Author: Dose

Categories
Uncategorized

Mock Draft: Scott Wheeler’s first 4 picks for the Habs are really interesting

With the draft fast approaching, there’s a lot to keep an eye on with the Canadiens.

That said, at this point in the year, we all know what’s at stake for the Habs.

And while no one can predict the future, we can expect some exciting days ahead. It all starts on Friday with the draft!

For the occasion, Scott Wheeler – an expert when it comes to prospects – has made his final mock draft for the draft.

And the Canadiens’ first four picks are interesting.

  • Cameron Reid – 16th pick
  • Carter Bear – 17th pick
  • William Moore – 41st pick
  • Matthew Gard – 49th pick

For Reid – a 6’0, 183-pound left-handed defenseman – Wheeler says the Canadiens like him. We’re talking about a dynamic player responsible in all three zones… and even though there are already plenty of left-handed defensemen in Montreal, the idea of adding another talented one like Reid isn’t crazy either.

Especially if he’s the best player available at the moment.

We’re all familiar with Carter Bear, the talented forward with some really interesting qualities.

But… maybe you’re wondering who William Moore and Matthew Gard are, two guys who don’t necessarily generate a lot of attention.

In both cases, it’s simple: here we have two great center-forwards with the potential to play on a top-9 National League team.

Moore (6’2) is an American who does a bit of everything on the ice. He’s good in his zone, responsible in the face-off circle and has some offensive flair in his game.

Gard is taller (6’4), and is best known for his defensive style of play. We’re talking about a player with a good skating stroke, and that’s what makes him attractive to a mid-second-round pick.

Oh, and he’s not afraid to play physical either, because he likes to hit the opposition.

Personally, I’m really looking forward to seeing what the Canadiens do this week. There are some good players who will be available, there’s the option of trading picks to move up or get your hands on a quality player…

It’s going to be interesting.

Overtime

– Nice .

– That’s it !

– Logical.

– His progression is really impressive.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Golden Knights want to trade Tomas Hertl: keep an eye on the Hurricanes

For the past few minutes, Tomas Hertl has been the name to watch on the market.

The forward really seems to be on his way out to Vegas, a club never afraid to make big trades in the hope of improving their team for the future.

And right now, the club to watch is Carolina. Just over a year after leaving San Jose, the European could still be on his way out.

We don’t know if it’s going to happen or not, since for several minutes now, we’ve been hearing a lot of cautious talk, but also some people saying it’s going to happen, before retracting their statements a few moments later.

But one thing is certain: the Hurricanes are one to watch.

There are currently two reasons why we’re waiting to see if it’s going to happen. The first is that the player’s non-movement clause becomes more permissive on July 1, which is next week.

That could change things. But then, we don’t know what he thinks of the Canes either…

But also, I wonder to what extent the Hurricanes see Hertl as a “plan B” to Mitch Marner. Is it possible that the deal is conditional on Marner signing in Vegas?

The question arises.

Clearly, the Golden Knights want to make room for Marner. But the Hurricanes, if they believe in their chances of signing the Toronto native, aren’t going to shoot themselves in the foot.

They want reinforcements, but their preference is surely Marner. Hertl, who scored 61 points last year and is worth $6.75 million on the Vegas payroll for another five years, isn’t a bad player, but he’s not in the same league.

overtime

– Hockey Canada has a GM.

– What will he do?

– Sick.

– Logical.

Categories
Uncategorized

New “fleur-de-lis” logo for the Blues: Happy St. John’s Day in St. Louis, Missouri!

The Blues’ social network manager launched a big tease at 10:00 am (Eastern Time) yesterday morning. Blues fans had every right to expect a big announcement.

However, the long-awaited announcement was made a few minutes ago… and many fans in Missouri were left wanting more. Basically, the Blues are announcing that they’ll have a “new” retro look in 2025-26.

Let’s just say that, at first glance, it’s hard to notice any major changes to the logo..

(Credit: St-Louis Blues)

Was it really worth trying to create hype with (just) this? Sometimes, modest announcements shouldn’t come with a tease beforehand, so as not to disappoint the people you want to please.

