Highlights from Canadiens end-of-season media availability
May 29, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky (20) skates toward goaltender Jakub Dobes (not pictured) with center Nick Suzuki (14), right wing Cole Caufield (13), right wing Josh Anderson (17) and left wing Alexandre Texier (85) after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
The Montreal Canadiens’ magical run to the Eastern Conference final ended with a sour taste after a five-game series loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Recency bias is normal, but there aren’t many Habs fans who would have expected a trip to the third round of the playoffs when training camp started last fall. The Canadiens still have holes to fill, but showed impressive progress, making the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
It will surely be a busy and important summer for the team, but for now it is the time of year where players get one last chance to look back at their season.
Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes started the morning off.
Hughes said that if you told him how this season would go, he wouldn’t know if he’d believe you.
They also admit they have a lot of work to do.
Kent Hughes says the team isn’t the best defensively right now.
Oliver Kapanen’s usage in the post-season doesn’t change how the team views him going forward after his first full season in North America.
The trade that almost happened at the deadline is still active, but will depend on the other team per Hughes.
The post will be updated throughout the morning.
