Montreal fans have been counting down the days all summer. With top defenseman Noah Dobson now in the fold, the Canadiens couldn’t wait to see their big offseason addition hit the ice. But the Montreal faithful won’t have to wait much longer.
Starting this month, the Canadiens will finally kick off their preseason, and fans will get their first look at how Dobson transforms their blue line.
When Can Fans First See Noah Dobson in a Canadiens Jersey?
After trading two first-round picks (#16 and #17 overall) and winger Emil Heineman to the Islanders on June 27, the Canadiens finally landed Dobson. Fans will get their first look at him next week when Montreal takes on the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 22, starting at 7 PM EDT.
The game will be the first of four home games that the Canadiens will play at the Bell Centre throughout September and early October. With both teams in the Eastern Conference, the matchup will give Montreal a good early test against an experienced playoff team.
Their second game comes against the Philadelphia Flyers on September 23, also at 7 PM EDT, followed by the third on September 25 when the Toronto Maple Leafs visit Montreal.
The Canadiens then hit the road for two games: September 27 in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena and September 30 against the Ottawa Senators in Quebec City at the Videotron Centre. Both away games also start at 7 PM EDT.
The preseason wraps up back home at the Bell Centre with a rematch against the Senators on October 4 at 7 PM EDT.
Where Can Montreal Fans Get Their Tickets for the Preseason Games?
Fans can grab tickets through the Canadiens’ website for single games, group packages, or ticket bundles. The team’s official partners also have tickets available.
Ticketmaster is the official ticket marketplace for the NHL and will have tickets available for every game, including the preseason games. Single-game tickets go on sale September 15, starting at $44. Fans can also grab their tickets from other official partners such as StubHub and Gametime.
Canadiens’ Summer Recap: Major Additions and Key Departures
While bringing in Dobson remained the highlight of their summer, the Canadiens also added several new talents to build their playoff hopes on. The franchise traded defenseman Logan Mailloux to St. Louis for center Zachary Bolduc.
The Canadiens wrapped up their summer by shipping Carey Price’s contract, along with a 2026 fifth-round pick, to San Jose in exchange for defenseman Gannon Laroque. Montreal also extended a training camp invite to goalie Kevin Mandolese, who became a free agent after last season.
The Habs also picked up free agents Kaapo Kahkonen, Joseph Veleno, and Sammy Blais on one-year deals. Meanwhile, Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak departed in free agency, with Armia joining the Los Angeles Kings and Dvorak joining the Flyers.
On the other hand, veteran defenseman David Savard (34) also called it quits after their playoff exit. With fresh faces joining a core that made the playoffs last season, the Canadiens will use the preseason to see how all the pieces fit together.