A fleur-de-lis in St. Louis
The Blues didn’t just unveil a “new” logo and vest this morning; they also announced that they would now be using three tertiary logos/brands: a fleur-de-lis, an STL and a trumpet.

(Credit: St. Louis Blues)

Yes, you read that right: the St. Louis Blues will use a (musical) fleur-de-lys as their second logo.

(Credit: Blues de St-Louis)

The Blues are even selling jerseys, caps and pucks with their new fleur-de-lis in the center.

I’m willing to believe that the fleur-de-lis is represented on the flag of the City of St. Louis – named in honor of King Louis IX of France – but I still have a little trouble with the fact that the Blues have a fleur-de-lis as their emblem, but not the Montreal Canadiens.

Especially since it was unveiled on St-Jean-Baptiste Day!

The Saints, the Blues… why doesn’t Quebec’s ECHL NHL hockey team – whose name constantly resonates with its homeland, Canada – join the group? Basically, the fleur-de-lis is first and foremost a symbol of Québécois and French culture.

But then, maybe that’s just me.

Happy St-Jean everyone! Let’s remember Artturi Lehkonen’s goal, four years ago, while enjoying a good Budweiser / beer from a Québécois microbrewery!

Or let’s continue to dream of the return of the Nordiques and their fleur-de-lis…

Categories
Uncategorized

Draft 2025: Rangers send 12th overall pick to the Penguins

For the past few days, we’ve been wondering whether the Rangers would send their 12th overall pick to the Penguins to complete the J.T. Miller transaction.

It was a complex transaction, yes.

The Rangers could send their 12th pick this year or an unprotected first-round pick in 2026. In the end, they chose to give away their first pick this year, 12th overall.

The Penguins will draft 11th and 12th on Friday. Not bad!

The Rangers will hopefully have a lower pick in 2026. But perhaps the club didn’t want to risk another ugly season and a disaster in a 2026 auction that promises to be more promising than the 2025 one.

In any case, it’s a good theory.

It’s also worth noting that the Rangers will be able to use their 2026 pick next year on the open market, at the deadline. Chris Drury loves to trade picks, and he’ll be able to do so in March 2026, if he wants.

The decision is more likely to make the Rangers look bad like this. But if the worst-case scenario had taken place in 2026, the repercussions would have been more violent in 2026.

Drury played it safe, in my opinion.

Details to come…

overtime

– To be continued.

– On paper, it’s a good idea, but he won’t sign here.

– Reinforcements on the blue line?

– Does the Rat want to leave Florida?

Categories
Uncategorized

Josh Anderson on trade watch list

If the Canadiens add a center (whether now or in November, for example) to their lineup, the odds are good that no top-notch regular player will leave in return.

The Canadiens’ plan, in an ideal world, is to give away picks and prospects to get the job done.

So basically, we can expect the vast majority of the regular players still under the club’s control to be back in Montreal for the next campaign.

But does this mean that no players will be traded? Not necessarily.

In fact, a few names will be circulating in Montreal with a view to a transaction. That’s to be expected, since NHL executives are talking about a lot of guys.

So it’s worth keeping an eye on the lists of players to watch out for. After all, these lists often reflect what’s being said by the league’s 32 teams.

That’s why it’s interesting to note that Josh Anderson is on The Fourth Period’s list.

Does this mean he’ll definitely be traded? Not necessarily, no. After all, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen his name in the rumour mill since he arrived in Montreal.

But it’s Kent Hughes’ job to listen if someone calls to inquire about his availability. And that’s only natural, since the recent playoffs have reminded the NHL what this guy can bring to a club.

Josh Anderson has two years left on his contract at $5.5M per year on the payroll. But in real money, the power forward is still due $8.5M over the next two years.

Josh Anderson can say no to a trade for five teams on the heels of a partial no-trade clause.

Will teams be willing to pay Kent Hughes for Anderson? Does the Canadiens’ GM want to trade the player, who has finally found a good role for himself with the club this year?

