8-year, $73,200,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens. 10 team no trade list in Yrs 6-8. Expires 2035 (UFA).
Source:
2026-07-01T23:59:00.000Z
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Montreal Canadiens News
1-year, $850,000 contract with the Montreal Canadiens. $450,000 Guaranteed. Expires 2027 (UFA).
Source:2026-07-01T23:59:00.000Z
Montreal has signed Ethan Samson to a one-year, two-way contract.
Samson, a sixth-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, has yet to play an NHL game and will head to the Montreal Canadiens in a similar depth organizational role. The 22-year-old forward scored 14 points (5G / 9A) last season in 30 games with the Syracuse Crunch (AHL).
Montreal has signed Samuel Poulin to a one-year, two-way contract.
Poulin was drafted 21st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, but has not been able to turn his high pedigree into an extended look at the NHL level. The 25-year-old forward spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL, scoring 49 points (21G / 28A) in 71 games.
Montreal has signed Kaapo Kahkonen to a one-year, one-way contract extension.
Kahkonen saw extensive NHL looks between 2020 and 2024, but has played exclusively in the AHL over the past three seasons. The 29-year-old goalie posted a 2.73 GAA and .895 SV% last season in 38 games (21-9-7) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
Montreal has signed Alex Belzile to a one-year, $850,000 contract.
Belzile is an undrafted forward who has spent most of his career in the AHL, playing just 44 NHL games. The 34-year-old scored 62 points (29G / 33A) last season in 66 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
Montreal has signed Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, $9.125 million contract extension ($73M total).
Montreal has secured their young superstar for the remainder of the decade and beyond after they announced on Wednesday that Ivan Demidov has signed an eight-year, $9.125 million contract extension ($73M total). The 20-year-old flashy Russian is coming off an incredible rookie campaign which saw him lead all first-year players in points with 19 goals, 62 points and 34 PIMs in 82 games played.
Montreal has acquired Maksymillian Szuber from Utah for Joshua Roy.
Szuber was a sixth-round pick of the "Mammoth" in 2022 and has spent the last three seasons primarily in the AHL. In 2025-26, he had 11 goals and 16 assists (27 points) in 65 games with Tucson. This move provides some organizational depth on the blueline for the Habs, but expect Szuber to start the 2026-27 with Laval (AHL).
Montreal has acquired Brett Berard from New York for William Trudeau.
After two seasons spent between the Rangers and Hartford (AHL), New York has traded Brett Berard to Montreal for William Trudeau. Bedard appeared in 13 games with the Rangers in 2025-26, but failed to pick up a point while collecting six PIMs. He is expected to compete for a bottom-six role in Montreal this upcoming season.
The Canadiens have acquired Hunter McKown from the Blue Jackets for Luke Tuch.
McKown made his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season, scoring two assists in 12 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but has spent all of his time since in the AHL. The undrafted 23-year-old forward scored 25 points (9G / 16A) last season in 63 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).
Goalie Start
Dobes will start Game 5 in Carolina.
The Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes with their season on the line in Carolina on Friday. The 24-year-old netminder was once again outstanding in a losing effort in Game 4, turning away 40 of the 43 shots he faced in the 4-0 loss. Just as they've been all series, the Habs are sizable underdogs in a must-win Game 5, entering action at +200 on the money line.
Goalie Start
Dobes will start Game 4 against the Hurricanes.
For the first time this postseason, Dobes has lost two straight, but will look to rebound on Wednesday in Game Four. Despite being in a 2-1 series deficit, Dobes has remained reliable between the pipes, posting a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% through 17 outings this postseason (9-8). The Canadiens hope to even the series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2, entering Game Four as +132 home underdogs.
Goalie Start
Dobes is expected to start in Game 4.
For the first time this postseason, Dobes has lost two straight, but will look to rebound on Wednesday in Game Four. Despite being in a 2-1 series deficit, Dobes has remained reliable between the pipes, posting a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% through 17 outings this postseason (9-8). The Canadiens hope to even the series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2, entering Game Four as +132 home underdogs.
Goalie Start
Dobes will start Game 3 against the Hurricanes.
Dobes allowed three goals on 26 shots in Game 2 on Saturday night, as the Hurricanes escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory and evened up the series. The 24-year-old netminder has started all 16 of Montreal's playoff games, posting a 9-7 record and a .909 SV%. Dobes and the Habs are yet to lose consecutive games this post-season, but they do enter the action tonight as slight home underdogs at +120 on the money line.
Line Change
Kapanen is expected to be a healthy scratch for Game 3 vs. Carolina.
Joe Veleno will likely draw back into Montreal's lineup on Monday for Game Three, resulting in Kapanen being a healthy scratch. Kapanen has suited up in three consecutive games for Montreal, but has been used sparingly. He had a -2 plus/minus and two penalty minutes in the team's 3-2 overtime loss in Game Two.
Goalie Start
Dobes will start Game 2 in Carolina.
Dobes was fantastic in Montreal's Game 1 victory over Carolina after he stopped 28 of 30 shots against (.929 SV%) on route to a 6-2 Canadiens victory. The 24-year-old has yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs despite starting all 15 games for Montreal. He currently has an impressive 9-6-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% in the playoffs and will look to give Montreal a 2-0 series lead as they head to Raleigh on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Dobes will start Game 1 vs. the Hurricanes.
Dobes stopped 37 of 39 shots in the Canadiens' Game 7 win in Buffalo on Monday. It was Dobes' best performance of Round 2, where he finished with a 3.03 GAA and .897 SV% in seven games. In the first and second round combined, Dobes is 8-6-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games. Tonight he will start Game 1 in Carolina, a team he was 3-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .922 SV% against this season.
Line Change
Xhekaj is expected to be a healthy scratch in Game 1 vs. Carolina.
Xhekaj played in all seven games vs. the Sabres, but is expected to be replaced by Jayden Struble in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Xhekaj has picked up one goal, one assist and 45 hits in 13 playoff games.
Line Change
Kapanen will draw into the Canadiens lineup for Game 7 in Buffao.
Kapanen played in the opening four games of the playoffs but has not appeared since, serving as a healthy scratch in each of the last nine games. The 22-year-old Kapanen played in all 82 regular season games, tallying 22 goals and 15 assists. Joe Veleno will sit in his place.
Goalie Start
Dobes will start Game 7 in Buffalo.
Despite a shaky performance in Game 6, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly roll with Dobes between the pipes for Monday's series-deciding game against the Sabres. Dobes will be looking for a repeat performance of his masterclass in Game 7 of the first round, when he stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced and carried the Habs to a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. The Canadiens are the slightest of underdogs heading into Game 7, entering action at -105 on the money line.