Author: Dose

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Michael Hage has gained weight: he now weighs 200 pounds

Michael Hage isn’t fooling around with his summer practice. The Canadiens prospect, who could be in Montreal in April 2026 if the stars align, knows that next season will be very important for him. And he wants to make the most of it. One of Hage’s goals is clearly to get stronger. He believes this will help him defensively, something he wants to work on in his second year in the NCAA. But he also wants to get stronger to be a proverbial hard-to-play-against player for his eventual move to the pros. To do this, Michael Hage pushes iron five times a week in the gym. Add to that the fact that he skates three to four times a week and has changed his diet, and it’s clear he’s serious this summer. #CommeIlSeDoitAs reported by Nicolas Cloutier, who reported on the subject for TVA Sports, Hage is up to 200 lbs. That’s 10 more than the last official measurements.

[content-ads]Repeatedly told how important it was for him to improve his game without the puck (which is, in fact, the majority of his time on the ice), he got the message.

Good for him!That’s also the importance of a second season in the NCAA: he won’t exactly be a rookie anymore, and he’ll be able to improve other facets of his game. He’s putting himself in a position to dominate. In my opinion, he’s also understood that any top-6 center in the NHL must have some defensive responsibility. And if Hage wants that chair in Montreal… So seeing him at 200 pounds is a good thing.[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Speak of the devil.

– It’s not going so well in L.A.

– That would be a nice addition, indeed.

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Contract: Lane Hutson and the Canadiens are confident of reaching an agreement

It’s August 14. Summer is in full swing and the weather is hot, but the question on everyone’s mind in Montreal is: is Lane Hutson about to sign a long-term contract with the Habs? That’s what people want to know. That… and just how much negotiating leverage Serge Savard has taken away from Canadiens management by calling the defenseman the most talented Hab in the club’s history since Guy Lafleur.

Lane Hutson, who will be a restricted free agent next July, has given himself the means, via his prowess on the ice, to sign a massive contract.

But as Marco D’Amico (rightly) points out, the fact that he’s a long way from full autonomy doesn’t help him. He’s right to bring this up (you can read his piece on the subject on the RG media site) because I’ve found, for weeks now, that people have been comparing Noah Dobson’s contract too much to Lane Hutson’s situation without taking this element into account.It’s crucial, though. #BargainingPower[content-ads]

But the question on everyone’s mind is how well negotiations are going between the Canadiens and Lane Hutson’s clan with a view to a contract. And according to D’Amico, things are going well at this level. The plan would be to sign long-term (six to eight years, in these waters) and not short-term. But the number of years and the amount are elements that have not yet been fully decided. That’s what’s holding things up. # Iwonder when the contract will become official. But reading the text from RG média, it seems that the matter could potentially be settled before camp. To be continued… [spacer title=’en rafale’]- Seen the same way.

– Stanley Cup: Sylvain Lefebvre is still hungry.[98.5 FM] – Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knaUMAfp5R4

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Bogdan Konyushkov compared to Alexandre Carrier

Bogdan Konyshukov is an intriguing prospect for the Montreal Canadiens. We don’t really get to see him play since he’s in the KHL, but we do know that he’s a right-handed defenseman with a rather frail frame (170 lbs.) despite his 6 feet.

We also know that he has a certain value on the defensive side, but we don’t really know much more than that. But what would be an interesting comparison to find out a little more about what to expect from the Russian defenseman.In the Eyes On The Prize podcast Habsent Mind, the subject was actually discussed.

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[content-ads]Reporter William Shoukri was asked what would be the best comparison for Konyushkov, and he replied Alexandre Carrier.I find that a very interesting comparison.The two defensemen aren’t the most flamboyant, but they’re a sure bet on the ice.

Shoukri added that Carrier has a better skating stroke, but Konyushkov has a better hockey IQ.

The Torpedo’s KHL product doesn’t really seem to have any weaknesses, without being incredible at anything (except hockey IQ, he seems to be well above average). Reliable defensemen are always nice to have in a team’s fold.During this episode of the podcast, the Russian’s trade value was estimated.

Although he wouldn’t be a high-value trade chip, according to Shoukri, he could still bring in a third-round pick, which would be a win for the Habs, who selected him 110th in 2023, i.e. in the fourth round.

