Author: Dose

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Kirby Dach confirms he tore his ACL again in February

For the past two years, Kirby Dach has had serious problems with his right knee. The CH forward tore his anterior and medial cruciate ligaments in the second game of the 2023-24 season, then re-injured the same knee last February,missing a lot of games over the past two years… which isn’t ideal for his club, who saw him as the second center on their roster.But in reality, we didn’t know the exact nature of Dach’s second injury. Except tonight, that changed. In an exclusive interview with Eric Engels(Sportsnet), Dach gave an update on his injury, and the nature of it: he re-teared his ACL.He knew immediately when it happened, he says.

[content-ads]So, once again, Dach had to go under the knife, and the forward explains that he’s taken his rehabilitation much more seriously this time around. He’s changed many of his lifestyle habits (he spent more time getting back into shape than partying over the summer), and he’s done everything in his power to be ready for the start of the season.He’s also worked on the mental aspect… and that, too, is extremely important: trusting your knee after a second tear in two years is very, very difficult.That said, you have to wonder what this means for his return to action. In the event that Dach is in the line-up for the first game of the season, he would be making a return to action less than eight months after tearing his ACL… and that’s a pretty short (though not impossible) period of time to come back from such an injury.

I’m sure he worked hard over the summer and did everything he could to come back as soon as possible, but for a guy whose knee is already fragile, you have to wonder if it’s worth it… and above all, if he’s doing it for the right reasons and not just to fill the club’s need for a second center.Remember that the first time Dach underwent this operation, the surgeon who operated on him forbade him to return to play for eight months. We have to wonder if things have changed this time… because a return to the first game of the season would not respect that condition.To be continued.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Kaiden Guhle is impressed by everything Kirby Dach has done this summer.

– The guys are having fun.

– Well done.

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Mason McTavish: “If it’s not settled by October, you never know”

As of today, Mason McTavish has yet to sign a contract. The Ducks’ center doesn’t have a 2025-26 deal in his pocket… and he’s not at his team’s camp right now.He’s still practicing on the ice in preparation for next year… but he’s doing it with the Ottawa 67s.

The big question, of course, is when this one will settle. We know that Pat Verbeek is maintaining a hard line in negotiations, but there’s less than a month to go before the start of the season. And on that subject, Pierre LeBrun(The Athletic) gave an update on the McTavish dossier in a text this evening.But LeBrun notes that if it’s not resolved by October, “you never know” what could happen.

[content-ads]What we also understand is that the Ducks aren’t looking to trade him and the forward isn’t about to sign a hostile offer.According to LeBrun, the two sides can’t agree on either the duration or the amount. It’s not ideal, butit’s clear that the matter is not about to be settled. There’s a reason why McTavish didn’t stick around Anaheim: the whole thing could drag on and on,and October is less than two weeks away…Until proven otherwise, then, the Ducks’ plan is still to come to an agreement with McTavish, who doesn’t want to leave either. But to hear Pierre LeBrun talk about October as a time when things could change, makes the matter even more interesting.Because even if the Canadiens aren’t the only team in the picture, it’s a safe bet that Kent Hughes is keeping a close eye on the whole thing.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Bill Daly says he’s open to expansion. He obviously wasn’t going to say otherwise, though.

– He’s entering the final year of his current contract.

– Interesting.

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Mike Matheson and David Savard in talks with the Canadiens

Mike Matheson has entered the final year of his contract and, with an annual salary of $4.875 million, will be free as a bird on July 1 if he hasn’t signed a new deal by then. But if we’re to believe David Pagnotta(The Fourth Period), it might not come to that, because according to the informer, discussions are currently underway between the defenseman and the Canadiens to extend his contract. We know that Matheson wants to play here, and we also know that the Canadiens like him a lot. Jeff Gorton praised him this summer, saying he was important to the club at the moment… and even if there are other defensemen growing within the organization, making room for a veteran like him isn’t a crazy idea. Especially when you recognize the fact that the Canadiens’ defense is very young.

Matheson is valuable to the Canadiens. His role will diminish (possibly even more so after the arrival of Noah Dobson), but we’re still talking about a player who helps the team in his own way. Last season, he was particularly useful on the power play, and he’s likely to have a similar role this year too. If he can produce offensively, on top of all that… [content-ads] Matheson is said to be in talks with the Habs… but the same can be said of David Savard. No, it wouldn’t be in the context of a return to the ice. But the former Canadiens defenseman, who retired at the end of last season, admitted to Kevin Dubé(Journal de Québec): there may be a position waiting for him with the Canadiens at some point.

