Montreal Canadiens Experience Baby Boom as Multiple Players Expect Children
The Montreal Canadiens organization is celebrating a remarkable off-ice development as several players' families are expanding simultaneously. This heartwarming trend highlights the tight-knit culture developing within the team as players navigate similar life stages together.
Multiple Expectant Families
Five Canadiens players are expecting children with their partners, creating what team members are calling a "baby boom." Alexandre Carrier's wife, Dr. Alicia Lessard, recently announced via Instagram that she's pregnant with their first child, a girl. Lessard, who co-owns and works at a pediatric medical clinic in Côte-St-Luc, joins the wives of Brendan Gallagher, Nick Suzuki, Noah Dobson, and Samuel Montembeault, who have all recently announced pregnancies.
"It's unreal," Carrier commented after a recent optional practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. "Just talking to my wife, they text each other all the time. They compare pictures and all that. It's been exciting. We're all in the same boat... even the guys we can talk about it. We all know what we're going through all together."
Building Family Connections
This baby boom follows several recent additions to the Canadiens family. Gallagher's wife, Emma Fortin, gave birth to their first child last February, with their second due around July. Jake Evans's wife, Emily Flat, welcomed twin boys last summer, while Josh Anderson's wife, Paola Finizio, gave birth to daughter Stella last spring.
The expecting parents have been supporting each other through the process, with players' wives regularly communicating and sharing experiences. During the Olympic break, several Canadiens and their partners traveled together, providing opportunities for parenting practice.
"I was sitting next to Jake, who was with his wife and their two twins," said Dobson, whose wife, Alexa Sorowik, is expecting a girl. "So I was holding one of the twin boys a little bit and getting some practice in. It's been fun."
Strengthening Team Culture
This family expansion aligns with the Canadiens' rebuilding strategy implemented four years ago by president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes. The plan focused on assembling players of similar ages who could develop together both professionally and personally, fostering strong team bonds.
The Canadiens entered this season as the NHL's youngest team with an average age of 26.4 years. Only four players are in their thirties: Brendan Gallagher (33), Phillip Danault (33), Mike Matheson (32), and Josh Anderson (31).
"That was one of the cool things for me coming to a team with a lot of guys in the same stage of life and age as me," said 26-year-old Dobson, who joined the Canadiens last summer via trade from the New York Islanders. "You grow up together... a bunch of guys got married last summer and now a bunch of guys having kids. It's cool to go through that with your teammates because they're really like your family."
Dobson emphasized how these shared experiences contribute to team dynamics: "I think it helps the culture and taking care of each other as a family. The wives are all growing up together and the players. It creates that strong bond and teams that have success have that family-like feel. I can definitely feel that here."
Younger Players Embracing the Environment
Even younger team members appreciate the familial atmosphere. Twenty-two-year-old Lane Hutson noted: "I think we're all kind of growing together. For me and the group that's kind of a little bit younger, we feel really comfortable with our older guys and being ourselves."
The team's family connections extend to interactions with players' children. During a recent skills competition at the Bell Centre, Cole Caufield engaged in playful faceoffs with Mike Matheson's 4-year-old son, Hudson, with Hutson dropping the puck.
"You got to be a little bit dirty," Caufield joked about intentionally hitting Hudson's skate during one faceoff. "I want him to be a forward and score goals. He has a lot of fun out there. It's pretty cool... Being able to get close with Hudson and see him grow up it's been pretty fun."
On-Ice Implications
While celebrating these personal milestones, the Canadiens continue to focus on their competitive performance. With Alex Newhook returning to the lineup, head coach Martin St. Louis faces increased roster decisions, recently making Zachary Bolduc a healthy scratch for the first time this season alongside fellow forward Joe Veleno and defenceman Jayden Struble.
"Your mind has to be stronger than your emotion in anything," St. Louis commented about managing roster depth. "As a player I've lived it and you want to do everything you can to be part of the 12 forwards, the six Ds, the two goalies. You got to control what you can and you got to stay hungry."
The coach acknowledged the challenge but viewed it positively: "For me, I feel like I've had to make decisions before, but I feel that in the past they've been probably a little easier decisions in terms of the talent level that we've had on this team compared to now. But I feel that's just the evolution of our team right now."
Individual Performances Shine
Amid these personal and team developments, several Canadiens are delivering impressive on-ice performances. Lane Hutson continues to excel in his sophomore season, approaching franchise records for defencemen. With 24 games remaining, Hutson has 10 goals and 49 assists for 59 points in 58 games, needing just one point in his next two games to surpass Guy Lapointe's milestone of reaching 60 points in 61 games during the 1974-75 season.
"I don't really think about it too much," Hutson said about statistical comparisons to Canadiens legends. "I've been fortunate to play for the Canadiens and play with some great players here. Stats come and go. Sometimes things go in and sometimes they don't."
Noah Dobson has also found success with his new team, scoring two goals in a recent game against his former Islanders squad to reach 12 goals this season, surpassing his totals from the previous two seasons. The Summerside, P.E.I. native even had a snowplow named after him in his hometown this winter—the "Snowah Dobson."
"I saw that," Dobson said with a chuckle. "I have a buddy that works for the city and he sent me a screenshot. I guess they did like a vote in the city. It's funny. A small town and it's cool to see those things."
Looking Ahead
As the Canadiens navigate the remainder of their season, the team's growing families represent more than personal milestones—they symbolize the deepening bonds that management hoped to cultivate when implementing their rebuilding strategy. With players supporting each other through similar life experiences both on and off the ice, the organization continues to build toward future success while celebrating present joys.
The baby boom among Canadiens families demonstrates how professional athletes balance demanding careers with personal lives, creating a unique team culture where players truly grow together as extended family members while pursuing championship aspirations.
