Montreal Canadiens face summer roster decisions under GM Kent Hughes

The Montreal Canadiens have completed a breakthrough season, reaching the Eastern Conference final in the playoffs. General manager Kent Hughes now faces critical summer moves to sustain the team's momentum.

Key priorities include creating salary‑cap flexibility by addressing veteran contracts, notably the possible buy‑out of forward Brendan Gallagher. Goaltender Samuel Montembeault’s future is also uncertain after internal competition, and the club may consider moving on from him.

The roster features emerging talent such as Russian prospect Ivan Demidov, forward Alex Newhook and Czech goaltender Jakub Dobeš, all of whom could command larger contracts. The organization also weighs the health‑related challenges of forward Kirby Dach, whose injuries have limited his impact.

These decisions will shape the Canadiens’ approach to the second line and overall competitiveness as they aim for a Stanley Cup run in the upcoming season.