Montreal Canadiens Open Season Against Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre

The Montreal Canadiens commenced their morning practice session for the 2024-25 season at the Bell Centre on Wednesday, in preparation for their opening game against long-standing rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The lineup, as revealed by head coach Martin St-Louis, showcases a blend of returning players and new faces.

The forward line includes players such as Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovský, and Alex Newhook. Key players on defense are Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, and David Savard, while the goaltender duties will be handled by Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau. Notably, Michael Pezzetta and Oliver Kapanen were named as substitute forwards, whereas Jayden Struble, recovering from an injury, did not participate in the main practice session.

Speaking on the excitement of the season’s start, Alex Newhook remarked, “The anticipation has been building up in the pre-season; I think a lot of guys were waiting for this day. We are excited to feel the energy of the season and the Bell Centre. It will be a lot of fun.” Meanwhile, Lane Hutson shared his enthusiasm about the game, saying, “I’ve gotten rid of the stress of playing an initial NHL game, so I don’t have to worry about that. But an opening game is a whole other thing. I’m just very excited, and I know many other guys are too.”

The head coach of the Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, also commented on the team’s mindset, stating, “It’s always the group versus everyone. Anytime. The opponent, or you [the media], it has to be blocked out. We have to focus on what we do.”

One of the notable line-up additions includes Alex Barré-Boulet, set to make his first regular-season appearance for Montreal. Barré-Boulet’s hard work during training camp secured his position, as coach St-Louis mentioned his “rigorous and applied” approach had made him a valuable asset to the team.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET. Fans arriving at the Bell Centre are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:30 p.m. to witness the pregame ceremony. For those interested in attending, tickets are still available for purchase. As the Canadiens gear up to face the Maple Leafs, the excitement surrounding the start of the season is palpable among both players and fans alike.