Canadiens Had The Edge In Skating Speed

NHL Edge recently published its outlook for the Montreal Canadiens‘ 2026-27 season, and there were some interesting and fascinating numbers in it. For one, the Habs were among the top 10 teams in skating last season; they ranked ninth in speed bursts above 22 MPH (100) and sixth in 20 MPH speed bursts with 2,142.

Josh Anderson and Nick Suzuki were in the league’s 98th percentile when it came to 20 MPH speed bursts, but neither was the team’s fastest skater; that title goes to Kirby Dach, who his a speed of 23.42 MPH, hitting the 94th percentile in the league. He was just ahead of Anderson, who hit 23.28 MPH (92nd percentile), and Alex Newhook with 23.14 MPH (89th percentile).

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There’s nothing surprising about Anderson and Suzuki being top of the class in the speed burst category, but to see Dach as one of the fastest skaters is. With his 6-foot-4 and 221-pound frame, if he were able to add speed to his game consistently, he could be an absolute force on the forecheck. Given his precarious situation and the fact that he needs to prove that he’s worthy of another NHL contract this season, that’s something he should definitely consider.

The article also provides some insight into Cole Caufield’s shooting prowess. It indicates that the sniper had 12 multi-goal games; that’s the second-highest number behind Nathan MacKinnon’s 14. He was also tied for second place in hat tricks with two, just one behind Connor McDavid’s three.

With 40 goals combined from high-danger and mid-range zones, Caufield was second in the league, behind Whyatt Johnson, who had 42, and just ahead of MacKinnon, who had 39. What made Caufield really special to watch last season, however, was those goals he scored from close range, with next to no angle, sending the puck over the goalie’s shoulder from what looked like centimetres out, as if it were a walk in the park. Slowly but surely, he’s become a goal scorer who can hit you from anywhere, forcing opponents to respect him and give him more attention than they once did, making space for Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky.

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What’s even more exciting for Habs fans, though, is the fact that he doesn’t even seem to have reached his ceiling yet, and he could very well become the first Hab to score back-to-back 50-goal seasons since Guy Lafleur.