Arpon Basu
@arponbasu.bsky.social
The Athletic’s senior columnist on the Montreal Canadiens, co-host of the Basu and Godin Notebook podcast, regular contributor for Habs on TSN. Subscribe at:
Print: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/team/canadiens/
Audio: https://basuandgodin.com/
Print: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/team/canadiens/
Audio: https://basuandgodin.com/
Pinned
Inside Ivan Demidov’s hockey brain and how it’s helped him excel as an NHL rookie
Ivan Demidov is one of the most electrifying rookies in the NHL, and two plays he made in his last two games exemplify why.
www.nytimes.com
Ivan Demidov’s offensive hockey mind has been incredible to anyone who’s seen him play, whether that’s fans, his coach, his teammates, or even his opponents.
Here is a look at that mind through the lens of two plays he’s made his last two games.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Here is a look at that mind through the lens of two plays he’s made his last two games.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Asked Adam Engström on Monday if his last name takes an 'ö'. He confirmed it does, yet on his Canadiens jersey, it is spelled with an 'o':
“Maybe they don’t have it here, I don’t know.”
They do.
“Maybe I need to tell them that.”
Here's hoping he told them in time for his NHL debut tonight.
“Maybe they don’t have it here, I don’t know.”
They do.
“Maybe I need to tell them that.”
Here's hoping he told them in time for his NHL debut tonight.
November 26, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Asked Adam Engström on Monday if his last name takes an 'ö'. He confirmed it does, yet on his Canadiens jersey, it is spelled with an 'o':
“Maybe they don’t have it here, I don’t know.”
They do.
“Maybe I need to tell them that.”
Here's hoping he told them in time for his NHL debut tonight.
“Maybe they don’t have it here, I don’t know.”
They do.
“Maybe I need to tell them that.”
Here's hoping he told them in time for his NHL debut tonight.
The Canucks are listening on their impending UFAs. The Canadiens are not necessarily in the rental market at this stage of their rebuild. But perhaps they should make an exception in this case. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
How a Canucks white flag is a Canadiens opportunity — and a test of their patience
The Canucks have let every other team know their UFAs are available, and one of them should be very appealing to the Canadiens.
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The Canucks are listening on their impending UFAs. The Canadiens are not necessarily in the rental market at this stage of their rebuild. But perhaps they should make an exception in this case. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Full on crisis in Edmonton, geez...
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Full on crisis in Edmonton, geez...
Reposted by Arpon Basu
Jakub Dobes affrontera le Mammoth de l’Utah mercredi.
November 25, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Jakub Dobes affrontera le Mammoth de l’Utah mercredi.
Reposted by Arpon Basu
Les combinaisons demeurent les mêmes à l'entraînement du Canadien en Utah.
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Xhekaj-Evans-Anderson
Davidson-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Texier et Engström participent à quelques répétitions sans partenaires fixes.
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Xhekaj-Evans-Anderson
Davidson-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Texier et Engström participent à quelques répétitions sans partenaires fixes.
November 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Les combinaisons demeurent les mêmes à l'entraînement du Canadien en Utah.
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Xhekaj-Evans-Anderson
Davidson-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Texier et Engström participent à quelques répétitions sans partenaires fixes.
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovsky-Kapanen-Demidov
Xhekaj-Evans-Anderson
Davidson-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Texier et Engström participent à quelques répétitions sans partenaires fixes.
Adam Engström, just called up by the Canadiens, was named AHL player of the week.
Canadiens also just announced Joshua Roy has been sent back to Laval.
Canadiens also just announced Joshua Roy has been sent back to Laval.
November 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Adam Engström, just called up by the Canadiens, was named AHL player of the week.
Canadiens also just announced Joshua Roy has been sent back to Laval.
Canadiens also just announced Joshua Roy has been sent back to Laval.
Alexandre Texier, Joshua Roy, Jared Davidson and Florian Xhekaj are all on the ice for Canadiens practice today. So is Adam Engström. According to the NHL media site, Kirby Dach is now on IR, whereas he was on the roster Saturday night. That keeps the roster at 23 even with the additions.
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Alexandre Texier, Joshua Roy, Jared Davidson and Florian Xhekaj are all on the ice for Canadiens practice today. So is Adam Engström. According to the NHL media site, Kirby Dach is now on IR, whereas he was on the roster Saturday night. That keeps the roster at 23 even with the additions.
