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
How every stop in Noah Dobson’s life, from PEI to Long Island, prepared him for Montreal
From a young age, Dobson proved he would not be limited by his geography.
www.nytimes.com
A look at Noah Dobson, from his youth in PEI to his junior days to his time on Long Island, and how all of it helped him prepare for this opportunity in Montreal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
Canadiens weekly notebook: Wherever Juraj Slafkovský plays, that becomes the Canadiens top line. Also a look at the PP1 rotation between Ivan Demidov and Zack Bolduc, why it happens, and perhaps why it should stop. www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Canadiens weekly notebook: Slafkovský’s importance, Demidov on PP1, Danault’s sense of purpose
Juraj Slafkovský is asserting his will on Canadiens opponents, Martin St. Louis' logic in selecting his top power-play unit might be flawed.
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Canadiens weekly notebook: Wherever Juraj Slafkovský plays, that becomes the Canadiens top line. Also a look at the PP1 rotation between Ivan Demidov and Zack Bolduc, why it happens, and perhaps why it should stop. www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
Mike Matheson
a baseball player with the number 16 on his jersey is holding a bat over his head .
ALT: a baseball player with the number 16 on his jersey is holding a bat over his head .
media.tenor.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Mike Matheson
With two points tonight, Juraj Slafkovský has 14 points in 14 games in December. Noah Dobson also has two points and now has seven in his last five games.
December 29, 2025 at 12:28 AM
With two points tonight, Juraj Slafkovský has 14 points in 14 games in December. Noah Dobson also has two points and now has seven in his last five games.
Reposted by Arpon Basu
A look at Noah Dobson, from his youth in PEI to his junior days to his time on Long Island, and how all of it helped him prepare for this opportunity in Montreal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
How every stop in Noah Dobson’s life, from PEI to Long Island, prepared him for Montreal
From a young age, Dobson proved he would not be limited by his geography.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
A look at Noah Dobson, from his youth in PEI to his junior days to his time on Long Island, and how all of it helped him prepare for this opportunity in Montreal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
On the first 24 hours in the new life of Phillip Danault, how he was received by his new captain, and the young goalie who made the whole experience a positive one: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Phillip Danault’s fresh start, Nick Suzuki’s support system and an easy Canadiens win
Phillip Danault is energized to re-join the Canadiens, and in one night, he learned exactly what it means to play for them.
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:48 PM
On the first 24 hours in the new life of Phillip Danault, how he was received by his new captain, and the young goalie who made the whole experience a positive one: www.nytimes.com/athletic/691...
Reposted by Arpon Basu
Good timing. This might be Dobson’s best game as a Hab 👇
A look at Noah Dobson, from his youth in PEI to his junior days to his time on Long Island, and how all of it helped him prepare for this opportunity in Montreal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
How every stop in Noah Dobson’s life, from PEI to Long Island, prepared him for Montreal
From a young age, Dobson proved he would not be limited by his geography.
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Good timing. This might be Dobson’s best game as a Hab 👇
6-2 Canadiens. Slaf one timer off a feed from Hutson.
Somehow, this is a laugher for Montreal. They owe Jacob Fowler big time for giving them a chance to get here.
Somehow, this is a laugher for Montreal. They owe Jacob Fowler big time for giving them a chance to get here.
December 24, 2025 at 2:34 AM
6-2 Canadiens. Slaf one timer off a feed from Hutson.
Somehow, this is a laugher for Montreal. They owe Jacob Fowler big time for giving them a chance to get here.
Somehow, this is a laugher for Montreal. They owe Jacob Fowler big time for giving them a chance to get here.
Another Dobson one-timer on another Canadiens 5-on-3, this time the stick survives, Nick Suzuki bats the rebound out of the air, and it's 5-2 Canadiens.
These were the first two 5-on-3 goals of the season for Montreal.
These were the first two 5-on-3 goals of the season for Montreal.
December 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Another Dobson one-timer on another Canadiens 5-on-3, this time the stick survives, Nick Suzuki bats the rebound out of the air, and it's 5-2 Canadiens.
These were the first two 5-on-3 goals of the season for Montreal.
These were the first two 5-on-3 goals of the season for Montreal.
Dobson's stick blows up on a one-timer at 5v3, puck goes to Cole Caufield, who puts it between Swayman's legs for his 18th of the season. 4-2 Canadiens.
December 24, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Dobson's stick blows up on a one-timer at 5v3, puck goes to Cole Caufield, who puts it between Swayman's legs for his 18th of the season. 4-2 Canadiens.
Zack Bolduc puts the Canadiens ahead 3-2 off a Bruins stick that blew up, leading to a turnover and a Nick Suzuki chance alone. Bolduc buried the rebound. Bruins challenged for goalie interference but goal is confirmed (it was a bad challenge). 12:56 left to play and Mtl heading to PP.
