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...
Jakub Dobeš starts for the Canadiens against Dallas tomorrow.
November 12, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Jakub Dobeš starts for the Canadiens against Dallas tomorrow.
Pretty appropriate way for this one to end, a pass bounces off Caufield's stick and the Kings put it into an empty net. 5-1 LA.
November 12, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Pretty appropriate way for this one to end, a pass bounces off Caufield's stick and the Kings put it into an empty net. 5-1 LA.
Ivan Demidov just got a shift with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, his second of the night. Juraj Slafkovský's puck management tonight has left something to be desired, to say the least.
November 12, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Ivan Demidov just got a shift with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, his second of the night. Juraj Slafkovský's puck management tonight has left something to be desired, to say the least.
Joel Armia scores a Joel Armia goal, races down Lane Hutson for a loose puck, lifts his stick, takes the puck and scores on Montembeault, 4-1 Kings
November 12, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Joel Armia scores a Joel Armia goal, races down Lane Hutson for a loose puck, lifts his stick, takes the puck and scores on Montembeault, 4-1 Kings
Sam Montembeault with a nice setup for Kevin Fiala, Kings now up 3-2
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Sam Montembeault with a nice setup for Kevin Fiala, Kings now up 3-2
Quinton Byfield puts the Kings up 2-1 on a delayed penalty call, so another 6-on-5 goal against. Joel Edmundson gets his second point of the game. #RevengeGame
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Quinton Byfield puts the Kings up 2-1 on a delayed penalty call, so another 6-on-5 goal against. Joel Edmundson gets his second point of the game. #RevengeGame
On a night of unlikely laser beam goals, Joel Edmundson fires a one-timer from the blue line 96.8 mph past Montembeault to tie the game 1-1.
November 12, 2025 at 1:11 AM
On a night of unlikely laser beam goals, Joel Edmundson fires a one-timer from the blue line 96.8 mph past Montembeault to tie the game 1-1.
Josh Anderson's second of the season is a laser off a 3-on-2 rush that beats Keumper top shelf far side, 1-0 Canadiens
November 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Josh Anderson's second of the season is a laser off a 3-on-2 rush that beats Keumper top shelf far side, 1-0 Canadiens
Joel Armia gets a little welcome back video at the first TV timeout. Really nice round of applause from the crowd. #ArmiaThings
November 12, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Joel Armia gets a little welcome back video at the first TV timeout. Really nice round of applause from the crowd. #ArmiaThings
Nice little set play off the faceoff, with Caufield taking a wide curl around the faceoff circle to cut to the back post, results in a Brandt Clarke intereference penalty. Canadiens to the power play coming out of the break.
November 12, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Nice little set play off the faceoff, with Caufield taking a wide curl around the faceoff circle to cut to the back post, results in a Brandt Clarke intereference penalty. Canadiens to the power play coming out of the break.
Six different countries represented in the Kings top-6 forwards. That has to be a first.
November 12, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Six different countries represented in the Kings top-6 forwards. That has to be a first.
Canadiens weekly notebook is out! On Kirby Dach's improved perspective, Martin St. Louis on his need to improve managing his bench, the value of a veteran voice on a young team, an outside perspective on Kaiden Guhle: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Canadiens weekly notebook: Kirby Dach’s process, Martin St. Louis on ice time
Also this week, a look inside the veteran leadership in the Mammoth dressing room and wondering if the Canadiens could use the same.
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Canadiens weekly notebook is out! On Kirby Dach's improved perspective, Martin St. Louis on his need to improve managing his bench, the value of a veteran voice on a young team, an outside perspective on Kaiden Guhle: www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Torn between my desire to watch the Bills lose and also watch my Dolphins tank. This is torture.
November 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Torn between my desire to watch the Bills lose and also watch my Dolphins tank. This is torture.
On a comment from Martin St. Louis after practice and a shift that perfectly executed that comment 10 days later, preventing the Canadiens’ kryptonite from coming out in a big win. A young team continues to learn, and continues to win while doing it.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Canadiens beat Mammoth, prove they can win and work on imperfections all at once
Montreal once had to be perfect to come out of game with points. That they no longer do may be their biggest sign of growth.