I can’t say I believe in a trade. But we’ll keep an eye on it, since Kent Hughes might, in an ideal world, like to free up a few dollars on his third line…

overtime

– Claude Giroux under the Franco-Ontarian flag on the heels of “St-Jean”: the Senators are as good as ever with Quebec fans.

– Kings unveil their draft plans. [TVAS]

– The Matthew Tkachuk transaction is complete.

– Interesting.

Categories
Uncategorized

“Kent Hughes is looking at absolutely every opportunity to improve at forward.”

Would you be surprised if I told you that Kent Hughes isn’t taking a day off these days?

Pierre LeBrun, in a piece on current rumors, confirmed it. Writing on The Athletic, LeBrun mentioned that Hughes is “looking at absolutely every possibility” to improve his forward skills.

That’s clearly the buzz around the NHL right now.

Right now, Hughes is preparing transaction scenarios for the future. He wants to be ready for the draft, but also for the next few weeks this summer.

LeBrun also talked about the second-center position, and he confirms that yes, it could be hard to improve this summer at the key position.

The search for a second center could be too difficult this summer, so a compromise could be a top-6 winger with sparkle.

Some calls from the GM point in that direction. – Pierre LeBrun

Once again, remember that the plan remains to aim for the Stanley Cup in the long term. So if prices are too high for the draft, don’t be surprised if the club waits.

Management doesn’t want to sacrifice its future at any cost. #NoChange

Ideally, it’s picks and prospects who would leave. So don’t get too attached to picks #16 and #17 since, more than ever, these assets could leave this week.

But… not at any price, again.

extension

Let’s not forget that, if need be, the Canadiens could well wait a few months, or even a year, to pick up the big top-6 piece for the future. It all depends on the price.

The next few days will be exciting.

Categories
Uncategorized

Gavin McKenna could help the Canadiens find a top-notch center

In the club’s most important week in years, will the Canadiens be able to get their hands on a top-notch center to back up Nick Suzuki?

We don’t know.

What we do know, however, is that it’s going to be tough, but that the Canadiens are going to try anyway. Maybe he’ll come up short… but maybe on Friday, Sidney Crosby will arrive in town. #TheSpectrumIsLarge

Would it be the end of the world if the Canadiens couldn’t get their hands on a second-line center this week? No, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

It wouldn’t be ideal, though.

But there’s another way of looking at things on the heels of a market where everyone-except the Penguins-is selling. What if Kent Hughes waited until November to buy a center?

Eric Engels (Sportsnet) put in a good word for us in a recent article. The journalist doesn’t rule out a market that will come to life very quickly during the 2025-2026 season, if certain clubs realize that buying in the summer of 2025 was a mistake.

In fact, because Gavin McKenna will be available at the next auction, some clubs may decide to throw in the towel very quickly in 2025-2026, in order to give themselves a chance of going after the young star at the 2026 draft. This could bring some centers onto the market.

Even Arpon Basu raised this possibility on The Athletic.

So if the Canadiens, who won’t be aiming for the Stanley Cup as early as 2026, don’t get what they want this summer, they can take the risk of being patient and hitting the market during the season.

I absolutely don’t believe that this is the Habs’ #1 plan, of course. But as a plan B, if need be, it’s certainly an idea to keep in mind.

overtime

– No surprises here.

– Happy reading.

– Ottawa to watch.

Categories
Uncategorized

“The Canadiens will draft Will Horcoff this weekend”: Eric Engels’ daring prediction

The wait is almost over.

This weekend, after all, is the 2025 National League Draft.

And in Montreal, fans have plenty to be excited about. The Canadiens could move… but they could also keep their two first-round picks to get their hands on two talented players.

You can’t predict 100% of what’s going to happen at the draft, but hey.

For the sake of the exercise… Eric Engels shared one of his predictions in a recent article. It goes like this:

The Canadiens will draft Will Horcoff over the weekend. Not necessarily 16th or 17th overall, but perhaps later in the first round, or earlier than they expect in the second.

