Author: Dose

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“No team is in a better position than the Hurricanes to sign Mitch Marner”

Last March, we came very close to a major league transaction in the NHL. Mikko Rantanen, who was a member of the Hurricanes, didn’t want to sign there long-term… and the Maple Leafs were interested in his services.

Who could have gone the other way? None other than Mitch Marner… who refused to lift his non-movement clause.

They then tried to pass it off as a three-team deal in which Marner would have gone to Vegas, but that didn’t work out either. Imagine how much that big three-team deal would have changed things in the NHL.

Now, here we are a few months later… and Marner is on the verge of becoming a free agent. And while everyone’s wondering where he’ll continue his career, Jeff Marek had this to say on his The Sheet podcast… and he said this:

No team is in a better position to sign Mitch Marner than the Hurricanes. – Jeff Marek

And that, of course, is peculiar given that we know Marner refused to be traded there just a few months ago. So it’s fair to wonder why he’d be interested in going (long-term) this time around… but the reality is that the forward’s situation is no longer the same.

Let’s not forget that, at the time, he was about to become a father, and it’s easy to imagine that this played a part in the decision. Moving the whole family when his wife was about to give birth wasn’t ideal for him.

But now that the baby boy is born, it’s easier for Marner and his family to consider moving. And now we have to wonder to what extent his refusal to lift his non-movement clause last March was solely linked to the forthcoming birth of his son.

Because if it was, the Hurricanes have every reason to believe in their chances. They have the money to make him a competitive offer, they’ve already demonstrated their interest and, unlike many other teams who are likely to be in the derby, they’re already a competitive team.

I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say that the Canes are “the best team” to sign Marner, but don’t be too quick to assume that he’d refuse to settle there long-term just because he turned down a deal that would have sent him to Raleigh just a few months ago.

Plus, in Carolina, he wouldn’t be too out of place: there too, the club tends to fall apart in the playoffs, hehe.

Overtime

– Interesting.

– Remember that the draft is less than 20 days away.

– Ah.

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Xhekaj (among others) for Hague: “Certainly an option for Vegas in terms of demand”

At 6’6 and 245 pounds, Nicolas Hague has the makings of an interesting player for the Canadiens.

He’d bring size, stability and toughness to the club’s blue line in Montreal, and the idea is intriguing because right now, the Habs don’t necessarily have a defenseman like him in their lineup.

But…

But to get him out of Vegas, you’ll have to pay a certain price.

The Golden Knights aren’t going to do the Canadiens any favors because they like the way the Bell Centre is built, we agree: to receive in the NHL, you also have to give.

And on that note, David Pagnotta(who made his rounds on Tony Marinaro’s Sick Podcast) talks about the fact that a guy like Arber Xhekaj could possibly be on his way to Vegas if there’s ever a deal.

Xhekaj would certainly be an option for Vegas in terms of demands for the Golden Knights. – David Pagnotta

We know that Arber is a popular player in Montreal.

Fans love him, in fact…

But hockey-wise, it might be hard for the Sheriff to find a long-term home in Montreal with all the left-handed players out there. And the proposal to include him in a transaction to get an Arber 2.0 who’s bigger, already established and who can help right away… that’s not crazy either.

Because that’s what it is, after all: Nicolas Hague has a somewhat similar profile to Arber. He doesn’t fight as much, but he throws from the left, he’s big, he can hit, and he’s more disciplined on the ice (too!).

Some would say that trading Arber Xhekaj at this time, when he’s 24, is a little illogical. Here again: Hague is two years older, but he also has twice as much experience in terms of games played in the NHL. He’s already won the Stanley Cup, too, having played an important role in the Golden Knights’ line-up…

Many fans would be upset to see Arber Xhekaj leave. But at some point, if that’s what it takes to improve the team… that’s part of the game.

And that’s why I’d be willing to include him in a deal for Hague if that’s what the Knights want.

Overtime

– The Oilers still need to bounce back.

– Sick.

– Nice contract for the Flames.

– I can’t wait!

– Well done.

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Draft: A top-5 team wants to move down, while the Penguins (11th) want to move up

This time of year in the NHL is always one of my favorites.

The rumors, the upcoming draft, the opening of the free agent market…

It’s all very exciting for hockey fans.

And what’s really exciting lately is the fact that we’re hearing so much about the upcoming draft.

For example?

According to Grant McCagg, there’s a team in the top-5 that would like to draft a particular player – and the team could back out of selecting the player in question because he might be available a little lower down .