And there’s nothing to stop him increasing his value with a good season in the KHL in 2025-26. His last campaign with Torpedo was a little disappointing, as he was more productive in the two previous seasons. He should have an important role in the line-up this season. It’s up to him to prove that he can be an NHL defenseman. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – To read.

– The Montrealer has a lot to be proud of.

– That had to hurt.

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Lane Hutson ranked 19th best defenseman by NHL Network

Lane Hutson has talent to spare, to say the least.Well, he doesn’t have to sell it, but that’s how much he’s got.Rarely have we seen such electrifying defensemen, let alone in Montreal. Of course, the name P.K. Subban quickly comes to mind forshowmanship, but Hutson is in his own class. Subban quickly comes to mind for the spectacle, but Hutson is in a class of his own.It’s good to see raw talent like Hutson’s. Even though he’s only had one season under his belt, he’s made a lot of eyes glaze over this season, and many see him becoming one of the NHL’s best offensive defensemen.

It seems a little early to say that, but his talent, his ease on the ice and his will to always improve will certainly make him an excellent defenseman. But where does he currently stand across the NHL? NHL Network has compiled its top-20 list of the league’s best defensemen, and Hutson has broken through the ranks: he’s ranked 19th.

[content-ads]Brock Faber rounds out the top-20: It just goes to show how much offensive talent the little Habs defenseman has to offer. Mikhail Sergachev, Devon Toews and Adam Fox are 18th, 17th and 16th respectively. But Hutson isn’t just a one-dimensional player. He knows how to use his stick defensively, as well as being extremely intelligent in positioning himself and anticipating the play. Many wondered whether he would create a ton of turnovers and be a burden in his own zone. He’s only 21, so there’s no doubt he’ll create turnovers, but he’s far from being a defensive liability. Add to that his incredible, well above-average vision, a skating stroke that freezes opponents and velvet hands, and you’ve got quite an arsenal for a 21-year-old defenseman. He doesn’t have a powerful shot, but he knows how to direct well-placed pucks towards the net to create chances.He’s actually working on his shot this summer.

If he can improve his shot, he’ll certainly be a threat and terrorize opposing players. With a better shot and experience, he’d certainly be a Norris Trophy contender sooner rather than later.

[spacer title=’Overtime’] – Well.

– To read.

– For ball fans, go listen to this.

– When it counts, it counts.

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Expectations for Demidov: If he passes the 60-point plateau in 25-26, it will be a success

Ivan Demidov is a player with the skills to become a star in the National Hockey League. We saw his talent in his very first NHL game: the Russian collected two points in his first period in the big league, and he did it in fine style.That said, we know he has what it takes to succeed.

Expectations will be high in his first full season in North America, much as they were with Lane Hutson, and, like the defenseman, if Demidov surpasses the 60-point plateau in his first year with the Canadiens, it will be a success.

That’s what Brian Wilde told the Sick Podcast:

[content-ads] Brian Wilde is right. Demidov probably won’t get 100 points right away… but with the quality of NHL players, seeing him produce sixty or so points as a rookie would be excellent.

He’ll be well surrounded – especially on the powerplay – and Martin St-Louis is likely to give him a chance to make his mark on one of the team’s top two trios, too. Given plenty of playing time – again, as was the case with Hutson – Demidov will have the chance to showcase his talent to the full.

And that’s just it, we know that talent comes out of his ears,as he demonstrated last night in the three-on-three league (LSHL):

It’s hard to predict how many points he’ll collect in 25-26, but we know he’ll play with good players and have an important role on the team. And knowing that, it makes you believe he can be productive even though this will be his first NHL season.

He’s not seen as the favorite at the Calder for nothing, after all…[spacer title=’En rafale’] – Logical.

– He’s too strong.

– Will he be traded before the season starts?

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Hurricanes owner buys Portland Trail Blazers for $4 billion

Tom Dundon, owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, doesn’t have the best reputation around the NHL. He’s the one who didn ‘t want to pay his GM as much as other league owners a few years ago… and he’s the one with a reputation for being a bit cheap. Yet today we learn that he’s bought the Portland Trail Blazers organization in the NBA for the “small” sum of… over $4 billion.

