\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 lines at first practice of Milan Olympics <\/p>\n
Celebrini \u2013 McDavid \u2013 Wilson
Marchand \u2013 MacKinnon \u2013 Suzuki
Stone \u2013 Crosby \u2013 Marner
Hagel \u2013 Horvat \u2013 Reinhart
Jarvis, Bennett <\/p>\n
Toews \u2013 Makar \u2014 Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Seeing him lined up with Colorado Avalanche star Nathan\u00a0MacKinnon\u00a0and Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand may come as a bit of a surprise to some. However,\u00a0Suzuki started\u00a0his NHL career playing on the\u00a0wing. The roster construction seems to point to Suzuki\u2019s line as being used to\u00a0play\u00a0a matchup role against top lines, while also\u00a0grinding\u00a0offence with a mix of physicality,\u00a0skill,\u00a0and defensive coverage. Canada\u2019s success will rely on its superstars like MacKinnon, Sidney\u00a0Crosby\u00a0and Connor McDavid, but it is the unsung efforts of players like Suzuki that could make the difference.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The Slovak Mountain\u00a0<\/p>\n Since his\u00a0breakout performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics<\/a>, where\u00a0Juraj\u00a0Slafkovsky<\/a>\u00a0was the leading scorer and MVP and helped Slovakia win its first Olympic hockey medal (bronze), his game has grown significantly on both the international and professional stages. At just 17 in Beijing, he\u00a0showcased\u00a0elite scoring instincts and physical maturity beyond his years, leading to his\u00a0selection\u00a0as the first-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 2026 Winter Olympic Games pose\u00a0a true\u00a0challenge as\u00a0gaming analytics\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0look favourably upon\u00a0Slovakia\u2019s chances at repeating as a medalist.\u00a0<\/p>\n Juraj Slafkovsky on taking a leadership role for Team Slovakia \ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf0 at the Olympics (from his latest NHL blog post):<\/p>\n \u201cEven though I know I am still young. I want to lead the team, I want to lead by example\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47\ud83d\udc47 pic.twitter.com\/y1IGdjJKjQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \/r\/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n His evolution has centred on refining his physical\u00a0game and integrating his size, strength, and shot into sustained offensive pressure. He became noticeably more assertive\u00a0by\u00a0increasing his shooting volume, engaging more effectively in board battles and forechecking. This led him into becoming a play driver for the Canadiens\u2019 second line. This is good news for Slovakia as his\u00a0point\u00a0production has\u00a0remained\u00a0strong, and he continues to contribute\u00a0in\u00a0all situations, including power play and even strength, while also amassing hits and blocked shots that attest to his growing two-way responsibility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n A strong showing could boost his confidence as the Canadiens gear up for the playoff push, and a\u00a0short change\u00a0of scenery to him a taste of home may be able to recharge his batteries ahead of the stretch\u00a0run\u00a0to the NHL playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Canadiens Like to\u00a0Move It Move It?\u00a0<\/p>\n Since the NHL returned from the 4 Nations Face-Off, teams have played 82 games through to the Olympic break. Over that time span, the Canadiens have\u00a0been one of the best teams in the league<\/a>, sitting fifth overall with 106 points. Their stars have stepped up as Suzuki gas 106 points, Lane Hutson has 83\u00a0points,\u00a0and Cole Caufield has 43 goals. Montreal has ridden consistent,\u00a0highlight-reel performances to this success and has shown to be a difficult team to play against. <\/p>\n The club can also boast having the NHL rookie points leader (Ivan Demidov), the NHL rookie\u00a0assists\u00a0leader (also Demidov), the NHL rookie goaltender with the most wins (Jakub Dobes), and the NHL rookie goals leader (Oliver Kapanen). Having so many high performers, there is no doubt fans will look to management to make waves at the 2026 Trade Deadline as many will believe the window is open. However, they may need to be satisfied with the players already on hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n Montreal\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0been able to dominate and put together long winning streaks, but has been consistently in games and has earned points even when they are outplayed, according to the advanced statistical metrics. Considering they are second place in the Atlantic Division, with a game in hand ahead of the Detroit Red Wings,\u00a0fans may be hoping for a big home run swing on a high-scoring forward. However, the Canadiens have already proven that they score goals as they are tied for second in the NHL for goals scored.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to\u00a0president Jeff Gorton<\/a>,\u00a0he and Hughes have spent a lot of time analyzing their next steps. That next step is vital to the rebuilding process as they need to find a balance between the club\u2019s long-term vision and the here and now.\u00a0Yet\u00a0he did go on to state that\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019d like to be aggressive, and we will be, if need be\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Laine on the Move?\u00a0<\/p>\n Patrick Laine was practicing with the team on the ice in a regular jersey, and while he seems good to go, he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0been cleared yet by medical staff to return to\u00a0play (that is most likely to change after the Olympic break). The issue now is that the Canadiens can make room on the roster, but\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0really have a role for him to jump into.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0nearly completely\u00a0healthy, so they would have to move a body to get him on the\u00a0roster, and\u00a0fitting him into a lineup\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0winning more games than losing is no easy task.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Who\u00a0comes out? Is it Kirby Dach from the top line, who is playing the forechecking style\u00a0required of\u00a0him? Zachary Bolduc on the third line, who is playing a more physical style while playing at the pace head coach Martin St. Louis demands? Compounded with Alexandre Texier and Alex Newhook returning, the Canadiens need to find roles for an entire line work of forwards even though there is no desire to alter the second or fourth lines.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Marco D\u2019Amico of RG Media, it is highly likely\u00a0Laine is heading to the Metropolitan Division<\/a>. In particular, the Carolina Hurricanes could be the team looking to bring in the Finnish sniper. D\u2019Amico\u2019s rationale for this trade hinges on a connection between Laine and the Hurricanes:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Carolina Hurricanes have significant cap space and have two of Laine\u2019s best friends, Sebastian Aho and Nikolaj Ehlers, on the roster\u201d.\u00a0 <\/p>\n -Marco D\u2019Amico<\/p>\n Another interesting possibility, due to rumblings that Montreal prefers to\u00a0not\u00a0retain salary, is the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have close to $12 million in projected cap space, have\u00a0established\u00a0centre\u00a0depth and could use an extra offensive punch. Also, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, has been spotted in Montreal at\u00a0games\u00a0even though there are no matchups between the two clubs<\/a>\u00a0remaining\u00a0this season. Laine is still a proven NHL player with an expiring contract.\u00a0While it\u2019s\u00a0unlikely Montreal gets much in return for him, the goal\u00a0here seems to be\u00a0for Hughes to find Laine a landing spot that\u00a0provides\u00a0him the best-possible opportunity to\u00a0showcase\u00a0himself and earn a new contract.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n In this case, doing what is best for the player is also what is best for the Canadiens as a trade would free up a roster spot while showing the league that the club also values players and their families. This can only help their reputation, especially when it comes time to woo a free agent or have a player waive a no-movement clause (NMC) to come to Montreal.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keep an eye on our THW Podcast Network for all your hockey needs and THW\u2019s affiliated podcast,\u00a0Habs Unfiltered<\/a>,\u00a0for the latest Canadiens news, notes, and\u00a0rumours.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>
Morrissey \u2013 Parayko
Harley \u2013 Doughty
Theodore \u2013 Sanheim @TSN_Sports<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Cole](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Cole-Caufield-Canadiens-1200x800.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"Montreal](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Montreal-Canadiens-Patrik-Laine-1200x800.jpg\")
Montreal Canadiens right wing Patrik Laine (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Canadiens_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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