We’ve had a lot of conversations, and nothing’s closed yet.

–

David Savard

The Journal de Québec article was published on the TVA Sports site (and Habs and NHL also wrote on the subject):

It’s not the first time we’ve heard about this, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Because it shows one thing: there really seems to be an interest on the part of the defenseman and the organization to find something for him. Savard was on the ice with the Quebec Remparts on Tuesday, and it’s worth remembering that he’ s associated with 44 seconds, a consulting firm that helps junior and professional defensemen. Clearly, he’s still interested in staying in the hockey world. And so much the better, if the Canadiens are able to find a role for him within the organization [spacer title=’Overtime’] – It’s true that we’re talking about a beautiful amphitheatre.

– The

– He knows what he has to do.

– Happy reading,

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Mason McTavish practices with the Ottawa 67s

Today is September 18. The start of the NHL season is fast approaching… and in Anaheim, there’s one file that’s still getting a lot of attention.You don’t have to go into it in detail to understand that I’m referring to Mason McTavish‘s. The center still doesn’t have a contract for next season, and he won’t be showing up at the Ducks’ camp, so what’s he doing in the meantime? Earlier today, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that McTavish is currently practicing with… the Ottawa 67’s. He’s keeping in shape by skating with a junior team (he’s never played with the 67’s), and discussions continue to progress between his clan and that of the Ducks with a view to signing a new contract. Where it stalls is in the term. The Ducks aren’t interested in offering him a bridge contract and this may explain why he hasn’t signed yet, even though the Ducks will start their season in less than a month (October 9).

[content-ads] Sounds a bit like the Trevor Zegras situation back in the day.

Remember: Zegras was in the same boat, he didn’t attend the Ducks’ training camp and he finally signed a three-year contract on October 2 (2023), just a few days before the start of the campaign.Will we see the same thing happen with McTavish in the coming weeks?

There’s uncertainty in the McTavish file and the Ducks have to think of a solution.

We’re talking about a 3rd overall pick, a center who can do a lot of things on the ice… and he can help this club take the next step. And for that to happen, the Ducks will need all the resources they can get. McTavish has to be part of the equation… unless Pat Verbeek (GM) finds a partner to dance with to get other tools that can help the team right away. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Oh…

– I like it.

– Hehe.

– The Stars have such a nice club on paper.

– The state of play in MLB :

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Military service history: Arseni Radkov to return to Quebec soon

Yesterday, journalist Mikaël Lalancette highlighted the story of Arseni Radkov. The goaltender, who is a prospect for the Montreal Canadiens and a player with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, finds himself in what could be described as administrative limbo. Just days before the start of the QMJHL season, Radkov was sent back to Belarus to sort out passport issues and, it seems, to complete certain formalities related to his country’s mandatory military service

According to information reported by Stéphane Leroux (RDS), Radkov had to leave Quebec in a hurry last week in order to regularize his status.

From the outside, this move may have alarmed some Habs and Armada fans, who were worried that his future in North American hockey could be in jeopardy.

Fortunately, everything now seems to be back to normal. Leroux indicated on X that the matter had been settled and that Radkov should be back with his junior team in Quebec very soon.

[content-ads]

This return would represent a relief not only for the Armada, but also for the Canadiens organization. Drafted in the 3rd round (82nd overall) of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the 18-year-old is one of the young goaltenders to watch in the Habs’ prospect pool. The upcoming season should allow him to continue his development in the QMJHL and show what he’s made of in front of the net

Military service is nothing new for athletes from Belarus or Russia. The recent case of Russian goalkeeper Ivan Fedotov comes to mind. In 2022, as he was preparing to join the Philadelphia Flyers, Fedotov was forced to perform his military service.

This delayed his arrival in North America by more than a year.

In Radkov’s case, we seem far from such a dramatic scenario, but Fedotov’s example illustrates just how much military obligations can get in the way of a young player’s career.

The Armada will therefore be able to rely on their number-one goaltender again in the short term, and Radkov will be able to pick up where he left off. For the Canadiens, this is good news, as they want to keep a close eye on his development and ensure that he gains experience in the best possible conditions.

