In the heart of Montreal, as anticipation builds for the upcoming NHL season, whispers are swirling around the Canadiens’ blue line.

The team’s defensive core has long been a topic of heated debate among fans and analysts, but this summer, an unexpected revelation has sent shockwaves through the hockey world.

According to inside sources, head coach Martin St-Louis may have already made his decision on which seven defensemen will suit up for the opening night of the 2025-26 season.

The news didn’t come from an official announcement or a leaked roster, but rather from a candid moment that has left the entire city buzzing.

What really happened behind closed doors? Who are the chosen seven—and what does this mean for the future of the team’s young prospects?

With rumors swirling, a hint dropped by one of the defensemen themselves, and a bold statement from the coach that’s turning heads across the league, the stakes have never been higher.

As fans search for answers and insiders scramble to confirm the details, one thing is clear: the Canadiens’ defensive lineup is about to get a dramatic shake-up.

But the full story—and the implications for Montreal’s season—are still unfolding.

Jan 26, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during warm-up before the game against the Detroit Red Wings at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St-Louis, is said to have already chosen his seven defensemen to start the 2025-26 season.

It was none other than Jayden Struble who let it slip, revealing that St-Louis seems to have already made his decision on the seven defensemen who will begin the upcoming season.

All the details are in the excellent article by Nicolas Cloutier, but among the revelations is the fact that St-Louis has already reached out to his seven defensemen.

Martin St-Louis Would Take His 7 Defensemen Over Any Other Group of 7 in the NHL

Here’s an excerpt from the article:

During the summer, the Canadiens’ bench boss picked up the phone to blitz-call his players and take the pulse following the acquisitions made by his general manager, Kent Hughes.

He told the guys:

“I would take our group of seven defensemen over any other in the league,” Struble said in an interview with TVA Sports on Thursday night.

Hearing that, it’s pretty easy to conclude that Montreal’s seven defensemen are already chosen, though for caution’s sake, we’ll still treat it as a rumor.

The seven defensemen in question are, of course: Kaiden Guhle, Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble.

That means the real battle would be between Xhekaj and Struble (and not Xhekaj, Struble, and Reinbacher). Either way, both physical defensemen are likely to see plenty of ice time this season.

That’s excellent news.

And if this proves true, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for young David Reinbacher to continue developing further with the Laval Rocket.