Martin St. Louis Drops Surprising Praise on Canadiens’ Defense—What Does It Mean for the Season?
Peering into the Montreal Canadiens’ lineup for the upcoming season, one thing leaps out immediately: the defensive corps is shaping up to be a formidable fortress. With seven NHL-level defensemen anchoring the blueline, not to mention a crop of eager young prospects itching for their chance, the Habs’ back end is no mere afterthought. The recent acquisition of star defenseman Noah Dobson in a trade with the New York Islanders — capped off by a hefty eight-year, $76 million deal — only sweetens the pot, painting a picture of a team bullish on its defensive depth heading into 2025-26. Martin St. Louis, the head coach, doesn’t mince words either; he’s unabashedly confident, telling his players he’d put his top seven defensemen against anyone’s in the league. It’s infectious optimism that has resonated with guys like Jayden Struble, who echoes that belief in the blend of youthful skill, seasoned grit, and sheer tenacity. With this kind of blueprint on display, excitement is practically spilling out of the locker room and into the stands for what promises to be an electrifying campaign. LEARN MORE
When looking at the Montreal Canadiens‘ roster, it is clear that their defense is a major strength. This is because they have seven caliber NHL defensemen, and they have multiple prospect blueliners who are knocking on the door to becoming NHLers.
The Canadiens only strengthened their blueline this off-season, too, as they brought in star defenseman Noah Dobson from the Montreal Canadiens in a trade with the New York Islanders. Thus, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the Canadiens’ blueline heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis certainly is confident in the club’s defensive group heading into the season. While speaking to reporters, including Habs 360’s Chris G, Canadiens defenseman Jayden Struble revealed that St. Louis had some massive praise for the Habs’ blueline.
“Marty was doing his rounds, calling guys in the summer. He was “I’ll take out seven d versus anyone in the league, and I would agree with that,” Struble said.
Struble then discussed why he agrees with St. Louis’ take on the Canadiens’ defense.
“We have some really good young talent,” Struble said. “We have some good young guys. We have some good older veterans. We have a good mix of skill and hard-nose, so it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be interesting to see how the year goes, but I think I’d take out seven guys versus anyone’s.”
St. Louis being so confident in the Canadiens’ defense is certainly nice to hear, and it clearly has resonated with Struble. The Canadiens undoubtedly have some very good defensemen to work with this campaign, and it is a big reason why there is plenty of excitement surrounding the club heading into the 2025-26 season.
Noah Dobson Thrilled To Play For Canadiens
Earlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens acquired star defenseman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They then signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract, so he will be a big part of the Canadiens’ present and future.
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