iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Canadiens forward lines at practice: Kreider-Suzuki-Caufield Slafkovský-Newhook-Demidov Texier-Danault-Dach Bolduc-Evans-Anderson Kapanen is rotating in on the Danault line

3152

Adam Engström is skating with Guhle today, which would suggest status quo on the blue line. We haven't seen forward lines so the ripple effect of a possible Kapanen return remains to be seen.

1220

Kaiden Guhle is skating in a non-contact sweater

1200

Oliver Kapanen is on the ice in Pittsburgh and a regular participant in the Canadiens skate today.

3491

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Hey Wayne, hope you’re doing well and wishing you a speedy recovery.

010

Me and my colleagues from @theathletic.com will be dicussing the game over here tonight, come join us! www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl...

0110

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Canadiens lines in warmup in Toronto: Kreider-Suzuki-Caufield Slafkovský-Newhook-Demidov Texier-Danault-Dach Bolduc-Evans-Anderson Matheson-Dobson Hutson-Carrier Struble-A. Xhekaj Dobeš Montembeault

2513

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Canadiens notebook: final cuts, the captain’s view of the new second line, the newest member of the friendship circle: “I’m confused” — Chris Kreider www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...

Canadiens’ final cuts, second line, Kreider joins friendship circle: Weekly notebook (Gift Article)

As the Canadiens prepare to start the season, why was David Reinbacher cut and Florian Xhekaj kept?

2323

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

It's been obvious throughout training camp why the Canadiens organization is so high on Luke Mittelstadt, and it's been obvious tonight as well. Pro habits all over the place.

2713

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

And now they've switched back. This concludes my coverage on this topic.

4240

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Though they warmed up the opposite way, Caufield is playing at RW and Kreider at LW

1120

Canadiens lines in Montreal: Caufield-Suzuki-Kreider Newhook-Danault-Slafkovský Texier-Evans-Anderson F. Xhekaj-Beck-Thorpe Matheson-Dobson Mittelstadt-Carrier Szuber-Samson Fowler Montembeault

1332

MSL confirms Hutson and Demidov are not playing tonight

2160

(They’re playing as a defence pair at morning skate, something I would pay to see)

3351

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Looks like Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov are not playing tonight.

2310

Hutson still QBing PP1, which would suggest he won’t be a regular on the PK, at least to start.

0170

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Reinbacher is taking reps on the PK with Struble. He got some instruction from Derek Lalonde after killing a play below the goal line, leading to a clear. Engström is replacing Dobson on PP2 for the purpose of the drill.

2140

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Canadiens PK work this morning. Forward pairings: Danault-Anderson Evans-Kreider Kapanen-Newhook

3241

Ivan Demidov is nursing a bruise after blocking a shot in Trois-Rivières on Monday, which is why he’s been off the ice the last two days (three if you include the day off Tuesday). I’m told he’s expected to skate tomorrow and play Saturday.

1212

Florian Xhekaj is playing with Sasha Pastujov and Brett Berard, while Owen Beck is playing with Jared Davidson and Hunter McKown in this scrimmage.

0140

If I'm Kirby Dach, serving as a Demidov placeholder today should serve as a serious wake up call.

2340

Canadiens practice lines this morning. Florian Xhekaj and Owen Beck are skating with the AHL group: Kreider-Suzuki-Caufield Slafkovský-Kapanen-Dach (Demidov therapy day again) Bolduc-Newhook-Texier Danault-Evans-Anderson Matheson-Dobson Hutson-Carrier Struble-Xhekaj Engström-Reinbacher

4192

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Ivan Demidov is not on the ice for a second day in a row, and that comes after a day off Tuesday.

2150

Canadiens camp groups today clearly split into those with a chance to make the team and those who don’t. Ivan Demidov is having a maintenance day.

1202

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Canadiens training camp notebook: On Juraj Slafkovský spreading his wings, changes on the PK with Derek Lalonde in charge and a veteran’s view of the rookie goalie. Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...

Canadiens training camp notebook: Liberating Juraj Slafkovský, penalty-kill changes (Gift Article)

What looks like a demotion for Slafkovský could unlock his next level. Plus: Derek Lalonde's impact on the PK and more.

1274

Natural presumption then is that Newhook-Evans and Anderson-Danault are viewed as the top two PK forward units at this point.

0121

Martin St. Louis explained after practice that the split squad groups were largely formed based on special teams. The power play guys are with him in Montreal, the penalty kill guys are with Derek Lalonde in Toronto, where they will face the Leafs’ top PP guys.

1101

Canadiens D and G in Montreal: Hutson-Carrier Struble-A. Xhekaj One of Mittelstadt-Samson or Protz-Dubinsky Dobeš Fowler In Toronto: Matheson-Dobson Engström-Reinbacher One of Walsh-Szuber or McCallum-Haché Montembeault Kähkönen

1160

Canadiens forwards in Montreal: Caufield-Suzuki-Kreider Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov Davidson-Beck- Pastujov Thorpe-Condotta-Belzile In Toronto: Bolduc-Dach-Texier Newhook-Evans-Berard F.Xhekaj-Danault-Anderson Poulin-McKown-Mešár

2323

“I think with the opportunity we have here, to move on and miss something that can be pretty special here would be pretty brutal.” — Alex Newhook This is what the Canadiens built. But they’re at a point where some of those who built it will miss it. www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...

Canadiens’ heightened internal competition will test strong culture franchise has built (Gift Article)

The Canadiens have become such a desirable destination for their players it might be impossible to keep everyone happy.

1357

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Also, this is primarily PK work, and Derek Lalonde is clearly running the show.

1180

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Canadiens PP1 remains intact: Hutson, Suzuki, Caufield, Demidov, Slaf. Chris Kreider getting a rep on PK with Kapanen

1382

Arpon Basu @arponbasu.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

A rundown of Canadiens golf tournament coverage: MSL signs on for four years: www.nytimes.com/athletic/759... Chris Kreider’s unique relationship with MSL and other notes: www.nytimes.com/athletic/759... The Canadiens acting like a team getting ready to contend: www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...