Author: Dose

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Aleksander Barkov: his season is (already) over

Big news in Florida: the Panthers, who will be without Matthew Tkachuk for the next few months, will also have to cope without their captain for the whole of next season, according to rumours. The Panthers don’t expect to see Aleksander Barkov again this season.

It’s important to remember that yesterday, the Panthers captain hurt himself in practice.His knee seems to be giving way.

[content-ads]We know the Panthers’ goal is to make the playoffs and see what happens next. But right now, without Tkachuk and Barkov in the short and medium term, the club will need help.And the other guys in the club, after three finals in a row, are surely tired.I fully expect the Panthers to be able to go out and get reinforcements for the season. They can afford to, andKevin Weekes hinted at that.

Note that with the new playoff payroll rules, it would be much harder to bring Barkov back (if he can play) just for the playoffs. But he doesn’t seem close to a return anyway,so expect a big acquisition in Sunrise. After all, the Panthers can use 100% of Barkov’s package if he doesn’t return until 2026-2027, and the club wants to“trepeter” by winning a third Stanley Cup in a row in the current window.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- To be continued.

– Eh boy.

– Seen the same.

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Toronto Maple Leafs dominate the Habs

The Montreal Canadiens were playing their third preparatory game on Thursday night, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs had a few regulars, but no big names, while Matias Maccelli was the biggest name on the Toronto club’s roster.Kaiden Guhle was supposed to play tonight’s game, but in the end, he couldn’t suit up. Marc Del Gaizo took his place in the line-up. Here are the two lineups:

There were some interesting combinations in the Habs lineup, especially on the fourth line, which was made up of some very tough players. Let’s just say it didn’t start well for the Habs, as they allowed a goal in the opening minutes of play. Scott Laughton opened the scoring, and decided to add to it shortly after the midway point of the first period. Fortunately for the Habs, Mike Matheson took charge on the powerplay, closing the gap with a good shot from the point, following a fine pass from Nick Suzuki. Cole Caufield also picked up an assist, and

[content-ads]But apart from Matheson’s goal, Martin St-Louis’s team lacked energy and will in the game, and just 30 seconds later, the Leafs regained their two-goal lead. The

Three goals from Samuel Montembeault on just six shots… Both teams went back to the locker room 3-1 in favor of the Leafs. From the start of the second period, the Habs were completely different. Martin St-Louis’ team had a powerplay, and Patrik Laine didn’t want to miss it. Ivan Demidov fed Laine to perfection, hypnotizing his opponents with beautiful dekes and a sublime pass. Decidedly, these two will do a lot of damage, especially on the powerplay.

[content-ads]But not long after the Canadiens’ second goal, Florian Xhekaj took a penalty, allowing Steven Lorentz to double his team’s lead.

Scott Laughton picked up a third point before the halfway mark of the game, and really, nothing was going right for the Habs, as Lorentz made it 5-2 with his second goal in the space of a few moments. For the third period, Jacob Fowler returned in relief of Montembeault, who didn’t have the best two periods of his career. However, to start the final period, Noah Dobson wasn’t on the bench… The Maple Leafs weren’t done with the offensive hammering and brought the score to 6-2… Matt Benning was the scorer, and as the Habs approached the midway point of the final period, they had just 10 shots on goal… The Habs players simply didn’t show up for this game: [content-ads]Dobson didn’t return to the game, and it was David Reinbacher who took his place on the second wave of the powerplay. We didn’t see much of him in this situation, but it was still interesting to watch. Unfortunately, Reinbacher left for the dressing room accompanied by a therapist with about eight minutes left in the game. On a face-off in the offensive zone, Marc Del Gaizo tried to look like Lane Hutson, but it resulted in a turnover that ultimately cost his club a goal… That made it 7-2 to Toronto. Late in the game, there was some bickering between Luke Tuch and Dakota Mermis, who each received a game misconduct. In short, nothing positive came out of the game, or very little. It ended 7-2 for the Leafs. The Habs’ next warm-up game is on Saturday night. They visit the Maple Leafs in Toronto. Spacer title=’Prolongation’] – As usual, David Reinbacher didn’t stand out in the game, but he did have a very good, effective game. He was the habs player who blocked the most shots, with three. Del Gaizo also had a good game, except for a blunder in the third period that resulted in the Leafs’ 7th goal of the game.

– I really liked Joshua Roy’s performance, who seemed to be much more involved than before. He gave away three checks during the game and had some good scoring chances on the powerplay, as he was employed on the first wave.

