Author: Dose

Categories
Uncategorized

Rumor mill: Bowen Byram linked to St. Louis Blues

Who can follow the Buffalo Sabres’ plan? The New York State team has been rebuilding for 12 years, but has failed to make any progress. Instead of trusting and nurturing a core of young veterans, the Sabres trade them. After J.J Peterka, Bowen Bryan’s name is now circulating among NHL informants

The Fourth Period first published an article saying that speculation is only continuing in Byram’s case. Sabres general manager Kevin Adams is not closed to the idea of keeping him on his team, but only if the contract is reasonable.

Then, Cam Robinson, publisher of Hockey DB, mentioned that the Blues are a team to watch in the matter and Byram’s name is associated with them by many.

It’s a topic to keep an eye on over the coming days andweeks.

Jason Robertson as a Ducks target?

In Dallas, it’s the Jason Robertson file that continues to be the talk of the town. He’s about to reach the end of the 4th and final year of his contract and will be looking to break the bank.

According to Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek, Dallas won’t be stretching this out too long.

They’re going to want to know Robertson’s salary intentions before devolving whether they’d rather trade him or keep him. Marek added that the Ducks could be an interesting destination for the American forward.

Leafs interested in Jordan Kyrou

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, who appeared on the Leafs Morning Take podcast, the Maple Leafs have shown interest in Jordan Kyrou in recent weeks.

They asked about the price, but didn’t go any further.

We know that the Canadiens were also interested in the forward, but obviously the price was far too high to bring him to Toronto.

Overtime

– He’s impressive.

– The Lions will have their star quarterback against the Alouettes.

– The Blue Jays are on fire.

Categories
Uncategorized

“I’m not even sure if Jordan Kyrou was really available”

If there’s one name that’s been circulating a lot in recent weeks, especially in Montreal, it’s Jordan Kyrou.

The Habs were definitely in the running.

The chances of him landing in Montreal were even put at 70% (!!!).

But rumours are only rumours until they’re official.

And for a guy like Kyrou to be traded, it either takes a huge return, or he has to be on the trade market and his team has to be willing to deal him.

Was he really available?

The renowned Chris Johnston, on the latest episode of his podcast The Chris Johnston Show, mentioned that he doesn’t even know if Kyrou was on the market.

It’s a shame, because he would have been a great addition to Martin St-Louis’ line-up.

He’s a default winger in St. Louis, but he played a lot of center and could have been a temporary solution as a second center while waiting for Michael Hage. On the other hand, Hage is actually closer to the NHL than most people think.

The fact remains that Demidov would have been much better surrounded by a player like Kyrou, whether at center or on the wing.

But Kyrou is expensive, not to mention the fact that he’s been under a no-trade clause since July 1.

Now that the draft is over and Logan Mailloux is gone, the Canadiens don’t have many quality players to offer for such a big transaction. Especially for Kyrou, since the Blues are looking for established players in return.

Mike Matheson and Kirby Dach are the only ones who come to mind, but if Kyrou isn’t available, personally, I don’t see the point in giving the moon.

And Kyrou has to agree to go to Montreal, which makes the whole thing even more difficult.

In short, we can forget about the Kyrou project in Montreal.

Overtime

– Would you put Dobson on the first wave of the NHL instead of Ivan Demidov?

– Great contract for the Caps.

– It’s still hard to believe that Brent Burns looked like this in his NHL debut.

Categories
Uncategorized

No need to find a second center: Michael Hage will be one soon enough

Ahh, the famous search for the second center.

When will it end?

A lot of rumors and ideas have been floating around for a while. Guys like Evgeni Malkin, Mason McTavish, Trevor Zegras and many more have been linked to the Habs.

For now, we can take solace in Kirby Dach, but many agree that he’s not ideal.

Now that the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp has officially begun, we’ve been able to see some new faces in action, as well as some eagerly-awaited players.

Here, I’m talking mainly about Michael Hage.

