Author: Dose

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Transactions at the Habs: everything could come to a head as early as Monday

Once again this year, we’ve been sold a very exciting and busy off-season via a number of rumours, but in the end, as is often the case, the NHL has been VERY quiet. However, the off-season isn’t over yet, and things are very likely to get moving in the coming weeks, if not days, as a number of files remain active.

Most of the files thought to be settled this summer are still open, so we’ll have to keep a very close eye on everything. Luke Hughes’ next contract, whose negotiations are at a standstill at the moment, is one of the files that should be settled soon, if Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is to be believed. Montreal Canadiens fans are keeping a very close eye on everything, as this could speed up negotiations in the case of Lane Hutson.

And now, if we stay with the Habs, well, if many of you are disappointed that Kent Hughes hasn’t been on the move for several weeks, you can be sure that the whole thing could unravel as early as Monday.

Why Monday? because Carey Price’s contract could very well be traded, given that he will have received his $5.5 M signing bonus, which is due to him on September 1, i.e. Monday.

[content-ads] So it could very well be that Kent Hughes was waiting to dump that bonus, so he could then trade Price’s contract.Price’s contract is more attractive to a team that wants to go over the salary floor once that bonus is paid.

So we’re looking forward to Monday, as Kent Hughes may well already have a deal ready and waiting for Carey Price’s contract. This deal would clearly open the door to further moves by the Habs, as Hughes will have lightened his payroll, and will be able to move again without risking going over the 10% cap, the maximum allowed by the NHL in the off-season.

The Habs are currently close to $5 million over the cap, making it very difficult to make any trades, so as early as Monday, everything could be unblocked and unblocked for the Canadiens, and we could see another trade being made after Price’s contract. That’s why Monday is likely to be an exciting day, especially as Hughes has become accustomed to making moves a few weeks before the start of the season.

We’ll be keeping a very close eye on this one. spacer title=’En Rafale’] – Interesting.

– What do you think?

– The starting grid for tomorrow’s race.

– Bravo!

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One question per Canadiens member before the season: the rest

Recently, I was asked a question by a Canadiens forward on the heels of the start of the season, which is fast approaching. In a little over a month, the season will begin,but it’s not just the forwards who have us wondering about the upcoming hockey season. Other members of the organization are in the same boat, so let’s get on with it.Kaiden Guhle: can he stay healthy?Kaiden Guhle, when he plays, is really strong and stabilizes the defensive corps. If he could play at least 75 games, it would clearly make a difference – in a good way.Noah Dobson: can he be the defenseman he was in 2023-2024?70 points in 2023-2024 and only 39 last year: who is the real Noah Dobson? Will he be motivated by his new contract or overwhelmed by the Montreal pressure that comes with it?Lane Hutson: can he win Norris?I don’t see Hutson winning Norris just yet. However, while I could see him having success in 2024-2025, I couldn’t see him rewriting the history book just yet.

[content-ads]Mike Matheson: can he limit the defensive mistakes?I repeat: Mike Matheson is very important for this club. But he would be even more important if he played two or three minutes less per game and limited his mistakes on the ice.Alexandre Carrier: can he be exactly the same player as last year?

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t weep if the Québécois could bring exactly the same to the ice in 25-26 as he did when he first came to town.Arber Xhekaj: can he find his seat?In my opinion, the Canadiens would like nothing better than to see Arber Xhekaj find a seat as a tough but reliable defenseman. If he does, it could be a game-changer.Jayden Struble: can he be consistent?Sometimes Struble looks like an NHL veteran, and sometimes he looks lost. If he wants to play often, he’ll have to be the version Martin St-Louis can count on.

[content-ads]David Reinbacher: can he dominate camp?If there’s one prospect who will have every chance in the world to show what he can do, it’s him. And if he has an excellent camp, he’ll put the odds in his favor to help himself quickly find a place in the best league in the world.Adam Engstrom: can he hold his own in the NHL?Not as highly regarded as Reinbacher, Engstrom is nonetheless ahead of the William Trudeau’s of this world. If he wants a chance at the top (in case of injury to a regular, in his case), he has to show that he’s not going to be a pushover. And that starts at camp.

[content-ads]Samuel Montembeault: can he go for 33 wins?Last year, the keeper had 31 wins in 62 games. That means he won every other game. But in 2025-2026, can he get two more wins… by playing a little less often?Jakub Dobes: can he beat Kaapo Kahkonen at camp?The two goalies are linked by necessity, since they’ll be fighting for the #2 position in Montreal. If Dobes, who is not eligible for the waivers, doesn’t have a good camp, he won’t be putting the odds in his favor.Jacob Fowler: can he dominate right away in Laval?He’s not going to show up at camp with the best chances in the world of breaking into the Habs line-up in October, obviously. But a good camp would give him confidence for his first full season in the pros.