In short, after a few days of uncertainty, all indications are that the young goaltender will be able to resume his North American career without too much delay. A story that reminds us that, sometimes, factors outside hockey can play spoilsport, but which, in this case, seems to have ended well:[spacer title=’Overtime’] – Well done.– Sick.

– Of note

– Yikes.

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Michael McLeod expected to sign with Hurricanes (and Carter Hart could join him)

We know that there are a few players from the 2018 edition of Team Canada Junior who were recently found not guilty under the conditions we know about, so this opens the door to their return to the NHL. And on that subject, David Pagnotta has reported that the Hurricanes, according to the rumor mill, should be in a position to sign Michael McLeod down the road.

How outraged will Carolina be if this is confirmed? That’s a good question, but it also raises the question of how much the guys in the locker room might accept this decision. Would that be a problem? Who knows. Remember that the Devils’ former first-round pick played in Russia last year, if he didn’t make the NHL. But he’ll be able to sign as of October 15, despite being suspended until December 1. content-ads]In Pagnotta’s tweet, he also mentioned that Carter Hart could join him in Carolina, given the Hurricanes’ interest in the goalie.A lot of clubs are on his case, though. And I don’t know how much a club wants to sign two of these guys at the same time.

Let’s not forget that ÉCJ players are not expected to sign in Canada, but that doesn’t stop several teams from being on the case of goaltender Hart, who has the biggest talent of the group.

He could even sign a contract for more than a year. But that’s to be followed in due course. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Well done.

– Like it or not?

– Indeed.

– Must listen.

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Kyle Dubas responds to Sidney Crosby: he doesn’t want to shorten the rebuild

Do you know couples who don’t want to leave each other, but are no longer compatible because of the way they see things in life? Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are obviously one of those couples right now. Crosby wants to get back to the playoffs, but he wants to do it in Pittsburgh. And with Kyle Dubas’ Penguins, the goal right now is to manage a major rebuilding process, because yes, this reality is increasingly clear: Crosby wants to win and make the playoffs. Pat Brisson has made that abundantly clear in recent days, we agree, but Kyle Dubas has a plan for his organization.

“

Of necessity, that’s a pretty clear message to Crosby, but it’s also a clear message to Pat Brisson, Crosby’s agent. Dubas says they talk on a daily basis and that he suspected there would be a clash of visions between the Crosby clan and his rebuilding mentality. content-ads]In light of everything that’s coming out about Crosby, we understand that the situation is important. The player isn’t keen on leaving (unless…) Pittsburgh, but he wants to win. The Penguins want a long rebuild, with no shortcuts. Opposing clubs are waiting to see what happens. And meanwhile, in Montreal… the Habs are getting ready. Yes, Kirby Dach is currently the club’s second center. But everyone knows that can change quickly, and Habs executives are keeping an eye on the Pittsburgh situation.

If a center is needed, Crosby is definitely a possibility. We’re going to be talking a lot about Sid the Kid… [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Interesting.

– Perfect, that.

– A few injuries at the CH camp.

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New question for the Canadiens: who will be the third center?

For much of the summer, the question was who would be the club’s second center. Kirby Dach was a logical candidate because of his upside, but there were questions about his health… as well as the quality of his play. But finally, Martin St-Louis confirmed that Dach would start camp as the second center. He’ll have to work hard to keep his place in the sun, though. Of course, that doesn’t put an end to the questions we have. And because the quality of the center line is one of the club’s weak points heading into next season, the next question is obvious. Who will be the third center?Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach and Jake Evans, in the fourth center chair, will be at center. Barring a surprise or injury, I don’t think I’m wrong about that.The club has a few candidates for the third-center position. Joe Veleno, Alex Newhook, Zachary Bolduc, Oliver Kapanen and Owen Beck could/should be considered. In my eyes, Veleno and Newhook have a good chance of getting the job. Bolduc should play on the wing, and Kapanen and Beck may not make the club after camp… even though Kapanen finished last season in Montreal.

