Author: Dose

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Jets: Jonathan Toews could earn up to $7 million in 2025-2026

This morning, we learned that Jonathan Toews would be making a return to action next season in a Jets uniform. The Manitoba native is coming home… and for the first time in his career, he’ll be wearing a uniform other than that of the Blackhawks.

The Jets have long been linked with the forward, and in 2025-26, it will finally become a reality.

We learned this morning that Toews has signed a one-year contract with a $2 million cap hit. But in reality, it’s a little more complicated than that, because there are some big performance bonuses in the deal.

In fact, the $2 million is the minimum salary Toews will receive, no matter what happens. But if we include all the bonus money, the bill could climb to… $7M.

Nothing less.

Basically, Toews can earn five different bonuses of $550,000 depending on how many games he plays this year. He’ll get one if he plays 20 games, another at 30 games, another at 40 games, another at 50 games and a final one at 60 games.

He’ll get even more money if he plays half the Jets’ games and the Jets make the playoffs (and go a long way). He’ll get $500,000 if he plays 50 games and the Jets make the playoffs, he’ll get $250,000 for every playoff round he wins in which he plays half the games, and he’ll add another million dollars if the Jets win the Stanley Cup and he plays half the games.

He can therefore earn $2.75 million in additional bonuses if he plays 60 games this season, regardless of the result. The other $2.25 million depends on his team’s performance (and the number of games he plays).

On the other hand, this amount is impressive for a player who, after all, hasn’t played in two years and, in his last NHL season, scored just 31 points (in 53 games). He was affected by illness, of course, but his game was in serious decline.

And usually, when a player misses two full seasons, he doesn’t break everything when he comes back.

And with bonuses that don’t depend on his number of points, for example, Toews could theoretically earn $4.75M this year by playing only 60 games, regardless of his impact on the team’s performance.

I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.

In Overtime

– News from Matthew Knies.

– Dan Muse has his assistants.

– New contract: Oilers to respect Connor McDavid’s timing.

– Hiring in the LPHF.

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“Bill, give me a contract!” brad Marchand won’t leave the Panthers

The Florida Panthers lifted the Stanley Cup on Tuesday night… and since then, the club has been on a tear. The guys are enjoying it… and they’re even showing Connor McDavid a lack of class.

I understand they like to be labeled the “bad guys”, but this might be a bit much.

And one of the guys having a lot of fun right now is Brad Marchand. The forward, acquired at the deadline, thanked the teams that let the players who helped the Panthers win the Stanley Cup go.

It’s worth remembering that Marchand will become a free agent in ten days’ time. And despite his age, it’s safe to assume that his big series means he’ll have the opportunity to break the bank if he so desires.

That said, Marchand has no desire to leave Florida. In front of the media this lunchtime, Marchand was asked what his message was for GM Bill Zito… and he was pretty clear:

Give me a contract! – Brad Marchand

It’s reminiscent of Sam Bennett last night, who said he wasn’t “going anywhere”. It’s not settled, but obviously that’s the player’s wish.

On the other hand, if both guys want to stay, they’re going to have to be willing to leave money on the table. Bennett may have to sign for $8 million a year in Florida, which is less than he could get on the open market.

Marchand, for his part, could be offered three years at more than $8 million a year on the independent market. I have a hard time seeing the Panthers, who already have quite a bit of money on their lot, making him an offer on par with what the Maple Leafs or the Mammoth could offer him.

We’ll see how all this develops, but the next 10 days will be very interesting to follow in Florida. There are some big deals on the table for Bill Zito, who probably has to wait for his players to finish sobering up before negotiating.

Or, in Marchand’s case, wait until he finishes serving the Blizzards at Dairy Queen.

Overtime

– The Canucks wanted Matt Duchene.

– Greg Cronin is leaving to practice with the Wild.

– Signature in Carolina.

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Zach Fucale: there were teams interested in the NHL this year

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Zachary Fucale in an interview. After talking about the Make Your Move project, we also discussed his career.

For those of you who have been following the Québécois’ activities over the past few weeks, you will have seen that the goaltender has changed teams in the KHL. After two years (including a final in the last few weeks) with Chelyabinsk Traktor, the Québécois is now in Minsk.

He has signed a two-year contract with the Dimano.

What you need to know is that the former Capitals goaltender enjoyed his two years with Traktor. He didn’t leave because he didn’t want to play in Chelyabinsk anymore, on the contrary.

He enjoyed playing for Traktor (Benoît Groulx’s 2024-2025 team), and reaching the final this year was special.

But the hockey business being what it is (with the salary cap and all the decisions made out of his control by management), he was forced to make a decision.

And for him and his family, it’s better in Minsk.

