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Lane Hutson ranked 50th best NHL player by Sportsnet

Lane Hutson played one season in the NHL. But even so, it’s easy to see that the little defenseman has what it takes to be among the elite. And Sportsnet recognizes this, as Hutson is ranked 50th on a list of the best players in the National League. To see Hutson in the same category as guys like Clayton Keller, Macklin Celebrini, Jesper Bratt and Jake Oettinger… that’s saying a lot:

In the article in question, there’s a sentence that’s pretty catchy when you look at the description of Lane Hutson.

Again, Hutson may have only played 84 games in the NHL… but that’s obviously enough, in the eyes of some, to compare him to the world’s best offensive defensemen (like Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar):

Will he be able to follow in the footsteps of other world-renowned offensive defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar?

It’s nice to see Hutson getting so much credit, and even better when you consider that he’s already ranked 50th among the NHL’s best players on a list like Sportsnet’s, even though he’s only 21. That’s promising for what’s to come, at least…

[content-ads] What’s interesting, too, is that there are other Canadiens players who could end up on that list. I’m thinking of Nick Suzuki, obviously…. and I’m thinking of Noah Dobson, who is recognized as a #1 defenseman in the National League. And what’s even more special is knowing that a guy like Ivan Demidov could quickly find himself in such a ranking too. The Canadiens are likely to be able to count on four of the best players in the National League over the next few years, and we agree that this can help on the ice. When we say that the future is rosy in Montreal, we’re not kidding. Especially when we consider that the group in Montreal is young… and that the team’s best players still have so much to give. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – That goes without saying.

– J.T.

– This could be a bumpy ride.

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Tim Stutzle: Montreal is more detestable than Toronto

When we think of Canadiens rivalries, we often think of the Maple Leafs or the Bruins (or even the Nordiques). Yet the Senators are a team with a certain rivalry with the Canadiens that could be rekindled. For Tim Stutzle, the rivalry between these two teams is so intense that it goes beyond the battle of Ontario.

In an interview with Stéphane Cadorette of the Journal de Québec, Stutzle was asked which team he hates more between Montreal and Toronto. According to Cadorette, Stutzle didn’t hesitate for a second before stating that he hates Montreal the most. However, Stutzle didn’t explain why Montreal is the team he hates the most. It’s true that the rivalry between these two teams can have its tense moments. We remember the preparatory match between the two teams in 2024, when Arber Xhekaj hit Stutzle with a dangerous shot.It’s probably the kind of thing that weighs heavily on the German’s mind. It was also the case towards the end of last season, when Juraj Slafkovsky got into a fight with Ridly Greig after a dangerous shot.

[content-ads] Worst of all, Stutzle was also involved in an altercation with Xhekaj before the fight. This adds further evidence to his claim. To add to all this, we’re talking about two teams that are hatching at virtually the same time. They were the two teams drafted in the last playoffs, and we can expect to see them battling for position in the standings once again this season. The Canadiens-Senators rivalry should be excellent this season. Spacer title=’Overtime’] – Jayden Struble could be of interest to other teams.– Speaking of the Canadiens and Senators,

– Donadel is appreciated by his players.

–

– Time is running out for Luke Hughes and the Devils.

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Donald Brashear makes (another) return to the game

It’s hard to say whether Donald Brashear will ever really retire from hockey. When he leaves a team, he sometimes takes a short break, only to return to the game in a different formation moments later. That’s what happened again this time, at the age of 53. The former NHL player will be joining the Corner Brook Royals, a team in the Central West Senior Hockey League (CWSHL) in Newfoundland and Labrador.The CWSHL is a semi-professional league, which is far from well-known outside Newfoundland and Labrador. In fact, the league is so little known that only two players registered with Elite Prospects are on the Corner Brook roster. This will be a new start on the ice for Brashear, who hasn’t played since 2023-24, when he played for the Jonquière Marquis in the NAHL.

He then hung up his skates temporarily to become an assistant coach with the Quebec National, still in the NAHL, but did not return to the position. His departure from the Quebec National certainly had something to do with his problems with the law, having been charged with assault and death threats in February.

