Author: Dose

Categories
Uncategorized

Team Canada goalkeeping combination: Samuel Montembeault not mentioned

The Canadiens will be counting on a few players at the Olympic Games.

For Slovakia, Juraj Slafkovsky will be there.

For the Czech Republic, Jakub Dobes has a chance.

Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield have a chance (even if they don’t hit) and will definitely be among the finalists.

And for Canada, Nick Suzuki has a good chance of representing the club. I haven’t even mentioned Samuel Montembeault, who, at the start of the season, seemed certain to be there.

In his 32 thoughts editorial, Elliotte Friedman didn’t mention the Québécois goalie when he was talking about Canadiens goalies.

Friedman mentioned Scott Wedgewood, who came out of nowhere this morning, Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson.

In addition to Montmbeault, the names of Adin Hill, who was there at the Four Nations Tournament, and Stuart Skinner were also not mentioned. Obviously, the identity of the goalkeepers has not been confirmed, but it’s rare that Friedman writes to say nothing.

And the fact that the name of the Habs’ protégé wasn’t mentioned says a lot. And honestly, I’m not surprised… This season, Monty has an efficiency average of .852 and a goals-against average of 3.71.

I’m a Habs fan, but I’m also a Canadian fan. And if I had to choose between Monty or the Avalanche goalie, who has a 2.09 goals-against average and a 91.8% save percentage, I’d go with the latter.

Overtime

– Coming up.

– Joel Quenneville impresses. [JdM]

– It’s worrying, yes.

– Lions win.

– Listen now.

Categories
Uncategorized

Samuel Blais is placed in the Toronto waivers

Samuel Blais signed a contract with the Canadiens this summer.

He took part in the Montreal practice camp before being placed in the Habs’ waivers. The Leafs claimed him, and the Québécois started the season in Toronto.

But… here he is (again) in the waivers. Blais has one goal and two assists in eight games with the Leafs this season.

What you need to know is that forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy will be back in action Wednesday night for the Leafs against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Matthews had to be made room in the 23-man roster, as he was on the injured list… and Blais was the obvious choice.

Will the Canadiens be interested in asking for him back, even with the recent signing of Alexandre Texier? Hmm…

Note, however, that Blais could be automatically traded to Laval if the Canadiens are the only club to claim him.

But the question still arises because Blais has the qualities of a player who can help the Canadiens right now. He plays a more robust game, he’s not afraid of upsetting the opposition and he’s known for his more physical style.

Florian Xhekaj fits that bill for now… but Blais also won the Stanley Cup in St. Louis. He has more experience than Arber’s little brother, let’s put it that way.

And it’s probably Jared Davidson who would get the boot anyway if Blais came back to town. Blais has more of a 13th forward profile than Davidson, but it’s also worth remembering that the Habs like to keep only 12 forwards up top when playing at home…

That said, I’m inclined to believe that Blais will be given another chance. He really wasn’t bad during his time in Toronto, and he was just as good at the Canadiens’ practice camp a few weeks ago.

We know what he can bring to the rink, after all. And we know that players like him can help every NHL team when needed.

Extension

Remember that Cayden Primeau was also placed in the waivers by the Leafs in early November… and was claimed by the Hurricanes.

Will Blais be claimed?

Categories
Uncategorized

Alex Kovalev refused to be honoured at the Bell Centre

Alex Kovalev was an excellent player for the Canadiens.

No, he didn’t spend 10 years in town. No, he wasn’t necessarily here in his prime. Yes, he left for Ottawa because of a contract dispute. And yes, he only gave of himself when he felt like it.

But what a player he was.

Through his great talent and some memorable moments, he has his place in the history of the Canadiens in the 21st century. And Geoff Molson is fully aware of that.

Why do I say this?

Because, according to Sergei Demidov, who interviewed Kovalev on behalf of RG Media, Geoff Molson and the Canadiens have offered to prepare a tribute evening for Kovalev at the Bell Centre.

But Kovalev refused.

