The Montreal Canadiens' alumni are feeling welcomed at the Bell Centre, especially following the recent passing of Ken Dryden. With Dryden's death last month at age 78, only four players from the 1972 Summit Series remain: Frank Mahovlich, 87; Yvan Cournoyer, 81; Serge Savard, 79; and Peter Mahovlich, 79. Their involvement with the current team has sparked interest among fans and former players alike.

Cournoyer, who captained the Canadiens during their successful 1970s era, and Savard attended the Canadiens' home opener, where the team secured a 5-4 overtime victory against the Seattle Kraken. Both still reside in Montreal and frequently visit the alumni lounge during the season. Frank Mahovlich lives near Toronto, while Peter Mahovlich has been based in the United States for the past 40 years. Peter previously worked as a scout for the Florida Panthers but retired a couple of years ago.

The Canadiens have several former players serving as ambassadors for the team. Réjean Houle, 75, recently stepped down as president of the alumni association, with Patrice Brisebois, 54, taking over. Houle will continue as an ambassador alongside Cournoyer, Guy Carbonneau, Vincent Damphousse, and Chris Nilan.

Since the hiring of president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and general manager Kent Hughes nearly four years ago, the alumni have felt more included at the Bell Centre. This contrasts with the previous administration under former GM Marc Bergevin. Nilan expressed the importance of having former players around, stating, "I just know when I was brought up in this organization, having some of those (old-timers) around and visible, it was invaluable for us."

Nilan reflected on the significance of alumni presence, saying, "It’s important. I think Bergy had a little bit of … I don’t know if he was insecure having those guys around. I don’t think any of these guys are in a position, ‘Oh, I’m going to go in and coach these kids and we’re going to tell them what to do.’ None of that. It’s just nice to see those guys around. They’re not going to be around forever."

In addition to alumni news, the Canadiens have made headlines with their recent contract negotiations. Lane Hutson, who won the Calder Trophy, signed a lucrative deal after just one full season. This has raised questions among other teams about the Canadiens' ability to secure long-term contracts below market value.

General manager Kent Hughes successfully negotiated eight-year contracts for Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, both at lower cap hits than captain Nick Suzuki's $7.875 million. Hutson's deal is also below the cap hit of Noah Dobson, who is at $9.5 million.

Suzuki commented on the team's culture, saying, "We’ve kind of built a culture here where guys are not trying to break the bank. I think all Lane wants to do is win and I think he’s definitely set us up for that possibility moving on in the future."

As the Canadiens continue their season with a 4-1-0 record, coach Martin St. Louis faces decisions regarding player lineups. Patrik Laine has struggled to find his place on the team, averaging only 12:36 of ice time per game. St. Louis indicated that he does not want Joe Veleno to remain in the press box much longer, hinting at a potential debut against the New York Rangers.

The Canadiens' alumni presence and the team's strategic contract negotiations highlight a renewed focus on building a strong culture and fostering connections between past and present players. As the season progresses, the organization aims to maintain this momentum while navigating player performance and roster decisions.