Author: Dose

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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.

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Here’s the problem with sending Ivan Demidov with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield

I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that just about every hockey fan in Quebec is looking forward to seeing Ivan Demidov this season. There’s a buzz around the kid that we’ve rarely seen in town… and seeing him on the ice non-stop since the start of the summer only accentuates that even more.Even today, he spent several hours on the ice in Brossard.

All this means that expectations for Demidov are pretty high. We already see him having a big year and winning the Calder… and some even see him knocking Juraj Slafkovský off the top line.Alexandre Lanctôt raised the possibility on BPM Sports.

[content-ads]Basically, his idea is an interesting one. After all, if Demidov is as good as he’s supposed to be, playing him with the club’s best offensive players makes sense, but to me, there’s a problem with this idea: it’s not the best way to optimize the Habs’ top-6. Let me explain:Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, as talented as they are, need a big man with them. It’s not for nothing that they’ve taken it to another level with Slaf on their line: he’s the perfect piece to complete the trio. Offensively speaking, it’s true that Demidov is likely to be superior to Slaf. But in reality, a first line isn’t just about putting your top three scorers on the line: you need all three guys to be effective together.If Demidov is to squeeze someone out of the first line, I have a feeling it would be more Caufield.Whatisclear, however, is that the Habs are starting to have an abundance of young players capable of playing on the first line. And inany case, a world in which all four of these guys are together on the ice is likely to exist, whether the club is playing with six skaters or on the powerplay.

[Overtime

]- Good guys, hehe

– Interesting.

– Monster deal in the NFL.

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Nick Suzuki ignored at 4 Nations: nothing to do with the Worlds, defends Julien BriseBois

Nick Suzuki didn’t make Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Confrontation. The Habs captain, who was presumably a candidate, was ultimately passed over by Team Canada officials, and clearly that motivated Suzuki, who went on a tear at the end of the season. He was so dominant that he almost single-handedly took the Canadiens to the playoffs, finishing the campaign with 89 points. In the eyes of many, the fact that he had refused to play at the Worlds the previous spring had worked against Suzuki. We know that this is sometimes a factor in decisions(Lane Hutson can confirm this), and it was raised as a possible explanation. But when asked about it, Julien BriseBois (assistant GM for Team Canadiens) defended himself: it wasn’t a factor in the decision.He explained that the managers want to win, not play politics.

[content-ads]Basically, what BriseBois is explaining is that an absence from the Worlds doesn’t hurt a player, but a presence can help a guy earn points. Samuel Montembeault, for example, broke his record at the Worlds in 2023, which worked in his favor for the 4 Nations Confrontation.When guys participate, it allows the management to see them in an international hockey context and get to know them.Sothefact that Suzuki didn’t take part in the last Worlds shouldn’t, according to BriseBois, prevent him from representing Canada at the next Olympics.The nuance is there. Let’s see what happens when the time comes to announce Canada’s roster[spacer title=’Overtime’]- According to NHL 26 odds, Suzuki could make the Canadian team.

– Unbelievable. They really never leave the ice.

– Indeed.

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Jacob Fowler: Corey Pronman sees him as an auxiliary goalkeeper

Jacob Fowler, selected in the 3rd round (69th overall) of the 2023 draft, is one of the NHL’s top prospects at his position, andDaily Faceoff has placed him 2nd in a ranking of the league’s top non-league goaltenders… But ultimately, Corey Pronman must disagree with that list,because in the eyes of The Athletic’s expert, Fowler may never become a #1 goaltender in the big league,as we read in a recent text – where he ranks the Canadiens’ bank of prospects as the fifth best in the NHL.

And while Pronman acknowledges the American’s success in the NCAA… he sees flaws in the main prospect.

He is, however, of average size and lacks true NHL-leading athleticism […] He is projected as an auxiliary goaltender.

–

Corey Pronman

This may be the first we’ve heard of Fowler, who has impressed everyone for the past two years…

[content-ads] Fowler made the jump to the pros at the end of his final season at Boston College, and he did well with the Rocket.

