Recent Surprise Acquisition by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens Has Just Been Explained
Photo credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images
When Kent Hughes announced the signing of goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen on July 1, many hockey fans raised their eyebrows.
That said, looking at the 2025-26 National Hockey League schedule, the organization’s strategy in bringing in the Finnish goaltender on the opening day of free agency becomes a bit clearer.
The Unexpected One-Season Acquisition of Goalie Kaapo Kahkonen in Montreal Finally Makes Sense
As reported by DansLesCoulisses, NHL teams will get very little rest next season, largely due to the Olympic Games in February 2026.”Reducing Samuel Montembeault’s workload was already a goal for the team, and this schedule makes it even more important to achieve that.”
– DLC
Furthermore, the Canadiens will play back-to-back games no fewer than 16 times in 2025-26, so Jakub Dobes and Kaapo Kahkonen will need to step up if the Habs want to build on last season’s momentum.
The importance of the backup goalie will be more tangible than ever-or close to it.
While Montembeault is almost certain to be the starting goalie, the battle between Dobes and Kahkonen for the backup job will be one to watch during training camp, which opens this coming September.
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Recent Surprise Acquisition by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens Has Just Been Explained
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