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...
How Alex Newhook’s apparent injury could — or, perhaps, should — veer the Canadiens in a different philosophical direction. www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Alex Newhook’s injury is major blow to Canadiens, but could also be an opportunity
In Newhook's absence, the Canadiens could experiment with a philosophical change.
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
How Alex Newhook’s apparent injury could — or, perhaps, should — veer the Canadiens in a different philosophical direction. www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
😬
November 14, 2025 at 2:59 AM
😬
Aaaand the Stars score on their first shot on Sam Montembeault in the third, six goals on 14 shots in the game.
November 14, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Aaaand the Stars score on their first shot on Sam Montembeault in the third, six goals on 14 shots in the game.
Jason Robertson scores again, this time on a shot from the high slot with a bit of traffic. 5-0 Stars on 13 shots on goal. Sam Montembeault remains seated at the Mtl bench.
November 14, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Jason Robertson scores again, this time on a shot from the high slot with a bit of traffic. 5-0 Stars on 13 shots on goal. Sam Montembeault remains seated at the Mtl bench.
Jason Robertson gets in alone on Jakub Dobeš and scores to make it 4-0 Stars on 12 shots on goal.
November 14, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Jason Robertson gets in alone on Jakub Dobeš and scores to make it 4-0 Stars on 12 shots on goal.
Stars PK is basically shadowing Demidov
November 14, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Stars PK is basically shadowing Demidov
Tyler Seguin scores on a breakaway just after the Canadiens extend their PP drought to 0-for-9, Stars have 8 shots on goal and lead 3-0
November 14, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Tyler Seguin scores on a breakaway just after the Canadiens extend their PP drought to 0-for-9, Stars have 8 shots on goal and lead 3-0
Newhook goes feet first hard into the end boards and remains down.
November 14, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Newhook goes feet first hard into the end boards and remains down.
Canadiens power play is now 0-for-8 over its last four games. Stars get a power play immediately after, and go ahead 1-0 on Wyatt Johnston's one-timer from the bumper with Kirby Dach in the box (again)
November 14, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Canadiens power play is now 0-for-8 over its last four games. Stars get a power play immediately after, and go ahead 1-0 on Wyatt Johnston's one-timer from the bumper with Kirby Dach in the box (again)
Canadiens lines and pairings ahead of game vs Stars:
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Anderson-Evans-Veleno
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Anderson-Evans-Veleno
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
November 13, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Canadiens lines and pairings ahead of game vs Stars:
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Anderson-Evans-Veleno
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Kapanen-Demidov
Bolduc-Dach-Gallagher
Anderson-Evans-Veleno
Matheson-Dobson
Struble-Hutson
Xhekaj-Carrier
Dobeš
Montembeault
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...