Alexandre Texier

The Canadiens scratch Alexandre Texier for the second straight game, just months after locking him up to a two-year, $5 million extension that looked like a steal at 16 points in 25 games. GM Kent Hughes scooped him off waivers from St. Louis expecting a middle-six spark, but now the 26-year-old Frenchman sits as coaches question his fit amid a recent healthy scratch streak.

Canadiens' extension to Alexandre Texier draws sharp backlash from scouts who saw this coming. The ink barely dries before performance dips raise red flags in Montreal's rebuild. A fresh look at the 2013 draft class highlights missed gems still paying dividends.

Kirby Dach slots onto the Suzuki-Caufield wing after missing 31 games with a foot fracture, and his early chemistry has Kent Hughes rethinking the whole top-line winger chase. Front offices around the league whisper that the big center's puck protection and offensive pop could make a deadline splash unnecessary if he keeps generating chances like this. Caufield's already calling him a massive addition, and with Texier nursing bumps, Dach owns that spot for now.

Martin St. Louis wastes no time post-Olympics, scratching fan-favorite enforcer Arber Xhekaj and newcomer Alexandre Texier while bringing back Zachary Bolduc and Jayden Struble for the clash with Washington. Xhekaj's two points in 51 games have left the 6-foot-4 bruiser on thin ice, especially with the Canadiens clinging to that wild-card spot four points ahead of a hot Capitals squad. St.

Martin St. Louis wastes no time post-Olympic break, inserting Zachary Bolduc and Jayden Struble into the Canadiens lineup for tonight's critical clash with the surging Capitals. The coach benches Alexandre Texier and Arber Xhekaj as healthy scratches after Montreal's overtime heartbreaker against the Islanders, signaling his impatience with recent production dips.

Montreal's coaching staff sends a clear message by healthy-scratching Texier and Xhekaj for the showdown with Washington, sparking questions about lineup priorities down the stretch. These are players who bring size and skill, yet they sit as the Habs grind through a tight schedule. The move hints at bigger picture tweaks with playoff positioning on the line and front offices buzzing.