Author: Dose

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Penguins don’t want to renew Evgeni Malkin’s contract

For a few weeks now, we’ve suspected that Evgeni Malkin would be taking his last steps in Pittsburgh in 2025-2026.

But now we learn that it’s not just a matter of Malkin no longer wanting to be in Pittsburgh: it’s a matter of the Penguins wanting to move on.

According to Josh Yohe (The Athletic), the Penguins have no intention of offering the Russian a contract extension once his current deal (which expires in a year) expires.

Will he be traded down the road? I’d be surprised… unless he intends to play another season.

For example, if the Panthers picked up the guy who spends his off-seasons in South Florida, and gave him another year on his contract, that would make more sense. This is just me speculating here.

But he shouldn’t just be “traded as a rental player” next March if he intends to retire. I don’t really believe that right now.

Unless things go very badly in Pennsylvania?

And since he’s slowing down, I don’t know if he’ll really want to move and start over somewhere else. And that’s whether it’s somewhere else in the NHL (which he’s never wanted to do) or whether it’s Russia.

I really have a feeling that Malkin will simply retire in 2026. As long as he’s not the player he once was…

Obviously, by necessity, we’re going to wonder what this means for Sidney Crosby. Does the Penguins captain see himself playing in Pittsburgh without his friend in 2026-2027?

We’ll see in due course.

overtime

– He becomes Mathieu Darche’s assistant.

– Of note.

– Obviously.

– The Habs retweeted this.

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Juraj Slafkovsky named to Slovakia’s Olympic team

Unsurprisingly, Juraj Slafkovsky will be going to the Olympic Games.

The news broke this morning, as the Olympic hockey teams announced the first six players on their rosters for next winter’s event in Italy.

Here are the six Slovak players.

Obviously, in terms of talent, Slaf had to be at the Olympics. He’s better than any other player in his country in terms of talent.

And I couldn’t see his comments against the federation and his almost toxic popularity in his country preventing the decision-makers from calling on him for the next stage.

So logic prevailed.

Of course, you’ll remember that he couldn’t take part in the Four Nations Confrontation because the Slovaks weren’t there. Otherwise, he would probably have been there too.

Details to follow…

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Brady Tkachuk: the dirtiest player according to 20 fan bases (but not the Canadiens)

Who’s the scummiest player in the NHL?

This very question was put to thousands of fans across North America to see what people think across the different cities of the Bettman circuit.

The results are available on the Canada Sports Betting website, for those interested.

What stands out is that 14% of fans in general (i.e., one fan in seven) feel that Brady Tkachuk, the Senators’ captain, is the most deserving.

He is ahead of Tom Wilson, who has 10% of the votes. Sam Bennett (5%), Nikita Zadorov (4%) and Tyler Tucker (3%) follow.

But when you break it all down, you realize that no less than 20 out of 32 fan bases (or out of 31, as Ottawa fans didn’t vote for their captain) think Tkachuk deserves the award.

Tom Wilson leads in 10 cities, A.J. Greer is the Ducks fans’ choice and Nikita Zadorov takes the prize in Utah.

Interestingly, despite the Sens/Canadiens rivalry, Tkachuk is not the choice of Montreal fans. With 25% of the vote, which is high compared to the rest of the league, Wilson won.

And to me, it’s easy to see a recency bias with the playoffs.

I’m not saying that Wilson’s choice is a bad one, since in reality it’s probably justified. But I just wonder if, without the playoffs, Tkachuk would also have been the choice of Habs fans.

After all, the vote was taken in May.

Note that the Carolina Hurricanes, who faced the Capitals and Panthers in their last two playoff rounds in 2025, also voted for the Capitals player.

What would be your choice?

overtime

– Really?

– Of note.

– Surprise.

– Great news.

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The Canadiens have what it takes to draft a football quarterback in the first round

If nothing changes, the Canadiens will be drafting at #16 and #17 next week at the NHL Entry Draft.