In the playoffs, we even wondered if he’d stolen Cayden Primeau’s job as Laval’s #1 goaltender…That said, Fowler still has a long way to go before he reaches the NHL, because we know it can take longer for a goaltender. He’ll have to play games in the AHL before thinking about the Bettman circuit, and he’s likely to have plenty of opportunities to make his mark in front of the net in Laval too.

We’ll get a better idea of what’s in store when we see him play a few games… even though we’ve already seen some great things from him. And at this level, I wonder what more he could have done to show Corey Pronman that he has the potential to be a (good) number-one goalie in the National League at some point.oh well, only time will tell [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Who doesn’t?

– It’s going to be a bumpy ride, and

– If you missed it:

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Canadiens: 5th best youth bank, according to The Athletic

This week, Corey Pronman (The Athletic’s prospect expert) published his 32 profiles of the young players on every team in the Bettman circuit. Big assignment, you say?Basically, he takes the U23s from each organization and ranks them 32 to 1. Since he unveiled his eight best clubs today and his eight worst clubs on Monday, we figured he’d be talking about the Canadiens later in the week, obviously.

And as a result, the CH is now ranked fifth in the rankings. You’d think the CH would be in the top-2, since that’s often where prospects are ranked when analysts talk about the Habs’ youngsters.

For example, the Sharks are in first place with Macklin Celebrini, Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson and Will Smith in the top-4. Taking established players into account (which is a good method, as colleague Tony Patoine does) makes the state of things more… representative. content-ads]It pushes the Canadiens down the rankings, given that Ivan Demidov isn’t the only top talent in the analyst’s rankings… but it also allows us to include the Juraj Slafkovskys and Lane Hutson of this world. By the way, it’s Slaf who’s at the top of the rankings.

Why put Slaf ahead of Demidov? I guess the fact that he’s already established on a top line affects the ranking. But clearly, Pronman likes Slaf’s tools. His size, speed and skill are all cited as reasons to mention that he can scare opposing defenders when he uses his body the right way.

Even if he doesn’t become the biggest point producer, Slafkovsky can become a star in the NHL.

–

Corey Pronman

Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher and Zachary Bolduc round out the top-5. I invite you to read the full text of The Athletic to see the expert’s picks.The Sharks, Blackhawks, Mammoth and Ducks, in order, are ahead of the Canadiens in the top-5. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Enjoy.

– Interesting.

– Indeed.

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McDavid: Wants to win in Edmonton, but won’t commit to a new contract

The Oilers have a big deal on the table. A… huge deal, in fact. Connor McDavid, the man who was seen as the savior in Edmonton, is in the final year of his eight-year contract ($12.5 million per season) with the club. Earlier today, McDavid said he’s not focused on his new deal, saying that “all options are on the table” – even if he wants to win in Edmonton.He’s in no hurry to sign a new contract… which, in effect, may scare fans and the Oilers organization.Imagine if McJesus decided to leave Edmonton via the free agent market on July 1, 2026…CATASTROPHE!

Elliotte Friedman says he’s surprised that the Oilers’ captain isn’t keen on signing a new contract before the 25-26 season begins, but there’s one factor in particular that plays into all this: the Oilers have to prove to him that he can win the Stanley Cup in Edmonton.

And even though Leon Draisaitl is here for another eight years (his new contract begins this year and runs until 2033), the Oilers still have work to do to surround #97 properly.

McDavid needs to be convinced that the Oilers will continue to be serious Stanley Cup contenders.

–

Elliotte Friedman

[content-ads] Ultimately, McDavid’s contract situation could become a problem in Edmonton.In fact… it could become more of a distraction than anything else. Throughout the season, we’ll be hearing about the possibility of him leaving if he hasn’t yet signed a contract. And in a locker room, that can weigh in the balance. Edmonton’s market is intense (less so than Montreal’s, but still) and the team’s coverage is important. We agree: journalists are going to annoy him all season long with his new contract. And it’ll probably be the same with his teammates… The Oilers’ management must be under a bit of stress right now. Especially when they hear the best player in the world say that all options are on the table… and that he doesn’t seem ready to sign a new contract in Edmonton. This is one to watch, then.