This isn’t the first time Brashear has left hockey before returning: [content-ads] After a stint with Rivière-du-Loup’s 3L that ended in 2013, Brashear took a one-season break before moving to Europe.

After a single season in Europe, he returned to play a campaign in the NAHL, but left hockey again for a few years. Three years later, he returned to hockey by joining the Ligue de hockey senior du Lac au Fleuve, where he played for four seasons. So it seems impossible to separate Donald Brashear from hockey. When you love something, you gotta stick with it! [spacer title=’Overtime’] – He’d help the Oilers.

– Ayoye.

– Looks like he’ll never stop!

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Joe Veleno: several Habs employees didn’t want to sign him initially

This summer, the Habs acquired Joe Veleno. It’s an acquisition that stole far less of the limelight than Noah Dobson’s or Zachary Bolduc’s, but it’s still a guy the Canadiens brought to town.And, more importantly, a guy who’s fighting for a spot with the big club right now, a club that just happens to need a left-handed center.That said, Veleno’s case was a special one. The Habs were linked to the Québécois early in the process… before they weren’t. Tonight ,Tony Marinaro explained what happened when he appeared on 98.5 FM: basically, the club had internal discussions about Veleno…

But at the time, there were more people in town who didn’t want to sign him than who did. https://www.youtube.com/live/XIAW1_eO6jw?si=_EQJ0BD9NHnX86n2&t=960 [content-ads]That said, a few days later, the club saw the state of the market and considered Veleno once again. It’s safe to assume that Kent Hughes, his former agent, was among those pushing to bring him to town,and more importantly, that they were talking to each other: just because Veleno was going to sign in Montreal didn’t mean he was guaranteed to start the year with the big club.

Since then, Veleno hasn’t had a bad camp… and Lane Hutson even went out of his way to give him some love recently.That’s a nice vote of confidence, that.

So we’ll see if Veleno will be able to make the internal folks who pushed for his signature look good. Because obviously, it wasn’t a popular decision in the Habs’ offices to begin with.But if he’s able to deliver some interesting play on the ice, all that will be quickly forgotten.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Tomorrow’s the day:

–

– I give Suzuki the edge.

– Great Flower.

– Understandably,

– That’s right,

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Stanley Cup: the Canadiens are now better equipped than the Panthers

A good friend of mine said to me a few days ago: “I’d rather be a Canadiens fan than a Panthers fan, even though they’re Cup champions!”To which I replied: “Are you crazy toé c*iss? The Panthers just won two Stanley Cups and they’re going for the 3-peat this year!”Except that, on second thought, my boyfriend is probably right. And not just because Matthew Tkachuk (not until 2026) and Aleksander Barkov (season possibly over) won’t be around to start the season with their teammates. The window of opportunity is closing in Florida. In just a few years, the Panthers could look like the Penguins of today. The team’s 12 regular forwards, when everyone is healthy, are aged 30, 27, 29, 29, 30, 37, 23, 32, 27, 26, 28 and 33. Let’s just say there aren’t many young prospects on the Panthers’ forward line…On the blue line, it’s even worse: the seven starting defensemen are 30, 29, 29, 29, 34, 29, 37 and 30 years old. With goaltenders aged 37 and 26…On the Canadiens, it’s just the opposite. The 12 forwards who will face the Maple Leafs in Toronto on October 8 are 27, 26, 24, 21, 33, 31, 24, 24, 29, 19, 22 and 22. That’s a far cry from the aging Panthers attack…

The Panthers don’t have the likes of Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov. (Credit: Screenshot/YouTube)

[content-ads]Behind them, the Habs players will be 25, 23, 31, 28, 21 and 24. With 28- and 24-year-old goalies…And that’s not even taking into account Jacob Fowler, David Reinbacher and Alexander Zharovsky! I’m not saying the Canadiens will finish ahead of the Panthers this season, although they might. Remember that last year, the Habs won all their games against the Panthers and finished just seven points behind Paul Maurice’s men. All I’m saying is that today, for someone whose life expectancy is at least another five to ten years, being a Canadiens fan is more encouraging than being a Panthers fan, especially as the Habs will be letting go of several big contracts in the next two years, while the Panthers won’t: their (old) players are still under contract for several years. Tax breaks or not, I prefer the Montreal Canadiens’ situation to that of the Florida Panthers. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Makes sense.

