3 Montreal Canadiens Facing the Most Pressure in 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

Expectations have changed considerably for the Montreal Canadiens. After years in which development and progress were the main priorities, the Canadiens enter the 2026-27 season expecting to compete and build on their recent playoff success.

That naturally creates more pressure throughout the lineup. Young players are expected to take another step, veterans need to justify their spots, and there is less room for prolonged struggles with prospects pushing from within the organization.

For some players, however, the stakes are even higher. Whether because of their contract situation, competition for their position or increased expectations, these three Canadiens could have a lot riding on the upcoming season.

Kirby Dach

It is difficult to find a Canadiens player with more on the line this season than Kirby Dach. When Montreal acquired Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022, the idea was to take a chance on a talented young centre who still possessed significant upside. There have been flashes since then, but injuries and inconsistency have prevented him from establishing himself as a long-term piece of Montreal’s core.

Now, time is running out for Dach to prove he belongs. Dach enters the season on a one-year contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. That makes 2026-27 a massive year for both the player and the organization.

The Canadiens are reaching a point where they cannot wait forever for potential to turn into consistent production. They have more young players pushing for opportunities, and Kent Hughes has built enough depth that keeping a player simply because of what he could become is becoming harder to justify.

That could even make Dach a trade candidate during the season. If he struggles to produce or simply isn’t giving Montreal what it needs, the Canadiens could decide to move him before the trade deadline rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.

On the other hand, a strong season could completely change the conversation. Dach is still talented, possesses excellent size and has shown stretches of being an effective NHL player. If he can stay healthy and finally put everything together, he could help Montreal while earning himself another contract.

Samuel Montembeault

Samuel Montembeault’s pressure will begin before the regular season even starts. After a difficult 2025-26 campaign, Montembeault enters training camp in a much different position than he occupied only a couple of years ago. Jakub Dobes is expected to get the first opportunity to establish himself as Montreal’s starter, while top prospect Jacob Fowler continues to push toward a permanent NHL role.

That leaves Montembeault caught in the middle. He doesn’t necessarily need to reclaim the starting job immediately, but he needs to show the Canadiens that he can still be a reliable NHL goaltender. Another difficult season could make his future in the NHL increasingly uncertain.

Fowler is the biggest factor here. Montreal doesn’t need to rush him, but if he continues developing and proves he is NHL-ready, the Canadiens will eventually need to create room. Dobes is younger than Montembeault and currently has the inside track on the starting job, making Montembeault the obvious player who could eventually be squeezed out.

There are also longer-term implications. If Montembeault struggles again before reaching unrestricted free agency next summer, there might not be a significant market waiting for him. Goaltending jobs are limited around the NHL, especially for veterans coming off consecutive disappointing seasons. He has an entire season to change that narrative, but the pressure begins at camp.

Jakub Dobes

Dobes’ situation is very different from those of Dach and Montembeault, but that doesn’t mean there is less pressure. For the first time, Dobes enters a Canadiens season with significant expectations. His strong finish to last season and impressive playoff performance put him in position to begin 2026-27 with the reins in goal. He showed Montreal that he could perform in important situations, but establishing yourself as an NHL starter over a full season is an entirely different challenge.

Dobes now needs to prove he can handle the workload. He posted a 29-10-4 record during the regular season last year before going 9-6-4 in the playoffs with a 2.66 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Those performances understandably raised expectations.

The Canadiens are no longer simply hoping Dobes develops into a starting goaltender. They are entering the season expecting him to be one, and Montreal’s aspirations make reliable goaltending even more important. There is competition behind him as well. Montembeault will be looking to bounce back, while Fowler is getting closer to becoming a full-time NHL option. If Dobes struggles for an extended period, the Canadiens have alternatives.

That doesn’t mean a bad month would suddenly end his opportunity. Dobes is still young and developing. However, this season represents his first real chance to establish himself as Montreal’s long-term answer in goal.

For Dach and Montembeault, this season could determine whether they remain in Montreal beyond 2026-27. For Dobes, it could determine whether he truly establishes himself as the Canadiens’ starting goaltender. Three very different situations, but one thing in common: there will be plenty of pressure to perform.