– While there wasn’t much to like about the Habs in this game, it was clear that the powerplay could be one of the main reasons for the Habs’ success this season. Both waves had great scoring chances throughout the game, even if the Montreal club didn’t throw much at the net. This bodes well for the 2025-26 season – Overall, Kirby Dach had a good game. He was very comfortable on skates, skated fluidly and had some nice offensive flashes.

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Noah Dobson’s match: “Now you understand why Lou Lamoriello refused to pay him”

Last night, the Canadiens took a beating against Toronto. And why? Not least because, during the 7-2 loss, the guys on site flat-out refused to play defense. On that subject, I saw a HabsOnReddit post that made me laugh. It’s about a photo of David Savard at home, barbecuing, with the following caption: when Martin St-Louis shows up at David Savard’s house asking him to come out of retirement.

POV: Habs coach Marty St. Louis showing up to David Savard’s house asking him to unretire

[image or embed]– /r/Habs (@habsonreddit.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 9:53pm

Obviously, that’s not going to happen. But it’s a joke on two levels. The first is the fact that three defensemen were injured yesterday: Kaiden Guhle before the game, but also David Reinbacher and Noah Dobson during the game.All three are considered day-to-day right now. That’s what the Habs announced yesterday,and the second level is the fact that the defense was so bad (even though there were regulars in the lineup and the Maple Leafs didn’t have their A club on the ice) that bringing back a specialist wouldn’t hurt. Of course, some defensemen struggled, but it was the whole club that had trouble folding up and putting in the necessary effort in the defensive zone.

The second line, in particular, didn’t always look good… against the Maple Leafs’ F club.[content-ads]And on this subject, Pierre McGuire and Tony Marinaro, in yesterday’s episode of the Sick Podcast, took the opportunity to criticize the club’s defensive play, but also Dobson’s performance. Before he left the game with a groin injury, the quality of his play didn’t exactly make the two hockey men happy. Let’s put it this way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eOktpOzBwo Even if the two public figures know that we’re talking about an exhibition game, the fact remains that Dobson went through the wringer. The way he’s playing (he’s not the most competitive) made Marinaro and McGuire say this:[content-ads]

For those who thought the Canadiens pulled off a heist when they went after him: right now, the Islanders are watching this and thinking, now you understand. – Tony Marinaro Now you understand why Lou Lamoriello refused to give him more than $8 million a year.

–

Pierre McGuire

Yes, it’s only a preseason game. That’s true. But it’s also true that, even if Dobson has a lot of qualities on the ice, there are elements that have been lacking for years in New York. McGuire, who isn’t saying that Dobson is a bad player, believes that Stéphane Robidas will have to correct certain elements: the way he positions his body and his stick, his play in the neutral zone and in his zone, and so on.

Marinaro, who isn’t against the deal but is against Dobson’s salary, didn’t like seeing him make mistakes that a rookie can make, but not a veteran. And even then: a guy like Lane Hutson makes mistakes, but not because he doesn’t work hard enough.Think yesterday’s game hurt the Canadiens? Here’s the proof. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- The result of yesterday’s game:

– Here we go.

– Could Connor Ingram end up in Carolina?

– Interesting.

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Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher and Noah Dobson: the Canadiens offer an update

I know we shouldn’t worry too much about the results of a warm-up game, but today was a disaster for the Montreal Canadiens. But today was a disaster for the Montreal Canadiens.There was the 7-2 defeat at the hands of an ordinary club, but more importantly, there were three ugly updates concerning three important Canadiens defensemen. The good news? Everything points to the fact that it’s not as bad as last year’s game against Toronto. TheCanadiens have announced that Noah Dobson (who didn’t play in the third) and Kaiden Guhle(who didn’t play at all) are dealing with a groin injury. David Reinbacher (who missed the last few minutes of the game) is also being assessed. In short, day-to-day for everyone.

That’s what the Canadiens announced. Martin St-Louis, for his part, said he wasn’t too worried about his players, who don’t seem to be too seriously injured at the moment. If that’s the case… all the better.[content-ads]

We know that Martin St-Louis wants his club to be ready for the start of the season by having a big camp. Let’s just say that today, for the first time in camp, the club didn’t take any steps forward.Quite the contrary.There will be some adjustments to make (we’ll have time to talk about them tomorrow) and we’ll have to make sure that the guys on the blue line are able to play. Because what we saw tonight, that can’t happen.

[spacer title=’prolongation’]The other day, I said that Mike Matheson earned points by not playing, given that David Reinbacher’s performance demonstrated that the process of developing a top-4 defenseman is loooooong. But tonight, the Québécois clearly earned points… by playing. And I’m not just saying that because he scored.

