A Winning Habit

Welcome to A Winning Habit, your go-to source for news and opinions about the Montreal Canadiens, powered by the FanSided Network. Our mission is to deliver high-quality coverage of Canadiens news, insights, and original articles. A Winning Habit also acts as a gathering place for fans to connect, stay updated on the latest happenings, and share their love for the team.

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A fourth-line nightmare

1 day ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Tyler Thorpe, Luke Tuch, and Florian Xhekaj are the CH that could use right now in the playoff matchup versus the big, physical Washington Capitals. Now that I have your attention, I intend to keep it for some real talk about the Laval Rocket, which have been a powerhouse in the American Hockey League.
Ivan Demidov’s anticipated CH playoff debut

2 days ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Lane Hutson stole the show with two assists, and Ivan Demidov played under 12 minutes of ice time. Onto the next one we go. If the Montreal Canadiens, who haven’t sniffed anything come playoff time since 2021, weren’t excited about their looming first round matchup, Ivan Demidov cranks the excitement to richter scale-level numbers. Now, put him against the best Russian hockey player in NHL history Alex Ovechkin, and let the two studs separated by 20 years of age, battled it out for bragging rights.
Arber Xhekaj's ice time - A methodical move by Martin St. Louis?

2 days ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Martin St. Louis has stapled Arber Xhekaj to the pressbox - likened to put a piece of meat right in front of a lion with steel bars separating it from the meal. Xhekaj is hungry, and the playoffs could be where he shows his appetite. It's no secret that the usage of Arber Xhekaj has been a sore spot on the overall team culture for the Montreal Canadiens, and Martin St Louis hasn't given any indication that it will improve.
David Savard's retirement sets up battle for the right defence vacancy

5 days ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

No. 58's last playoff battle of his career is looming, and after it, he will depart into the sunset, leaving a gaping hole on the Habs' blueline. What an interesting storyline this sets up. Pascal Vincent has the Montreal Canadiens farm team operating like a nice classic v8, they are purring along, and have a real nasty edge. #Rocket Pascal Vincent on clinching first overall "I'm really proud of them. After the game, I told them that everyone did their job[...] and worked well together.
Big offseason coming for Kent Hughes after Stanley Cup playoffs

5 days ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Kent Hughes made some splashes during his offseasons, drafting and trading to acquire elite talent. What's in store for the summer of 2025? Let's dive in. Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes has two offseason targets now. If he wants this team to stay competitive, he has the draft and the lead up before the start of next season, he will make them in that time. He will need to determine how to acquire a 2nd line centre, and how to fill that vacant role left by Savard.
Proposing the CH pre-playoff lineup shakeup

1 week ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

I have an opinion about the Habs' lines, and believe that the best iteration of the lineup is laid out, as I suggest in the article. The Montreal Canadiens have the luxury of adding the best hockey player in the entire world who hadn’t yet played an NHL game. Ivan Demidov with a nice move, just misses. pic.twitter.com/pwIVCRLUTb— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) April 16, 2025Don’t mistake him for a guy is highly rated, but plays a very overrated game.
What are we talking about here for Ivan Demidov’s potential?

1 week ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Ivan Demidov scored two points in his debut and was easily the most talented player on the ice between both teams when the Habs dropped their battle with the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night. What did it tell everybody about the player? In a recent airing of The Sick Podcast - Recrutes Draftcast - Grant McCagg former scout, and TSN prospect writer, and Craig Button, current TSN head of scouting had a discussion about Montreal Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov.
Now that we’ve absorbed his debut, let’s have a little fun, and read what Roman Rotenberg had to say about Demidov

1 week ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Roman Rotenberg likens Ivan Demidov’s abilities to those of a young Evgeni Malkin - now you see why, though I see shades of Nikita and Kirill. The Hype was warranted, he exceeded expectationsSKA St Petersburg head coach Roman Rotenberg sees flashes of a young Evgeni Malkin in his former player Ivan Demidov. Eric Engels, the Montreal Canadiens beat writer for Sportsnet, believes that Demidov will surprise many fans in arriving and making an impact almost immediately.
Jacob Fowler's AHL debut - expected to be Saturday against Syracuse

1 week ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Jacob Fowler has had quite the week, going from the NCAA to Montreal, and practicing with the Habs, before practicing with the Laval Rocket. But it appears the date of his first, is close to confirmed. Jacob Fowler is signed, and ready to play - new goaltending setup and all - and his debut date seems highly likely to be Saturday, April 12 against the Syracuse Crunch. Also hearing that #GoHabsGo prospect Jacob Fowler should be making his pro/AHL debut on Saturday against the Syracuse Crunch.
Could Kent Hughes swoop in - with Isaac Howard unlikely to sign with Tampa Bay - and strike a deal?

1 week ago | awinninghabit.com | Tyler Major-Mcnicol

Isaac Howard went against what everybody thought he would do, and chose to stay in the NCAA for another season. This likely signals that he isn't going to sign with Tampa at the end of the 2025-26 season. Interesting. Those darn Tampa Bay Lightning, it would be a shame if a certain Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes took a swing on their top prospect Isaac Howard.