Montreal Canadiens' Rise Sparks Stanley Cup Aspirations

The Montreal Canadiens posted a 15‑point improvement in the 2024‑25 season, finishing with 91 points and securing a playoff berth before falling in a five‑game first‑round series. Offensive production surged, driven by Juraj Slafkovský’s 30 goals and 73 points and Cole Caufield’s 50‑goal season, while defensemen Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson each contributed 12 goals. Management under general manager Kent Hughes and assistant Jeff Gorton oversaw the roster overhaul that analysts credit for the turnaround.

NHL experts such as Matt Larkin and Marc Dumont now view the Canadiens as genuine Stanley Cup contenders, highlighting the depth of the young core, the emergence of players like Jakub Dobeš and Ivan Demidov, and the team’s strong power‑play performance. They note that defensive consistency and the addition of a veteran second‑line centre remain the primary areas to address before the Canadiens can mount a serious title run.