The goalie was also asked how close he came to returning to the NHL. After all, we know that his name has been bandied about in recent months for a position on the Bettman circuit.

It’s a very small sample, but in four career games in Washington, he’s held his own (1.75 average, .924 efficiency). And no one will take away his early-career feat.

The answer is that there was interest this year. His success in the KHL opened some eyes.

But the problem with a potential return to North America to make his mark in the NHL is the timing of the free agent period in Russia versus North America.

In reality, since contracts end on May 30 in the KHL and July 1 in the NHL, he would have waited a month to see if he ever got a good offer in the NHL.

The problem? If it hadn’t worked out here, he’d probably have lost a #1 position elsewhere in the KHL and taken a less interesting role in Russia by July.

There were teams interested.

To have waited, I would have taken a risk of losing what was available. It was a gamble I didn’t want to take. – Zach Fucale

Now he finds himself in a position that makes him happy. He loves his life in Russia (even if it’s not always easy because of the language) and he can play top-level hockey.

And clearly, it suits him. He’s somewhere else now, 12 years after being drafted by his childhood team in the second round in 2013.

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Party: Panthers stars must stop disrespecting Connor McDavid

On paper, the Panthers have a lot of respect for Connor McDavid.

Aleksander Barkov once said he was the most talented player he’d ever seen. Matthew Tkachuk thinks McJesus will win the Stanley Cup at some point in his career.

In short, the guys say what needs to be said… when they’re in work mode.

But for the past few days, when the party started after beating Connor McDavid’s Oilers for the second time in as many seasons, the guys have been getting away with it.

It started when Sam Reinhart (who will be playing with McDavid in the Olympics, last I heard) asked a fan on camera to shut the hell up when he asked Sasha Barkov what he thought of the Oilers player.

That’s a weird one.

Clearly, even though Barkov said they were just drinking water, Reinhart was obviously afraid of what his captain was going to say. Otherwise, he’d have just let him talk, right?

And what about Matthew Tkachuk?

Sober, he sees McDavid winning the Cup one day. But when the party’s in full swing, he grabs a microphone to say “who the hell is Connor McDavid?” to a cheering crowd.

I don’t like to see the Panthers knock a guy to the ground. The Oilers captain must be destroyed right now and unless he’s done something we don’t know about, he doesn’t deserve to be planted the same in celebration.

It’s a shame, because there’s a way to celebrate without crossing the line.

And for a club that sings the praises of its team chemistry, you realize that the guys are good at holding their own, but they’re lousy winners in reality.

It seems the examples are piling up… and not for the right reasons.

I figure Paul Maurice must be as perfect as everyone says he is, since as soon as he’s no longer around, his players suddenly have no class and can’t behave.

I find this rather ordinary since, when you think about it, there are ways to celebrate in the right way. Brad Marchand at Dairy Queen, for example, is absolutely perfect.

You don’t have to laugh at the Oilers to have fun.

If this keeps up, we’ll really have to wonder if McDavid won’t want to go to Tampa Bay (with a top-notch goalie) to go make the Panthers swallow their words.

overtime

– Jonathan Toews is a happy guy.

– Greg Cronin in the AHL: he’s leaving to manage the Iowa Wild.

– Coming up.

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“If the Habs draft him twice, Justin Carbonneau will undoubtedly become a Montreal Canadiens.”

Every June – it’s the summer solstice today, which means the days will start getting shorter tomorrow – David Ettedgui uses his contacts to share the news he hears behind the scenes.

Hostile offer for Sebastian Aho… deal for a young forward… willingness to draft Matvei Michkov Ivan Demidov… Georges Laraque’s former agent has often been right this time of year in the past.

Early this morning, Ettedgui published a long tweet in which he released several interesting tidbits.

For Canadiens fans, here’s what there is to know about the things David Ettedgui has been hearing over the past few weeks:

1. Justin Carbonneau’s stock is down across the NHL. Why is that? Ettedgui doesn’t say. However, I was told just a few days ago that Carbonneau’s character and dedication without the puck doesn’t appeal to all hockey executives. However, should the Canadiens make the first round twice on June 27, Ettedgui is convinced that Carbonneau will be wearing a blue-white-red vest on the stage.

“If the Canadiens draft twice, Justin Carbonneau will without a shadow of a doubt become a Montreal Canadiens […] if the Canadiens draft just once, expect to see Carter Bear or Lynden Lakovic.”

If the Habs are talking 16th and 17th, Ettedgui sees them selecting Carbonneau and Lynden Lakovic.

Another Carbo (2.0) in Montreal in the next few years? A goal-scorer born in la belle province, wouldn’t that sell?

2. Kashawn Aitcheson and Jackson Smith should no longer be available at No. 16.

3. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton are reportedly actively looking to add a high-caliber player on draft day. That high-caliber player would probably be Sidney Crosby, a center..