On Slaf: www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Juraj Slafkovský’s ascension is key to the Canadiens’ ability to ascend as well
Montreal had a big win against the Maple Leafs, but Slafkovský's role in it might be more important in the big picture.
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:00 PM
On Slaf: www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
The Xhekaj brothers are now tied in points season
November 23, 2025 at 1:42 AM
The Xhekaj brothers are now tied in points season
Shots on goal in the second period are 16-1 Canadiens
November 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Shots on goal in the second period are 16-1 Canadiens
Florian Xhekaj gets his first NHL point, Josh Anderson makes it 4-0 Canadiens
November 23, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Florian Xhekaj gets his first NHL point, Josh Anderson makes it 4-0 Canadiens
Ivan Demidov, for now, takes over the NHL's rookie scoring lead with his 16th point in his 21st game, one ahead of Matthew Schaefer and Beckett Sennecke.
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Ivan Demidov, for now, takes over the NHL's rookie scoring lead with his 16th point in his 21st game, one ahead of Matthew Schaefer and Beckett Sennecke.
Dobeš first off this morning.
November 22, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Dobeš first off this morning.
Canadiens practice is 45 minutes away. Sam Montembeault’s practice starts now.
November 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Canadiens practice is 45 minutes away. Sam Montembeault’s practice starts now.
On the Canadiens’ room, and its resident elephant: www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
The elephant in Canadiens’ room is standing in their goal crease
If Sam Montembeault can't figure out what has ailed him all season, the Canadiens' hopes for this season could be cooked.
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:05 PM
On the Canadiens’ room, and its resident elephant: www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
And why not? Sonny Milano makes it 8-4 Caps. Beats Dobeš clean. His angle was off. Canadiens goalies' angles always seem off.
November 21, 2025 at 2:44 AM
And why not? Sonny Milano makes it 8-4 Caps. Beats Dobeš clean. His angle was off. Canadiens goalies' angles always seem off.
Alex Ovechkin completes the hat trick into an empty net to make it 7-4. There are hats on the ice at the Bell Centre.
November 21, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Alex Ovechkin completes the hat trick into an empty net to make it 7-4. There are hats on the ice at the Bell Centre.
A Lane Hutson offensive zone pass to no one leads to a 3v1 break for the Caps, and Ovechkin buries it to make it 6-4
November 21, 2025 at 2:38 AM
A Lane Hutson offensive zone pass to no one leads to a 3v1 break for the Caps, and Ovechkin buries it to make it 6-4
Lane Hutson voodoo nearly brought the house down
November 21, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Lane Hutson voodoo nearly brought the house down
Great o-zone shift for the Suzuki line turns into a Mike Matheson one-timer coming off the bench, 5-4 Capitals
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Great o-zone shift for the Suzuki line turns into a Mike Matheson one-timer coming off the bench, 5-4 Capitals
Canadiens announce Jake Evans is done for the evening.
November 21, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Canadiens announce Jake Evans is done for the evening.
Alexandre Carrier loses his balance, Jakub Dobeš loses his net, Sonny Milano scores to make it 5-3 Caps.
November 21, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Alexandre Carrier loses his balance, Jakub Dobeš loses his net, Sonny Milano scores to make it 5-3 Caps.
Canadiens back to one goal down, blocked shot bounces right to Nick Suzuki, who one-times it into an empty cage. That was a video game goal.
November 21, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Canadiens back to one goal down, blocked shot bounces right to Nick Suzuki, who one-times it into an empty cage. That was a video game goal.
Jakob Chychrun has time to walk in off the blue line and tee one up from the top of the circles on Dobeš. Beats him clean. 4-2 Caps. Second game in a row Canadiens have allowed a d-man to walk in undisturbed and beat their goalie.
November 21, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Jakob Chychrun has time to walk in off the blue line and tee one up from the top of the circles on Dobeš. Beats him clean. 4-2 Caps. Second game in a row Canadiens have allowed a d-man to walk in undisturbed and beat their goalie.
Joe Veleno has his first goal and first point in a Montreal Canadiens uniform. 3-2 Caps.
November 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Joe Veleno has his first goal and first point in a Montreal Canadiens uniform. 3-2 Caps.