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Wham declares in their popular holiday classic, “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, you gave it away.” At least that’s how I remember it. 

Jokes aside, the Montreal Canadiens exceeded this fan’s expectations last season. This year hasn’t been all smooth sailing, but going into the Christmas break, the Habs find themselves in a better spot than they were in at the same point in 2024. 

Still, the NHL standings are incredibly tight this year. Any significant streak of wins or losses for a team could be the difference in filling out the playoff bracket. The Canadiens’ making the postseason last year was a bonus. Now it’s expected. 

So, what does a Habs fan wanting to see Montreal make a playoff run this season ask for? I’m glad you asked. As it happens, I came up with a few wishes for the team as the 2025-26 NHL season plays out…

Clarity in net

It’s hard to deny that the Canadiens’ netminding has been inconsistent. Samuel Montembeault’s recent struggles caused the team to send him to Laval on a brief conditioning stint. In his absence, the organization’s top goalie prospect, Jacob Fowler, has gotten to experience NHL action. Through five games, Fowler sits at a .918 save percentage (2.40 GAA). He also recorded his first career shutout last Saturday night in the Bell Centre. 

While I believe in Fowler and Jakub Dobes as the Habs’ goalie tandem of the future, Fowler would benefit more by staying in the AHL this season. The issue is, can Montembeault get out of his current funk? He had a rough debut for Laval last week against the Cleveland Monsters (allowing four goals on 24 shots), but followed that up with a much-improved performance (one goal allowed on 27 shots, .964 SV%). If Montembeault continues to underperform, Montreal could seek out a trade partner. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Stuart Skinner (who has already been traded this year) have both been floated as potential targets for Kent Hughes. Whatever the solution in net is, I hope the Canadiens can find it. 

An Olympic spot for Suzuki

One of the more egregious omissions from last year’s Four Nations Face-Off rosters was Nick Suzuki’s absence from Team Canada. Montreal fans were vocal in their disapproval, and I hope Doug Armstrong, Jon Cooper, and the rest of the management team took note. One could speculate that Suzuki himself took the Four Nations snub personally and that his performance on the ice has reached another level. 

So far this season, Suzuki is averaging more than a point per game. He is nearing elite status as a two-way forward and has embraced his Captain’s role in Montreal. A promising sign for Suzuki is that several roster projections have him on the roster. Sportsnet, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated all have Suzuki projected as the third or fourth-line centre. While a few other projections still omit the Habs Captain (looking at you, Bleacher Report), the odds appear to be in his favour. I remain optimistic that Suzuki gets his opportunity to represent his country and the Habs in Italy. 

A Calder Trophy for Demidov

The majority of predictions before the 2025-26 season had Ivan Demidov as the favourite to win the Calder trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year. At the near halfway point to the season, that is no longer the case. Part of that is due to hot starts by Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke. The Isles and Ducks have been two of the big surprises this season, so it makes sense to have a correlation with projected award winners. 

Currently, Schaefer is the odds-on favourite to win the Calder at -195 odds, with Sennecke second at +320. Demidov is third at +650. I still believe that it’s too early to count Demidov out of the race. For one, he currently leads the rookie points race with 30, two ahead of Sennecke. I’m also not convinced the Islanders can sustain their current success throughout the season. The Ducks look like a legitimate playoff team, and much like the Habs, they have a lot of young talent. If Demidov is going to overtake Sennecke, it might come down to situational numbers. For example, Demidov already has two game-winning goals vs. zero for Sennecke. It’s a long season, but here’s hoping Demidov only gets better in 2026. 

Continued strong play from Slafkovsky

Juraj Slafkovsky is finally looking like the player fans hoped for when the team selected him first overall in 2022. He is a scoring threat while being a physical force on the ice. He is currently tied for second on the team in goals (11), fifth in hits (60), and sixth in blocked shots (32). His play continues to improve, especially since being moved off the top line.

The 6’3, 225-pound forward looks to have rounded into his frame. The game appears to have slowed down for him, and he has been able to harness his size and strength to his advantage. Being put on the second line away from Suzuki and Caufield has been a blessing. On the top line, Slafkovsky played like a passenger. On the second line, he is the driver, and he looks more comfortable and confident with the puck on his stick. It seems Martin St. Louis has found the formula to unlock Slafkovsky, and he has the potential to level up more as the season progresses. I certainly hope that’s the case.

A playoff series win

To close out the wishlist, I looked toward the postseason. If the other items on the list pan out, then I have little reason to doubt the Habs won’t return to the playoffs in 2026. Now that the team has postseason experience, this year is the time to take the next step. 

I’m not asking for a Stanley Cup win (though I’d be more than happy to get one). I think that would be a bit premature. However, if the team is to progress naturally year over year, it stands to reason that the next step is to win a playoff series. The Habs played Washington hard in the first round last year, but in the end, the Capitals’ veterans overpowered Montreal’s young core, taking the series in just five games. Most Montreal fans weren’t too disappointed by the result. After all, not many expected the Canadiens to make the postseason, so losing to the top seed in the East was nothing shameful. The team is in a better spot going into the new year than they were last year. With the extreme parity in the Eastern Conference right now, it’s hard to know who the Habs might face in an opening-round series. There’s a good chance Montreal could have home-ice advantage at least, which would give them an advantage they didn’t have last season.

I hope my fellow Habs fans enjoy my holiday wishlist for the team, and I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season!