The Montreal Canadiens have officially announced the 60 players who will participate in the team's 2025 training camp, which begins on September 17th at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. The camp will run until October 4th, in preparation for the season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 8th. This year's camp is particularly exciting, with a blend of established NHL talent, promising prospects, and solid AHL players all vying for a spot on the Canadiens' roster.

The training camp roster consists of 34 forwards, 19 defensemen, and 7 goaltenders. Of these, 42 players are signed to NHL contracts and 16 to AHL contracts. Goaltender Kevin Mandolese has been invited on a tryout basis, and defenseman Owen Protz is not signed to a contract. Head coach Martin St-Louis and his assistants will oversee the practices and evaluations, with support from the Laval Rocket's coaching staff.

Forwards:

The forward group is headlined by established stars like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovský. Highly anticipated rookie Ivan Demidov will also be a key focus. Veterans such as Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evans, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Josh Anderson, and Patrik Laine bring experience to the mix. Young forwards like Joshua Roy, Sean Farrell, Filip Mesar, Oliver Kapanen, Zachary Bolduc, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Riley Kidney, and Vinzenz Rohrer will be aiming to prove they are ready for the NHL. Recent additions Joe Veleno and Samuel Blais will be competing for roster spots. Other forwards invited include Vincent Arseneau, Lucas Condotta, Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin, Jared Davidson, Will Dineen, Joseph Dunlap, Mark Estapa, Egor Guriunov, Israel Mianscum, Tyler Thorpe, and Luke Tuch.

Ivan Demidov is considered one of the top NHL-affiliated prospects outside the league. He is a highly creative and offensive threat, and has improved his physical strength. Demidov was a star at the recent prospects game, showcasing his elite skills and scoring a highlight-reel goal.

Defensemen:

The defense features a mix of experience and youth. Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Alexandre Carrier, and newly acquired Noah Dobson lead the group. Highly touted prospects Lane Hutson and David Reinbacher will be under close observation. Owen Protz, who impressed at rookie camp, is also in the mix. Steady contributors like Jayden Struble and William Trudeau add depth. The remaining defensemen invited are Nathan Clurman, Marc Del Gaizo, Adam Engström, Joshua Jacobs, Darick Louis-Jean, Charles Martin, Ryan O'Rourke, Tobie Paquette-Bisson, and Wyatte Wylie.

David Reinbacher, who missed a significant portion of last season due to a knee injury, has added strength and power to his game. He quarterbacked a power play unit at the prospects tournament and demonstrated sound execution with the puck. Lane Hutson is a highly skilled defenseman who is expected to make an impact.

Goaltenders:

Samuel Montembeault returns as the likely number one goaltender. Kaapo Kähkönen and Jakub Dobeš will also be competing for playing time. Jacob Fowler, Benjamin Gaudreau, and Hunter Jones round out the goaltending group. Kevin Mandolese will be attending the camp on a tryout basis.

Jacob Fowler impressed at the prospects tournament, allowing only two goals in 60 minutes of play. He demonstrated athleticism, elite tracking ability, and excellent rebound control, and appears close to being NHL-ready.

Overall, the Canadiens' 2025 training camp promises intense competition and intriguing storylines. With a wealth of talent at all positions, the coaching staff will have some difficult decisions to make as they finalize the roster for the upcoming season. Fans will be closely watching the progress of young prospects and the battles for roster spots among veterans and newcomers alike.