Remember that the top-5 includes (in order) the Islanders, Sharks, Hawks, Mammoth and Preds.

Ah… and there’s also the Penguins (11th selection in the first round) who want to move up too.

Could we see a deal happen between the Penguins and one of the five clubs named above?

I’d fall off my chair to see the Islanders trade the 1st pick. Mathieu Darche just got here… and that would be a pretty special move.

I don’t see the Sharks and Hawks backing down either, because at #2 and #3, there will be some very good players still available.

On the other hand… for Utah and Nashville, I get the impression that anything can happen.

But let’s not forget that the Canadiens have two first-round picks (#16 and #17), and it’s not impossible that Kent Hughes could try to move up a few spots to select the player he really wants.

It would take a lot to move up into the top-5, and you have to wonder how realistic that really is . On the other hand, the Canadiens’ GM has shown in the past that he’s capable of pulling a rabbit out of his hat to improve his team if need be… and knowing that a club would like to break out of the top-5, maybe this would be a chance for Hughes to hit a home run.

Do I believe it? Not necessarily. But if the possibility is on the table… that’s something.

Overtime

– Lane Hutson has the support of his teammates.

– Well deserved.

– Solid.

– Things are going well for Kirk and the Jays.

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Bet-O-Game: One bet available for Crosby’s next destination (and Montreal is listed as 2nd favorite)

The Penguins’ situation isn’t great.

The club doesn’t have many resources for the future, but can still count on experienced players on the team.

That said, because of the uncertainty in Pittsburgh, Sidney Crosby’s future is the talk of the town. He’s loyal to his club, but to see him end his career with an organization that’s going nowhere… it’s illogical in many people’s eyes.

In the end, he’ll make the ultimate decision.

If he wants out, he’ll ask to be traded. Because no: Kyle Dubas isn’t going to send #87 elsewhere without his permission. That would be bad form, especially since Crosby deserves to make his own choice.

For what it’s worth, on sports betting site Mise-o-jeu, there’s a category involving Crosby.

And the question being asked is:

Which team will Sidney Crosby play for in his next NHL regular-season game?

There are five different odds for those who want to have a little fun. We’re talking about…

  • Pittsburgh Penguins (1.06)
  • Montreal Canadiens (20.00)
  • Colorado Avalanche (25.00)
  • Toronto Maple Leafs (40.00)
  • Vegas Golden Knights (45.00)

If we take out the Penguins, we can see that the Canadiens is the most popular team for a potential transaction on the Mise-o-jeu site, which is special.

The Habs and NHL site has also written on the subject.

(Credit: Mise-o-jeu)

It’s unclear at this point whether Sidney Crosby will decide to end his career in Pittsburgh.

But what we do know… is that he hates to lose – he’s said so many times since the start of his career – and that’s where we could see him ask for a trade if he wants to give himself the best chance of winning.

And at 37 – almost 38 – Crosby is nearing retirement too.

On the other hand, to see that there are bets available for his next potential destination is unique too.

Seeing Crosby in the uniform of a club other than the Penguins, it seems like it would be a bit weird… but we agree: he really deserves to end his career on good terms.

And there’s no indication that the Penguins will be able to offer him that opportunity right now.

[spaer title=’Overtime’]

– I don’t hate it.

– Will the two sides come to an agreement?

– Oh, no?

– Aaron Rodgers has his new colors.

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Martin McGuire: Mitch Marner in Washington… Why not?

Mitch Marner is probably the most popular name in the NHL right now.

He’s the talk of the town because in less than a month, on July 1, the forward will be testing the free agent market.

And right now, everyone’s asking the same question: what will he do?

His name has already been linked to several clubs.

Which ones? The Hurricanes, Kings, Panthers, Blackhawks, Golden Knights…

But last night, on 98.5 FM, Martin McGuire raised an idea that deserves attention.

What if Marner decided to move to Washington, to join the Capitals, who already have several good players in place?

(Credit: Getty Images)

The Capitals will have around $10 million to spend this summer, and to make room for Marner, we’d have to see Chris Patrick (GM) make a trade or two.

But we know that in the NHL… things can change quickly.

The idea is interesting for Marner because in Washington, he’d be really well surrounded. The Caps have three excellent center players in Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Connor McMichael, so he’d be assured of playing with a guy who can complement his games.

