Author: Dose

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Jeff Gorton praises Mike Matheson: “He’s important to us right now”

As soon as he arrived in Montreal, Mike Matheson established himself as an important player in the Canadiens line-up.

He was given the mandate to be the team’s #1 defenseman, and in his first two seasons with the big club, he enjoyed some good times offensively.

His production dropped off last campaign, but that’s normal in a way: he lost his place on the first wave of the powerplay due to the blossoming of Lane Hutson, and he saw the latter gain more responsibility too.

That said, even though Matheson was less productive in 24-25, he’s still one of the habs’ defensive stalwarts.

And Jeff Gorton(RG Media) recognizes this… as he reiterated just how much Matheson helps the Canadiens succeed on the ice:

If you look at Mike’s work since he arrived in Montreal, he’s a very good player. Sure, he gets criticized from time to time, but he can sometimes play more than 25 minutes a game, can’t he? He’s huge for us, and we’re all aware of that. – Jeff Gorton

And in reality, Gorton is right.

Because if Matheson gets hurt… it really affects the depth on defense:

With just one season remaining on Mike Matheson’s contract, Jeff Gorton didn’t want to reveal the organization’s plan at this level.

Hearing the VP speak well of the defenseman doesn’t mean he’ll automatically stay in town… but it does mean one thing.

The Canadiens really like Matheson’s contribution to the team. And it also means that if Kent Hughes does trade him, it will definitely be for a high-quality player… because the Habs value their defenseman right now.

And that’s normal, since Matheson doesn’t just help out on the ice: he’s also a good veteran for the team.

He wears an “A” on his sweater because he’s one of the Canadiens’ good leaders.

He’s important on many levels in Montreal… and that’s why management sees him as an important key to the club right now.

Overtime

– Still.

– That’s a long way off!

– Good question.

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Ivan Demidov misses Russia

We all remember the surprise of the last few months for the Canadiens: Ivan Demidov came to finish the season (and play in the playoffs) in Montreal.

While no one really expected the Russian to be released from his contract before June 1, the SKA and the Canadiens treated fans to a major surprise.

And, let’s not forget, it caused a lot of chatter.

Once the playoffs were over, we were also surprised to see that Demidov had chosen to stay in Montreal for the off-season. So he didn’t return to Russia this summer.

He wanted to practice here and spend some time discovering the city. This decision was obviously well received.

Of course, moving to the other side of the world for months at a time (with his girlfriend, but without the rest of his family) is a big challenge for a young person learning to live in a new culture.

And now, according to Bogdan Konyushkov, in an interview with Sport24, the Canadiens’ top prospect is missing Russia this summer.

Is it any wonder that the young man misses his country? The answer is no. At his age, it’s normal.

The choice he made to stay in Quebec was for the sake of his career. And in the off-season, although Montreal is a fun city, there’s no hockey, his great passion. Not NHL hockey, at least.

It might be a little while.

I don’t know how much Bogdan, who saw Demidov on the heels of the Habs’ development camp in recent weeks, likes what he’s hearing. I don’t know if he wanted it to come out publicly…

overtime

– Paul Coffey will no longer be behind the Oilers bench. He’ll still be an advisor, though.

– Indeed.

– File to follow.

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Last season (or not): Alex Ovechkin curses the media

Will Alex Ovechkin retire from the NHL in 2026? Everything points to yes.

Nothing’s been confirmed yet, but he’s already broken Wayne Gretzky’s record, he’s at the end of his contract and we suspect he’d like to play in the KHL before ending his career.

Logically, we can assume that this is the last time he will be playing in the NHL, as he is at least 39 years old.

Add to this the fact that the Capitals had sent out an e-mail announcing that #8 was in his last NHL season, and that his wife had said that in the summer of 2026, when his contract expired, the couple would be moving back to Russia.

Let’s just say that was starting to raise a few eyebrows.

But in a matter that isn’t all that serious (we suspect Ovechkin is nearing the end), it’s special to see that the Capitals captain is breaking it out publicly.

He began criticizing the media in connection with the case, as reported by TVA Sports in a piece on the subject.

You’re starting to make assumptions, which puts us in an awkward position, and that’s crazy. – Alex Ovechkin

What’s special is that it was indeed his wife who said the family would be leaving Washington in a year (not speaking in the conditional tense) and it was indeed his club that sent the email talking about his “last year” in the NHL.

What did he want the media to do when they saw this? Nothing at all? Come on.

