Author: Dose

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Rumour Corner: Mitch Marner in… Dallas?

Mitch Marner’s situation is intriguing as hell.

Why?

Because right now, no one can really predict where he’ll pursue his career. Toronto, Vegas, Carolina, Florida, Utah?

Chris Johnston talked to the main guy on his podcast (The Chris Johnston Show) and came up with an interesting theory.

According to what he hears… there’s some talk about Marner and the Stars.

But the tipster doesn’t really seem to believe it because of the salary situation in Dallas :

It’s true, after all, that the Stars are in a bit of a mess.

They have less than $3M under the cap to maneuver around right now – remember, Matt Duchene signed a new contract recently – and there’s not a lot of money available right now to make a move like this.

Unless…

Unless the Stars trade Jason Robertson and other players to make room for Marner on the team’s payroll?

At the same time, we know the forward will command an astronomical salary…

Aaron Ekblad likely to leave Florida

Still according to Chris Johnston – he also talked about it in his podcast – things seem to be a little complicated for Aaron Ekblad.

In fact, the player has said he wants to stay in Florida.

But like the Stars, the Panthers have a rather unique situation on their hands: they have players to sign, it’s going to cost a lot… and there may not be enough cash to pay everyone their fair value.

And that’s why, in Johnston’s eyes, Ekblad really does seem to be on his way out.

Like Marner, Ekblad will generate interest if he makes it to the free agent market in a few days (July 1).

He’s big, he’s proven, he just won the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row, he’s responsible in all three zones of the rink…

Oh, and he throws from the right, too. And you know as well as I do that right-handed defensemen are a rare commodity in the National League.

It now remains to be seen whether Eklbad will play for the Panthers or for another team at the start of the next campaign…

The Sabres are aggressive, and…

What will the Sabres do this summer?

That’s a good question.

Because in Buffalo, forgive my language… but it’s hard in cr*ss. And we agree it’s been a long time, too.

But, to get to the next level, the Sabres need to keep finding ways to improve the team.

And to do that, the club has one player in particular in its sights: Marco Rossi.

The information comes from David Pagnotta:

I wonder if there’s a world in which the Sabres dance with the Wild.

We know that in Buffalo, Bowen Byram is available… and in Minnesota – apart from Zeev Buium – the relief on the left side of the defense isn’t huge either.

And the more I think about it, it seems to make sense in my head: Rossi versus Byram, one-on-one.

Who says no?

Talk about the Sabres!

While we’re on the subject of the Sabres, JJ Peterka’s name is still very popular in the rumour mill.

In fact, it may be more popular than ever.

In the eyes of Frank Seravalli(DFO Rundown Podcast), the chances of him starting next season in Buffalo are extremely slim.

Peterka, at 23, has the tools and qualities in his game to interest any National League club…

When a player like Peterka is available, you hear a lot.

And that’s what’s been happening with the German for some time now: his name is circulating and ultimately, it’s logical to believe that he’ll be traded at some point.

I wonder if it could happen on Friday, in the first round of the 2025 draft…

Overtime

– The Islanders MUST draft Matthew Schaefer.

– To be continued.

– I thought it was June 23. Not April 1st…

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Crosby: “Montreal probably wouldn’t hesitate to offer its two first-round picks in 2025”

Sidney Crosby’s future will always be the talk of the town.

In fact…

Sidney Crosby’s future will always be the talk of the town, as long as the situation in Pittsburgh doesn’t improve. And it’s not going to get any better either…

The question on everyone’s mind is this:

Is Sid really interested in ending his career with a club that’s going nowhere?

We know his competitive side.

We know he hates to lose – and that the Penguins won’t be winning much in the next few years, until Crosby retires.

Even so, he’ll be celebrating his 38th birthday in August…

We also know that the option of seeing him in Montreal is popular with some. And on that note, if the Habs ever wanted to go after him… Mathias Brunet had this to say, in a recent article:

Montreal (the Canadiens) wouldn’t hesitate to offer their two first-round picks in 2025 to get him. – Mathias Brunet

There’s a popular opinion about the possibility of the Habs moving to get Crosby out of Pittsburgh.

Sure, picking up #87 is attractive… but at the same time, according to many, the Canadiens shouldn’t empty their prospect bank either.

I tend to agree with that.

I love the Kid. On the other hand, he doesn’t have 10 more years of hockey to give, and if the Habs want to be competitive in the future with the players they have in place, Kent Hughes shouldn’t sacrifice everything he’s got either.