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:26 PM
On a comment from Martin St. Louis after practice and a shift that perfectly executed that comment 10 days later, preventing the Canadiens’ kryptonite from coming out in a big win. A young team continues to learn, and continues to win while doing it.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Reposted by Arpon Basu
Blues assign Logan Mailloux to AHL for what GM Doug Armstrong calls ‘a reset’
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Blues assign Logan Mailloux to AHL for what GM Doug Armstrong calls ‘a reset’
St. Louis' rookie defenseman heads to the minors after a rough start that includes being a healthy scratch in seven of 16 games.
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Blues assign Logan Mailloux to AHL for what GM Doug Armstrong calls ‘a reset’
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Kirby Dach adds one for good measure on a breakaway, 6-2 Canadiens
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Kirby Dach adds one for good measure on a breakaway, 6-2 Canadiens
Nick Suzuki scores his first even strength goal of the season, his first goal *not* assisted by Ivan Demidov, and the Canadiens lead 5-2. Their best third period of the season, by far.
November 9, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Nick Suzuki scores his first even strength goal of the season, his first goal *not* assisted by Ivan Demidov, and the Canadiens lead 5-2. Their best third period of the season, by far.
It took Alex Newhook 27 games to score six goals last season.
It took 15 this season.
It took 15 this season.
November 9, 2025 at 1:41 AM
It took Alex Newhook 27 games to score six goals last season.
It took 15 this season.
It took 15 this season.
J-J Peterka forced to defend Alex Newhook one-on-one. It does not go well. Newhook scores his sixth, 3-2 Canadiens.
November 9, 2025 at 1:39 AM
J-J Peterka forced to defend Alex Newhook one-on-one. It does not go well. Newhook scores his sixth, 3-2 Canadiens.
Cole Caufield, 11 goals in 15 games.
November 9, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Cole Caufield, 11 goals in 15 games.
There's a time to jaw at the refs, there's a time to keep playing.
November 9, 2025 at 1:24 AM
There's a time to jaw at the refs, there's a time to keep playing.
Demidov to Kapanen off a clean entry and the Canadiens tie it up. Kapanen's sixth goal of the season
November 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Demidov to Kapanen off a clean entry and the Canadiens tie it up. Kapanen's sixth goal of the season
Utah still officially has one shot on goal, Yamamoto's goal. The Ian Cole rebound that Yamamoto cashed in is somehow not a shot on goal, and the Sergachev shot that squeaked through Montembeault is officially a blocked shot by Evans for sweeping it off the goal line.
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Utah still officially has one shot on goal, Yamamoto's goal. The Ian Cole rebound that Yamamoto cashed in is somehow not a shot on goal, and the Sergachev shot that squeaked through Montembeault is officially a blocked shot by Evans for sweeping it off the goal line.
Canadiens lines and pairings in warmup vs Mammoth:
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Anderson
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Montembeault
Dobeš
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Anderson
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Montembeault
Dobeš
November 8, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Canadiens lines and pairings in warmup vs Mammoth:
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Anderson
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Montembeault
Dobeš
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Veleno-Evans-Anderson
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Montembeault
Dobeš
Reposted by Arpon Basu
#stlblues morning skate lines vs. Seattle:
Schenn-Thomas-Kyrou
Holloway-Suter-Buchnevich
Toropchenko-Dvorsky-Snuggerud
Joseph-Bjugstad-Walker
Extras: Sundqvist, Texier
Broberg-Parayko
Fowler-Faulk
Tucker-Kessel
Extra: Mailloux
Hofer in starter's net
Schenn-Thomas-Kyrou
Holloway-Suter-Buchnevich
Toropchenko-Dvorsky-Snuggerud
Joseph-Bjugstad-Walker
Extras: Sundqvist, Texier
Broberg-Parayko
Fowler-Faulk
Tucker-Kessel
Extra: Mailloux
Hofer in starter's net
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
#stlblues morning skate lines vs. Seattle:
Schenn-Thomas-Kyrou
Holloway-Suter-Buchnevich
Toropchenko-Dvorsky-Snuggerud
Joseph-Bjugstad-Walker
Extras: Sundqvist, Texier
Broberg-Parayko
Fowler-Faulk
Tucker-Kessel
Extra: Mailloux
Hofer in starter's net
Schenn-Thomas-Kyrou
Holloway-Suter-Buchnevich
Toropchenko-Dvorsky-Snuggerud
Joseph-Bjugstad-Walker
Extras: Sundqvist, Texier
Broberg-Parayko
Fowler-Faulk
Tucker-Kessel
Extra: Mailloux
Hofer in starter's net