Locked On Canadiens - Daily Podcast on the Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens players surge into Top 100 NHLers conversation as breakout stars like Cole Caufield and Jakub Dobeš turn heads with standout performances. Are the Habs building the league’s next powerhouse? Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert spotlight Canadiens’ leap forward, dissect the inclusion of Nick Suzuki, Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov among the league’s elite, and debate fan perceptions versus national recognition.


The discussion intensifies around the future of Arber Xhekaj—is his role now threatened by rising forward Florian Xhekaj? Salary cap mastery comes to the forefront as hosts compare Cale Makar’s record-setting $20.4M contract to Montreal’s cost-effective top line. Plus, could you build a winner with 2.2 Lane Hutsons or two prime Carey Prices instead of a single iconic superstar? Insightful, energetic, and Habs-focused, this episode sets the stage for the most exciting Montreal Canadiens season in decades.

00:00 Speculating NHL player contracts

04:44 Concern about Canadiens' prospect depth

07:58 Dobeš Breakout Season

10:53 Florian Xhekaj vs Arber Xhekaj

15:28 Discussing Florian Xhekaj’s NHL potential

16:06 Roster changes and training camp battles

20:15 Florida's expected response to Montreal

24:49 Cale Makar's impact on the team

26:48 Discussing Montreal Canadiens' challenges

31:45 Resigning Cale Makar for future success

33:32 Signing Key Players to Long-Term Deals

35:49 Wrap-up and listener thanks

Photo credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images

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#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens

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Montreal Canadiens fans get a nostalgia boost as the Heritage Classic alumni rosters are revealed—featuring returning favorites like Mike Cammalleri, Andrei Markov, and surprise picks such as Chris Wideman slotted at forward. Does this lineup signal both excitement and a sobering sign of time’s passage for Habs faithful?

Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba debate the merits of these alumni choices, revisit memories of players like Glenn Metropolit, and examine the growing buzz around Sam Montembeault’s future—could the Winnipeg Jets be his next destination? The conversation tackles Montreal’s goalie conundrum, mailbag questions on bizarre player promos, the possibility of NHL expansion to Europe, and the financial pressures of rising ticket prices in the league. Key discussion points include the impact of a nearly different outcome in the 2021 playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs and whether PTO targets like Pavol Regenda could shake up the Canadiens’ depth chart.

00:00 Discussing the Heritage Classic game

05:00 Dandenault's role confusion in Montreal

08:36 Discussing player legacies and team futures

10:25 Finding the Right Hires Quickly

13:51 What if Toronto won in OT

17:38 NHL revenue and rising costs

22:54 Discussing NHL and relegation systems

24:06 Relegation in North American hockey

30:21 Teams gearing up for draft picks

Photo credit: James Carey Lauder - Imagn Images

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Montreal Canadiens fans face the ultimate moment of truth—how much faith do they really have that the Habs’ core, led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, can capture a Stanley Cup by 2028? Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert tackle big-picture questions about Montreal’s competitive window, roster depth, and the evolving roles of players like Josh Anderson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Lane Hutson. Who emerges as the Canadiens’ future Hart Trophy contender, and how close is this team to adding another championship banner to the Bell Centre rafters?

The conversation explores bold predictions, potential pitfalls, and whether players like Arber Xhekaj and Florian Xhekaj could become mainstays in the Canadiens’ lineup. Listener mailbag reminders, a look at team chemistry, and an honest discussion of what could go wrong keep things candid and engaging. Are the Canadiens truly built for long-term success, or will “them’s the breaks” define Montreal’s fate?

00:00 Canadiens future financial strategy

05:14 Discussing Josh Anderson's potential contract extension

07:30 Analyzing young hockey players

12:10 Discussing Arber Xhekaj’s role and penalties

15:26 Nick Suzuki's potential to win awards

20:28 Evaluating player's team value

22:55 Lane Hutson's scoring potential

24:40 Discussing player's scoring potential

30:49 Carolina Hurricanes' playoff journey

32:28 Carolina Hurricanes team depth

35:00 Checking out Locked On Sports channel

Photo credit: James Guillory - Imagn Images

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#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens

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Montreal Canadiens mark the 5-year anniversary of the Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet saga—proving there are no true winners in NHL offer sheets. Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba revisit the wild revenge between the Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes, dissecting the fallout from Montreal’s failed Sebastian Aho gambit to Kotkaniemi’s controversial $6.1M signing and the iconic $20 signing bonus.

Key topics include the Kotkaniemi trade’s ripple effects, Adam Engstrom’s potential impact, and Christian Dvorak’s underappreciated role after the Habs let Kotkaniemi walk. The conversation also spotlights Marc Bergevin’s tumultuous final moves as GM, the flawed drafting of Logan Mailloux, and how Nick Suzuki’s contract extension set up Montreal’s future. Did the Hurricanes get the last laugh, or did Montreal ultimately benefit more from this hockey soap opera? Tune in for sharp insights and passionate debate on front office strategy and player development.

00:00 Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet anniversary

06:35 Kotkaniemi's contract and playoff run

07:44 NHL rules and player trades

13:15 Canadiens' draft pick strategy

15:40 Player potential and team expectations

20:06 Canadiens make management changes

23:16 Trading and draft pick strategy

27:03 Bergevin's controversial draft mistake

29:04 Canadiens' front office improvements

31:21 Trading Canadiens' captain discreetly

Photo credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Montreal Canadiens’ young core draws buzz as Lane Hutson and Juraj Slafkovsky headline the franchise’s under-23 standouts. With playoff dreams swirling, how close are the Habs to returning as postseason contenders, and what can fans expect from top prospects like Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, and Michael Hage?


Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert break down Montreal’s youth movement, debate the ideal NHL season length, and tackle the confusing maze of broadcast and streaming options for watching Canadiens games in 2026. Mailbag highlights include French-language hockey resources, Sasha Pastujov’s NHL chances, and strategic upgrades for playoff success. Can this emerging roster build on hard-earned experience to become a powerhouse, or do growing pains still stand in the way? Don’t miss fresh insights and essential tips for every Canadiens fan this season.

00:00 Rating young Habs players

04:39 Thoughts on timing of sports seasons

09:50 Discussing hockey player impacts

12:29 Watching Habs games in Canada

15:19 Millennial perspective on streaming services

17:14 Streaming sports in multiple markets

21:20 Frustration with NHL viewership options

25:59 Montreal Canadiens season review

28:02 Discussing Habs Forward Depth

32:10 Contact and Subscription Information

Photo credit: James Carey Lauder - Imagn Images

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Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More

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Find Locked On Canadiens anywhere:
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Also make sure to follow Locked on Canadiens and their hosts on Bluesky!

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Find Laura on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theactivestick.bsky.social

#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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