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Cole Caufield arrived at the NHL/NHLPA player media tour this week with a clear message: last season’s playoff run was not a ceiling for the Montreal Canadiens — it was a starting point. After finishing with 106 points and reaching the Eastern Conference final, the Canadiens fell to the Carolina Hurricanes, who went on to claim their second Stanley Cup. Despite the defeat, Caufield sees the experience as fuel rather than failure.
“It’s just building our standards and keeping those higher than ever,” Caufield said. “The experience from last year will help. But it’s only going to get harder.”
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A Tougher Atlantic Division Awaits
Caufield’s warning carries weight. Several Atlantic Division rivals have strengthened their rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season. The Florida Panthers, Cup champions in both 2024 and 2025, return healthier after a difficult year. Captain Aleksander Barkov missed significant time following a training camp injury. However, Florida also added Brady Tkachuk via trade with the Ottawa Senators, meaning both Tkachuk brothers — Brady and Matthew — will now play together in the same lineup.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved aggressively in free agency. They signed goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenceman Darren Raddysh, while also reshaping their forward depth. The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning, both of whom the Canadiens eliminated in seven-game series, finished just ahead of Montreal in last season’s regular-season standings. Ottawa and Boston also made the playoffs, and Detroit stayed in contention for much of the year before fading late.
In contrast, Montreal stayed largely quiet during the offseason. The team held close to US$9.8 million in available salary cap space, according to PuckPedia.com, but made no major additions through free agency or trade.
Caufield Trusts the Process
Caufield, 25, is not worried. He finished last season with 50 goals — the first Canadiens player to reach that mark since 1989-90. He expressed full confidence in the team’s leadership, which includes president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes.
“We trust the guys that have built this up,” Caufield said. “They wouldn’t do anything that would change the direction and the path. For us, it’s all about internally — how do we get better and how do you push the group from inside? That’s why the top of mountains are so high.”
Montreal’s core remains locked in on long-term, team-friendly contracts. Caufield, captain Nick Suzuki, star defenceman Lane Hutson and winger Ivan Demidov all carry deals that give the organization financial flexibility. This is notable given that the NHL salary cap rose sharply to $104 million per team this summer, driving contract values across the league significantly higher.
Caufield acknowledged the rising market but showed no resentment. “We get paid a lot to do what we do,” he said. “The culture that we’ve created is no joke. People just love being around each other. Right now is probably the biggest five or six years of our careers. What’s more important is winning and doing it with this group. That’s what would make it that much sweeter.”
He also addressed the Canadiens’ deliberate approach to team-building. “Everybody else is adding pieces to their puzzle,” Caufield said. “What we’ve been doing is making our own brand of puzzle that’s a little bit different. We’re going to stick to what we believe and what we’ve been building.”
Barkov Praises Bobrovsky After Florida Departure
Barkov offered warm words for Bobrovsky following the veteran goaltender’s move to Toronto. The 37-year-old backstopped Florida to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories across seven seasons with the Panthers.
“There’s no one like him,” Barkov said. “That type of guy who you look up to every single day. I learned so much from him just watching him — seeing what he does day to day, how he tries to get better. He feels like and looks like he’s early 30s, maybe even late 20s. That’s what you want to be, as a perfect human being and athlete.”
Toronto gains not only an experienced starter but also a proven winner and respected locker-room presence in Bobrovsky.
Calgary Prepares to Say Goodbye to the Saddledome
The upcoming season will also mark a significant farewell in Calgary. The Flames will play their final year at the Scotiabank Saddledome before relocating to the brand-new Scotia Place. The Saddledome first opened in 1983.
Flames winger Matt Coronato described mixed emotions about the move. “I’ll definitely miss parts of it,” he said. “I know it’s old. At the same time, I know I’m going to love the new place. But it’s mixed feelings.”
