The Montreal Canadiens met with the media on Monday following their Friday night loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Montreal took steps this offseason in their rebuild. Regardless of how their season ended, the 2025-26 Montreal Canadiens was a feel-good, success story.
In the fourth year of a rebuild, the Canadiens reached the Conference Finals, and both Executive Vice President Jeff Gorton and General Manager Kent Hughes know there is still a lot of work to be done on the roster.
Gorton and Hughes in Chance to Add Players This Offseason
Jeff Gorton: “I would say every summer has opportunities, but it's hard to say without knowing the opportunity. But like last summer, we went in hoping to add to our core team. Find someone at the right age to step in there.
I think this summer we will go in the same way. We'll try to keep going, but we don't know what's next until it arrives. It's early, so it's hard to say what might be available to us. We were aggressive, trying to move forward. So, I don't see that that would change anything.”
Kent Hughes: “So you read a lot of speculation, I think on social media and other places about who may or may not be available, I've started to go around contacting teams. But sometimes the availability of players depends on the team, sometimes it's driven by the players.
So at the end of the day, it's my job to make sure we're on top of things and fully aware of what opportunities there might be that allow us to, um, improve what we're trying to accomplish in a smart way.”
Kent Hughes knows that adding assets to their squad will come at a price, but he won't be giving players valuable assets on expiring deals.
Kent Hughes added, “It's not possible that we're going to trade a guy who gives us a chance to get better and compete for the cup by losing important pieces for the future.”
I hope we can continue to do what we have done, which is where we are aggressive by adding players who can continue to help us, uh, short-term but short-term and long-term.”
It will be interesting to see where the Montreal Canadiens look this summer. The second line and right shooting guard needs Hughes and Gorton will look for the team to improve.
Once again, Montreal had a chance to do something in the deadlock but was unable to finish. Kent Hughes said he will try to visit again, but will also look at other potential players this offseason.
The future of Brendan Gallagher
A dejected Brendan Gallagher admitted his time with the Montreal Canadiens is over. Gallagher knew the writing was on the wall and played his last game for the Canadiens back in Round 1 of the playoffs.
Priyanta Emrith: “Brendan Gallagher if it's his decision to move on: “Obviously it's my decision, but you're forced to take it. I would like to stay here and I would like to be part of this team, but for me, you have to give yourself a chance as a player to contribute…”
Gallagher Open for Business and Homecoming in Vancouver
Priyanta Emrith: “Brendan Gallagher possibly going to #Floods: “That's an opportunity… I'm going to sit down with my wife and figure out what's best for our family and move forward but Vancouver is definitely going to be a good place.”
The Montreal Canadiens want to sign Ivan Demidov
Besides making trades and updating the roster to help the team succeed on the ice, Ivan Demidov needs a new contract, and GM Kent Hughes considers him a valuable player. Demidov himself wants to make a deal.
HabsonReddit: “There is no doubt that we see Ivan Demidov as a key player on the team. I will have talks with his agent (Dan Milstein) next week I think. I believe Ivan likes Montreal and likes to play for the Canadiens. I expect to hear 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' We will find a way to sign the contract. You never know if the player wants a long-term or a short-term contract, but we will sign him to a long-term contract.”
Marco D'Amico: “Ivan Demidov says he wants to stay in Montreal and confirms that he wants to sign a long-term contract with the Canadiens. Demidov confirms the conversation that took place between him and Lane Huston, which Huston talked about during the locker room.”
Demidov wants to make a deal as soon as possible. He does not want to be disturbed.
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