That said, giving away two first-round picks – and perhaps another quality prospect – to acquire Crosby makes sense.

The Canadiens already have good prospects, they have a good young core of players with good potential (as we saw last season) and we also know that there are no guarantees with a draft pick because science isn’t exact.

But I find it hard to believe that Kyle Dubas would be interested in making a deal like this. Because, in reality, it would look bad in Pittsburgh… in everyone’s eyes.

Overtime

– All the better.

– Indeed.

– Big transaction in the WHL.

– No surprise there.

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Top-2 of his crop: NHL scouts love Justin Carbonneau’s throw

With the draft just around the corner, it’s not hard to see how much of the hockey world’s media attention is focused on this event.

That’s why it’s a good idea to consult Grant McCagg’s Recrutes guide these days. The former Canadiens scout puts many hours into a comprehensive guide, and talks to many people in the business to get it right.

I urge you to get your hands on it. You can do so by clicking here, for those interested.

In light of my reading of his guide, there’s one element in particular that stood out to me and that will no doubt be of interest to those who follow QMJHL prospects. We’re talking about an aspect of the game in which Justin Carbonneau excels.

And that is? His shooting.

According to the scouts McCagg spoke to, only one player in the 2025 crop has a better shot than Carbonneau. We’re talking about Michael Misa, who is no celery stalk.

The 2025 prospects are ranked in many ways. But to see a Québécois so well placed in such an important category is a good sign for him.

Will the Habs draft him in four days? Possibly, considering that Bob McKenzie, who is hip as hell, has Justin Carbonneau 16th on his list for Friday.

Of course, even if Carbonneau has a good shot and great skills on the ice, that doesn’t mean that all aspects of his personality are necessarily appealing to the Habs.

And when it comes to the Canadiens’ picks (if they keep them), maybe guys who are more to the liking of Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, Martin Lapointe, Nick Bobrov and the club’s scouts will be available.

Once again, I invite you to consult Grant McCagg’s guide to getting ready for the upcoming auction.

overtime

– Ouch.

– This isn’t the first time his name has circulated.

– Will he be on his way out?

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A full season at Laval for Jakub Dobes: Frank Seravalli opens the door

There’s been little talk of goaltending in Montreal this summer. Why not? Because the Canadiens have bigger fish to fry on the market, especially at the second line position.

But let’s talk a little about the goalies currently under contract to the Canadiens. What’s in store for each guy?

We’ll skip over Connor Hughes, who’s back in Switzerland, and Carey Price, who could be inducted into the Hall of Fame as early as tomorrow afternoon.

Samuel Montembeault will arrive at camp as the organization’s #1 goaltender. Next.

Jakub Dobes is a special case. After all, in his case, information goes in all directions, since he could very well try to fight for the #1 position in Montreal…

But he could also go to Laval.

According to what Frank Seravalli reported in a paper on NHL club goaltenders, should the Canadiens decide to go for a #2 goalie, Dobes could go to Laval.

The Canadiens are in the market for a goalie if they decide Jakub Dobes needs one more season in Laval. – Frank Seravalli

I can’t say I expect Dobes to go to Laval. But I also can’t say I’d be completely on the backside of seeing the young man go for mileage down there. A goalie’s development isn’t linear.

But in any case, it really looks like it’s over for Cayden Primeau downstairs. If the Habs want to make room to send Jakub Dobes alongside Jacob Fowler, who’ll have a good workload down there, that’s something, isn’t it?

I really feel that if the Canadiens sign a goalie (or even if the Rocket sign a goalie) next week, it’ll be a big clue to Dobes’ future.

And if he doesn’t, it’ll also be a clue as to who you’ll be able to see this summer at the Kevin Raphaël Classic.

extension

We said we’d talk about all the goalies who are contractually bound to the Canadiens. But one is missing: Jake Allen. The Habs are still withholding salary on his contract until July 1.

Frank Seravalli said something that will ensure that, no, we shouldn’t expect Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton to bring him back to town in the next few weeks.

It’s rare that a goalie who plays 30 games or so puts himself in a position to get a pay raise on his $3.85 million salary, but it shows just how much demand there will be for Jake Allen. – Frank Seravalli

What you need to know is that Allen will be the ONLY big-name free agent among goaltenders. Several teams will be looking for him to act as #2 luxury goaltender in 2025-2026.

Where will he go?

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Mike Matheson: if he’s not too greedy, he could stay in Montreal

A few weeks ago, Mike Matheson met with the Habs in Buffalo. The meeting, which lasted 90 minutes during the Combine, probably focused on the defenseman’s future in town.