Please note: #27 didn’t say no because he doesn’t want anything to do with Montreal. He said no because, at the time, he was a head coach in the KHL.

It’s not that he didn’t want to: it’s that he couldn ‘t. #Nuance

Now that Kovalev has lost his KHL job and has more time on his hands, one wonders if he’ll be tempted to say yes to a ceremony in the future.

Remember that in the short term (next Wednesday), it’s Andrei Markov who will have one.

Seeing players from the past receive an honor is nice. It happened for P.K. Subban recently… it will be Andrei Markov’s turn… Alex Kovalev is being considered…

And we imagine Sharks legend Carey Price will get his tribute when his contract expires.

overtime

– Yes.

– They deserve their chance.

– They certainly do.

Categories
Uncategorized

Adam Engström: the Habs can say thank you to the Hurricanes (and to Jesperi Kotkaniemi)

In August 2021, the Carolina Hurricanes put the Habs in a rather precarious situation. The Canes submitted an offer sheet to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, which he accepted.

Marc Bergevin had a week to decide whether or not to match the offer, and in the end opted to let KK head for Raleigh.

The Canadiens, in the process, got a first-round pick and a third-round pick, both in 2022. The former was used to obtain Christian Dvorak… but the third-round pick stayed in town.

In the end, Kent Hughes and his gang were able to use it, and with that pick, they selected… Adam Engström.

Yes, we’re talking about the man who’ll be making his NHL debut tonight.

(Credit: Screenshot/HockeyDB)

In reality, then, Bergevin’s decision not to match the offer is really making him look good. Not only did Kotkaniemi never become the true top-flight center we’d hoped he would, but Engström is one of the Montreal organization’s bright prospects.

The decision to pay top dollar for Christian Dvorak, on the other hand, was less fruitful. But that’s another story.

In the end, then, the Habs seem to have emerged from this saga with the upper hand over the Hurricanes. They’ve avoided overpaying for Kotkaniemi, and they’ve landed a young defenseman who’s attracting attention across the NHL right now.

Imagine if, in the end, Engström allowed the Habs to get their hands (via trade) on the second center they never had in Kotkaniemi. That would be something.

Overtime

– Speak of the devil.

– Hehe.

– It’s understandable.

– Brett Hull almost wore a Habs uniform.

– Interesting.

Categories
Uncategorized

Florian Xhekaj: the Panthers really wanted to draft him (and the Habs knew it)

In the 2023 draft, the Habs selected Florian Xhekaj 101st overall. The Habs reunited the two brothers… who both played with the big club last Saturday.

It was a special moment for the family, clearly.

That said, yesterday we learned that, at the time, Pierre Dorion had Xhekaj in his sights. He really wanted to select him… but he didn’t get a turn until the 108th rank. By then, Xhekaj had already been selected.

Tonight, Elliotte Friedman also talked about Florian’s case at the 2023 draft in his 32 Thoughts column… and what we learn is that another team really wanted to select him.

We’re talking about the Florida Panthers, another division rival of the Habs.

Friedman explains that the Panthers met with Florian numerous times during the process, including a meeting the day before the draft. It’s usually a sign that a team really wants a prospect when that happens.

And the Panthers intended to select Xhekaj somewhere between the third and sixth rounds. The club held a second-round pick, used to select Gracyn Sawchyn… but his next pick was only 127th.

As with the Senators, Xhekaj was no longer available to the Panthers. And it’s interesting to read that, according to Friedman, the Habs knew that the Panthers were interested in Florian.

We can therefore assume that this may have precipitated Xhekaj’s selection. The Habs knew they were coming into the window where Florian would start to interest other teams, and they made sure not to let him slip through their hands.

The Panthers could have stepped forward to beat the Habs, that said. But given that the club didn’t have a ton of options, it wasn’t easy to pull off.

In short, we understand that Xhekaj was a prospect of interest to many clubs at the 2023 draft. And we agree that the Panthers, who play a very physical style, had good reason to like Arber’s little brother.

Overtime

– Of note.

– Interesting.

– That’s right.

