Author: Dose

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America’s future in international competition in the event of war

Things are not going well in the world.

The United States is in the middle of a conflict with Iran, and the situation seems to be getting worse by the day. At some point, the U.S. could go to war.

But if the U.S. does go to war, will it be banned from international competitions? That’s what happened with Russia, which invaded Ukraine. Since the war, Russian athletes have no longer been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games, nor in IIHF hockey competitions.

In an interview with TVA Sports’ Jean-Charles Lajoie, IIHF President Luc Tardif made it clear that such a situation involving the USA would give rise to a great deal of reflection.

To begin with, the main interest of Luc Tardif and his team is the safety of the competition and its athletes. Russia remains banned from international competitions because they generally take place on the European continent, where tensions are very high in relation to Russia.

A war between the USA and Iran might not force international competitions to ban the country. As Luc Tardif explains, the Americans were at war with Iraq, but they weren’t banned from the Olympic Games during that time.

It’s also important to understand that times change, and the vision of things is no longer the same. So it could be that the United States will suffer, unlike when it was at war with Iraq.

Another thing to note is that the next Summer Olympics will be held in the United States, in Los Angeles.

The organization of the Olympics is always extremely complicated, and it would take something seriously serious to have to completely relocate the Olympic Games. In any case, banning the host country from the Olympic Games would be madness.

Nor should we forget that Russia is banned because it is trying to take Ukraine by force. The United States would not go to war to control Iran, but rather to defend its allies in Israel.

There are a lot of “ifs” in this story, but the best we can do is hope that no war breaks out.

Overtime

– Speaking of trouble with the U.S..

– He helps the Oilers’ forward a lot.

– This is indeed exciting!

– Dubois stays in Montreal.

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Rumor mill: Bowen Byram in Vancouver to prepare Quinn Hughes’ departure?

The Canucks have their noses in the Bowen Byram file.

And there’s a reason why.

With the rumors surrounding Quinn Hughes and his future in Vancouver…

The club captain seems to be open to the idea of continuing his career under other skies, which is why the Canucks are currently evaluating the option of preparing his departure.

And that’s where Bowen Byram’s name comes into the discussion. The two guys have a rather similar style, but we know that Hughes has an extra notch on his belt…

Bowen Byram has impressive qualities in his game.

He skates well, he has an undeniable offensive flair, he’s dangerous when he has space in the opponent’s zone… That’s why I like to make the comparison with Quinn Hughes.

They have similar strengths.

That said, we know that the Sabres are going to ask a lot for the young defenseman’s services because he seems to be on the verge of blossoming in the NHL.

Will the Canucks be willing to pay the big price to get him out of Buffalo? That’s the question…

Clubs line up for Marchand

Brad Marchand had an extraordinary playoff run.

He could have won the Conn-Smythe, so good was he… but ultimately, seeing the NHL give the trophy to Sam Bennett wasn’t crazy either.

He deserved it, too.

But to get back to Marchand, we know that his file will be one of the most important on the market this summer.

And Darren Dreger went even further on TSN 1050… saying that “all the clubs” with Stanley Cup aspirations will be interested in the unloved player’s services.

Jets, Leafs, Panthers, Golden Knights, Kings, Avalanche, Capitals, Oilers…

These clubs will have a chance of going all the way next year, because they’ll still have an excellent roster.

That said, could we see Marchand sign with one of these teams?

His clan would like to get a contract worth $8.5 million per season, and maybe a mystery club will join the race to steal him on the open market.

But if he wants to give himself the best chance of winning another Stanley Cup… there aren’t a million options either.

Leafs explore their options on the trade market

There will be changes in Toronto this summer.

Mitch Marner seems to be on the verge of leaving the organization… and there’s also the John Tavares situation to keep an eye on.

I expect Tavares to stay in town, but not Marner.

In short, Toronto is already thinking about what’s next. And according to David Pagnotta, who was on the Leafs Morning Take podcast… right now, the Leafs are more interested in exploring the trade market than the free agent market.

I tend to think this is a good thing, because Toronto has a habit of giving out bad contracts on July 1.

We tend to spend because there are high expectations all the time… and we try to improve the team as much as possible – even if it doesn’t work every time.

Having said that, I really wonder what the management over there are thinking right now.

Do they want to find a replacement for Marner? Or do they want to improve the defensive brigade, which has been struggling for some time now?

If not, which players do we want to target with the Leafs?