Even if we’re not talking about the top spot like in 2022, or a top-5 pick like in 2023 and 2024, these are still game-changing picks.

After all, the Habs haven’t drafted in the top-17 twice since the new administration took over…

Because the Canadiens are “turning the corner on rebuilding” and have more and more elements to build the team that will seek to win the Stanley Cup, the club’s directors can afford to take risks at the draft.

Will this happen in the first round? We’ll have to wait and see.

But if the Habs want to take a risk in the first, they can seriously consider drafting Mason West, who is a quarterback in football and a top prospect in hockey.

We know the Habs have him in their sights, but Nicolas Cloutier (TVA Sports) has written an in-depth article on the subject. And according to some people in the industry, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility.

West keeps telling anyone who will listen that he intends to continue playing hockey and not football. But of course, there’s still a risk for any club that drafts him.

He has the toolbox to go out in the first round, and he won’t slide all the way to the club’s #41 pick because other clubs with multiple picks won’t want to let him go. A team would take a chance early in the second round, if he slipped that far.

So, barring a trade, the Canadiens have to figure that if they want to pick him, they’ll have to do so with pick #16 or #17. Is it worth the gamble? We’ll have to wait and see.

But a 6’6 center who’s had success in both football and hockey suggests the potential is there.

Since the Canadiens like to take “projects” and develop them, picking up a guy like West and turning him from athlete to hockey player could pay dividends.

Don’t dismiss the project too quickly, Habs fans.

overtime

– I don’t trust Stuart Skinner.

– Of note in the AHL.

– I’m still in shock.

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JJ Peterka could be an interesting target for the Habs

JJ Peterka’s future doesn’t seem to be in Buffalo.

TVA Sports reports that the 23-year-old right-winger has asked the Sabres to trade him in May.

However, we know that Kent Hughes and the organization have said they’re open to acquiring a forward, but not necessarily a center.

The Habs general manager should definitely make a call to inquire about his counterpart Kevyn Adam’s requests.

Peterka is coming off a 68-point campaign, including 27 goals, in 77 games in his third full season with the Sabres.

The left-handed forward has made steady progress since arriving in the NHL, and there’s no indication that he’s yet reached his full potential.

The German forward could add depth and a little more punch to our top-six attack.

Yes, the Canadiens already have Cole Caufield and Ivan Demidov as right wingers on their top two trios, but generally, moving a winger to the other side is done quite well and quickly.

It would mean demoting Patrik Laine to the third line, which could also take some of the pressure off him to score at 5-on-5 while leaving him on the first powerplay.

A possible good compromise for the enigmatic Finnish player.

The addition of a player like Peterka could really solidify our attack and could be a good incentive (in addition to Demidov) for the acquisition of a player who would have the opportunity to play with quality young wingers.

However, the price tag could be steep, especially if Buffalo trades him to a section rival.

And if the Sabres general manager hasn’t made a move yet, it’s probably because he’s waiting for the right offer for his young forward.

On the other hand, I think the Canadiens have what it takes to make the Sabres an attractive offer.

In short, another story to follow in the weeks to come.

Overtime

– Los Angeles beats its rival.

– SGA is elsewhere.

– Congrats to Canada!

– What a shot!

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Rumor mill: Mika Zibanejad could soon leave the Rangers

The draft and the opening of the free agent market are fast approaching, and many teams are likely to make changes in the coming weeks.

As a result, rumors are flying all over the NHL.

Earlier today, my colleague Michaël Petit took the first look at the Bettman circuit with his Rumour Corner.

And now it’s my turn to bring you the latest in NHL gossip.

Mika Zibanejad and the Rangers: it’s already over

Rangers looking to part ways with Mika Zibanejad

According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the New York club and the center forward have decided to “move on”.

The problem with Zibanejad is that he still has 5 years left on an 8-year contract worth $68 million ($8.5 million per year).

Since signing, the Swede has gone from 91 to 72 to 58 points in the last three seasons.

