Where Are They Now: A Look at Former Montreal Canadiens Playing Abroad This Season (Montreal Canadiens)

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Former Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Tatar.

Montreal Canadiens

Where Are They Now: A Look at Former Montreal Canadiens Playing Abroad This Season

By Cooper Godin

Sep 10, 2026 • an hour ago

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The 2026-27 season is getting underway across the globe and for some leagues in Europe, including Liiga in Finland and the Kontinental Hockey League, they've already dropped the puck on the new campaign. Other top European leagues that'll begin play over the next week to ten days include the Czech Extraliga and Switzerland's National League (September 15th); the German DEL (September 17th) and the Swedish Hockey League.

As is the case every year, top leagues across the globe are home to several former members of the Montreal Canadiens organization and today, we're going to take a look to see which ex-Habs are playing abroad during the 2026-27 season.

Former Montreal Canadiens Playing Abroad During 2026-27 Season

As of today, Thursday, September 10th, a total of 39 former Montreal Canadiens will be playing abroad, including some notable names such as Tomas Tatar, Yannick Weber and Alex Galchenyuk. Let's jump right in and see where these 39 players are suiting up.

Tomas Tatar (EV Zug - National League)

Considered a throw-in in the Nick Suzuki/Max Pacioretty trade between Montreal and Vegas in 2018, Tomas Tatar ended up being a fan favourite in his three seasons with the Canadiens. He appeared in 198 games with the Canadiens, recording 149 points (57 goals, 92 assists). After 927 games across parts of 14 seasons in the NHL, Tatar signed in Switzerland ahead of the 2025-26 campaign with EV Zug.

Yannick Weber (ZSC Lions - National League)

37-year-old Yannick Weber is gearing up for his 19th season of professional hockey and his sixth since returning to Switzerland after spending time in the National Hockey League. Of his 499 games in the National Hockey League, Weber appeared in 115 with the Montreal Canadiens across parts of five seasons from 2008-09 to 2012-13.

Raphael Diaz (EV Zug - National League)

Raphael Diaz will turn 41 in early January, but it doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon. The 2026-27 campaign will mark his 24th season of professional hockey, the majority of which he's spent in his home country of Switzerland. Diaz suited up in 128 games for the Montreal Canadiens between the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.

Alex Galchenyuk (Spartak Moscow - KHL)

After getting into legal trouble in Arizona, which led to his contract being terminated by the Coyotes in July 2023, former Canadiens third overall pick Alex Galchenyuk headed overseas to the KHL, with this season set to be his fourth in Russia. In 418 games with the Canadiens, Galchenyuk had 255 points (108 goals, 147 assists).

Christian Thomas (Iserlohn Roosters - DEL)

Christian Thomas, son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, is getting ready for his ninth year in Europe and will be suiting up for German side Iserlohn Roosters, once again, after joining them part way through the 2024-25 season. Thomas made 25 appearances for the Montreal Canadiens across parts of three seasons.

Sven Andrighetto (ZSC Lions - National League)

A former third round pick of the Canadiens in 2013, Sven Andrighetto has gone on to carve out a very nice career for himself in Europe and on the international stage with Switzerland. This will be Andrighetto's seventh season with the ZSC Lions after signing with them during the 2020-21 season. The 33-year-old appeared in 83 games for the Montreal Canadiens.

Jacob de la Rose (HC Fribourg-Gotteron - National League)

One prospect that Montreal Canadiens fans were hoping would make an impact on the NHL roster in the mid-2010s was former second round pick Jacob de la Rose. de la Rose skated in 119 games with the Canadiens, but tallied just eight goals and 19 points. In 2021, after spending time in Detroit & St. Louis, he headed overseas to Europe and has been playing there ever since. This is set to be his fifth season with HC Fribourg-Gotteron.

Jiri Sekac (HC Sparta Praha - Czech Extraliga)

After a standout year in the KHL in 2014-15, the Canadiens signed Czech forward Jiri Sekac, but he didn't last long in Montreal. After 50 games, he was dealt to Anaheim and following two seasons in North America, he returned to Europe. This season, for the first time since returning to Europe, Sekac will be playing in his home country of Czechia, signing a deal with HC Sparta Praha in the spring.

Daniel Carr (HC Ajoie (National League)

Carr joined the Montreal Canadiens organization as an undrafted free agent out of college. He was able to establish himself as a bottom-six forward for the Canadiens, when he was in the lineup, for parts of three seasons. Carr appeared in 94 games with Montreal before joining Vegas in 2018. After a one-year stint back in North America last season, Carr has signed with HC Ajoie in Switzerland for the 2026-27 campaign.

Charles Hudon (Djurgardens IF - Swedish Hockey League)

After a successful first year in the Swedish Hockey League last season, former Canadiens forward Charles Hudon is hoping for another productive campaign with Djurgardens IF. Hudon, a fifth round pick of the Canadiens in 2012, played 125 games for Montreal between the 2015-16 and 2019-20 seasons, with his rookie year being his most successful in the NHL - 30 points (10 G, 20 A) in 72 games.

Alexander Radulov (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl - KHL)

Alexander Radulov might have only spent one season in Montreal, but he left quite an impression among the fan base. Radulov returned to North America in 2016 to sign with the Canadiens after four years in the KHL. Radulov finished his lone season in Montreal with 18 goals and 54 points in 76 games, but was unable to agree to terms on a new deal with then-GM Marc Bergevin, leading him to sign in Dallas. After five seasons in Dallas, Radulov returned to the KHL.

Nikita Scherbak (HC Innsbruck - ICE Hockey League)

There was plenty of hype in Montreal surrounding former first round pick Nikita Scherbak and for good reason - his offensive ability. However, his game didn't translate so well to the NHL and after just 29 games in Montreal, he was eventually claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Kings. Scherbak is now in his sixth straight season in Europe and third in the ICE Hockey League, which consists of teams from Austria, Italy, Hungary and Slovenia.

Andreas Martinsen (Storhamar - Norway)

The 36-year-old appeared in just nine games with the Montreal Canadiens amid a five-year stint in North America. He was traded to the Canadiens in March 2017 from Colorado for Sven Andrighetto. For the last seven seasons, including the 2026-27 campaign, Martinsen has been playing in his home nation of Norway. Back in the spring, Martinsen captained Norway to a bronze medal at the 2026 IIHF World Championship.

Jesse Ylonen (Orebro HK - Swedish Hockey League)

2018 second round pick Jesse Ylonen came to North America during the shortened 2021 season and went on to appear in 111 games across parts of four seasons in Montreal. In 2024, with Ylonen set to become a restricted free agent, the Canadiens opted not to issue him a qualifying offer, making him a UFA on July 1st. After one season with Tampa Bay and Nashville's AHL affiliates, Ylonen returned to Europe and signed in the Swedish Hockey League.

A Look at The Other 29 ex-Canadiens Overseas

With the most well known former Montreal Canadiens abroad now behind us, let's take a look at the other 29 that are getting ready for their respective season, the majority of which are playing in Europe, while one is set for an intriguing challenge in South Korea.


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