Canadiens' David Reinbacher: Loaned to Switzerland
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Reinbacher was loaned to HC Kloten of the Swiss-A League on Saturday.
Reinbacher logged 16:27 of ice time while tallying one hit and one shot on goal in Saturday's preseason loss to Toronto. As expected, the 18-year-old blueliner will continue his development in Switzerland for the time being. He was selected fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
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Canadiens' Brady Keeper: Waived by Montreal
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Keeper was placed on the waiver wire Saturday.
Keeper had a goal and six points in 35 AHL games with Abbotsford in 2022-23. Should Keeper pass through waivers, he will play for AHL Laval this season.
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Canadiens' Nicolas Beaudin: Hits waiver wire Saturday
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Beaudin is on waivers Saturday.
Beaudin inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens in July, and it is no surprise that he is headed to minors, as he did not see any NHL action last season. Beaudin played 42 AHL games between Rockford and Laval, scoring twice and adding 24 assists in 2022-23.
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Canadiens' Mitchell Stephens: Placed on waivers
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Stephens was put on waivers by the Canadiens on Saturday.
Stephens has played in 72 NHL games during his career, but he failed to play at the top level in 2022-23. Stephens had 20 goals and 41 points in 68 AHL contests last season with Laval.
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Canadiens' Lucas Condotta: Goes on waivers
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Condotta was placed on waivers by the Canadiens on Saturday.
Condotta is on a two-year, two-way contract, so this is no surprise. He had 16 goals and 31 points in 72 AHL games with Laval last season and picked up a goal in his NHL debut on the final night of the 2022-23 regular season.
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Canadiens' Mike Matheson: Skates Saturday
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Matheson (lower body) skated Saturday, Patrick Friolet of RDS.ca reports.
Matheson is being monitored daily for his lower-body injury. The defenseman hasn't practiced since Tuesday, but coach Martin St. Louis said at the time that Matheson would have played had it been a regular-season game. Matheson had eight goals and 34 points in only 48 games last season.
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Canadiens' Tanner Pearson: Back in action
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Pearson (hand) made his Montreal preseason debut in Friday's 2-1 loss to Toronto, The Canadian Press reports.
Pearson, who was acquired from Vancouver on Sept. 19, was limited to just 14 games last season due to a broken hand that needed multiple surgeries to repair. He logged 18:16 of ice time in Friday's contest and posted three shots on goal. It's unclear at this time if Pearson will be able to crack Montreal's middle-six forward group.
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Canadiens' Josh Anderson: Pots second preseason goal
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Anderson scored a goal on two shots in Friday's 2-1 preseason loss to the Maple Leafs.
Anderson potted his second preseason goal in as many games. The power forward's 2022-23 season ended prematurely in March due to an ankle injury, but he still managed to notch 21 markers and 32 points in 69 appearances. Since joining the Canadiens for 2020-21 campaign, Anderson has increased his goal scoring in each season. Habs head coach Martin St. Louis has shuffled lines during camp and in preseason games, but Anderson is expected to be a top-six forward when the regular season opens Oct. 11 against Toronto.
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Canadiens' Juraj Slafkovsky: Strong effort Wednesday
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Slafkovsky scored a goal on two shots in Wednesday's preseason win over Ottawa.
Slafkovsky, playing his first game since last season, pounced on loose puck from a net-front scramble and beat Joonas Korpisalo with snap shot to give Montreal a 2-0 lead in the second period. The 19-year-old, after whetting his scoring appetite, looked for more later in the period but shot wide or was denied. Expectations are high for the 2022 first-overall pick, whose rookie season ended with four goals and 10 points over 39 games before a season-ending knee injury in January. "I'm just hoping for him to grow this season," head coach Martin St. Louis told Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette. "And growing is not necessarily in a straight line. There's going to be some dips and stuff, but I'm pretty sure from now until the end of the season, when we connect these dots, it's going up." Slafkovsky is penciled in as a third-line winger, but his role could grow if he shows development.
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Canadiens' Cole Caufield: Makes impact in preseason debut
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Caufield scored a goal on five shots and picked up an assist in Wednesday's preseason win over the Senators.
Caufield made his preseason debut Wednesday and doesn't appear to have missed a beat from his breakout 2022-23 campaign. The forward scored 26 goals on 158 shots (16.5 shooting percentage) over 46 games before a shoulder injury ended his season prematurely. He's expected to occupy a spot on the first line along with captain Nick Suzuki this coming season.
