As the buzz grows louder in Montreal, a single question is echoing through the city’s hockey circles: just how close are the Canadiens to completing their long-awaited rebuild?

With the new season fast approaching, speculation and hope are swirling around the team’s evolving identity. Behind closed doors, GM Kent Hughes and President Jeff Gorton have quietly orchestrated a dramatic transformation, betting on youth, patience, and strategic moves that could soon reshape the franchise’s destiny.

Yet, despite the encouraging signs—a roster brimming with emerging stars and a fanbase hungry for success—uncertainty still lingers.

Are the Habs truly on the verge of becoming contenders, or is there more work to be done before they can challenge the NHL’s elite?

Montreal’s recent decisions, including headline-grabbing trades and draft picks, hint at a bolder vision, but the path to greatness is rarely straightforward.

What are the hidden challenges facing this new-look team, and how far have they really come since the rebuild began?

The answers may surprise you. Dive deeper into the Canadiens’ journey and discover what’s next for a franchise determined to reclaim its place among hockey’s best.

Photo credit: NHL

At what stage is the Montreal Canadiens’ rebuild really at? That’s the question that many fans, analysts, and NHL observers are asking as the new season approaches.

After three years of transition marked by a deep renewal of the roster, opinions are multiplying about when the team will truly be able to contend for top honors.

Montreal journalist Stu Cowan, from the Montreal Gazette, recently weighed in on the subject. According to him, management’s efforts are already paying off, but the organization remains in the development phase.

How satisfied are you with the way the GoHabsGo rebuild has progressed?

“They’re not ready to win a Stanley Cup yet, but they’re 2 to 3 years away, I think, from being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders the way things are going” – Stu Cowan

It must be said that Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have bet on a strategy focused on youth, patience, and prudent asset management

The emergence of young talents like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, and Lane Hutson brings new life to a team that, not long ago, was searching for a clear identity.

The recent addition of defensive reinforcements, including Noah Dobson, also shows the Canadiens’ desire to solidify their foundations. For now, the team remains too young and still lacks depth to compete with established powers like the Florida Panthers.

But fans, used to a certain instability, can finally see a coherent direction. The goal is no longer just to make the playoffs in the short term, but to build a sustainable structure capable of competing year after year.

In the meantime, the coming months will serve as a test for this rising generation. The Canadiens will need to continue developing their young players, avoid missteps in the free-agent market, and maximize their draft picks.

If progress continues at the current pace, Montreal could soon rejoin the ranks of feared clubs. For Montreal hockey fans, the message is clear: patience is still required, but the hope for a return to the top has not been this credible in a long time.