Montreal Canadiens Shine with Two Players Named to All-Rookie Team

The NHL has unveiled the All-Rookie Team for the 2025-26 season, and the Montreal Canadiens have made a significant mark with two standout players earning spots. Ivan Demidov, who topped all rookies in scoring this season, and Jakub Dobes, who led in wins among rookie goaltenders, are recognized for their exceptional performances. They are joined by Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks, Jimmy Snuggerud from the St. Louis Blues, Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders, and Alexander Nikishin of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Demidov’s impressive season saw him leading all rookies with 62 points, bolstered by 43 assists. He also excelled in several categories, including even-strength assists, power play assists, and multi-point performances, where he tied for first with Sennecke at 14. His dominance in the forward voting was clear, garnering 195 points, which placed him ahead of Sennecke by four points and Snuggerud by a staggering 59 points.

The Canadiens’ front office is keen on extending Demidov’s contract, especially since they have the opportunity to secure him for eight years before the new CBA changes the landscape in mid-September.

On the goaltending front, Dobes shone brightly with 29 wins, significantly ahead of his nearest competitors, who managed only 21. His impressive performance places him among a select group of rookie goaltenders in Canadiens history, joining legends like Ken Dryden, Bill Durnan, and Jacques Plante as the only Montreal goaltenders to achieve this honor. Dobes is now the fourth Canadiens goaltender to make the All-Rookie Team, following in the footsteps of Steve Penney, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price.

The All-Rookie Team, established in 1982-83, has seen the Canadiens achieve this milestone only three times before: first in 1982-83 with Mats Naslund and Dan Daoust, then in 1984-85 with Penney and Chris Chelios, and again in 1985-86 when Roy was accompanied by Kjell Dahlin. This year marks a remarkable return to that level of achievement for the franchise after a 40-year hiatus.

In recent seasons, other Canadiens players like Lane Hutson and Nick Suzuki have made the All-Rookie Team, with Brendan Gallagher being the last prior to them in 2012-13. The recognition of Demidov and Dobes not only highlights their individual talents but also signals a bright future for the Canadiens franchise.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.