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Canadiens' Mike Matheson: Not practicing Thursday
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Matheson (lower body) is not at practice Thursday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
It's the second day in a row that Matheson has missed practice. The good news is head coach Martin St. Louis said that had it been a regular-season game, Matheson would have suited up. Matheson had eight goals and 34 points in 48 games last season.
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Canadiens' Mike Matheson: Held out with LBI
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Matheson is dealing with a lower-body injury, which is the reason for his absence from Wednesday's game versus the Senators, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Head coach Martin St. Louis added that Matheson would have played if it was a regular-season contest. Most importantly, Matheson's injury isn't related to the one he sustained at the end of last season. He is day-to-day, and the Canadiens will likely exercise caution before the 29-year-old is cleared to rejoin the lineup for preseason action.
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Canadiens' Emil Heineman: Begins camp on top line
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Heineman skated on the top line during the first day of training camp Thursday, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.
Heineman may not wind up with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, but it's a sign the 21-year-old forward could wrangle a roster spot. "I think we played quite OK today, actually," Heineman said. "And for sure it was the first scrimmage too, still (should) not make any big statements out of that." As Basu points out, coaches tend to think of forwards more as duos than trios, with the third spot being interchangeable. The third member with Suzuki and Caufield is the most coveted spot in the Canadiens' lineup.
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Canadiens' Chris Wideman: Out indefinitely with back injury
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Wideman is out indefinitely because of a back injury.
Wideman had six assists and 81 PIM in 46 contests with Montreal last season. When he's healthy, Wideman might serve as a depth defenseman for the Canadiens.
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Canadiens' Christian Dvorak: Not close to returning
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Dvorak (knee) won't be available before November, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Dvorak is recovering from the knee surgery he underwent in mid-March. He had 10 goals and 28 points in 64 contests in 2022-23. Dvorak is likely to slot into a middle-six role once he's healthy.
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Canadiens' Tanner Pearson: Hand not fully recovered
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The strength in Pearson's injured hand is at about 80 percent, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes told Eric Engels of Sportsnet on Wednesday.
Although he's still recovering, Pearson is healthy enough to participate in training camp, and he did pass his physical, so the 31-year-old might be fine for the start of the campaign. Montreal acquired Pearson and a 2025 third-round pick from Vancouver on Tuesday in exchange for Casey DeSmith. Pearson had a goal and five points in 14 contests last season.
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Canadiens' Stanislav Demin: Gets PTO with Montreal
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Demin signed a professional tryout agreement with the Canadiens on Tuesday, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Demin wrapped up his collegiate career last season, posting 16 points in 37 games with Merrimack College. It was the third school he attended during a five-year NCAA stint. Demin is likely looking for a two-way deal or AHL-only contract, and he shouldn't be considered likely to make the Canadiens' roster.
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Canadiens' Tanner Pearson: Dealt to Habs
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Pearson, along with a third-round pick in 2025, was dealt from the Canucks to the Canadiens on Tuesday in exchange for goalie Casey DeSmith.
Pearson required multiple surgeries to address a hand injury last season, which limited him to five points, 17 shots on goal, 20 hits and 21 PIM in 14 contests. He'll look to get his career back on track in his age-31 season while playing with a new team. Given the Canucks' wing depth and the Canadiens' lack of established wingers, this move could lead to a larger role for Pearson in 2023-24.
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Canadiens' David Reinbacher: Likely bound for Europe
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Reinbacher is expected to return to Kloten HC of the Swiss-A league this season, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.
Montreal president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton said nothing is definite, but "it's more than likely" that Reinbacher, selected fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, will return to Europe. For now, the defenseman will participate with fellow rookies in a rookie tournament this weekend in Buffalo. Following that, the 18-year-old will join the team for training camp.
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Canadiens' Carey Price: Confirms playing days are done
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Price (knee) confirmed Tuesday that he won't play hockey again, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.
Price's retirement won't be official until the end of his contract in 2026, so he can be expected to remain on long-term injured reserve for the next three years. "The honest thing is right now, it's just not going to happen," Price said. "To take the stress of the goaltending position, (the knee) is not where it needs to be. So for now, I'm just going to continue to try and rehab my knee to a position where it's fit for life in general." While Price's playing days are over, it's possible he could continue with the Canadiens' organization in a coaching or front office position once his contract expires. He finishes his NHL career with a 361-261-79 record, a 2.51 GAA, a .917 save percentage and 49 shutouts in 712 career regular-season games, all with the Canadiens. He also appeared in 92 playoff contests, going 43-45 with a 2.39 GAA, .919 save percentage and eight shutouts. At the international level, he also won gold medals at the 2007 World Junior Championship, the 2014 Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey with Canada.
