Anderson: ‘I love this city, I love this team’

LAVAL-SUR-LE-LAC – It was a busy morning on the course as the Canadiens gathered for the team’s annual golf tournament to kick off the 2026-27 season on Monday.

Before the festivities got underway, the team made a pair of announcements to start the day. Firstly, Josh Anderson was named to the team’s leadership group, joining Mike Matheson as an alternate captain to Nick Suzuki. Then, the Canadiens announced that head coach Martin St-Louis had agreed to terms on a multi-year contract. All this following the weekend signings of forwards Chris Kreider and Zachary Bolduc, with the former meeting his new teammates for the first time on the course.

All four spoke to the media before hitting the links, along with owner Geoff Molson, president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, and general manager Kent Hughes.

Here is a selection of quotes from their various press conferences:

Please note that some answers have been modified for clarity and conciseness.

Nick Suzuki on Josh Anderson being named an alternate captain:

I think he’s a great fit. Just the way he carries himself, the way he treats his teammates, the way he plays out on the ice. You know, he always does everything for the benefit of the team, and you see how big of an impact he had in the playoffs last year, and when he’s playing that way, he’s a tough guy to stop. I think it’s great to have him in the leadership group. He’s obviously been a part of it for a long time, and it’s well-deserved for him to get the A on his shirt.

Josh Anderson on his love for Montreal and how far the team has come:

I don’t have to tell you guys how much I love this city, how much I love this team. I think that the culture we’ve been building over the last 4-5 years since Marty, Gorts and Kent have come; it’s obviously been something pretty special. [...] This city has just been unbelievable. My daughter is born here, I’m close to playing from home and just the people you get to work with over the last six-seven years...

Jeff Gorton on the Kreider collision with Carey Price in 2014:

We always knew that Carey never held a grudge. And that helps it. But listen, I was with New York when it happened, so I had a different perspective than I think maybe some people here did. I don't know if when you're going 30 miles an hour like that, anybody actually could stand here and say that that was an intentionally done move. If you know Chris, he's played almost 1,000 games. If you go ask anybody in the NHL, he's never tried to hurt anybody. He's a good person, so I wouldn't worry about any of that.

Zachary Bolduc on his four-year contract with the Canadiens:

I’m happy with the result. I’m happy to be here for the next four seasons. It’s a privilege to play here, and to have the opportunity to be here for four more seasons.

Chris Kreider on donning the Habs jersey and the chance to play in Montreal:

It’s pretty amazing. Pretty iconic logo, so I’m thrilled to be here. [...] Montreal was pretty aggressive right out of the gate. Obviously, there are several connections to my time spent in New York. So, there’s familiarity there. I think that certainly helped as well and just everything they’ve been doing here, and have been doing here; the culture that they built, the group that they have. Obviously, it’s a pretty big hockey city, the passion... I mean, I’m trying to explain to some of my friends that it’s not just a sport here, it’s a religion. So, it’s a pretty amazing place if you get the opportunity to play and I’m really excited to play at the Bell Centre.

Martin St-Louis on signing a new contract with the Canadiens:

It’s flattering, for sure. I love what I do. If they give me a vote of confidence, that “Martin, you’re the guy,” I’ll continue. If I’m not the guy, that’s ok. I’m humbled to know that, just because you make all the effort with something you’ll always succeed, but my heart is in the right place and I love being coach of the Canadiens.

Every year, every opportunity, it's a chance to learn, grow. I would say I'm glad that I'm comfortable where I am today. And I wouldn't be here today without all the steps the club has taken.