is April 5. The team is 2-0-1 in three games without her this season.
Mattivi, 25, is coming off of a...
While few players get the Bell Centre going like Arber Xhekaj can, it hasn’t been a banner season for the 25-year-old defenceman.
Xhekaj’s story is amazing: undrafted as a teen when he was eligible for the Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection Draft in 2017, he worked his way up only to go undrafted in the NHL draft both in 2020 and 2021. Yet his play earned him an invite to the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp in 2021, where he impressed and promptly signed an entry-level deal.
...
Game 70: Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French) In the Hurricanes region: FanDuel Sports Network South Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Montreal Canadiens managed one shot in the first period when they played the Los Angeles Kings on the road on March 7. It was an opponent the Habs had struggled against for years, unable to penetrate the neutral-zone forecheck of a team with solid defensiv...
Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
Montreal’s core is electric and they’re just getting started. [ Sportsnet ]
Cole Caufield named the third star of the week. [ Canadiens ]
Nick Suzuki leads the Selke conversation and several other Canadiens are in the mix for NHL Awards consideration. [ The Athletic ]
Suzuki, Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovski are one of the hottest lines in the league. [ TVA Sports ]
Caufield could hit 50 goals this season, and is in the conversation fo...
The Montreal Canadiens have never been accused of being a boring franchise. This series is a look back at the moments that made you throw your hands up, lose your mind, ugly cry, hold your breath, scratch your head, and cheer so loudly you scared the dog … sometimes all at once. If you were there the first time around, you know. If you weren’t, hop in the DeLorean cause we’re going back in time.
Every now and then, hockey throws you a storyline so delightfully absurd it’s hard to forget —...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Milestones the Canadiens will be chasing for the remainder of the season, including 100-point seasons for both Nick Suzuki and the team. [ La Presse ]
Chasing 50 goals, Cole Caufield is also in the running to win the Rocket Richard Trophy. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Looking back at some of the other prolific Habs goal-scorers of the last 30 years. [ Journal de Montreal ]
One tough week down, another critical 10 days ahead as the Canadiens ge...
With the Atlantic playoff race seeming to heat up more by every minute of game time, the Montreal Canadiens have done themselves few favours of late. Three regulation losses in their last five games made Saturday night’s contest with the New York Islanders – a team also desperate for wins to get back into the playoff picture – a must win. It was a very close game all the way into the third period, but the Habs pulled away quickly in that frame, earning a massive two points in regulation that t...
The regular seasons in Europe are winding down and there has been mixed success for the Montreal Canadiens prospects throughout the season; some good, some average and some that will have to struggle to get up in the Top 25 Under 25 rankings come August. At the time you read this, Filip Eriksson’s season continues as his Luleå won the third and deciding game in the wild-card series against Örebro, and will now face Frölunda in the quarter-finals.
Will Shoukri joins the podcast as we go th...
Montreal Canadiens news and notes
Juraj Slafkovský says Cole Caufield reaching 50 goals is a challenge for the team before the season concludes. [ Journal de Montreal ]
When Caufield ordered a large chocolate sundae during his draft interview meal, Trevor Timmins knew he had the confidence to succeed. [ Journal de Montreal ]
Martin St-Louis liked the conversations he was hearing on the bench as the Canadiens dealt with some adversity in the middle of last night’s game. [ Journ...
First period
An energetic start from the top line and top defence pair starts the game off in the offensive zone.
A good scoring chance for Alex Newhook follows it up.
Kaiden Guhle erases an attempt by the Islanders to get set up by tossing Anthony Duclair to the boards with a big hit.
The third line comes down for its chance on Ilya Sorokin.
Line number four keeps the pressure on, and that leads to a Casey Cizikas slashing penalty as he whacks Brendan Gallagher.
...
Game 69: Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
At the time of writing, the Pittsburgh Penguins have won their game versus the Winnipeg Jets in a shootout, while the Columbus Blue Jackets’ unstoppable march up the order has them out to a 3-1 lead over the Seattle Kraken through one period of play. Those are big res...
Game 69: Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Islanders
Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT In Canada: CityTV, Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French) In the Islanders region: MSGSN Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+
The Columbus Blue Jackets were the latest team to beat up the New York Rangers when they played on Thursday, improving their post-Olympics record to 7-1-4. At the same time, the New York Islanders saw what they were expecting to be another chance to show off their ove...