NHL · Atlantic · Est. 1909 · Bell Centre
Updated March 16, 2026
Juraj Slafkovsky has 52 points in 62 games, setting career bests in both goals (23) and points. The move to the second line alongside rookies Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen has unlocked Slafkovsky as a play-driving winger, and the Canadiens' future suddenly looks very bright.
With Slafkovsky ($7.6M AAV), Nick Suzuki ($7.875M), and Cole Caufield ($7.85M) all signed to long-term deals, Montreal has its core locked up for the better part of a decade. The rebuild is transitioning into a competitive phase faster than anyone expected.
The Canadiens sit six points behind the Sabres in the Atlantic Division and are in the thick of the playoff race. After making the postseason last spring for the first time in Slafkovsky's tenure, Montreal is determined not to take a step backward.