In my eyes, he’s frustrated at not being in control (perhaps he wanted to decide how to announce the whole thing) and decided to take his anger out on the messenger, the media representatives.

But that’s not the right thing to do in this case.

overtime

– The complete Habs schedule will be released in two days’ time.

– Morgan Barron: $1.85M per year over two years. [X]

– Wow.

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Matvei Michkov made a Michigan goal (after saying he didn’t want to make any more)

Recently, Matvei Michkov wowed the gallery.

As the Journal de Montréal reported, the Flyers player was recently at an event in Russia organized by Alex Ovechkin, Artemi Panarin and Mikhail Sergachev.

And on the ice, during the game for a good cause, he pulled a Michigan. And clearly, he’s got the talent to pull it off.

Of course, everyone here knows that talent comes out of his ears. Seeing him attempt such a maneuver in a match that means nothing isn’t exactly surprising.

It’s his style, after all.

But to me, it’s still ironic that on July 12, barely 24 hours before seeing him do a Michigan in a game in Russia, the young man made headlines in an interview when he said he wouldn’t be doing any more Michiganders.

Hm…

Of course, we all understand that there’s a fine line between saying he won’t be doing any more in the National Hockey League and making a spectacle of himself at a meaningless game in the middle of summer.

But to me, the news is this: Mishkov wants to go through the motions because it’s in his nature to play that way, but he’s been told that he has to learn to jockey the sacrosanct right way to be successful in the NHL and maximize his scoring chances.

Will this create frustration in the young man? I’m not sure. He won’t necessarily say so publicly if it does.

If he buys into Rick Tocchet’s game plan, could it help him become a more complete and successful player in the long term? Only time will tell.

overtime

– Happy birthday to Pierre Houde.

– He should get there.

– Montreal is in first place.

– Of note.

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Jeff Gorton says the Habs have ways around Quebec taxes

Is the Canadiens a finished product? The answer is no. I know it, you know it… and the Canadiens know it.

It’s not the first time he’s mentioned it, but Jeff Gorton (who was the first to say that going after a second center this summer was going to be difficult) knows he may have to wait before upgrading his center line.

He said as much in an interview with RG media’s Jimmy Murphy.

But even so, the city’s hockey operations boss believes that Montreal’s status as a destination of choice will help the club’s management build a strong roster.

The city, the talent in the club, the club’s history, the coaching staff: he sees it all as positive.

But there’s still one subject that comes up a lot in town (especially bearing in mind that in the last six seasons, a Florida club has made it to the finals, and teams like the Golden Knights and Stars are always good): taxes.

That said, Jeff Gorton doesn’t exactly seem to mind.

There are a lot of things that get people excited about Montreal.

Yes, there are the taxes, and we definitely understand that. But there are ways around that. – Jeff Gorton (in a message that is certainly not a Quebec government presentation)

We’ve always known that players have ways of avoiding paying taxes in Quebec(Georges Laraque has been talking about it for years), but to see Jeff Gorton talk about it publicly shows that it doesn’t affect the Habs too much.

Of course, for people who spend their year in Quebec, it’s a different story. But for an American returning to the States, the Canadiens don’t seem to be afraid of this element of the game.

overtime

– Of note.

– With good reason.

– Horrible, negotiating with Gary Bettman? [JdeM]

– Good news for baseball in Quebec.

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Ivan Demidov wants nothing to do with face-offs

Who will be the Canadiens’ second center in 2025-2026?

It’s obviously too early to answer that question. But we do know that there are a few candidates… starting with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, two guys who filled that position in 2024-2025.

There are also some prospects in Laval (who are less likely, but still) who are in that race.

But another possibility is to see in-house wingers practicing at the center position. We’re not talking about all wingers, of course: Patrik Laine and Brendan Gallagher won’t be playing center overnight, you know.

One name that comes up a lot is Zachary Bolduc. He played center in junior and was asked to practice in the face-off circle this summer.

What about Ivan Demidov?

Although some people see him at center and Kent Hughes has opened the door to the possibility, it would seem that this is not in the plans of the main interested party, who “wants nothing to do” with face-offs. Marco D’Amico talked about it, in that tone, on the Poolcast podcast.

The Russian, who was asked about it by RG media, has already said that he’ll play where the Habs tell him to play, but that his face-off skills really aren’t that good.

The question is: what do you think about him turning down a request from the Canadiens in this way?