And if he wants to give himself a chance to win… in Washington, that would be ideal because the Capitals aren’t necessarily old and because they’re likely to be good for several more years.

(Credit: DailyFaceoff)

But in all of this, we also have to think about the fact that Alexander Ovechkin will be leaving soon.

And that’s where the idea of bringing in a Mitch Marner to replace Ovi – both on the ice and on the payroll – makes sense.

The Caps could give themselves an opportunity to get a star player who can play in Washington for a long time. Marner (28) is not old, he still has several years of quality left in his body and we know that his talent is undeniable too.

I really like Martin McGuire’s idea.

Overtime

– I like it.

– If the Panthers win, Sam Bennett must go home with the trophy.

– Oh.

– Coming up…

– A $10,000 fine for Jake Walman.

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Lane Hutson: winning the Calder and signing a big contract go hand in hand

Should the Canadiens sign Lane Hutson now? Or wait a year, once his entry-level contract expires? There are two schools of thought on the subject.

First, there are those who want to sign him now. The guy’s on a roll and there’s a good chance we’ll see him reach new heights in 2025-2026, a year in which he’ll start on the first powerplay and a year in which Ivan Demidov will be there from Day 1.

And with the ceiling rising, signing him now for the long term might make sense. That’s my point of view, anyway.

But there’s also the argument that waiting might bring the price down. He’s not likely to win the Norris, he won’t win the Calder again, and 66 points is a big mark to match.

Basically, we can be afraid of the second-year jinx.

To get your head around it, you might ask: what did the other Calder winners do when their entry contracts expired?

Let’s take a look at the recent winners… except Connor Bedard, who is still on his entry contract. And he’s had a miserable second year with the Hawks, by the way.

In 2023, Matthew Beniers won the Calder. A year later, in the summer of 2024, he signed a seven-year contract valued at $7.14M. Like Hutson, he was coming out of the NCAA and had burned through a contract year the year before winning the Calder.

In 2022, defenseman Moritz Seider won. And two years later, the Red Wings gave him an eight-year contract that pays him $8.55 million per season.

In 2021? Kirill Kaprizov won, but at age 24. His entry-level contract had already expired, and he signed a five-year deal (to reach autonomy quickly) that counts for $9 million per campaign.

In 2020, Cale Makar (another defenseman) won the Calder. And in July 2021, the Avalanche offered him $9 million a year for six years. He waited until the end of his entry-level contract to sign.

2019? Elias Pettersson. And here we finally have a case of a player who signed a bridge contract for $7.35M per year over three years, from 2021 to 2024. That’s still quite a bridge.

And since then? He signed for $92.8 million, or $11.6 million a year for eight years.

The 2018 winner is Mathew Barzal. More than two years after winning the Calder, he signed a three-year, $21 million bridge contract. And then he signed for eight years and $9.15M annually.

That’s his current contract.

Auston Matthews in 2017? He signed a five-year contract at $11.634 M per year. But it was his choice and it was for the right to become a free agent sooner.

Today, he earns $13.25 million a year.

Artemi Panarin won at age 24 in 2016, which distorts the data. He signed a two-year contract at $6M a year, but it was to become an unrestricted free agent as quickly as possible.

And it paid off with the Rangers.

Before that, there was less of a trend. Aaron Ekblad, Nathan MacKinnon, Jeff Skinner and Tyler Myers were quick to sign long-term, but Jonathan Huberdeau and Gabriel Landeskog signed bridge contracts before signing long ones.

That’s the picture over the past 15 years.

So, basically, if the trend continues, Lane Hutson will sign long-term. And if he’s a man of his times, he’ll do as the most recent winners – and the Canadiens’ stars – have done, and avoid the bridge contract.

It remains to be seen whether he’ll sign this summer or wait. Because, as a general rule, in recent years, many Calder winners have signed at the end of their entry-level contract, not necessarily a year before.

overtime

– Interesting.

– Logical.

– Too bad.

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Lane Hutson wants his mother back in Montreal next year

As you probably know, Lane Hutson has won the Calder.

So, officially, he’s the best rookie player of the 2024-2025 season. The voting wasn’t particularly close – and those who have seen him play will understand why.

The Habs now have their first Calder recipient since Ken Dryden, who had a few words to say about the American defenseman’s achievement. #WellDone

The Habs defenseman spoke to the media following the NHL’s announcement.

Being a humble guy, he didn’t hesitate to give credit back to his family and loved ones. Without them (and many other people, including the staff in Montreal), he wouldn’t be where he is today.