He’ll be a free agent in a year’s time, after all: you’d think the subject would have come up.

In fact, there are so many left-handed defensemen in town that it’s logical to think that Matheson’s future is far from Montreal. Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle are here to stay, after all, and there are others in the pipeline.

That said, for the time being, Matheson still has a lot of value in town. He eats up big minutes in a tough role, and allows Hutson to shine offensively.

So, the situation is a little complex… but Mathias Brunet, in a piece for La Presse, talked a little about all this, and noted that if Matheson isn’t too greedy (in terms of his salary demands), there’s a world in which he could stay in town.

Remember, this is a project that could be of interest to the main player.

The Canadiens, who must have Hutson’s contract in mind at the moment, don’t necessarily want to overpay for Matheson. On the other hand, if the defenseman likes it here and is willing to leave some money on the table, there may be a way to reach an agreement.

On the other hand, in a world where we simply can’t, trading Matheson could be interesting for the Habs. There are very few good left-handed defensemen on the market this summer, so the Habs would be in a strong position.

And according to Brunet, a deal involving Matheson could yield “very interesting” assets for the Canadiens.

As things stand, the Habs have the upper hand with Matheson. Knowing that he could bring in big money on the trade market gives the team leverage in contract negotiations with the defenseman, who will have to be willing to make concessions if he wants to stay.

Because in reality, the Habs of 2025-26 would be much worse off without Matheson… but depending on what’s available, that could be a necessary evil, unless you see him willing to sign for less to stay in town beyond 2025-26.

overtime

– What will the Rangers do with their pick?

– Small contract in New York.

– Trevor Zegras wants to play center.

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“Kirby Dach, by some measures, is fitter than ever”

It’s looking more and more like there’s a real chance that Kirby Dach will be the Canadiens’ second center next year. The reality of the trade market makes it very difficult for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton to go after a true top-6 center, and we don’t expect the Habs to pay top dollar for a free agent either.

Especially since we don’t even know if a true top-6 center will be on the autonomous market.

Which brings us back to Dach, who is already in Montreal. Two years ago, Dach looked like a guy who would be a long-term fixture on the Montreal top-6… but injuries have cost him a ton of hockey in the last two years.

So, for the second summer in a row, there’s a lot riding on Dach. So right now, the Habs need some good news about their center.

And that’s just as well, because Arpon Basu, writing for The Athletic, has some pretty good news:

Dach’s rehabilitation is going very well. Some of his conditioning measures are higher than ever. – Arpon Basu

We know that this season, the forward’s fitness had been criticized. It was felt that he hadn’t arrived at camp in top form, and this may well have contributed to his difficult season (prior to his injury).

However, if Dach ever arrives fit and able to demonstrate that the player of two years ago still exists, it would be reassuring for the Habs. Dach isn’t a perfect fit (he’s right-handed, like every other center in town apart from Alex Newhook), but in an NHL where finding good center players is a mission impossible, a Dach comeback would really help the Canadiens.

The Habs would need Dach to become their Dylan Strome, a center who is experiencing a late bloomer after a difficult first few years. Perhaps the season just ended was the wake-up call Dach needed.

We’ll see what happens at fall camp, but Dach will have to be ready to help his club’s cause. And the good news is that he seems to be taking it seriously.

Overtime

– Here are the Habs’ picks for the upcoming draft.

– I think so too.

– A major step forward in the project.

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Transaction: habs is (very) aggressive on the market, but…

This morning, colleague Charles-Alexis Brisebois penned a text in which he asserts that this week is the most important of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s reign in Montreal. And in that respect, he’s right: if there’s to be a big deal, this is the week it’s likely to happen.

And if there isn’t, the club has two first-round picks at its disposal on Friday, plus another 10 to be used the following day in the other six rounds.

But ideally, we know that in an ideal world, the club would use at least one of these two picks to improve in the immediate future. Getting a second center, for example, is something the Habs could really use.

And that’s why it’s not particularly surprising to hear from Eric Engels(Sportsnet) that the Habs are very aggressive on the trade market… but the Habs’ reality is that it’s not easy to be a buyer.

Because in reality, apart from the Penguins, the other 31 NHL teams are at least partial buyers. And at least a dozen of them are looking for a top-6 center.

All of which means that, more and more, we should expect the Habs to use their two first-round picks on Friday… because nobody really wants them. Just about everyone’s goal is to have a better team on the ice in 2025-26, not 2028-29 .

