Do the Montreal Canadiens still need a 2C? | What should they trade for him? And more in the Friday Habs Mailbag

Montreal Canadiens' surprising hot start raises a critical question: Does Oliver Kapanen's breakout performance eliminate the need for a second-line center, or is it masking a deeper roster gap? We tackle listener questions about the Habs' strong season opening, examining trade scenarios involving Sidney Crosby, Tage Thompson, and Steven Stamkos. We debate which top prospects—Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, or Jacob Fowler—we'd sacrifice for a legitimate center. Key discussions include the goaltending battle between Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes, Mike Matheson's contract extension prospects, and whether the power play improvements stem from personnel changes or system adjustments. The mailbag also features lighter topics, including fictional hockey character comparisons for Arber Xhekaj and Kaiden Guhle, plus a spirited debate about which Canadiens player would dominate a hot dog eating contest. Tune in for honest analysis on whether Montreal's early success signals genuine contention or temporary overachievement. 0:00 Intro 1:44 Do the Habs still need a second line center? 4:20 Trade deadline scenario: Who would you give up? 9:27 Jersey dilemma: Price, Byron, or Suzuki? 12:45 Mike Matheson contract extension discussion 14:17 Comparing Habs players to fictional hockey characters 16:11 What could derail the Habs' strong start? 18:13 Is Montembeault losing his starting job? 22:21 Best and worst airport experiences 25:37 Power play problems: Personnel or systems? 27:31 Ranking the NHL's best jerseys 29:16 Which Hab could eat the most hot dogs? 32:12 Trivia: Nick Suzuki's historic start Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch Take control of your finances with Monarch. Use code LOCKEDONNHL at https://monarch.com/lockedonnhl for 50% off your first year. FanDuel Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.