On the other hand, it has to be said that nothing went right for the Ranger last season, and one wonders whether the center could bounce back with a team.

Although he’s 32 years old, if Zibanejad can get back to the level of play he showed in recent years, he could be an interesting option for the Canadiens.

However, he still has five years left on his contract, and if the gamble doesn’t pay off, it’s a deal that could also quickly age badly for the Habs.

Time to clean house in Pittsburgh?

The Pittsburgh Penguins seem intent on starting a complete rebuild by getting rid of several veterans.

According to Marco D’Amico, with the exception of the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeny Malkin and Kristopher Letang, the organization is ready to get rid of its other veterans in order to get younger and free up space on their payroll.

In other words, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust could soon be changing addresses.

The Penguins are said to be in talks with the Los Angeles Kings.

Does this mean that Pittsburgh is determined to keep Crosby as part of its rebuild? If so, it could disappoint those hoping to see him land in Montreal this summer.

Vladislav Gavrikov could test the free agent market

Speaking of the Kings, they have yet to reach an agreement with defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov.

Pierre Lebrun believes the Russian will try his luck on the independent market on July 1.

Gavrikov has just completed the final year of an $11.75 million contract ($5.875 million per year).

The defenseman could be an interesting option for a team looking for reinforcements on the blue line.

In 82 games this season, the defenseman earned 30 points and maintained a plus-26 rating, playing an average of 23:05 minutes per game.

If Gavrikov opts for autonomy, I think he’s likely to find himself on the shopping list of a few NHL teams.

The Ducks, Blue Jackets and Hurricanes are ready to get out their checkbooks

Among the teams with big shopping lists on July 1 are the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes.

According to David Pagnotta, all three teams are ready to be particularly aggressive in the free agent market.

The Ducks have just over $32 million in payroll space, the Blue Jackets over $40 million and Carolina over $28 million.

That’s a lot of money to spend, and with several quality players available this summer, these teams could well present a different face next season.

There’s also the risk of overbidding if teams have a lot of money to offer, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a number of overpriced contracts being offered over the summer period.

That’s one of the reasons why I think the Canadiens should acquire a center rather than sign a free agent.

Overtime

– An attitude problem?

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”fr” dir=”ltr”>His attitude obviously didn’t please his bosses. <a href=”https://t.co/LRX650Ns3m”>https://t.co/LRX650Ns3m</a></p>&mdash; Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) <a href=”https://twitter.com/passion_mlb/status/1934388059929297288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>June 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

– Heartbreaking defeat for the pitcher.

– The final is tied 1-1.

– A nice gift for Father’s Day.

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Brady Martin: If the NHL isn’t an option, he’d work on the family farm

Brady Martin is certainly one of the best prospects in the 2025 draft.

Many see him cracking the top-10, and he could even go as high as #7 with the Boston Bruins.

His style of play is a perfect match for the Bruins, and he’s been nothing but impressive this season, climbing the experts’ lists.

The scorer of 33 goals and 72 points in 57 OHL games doesn’t just blacken the score sheet, he upsets opponents and plays hard.

The chances of him reaching the NHL are pretty good for a top-10 prospect who hasn’t yet been drafted, but we all know that nothing is guaranteed in the NHL.

That’s why it’s important to have a Plan B. Martin does, and he’s got one.

Martin has one, and it doesn’t involve a university degree.

His family owns a dairy farm and he recently mentioned that if he doesn’t reach his primary goal (the NHL), dairy farming is definitely his second option :

Brady Martin isn’t pessimistic about his future in the NHL, he’s just realistic.

He certainly has to give everything he can give to achieve his boyhood dream, because without effort, it’s extremely difficult to have a successful NHL career.

But having a backup plan is just as important, because the chances of reaching the best hockey league in the world, even as a top-10 prospect, are far from high.

In Adam Kimelman’s article, we can understand that the farm would only be an off-season option for now, with his recent season.

