Author: Dose

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Michael Hage could (really) see himself playing with Ivan Demidov

The Canadiens are still looking for a second center to play alongside Ivan Demidov.

Although the Russian is having a good rookie season with 17 points in 21 games, it seems he could score even more with the right player to pivot his line.

Let’s just say that, with a center capable of complementing him, Demidov would probably currently be in first place for the Calder race [Atl link].

Currently, that task falls to another rookie, Oliver Kapanen, and while he’s doing well with 11 points including 7 goals in 21 games, it’s not an ideal situation.

The solution to the Habs’ center problem, at least in the medium term, may well be Michael Hage.

In an article by Nicolas Cloutier published today on TVA Sports, we learn that the University of Michigan player would like to play alongside Demidov.

Hage loves watching the Russian forward and often thinks, with great enthusiasm, about the possibility of playing with him.

So far, the Ontario native is enjoying a very good second season in the NCAA with 20 points, including nine goals, in 16 games.

What’s more, Hage puts a lot of effort into improving the lesser facets of his arsenal, such as his play without the puck, his one-on-one battles and his face-offs. These are all important elements in being a good NHL center.

In particular, the CH prospect works closely with Paul Byron, who analyzes the young player’s performances and communicates with him regularly.

In fact, we could see Hage arrive in Montreal as early as this season.

Once he’s finished his season with Michigan, he could join either the Canadiens or the Rocket, but only one of the two teams (due to the collective agreement). The Habs will then have to decide whether he’ll play the rest of the season (and the playoffs) in Montreal or Laval.

What’s more, the Wolverines could play for a long time as one of the favorite teams to win the national title, and their season could run until April 11.

Bringing in a young player so late in the season isn’t ideal, and Demidov’s case last year was exceptional.

However, if Michigan’s season ends quickly and the context is right in Montreal, the Demidov-Hage combination could be just what we’re looking for this year.

Overtime

– Indeed.

– An option for the Habs?

– Back soon?

– What a game!

– He knows the situation.

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Goalkeepers: the Habs look in-house to solve their problems

The subject of goaltending has been a hot topic in Montreal over the past few weeks. The club is struggling in front of the net, which means they’re missing out on a lot of games despite a fairly potent offense.

And Martin St-Louis is clearly fed up with the subject coming up again and again.

Jakub Dobes had a good night’s work on Saturday, which calmed things down in the last few days. But in reality, the numbers don’t lie: the Habs rank last in the NHL for goaltending efficiency this season.

Sooner or later, then, we’re going to have to start thinking about solutions. And according to Elliotte Friedman, the club’s priority in this matter is not to complete a transaction to obtain a goaltender.

In fact, according to Friedman, the Habs want to start by trying to find solutions internally. And obviously, the easiest would be to get Dobes and Samuel Montembeault back in the game.

But if not, a recall from Laval seems the most likely scenario.

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Obviously, Jacob Fowler’s name is getting a lot of attention. We know the young goalie has a lot of promise, and seeing him break it down in the AHL this season suggests he may be ready for a recall.

That said, it’s more likely that Kaapo Kahkonen will be the eventual recalled goaltender. He was signed to be the club’s third goaltender, and recalling him wouldn’t interfere with Fowler’s development.

In the short term, recalling Kahkonen makes more sense.

I get the impression that the Habs will be desperate to avoid recalling Fowler in order to let him play a full year in Laval. After all, that’s what will be most beneficial for his development.

And even Dobes, who was recalled rather quickly, had spent a year and a half in Laval before getting his first taste of the NHL, you know.

Overtime

– Joel Quenneville is probably ahead of him. Roy is an interesting candidate, though.

– That’s right.

– Interesting.

– Conor Garland could be traded.

– His comments today are not going down well.

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“I’m convinced that Mike Matheson will get $9 million a year”

On July 1, Mike Matheson will become an uncompensated free agent. The defenseman, who will be 32 at the time, will have one last chance to sign a big NHL contract.

It’s safe to assume that his next pact will be worth more than $39 million, the amount he earned during the eight years of his current deal.

Obviously, Montreal would like to keep Matheson in town. He plays an important role for the Habs… but the club will need Matheson to be willing to leave money on the table in order to keep him. Because if he does achieve autonomy, the biggest offer on the table won’t be from the Habs, who have already invested heavily in their brigade.