In reality, Matheson had to play with Dobson, Guhle and Reinbacher on the top-4. And at the end of the game, he was one of only four defensemen on the ice with three AHL guys. I’ve said it many times this summer: those who want to trade Matheson don’t realize that he’s a great defenseman who keeps everyone in their seats. I’ve mentioned at times that without Matheson, the club is one injury away from having Kaiden Guhle (who is injury-prone) have Arber Xhekaj or Jayden Struble on their top-4. Matheson is important to this club .

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Jordan Staal: “Everyone makes mistakes, I went to jail”

The players involved in the 2018 Junior Team Canada scandal have finally been acquitted by the NHL. Some people aren’t happy about the decision, but for Jordan Staal, these players must be allowed to move on.In an interview with Mark Lazerus of The Athletic, Staal explained that these players have suffered and that he understands their situation because he once made a blunder.

“Everybody makes mistakes, I went to jail.”

–

Jordan Staal

It’s a lesser-known fact, but Staal was actually arrested when he was 18. He was arrested along with his brother, Eric, for disturbing the peace and obstructing legal proceedings. He says he suffered greatly as a result, but that he recognized his mistakes, as did the players at ÉCJ 2018. Staal went on to have a great career, and this event never really overshadowed his achievements. That’s exactly what he wants for these players. [content-ads] Several rumors have been circulating in recent weeks linking Michael McLeod and Carter Hart to the Hurricanes. As Carolina’s captain, Staal would have to do everything in his power to integrate these players if they were to be signed. Not everyone would be happy with a McLeod or Hart signing. A

Once legally acquitted and given the green light by the NHL, there’s nothing to stop 2018 CLE players from returning to an NHL team. However, Bettman teams that offer these players a contract will probably have to face a lot of media wind. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – To listen,

– A beautiful breakthrough in net for Miroshnichenko.

– A great debut in his new colors for Josh Doan.

– It’s been… different.

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Carey Price rumour: Will Smith believed in it the most

Following the Carey Price trade to San Jose, Tyler Toffoli took the opportunity to play a trick on some of his teammates. The former Habs player told a few Sharks players (especially the younger ones) that Price was coming out of retirement to return to the game, which… would have been impossible because we know the goalie’s body doesn’t follow anymore. But it made for a good gag anyway.

Surely, for a youngster, the idea of playing with a goalie like Carey Price must be… salivating. We’re talking about one of the best of his generation, after all, and younger players saw him dominate the NHL during the 2010s. And that’s why Will Smith – who was one of those caught in Toffoli’s trap – was one of the players most excited by the false rumour.He believed it the most, among the players in San Jose. And… he was probably the most disappointed to learn it wasn’t true, hehe

[content-ads] Clearly, seeing Price make a return to the ice with the Sharks… it would have been something special for the California organization. In San Jose, they’re trying to move on to the next stage of the rebuild, and having a goalie of Price’s caliber might have helped a little. But for a kid like Will Smith, it must have been really cool to “know he was going to play” with a goalie who has won almost everything in his career. It’s always unique, working with a player who’s had so much success on the ice, and it’s clear that there were other youngsters too who were excited by the “fake” situation created by Tyler Toffoli.Oh well. Better luck next time, Will![spacer title=’Overtime’] – A new role for Zdeno Chara in Boston.

– Hello, boys!

– I like it.

– Connor Ingram on waivers.

– MLB power rankings:

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Another step towards bringing an NHL team back to Arizona

The NHL may have left Arizona, but there’s nothing to rule out the return of a team to the state in the future. In January, newly elected Maricopa County official Tom Galvin announced his intention to set up a committee to promote the return of an NHL franchise to Arizona.

On Thursday, this new committee spoke for the first time at Scottsdale’s Ice Den.

This new committee is headed by Andrea Doan, the wife of former Coyotes player Shane Doan.

Andrea Doan explained that hockey has a place in the desert and that Arizona is a hockey state, as reported by Leah Merrall of PHNX Sports.Tom Galvin was also present at the event, of course, and he took the time to confirm that there is real interest in bringing hockey back to Arizona.

The most interesting part of Galvin’s remarks was that he confirmed that there is real political support for the return of a team to Arizona. We know that the Coyotes’ biggest problem was finding an NHL-caliber amphitheater. Their time in Mullett Arena, which only seated around 5,000, was ridiculous for an NHL team. content-ads] The NHL could indeed return to Arizona, but this time the amphitheater situation would have to be sorted out in advance, and the new owners would have to be much more competent than the old ones. Even if the Coyotes organization has had its setbacks, Arizona remains a place where the sport is very popular. The committee headed by Andrea Doan will probably have to be patient before they can hope to bring an NHL team back to Arizona, but with the NHL always looking to expand with expansion teams, the dream is far from dead.

[spacer title=’En rafale’] –

– He could be an option to bulk up on offense.