And already this year’s 16th and 17th picks are worth less than usual this year…

What we feel right now is that the Habs are in just about every race. We know he talked to the Ducks about Trevor Zegras before the latter moved to the Flyers, but even then, the Habs saw him as a winger.

Because the reality of the market is that there are no center players to trade. It costs an arm and a leg to go out and get one, and the Habs aren’t necessarily prepared to overpay to solve that problem right now.

IF the club drafted 16th and 17th on Friday, which is the increasingly likely scenario, it wouldn’t be for lack of trying. The market just isn’t right for the Habs right now, and this is the first time the management duo has had to deal with that reality.

Overtime

– Enjoy!

– Your prediction?

– Gavin McKenna: it would come down to Penn State and Michigan State.

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Justin Carbonneau: Bob McKenzie puts him ahead of the Habs on his list

The NHL amateur draft is just days away. At the time of writing, the Habs have the 16th and 17th picks for Friday night… and we wonder what they’ll do with those two.

Ideally, they’d use them to pick up reinforcements more immediately, but no one seems to want to be on the other side of this deal.

So, until we have proof to the contrary, we have to assume that the club will use these two picks. And today, Bob McKenzie, who is (by far) the most well-connected informer about the draft, released his final rankings of prospects for the draft.

It’s not a mock draft, but a ranking of prospects based on what McKenzie hears. But usually, this ranking is the closest to reality.

That’s why it’s interesting to see that the 16th-ranked player is Justin Carbonneau. Because that’s the Habs’ selection rank.

We know that in Montreal, Carbonneau is a popular player with fans. We don’t know if that’s necessarily the case with Habs management(and there’s reason to doubt it), but we do know that they’re good at hiding their game.

And we know that, according to David Ettedgui, if the Habs ever keep their two picks, Carbonneau will definitely become a member of the Canadiens.

For those interested, we also note that at #17, McKenzie places Jack Nesbitt, a big left-handed center who could eventually play on a top-6 team if he improves his skating stroke. That, too, would fill a need in Montreal.

Note that McKenzie ranks Carter Bear, another popular name in Montreal, 14th. As for Caleb Desnoyers, he’s ranked 5th… but according to McKenzie, some put him 3rd, while others put him 9th.

And that’s just like many of the prospects in the top-10: it looks like we can expect some surprises on Friday night… except at number one: it’ll be Matthew Schaefer who will be the Islanders’ choice.

Overtime

– What an image.

– Signing in Calgary.

– Sad news in the NBA.

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Trevor Zegras: the Habs saw him as a winger (and he wasn’t the only one)

This morning, Elliotte Friedman reported that Trevor Zegras was a name to watch in the NHL. There was more and more talk about the man who’s been the subject of trade rumours for years… and he said it could happen “this week”.

And in the end, it did… an hour later: Zegras headed for Philadelphia.

For the Canadiens, who were in the running for Zegras (and have had him in their sights for some time now), the club must now look elsewhere to add talent to their forward group. They’re still looking to surround Ivan Demidov, but Zegras clearly won’t be the man for the job.

On the other hand, what we’re learning from Marco D’Amico is that the Habs didn’t see Zegras as their solution at second center for one simple reason: they see him as a winger (not a center).

And it’s not the only one: many other teams do too.

So, in an NHL where just about everyone is looking for reinforcements at the center position, Zegras will have cost… Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in the next draft and a 4th-round pick a year from now. The Flyers, who see Zegras as a guy who can play center or wing, have sniffed out a bargain.

Try to get a center at that price this summer: the other GMs will laugh at you. The Flyers, on the other hand, took a gamble with a player who could play there, and gave almost nothing in return.

Because while everyone wants center players, it’s not the same for wingers. And if the vast majority of the league sees Zegras as a winger, that explains why the market was so poor for his services.

The question now is to see who else the Habs could possibly turn to in order to fill their need at center. Er when you look at the options, you realize that there are very few, if any.

Someone is going to have to make sure that Kirby Dach arrives in shape for the next camp, let’s say.

Overtime

– Note to self.

– That’s right.

– He’ll probably go to the All-Star Game thanks to the GM of a rival team.

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Trevor Zegras traded to Flyers

Trevor Zegras was the talk of the hockey world this morning. We knew his name was one to watch… and that the Habs were in the mix.

He wasn’t the only team in the mix, but he was there. And we knew that the club had been interested in his services in the past.

The whole thing quickly unblocked, and Zegras was traded.

That said, it’s not to Montreal: he’s headed for Philadelphia.

He’ll be joining Matvei Michkov there.

More details to come…