Montreal Canadiens set to be NHL’s youngest team in 2025-26 | NHL News
The Montreal Canadiens are all set to enter the 2025-26 NHL season as the youngest roster in the league, continuing with their youth-driven team. According to Eliteprospects.com, the Canadiens are the youngest team in the league for this upcoming campaign, with an average of 25.35. As per reports, their U-25 core consists of several elite players, including Cole Caufield, who recorded his first 70-point season, and Lane Hutson, who is coming off a Calder Trophy-winning season. With an average age of 25.35 years, just ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and the Buffalo Sabres, who both average 25.73 years.
Montreal Canadiens to be NHL ’s youngest team
The Montreal Canadiens may be the youngest team in the NHL, but they are still ahead in the rebuild compared to other teams in the league. Though they are not very experienced but the team has played 6,625 games of experience, while the Sabres have 6,040, and the Blackhawks complete the top three with 6,945 games on the counter.According to Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes, the Canadiens are expected to take another step forward this season, to continue their organic growth, as they emphasized the results last season. Longtime veterans like Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, and David Savard have departed, while new additions such as Noah Dobson (25) and Zachary Bolduc (22) have been integrated to accelerate the team’s long-term growth.
Key talents on the team include captain Nick Suzuki (26), Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský, Kaiden Guhle, Lane Hutson, and Ivan Demidov. It is to be noted that Demidov has made quite an impression in his debut, scoring a goal and an assist in his very first NHL game, making him one of the youngest Canadiens ever to achieve multiple points in a debut. He continued to shine in the playoffs, breaking Henri Richard’s record as the youngest player to have a multi-point game in postseason history.On the defensive side, 21-year-old rookie standout Lane Hutson had an incredible 2024–25 season under the Montreal Canadiens. He earned the NHL Rookie of the Month title and set several point streak records for first-year defensemen with the Canadiens. Besides, he is also a proud recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy, which he earned in 2025.
Who else will join the Montreal Canadiens team this year?
As for the second rookie spot, chances are it will be filled by Oliver Kapanen, who is still considered a rookie in NHL terms, having only played 18 games in the big league so far. Apart from them, several players will make their NHL playoff debuts, including players expected to play big roles, like Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovský, Kaiden Guhle, and Samuel Montembeault. But on the other side, there’s Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook, Alex Carrier, Christian Dvorak, and Jake Evans.FAQsWhat is the average age of the Canadiens’ roster in 2025–26?The Montreal Canadiens are set to have an average roster age of around 25.75 years for the 2025–26 season, based on NHL media site rosters from mid-July 2025. This makes them the only team in the NHL with an average age under 26, earning them the title of the youngest team in the league.Also Read: Nicklas Backstrom returns to hockey career in Sweden with Brynas IF following subdued NHL goodbye | NHL News – Times of IndiaIn which position will Noah Dobson play?Noah Dobson is set to take on a crucial top-pairing role with the Montreal Canadiens, showcasing his skills on both offense and defense. He’s anticipated to be a standout player during power plays and to make an impact in every situation, striving to be a dependable 200-foot player.