He was playing in every situation in Sault Ste. Marie with the Greyhounds this year, and when you pair his talent and versatility with his hustle and intensity, it’s usually a winning recipe.

He plays on the first wave of the short-handed, and on the first wave of the power play.

On the farm, Martin is used to doing the dirty work, and this could help him break into the NHL in a lesser role if he fails to establish himself as an impact player.

I invite you to read Kimelman’s article on Martin. You can see that he’s passionate about the family farm.

One thing’s for sure in Martin’s case: he’ll love doing his job, whether it’s in the NHL or on the farm.

Overtime

– Quite impressive to hear this goal in Spanish. Adds spice.

– According to David Pagnotta, the draft is still expected to take place in Los Angeles, despite the fact that there’s a lot of bickering going on right now.

– The Sens are sorely lacking reinforcement on the right, and this is a good signing, especially a two-pronged one.

– Read on.

– A successful experience.

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Rumor mill: Habs and Flames active in search for second center

With the free agent market and the draft approaching faster than you’d think, rumors are becoming more and more prevalent in the NHL.

Last Thursday, my colleague Marc-Olivier Cook did another rumour corner, talking about Jordan Kyrou, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad, Ivan Provorov and Mitch Marner.

Earlier today, my other colleague Mathis Therrien wrote an article about Marner, in which we get a little more detail about the length of his next contract.

Today, I’m bringing you more rumours as the free agent market approaches and the trade market opens.

We’ll be talking about the Habs and Flames, Nikolaj Ehlers, Jordan Spence and John-Jason Peterka.

Habs and Flames active in search for second center

It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens are trying to find a second center for next season.

But David Pagnotta recently talked about the fact that the Habs are currently active in filling this need, as are the Calgary Flames.

It’s interesting to know, because even if the Habs see a hole to fill there, they could decide to trust Kirby Dach at this level and focus on the blue line, with the departure of David Savard.

We’ll just have to see whether the Habs want to wait to look at the free agent market, or whether they think a trade would be more appropriate.

Mikael Granlund has already been linked to the Habs, but Matty Beniers could also be an interesting (and more expensive, obviously) option.

To be continued…

Nikolaj Ehlers in danger of changing address

After Marner, Ehlers will undoubtedly be one of the most coveted offensive players this summer, should the Winnipeg Jets fail to extend his contract.

But according to Elliotte Friedman’s latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Danish winger is poised to test the free agent market this summer.

A deal between the two sides isn’t even close, and this would confirm two big forwards with Marner on the free agent market.

Ehlers collected 63 points in 69 games this season, his second-best career output.

Ehlers has already been linked with the Habs, as Patrik Laine is a good friend of his. The Dane would be a great complement to Ivan Demidov on the second line, but his contract is expected to be around $9 million per season.

Will the Habs be interested?

Jordan Spence to watch this summer

The young right-handed defenseman certainly has some very attractive offensive skills.

In 2024-25, this was his second full NHL season, with 28 points in 79 games.

That doesn’t sound like much, but he’s got an excellent skating stroke and above-average explosion.

His vision shouldn’t be overlooked either, as he’s a great feeder for his teammates.

But with Brandt Clarke already a right-handed offensive defenseman with the Los Angeles Kings, we’ll have to keep an eye on his name this summer in the trades.

That’s what Elliotte Friedman reported in his latest 32TP.

Although he’s an offensive defenseman, the points aren’t necessarily there.

He’ll never be a Cale Makar or a Quinn Hughes, but he can be a very good second-pair defenseman while also being an interesting quarterback for a second-wave powerplay.

The points will come. He’s only 24, but he’s going to have to unlock quickly.

Sabres now listening to offers for JJ Peterka

Peterka is a name that is attracting more and more attention in Buffalo.

In 2023-24, he collected 50 points, but with 28 goals, in his second full NHL season.

Last season, he scored 27 goals and 68 points.

And he’s only 23…

We know that things aren’t going well for the Sabres in Buffalo, and change could (should) be on the way.