– Another problem for the Sabres.

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“Les Boys, c’est un classique”: Sidney Crosby in conversation with Nick Suzuki

In Quebec, we love hockey. We love it so much that we’ve made movies about it, which influence not only Québécois, but also people who come to live here. That’s the case with Sidney Crosby. In conversation with Nick Suzuki at the NHL Players Media Tour, Crosby revealed that he’s a Boys fan.

🎥

“Les Boys, c’est un classique.”

–

Sidney Crosby

Crosby even explained that he listened to Lance et compte. Let’s face it, I don’t think we expected this from number 87. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly the context in which Crosby listened to these Québécois classics, but he implies that it was on bus trips, so we can deduce that it would have been on bus trips while he was playing with the Rimouski Oceanic. In the video, we understand that Suzuki is familiar with the Boys franchise, but he doesn’t seem to have listened to the films. It might be a good idea to perfect his French. Withall the talk of Crosby being traded, it’s interesting to see Suzuki chatting with him at such an event. Ifthat ever happens, they’ll have all the time in the world to listen to Les Boys and Lance and Count together. spacer title=’Overtime’] – Canucks’ new head coach confident

– Things aren’t going well in Toronto.

– Ayoye.

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The time Florian Xhekaj found himself in critical condition at the age of 14

On the ice, Florian Xhekaj is a physical player, using his body to distribute checks and disrupt opponents… and it works. Arber’s little brother is winning points with Canadiens management because he brings an interesting element to the line-up when he’s in uniform. And there’s one event in particular that pushed him to become the player he is today. When he was 14, Florian took part in an international hockey tournament and suffered a serious injury. In an article by Eric Engels(Sportsnet), we read that Florian ended up in critical condition… and had to spend several weeks in hospital to get back into shape. It’s scary: I was in a wheelchair. I couldn’t even walk. It was an incredible experience which, I believe, made me what I am today. –

[content-ads] It could have turned into a nightmare. The Xhekaj family is known to be a close-knit bunch – as we saw this week when the mother of the two brothers made the trip to Montreal for the game against the Flyers, to see her sons in action.

Florian maintains that he remembers that moment like it was yesterday… even though it’s been seven and a half years since it happened. He’ll always remember it, in a way, and that explains why he has the character he has today. We’re talking about a kid who’s not afraid of anything, after all. No one wants to throw down the gloves against Nicolas Deslauriers, but Florian did, and when you consider that the kid racked up 175 penalty minutes (!) in his very first pro season… it’s easy to see that the forward will do anything to get noticed on the ice. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – The Habs captain had some fun in Vegas.

🎥

– Wow.

– Spoiler alert: Ovi won’t play another game in Hershey. Hehe.

– The… 14th child?!

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Olympics: Nick Suzuki must beat the guys who went to the World Championships

Will Nick Suzuki have a place in Canada’s line-up for the next Olympics? This will definitely be one of the questions on everyone’s lips in Montreal over the next few weeks. The Canadiens’ captain will have to start the season strong to show management that he deserves a spot, and he’ll have to prove that he can help Team Canada on the ice with his skills. But it goes further than that, too.

Suzuki won’t just have to be “good” to earn his spot: he’ll also have to be better than some of the guys who have made it to the World Championship in recent years: Adam Fantilli (2023 and 2025), Brandon Hagel (2024), John Tavares (2024), Brayden Schenn (2025), Bo Horvat (2025), Ryan O’Reilly (2025), Macklin Celebrini (2025), Travis Konecny (2025)… Canada’s officials know these players because they have played at the World Championship in recent years, while Suzuki has never accepted Canada’s invitation to take part in the World Championship…

suzuki, if you look at all these guys and how good this team is going to be, he’s not only going to have to play well… but he’s going to have to beat some guys who might get the benefit of the doubt because they were available for the World Championship.

–

Elliotte Friedman

[content-ads] The ball is in Suzuki’s court. The Canadiens’ captain – under center Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield – will have the tools to produce offensively quickly at the start of the season. He’s also likely to play with the likes of Patrik Laine, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov on the powerplay… which may help him pick up even more points. But where Suzuki will really be judged by Canada’s leaders is when we see him go up against other excellent center players.

If he can dominate against the best opposing trios and the best players in the National League, he could force the executives to select him… because we know he can be moved to the wing if need be too. All this to say that he’ll have a lot on his plate, #14.But he’s also proved to us since his arrival in Montreal that he’s even better when it counts. He’s going to start the season hungry because he knows there’s a spot on Canada’s roster up for grabs.I’m curious to see how it all pans out. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Oh.

– Possible.

– I love it!

– Oops…

– Yes.