– Craig Conroy is expected to sign a contract extension with the Flames.

– This is a very big signing for the Blue Jays.

Categories
Uncategorized

Kaiden Guhle: his name circulates in deal rumors, according to JiC

Kaiden Guhle, as we all know, is a very, very good defender. The 23-year-old is a big part of the Habs defensive brigade… when he’s healthy.

Because, yes, unfortunately, that’s a problem in his case: injuries don’t let him go.

All of which makes him a special case. The club knows that Guhle is an important part of their long-term plan, but they can’t count on him as often as they’d like.

And to me, that’s part of what explains what JiC reported tonight: from what he hears, Guhle’s name is circulating in trade rumors.

He mentions that Guhle could be the price to pay for Ryan O’Reilly.

We know the Habs love O’Reilly, and the club’s need at center is pretty glaring. That said, trading Guhle would be a big risk considering he’s currently in the first year of a six-year contract that pays him $5.55 million a year.

That’s a more than reasonable salary for a defenseman of his calibre.

It’s worth remembering, however, that the Canadiens actually have depth to spare in terms of left-handed defensemen. Lane Hutson is in town to stay, Mike Matheson could extend his contract in town and there’s also Arber Xhekaj, Jayden Struble and Adam Engström around.

Maybe the latter actually gets an audition so the Habs can evaluate whether a Guhle-less future is viable, y’know….

And since the depth on the left is more impressive, dipping into it instead of sending David Reinbacher elsewhere is also defensible.

Clearly, we’ll be keeping a close eye on all this.

Overtime

– Huge signing for the Blue Jays.

– What do you think?

– Jared McCann is back.

Categories
Uncategorized

Jordan Binnington in Edmonton: It rhymes… and makes a lot of sense

The Edmonton Oilers have had the same damn problem in front of the net for several years now.

But it looks like it’s worse than worse right now.

Last night, Stuart Skinner (the club’s #1 goaltender) gave up four goals on eight shots against the Dallas Stars. The Oilers lost 8-3, and it’s clear from the team’s season-to-date performance that the goalies aren’t getting the job done. It’s worse than in Montreal…

I feel bad for Connor McDavid. The best player in the world can’t do everything on his own in Edmonton, he’s just signed a new contract (at a discount, no less) and his club isn’t helping him.

Perhaps, that said, the solution to the Oilers’ problems lies in St. Louis. Nick Kypreos (Sportsnet) wrote about it: the Blues seem to want to turn the page on Jordan Binnington because they don’t see the goalie being part of the team’s “re-tool”.

Reminder: Binnington and McDavid know each other well, having won the gold medal together at the 4 Nations Confrontation…

Would Binnington solve ALL the Oilers’ problems in Edmonton? Probably not.

But…

But I’m willing to bet everything I’ve got… saying that picking him up in St. Louis might help. We’re talking about a guy with experience because he has a Stanley Cup ring and a gold medal on the international scene.

That’s what the Oilers need right now. A guy who can help the club stay calm and who knows how to make the big saves in the most important moments. Binnington has proven that he can do just that…

You’ll tell me that things haven’t gone well for him in St. Louis since the start of the season, and that’s true. But at the same time, it’s not as if the team in front of him is helping him… and that’s something to consider, too.

Jordan Binnington in Edmonton, that rhymes. And it seems to make a lot of sense in my head…

Overtime

– Tristan Jarry could be another target…

– Oh.

– That’s right.

– Big win.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Habs are far from the only aggressive club on the market at the moment

Will Kent Hughes succeed in his mission to add a talented player to his roster so that he can help the team?

We know that the Canadiens’ GM is working hard to make this happen, and has been for a long time. He acquired Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc in the summer of 2025, but then pushed to get another player.

It didn’t happen. And right now, Kent Hughes isn’t the only hungry GM in the four corners of the National League…

I say this because, according to Elliotte Friedman(Real Kyper and Bourne), these are the clubs that are particularly aggressive on the market: the Devils, the Hurricanes, the Senators, the Stars… and the Avalanche.

