‘Our own brand of puzzle’: Caufield says Canadiens ready for Atlantic Division battle

Montreal Canadiens star Cole Caufield believes his team is ready to face off against Atlantic Division rivals after a surprising run to the 2025 Stanley Cup final. The Canadiens finished the 2025-26 season with 106 points, just shy of their ultimate goal, but Caufield insists they have far to go before reaching their potential. While a number of Atlantic Division teams have reloaded for the upcoming 2026-27 NHL season, Caufield and his teammates are sticking to their own plan.

The Florida Panthers, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2024 and 2025, have added a second winger in Brady Tkachuk. The Toronto Maple Leafs have bolstered their roster with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, defenceman Darren Raddysh and additional forwards. The Buffalo Sabres and Tampa Bay Lightning finished just ahead of Montreal in the regular season.

Despite having nearly $10 million in cap space, Montreal chose not to make significant moves in free agency or trades. Caufield trusts the management team led by president Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes to guide the team internally. The core players, including Caufield, captain Nick Suzuki, defenceman Lane Hutson and winger Ivan Demidov, are all under long-term, team-friendly contracts.

Caufield acknowledges the growing salaries in the NHL but emphasizes that the team's culture and winning are the top priorities. He says the Canadiens are making their own unique brand of puzzle, different from the rest of the league.