And Antoine Roussel, for his part, expects Matheson to make lots and lots of money on his next contract, as he discussed on the Sortie de zone podcast:

I’m convinced that Mike Matheson will get $9 million a year. – Antoine Roussel

Obviously, it’s an amount that’s bound to make people sit up and take notice. We’re talking about an annual salary that would be higher than that of Lane Hutson, but slightly lower than that of Noah Dobson.

We’re talking about different cases in the sense that Matheson will be as free as a bird (unlike the other two, who weren’t yet when they signed their contracts), but it’s still a staggering amount (with which not all panellists agreed, it should be noted).

That said, Matheson will indeed have a ton of leverage if he hits the market. He will, after all, be one of the few big names available… and more importantly, one of the few impact defenders on the market. John Carlson, Rasmus Andersson and Jacob Trouba are the others.

Beyond the exact number, what’s clear is that Matheson (who’s having a big season, remember) will be in a position to secure a real big contract. And if he wants to stay in Montreal, he’ll have to be prepared to leave money on the table.

And even if the two sides don’t want to negotiate in public, hearing Matheson say that talks aren’t progressing (as Richard Labbé notes in the podcast) isn’t a great sign either.

Overtime

– It’s understandable.

– Well done.

– Very impressive.

– Brady Tkachuk nears a return.

– What do you think?

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Alexandre Texier: his former Saint-Louis teammates praise his (great) talent

It’s now been 24 hours since Alexandre Texier joined the Habs organization. The Frenchman, whose contract with the Blues has been terminated, has decided to come and finish the season in Montreal.

And the Habs, who have a ton of injured forwards, are getting their hands on a guy who brings depth to town.

That said, there are those who believe Texier can be more than that. And among them are… the people who worked with him in Saint-Louis.

In an article for LNH.com, Jean-François Chaumont quotes Texier’s former Blues teammates. And whether it’s Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou or Mathieu Joseph, there’s one thing that stands out: his great talent.

Thomas, in particular, gave him a lot of love in that respect.

What’s even more interesting, though, is that Blues coach Jim Montgomery also concurred, noting that Texier is loaded with talent and capable of playing with a team’s best players.

We’re talking about the same coach who didn’t let him play with the Blues. It’s… interesting, and makes you wonder why he wasn’t playing.

Thomas, meanwhile, has his own idea, claiming that Texier was never able to find his place in the Blues’ system. And in reality, this will also be his challenge in Montreal: he’ll have to find a way to make himself indispensable.

Right now, it’s easier to be indispensable with so many injured players in the infirmary. But sooner or later, Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook will be back… so that only leaves a few weeks for Texier to prove he can be a long-term regular in town.

Overtime

– Speaking of the Wolf.

– Love this.

– Attention all interested parties.

– Flames: if the club sells, it will be in moderation.

– Whew.

– Right.

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“The Canadiens have a pile of good young talent and Kent Hughes is willing to pay.”

There’s one quote I can’t get out of my head about the Canadiens. What quote?

I’m talking about the time Kent Hughes said that to improve his club, he would consider overpaying in order to achieve his goal of improving the Montreal Canadiens.

That’s quite a quote.

What I like to keep in mind is that this quote was reported in October, when everything was going well for the Canadiens. Things have changed since then. #Injuries

Since this wasn’t the first time Hughes had said this, I really don’t think he’s about to make a mistake by overpaying for the wrong guy at the wrong time.

But I like the quote because everyone knows that the Canadiens want to improve these days. Everyone knows that Kent Hughes is on the phone.

And it’s in this context that Darren Dreger’s words on the Barn Burner podcast resonate.

“The Canadiens have a pile of good young talent and Kent Hughes is willing to pay.” – Kent Hughes

In reality, this quote from Darren Dreger is further proof of what we know: there are too many buyers for the number of clubs that want to sell, right now.

There’s parity in the NHL…

(Credit: NHL.com)

With American Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s assumed that many clubs will realize that the playoffs are more dream than reality in 2026.

And maybe that could get the market moving. Perhaps…

overtime

– I’m really excited about this.

– Nice.

– Logan Mailloux returns to the game.

– File to follow.

– Here’s one that could sell…

– What do you think?

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It’s amazing how dominant the Avalanche are this season: good luck to the Canadiens this week!

It’s crazy to say, but the Avalanche don’t miss Mikko Rantanen these days.

It was certainly different last spring, when Rantanen played a small part in his former club’s playoff elimination in the colors of the Dallas Stars…

But not right now.

Because right now, Martin Necas has adequately replaced Mikko Rantanen as the club needs to move to the next level.