Watch out, though! Utah, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Columbus and Los Angeles are also said to be trying to get their hands on a top-quality player, and could beat the Habs to the punch. There will be competition for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton…

4. The Canadiens could move up 4-6 spots and draft Roger McQueen, Radim Mrtka or Kashawn Aitcheson.

5. If Caleb Desnoyers is still available at #4 or #5, Kent Hughes could be tempted to trade with the Mammoth or Preds to move up into the top 5. But forget about a trade for one of the first picks or for another player ranked in the top 5.

Caleb Desnoyers will be a special player.
(Credit: QMJHL)

6. As I reported last week, Trevor Zegras is not dead in Montreal, but he’s not a priority for the Habs. We’d prefer to get our hands on a true second undisputed center.

It will be interesting to see what percentage of the information shared this morning by the BPM Sports columnist will be validated in ten days’ time. For now, all these revelations are interesting. But let’s wait and see…

in Overtime

– It was a busy day in MLB yesterday.

– To watch.

– He’s home.

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Jonathan Toews to join Winnipeg Jets

It’s done.

According to several sources, Jonathan Toews has made up his mind about the next step in his career. And it’s at home, with the Winnipeg Jets, that he will continue (finish?) his career.

Elliotte Friedman and Pierre LeBrun were the first to mention it.

As Friedman mentioned, the player can’t sign until July 1. But since he hasn’t been under contract with an NHL club for nearly 24 months, he can talk to clubs in the meantime, to give himself a head start on other free agents in the making.

That’s why learning that the veteran is coming to this country isn’t poaching.

We know that the Jets and the Avalanche were the clubs that came back most often in his case. In the end, he chose to return to his hometown, which is very interesting.

Obviously, he had already slowed down towards the end of his career in Chicago, and now he’s not getting any younger. Unless the fountain of youth is in Manitoba, we can’t expect him to perform like a rocket.

But he’s a good center who knows how to win in the playoffs. That can’t hurt in a club that’s good in season, but still looking for the recipe to get to the next level.

Seeing him in a Jets uniform instead of a Hawks one will be special. But he deserves to finish his career by playing at least one more year – and to have the chance to do it at home, that’s got to be cool for him.

extension

– Expect a one-year contract at a reasonable salary. He hasn’t come back to break the bank, but to keep playing and try to get his hands on a fourth ring.

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Canadiens’ draft target: the Habs will meet Alexander Zharovsky tomorrow

We’re a week away from day #1 of the draft.

Of course, we often talk about the first day of the draft – and rightly so – but not necessarily much about the following day. But it will still be very important for the Canadiens.

After all, in addition to picks #16 and #17, Kent Hughes, Jeff Gorton, Martin Lapointe and Nick Bobrov will (if nothing changes) have other cards up their sleeves on June 28.

  • Pick #41 (Penguins)
  • Pick #49
  • Pick #79 (Canucks)
  • Pick #81
  • Pick #82 (Devils)
  • Choice #108 (Red Wings)
  • Choice #113
  • Choice #145
  • Choice #177
  • Pick #209

That’s 12 total picks this year. Not bad for a playoff team…

The club is also doing its homework on the more distant picks, of course. And there’s one name that just came up that we’ll have to keep an eye on for next Saturday’s second round.

We’re talking about Alexander Zharovsky.

The Russian, represented by Dan Milstein (an agent renowned for representing the interests of Russian players), will meet with the Habs tomorrow at 11:30am. The agent himself said so on social networks – no doubt to the Habs’ dismay – in a story, as pointed out by Nicolas Cloutier.

Zharovsky is a 6’1 right winger who played junior hockey in Russia. He scored 24 goals and 26 assists (50 points) in 45 games for Ufa.

He also played seven playoff games in the KHL.

It’s interesting to note that Corey Pronman, who tried to project the seven rounds of the draft (you read that right) recently, placed the Russian 50th with the Devils.

The Canadiens will draft him 41st and 49th. So if he likes what he sees of the player tomorrow on the heels of Milstein’s camp in Florida, he could be in a position to select him. Unless, of course, he’s already out, which is very possible… or the club would rather draft someone else.

in Overtime

– A new assistant in Boston.

– Who are the big free agents? [NYT]

– Makes sense.

– He almost came back.

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Ontario’s Mason Marchment has all seven Canadian teams on his no-trade list

Yesterday, the Dallas Stars and the Seattle Kraken danced together. As reported yesterday, Mason Marchment became a member of Seattle’s lackluster lineup.

At $4.5 million a year for one more year, Marchment brings sandpaper to Seattle. And if it weren’t for the money, you’d think the Stars would have liked to keep him in town.