On the one hand, the young man knows his limits. But on the other, why does he seem closed to the idea of improving in this aspect of his game, when he normally seems more open to the idea of becoming a better player?

If I were him, I’d do what Bolduc did and give Marc Bureau a call. It can’t hurt… although seeing him stay on the wing is probably a more optimal scenario for seeing him develop his (great) talent.

Let’s not forget that the Canadiens hope to see Zachary Bolduc’s attitude and level of competition (on the ice) rub off on the Russian. It would be nice if the same could happen off the ice.

Demidov is already in Quebec. Let’s make the most of it, shall we?

overtime

– The Major League Baseball draft began yesterday.

– The Habs at number one? Yup.

– Tobie Paquette-Bisson returns to Laval: a family choice. [98.5 Sports]

– Nice.

Florian & Arber Xhekaj at the Coldplay concert in Toronto

[image or embed]

– /r/Habs(@habsonreddit.bsky.social) July 13, 2025 at 11:29 PM

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“I have no doubt that the Blues wanted to give Jordan Kyrou more than Zachary Bolduc.”

For several weeks now, the Canadiens have been rumored to be interested in Jordan Kyrou, even though the team has just completed a deal with the St. Louis Blues.

What’s more, even though his no-trade clause came into effect on July 1, he would be willing to come and play in Montreal if the opportunity arose. [DLC link]

What if it was the Canadiens who didn’t want Kyrou?

That’s what Rick Springhetti and Grant McCagg discussed on the Recrutes Draftcast podcast.

They believe that the Habs didn’t take Zachary Bolduc after trying to acquire Kyrou, but rather the opposite, and Montreal instead demanded Bolduc in return for Logan Mailloux.

That makes a lot of sense.

At 22, Bolduc is an improving athlete who has just played his first full season with 36 points, including 19 goals, in 72 games.

He has scored 13 goals in his last 24 regular-season games.

He’s the perfect age to develop with our core group of players who should be contenders for top honours in a few years’ time

What’s more, the Québécois brings a physical dimension that the Canadiens need, and he’s in the final year of his three-year, $2.59 million entry-level contract ($863,334 per year).

His next contract will probably be a 3-4 year transition contract, which should be easier for the Habs to manage.

Kyrou, for his part, will complete the third of an eight-year contract worth $65 million ($8.125 million per year).

And after scoring 75 points in 74 games in the 2021-22 season, the forward has seen a slight decline, with 73, 67 and 70 points respectively in the last three campaigns.

Without being dramatic, if this slump continues, his contract could quickly age badly and hurt the Habs.

At 27, Kyrou represents a bigger risk than Bolduc, and could already be on the decline by the time the Habs’ window of opportunity opens.

What’s more, as McCagg points out, Kyrou’s production is similar to that of another 27-year-old, Patrick Laine, but so are his defensive problems.

And one wonders if the Canadiens really need a second Laine in their line-up?

Overtime

-What do you think?

– Good news for the Alouettes.

– What a catch!

– The kickosaurus!

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According to Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders sacrificed Noah Dobson to keep Alexander Romanov

The Canadiens struck a blow on draft day by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders.

In doing so, the Habs filled one of their two most pressing needs by acquiring a top-notch right-handed defenseman.

What’s more, Montreal didn’t weaken itself by giving away its first two picks of 2025 and Emi Heineman in return for Dobson.

Many wonder why the Islanders let a player like Dobson go in his prime.

Yes, the defenseman saw a bit of a dip in production last year, but that’s been pretty much the case for his team as a whole, and at just 25, it’s unlikely he’s on the decline.

However, since the Long Island club selected Matthew Schaefer first overall in the last draft, also an offensive defenseman, some believe the organization preferred him to become the team’s blue-line general for the future.

However, according to Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, who gave an interview on sports website RG, his team had to sacrifice Dobson in order to retain the services of Alexander Romanov.

Although he was surprised by the decision, he believes that Romanov’s extension, which the goaltender is delighted about, unfortunately cost Dobson his departure.

On June 30, the Canadiens veteran signed an eight-year deal worth $50 million ($6.25 million per year).

For his part, Dobson signed a contract for the same duration, but for a total of $76 million ($9.5 million per year).

With only $3.875 million on their payroll, the Islanders couldn’t have afforded to keep both players.

At least, not as things currently stand.

On the other hand, if the New Yorkers preferred Romanov, it may be because they believe that the Russian, who is more of a stay-at-home defenseman, will be better able to help their rookie defenseman.

