Top Canadiens Storylines Set to Define Their 2026-27 Season – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens

As things stand, Oliver Kapanen is the logical choice to play No. 2 centre for the Montreal Canadiens. He may be seen as a complement to last year’s rookie-scoring-leader, Ivan Demidov, but, in scoring 22 goals, Kapanen undeniably put up numbers. Without general manager Kent Hughes acquiring a replacement in the offseason, he represents a viable option on paper to find even more statistical success in the role, now one year older and closer to his prime at Age 23.

Sure, top-prospect Michael Hage is widely seen as someone who can take over, once he signs his entry-level deal, presumably at the end of the 2026-27 regular season. However, until that comes to pass, it makes sense that the Canadiens would stick with the status quo and prioritize Kapanen’s development, over which they actually have direct control.

Seeing as the Canadiens, for all intents and purposes, don’t have control over Hage’s development, it’s relatively out of their hands, and represents something of a static plot point in what is otherwise shaping up to be a dynamic and incredibly riveting season. With that, here are the three projected Habs storylines that should keep fans on the edges of their seats:

3. Reinbacher’s Development

One top prospect over whose development the Canadiens continue to hold direct control is David Reinbacher, their fifth-overall pick from 2023. A one-time top-pairing right-handed defenseman in the minds of many, Reinbacher has suffered through a slew of injuries over the three years since he was drafted, which hasn’t exactly helped that development, to the point the left-handed Adam Engstrom, who can play on the right as well, has arguably overtaken the blue-chipper on the depth chart, despite having been selected at No. 92 overall in 2022.

With a spot theoretically open on the right side at the start of training camp, reports (from reporter Anthony Martineau of TVA Sports) suggest the Canadiens are hoping Reinbacher earns it. Even if he does though, nothing is guaranteed. Reinbacher is still exempt from waivers. So, Canadiens fans will be consistently following his progress up the lineup, down to the American Hockey League, or in an arguable worst-case scenario, into the press box. Really, that would be an incredible shame, were Reinbacher not given a consistent opportunity to progress, when, at 6-foot-3 and 207 pounds, he was once envisioned as the perfect complement to Lane Hutson.  

2. Hutson vs. Robinson

Admittedly, not everyone can be Hutson, who has emerged as the Canadiens’ No. 1 defenseman. For some perspective he’s just over a half-year older than Reinbacher, but has obviously exceeded all expectations. Granted, he was only picked at No. 62 in 2022, but most of it is due to how the 2025 Calder Memorial Trophy winner has rewritten records books since.

Just last season, Hutson tied Hockey Hall of Famer Larry Robinson’s single-season assists record for a Canadiens defenseman (66 in 1976-77). Canadiens fans will be looking to see if he can set a new one in 2026-27, while also eyeing Robinson’s single-season points record (85, also in 1976-77). Having just scored 78, Hutson really isn’t all that off the mark.

1. Suzuki vs. Barkov

For all those reasons, Hutson is arguably the team’s best shot at a major award in the James Norris Memorial Trophy (which Robinson also won in 1976-77). However, what will probably capture the imaginations of Canadiens fans’ more is whether Nick Suzuki can win his second straight Frank J. Selke Trophy, as the league’s top defensive forward.

Suzuki won it in impressive fashion, not just in scoring 100 points (for the first in his career and the first time for a Canadiens player since 1985-86), but also with 1,726 points, almost four times the amount as the runner-up (Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning, with 467). What’s fairly unique about the Selke is, once you’ve entered the chat, you rarely if ever leave the conversation of the league’s top defensive forwards, putting you in great position to win multiple, with only 10 different forwards having won it since the 2004-05 lockout.

Meanwhile, what stands out as different is Suzuki will have to contend with Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov, who’s now healthy after he had arguably been the favourite to capture a third straight Selke last season, before missing the entire campaign due to injury. The theoretical race is set to take on a new dimension, with the Panthers having improved drastically this offseason primarily through the acquisition of Brady Tkachuk to theoretically jump right back into contention for the Atlantic Division, after having previously won two straight Stanley Cups.

My annual offseason look at which NHL teams improved the most this summer.https://t.co/tsLFu2ijMM pic.twitter.com/UOhR53Pb14

— dom 📈 (@domluszczyszyn) July 16, 2026

So, seeing as the Canadiens, who will have improved more so through sheer organic growth this offseason, should have their eyes set on winning the Atlantic themselves, the race between Barkov and Suzuki is all-important. There should be little doubt the Panthers would have been a playoff-calibre team last season had they not run into injuries the way they did. However, with the Canadiens having won the last eight meeting meetings between the two, dating back to the 2023-24 season, when Barkov was still healthy and the Panthers were on their way to winning their first championship, the Habs are likely up to the challenge.

No one should kid themselves, in that it will be a dogfight to the finish first in the Atlantic, not just between the Canadiens and Panthers. Seven of eight teams probably have designs on making the playoffs and no fewer than four have realistic shots at claiming the division title. However, it shouldn’t be a shock if it were to come down to those two teams, with whoever is destined to win the Selke likely winning the division in the end. It would make for an excellent case study of cause and effect, in that will Barkov/Suzuki win the Selke because the Panthers/Canadiens won the Atlantic or vice versa? Either way, it will likely come down to the wire, making for several exciting races in one.