But the club needs room on lot and the player scooped it up.

One wonders why certain clubs (the Canadiens or the Maple Leafs, for example) didn’t get their hands on the player’s services. But keep in mind that Marchment has a list of 10 teams for whom he could refuse a deal.

And this morning, on BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie talked about the list.

On the morning show, with Anthony Deslauniers and Maxime Lalonde, the journalist said that his list of 10 teams includes… all seven Canadian teams.

Reminder: Marchment is not American. He was born in Ontario and began his career in Toronto.

Since the 2021 season, Marchment has been playing in tax-advantaged markets. We’re talking about Florida (2021 and 2021-2022 seasons) and Dallas, for the past three years.

He signed a $4.5-million-a-year contract in Dallas knowing full well that he was playing in a… tax-advantaged market. And listening to the discussion on the radio this morning, it’s no coincidence that he was traded to Seattle. It’s a bit like a return of the elevator.

Seattle is in the same boat as Sunrise and Dallas from a tax point of view.

Because, yes, signing a contract in such a market means agreeing to leave money on the table. Desaulniers did well to compare this to the contracts signed in Chicago by Ryan Donato and in Dallas by Matt Duchene

4 years and $4M AAV for Ryan Donato!

[image or embed]

– CHGO Blackhawks(@chgo-blackhawks.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 5:45 PM

Matt Duchene is staying with the Stars! ⭐

[image or embed]

– TSN(@tsnofficial.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 11:19 am

Let’s note that a player has the right to have the priorities he has, by the way. But the fact remains that it affects the way management in Canada does things.

And the contract Sam Bennett is lining up to sign in Florida will be further proof of that.

overtime

– Read more.

– Ducks: a club to watch for Jonathan Toews. [RG Media]

– The draft is a week away.

– Speaking of the draft.

– Interesting.

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Brad Marchand has been drooling over all his teammates’ former teams

We all agree that for Brad Marchand’s image, playing in Florida changed everything.

We knew he was a good player, of course, but the former Bruins captain was best known as a rat. That’s still the case, you may say, which is true.

But the public perception of Marchand has changed. Now, we’re talking about a playoff player and an important player in the culture of a club that aspires to great honors.

That said, Marchand was careful to remind us that, at the end of the day, a rat is still a rat.

While he was with his teammates on the heels of his club’s victory, he took to storytelling on his Instagram account. And he had a particular theme in his photos.

What theme? Thanking all his boys ‘ former teams for helping the Panthers build a club.

A photo of Sam Bennett? He thanks the Flames. A photo of the Bob? He thanks the Flyers and Blue Jackets. Everyone’s been there, even the Jets for Paul Maurice and Columbus for Bill Zito.

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A post shared by BarDown (@bardown)

Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart decided to add a little something extra.

How did they do it? By taking a photo of Marchand while he was at the heart of his quest against the entire NHL… and posting the photo with the inscription “thank you Bruins” along the way.

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A post shared by BarDown (@bardown)

I don’t feel like this will affect Marchand’s value on the autonomy market since a club that wants to sign Marchand knows exactly what they’re getting into. He’s just shown that again.

But I’m not sure all NHL executives are happy to see Marchand reminding everyone of some past mistakes. Because yes, in some cases, clubs have made mistakes.

overtime

– Of note.

– Ouch.

– No deferred money in the next collective bargaining agreement?

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Sam Bennett announces publicly that he will not leave the Panthers

You can’t blame the Panthers for not celebrating their second Stanley Cup triumph, anyway.

You’ve probably seen the images on social networks, but it’s clear that the Florida club’s players are living their best life. And they deserve to be.

Brad Marchand in particular is enjoying it in spades.

But yesterday, as the Panthers players celebrated en masse, Sam Bennett gave the Panthers fans on hand one more reason to have fun.

How did he do it?

By taking the microphone publicly, asking the crowd to let him speak… and emotionally saying he wasn’t going anywhere. This delighted the crowd, who exploded with joy.

Brennan Klak also reports that an “eight years” graphic appeared on a screen.

Already persistent in the rumor mill, Klak’s return to Sunrise for the next phase of his career is no longer in doubt.

We can expect confirmation soon. It remains to be seen how much Bill Zito and the player’s clan have obviously agreed on, but it’s likely to be around $7.5 or $8 million per season.

Bennett is on his X in Florida, the club is winning and everyone wants to keep him. I don’t see any good reason for him to want to leave this environment, let’s face it.

It now remains to be seen whether Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand will stay. Because those are obviously more complex issues.

overtime

– Wow.

– Alouettes win, but Davis Alexander injured.

– Shorter contracts on the heels of the next collective agreement?

– We love seeing this.