As Sorokin reminds us, it’s the reality of the salary cap that often forces teams to make tough decisions.

Sorokin also wishes his former teammate every success and believes he got a good contract with the Canadiens.

Overtime

– Ovy isn’t thinking about retirement.

– A formality?

– Jays defeat before the break.

– Direction Toronto for JoJo Parker.

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“I think Oliver Kapanen has a 50% chance of being the Habs’ second center this season.”

Oliver Kapanen impressed at last year’s Habs camp. The young forward, who was due to return to Europe, started the year with the Habs instead, and we even saw him play a few games.

He wasn’t terrible, but it was clear that he still needed to fine-tune his game. So off he went to Europe, where he scored 15 goals and 35 points in 36 games, and played six playoff games (where he picked up three points).

Kapanen returned to Montreal to finish the season, then was sent back to Laval to help the Rocket in their playoff race. That said, he only picked up six points in 11 games during the AHL playoffs, and didn’t particularly impress in those games.

But clearly, there are some who have high expectations for Kapanen this season. Of the lot, Grant McCagg (who has always been a big Kapanen fan), wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a big role this season:

I think Oliver Kapanen has a 50% chance of being the Habs’ second center this season. – Grant McCagg

McCagg explains that he’s aware it would be quick, but that Kapanen is the kind of player who won’t hurt you in a game. He’s defensively responsible, wins his face-offs consistently and sees potential for an offensive explosion this year.

The problem, though, is that Kapanen isn’t exactly a sure thing offensively right now. After all, we’re talking about a kid who amassed just two points (in 18 games) with the Habs last season. But he added another in all three of his playoff games.

Kapanen, who played mostly on the wing with the Habs last year, would thus inherit the responsibility of being the one to help Ivan Demidov offensively. He could help more than Dach at 200 feet, of course, but the youngster’s offensive potential seems much more limited than Kirby Dach’s.

The latter, while far from perfect, has already demonstrated that he’s capable of producing in the NHL. That’s a big advantage over the other candidates for the position.

If Kapanen wants to play center for Demidov this season, he’d better arrive at camp with a knife between his teeth. He really hasn’t shown that he’s got what it takes, and he’ll have to show some real promise at camp to supplant Dach in the pecking order.

It’s not impossible… but a 50% chance seems pretty high to me.

Overtime

– Kapanen could join this glorious list if he makes it.

– He’s a tough kid.

– Still.

– Chelsea dominate PSG in the final.

– Great class.

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Fourth choice overall: the Mammoth asked the Islanders for Mathew Barzal

At the last draft, the Utah Mammoth selected Caleb Desnoyers fourth overall. The Québécois center was a closely watched prospect in Montreal, but the Habs surprised last year, taking him out of the running for Desnoyers.

But we know that the Habs liked him a lot, that said, and that he would have really filled a need in Montreal. The club was simply too good to get such a high pick.

That said, we do know that one team was working hard to get one of the top picks in the draft: the New York Islanders. Matthew Schaefer was selected first overall by the club, but the Isles wanted to get their hands on Long Island native James Hagens.

In the end, they didn’t succeed in their mission, but according to David Pagnotta, it wasn’t for lack of trying. In particular, the Islanders talked to the Mammoth for the fourth pick, but the price tag didn’t sit well with them.

Because, according to Pagnotta, the Mammoth wanted Mathew Barzal for the fourth pick. Nothing less.

NHL Rumour Report reported the news yesterday.

What we understand, then, is that the Mammoth held Desnoyers in very high regard. So it would have taken a huge return for them to consider trading that pick… and that’s when the Islanders realized they “didn’t like Hagens that much”.

It’s also interesting to note that, in Montreal, the idea of the Habs trying to move up to select Desnoyers was raised. And if the Mammoth asked the Islanders for Barzal, you have to wonder what the price would have been for the Habs.

You might think it would have cost Cole Caufield, for example. And since he’s not a center (unlike Barzal), the price could have been even higher.

All this means that today, Caleb Desnoyers is a member of the Utah Mammoth, while James Hagens is a member of the Bruins. But we agree that seeing Barzal traded on draft night would have been something… especially after Mathieu Darche told him he wouldn’t be traded this summer.

Overtime

– Arturs Silovs traded to the Penguins.

– Jason Robertson: teams are still on the case.

– Jannik Sinner champion at Wimbledon.

– Lions signing.