December 24, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Zack Bolduc puts the Canadiens ahead 3-2 off a Bruins stick that blew up, leading to a turnover and a Nick Suzuki chance alone. Bolduc buried the rebound. Bruins challenged for goalie interference but goal is confirmed (it was a bad challenge). 12:56 left to play and Mtl heading to PP.
Canadiens doing their best to make the GM look good tonight by taking penalty after penalty after...
December 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Canadiens doing their best to make the GM look good tonight by taking penalty after penalty after...
Jacob Fowler is single-handedly keeping the Canadiens in this game
December 24, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Jacob Fowler is single-handedly keeping the Canadiens in this game
Zadorov and Pasta miscommunication in the neutral zone gives a breakaway to Ivan Demidov. He makes no mistake. 2-2.
December 24, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Zadorov and Pasta miscommunication in the neutral zone gives a breakaway to Ivan Demidov. He makes no mistake. 2-2.
Alexandre Texier gets up a bit woozy after a big hit from Fraser Minten
December 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Alexandre Texier gets up a bit woozy after a big hit from Fraser Minten
On Bruins third PP of the first period Alex Steeves is left alone in right circle and wires a wrist shot past Fowler to give Boston a 2-1 lead heading into intermission
December 24, 2025 at 12:53 AM
On Bruins third PP of the first period Alex Steeves is left alone in right circle and wires a wrist shot past Fowler to give Boston a 2-1 lead heading into intermission
Not long after the Canadiens take the lead, a Mike Matheson turnover in his own end eventually turns into a Marat Khusnutdinov backdoor goal to tie it 1-1. Comes on Bruins' 11 shot on goal of the game. Fowler had no chance.
December 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Not long after the Canadiens take the lead, a Mike Matheson turnover in his own end eventually turns into a Marat Khusnutdinov backdoor goal to tie it 1-1. Comes on Bruins' 11 shot on goal of the game. Fowler had no chance.
Samuel Blais from below the goal line banks one in off Jeremy Swayman, 1-0 Canadiens.
December 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Samuel Blais from below the goal line banks one in off Jeremy Swayman, 1-0 Canadiens.
Four players who played college hockey in Boston in the Canadiens lineup tonight: Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble and Jacob Fowler.
December 24, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Four players who played college hockey in Boston in the Canadiens lineup tonight: Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Jayden Struble and Jacob Fowler.
Canadiens lines in warmup in Boston:
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Texier-Danault-Anderson
Blais-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Hutson-Carrier
Struble-Xhekaj
Fowler
Dobeš
OUT: Engström, Beck
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Texier-Danault-Anderson
Blais-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Hutson-Carrier
Struble-Xhekaj
Fowler
Dobeš
OUT: Engström, Beck
December 23, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Canadiens lines in warmup in Boston:
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Texier-Danault-Anderson
Blais-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Hutson-Carrier
Struble-Xhekaj
Fowler
Dobeš
OUT: Engström, Beck
Caufield-Suzuki-Bolduc
Slafkovský-Kapanen-Demidov
Texier-Danault-Anderson
Blais-Veleno-Gallagher
Matheson-Dobson
Hutson-Carrier
Struble-Xhekaj
Fowler
Dobeš
OUT: Engström, Beck
Martin St. Louis did not have lineup updates, said a few guys are sick and everyone is taking warmup. Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher did not skate but they should play. Joe Veleno skated and is confirmed cleared. Phillip Danault, of course, is playing. And he is thrilled.
December 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Martin St. Louis did not have lineup updates, said a few guys are sick and everyone is taking warmup. Cole Caufield and Brendan Gallagher did not skate but they should play. Joe Veleno skated and is confirmed cleared. Phillip Danault, of course, is playing. And he is thrilled.
Texier-Danault-Anderson is a line this morning.
December 23, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Texier-Danault-Anderson is a line this morning.
Joe Veleno is on the ice for Canadiens morning skate.
December 23, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Joe Veleno is on the ice for Canadiens morning skate.
Tonight’s starter Jacob Fowler in familiar surroundings in Boston.
December 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Tonight’s starter Jacob Fowler in familiar surroundings in Boston.
A look at Noah Dobson, from his youth in PEI to his junior days to his time on Long Island, and how all of it helped him prepare for this opportunity in Montreal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...
How every stop in Noah Dobson’s life, from PEI to Long Island, prepared him for Montreal
From a young age, Dobson proved he would not be limited by his geography.
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
A look at Noah Dobson, from his youth in PEI to his junior days to his time on Long Island, and how all of it helped him prepare for this opportunity in Montreal: www.nytimes.com/athletic/689...