The #21 pick in the 2024 draft made many eyes glaze over in his first season in the NCAA.

And at this development camp, he continues to impress, making us believe that he’s closer to the NHL than we think.

The Habs wouldn’t need to find a temporary solution while waiting for him: We’ve got our second center… Just not this year.

Reading this RDS piece, it’s clear that the search for this second-line center isn’t necessary.

There are also comments from Michael Hage, we can see that he knows what he is as a player and that helps the managers/coaches know what to expect.

“I can be a creative player who makes plays and can play physically. The coach has to be able to get you on the ice and he knows what he can get.” – Michael Hage

Indeed, it’s always good for a player and his coach to know what to expect.

Listen to his comments on the subject, in French, please:

Hage has a lot of talent and what he’s shown in the last two days proves that he’s really close to the NHL. He has another year in the NCAA to go and could (should) make the jump to the pros. He might not even have to go through Laval next year.

Martin Therriault believes:

After a successful first season in the collegiate ranks, it will be very interesting to see what he does in his second year in the NCAA, as he will be much better surrounded. Malcolm Spence, Henry Mews, Jack Ivankovic and Jayden Perron will all be there to support Hage.

Let’s see what he has in store for us in 2025-26.

Overtime

– I can’t wait to see how many goals Bolduc will score with the Canadiens in 2025-26.

– Incroyable.

– Matt Martin is looking to become a GM in the NHL.

– Read more.

Categories
Uncategorized

Alexander Zharovsky: The Habs were the only NHL club he followed before the draft

On Saturday, the Canadiens moved up in the draft to select Alexander Zharovsky.

We’re talking about one of Ivan Demidov’s good buddies… and we’re talking about a super-talented player with the puck.

He has incredible hands and many, many skills.

In an interview in Russia, the player also said he’s been following the Canadiens for a while now.

In fact…

He said that the only team he followed before being drafted on Saturday was the Habs. And it’s clear from his face how happy he is to have been chosen by the Habs: his smile doesn’t lie.

Seeing a guy be happy like that is always a good sign.

Zharovsky not only had the opportunity to be drafted to the team of one of his good friends: he also had the opportunity to be drafted to the most prestigious team in the entire history of the National League.

And we all agree that’s no mean feat either.

I can’t wait to see him arrive in Montreal (even if it’s not for a while), and I get the impression he can’t wait either.

It seems he’s really excited about the idea of playing for the Canadiens one day with his boyfriend, and when that happens, it can sometimes make a guy give even more of himself on the ice.

I’ve got a feeling he’s going to come here with the knife between his teeth… and if he succeeds quickly, I’ve also got a feeling he’s going to gain confidence pretty quickly, which is always useful for a player with talent like his.

That’s promising, at least.

Overtime

– Hello, Michael!

– Come on!

– Owen Protz invited to ÉCJ summer camp(like Michael Hage).

– Machine.

Categories
Uncategorized

Patrick Roy apologizes to Anthony Duclair

On April 1, the Islanders lost 4-1 to the Lightning on Long Island.

Anthony Duclair played less than 12 minutes that night… and after the game, Patrick Roy strongly criticized him.

Roy had explained that Duclair wasn’t used much because he was “awful”… and the Isles pilot had even said that Duclair was lucky to be in the line-up.

The player then decided to take a break and step away from the team.

Clearly, he wasn’t necessarily happy with his coach’s exit.

And Roy knows it… because he plans to apologize to his player this summer.

I’m going to meet him in Montreal, or wherever he’s going to be, and we’re going to have a good talk. I’ll definitely apologize for my comments. – Patrick Roy

TVA Sports wrote an article on the subject.

We know that Patrick Roy has a… hot temper.

We know he’s not afraid to speak his mind, and that’s what makes him such an intense coach too.

But that’s also why, at the outset, we all thought it was special to see Jonathan Drouin sign a two-year contract with the Islanders.