Let’s remember one thing: the Habs have two first-round picks (#16 and #17), but also hold selections #41 and #49 in the second round.

That said, is it possible to see Kent Hughes trade two second-round picks to move up a few spots and select an unexpected player [insert Will Horcoff’s name here]?

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire… right?

The name Will Horcoff may ring a bell – and that’s okay.

We’re talking about Shawn’s son, who had a successful NHL career. And Will is a 6’4, 190-pound force of nature who practices like crazy in the gym.

He was really dominant in the physical exercises at the recent combine.

Let’s also note that on the ice, we’re talking about a center who loves to create plays for his teammates… but who’s best known for his defensive play. He has the defensive vision of his father – who was excellent for many years in the National League – and that makes him an interesting prospect for the draft.

It’s hard to evaluate him because he played in the American Development Program and at the University of Michigan in 24-25, two completely different leagues. But… his ability to be excellent defensively and the fact that we’re talking about a big guy, all play in his favour.

And maybe that’s where the Habs could fall in love with him. We know the Canadiens want to get bigger…

Overtime

– It’s done: the AHL season is over.

– What will the Leafs and John Tavares do?

– Oh.

Categories
Uncategorized

It’s (almost) done for Sam Bennett’s new Florida contract

Sam Bennett has proven that he can take a club to the very top.

He won the Conn-Smyhe Trophy because he was dominant in the playoffs, and without him, the Panthers might not have won the Stanley Cup for a second year in a row.

Because yes, he was that good.

We’ve noticed it a few times now.

When it counts… Bennett has everything it takes to be an effective player on the ice. The combination of his qualities makes him an important player for a team in the big moments, and he doesn’t have to prove it anymore.

That’s one of the reasons why he’ll be signing a big contract before the start of next season.

And according to Chris Johnston, who talked about it on English-language radio(TSN 1050)… It’s (almost) done for his contract extension in Florida.

Should we really be surprised?

Meh…

The fact is, for two years now, Bennett has been one of the most important (if not the most important) players for the Panthers in the playoffs. Keeping him in Florida makes sense… because people would have wept if they’d decided to let him go on the free agent market for absolutely nothing.

It would have caused a lot of gossip, at least.

You also have to wonder what the contract looks like, because we know there was interest in Bennett’s services all over the league.

Some teams were prepared to offer him lots and lots of money… and the Panthers had to find a monetary solution to convince him to stay.

Although, when you think about it, playing in Florida in the year-round heat and making a lot of money go hand in hand…

Overtime

– Yikes …

– The party’s on!

– He deserves credit.

Categories
Uncategorized

Chris Johnston: The Habs have talked to clubs about picks #16 and #17

Kent Hughes’ plan is pretty clear.

Right now… the goal is to improve the team offensively. Ideally, we’d like to get a guy who can play in the top-6, and what’s interesting in all this is that the Canadiens have the resources to make a move.

Especially when you consider this year’s two first-round picks (#16 and #17).

These picks have value, and clearly, the Canadiens want to gauge the interest of other clubs at this level.

Because, according to Chris Johnston(TSN 1050), Hughes has already spoken to clubs about his two first-round picks in 2025. The GM is doing his homework… but to know that he’s active and aggressive is still noteworthy.

We’ve seen it in recent years, but…

But Kent Hughes isn’t afraid to move – especially at the draft. He traded for Kirby Dach in 2022, he acquired Alex Newhook in 2023… and last year, he managed to move up a few spots to select Michael Hage with the 21st overall pick.

The point I’m trying to make here is that there’s a good chance the Canadiens will make a deal on Friday night.

But let’s not scream bloody murder if it doesn’t happen, because on the other side of the coin, it’s not easy to be a buyer right now.

So it remains to be seen.

Still, just knowing that Hughes is aggressive and doing everything he can to improve the team for next season is exciting for Canadiens fans.

Especially as the GM of the Canadiens is a quiet guy, who does things without bothering anyone and whose transactions are (very) often unexpected…

Overtime

– Sick.

– It sure looks special in Seattle.

– Oh!