Peterka’s name has been bandied about, but the Sabres haven’t confirmed that they’re open to offers.

Well, that’s changed, as the Sabres will now be open to offers for their young forward.

This was mentioned by Elliotte Friedman in the latest 32TP.

Peterka is certainly worth his weight in gold, and the Sabres could take advantage of the opportunity to bring in a good veteran to mentor the young team in Buffalo.

Bowen Byram will also be one to watch in Buffalo, as he has been the subject of several rumours in recent weeks.

It promises to be an exciting off-season.

In Overtime

– A podium unlike any in recent years at the GP of Canada.

– Interesting.

– If Gavin McKenna confirms his commitment to Penn State, Jackson Smith will have an excellent teammate.

– Traktor lost to Lokomotiv in the final.

– Read more.

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Caleb Desnoyers really took his interview with the Habs seriously

I’m going to start my text with a statement.

Although the chances are slim, I’d really, really like to see the Canadiens draft Caleb Desnoyers in less than two weeks.

He has the profile of a guy who can succeed in a big market. He’s got a calm head, he can handle pressure… and on the ice, he’s got such interesting qualities. Especially since he plays center!

Incidentally, the principal interested party could also see himself playing in Montreal, alongside Ivan Demidov.

The prospect spoke about this in an interview with Anthony Martineau (TVA Sports):

I could see myself playing with Ivan Demidov. After that, no matter who you put with us, it’s going to be a good line-up. – Caleb Desnoyers

I hear Caleb Desnoyers has confidence in himself.

Talented guys want to play with talented guys. Desnoyers knows he’s got skills… and putting himself next to a player like Ivan Demidov, who has impressive skills, proves just how confident he is in his abilities.

That said, we know that the chances of him being selected by the Canadiens aren’t great, because Kent Hughes will have to pull a rabbit out of his hat to get into the top-5 – where Desnoyers will (most likely) be selected.

But still: Desnoyers took his interview with the Habs seriously because he still wanted to give himself a chance of being selected by the Canadiens.

I like his attitude.

What happens next will be interesting because there’s likely to be a lot of interest in Desnoyers at the draft.

But… if the Canadiens can pull off a magic trick, I have a feeling a lot of fans in town will be happy.

And I have a feeling he’d like that, too.

Overtime

– It’s a party!

– Seen the same.

– Machine.

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Brad Marchand: his playoff performances will help him sign a monster contract this summer

All right, then.

We have to talk about it… right?

Right now, Brad Marchand is doing something special. And I’m not exaggerating…

At 37, he was the best player on the ice last night in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final… and his two goals helped the Panthers to a 5-2 win over the Oilers.

Oh, and he also has 20 points (including 10 goals) in 22 playoff games so far this season. I’ll say it again: the guy’s 37 years old.

The result?

Marchand’s performance means that the Florida team is just one win away from lifting the precious trophy.

And the next game is on the Panthers’ home turf…

The crazy thing is that none of this would be possible without #63. He scores important goals, he brings a different element to the clubhouse with his leadership, and you can feel it on the ice when you watch the Panthers play.

In five games since the start of the final, Marchand has already scored six goals. And two of those goals are game-winners…

More than ever, Marchand is building a case for a BIG contract this summer.

This week, we heard rumours ofa four-year contract at $8 million per season…

But do you know what?

No matter how long it lasts, the man we love to hate in Montreal is going to break the bank.

Because teams pay attention to what happens in the playoffs, and everyone can see right now that Marchand is still so good, so effective and so important to a club’s success.

Then again, the fact that Marchand is 37 makes it all the more special. Seeing him be so successful – with a new club no less – wasn’t necessarily guaranteed before the deal that brought him to Florida… but clearly, he’s found his feet and we can see how much he’s still able to help even at his age.

I can’t wait to see how much it will cost this summer for the club that welcomes him into its ranks…

Overtime

– Hey, boys!

– Bravo!

– Nice.