Canadiens’ glaring roster flaw that must be fixed before 2026-27 NHL season

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The Montreal Canadiens made the Eastern Conference Finals in 2026 after an incredible season. It was quite the run for Montreal, the NHL’s most storied franchise. Their quest for Stanley Cup No. 25 ended just three games short of the Final. But there is certainly a lot to like about this team moving forward.

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The Canadiens struggled through a brutal rebuild at the beginning of the 2020s. It wasn’t until last season that they returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs proper. To make an East Final so soon after becoming a playoff contender again is quite the feat. At the same time, it certainly raises expectations for your organization moving forward.

Everyone is waiting to see what the Habs do next. The most passionate hockey market has a team that is a threat to win the Stanley Cup once again. So, what did Montreal accomplish this summer to make its case as the favorite in the Eastern Conference?

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Well, nothing. At least nothing in terms of external additions. The Canadiens did re-sign Ivan Demidov to a huge eight-year contract. Goaltender Jakub Dobes also extended his stay on a three-year contract. But they didn’t actually make a big splash to bring in help from outside the organization.

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This could change before training camp opens within the next few weeks. In saying this, it’s highly likely the Canadiens simply run it back with largely the same team as last year. Montreal would need to rely upon internal improvement to take that next step.

The Canadiens’ roster being the same means that their biggest weakness is also the same. If the Habs want to have the best chance at competing in 2026-27, it would be wise to address this need sooner rather than later.

Canadiens could still use top-six forward

The Canadiens are certainly built to be a contender in the Atlantic Division. One would need to assume the Florida Panthers return to form after their big offseason, though it’s not guaranteed. The Buffalo Sabres look like a contender, but could also fizzle out in 2026-27. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins are threats, but there are also some clear issues with those teams, as well.

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Montreal has a path to not only compete, but win this division. However, they also lack the top-six forward talent that some of these other teams have. The Sabres lost some of that talent, trading Alex Tuch to the Washington Capitals this offseason. But they still have the likes of Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, and Josh Doan.

The Lightning have Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point, of course. Boston went out and added JJ Peterka to their top-six, joining David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. And the Panthers reunited Brady Tkachuk with his brother, Matthew. That’s to say nothing of their other talents, such as Sam Reinhart and the returning Morgan Geekie.

The Canadiens did get a 100-point season out of Nick Suzuki in 2025-26. It’s a question of whether he can do that again, though. Furthermore, how are Demidov and fellow youngster Juraj Slafkovsky going to perform? Can they establish themselves as true top-six threats? Or is that breakout still a year or two away?

Adding a top-six forward would do wonders for the Canadiens’ playoff chances in 2026-27. It would give them needed firepower atop the lineup, and it would further strengthen their ability to compete with some of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Related: Canadiens sign recently acquired Ducks forward to one-year contract