[content-ads]I expect Newhook, who finished the season at second center, to be on a third line. And since he can play center, it makes sense to consider him for the job. And Veleno? If he makes the club, I don’t see him with Jake Evans, whom I’d put with Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson to stabilize a “fourth line” with the air of a third unit. Bolduc, Veleno and Newhook together? It’s possible, yes. If we ever see these units and a guy like Samuel Blais as the 13th forward, I have a feeling it would stabilize the club’s attacking picture for the start of camp.Caufield – Suzuki – SlafkovskyLaine – Dach – Demidov Bolduc – Veleno – NewhookAnderson – Evans – Gallagher 13th: BlaisOne wonders if any youngsters will fit in. Will Florian Xhekaj force management’s hand, for example? Who knows, but will a Kapanen or Beck find a role for himself in the uncertainty of the center line and what happens when you’re shorthanded? After all, Nick Suzuki will take more… but sparing him on the PK would be a good idea [content-ads]

There are still some unanswered questions in Montreal. Remember, on the ice, it’s this morning that the Canadiens’ camp gets underway. We’ll get some answers to our basic questions, but we’re not talking final answers here. After all, some guys are going to show up at camp to do more than leave their calling card: they’re going to fight to force management to make some tough decisions. Here we go, kiki. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Ouch.

– He opened some eyes.

– We like it.

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Patrice Bergeron: Kent Hughes, the ideal GM for the Habs

Patrice Bergeron looks ecstatic in retirement. He’s enjoying his days and has even seen his jersey retired by his M18AAA team, the Séminaire Saint-François Blizzard, in recent days. Bergeron appeared on the La Poche Bleue podcast with Maxim Lapierre and Pascal Leclaire, where he discussed a number of topics, but Kent Hughes was a particularly interesting one. The current Habs general manager was Bergeron’s agent during his playing career.

“Kent eats hockey. I remember when we’d go out to eat, he’d always talk about hockey. The analytical side too (…) he brought in skills coaches and shots doctors, if it can’t hurt, it can just help, let’s go on it. It’s very smart for a young team like the Habs.”

–

Patrice Bergeron

Kent Hughes was very transparent when he arrived in Montreal, he wanted to change the way the Habs worked and, so far, his ideas are paying off. Dr Shot” Glen Tucker, a hockey shooting coach, helped Juraj Slafkovsky in 2024. Adam Nicholas’ contract is also quite fascinating. He helps the players with advanced statistics, but he’s the one who was around a lot this summer at the players’ practices. It’s easy to stay with the basics and not change

“Kent, he’s a very strong negotiator. I remember talking to general managers who told me he’s like ‘A dog on a bone’. He gets what he wants. That’s an excellent attribute for a general manager.”

–

Patrice Bergeron

It’s been pretty clear since he took office that he waits until he gets the offer he wants before making a deal. And he’s been very successful. Players like Sean Monahan and Patrik Laine, in particular, have put the Habs in a better position, while the Flames and Blue Jackets still have to regret transactions. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – They have a similar story.

– Rare defeat for the Jays.

– Far from over.

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Habs: the best team culture of the last 30 years according to Martin Leclerc

Who’s looking forward to the start of the Habs season? After a long summer, the serious business begins tomorrow morning with the first intra-team games. But even before seeing a single preparatory game, you can sense that something special is going on with this 2025-2026 edition. Many of the players spent their summers in Montreal, and the vast majority got together in the last few weeks to practice before training camp. The core of the group seems very close-knit, and the culture seems excellent. But to what extent? Martin Leclerc, the journalist on the Habs beat for a very long time, talked about it in his column on Martin Lemay’s new comeback show. When asked by the host when he’d seen an edition of the Habs with such a culture, Leclerc couldn’t recall.

“You have to go back a long way. I don’t remember seeing this kind of culture with the Canadiens. You’re talking ’93, there was a special group (…), but in the last 30 years, I don’t think I’ve seen this level of cohesion.”

–

Martin Leclerc

Leclerc has seen it all. He’s covered some good teams, so his commentary is rather special and should be seen as a good sign for the years to come. As we know in the playoffs, to be successful, you need talent, of course, but you also need a cohesive team capable of overcoming adversity. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have done an excellent job since their arrival, and for me, the most encouraging sign is that there are no players who see themselves as bigger than the team. Everyone contributes in their own way and fights for the logo. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen that in Montreal. On October 8, a new page in the great reconstruction begins against the Maple Leafs, one that could lead to a much more interesting playoff run. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Well deserved.

– It’s getting rarer and rarer.

– It’s never far away.