Necas, who recently extended his contract in Colorado, is helping Nathan MacKinnon (who currently has 37 points) stay at the top of the NHL scoring charts.

Right now, everyone in Denver is doing what they need to do, and that’s putting the club in first place overall in the National League.

But there’s more to it than that. The club, which has won its last nine games, has just one setback in 60 minutes this season. Its 16-1-5 record in 22 games is… impressive.

The Avalanche have the best differential in the league (plus-38), the most goals scored (88), the fewest goals allowed (50) and the most regular season wins (15) in the league.

With 37 points, Colorado is seven points ahead of the Hurricanes and Stars, who have 30 points and are therefore in second place. And if you take seven points off the Stars’ and Canes’ 30, you’re down to… 25th place, where you’ll find the Panthers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

So, in a league where there’s a motton of clubs in close proximity to each other, the Avalanche are winning solidly in the King of the Mountain game.

Understandably, it’s in the playoffs that the club will have to win to erase the failures of recent years. But you can’t win NHL playoff games in November, can you?

The Avalanche will have to improve their powerplay (15.7%, good for 24th in the NHL) soon… but with numbers like that, nobody’s really worried.

Remember that the Canadiens will face the Avalanche on Saturday afternoon. It’s going to be a big challenge, since no one can compete with the Avalanche right now.

(Credit: NHL.com)

It won’t be an easy challenge. The Avalanche are proving that even on the road, nothing is too much trouble. The club just blanked the Preds and Hawks in 24 hours… in two different cities far from Denver. Imagine how hard it is to beat them at home…

The Canadiens will arrive in Colorado after Friday’s game in Vegas. The visitors won’t have much time to adjust to the air pressure… and they’ll have to face a club that gives NOTHING away on the ice.

(Credit: NHL.com)

Would you be surprised if Jakub Dobes got the start in Utah and Denver, leaving the game against the Golden Knights to Samuel Montembeault?

Either way, it won’t be easy on Saturday against the Avalanche, who will be sporting their Nordiques jerseys.

overtime

– Interesting.

– Really?

– Coming up.

– Penguins dominate powerplay.

– News from the waivers.

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Montreal’s new mayor is a Quebec Nordiques fan

The least you can do in political rap is represent your world.

Ruth Ellen Brosseau, parachuted into a county that isn’t theirs and winning because of Jack Leyton’s orange wave, doesn’t make for a very good story, in my opinion. I know some people like it, but it goes so far against what politics should be…

An elected official has to be able to represent the people who elected him well, so staying in your riding is a must in my opinion. People from Lévis trying to become mayor of Quebec City just doesn’t cut it..

In Montreal, what you want in a mayor is someone who lives there. Otherwise, how canhe/she really know what the city’s citizens are going through in terms of garbage collection, bike paths or violence once the sun goes down?

Where am I going with this?

Let’s just say that I was startled this weekend when a friend sent me a recent post by Geneviève Guilbault… a post in which Soraya Martinez Ferrada is seen proudly holding a Quebec Nordiques vest, not out of lost defiance as is sometimes customary between the two cities, but because she’s a Nordiques fan.

Remember, she’s only just been elected.

Maybe it’s just me, but the mayor of Montreal should be a Montreal Canadiens fan and the mayor of Quebec a Quebec Nordiques fan. You don’t have to tear your head off or follow the club’s daily activities like Marc-Olivier Cook and Pat Guillet, but simply not rooting for the other city’s team will do the trick..

Martinez Ferrada was born in Chile and immigrated to Montreal at the age of eight. She’s a true Montrealer. I don’t see the connection to the Nordiques..

In fact, the only connection is probably marketing; I’m pretty sure she did it just to get the love of Quebecers.

Except, Soraya, your world is the people of Montreal who elected you, not the people of Quebec! Leave them to Bruno Marchand, and be more delicate/sensitive in your marketing moves…

Note that I had no problem seeing a girl from Rouyn-Noranda become mayor of Montreal; Valérie Plante had been living in Montreal for 20 years when she was appointed mayor. Before you criticize me for being racist or whatever..

Extension

– I’m willing to believe that Jakub Dobes isn’t having a great November, but with Samuel Montembeault’s recent “performances” – and Dobes’ very good game on Saturday night at the Bell Centre – I don’t see how Martin St-Louis couldn’t decide to go with this one on Wednesday in Salt Lake City. Still, Dobes has a 7-2-2 record so far this season.