One thing’s for sure: if it’s shaping up to be an interesting summer in Montreal… it’s the same in Toronto.

Overtime

– Same thing here!

– Retirement for Gabriel Dumont.

– Well done.

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Hage + Mailloux + choices #16 and 17 for Misa: “I’ll do it,” says the Snake

The Canadiens have what it takes to make a big splash this summer.

And it could happen at the draft if the stars align.

Kent Hughes has proven in the past that he likes to move at the draft…

The idea of the Canadiens moving up to draft a player with big potential has been discussed many times in the past.

But… for example, to move up into the top-5, we know it would be expensive. Very expensive, in fact.

For the good of the cause, Simon Boisvert spoke about the draft yesterday in a Q&A with journalist Mathias Brunet(La Presse).

And in the context of the Habs having their eye on Michael Misa, the Snake would be willing to give up Hage, Mailloux and the Habs’ two first-round picks to acquire him.

He’d be the best player of the 4. – Simon Boisvert

(Credit: LaPresse screen capture)

Michael Misa has talent coming out of both ears.

He scored 62 goals (134 points) in just 65 games this season in the OHL and has the tools to become one of the National League’s very good players.

The problem?

Misa is likely to come in between ranks 2 and 3… and I have a feeling that it would take even more than the Snake’s offer to have a chance of selecting him in Montreal.

On the other hand, we agree that it would also be a lot in one sense for a player who hasn’t yet played a single game in the NHL… although on the other hand, the Canadiens would also be giving away pieces who have no real experience in the big league.

Mailloux has played a few games here and there with the Canadiens… but that doesn’t mean he’s an established player, because he’s still developing in the National League.

For me, it’s really Caleb Desnoyers I’d be aiming for if I wanted to go ahead and select a high-quality player. But whether it’s Misa, Desnoyers, Porter Martone or name it… the chances of seeing any of these guys end up in Montreal remain slim, in the end.

Overtime

– Really?

– Wow.

– Corey Perry wants to stay in Edmonton.

– Enjoy your reading.

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There’s a reason the Ducks are reluctant to trade Trevor Zegras

Trevor Zegras didn’t have a great season.

In fact…

In fact, for two years in a row now, he’s failed to live up to expectations and his talent. His last two campaigns (15 points in 31 games and 32 points in 57 games) were disappointing, so much so that his name still finds its way into a thousand and one rumors.

But there’s a reason why the Ducks are reluctant to trade Trevor Zegras right now.

And it’s understandable: according to Frank Seravalli, it’s more complicated than ever right now… because the player’s value really isn’t that high.

As long as they’re willing to trade him for a pittance, the Ducks would rather take a chance and see him return to form.

Does this mean that the Ducks aren’t / won’t listen to offers for the flashy player?

No.

If a club comes in with a good offer and the Ducks like it, there could be a deal. But… there’s no GM in the National League who’s going to overpay for his services right now. And it’s perhaps this element of the discussion that indicates that Zegras will be back in Anaheim for next season, and that we may have to wait to see him change addresses.

Because, ultimately, it’s hard to believe that his future lies in California. The Ducks organization is growing young, Pat Verbeek wants to make a big splash on the market this summer because he has plenty of room under the payroll to maneuver, and sooner rather than later, there may be no room for Zegras at the club.

That may be the argument that has to be used to get him out of Anaheim on the cheap. I wonder if Kent Hughes will call Verbeek to sound out his interest in Z, who is one of Cole Caufield’s good chums… because at a lower price, the idea of going after him could be attractive when we know that the Habs want to add talent to their offense.

At the same time, it would be another “project”, and with the rebuild seemingly coming to an end, adding another guy like that wouldn’t help as much as picking up a quality player who’s already established…

Overtime

– McJesus wants to win.

– He’s had a great career.

– Interesting.

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“I’m not sure Jonathan Toews has what it takes to play in Toronto.”

Jonathan Toews is getting closer to a return to action.

We may soon know the identity of his next team, and right now, we know there are some clubs to keep an eye on.

Which ones? The Avalanche and the Jets, who have their noses in the matter.

Frank Seravalli(Daily Faceoff Live) also mentioned the Golden Knights in the veteran’s case. And it makes sense, since playing in Vegas is attractive for several reasons. For a guy at the end of his career who wants to have fun… joining a club like the Knights could be really interesting.