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It’s also worth remembering that when the Habs made a hostile offer to Sebastian Aho, many thought that Dundon might not match that offer because the majority of the contract money was paid up front. The Hurricanes ultimately decided to match the offer… it’s as if the Hurricanes decided to get even… and now we know they made a mistake, because KK never became the player we thought he would in Carolina.

Remember that last February, The Athletic surveyed 19 player agents, and one of the questions was:

Who’s the worst owner in the NHL?

(Credit: Screenshot / The Athletic )

[content-ads] It makes you wonder, then, how this move is perceived among NBA owners.

Dundon isn’t known for being the richest of NHL owners… but he did pull out the big bucks to acquire the Trail Blazers at a pretty hefty price.Four billion dollars (and counting) is a lot of money…

That said, the Hurricanes have had a lot of success since 2018 – that is, since Dundon became the club’s owner. And what I mean by that… is that I wonder if Dundon will want to spend money to improve the team in Portland. And I also wonder if his goal isn’t to move the team elsewhere… spacer title=’Overtime’] – Hehe.

– Can he lead the Sparrows to victory?

– I love this,

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Zachary Bolduc: the player we’ve been waiting for in Joshua Roy

Very soon after his selection in the fifth round (150ᵉ overall) in 2021 by the Montreal Canadiens, Joshua Roy was categorized as having been one of the steals of the draft. He was simply dominant with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, and therefore, too strong for the QMJHL.

His performances in junior were very encouraging, and suggested he had great NHL potential with the Habs. Québécois fans were very excited about his arrival in the pros, and saw in him enough talent to one day potentially play on the second line.

Unfortunately, the rest is history: after doing well in his first NHL games, Roy had a job to lose this past season, and he lost it. He was very ordinary at practice in 2024, and failed to keep his NHL job, so Roy played mostly with the Laval Rocket last season, where he did well, but nothing more, with his 35 points, including 20 goals in 47 games.

Now, at 22 years of age, Roy no longer represents the top prospect we saw in him, and in a way, the disappointment he represents has been replaced by Zachary Bolduc.

[content-ads] Indeed, as our colleague Danny Potvin of Fanadiens.com explains in a very good article, Zachary Bolduc is quite the player we were expecting in Joshua Roy. At one point, we saw Roy as a potential second-line winger capable of producing 50-60 points, which is exactly what we’re expecting with Zachary Bolduc.

The difference is that Bolduc took his chance in the NHL and proved much more than Roy, so Bolduc’s arrival in Montreal indirectly demonstrates that Habs management gave up quite a bit on Joshua Roy. Because, in the end, the position Bolduc will occupy in Montreal next season represents the one Roy could/should have filled last season if he’d been able to perform and if he had a better work ethic.

And who knows, if Roy had been able to establish himself in the NHL, maybe the Habs wouldn’t have gone after Bolduc, and could have used Logan Mailloux in another deal, one to get a second center. Of course, that’s a lot of “what ifs”, but it’s interesting to note how things really could have been different if Joshua Roy had been able to seize his chance and not lost his position at camp last season.

It will now be much harder for Roy to ever establish himself in Montreal, as I don’t see him being useful in a supporting role on a fourth line. In short, it’s a shame, but that’s life. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Wow!

– Indeed.

– What do you think?

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CF Montréal: Jules-Anthony Vilsaint traded to Toronto

As the MLS summer mercato drew to a close, my colleague Maxime Trumanhad already been sayingfor a few days that Montreal CF MUST move.Well, done and dusted, as Montreal CF moved this morning, but perhaps not in the way we expected. Montreal has just traded Québécois forward Jules-Anthony Vilsaint.

Vilsaint will head to Toronto FC (yes, yes, you heard me right), in return for 25-year-old English midfielder Matty Longstaff

[content-ads] Longstaff was trained at Newcastle United, a fairly prestigious English Premier League club in Europe.

