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2025-26 Montreal Canadiens Predictions and Odds to Win Stanley Cup Finals

by Ryan Cobbett - 9/25/2025

Montreal Canadiens predictions Cole Caufield

Last season was a big surprise in Montreal as the Canadiens found their way into the playoffs despite some lowly expectations. They finished the regular season with 91 points which was good enough for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for Montreal, their playoff run was short lived as they lost in five games at the hands of Washington, finishing the series with a -6-goal differential.

Montreal’s offense wasn’t special as they ranked in the middle of the league in scoring as they averaged 2.96 GF/G. Their 20.1% PP% ranked just 21st in the league, though their penalty kill made up for it as their 80.9% PK% ranked ninth in the NHL. Nick Suzuki led the team in points with 89 on 30 goals and 59 assists. He was followed by Cole Caufield who tallied 70 points and a team best 37 goals while Lane Hutson finished third on the team with 66 points and a team best 60 assists. Juraj Slafkovsky recorded 18 goals and 51 points to finish fourth on Montreal. Patrik Laine missed extended time for the Canadiens last season, but he did manage to record a 20-goal season in just 52 games.

Their weakness was the goaltending. They allowed 3.18 GA/G which ranked 22nd in the NHL while their .896 SV% ranked 20th. The Canadiens tried three different netminders last season with Sam Montembeault leading the way with 62 appearances. Montembeault allowed 2.82 GA/G and finished the season with a 31-24-7 record. Jakub Dobes appeared in 16 games where he allowed 2.74 GA/G while Cayden Primeau struggled in his 11 appearances as he allowed 4.70 GA/G and managed a lowly .836 SV%.

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Seasons come and go, so now it’s time to take a look at what we can expect from the Montreal Canadiens in 2025-26:

Montreal Canadiens Key Additions/Losses

The Canadiens are ready to run it back with most of the group intact. Joel Armia signed with the Los Angeles Kings after finishing last season with 29 points for Montreal and Christian Dvorak signed with the Philadelphia Flyers after a 33-point season. Montreal also parted with Emil Heineman and two first round picks from last years draft in a trade with the Islanders while they also dealt Primeau to Carolina and Carey Price’s contract is finally off the books as he was sent to San Jose.

The return in the big trade with the Islanders was Noah Dobson who finished with 39 points in 71 games for New York last season. The team also signed Marc Del Gazio (nine points), Joe Veleno (17 points), and Kaapo Kahkonen.

Montreal Canadiens X-Factors

The Goaltending- Montreal has a lot of exciting skaters heading into the new campaign. Guys like Suzuki, Caulfield, Slafkovsky, and Hutson are going to be joined by the likes of Kaiden Guhle and Ivan Demidov to add more budding stars to the Montreal attack. However, their goaltending remains as a glaring weakness for this team. Montembeault is coming off a career year where he still allowed 2.82 GA/G. That was his first season posting a sub-3.00 mark. Montreal will need him to take a big step forward this season or it may be time to look in another direction in order to push this Canadiens team back in the playoff picture.

Montreal Canadiens Goalie Outlook

Montembeault has not shown that he is the goaltender that will help bring a cup back to Montreal. His backups Dobes and Kahkonen don’t present any excitement either. Unfortunately, this seems like the weakest link of the playoff hopeful Canadiens. They are way ahead of their rebuild and they have a multitude of young and exciting players, but they need to add a goaltender in order to cement themselves back in the playoffs and compete.

Grade: D

Montreal Canadiens Key Schedule Stretch

Trade Deadline- Montreal has done an exceptional job at stocking talent at the blueline while they have some exciting names on their top two lines. As mentioned, the biggest need is goaltending. Montreal will need to invest in this roster by adding a reliable playoff caliber goalie. The front office needs to be having plenty of conversations with whichever seller features the biggest named goalie and perhaps even overpay for the privilege of having someone else besides Montembeault in the blue paint come playoff time. Additional offensive depth wouldn’t hurt, but goaltending is a huge weakness that needs to be addressed.

Montreal Canadiens Notable Odds

Stanley Cup Champions: +5000

Conference Winner: +2200

Division Winner: +1200

To Make the Playoffs: -110

Hart Trophy- Cole Caufield: +50000

Hart Trophy- Nick Suzuki: +50000

Norris Trophy- Lane Hutson: +3000

Calder Trophy- Ivan Demidov: +190

Montreal Canadiens Prediction

A full season of Laine paired with the emergence of Demidov and Guhle is enough to add to the point total from last season. Montreal far exceeded their point total projections from last season, and it is entirely reasonable to expect another step forward for this young franchise. Any goaltending addition would just further the chances of the team reaching the 92+ point total. Take the over here and expect Montreal to be a dangerous wild card team come playoff time.

Over 91.5 Team Total Points

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