But Seravalli also mentioned the Leafs… even though he doesn’t see him signing there.

Because, according to the informant, Toews may not have what it takes to play in Toronto :

Frank Seravalli didn’t mean it in a bad way.

It’s just that…

It’s just that in Toronto, the market is really intense. Guys get singled out when things go wrong on the ice, and maybe at this point in his career, at 37, Toews just doesn’t feel like going through that.

Especially since it’s been a long time since he’s been able to play and rediscover the love of the game. Signing with the Leafs, being constantly criticized and pressured by the market isn’t going to give him a chance…

For Toews, it’s really the option of going to Winnipeg that really makes sense to me. He’s from there, the Jets have a good fan base, they have a good club on the ice… and they’ve been looking to get to the next level for a few years now.

Oh, and I’m also sure that in the player’s eyes, the idea of bringing home the Stanley Cup appeals to him.

Overtime

– Victoire re-signs Sandra.

– Oops!

– Sick.

– Big story to follow in the MLB.

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José Théodore believes that “we shouldn’t expect any major changes” in Montreal this summer

Kent Hughes’ plan for the summer is pretty straightforward.

The Habs GM is going to try to improve his team.

To that end, there’s a lot of talk about getting a player who can play in the top-6. A guy who can help the team right away and who can surround Ivan Demidov properly on the second unit to allow him to progress at his own pace.

But that doesn’t mean that Hughes is going to give away bad contracts or empty his bank of prospects or picks to do something huge.

We know the CH GM… and we know he’s got a plan.

That’s why, in the eyes of José Théodore, we shouldn’t necessarily expect a “coup de théâtre” this summer in Montreal.

The former CH goaltender talked about it on 98.5 FM: he doesn’t see Hughes getting his hands on a top player in the next few weeks.

It hasn’t been the Habs’ style over the past couple of years, since Kent Hughes has been here, to go after veterans who make a lot of money. – José Théodore

(Credit: Getty Images)

We know that Kent Hughes can be aggressive.

We’ve seen him make big trades in the past and he’s not afraid to move.

That said, that’s why I’m expecting some changes in town over the next few months. But, at the same time, it’s hard to wonder how much there will be because even if Hughes wants to improve his club, there will be other teams wanting to do the same.

And if there starts to be a bidding war here and there for the good players available… maybe that can put a spanner in the works for Kent Hughes.

All in all, the Canadiens’ summer will be interesting to follow, because we don’t really know what’s going to happen.

Will the CH draft with picks #16 and #17? Will Kent Hughes find the second center he wants? Will the CH GM sacrifice one of his prospects in a trade to get a quality player?

Answers to these questions in the coming weeks…

In Brief

– Of note.

– Can’t wait to see this.

– He’s top-15, in my book.

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Matt Duchene: four more years in Dallas

It’s done.

The Dallas Stars have extended Matt Duchene’s contract by four years. He’ll earn $4.5 million a year (from 2025 to 2029), which is pretty reasonable for a player of his stature.

Maybe that’s a lot, four seasons for a 34-year-old… but hey.

The Canadiens player tends to have good seasons and bad seasons, but seeing him stay in Texas is good news for the club, which saw Duchene score 82 points this season.

He only had six points in 18 playoff games, but hey.

Duchene has been in Texas for two years, ever since the Predators decided to part with his services. In 2023 and 2024, he signed a one-year contract at $3 million per campaign.

So he gets a pay raise and more guaranteed years. Sounds like a win-win deal to me.

The Stars may have trouble meeting the cap in 2025-2026. If Jim Nill signed the contract a little less than two weeks before the market opened, it’s because he liked the price.

And it’s always easier to get a good price in Texas, compared to other states… #Taxes

Let’s not forget that the Canadiens could have benefited from a center like him, but Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s interest in the veteran was never really believed.

He had visited Montreal in 2019, but Marc Bergevin was in charge of the club’s hockey operations.

Details to follow…

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Sam Bennett: Toronto would not be on his list

Sam Bennett is in a strong position. The Conn Smythe winner will be a free agent in a few days’ time, and he should be able to secure a very nice contract.

Will it be in Florida?

Everyone expects him to stay in Florida. He’s good there for all the reasons we know, and seeing him leave a paradise like Sunrise doesn’t seem to be in his plans. Wouldn’t a contract worth $7.5 million a year be fair?

But in life, you have to plan for the worst-case scenario.