Drouin isn’t – and never has been – known for his hard work, after all… and with a coach like Roy, that could set off fireworks pretty quickly in New York.

All in all, it’s also interesting to see Patrick Roy admit his mistake.

He knows he shouldn’t have spat on his player the way he did, and he’s clearly not happy with the way he handled Duclair.

I wonder if Duclair still holds a grudge…

But knowing that the two guys are going to meet to clear the air is already a good start. And it makes you wonder if Mathieu Darche-who’s also a Québécois-has a role to play in all this…

Overtime

– Our love!

– Good point.

– Ah good.

– MLB’s top clubs.

Categories
Uncategorized

Rob Ramage wants to take care of Logan Mailloux in Saint-Louis

Logan Mailloux is no longer part of the Canadiens organization.

He was traded to the St. Louis Blues for Zachary Bolduc on Tuesday, the opening day of the NHL free agent market.

But that doesn’t mean the Habs didn’t like him.

Rob Ramage spoke to the media today and praised Mailloux as a player – and as a person off the ice.

The Director of Player Development gave him the thumbs up… and also told reporters there that he’s keen to take care of Mailloux over there.

Ramage lives in Saint-Louis and wants to keep in touch with the former Habs prospect :

We know that the heads of the Habs organization were proud of Mailloux.

He arrived in Montreal with the reputation we know and he worked on himself to improve. He made the effort to become better off the ice, and the Canadiens appreciated his efforts in that regard.

That’s why, in Rob Ramage’s eyes, Mailloux is a good kid.

And that’s why Ramage wishes him the best… and why he’d like to keep talking to him, so as not to lose the relationship they’ve built up over the years.

Remember, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard Rob Ramage sing the defenseman’s praises either.

In the summer of 2023, the Director of Player Development referred to Mailloux as an NHL guy.

He’s loved his skills on the ice for a long time, and I imagine he was a little disappointed to see him go in a trade – even if it did allow the Canadiens to add a talented player in Zachary Bolduc.

But hey. In the NHL, anything can happen…

Overtime

– It goes without saying.

– The Jets say bye to Nikolaj Ehlers, who’s off to play in Carolina.

– Love it.

– Good news for the Jays.

Categories
Uncategorized

Nikolaj Ehlers to play in Carolina

Nikolaj Ehlers was one of the big fish on the free agent market.

But he’s no longer available, according to Kevin Weekes.

The forward has signed a contract with the Hurricanes and will continue his career in Carolina.

Ehlers’ name had been linked to that of the Canes in recent days.

But…

We’ve also heard a few rumors about the Canadiens in his case. We know that Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine are great buddies, after all…

Elliotte Friedman also confirmed:

Interesting news.

Because in reality… in Carolina, there’s already a wicked good group of forwards.

Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Logan Stankoven, Nikolaj Ehlers…

The Hurricanes will have talent aplenty :

(Credit: DailyFaceoff)

More details to come…

Categories
Uncategorized

Intra-squad match: These players impressed me today

I went to Brossard this morning for the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp intra-squad game.

And right off the bat, one thing was easy to notice: the fans were out in force at the CN Complex to see the organization’s prospects.

The bleachers were packed… and so were the windows. There were a lot of people:

For the match itself, here’s what you need to know.

The match lasted 50 minutes (two 25-minute periods, running time style), followed by a mini shootout.

And you’ll understand that there were a few players in particular who impressed today.

I’ve noted a few.

First of all… we have to start with LJ Mooney.

Because in reality, he was the best player on the ice today in Brossard.

The little forward, who was drafted in the 4th round at the last draft, was dominant. The puck was sticking to his stick, he got his hands out, he completed some magnificent plays…

Really, this kid’s got talent coming out of both ears. He really, really impressed me this morning.

Mooney was good and the same can be said for Michael Hage.

He, too, looked like a guy a little ahead of the game, and that’s to be expected.

After all, this is Hage’s second development camp in Montreal, and I hear he’s improved since last year. What caught my eye was his skating stroke… and his size on the ice.