And the tipster also believes that there are other teams waiting to see what happens before making a move. The Habs may want to improve, but they’re not alone on their island either…

What does this mean?

It means there could be a bidding war for players who become available in the National League. There will be several clubs vying for their services, and there will be several quality offers as well.

That’s where things could get complicated for Hughes and the Canadiens…

At the same time, we know that the Habs GM is a good negotiator. He didn’t have to give up the earth to acquire Noah Dobson – a 25-year-old #1 defenseman who throws from the right – and he’s never had to give up the earth to get a player either.

But things could be different the way they are on the market today.

And the Canadiens could or will have to get creative if they want to get the player they really want…

Overtime

– Great news for the Bengals and their fans.

– Makes sense.

– Bon.

– Whew.

Categories
Uncategorized

More productive, less flashy: Alex Kovalev criticizes Ivan Demidov (and that bothers me)

Alex Kovalev gave an interview to Sergey Demidov of RG Media.

And in the text, we learn that the former Habs player refused to be honoured at the Bell Centre. Our colleague Charles-Alexis Brisebois wrote an article on the subject earlier today.

But in the interview in question, Kovalev also talked about Ivan Demidov, and his comments are a little… odd. You’ll understand.

The man nicknamed “The Magician” in Montreal knows that Demidov is a talented player. He sees that his style of play appeals to Canadiens fans because the youngster is capable of putting on a show when needed.

That said, according to Kovalev, Demidov needs to be less flashy… and score more goals. He’d like to see him be more productive on the ice:

His style of play is spectacular, and Montreal loves that, but he also needs to be productive: score more goals and get more points. – Alex Kovalev

Eum…

Kovalev’s exit bothers me for two reasons in particular.

1. Coming from a guy who relied on his skills to produce in the NHL, it’s a bit ironic. Kovalev has always had the same style of play: that of a player who used his skills to be spectacular on the ice.

That’s how he’ll be remembered, after all.

2. Ivan Demidov “needs to produce more”… but he scored 17 points in his 21 games with the Canadiens this season. He has 19 points in 23 games so far in his NHL career, and is on track for a 66-point rookie campaign if he can keep up the pace.

It took Alex Kovalev a long time to produce like this in the NHL…

(Credit: Screenshot / HockeyDB)

Seriously… Can we give Ivan Demidov a break?

The kid does what he has to do without bothering anyone, he accumulates points at a more than interesting pace, he helps the Canadiens win games in his own way…

Ah, and he’s only 19. He’s not playing badly enough to be criticized, and that’s what bothers me about Alex Kovalev’s comments.

Overtime

– Of note.

– Yikes.

– It’s your turn to answer.

– Love this.

Categories
Uncategorized

Samuel Blais is placed in the Toronto waivers

Samuel Blais signed a contract with the Canadiens this summer.

He took part in the Montreal practice camp before being placed in the Habs’ waivers. The Leafs claimed him, and the Québécois started the season in Toronto.

But… here he is (again) in the waivers. Blais has one goal and two assists in eight games with the Leafs this season.

What you need to know is that forwards Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy will be back in action Wednesday night for the Leafs against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Matthews had to be made room in the 23-man roster, as he was on the injured list… and Blais was the obvious choice.

Will the Canadiens be interested in asking for him back, even with the recent signing of Alexandre Texier? Hmm…

The question arises because Blais has the qualities of a player who can help the Canadiens right now. He plays tougher, he’s not afraid of upsetting opponents and he’s known for his more physical style.

Florian Xhekaj fits that bill for now… but Blais also won the Stanley Cup in St. Louis. He has more experience than Arber’s little brother, let’s put it that way.

That said, I’m inclined to believe that Blais will be given another chance. He really wasn’t bad during his time in Toronto, and he was just as good at the Canadiens’ practice camp a few weeks ago.

We know what he can bring to the rink, after all. And we know that players like him can help every NHL team when needed.

Extension

Remember that Cayden Primeau was also placed in the waivers by the Leafs in early November… and was claimed by the Hurricanes.

Will Blais be claimed?