– I like it.

– What a surprise! #OuPas

– This shouldn’t happen.

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Here are the Canadiens’ top 10 players for NHL 26

In a little over two weeks, on September 12, the next edition of the NHL game will be available to video game fans. Today, EA Sports unveiled the ratings for the Montreal Canadiens’ top 10 players. And there are some surprises. First of all, let’s start by saying that Nick Suzuki has a rating of 90. Which, in reality, is excellent.

He’s not among the NHL’s top 10 center players in the game… but still:

Next, it’s interesting to note that three Habs players have an 88 rating: Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson.

Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle have a rating of 86… and at 85, we find Patrik Laine (?), Samuel Montembeault, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov. Demidov has a high rating for a guy who has only played two regular-season games in the National League.

As for Laine, he has a rather low rating for a guy who scored at a rate of 31.5 goals last season…Let’s remember one thing, though: it all depends on a guy’s performance, and ratings can change over the course of the season. For example, if a player is struggling and not producing, his rating will drop. And the opposite is also true: if a player is having a good time, his rating will go up. Nevertheless, it will be fun for fans to play with the Canadiens team in the next NHL game. The Montreal team has some good players, there are a lot of skilled guys on the roster… and maybe that will help some of them win more games (hehe).No joke, it’s cool to see EA Sports recognize the fact that in Montreal, there’s talent in the club.

That hasn’t necessarily been the case in recent years, after all… [spacer title=’Overtime’] – A new player for the Montreal Roses

– Sick.

– Oh.

– Big news from the Sens.

– Can he do it?

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A question for each Canadiens forward with the season just a few weeks away

Over the next month, there’ll be some Canadiens hockey to get your teeth into. Whether it’s a rookie game, an intra-squad duel or a warm-up game, the Habs will be in action in a few weeks’ time, setting the table for the regular season. And with that in mind, I have one question per Canadiens forward. Yes, there’s a lot at stake here…Nick Suzuki: can he reach 100 points?After breaking the 82-point barrier (he had 89… as well as taking the Canadiens back to the playoffs) in 2024-2025, it’s a natural question.Cole Caufield: can he score 40 goals?For the first time in his pro career, Caufield scored more than 30 goals in a single season in 2024-2025. Can he go from 37 to 40 in 2025-206?Ivan Demidov: can he handle the pressure?Clearly, the Russian will be at the heart of all discussions. He’s got the talent to knock it out of the park, but he’s going to have to be ready. Our doubts are virtually non-existent, that said: we believe he’s ready for big things.

[content-ads]Juraj Slafkovsky: can he start his season strong?For the past two years, it’s been harder at the start of the season for the Slovak. But now, with his new contract, we have to wonder if he’ll start performing in September.Zachary Bolduc: can he play center?We could wonder if he’ll be able to perform as well as he did after the Four Nations Confrontation in St. Louis, but the question of center is always present…Kirby Dach: can he trust his knee?No need to tell you that this is one of the biggest issues of the camp in Montreal. We know he’s skating better and better… but we also know that it’s worth what it’s worth, for now.

[content-ads]Patrik Laine: can he go for consistency at five-on-five?We know he can score on the powerplay, but by his own admission, it’s not always easy at even strength. With a healthy knee, will he be any better?Alex Newhook: can he find an identity for himself?Second-line center… third-line winger… how well can the speedy forward find his own chair for next season?Joe Veleno: can he play up to his talent?We know he’s happy to be playing at home. We know he’s bursting with talent. But can he show that talent on the ice? To be useful in specific phases of the game if he can’t score on a particular sequence?

[content-ads]Jake Evans: can he be consistent offensively?At the start of the 2024-2025 season, when he was looking for a contract, he was scoring like never before. And at the end of the season, it was harder.Brendan Gallagher: can he repeat his 2024-2025 performances?We didn’t think the little warrior would be so useful to the Habs in 2024-2025, but he showed he still had gas in the tank. We’ll have to take another look at Gally in 2025-2026.Josh Anderson: can the Habs pretend they’re playing playoff games as early as October?Of course, we say this knowing that we can’t really sustain such a pace for 82 games. But in the playoffs, we were reminded just how useful he can be.