He’s not small, and he uses his body to create space.

I really liked what I saw from him, too. And in reality, we know he has good potential…

There’s another guy who stood out in my eyes and that’s Hayden Paupanekis, he who was selected in the third round (69th) by the Canadiens at the last draft.

The big 6’5 player has a good skating stroke, good hands and a good shot too.

He stood out with a great breakaway goal, and throughout the game, he was able to create plays for his teammates.

Paupanekis was the second-best player for the Whites after Michael Hage :

In all of this, it’s hard to miss Tyler Thorpe, who is simply AMAZING on the ice. He hits, he skates, and he never hesitates before shooting.

He showed his qualities today and was easy to spot on the ice. Probably because he was the tallest player too… hehe.

All kidding aside, I also really liked Owen Protz’s work today – that nasty defender who likes to hit the opposition.

His mobility is impressive and so is his decision-making.

He doesn’t get into trouble because he (very) often makes the right choice when he has the puck, and there’s no panic in his game.

In closing… I’d like to say a few words about two other players: Aatos Koivu and Logan Sawyer.

Koivu (3rd round pick in 2024, #70) showed a few flashes, but I would have liked to see him more involved. He looked a little stressed and was seen getting rid of the puck too quickly on a few occasions.

But… he scored a fine goal in the shootout.

A goal worthy of his father:

In the case of Sawyer (3rd-round pick in 2024, #78), it’s hard to argue that he was one of the best players ever.

However, there’s one thing I’ve noticed about his game, and that’s his fighting spirit with and without the puck. He gave himself chances to score (including one on a breakaway) because he never gives up on the ice.

With a style like that, he can give himself a chance of reaching the big leagues one day.

And so the development camp comes to an end, and it’s been good to see the organization’s prospects in action.

I also have the impression that the fans really enjoyed the show they were treated to today.

Overtime

– The boys are dropping the gloves!

– Love this.

– He knows how to make new friends.

– Oh.

Categories
Uncategorized

Wait before you try to get Mike Matheson out of Montreal!

Last year, Lane Hutson was the Canadiens’ best defenseman. But even so, I see no irony in saying that Mike Matheson was the Habs’ most important defenseman.

Without Lane Hutson, the Canadiens certainly wouldn’t have made the playoffs, as the club would have been far less dynamic.

But without Mike Matheson, the entire defense would have looked like a headless chicken on the ice. All the guys would have been lost because they’d have been in the wrong chair.

Was Mike Matheson perfect? No.

But he’s still one of the league’s most used defensemen (Kent Hughes was right to point this out on Tuesday… although he couldn’t say his former client is useless, obviously) on a young defensive brigade. That explains why he made a lot of mistakes on the ice.

You don’t make omelettes by breaking eggs. And Matheson, he made plenty of omelettes in 2024-2025.

Matheson ate minute omelettes and accepted, without a whimper, to take time on the powerplay instead of the powerplay. No wonder his offensive production has suffered.

He’s a real team player… who’s already talked to his bosses about a contract extension in Montreal, no less. He’ll be a free agent in a year, if nothing changes between now and then.

Is trading him really that urgent? Because, on the one hand, I understand the appeal of trading him if it means the Canadiens can get their hands on a quality second center.

But there are a few things to keep in mind.

The Canadiens were one of the youngest teams in history to make the playoffs, and guys like David Savard, Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak won’t be back in 2025-2026.

These are three veterans who were important on the ice and in the room. In fact, Dvorak’s line in the playoffs reminded us just how much a club needs experienced guys.

And now we want to take Matheson out as well? Hmm…

I also think you have to look at the defensive situation and imagine the worst. Because in a hockey season, you have to imagine the worst-case scenario and ask yourself if trouble is on the horizon.

And this year, David Savard won’t be a lifeline. He had slowed down, but even so, he needs to be replaced.

