Martin St. Louis wastes no time shaking off the Olympic rust with a key lineup tweak ahead of the Islanders clash, as whispers from the Bell Centre suggest he's eyeing lineup crunches with Laine and Newhook inching back. Habs brass just locked him in through 2026-27, betting big on the Hall of Famer's knack for player growth amid a youth movement that's got Montreal buzzing.

The Canadiens hit the ice in Brossard without their captain Nick Suzuki and powerhouse winger Juraj Slafkovsky, who both logged heavy minutes carrying their Olympic squads deep into the tournament. Martin St-Louis tests fresh line combos with the likes of Demidov-Newhook-Laine and Gallagher-Danault-Anderson, knowing these stars will shake up the lineup soon enough.

Alex Newhook took a major step forward in his recovery from a fractured ankle by practicing in a regular jersey for the first time since November, marking a significant milestone in his rehabilitation timeline. The Canadiens' front office is now facing a roster puzzle as the 25-year-old approaches game readiness, with head coach Martin St. Louis already impressed by what he witnessed during the outdoor practice.

Montreal gears up for Alex Newhook's return from the shelf, and coaches huddle over the perfect fit for a guy who's shown middle-six spark before the injury bug bit. With the Canadiens juggling lines amid their rebuild push, slotting Newhook right means balancing chemistry with Suzuki and Caufield's top-end fire or testing him deeper where he can grind and create. Front offices whisper this could signal bigger plans before the deadline, as every shift counts in a tight playoff race.

Montreal's top-six imbalance screams for a right winger who can actually produce, and whispers point to Alex Newhook stepping up post-injury. Fans have watched the shuffle with Dach and others, but Newhook's skill set might finally click on that flank amid the playoff push. As the deadline looms, the Habs brass weighs internal fixes against splashy external grabs to solidify their lineup.

Canadiens forward Alex Newhook hits the ice for practice as the team eyes his quick return from whatever ailed him during the Olympic break. Patrik Laine, meanwhile, skips skating altogether, leaving coaches to puzzle over the timeline for their sniper's comeback. Montreal's depth gets tested here, with front-office eyes on how these injury updates shape the playoff push.