THREE QUESTIONS ON THE BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND ARMADA

• Could the expectations be any higher?

During the off-season, the Armada made it perfectly clear – it’s go time! The steadily developing base of talent was sent into warp speed with the acquisitions up front of 2025 Pittsburgh Penguins first-rounder Bill Zonnon from Rouyn-Noranda and overagers Vincent Collard and Maël Lavigne from Moncton and Rimouski, respectively. On defense, the club welcomed former Rimouski star and Philadelphia Flyers draftee Spencer Gill. Not to be outdone, a training camp swap brought in Nashville Predators drafted netminder Jakub Milota. With reinforcements at every position, the goal in Boisbriand – where the club hasn’t won a playoff series in four years – could not be any clearer.

• What should we expect from the returning core?

Just because the club stole most of the headlines on the trade front doesn’t mean it started from nothing. The veterans of the black and white are certainly no slouches, led by sniper Justin Carbonneau, whose 46-goal campaign earned him a first-round selection by the St. Louis Blues at the most recent NHL Entry Draft. His regular centerman, Vincent Desjardins, returns for a fourth campaign with the Armada. Vegas Golden Knights draftee Mateo Nobert will also be a treat to watch after emerging as a point-per-game sparkplug last season. On the blue line, top 2026 prospect Xavier Villeneuve is back to try and ensure the organization can boast back-to-back first-round NHL Draft selections. Théo Lemieux skates into his overage season as the club’s elder statesman on defense, while Bo Damphousse will be part of an emerging group tasked with progressively tougher assignments. If the returnees can mesh with the new influx of talent, a league final in Armada country for the first time in eight years wouldn’t be much of a stretch.

• Can the new boss deliver?

‘Q’ fans of a certain vintage may remember the name Alexandre Jacques. Three decades after an impressive playing career in Shawinigan and Rimouski, the 47-year-old is back in familiar territory while embarking upon his highest profile coaching assignment yet. Jacques is no stranger to the bench, especially with the Armada. Eight seasons as an Assistant with the club is the biggest piece of his coaching resume to date, along with stops at the Midget Espoir, Under-15 and U Sports levels. As a player in the league, he was known for getting the job done, as evidenced by a 101-point campaign with the Cataractes and a trip to the league final with the Oceanic. Now, he takes on the task of guiding what is arguably the circuit’s most talented lineup. For an organization who made waves with player acquisitions, it might be the guy steering the ship who proves to be the biggest story of all.

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