– For baseball fans.

– For those interested

– By this time next year, the season should be underway.

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“The Canadiens are one center player away from being one of the best teams in the NHL.”

All summer long, we’ve been talking about Montreal’s famous second center. The club is starting to form an interesting core, but there’s still a gaping hole in the middle of the second line, andright now it’s Kirby Dach (or Alex Newhook, depending on how you look at it) who’s in that chair. Butthe fact is, in many people’s eyes, the Canadiens aren’t even close to being competitive. And Renaud Lavoie, speaking on BPM Sports today, agreed, because in his opinion, the club is just one quality center away from being one of the best teams in the NHL.Not just competitive: one of the best teams in the league, period.

[content-ads]Basically, it’s true that the Canadiens are one center player away from being a much better team… and they already make a good team. Acquiring a true second center would indeed put the Habs in a good position for many years to come, but in reality, it’s logical to ask whether the club is really in a position where one more center would really put it among the league’s elite as early as 2025-26. The informer explains it well: the Habs are banking on a young core that has some crusts to eat and still has some question marks to clear up.Will the first line be as dominant as last year? Will Ivan Demidov change everything this year? Will the very young defense hold up? Will Lane Hutson avoid the sophomore jinx? It‘s true that a quality second center would put everyone in the right chair in Montreal, and there’s no doubt that it would put the club in an interesting situation this year.But the league’s elite, in my eyes, won’t happen for another 2-3 years. And that’s with a second center or not.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- To watch.

– Ah.

– LPHF: a four-team expansion could arrive in 2026-27.

– What do you think?

– Can they do it this year?

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Max Pacioretty now works for the University of Michigan

The last few years haven’t been the easiest for Max Pacioretty. The forward has had to miss games due to (several) injuries, and this has affected his play on the ice too. When you look at his stats, you realize that he’s slowed down since the 2021-2022 season… and you also see that he hasn’t had the chance to play as much as he would have liked.89 games in three seasons isn’t a lot:

(Credit: Screenshot / HockeyDB)

Today, the former Habs captain seems ready to move on to the next chapter in his life.

Pacioretty is now working for the University of Michigan… and all signs point to him hanging up his skates for good. Reminder: Pacio played for the University of Michigan before starting his career in the National League, and he knows the place well. Interesting stuff:

[content-ads] If Pacioretty doesn’t finish his career in Montreal, he’ll be able to help Michael Hage, who’s been a Habs fan since he was a kid and could really help the Habs for years to come.no joke ,if Max Pacioretty does decide to retire, he can look back on a brilliant career in the National League: 681 points (including 335 goals), 939 games played, a Bill Masterton Trophy, the opportunity to wear the “C” on his jersey for the Montreal Canadiens…The man who was recognized as one of the NHL’s best snipers played for over 15 years in the world’s best hockey league, and that’s impressive too.Pacioretty helped the Leafs in the last playoffs with eight points (three goals) in eleven games, which explains why there was interest in his services this summer in the NHL…All good things must come to an end, as they say.[spacer title=’Overtime’] – Your answer?

– Nice set.

– He’s going to be good.

9.

– News in MLB.

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Habs: None of the five players placed in the waivers has been claimed

Yesterday, the Canadiens placed Alex Belzile, Lucas Condotta, Sean Farrell, Nathan Clurman and Marc Del Gaizo on waivers with a view to trading them to the Rocket… and to no one’s surprise, none of them was claimed by an NHL team.

I might have expected Del Gaizo to leave. The defenseman has National League experience and could have helped a team with a banged-up blue line right now. But for the rest, it’s not surprising. Belzile, Condotta and Clurman aren’t NHL players, and while he has some potential, Farrell isn’t the most attractive guy on the planet either. He may have racked up 44 points (20 goals) in 67 games last season in the AHL… but we’re still talking about a 5’9, 175-pound forward. And we know how hard it can be for a small player to make his mark in the best hockey league on the planet.