Last year, Noah Dobson missed 11 games. And if guys like Lane Hutson and Alexandre Carrier get injured, as the Québécois did in the playoffs, the club could be in trouble.

And do you think Kaiden Guhle will be healthy for 82 games?

On paper, the defensive corps holds together. But if Guhle gets hurt and Matheson is gone, Lane Hutson would be the only left-hander worthy of a top-4 finish. Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj would be eating too big a bite for what they can really take – and so would Hutson, which would affect his production.

And speaking of a hypothetical Guhle injury, I didn’t pull out a highly unlikely scenario, you’ll agree.

Can the situation change during the season? Of course it can. But until David Reinbacher is ready to establish himself for good in the NHL, I don’t see how the club can do without Matheson.

In fact, they can… but not if they want to make the playoffs.

I’m not saying we absolutely shouldn’t trade him. But you clearly shouldn’t do it just for the fun of it, because in a revised role, Matheson can bring a lot to the Canadiens.

Remember, it takes depth to win in the NHL. And Matheson would be luxury depth.

overtime

– I heard through the grapevine that colleague Marc-Olivier Cook had something in store for you…

– Images from Noah Dobson’s wedding.

– Oliver Kapanen ahead of Owen Beck?

– The Sharks have to spend.

– Obviously.

– Of note.

Categories
Uncategorized

Arber Xhekaj, still out of the line-up according to DailyFaceoff

During the season, quite a few of us consult the pages of the DailyFaceoff site on an almost daily basis.

Whenever there’s a practice, an injury, a recall or a trade, the site hastens to give the new trios and defensive pairings for each team.

Laine is moved to third at 11:00 a.m. during morning practice; at 11:02 a.m., the correction is made on DF.

During the off-season, the site’s managers continue to publish each team’s trios and defensive pairs, but they rely more on logic and experience than anything else. Still, it’s an interesting exercise.

What are the Habs’ trios likely to look like in early October, if no other major moves are made and no one gets hurt at camp? Here’s to that:

(Credit: DailyFaceoff.com)

The first line will again consist of Caufield, Suzuki and Slafkovsky, according to DailyFaceoff.

Kirby Dach would (again) inherit the second-centre position, given management’s inability to find a better player. He would be flanked by Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov on the wings. Let’s just say that Demidov’s partners wouldn’t be the perfect candidates to show the young Russian how to work hard every time he plays.

The third line would see Bolduc on the left, Newhook in the middle and Anderson on the right, while the fourth line would consist of Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evans (center) and Oliver Kapanen. Is Bolduc really at his best on the left?

Samuel Blais would probably be the 13th forward.

We all agree that the raw talent would be there, but the fact remains that six of 12 dressed forwards would be 6’0 or shorter. Enough to disturb observers who watched playoff hockey in May and June..

At the blue line, DailyFaceoff managers see Guhle with Dobson, Hutson with Struble and Matheson with Carrier.

(Credit: DailyFaceoff.com)

Struble on the second pair? Personally, I don’t even have him in my top six, since I see Xhekaj playing on the fourth line and Carrier forming the third pair, behind Guhle – Dobson and Hutson – Matheson.

And the Canadiens would have two defensemen under 6’0 in their lineup. Reminder: no defenseman under 6’0 was selected in the most recent NHL amateur draft.

Note that DF sees Montembeault and Dobes starting the season with the big club, so Kaapo Kahkonen in Laval.

I’m starting to repeat myself a little, but in April, we saw for ourselves that the Habs were too young, too small and not tough enough to hope for playoff success. With the departures of Armia, Dvorak, Pezzetta and Savard, we have to face the facts: the team isn’t bigger, more experienced or stronger.

In short, the rebuilding is not yet complete, and the 2025-26 season will be another of transition. One of the last..

We’re still in the process. #TrustTheProcess

in Overtime

– Prospects intrasquad game: here are the lineups for both teams.

– Read more.

– Depth in Laval.

– Big feat in MLB.