[spacer title=’prolongation’]Martin St-Louis and the coaching group: can they keep the guys bringing their game into the game?Martin St-Louis has figured out how to motivate his guys and how to find a good role for them. But we know that every coach is like a bag of milk: it comes with an expiration date.Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton: can they get a #2 center?This was the #1 issue of the off-season and it hasn’t been done. Will they be able to find him somewhere this season?

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Connor McDavid contract: “the Oilers are holding their breath”

We’re less than a month away from the start of training camp and Connor McDavid, who will become a free agent in July, is still unsigned, so while the chances of him staying in Edmonton are high, fans are still nervous. In any case, people in the Oilers’ offices are holding their breath on the matter, as John Shannon mentioned in his 100% HockeyPodcast .

Shannon is clear: the Oilers captain will start the season without a contract in his pocket for the 2026-2027 season. It’s in his best interest to wait; he’s in a position where he can manage, according to Shannon, and he wants to wait and see which way the Oilers go. The two sides still haven’t started negotiations, but that should come. Co-host Daren Millard thinks it would be quite a marketing stunt if McDavid signed during camp, but Shannon doesn’t believe in that [content-ads] Le 97 can take his time, because either way, he’ll become the highest-paid player of all time. But if you’re Stan Bowman, you don’t want to let the matter drag on…. You don’t want your captain and best player to pull a Mitch Marner and sign elsewhere next June/July… If the two sides can’t come to an agreement, several teams will be in the derby. The Rangers, Maple Leafs and Kings would certainly be in the mix. Will the Canadiens be able to-… i can’t wait to see how this one turns out, but one thing’s for sure, whatever the outcome: a new page of history will be written. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – A true leader.

– A good little club.

– Too bad

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Habs must be more disciplined to succeed

Last year, the Canadiens weren’t the most disciplined team, finishing 7th in the regular season with 760 penalty minutes. The power play was there to help, though, finishing ninth with 80.9% efficiency. That’s excellent. But to be (even) more successful, the Habs will have to find a way to avoid the penalty box. That’s what Brian Wilde had to say on the latest episode of the Sick Podcast.As I just mentioned, the power play did well last year, and that’s what saved the club. But this season, that doesn’t mean the club will be as successful in similar circumstances. After all, they’ve lost Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and David Savard. Guys like Josh Anderson, Jake Evans and Mike Matheson will still be around, but Dvo, Armia and Savard don’t make for good replacements. Nick Suzuki is a guy who has already played short-handed, but with his already high playing time and many responsibilities, we don’t want to burn him either… [content-ads] Could a guy like Alex Newhook, who is fast, get a chance at 4-on-5? I wouldn’t rule it out, but it’s not necessarily the best solution. We know that he risks losing his place in the first two waves of the power play. At his salary, we can’t have him playing exclusively at even strength, so expect a one-man shortage. Being an undisciplined team doesn’t automatically mean failure. After all, the Panthers just won the Stanley Cup with the most penalty minutes in the NHL (843). Let’s be honest: the Canadiens are not the Panthers. Martin St-Louis’ troupe will have to avoid stupid penalties. spacer title=’Overtime’] – No team wanted him.

– Too bad.

– I think so.

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In pictures: it’s amazing how much David Savard looked like a coach to the Habs last year

David Savard announced his retirement at the end of last season. The 34-year-old defenseman enjoyed a long career, during which he played a physically demanding style of hockey.The game went fast for him in his final moments on the Bettman circuit, but Savard’s loss should not be underestimated. He was still an important player (especially on the power play), and an important veteran in the dressing room. And that’s exactly what we see in the latest episode of The Rebuild.In this one, we see a sequence between two periods where the club wants to make adjustments on the power play… and instead of a coach, it’s Savard who leads the discussion at that level.He really, really looks like a coach.

[content-ads]It’s also very interesting to see Kaiden Guhle, a young defenseman who’s part of the club’s future, explain how much he’s learned from it all over the years. It all went fast for him at first, of course, but guys like Savard helped him get involved in these conversations,and that’s something Martin St-Louis is delighted about, as he knows how important it is for players to be able to “coach” themselves. Inthis respect, losing a guy like Savard could hurt the Habs more than you think. It’s not an impact that can be measured in numbers, but it has a very real impact on what happens on the ice.It will now be up to the team’s young defensemen to pick up the torch and “replace” Savard’s contribution at this level.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Interested?

