The Canadiens sit pretty in the playoff hunt, but GM Kent Hughes faces a ticking clock with pending RFAs like Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc, and Arber Xhekaj demanding tough calls. These aren't just summer worries; they could force Montreal's hand at the deadline, turning question marks into trade chips for immediate playoff muscle. With cap space tight and the Atlantic Division breathing down their necks, Hughes' next move hinges on who stays and who goes.

Brendan Gallagher's $6.5 million deal hangs heavy as the Canadiens eye tough roster calls with players like Kirby Dach and Jake Evans returning from injury. Martin St. Louis faces real pressure to balance Gallagher's veteran grit against a wave of young talent pushing for ice time, and whispers suggest the team's next alternate captain comes from an unexpected corner of the locker room.