Samuel Blais, Alex Belzile, Oliver Kapanen, Joshua Roy, Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Jared Davidson et al: can they make the club?

I expect the first 12 names in the text, if healthy (nothing certain for Dach, then), to have a better chance than the others of making the club. But there will still be a 13th forward and room for those pushing for a chair upstairs.blais, Belzile and Kapanen are among those to watch out for. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- There’s a full house at CF Montreal practice for Ivan Jaime.

– That’s the right mentality.

– No surprises here.

– To be continued.

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First year of Slaf’s big contract: the pressure will be on… and expectations will change

On July 1, 2024, Juraj Slafkovsky broke the bank: the forward signed an eight-year contract with the Canadiens worth a total of $60.8 million… which is a lot of money for a player of his age. But the contract has just come to an end, and the time has come for Slaf to show the Habs that they’ve made the right decision. When you look at his record on Hockey DB, it’s hard to criticize him, because two seasons (50 and 51) before the age of 22 is really good. Because two 50-point seasons (50 and 51) before the age of 22… that’s really good. That said, we know where the “problem” lies with the player: at the start of the campaign, it’s often more difficult. And now, Slaf can’t afford to get off to another rocky start. Expectations won’t be the same, and he’ll have to produce at the level of his talent to justify the salary ($7.6M per year) he’ll be earning.

(Credit: Screenshot / PuckPedia)

[content-ads] Slaf isn’t crazy. He knows he has to start his seasons better, and clearly, this is a pretty clear goal for him for the next campaign.

He’d like to rack up 65-70 points in 25-26… and starting the season strong will give him a chance of achieving that goal. But it will be interesting to see if the pressure of his new contract affects him. That wasn’t the case for Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, who were able to be very good as soon as they signed their respective big contracts. And we know that Slaf will be well surrounded to produce too… so it’s possible to believe that the big Slovak forward will be able to produce up to said expectations too. I’d like to see him explode this year. He’s got the resources to make it happen, he’s got the talent and the size to make it happen… and we also know he’s worked hard this summer. We know he’ll be able to rely a little more on the quality of his shot because he’s drawing faster than ever.

Now it’s up to him to do what he has to do to prove to Kent Hughes that his contract can become a bargain in the NHL…

[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Footage of Adam Engstrom practicing.

– Penguins sale far enough along?

– Please note.

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Yes, Ivan Demidov can sign an eight-year contract in 2026

Looking at the Canadiens’ salary structure, it’s clear that, in the long term, there will be at least two other big contracts to add to the club’s payroll. The first is Lane Hutson. He’s clearly the topic of the summer (or one of the topics, at least), and everyone’s wondering when he’ll sign long-term,and more importantly, what his annual salary will be.But when you look a year into the future, you realize that it’s possible that Ivan Demidov could be in the same position as Lane Hutson. After all, Demidov has also burned a year on his contract, and he could also win the Calder. He’ll be in a position to sign for the long term after his first full NHL season. What you need to know is that the next collective agreement won’t allow eight-year contracts. Butas Marco D’Amico points out, in July 2026, eight-year contracts will still be possible. Contrary to what was circulated this summer, the contract rule will come into effect in September 2026 and not July 2026.

[content-ads]Result? Ivan Demidov is one of the players who could potentially sign an eight-year contract instead of settling for just seven seasons. It’s a game-changer for the Canadiens, let’s face it. Of course, for this to happen, Demidov will have to have a season that lives up to expectations. But with his talent and work ethic, the chances of him succeeding are excellent. Note that if Demidov were to do as Hutson did (not sign at the beginning of the summer and wait a while), time could be against him to sign an eight-year contract, given that on September 16, 2026, the rules will change. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Listen to

– Wow.

– Interesting.

– Ouch.

– Mitch Marner didn’t really consider the Ducks.