(Credit: Screenshot / HockeyDB)

[content-ads] Good news for the Rocket, then. Farrell, Belzile, Condotta (who wears the “C” on his jersey), Clurman and Del Gaizo will most likely play a fairly important role in Laval this season, because they all have experience in the AHL.

They’ll have the opportunity to help the Rocket on the ice, and I’m sure Pascal Vincent is happy to know he can count on them for the 25-26 campaign.In closing, let’s remember that there are still 16 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goaltenders in the Montreal Canadiens camp.

There will be more cuts in the coming days – before the season kicks off on October 8 in Toronto – and we’ll have to keep an eye on guys like Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Samuel Blais and Joe Veleno…

[spacer title=’Prolongation’] There are still several players who were placed in the waivers today in the NHL.

Here’s the full list:

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Martin St-Louis doesn’t help Ivan Demidov by placing him with Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook

Martin St-Louis has stirred the pot. At this morning’s practice, Ivan Demidov was no longer paired with Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach: instead, he found himself on a line with Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen. And this decision is questionable. In fact, seeing him change lines is worse than seeing him stay with Laine and Dach. We know it more or less works with #92 and #77 because they haven’t been exceptional since the start of camp. We can give Kirby the benefit of the doubt because he’s coming back from a major injury… but Laine doesn’t look like a guy who can help the Canadiens on a top-6 right now. That’s why the solution wasn’t to move Demidov. The ideal solution… was to swap Laine and Bolduc to give Demidov the opportunity to have two players with great skills alongside him.Now, Demidov is stuck with Alex Newhook, who has trouble converting his scoring chances… and with Oliver Kapanen, who really doesn’t have the biggest offensive upside in the world.And it’s hard to believe that this is an ideal situation for the Russian.

[content-ads] Does Martin St-Louis want to bring stability to Demidov by pairing him with Kapanen and Newhook, rather than with Dach – who may not play every night – and Laine.maybe, but it comes back to the same damn problem we had this summer. The Canadiens don’t have the quality second center they need to surround Ivan Demidov in the right way. And with only a few days to go before the start of the season, we’re still asking the same question, even if Dach is in that chair: who’s the real second center for the Montreal Canadiens right now?The easy answer is: there isn’t one. The various combinations may still change between now and the start of the season, and I can’t wait to see what Martin St-Louis’s tests come up with. But at first glance, it makes sense that the Habs head coach isn’t helping Ivan Demidov by putting him with Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook. It remains to be seen whether that will change… [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Well done.

– Beautiful.

– Really?

– Oh how good it’s going to be!

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Practice: Ivan Demidov on a new line and hints in favor of Oliver Kapanen

Time for today’s fashion column. At today’s practice ,there are 16 forwards. There are also eight defensemen, including Kaiden Guhle and Noah Dobson in contact jerseys. Among the 16 forwards, there were six guys dressed in white, six in red and four in blue, which is not a usual color

  • White: Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine and Zachary Bolduc
  • Red: Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, Ivan Demidov, Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen
  • Blue: Joe Veleno, Samuel Blais (who could be the club’s 13th forward), Owen Beck and Florian Xhekaj

In life, you sometimes have to read between the lines and understand the clues. Is it possible to think that Oliver Kapanen is in the shop window in a good position to do what he did last year, i.e. start the year in the NHL line-up? In my eyes, it’s really not impossible.

[content-ads]The other clue we can decipher with this is the fact that the two middle trios of the lineup are changed from what we usually see.

In white, Laine and Dach aren’t with Demidov: they’re with Bolduc. And in red, Demidov is on a line with Kapanen and Newhook this morning. Is this a recipe that will be used tomorrow in Quebec City? Is it just a test that Martin St-Louis did? And who is the second line in all this?

[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Nice.

– Will he be dressed tomorrow?

– Of note.