In short, Montreal CF is unfortunately losing a Québécois forward who had enjoyed some good times with the team, even if his time in Montreal will have been mostly marked by injuries. Vilsaint wanted more playing minutes, but his profile no longer fitted head coach Marco Donadel’s system

Obviously, it’s a shame to lose a Québécois, but my colleague Maxime Truman has heard that the club is aware that several French-speaking players are leaving the team, and is therefore looking to acquire new ones. In short, we obviously wish Vilsaint the best in Toronto, and hope for his sake that it works out.

On the other hand, if it does, there will be a lot of people in Montreal who won’t be happy, including me. I liked Vilsaint’s profile, but you have to trust the club’s management, which isn’t always easy these days, especially this season.

[spacer title=’Prolongation’] With only nine days left in the MLS summer mercato, we can expect to see more movement from Montreal CF. It would surprise me enormously if this were the only trade made by the club. I’m expecting a few signings over the next nine days, especially to follow up on the rebuilding letter that CF Montreal has published in recent weeks.

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Habs’ top scorers since 2018: Nick Suzuki tops the charts with his assists alone

If there’s one thing that stands out in the legacy of former Habs general manager Marc Bergevin, it’s Nick Suzuki.The selections of Cole Caufield and Kaiden Guhle also stand out, but not as much.The deal that sent Max Pacioretty to the Vegas Golden Knights in return for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a second-round pick is clearly the Habs’ most important transaction of the 2000s.

With this trade, the Canadiens have acquired their future number-one center, their future best leader and their future captain. Without Nick Suzuki, the Habs would be nothing, and would still be VERY far from becoming competitive again. Still not convinced of the importance of Marc Bergevin’s legacy?

The following statistic will certainly do the trick. Since 2018, that is, since that infamous transaction, Nick Suzuki has been the Montreal Canadiens’ top scorer, and he’d also be at the top if all his goals were taken away. With his 237 assists, the Habs’ captain is also the CH’s top scorer since 2018.

(Credit: NHL.com)

[content-ads] That’s a crazy stat, and it shows just how few standout players the Habs have had staying with the club since Max Pacioretty left. It’s also worth noting that, with his 375 points in 455 games, Suzuki is exactly 150 points ahead of his nearest pursuer, Brendan Gallagher.

Cole Caufield, however, will very soon be taking second place in this ranking, as he’s already 3rd on this list, despite only joining the Habs in 2021. To get back to Suzuki, what’s even crazier is that he didn’t play with the Habs in 2018-2019, when he was still in junior in the OHL.

Of course, in the future, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov may heat up the Habs captain for the title, but for now, there’s no doubt that Suzuki is the Habs’ best player, and has been for a few seasons now.

Without him, the Habs would still be trying to find their way out of the doldrums of the NHL. [spacer title=’En Rafale’] – To be continued.

– Such a shame

– Here are more details.

– Not to be missed!

– Incredible.

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Anthony Duclair: his attitude has changed and he’s ready to play again for Patrick Roy

Everyone remembers how, at the end of the 2024-2025 season, Patrick Roy had planted Québécois Anthony Duclair in front of the media, hadn’t he?The ebullient coach had said, after one game, that Duclair had been bad and that he could be lucky to simply have the chance to be in the line-up.

Duclair then left the Islanders’ entourage for the end of the season, which no longer meant anything in New York due to the fact that the club wasn’t going to make the playoffs. Duclair and Roy, who met with the Remparts in the QMJHL, obviously need to mend fences. Roy said this summer that he’d gone too far and wanted to apologize. Has this been done?Interestingly ,Roy gave an interview on The Big Ceaz Show podcast. We suspected he wasn’t going to leave the club forever, but seeing him looking forward shows he’s ready to turn the page and start playing again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxixUCT_AF8 [content-ads]But as Agence QMI reported in a piece on the subject, Duclair’s interview didn’t mention his relationship with Roy. There are two possibilities as to why this wasn’t a topic on the podcast

  • The host forgot to mention it or chose not to.
  • The host was told not to talk about Patrick Roy.

Since I find it hard to believe that this isn’t the first question any host would want to ask him under the circumstances, I wonder what the relationship between the two men is like right now. What’s it going to be like this year? [spacer title=’en rafale’] –Wow.– Interesting.– News on the Ottawa arena project. [BPM Sports] – Nice.