I don’t want to see Montembeault in front of the Habs net in Utah…

– The Rocket has lost several players in recent weeks, players recalled by the Canadiens following the numerous – and serious – injuries in Montreal. Nevertheless, Pascal Vincent still finds a way to win. The Rocket (12-6-0) are in first place in the North Division this morning. Laurent Dauphin is the league’s top scorer and both Laval goalkeepers are off to superb starts. Cool!

– Ben Roger, one of the mainstays of 91.9 Sports / BPM Sports, recently launched a new project: 24 flambeaux. He takes us on a journey back in time, savoring the many accomplishments of the Habs over the decades. You can listen to the first two episodes HERE or during rebroadcast periods on 91.9 Montreal FM, especially on weekends.

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Joshua Roy sold to Laval Rocket

We knew it was a possibility, but now it’s official.

Just before hitting the road, the Canadiens announced that Joshua Roy would not be staying up there. He was traded to the Laval Rocket at the last minute.

No other personnel moves were announced today.

Roy had been in Montreal for a few days, due to the wave of injuries affecting the Canadiens. He played in the November 17 and November 20 games.

This morning, he was at practice because of the uncertainty surrounding Jared Davidson (who is not 100%) and Alexandre Texier, who has just arrived in town.

Roy was always likely not to follow the Canadiens down the road. And the fact that the Canadiens picked the other 13 guys simply means that all 13 can potentially play on Wednesday.

Otherwise, Roy would have been on the plane with the others.

This means that the 18 skaters who helped the Canadiens win on Saturday and the two newcomers (Adam Engstrom and Alexandre Texier) are with the Canadiens for their week on the road.

Details to follow…

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Alexandre Texier and Adam Engstrom extra: Martin St-Louis refuses to talk about their use

Let’s talk about practice.

As we mentioned this morning, there were no fewer than 14 forwards at practice. The uncertainty surrounding Alexandre Texier (who has just arrived) and Jared Davidson (who is not 100%) means that Joshua Roy is still there.

But unless only 11 other forwards are healthy, I don’t think Roy will play on Wednesday.

So it’s not surprising that Roy, in a group currently overflowing with extras, wasn’t on a regular line at today’s practice.

In fact, the 12 forwards and six defensemen who played against Toronto on Saturday were on a regular line / duo today in Brossard. Will this be the case again on Wednesday?

So Adam Engstrom and Alexandre Texier, like Joshua Roy, were extras today.

And let’s just say that at the press conference, the Canadiens’ head coach wasn’t exactly in a hurry to say when the two newcomers might play.

There’s finally some internal competition – and that’s a good thing.

Not only do we not know when the two guys might play, we also don’t know who the two new guys might play with, if they’re called upon to jump on the ice Wednesday.

Nothing is clear at the moment.

I think Texier may take a few days before starting to play… but I wouldn’t wait too long before actually playing Engstrom.

It should also be noted that St-Louis doesn’t know Texier and doesn’t want to judge him before getting to know him well. We’re talking about the player, but also the man.

St-Louis knows, however, that the Frenchman has potential.

overtime

– Oliver Kapanen plays great hockey.

– Of note.

– Obviously.

– Yes.

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Here’s why Joshua Roy is at practice this morning

This morning, the Canadiens were back in Brossard for practice.

The club will be playing on the road this week (Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Denver are on the menu), and it will be important to build on Saturday night’s game to deliver a strong performance.

What were we looking out for in practice?

1. Alexandre Texier was on the ice for the first time with his new Canadiens teammates. He’ll be wearing #85 with the Canadiens.

Here are the first images of the Frenchman in practice with the Habs.

2. Joshua Roy was also present. That’s no surprise, considering he wasn’t traded to the Rocket… but it does mean the Canadiens currently have 14 forwards in town. That’s more than usual, even on the eve of a road trip.

Will all 14 go on the road? Are all 14 relatively healthy?

If everyone can play the Mammoth, we assume Roy is 14th in the pecking order. But as long as he’s in town, his chances of playing with the Habs… exist. Theoretically.

He and Florian Xhekaj helped Eric Raymond warm up the goalies this morning.

In reality, the plan is to see how Jared Davidson (who isn’t 100%) and Alexandre Texier (who has only just arrived) feel before making a decision about Roy.

That’s why the Québécois is still with the Canadiens. But what’s true on the heels of practice won’t necessarily be true when the guys get on the plane…

3. Adam Engstrom, who was promoted yesterday, also practiced for the first time as an official NHL player. Will he play on Wednesday?

And if so, at whose expense?

overtime

– Interesting.

– Of note.

– To be continued.