– Still.

– What do you think?

– Big news in MLB.

– Québécois Olivier-Maxence Prosper released by Dallas Mavericks.

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Mitch Marner: People tried to break into his home after the Leafs were eliminated

Mitch Marner’s time with the Leafs didn’t end on a glorious note: he was the target of several attacks from the club’s fans due to the Leafs’ elimination by the Panthers, and fans booed him at his last game in Toronto. The result? Today, Marner is no longer part of the organization. In an interview with Mark Masters(TSN), Marner admits he had to hire security at his home after the Leafs lost Game 7 of their series against Florida. Why?

Because fans threw objects on his field, because he received death threats, because people were trying to break into his home… and because he feared for his family’s safety. And that’s unacceptable.

It was to make sure no one came to the house,” he maintains. There was also the need to walk the dog, and there was also our child (born last May). It was a shame.

–

Mitch Marner

Yikes.

[content-ads] I wonder how much all this played a role in Marner’s complete situation. We know, after all, that he loved playing for the Leafs, his childhood team. He grew up a Toronto fan, and always said it was an honor to be able to wear that uniform in his career. But to see certain people jeopardize his safety and that of his family just confuses the whole thing. Why would he want to stay, knowing that people wanted to hurt him, and when the team’s fans really didn’t seem to be behind him anymore?

It’s a shame because, in the end, even if Marner says he’s really satisfied with his years in the Queen City, he’ll probably have the worst memories of them too. And on the other hand, it’s a shame… because the Leafs lost a guy who wanted to play there.

Hopefully, things will be different in Vegas… [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Anze Kopitar’s last season in the NHL?

– Effectively.

– Well done, Lance.

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Depth: The Habs have the NHL’s second-worst line of centers, according to Travis Yost

Offensively, the Canadiens have a few certainties heading into next season. Some guys are “guaranteed” to be in the team’s top-9, and there are some logical names that come to mind. But there are also some uncertainties… and you’ll understand that I’m talking about the team’s center line. Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans are going to play center, that’s written in the sky, but what about the rest? Alex Newhook, Joe Veleno, Zachary Bolduc (?) and Oliver Kapanen (the latter could cause a surprise) can play center on a line… but when you look closely, it’s easy to see that the Habs don’t have much depth at center.

And in the eyes of Travis Yost, who was on the Sick Podcast… it goes further: according to him, the Habs have the 2nd-worst center line in the entire National League, ahead of the Nashville Predators. That’s not ideal.

(Credit: Screenshot / YouTube )

[content-ads] It’s no secret. To win games, be dominant on the ice and make a run in the playoffs….good NHL clubs must have the luxury of a big line of centers. They’re the ones who control the game, and they’re often the centerpieces of a Stanley Cup contending team. Clearly, the Habs have a problem at the moment at this level, and that’s what’s worrying in a way.

The Canadiens have high expectations after making the playoffs last year, but it may be difficult to compete with other clubs if they don’t improve at center before too long. That said, we saw the club make the playoffs last year with a line of centers “similar” to the one for next season. The club lost Christian Dvorak… but in the long term, this formula doesn’t work in the National League. Kent Hughes tried to find a second quality center to play in the top-6, but he didn’t succeed. As a result, the Habs have a pretty big hole at center… which could sink the team at any moment on the ice. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Nice picture!

– With good reason.

– It’s going to get hot.

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Canada’s players admit it: their motivation is Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby is the idol of a generation, having achieved everything in his field hockey career: Stanley Cups, Olympic gold medals, World Championships, World Junior Championships, Confr. In short, I think you get the picture.Millions of hockey fans revere him, and rightly so. And he’ll have another chance to add to his résumé with the next Olympic Games in Milan in 2026. When asked about this, some Canadiens players admit: Crosby is their motivation.

[content-ads]Sam Reinhart and Connor McDavid are very grateful to be able to share the ice with the legendary #87 to represent their country.

“For our generation, to see him still here, being the captain and having such a big role, it’s special for everyone.”

–

Connor McDavid

Canada is very fortunate to be able to count on Crosby to lead the team to victory. He’s the face of Team Canada. Whether in junior, the NHL or internationally, Crosby has dominated and won at every level. His 1687 points in 1352 NHL games speak for themselves. He currently ranks 9th in history for points (36 points behind Mario Lemieux) despite having suffered several major injuries, and it’s easy to say that he’s one of the top-5 forwards of all time with everything he brings to the ice. It’s even arguable that he’s 3rd in history, behind Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. In short, his impact is and always has been huge for everyone. So it’s only natural to see that Canada’s players are motivated and inspired by the captain. I can’t wait to see if Canada can bring another gold medal to the country and to Crosby. When the team can count on him, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Cale Makar, Sam Reinhart, Brayden Point and more, we can only expect perfection. Can the U.S. surprise Canada? And let’s not forget Finland and Sweden, who certainly have a lot of talent in their line-ups [spacer title=’Overtime’] – From the great Lane Hutson.