If he and the Panthers couldn’t come to an agreement and he had to sign a contract with another team, which Bettman Circuit team could he sign with?

The first name that comes to mind is Toronto.

After all, the club will have some salary leeway on the heels of Mitch Marner’s foreseeable departure… and the Queen City club wants to bring in guys to win in the playoffs.

On paper, it just makes sense for the Ontarian, who has often been linked to the Maple Leafs in the event of a departure from Florida.

But according to hockey insider Andy Strickland, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t be on the forward’s list if he becomes a free agent on July 1.

Since Toronto is the only other city seriously circulated to potentially sign Bennett in the event of a change of address, I wonder where he’d go. He’d be in high demand, anyway.

Still, unlike Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, I’d put my money on Bennett returning to Sunrise.

overtime

– The Blue Jackets, on the market to watch.

– The final was not watched to its fullest in Florida.

– Rocket: veterans needed to take their game up a notch. [BPM Sports]

– The Blue Jays are doing well.

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LAST HOUR! CF Montreal hires Hassoun Camara and the GM of BPM Sports

Thunderbolt in the Québécois sports and media world!

Just a few minutes ago, Alexandre Panneton, GM of BPM Sports, announced to the company’s employees that he was stepping down as CEO. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Robert Ranger, current President and CEO of RNC Media Inc.

With the station having been up for sale for several months, and the fact that according to my information, the Arsenal Media group (Sylvain Chamberland) is in the final pre-purchase checks, it’s understandable that Ranger will be the link between Alexandre Panneton and the future buyer.

At the same time, Montreal CF announced two major appointments: Alexandre Panneton as VP and CEO, Communications, Marketing and Branding, and Hassoun Camara as Director of Strategic Communications.

Panneton and Camara will replace Samia Chebeir and Patrick Vallée, who were dismissed last week, as well as Charlotte Montminy, whose position was abolished earlier this year.

These are interesting hires for CF Montréal. Bringing back an alumnus of the club who is unanimously acclaimed in the city, and bringing in an executive who has metamorphosed the BPM Sports brand, is a major coup.

(Credit: Montreal Impact)

However, Panneton’s departure must be seen as yet another anxiety-inducing factor for BPM Sports employees. Let’s hope the skies clear for the Laurier Street gang (who may soon become the St-Lambert gang, by the way).

In closing, Nathan Saliba, Dominic Iankov and Fernando Alvarez are all expected to officially leave the club in the next few days..

George Campbell’s name has also been in the rumour mill for some time.

I can’t wait to see what additions are made when the mercato opens in about a month’s time. Because fans care a lot more about the additions than the departures..

Although Gabriel Gervais has made it clear: before adding, you have to be able to clean house.

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Alexander Romanov in the sights of the Bruins and Flyers

Three years ago, Kent Hughes traded Alexander Romanov to the Islanders for the 13th overall pick. It was the basis of the deal that set the stage for Kirby Dach’s arrival in town.

Lou Lamoriello, then the Islanders’ GM, had paid dearly for Romanov, whose entry-level contract had all but expired by the time the deal was completed.

The Russian signed a three-year, $2.5-million-a-year contract. And here we are three years later.

Mathieu Darche has some decisions to make. The Islanders’ new GM must decide whether to offer his defenseman a big contract or send him elsewhere.

Right now, the rumor is that Romanov could ask for between five and six million dollars a year.

I don’t know what Mathieu Darche and Patrick Roy think of all this, but I do know that if the club wants to listen to other teams, there’s a demand for the former Canadiens man.

The Bruins and Flyers, two teams that historically advocate a “Romanov-style” of play on the ice, are interested in Romanov. This is what Stefen Rosner (RG Media) reports on the subject.

We don’t know if the Islanders want to trade him, and we don’t know what Darche’s price would be in such a scenario. Rosner is talking about a late first-round or early second-round pick.

Romanov has really progressed since leaving Montreal, but he’s approaching autonomy and Lou Lamoriello paid a lot of money in 2022. It’s only natural that the potential price should be lower than in 2022.

I don’t think Darche necessarily wants to trade Romanov. But we know that the Bruins and Islanders are negotiating a lot together. Who knows how far this could go?

Could the Bruins’ seventh overall pick be on the line in a package that could include Romanov? Who knows.

overtime

– To be continued.

– Cody Fajardo will not face the Alouettes tonight. [98.5 FM]

– Interesting.

– Of note.

– I love it.