– Interesting.

– It’s pretty intense.

– Unbelievable!

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Elite Prospects editor ranks Habs last in Atlantic Canada

With the additions of Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc, the full-time arrival of Ivan Demidov and the emergence of other young players (including Lane Hutson), we can expect the Canadiens to be better than ever.

Well, it’s fair to say that not everyone thinks so.JFresh, a writer for Elite Prospects, recently published an up-to-date ranking (and point total) of each team within their division. And much to my surprise, the Habs find themselves in last place in the Atlantic with just 83 points.

[content-ads]But what’s even more surprising, in my opinion, isn’t the Habs’ last-place finish, but rather that the Sabres have 10 more points than the Montreal club. The Sabres have struggled to be competitive for years and haven’t made the playoffs in too long. Plus, the J.J. Peterka trade clearly isn’t to their advantage right now. Michael Kesselring is certainly an important addition to the right side of their defense, but he and Josh Doan aren’t as good as Peterka. Comparing the two teams on paper, we can say that the Habs have the advantage in front of the net with Samuel Montembeault (as opposed to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen). As for the defensive brigade, Buffalo has the advantage on the left side with Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power and Bowen Byram. And as for the forward line, I think it’s pretty simple to say that the Habs are better on that side.

(Credit: Daily Faceoff)

In the case of the Detroit Red Wings, who are tied with the Habs in the JFresh rankings, it’s a little more comparable on paper with the Habs.

The addition of John Gibson will certainly help the Wings in front of the net, and we could give them the edge there, even if Monty is no slouch. The defensive brigade, on the other hand, is far inferior to that of the Habs. Moritz Seider is an excellent young defenseman, complete and physical ,but apart from the German, it’s very difficult in Detroit.

(Credit: Daily Faceoff)

Offensively, it’s very similar. There are some pretty similar players in terms of talent/impact, but in general, the Habs’ attack is slightly superior, especially on the bottom-6. As for the Boston Bruins, it’s pretty hard to say where they’ll fit in, as David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy bring a lot to the club. But without Brad Marchand, a true #1 center and the uncertainty in front of the net with Jeremy Swayman, it’s pretty hard to put them ahead of the Habs in the standings. In short, I believe (and hope) that JFresh is wrong with the Habs for all the reasons mentioned, but we all know that anything can happen in a season [spacer title=’Overtime’] – It would be a great opportunity for him at the end of his career after another Stanley Cup.

– To be continued.

– Unbelievable. Three home runs in five innings.

– Worth a read.

– Jelly bears, that’s a pretty… modest answer.

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Bell Centre: the Habs have worked on a standing area for fans (like at the Forum)

Last night, the new episode of the series La reconstruction was made available on the Crave platform. The episode focuses a lot on the Habs’ trip over the holidays, but also on life in the AHL.Jakub Dobes, Kirby Dach and Logan Mailloux are all featured.However, the episode also features a meeting between Geoff Molson and France Margaret Bélanger, during which the latter presents a new concept for the Bell Centre: a standing area for fans,similar to what was found at the Forum back in the day.

This all happens around the 15-minute mark of the episode, for those interested.

[content-ads]What we understand, listening to the episode, is that we’re talking about a space that could accommodate between 60 and 100 people and would be located above the press gallery (the view of the ice is obstructed in some places for this reason). We can see how far we’d have to travel to get there… and that’s something.But what’s also interesting is that the meeting seems to be taking place over the holidays… and when the owner asks if it would be ready for next season, the answer is yes, given that there’s little work to be done.Will the space be ready in October? Normally, yes… unless the project has since been abandoned. But at the same time, wouldn’t it be strange for the club to have kept that sequence in the documentary if they’d abandoned the project? Because in the episode, there’s never any mention of the project falling through (although in reality, it could come in a future episode).So we’ll see how it all pans out over the next few weeks, but there may be a new fan space at the Bell Centre for next season.At least, it was considered and presented in a documentary produced by the club.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Luka Doncic and Micah Parsons have left, but Mikko Rantanen hasn’t, hehe.

– I like it.

– Can you believe it?

– Makes sense. Lane Hutson is probably in the same boat.

– Whew.