For example, the fact that his mother was the one he was living with in Montreal this season was a big help.

And in front of the media, he wasn’t afraid to say that he didn’t want the recipe to change: his mother is invited to spend the next hockey season at his place in Montreal again. And what about Ivan Demidov?

What else do I remember?

Lane Hutson was in a Boston arena when he spoke to the media. He’s at an event to try on hockey stock and clearly, he never stops thinking about hockey. Good for him.

Following Marco D’Amico’s questions, he gave love to all those who encourage him in Montreal. He also reiterated that he sees himself as a long-term player with the Canadiens, to no one’s surprise.

But we don’t know if he’s negotiating right now.

extension

– Reminder: in 2026 and 2027, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov will not be eligible for hostile offer sheets.

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RUMOR! All signs point to Alex Tuch being traded to Buffalo

It’s June 10. There are only 17 days left before the NHL amateur draft, and another four before the free agent market opens.

In short, we’re getting into the swing of things, Canadiens fans.

Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes are aware that the summer of 2025 will be even more important than the summer of 2024, which was more important than the summer of 2023. And so on..

We’ve been hearing the names of several players who would be available for a few weeks now. Nicolas Hague in particular..

Last night, James Mirtle confided that Alex Tuch could be shopped by the Sabres GM.

Tuch, 29, is just one year away from full autonomy, and if Kevyn Adams feels that Tuch won’t extend his deal with the Sabres, the Sabres GM will probably trade him so as not to lose him for nothing. This could happen at the next trade deadline, but it could also happen by the end of June.

Frankly, I don’t see why Alex Tuch would want to sign a new contract with the Sabres; the team hasn’t made the post-season playoffs in 14 years, and a lot of good players come to wish they’d left Buffalo.

Tuch is a 6’4 right winger who has just completed a 36-goal season. Even if the Canadiens’ #1 need is at center, adding a guy like Tuch would greatly help the Habs. Especially in the playoffs…and especially at a cap hit of only $4.75 million!

But Tuch is going to be expensive. In assets and in salary in a year’s time (because you don’t go out and get a guy like him for just one year, when you’re still rebuilding).

Could perhaps playing alongside his brother Luke help the Habs attract Alex? Maybe, but..

But Luke has only played eight of the Rocket’s 13 playoff games. The kid’s not about to play in Montreal..

Whatever. I still dream of seeing the Tuch brothers and the Xhekaj brothers in Montreal one day. Unfortunately, brotherhood doesn’t work like it used to in Montreal. #Kostitsyn #Xhekaj

And while we’re at it, why not try to pick up J.J. Peterka and/or Tage Thompson in Buffalo? You’re missing 100% of the chances you don’t take, right?

Overtime

– Last week, I sat down with Jemcee. The result is a damn fine podcast (The Show Gang). Good viewing.

– Olivier Renard’s Fernando Alvarez has been loaned out to an Argentine club. His time with CF Montreal is over.

– Good question.

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Lane Hutson wins the Calder Trophy

It’s a done deal.

The NHL has announced that Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens has unsurprisingly won the Calder, awarded to the National League’s best defenseman of the year.

He was the favorite.

Details to come…

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The Canadiens, one of the most active teams on the combine

The NHL combine is behind us. It took place last week.

Although several teams will soon be heading to the San Milstein combine for its Russian clients, the fact remains that the event in Buffalo was a good opportunity to see all 32 teams get together in one place before the draft.

A reminder: in 2025, the draft will be decentralized.

By necessity, it’s clear that the various team executives have set the table for the coming weeks, which will undoubtedly be intense on the transaction and autonomy markets.

Clubs will want to pick up pieces to build a better team.

And on that subject, in today’s 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman named three teams that were the talk of the town at the combine. The three teams named in the most active category?

The Mammoth, the Kraken… and the Canadiens.

Obviously, I don’t think anyone here is surprised to learn that the Habs are one of the teams whose name comes up a lot in various discussions with teams. It’s only to be expected.

Let’s not forget that the Canadiens under Kent Hughes are looking for a second center of the future, to play with Ivan Demidov. He’s also looking for a right-handed defenseman, if possible.

We can imagine that teams are talking to the Canadiens about Logan Mailloux, the club’s first-round picks and some other youngsters, to see who’s out of bounds.

We’ll see what happens in due course, but expect the Habs to work hard to steal the show at some point during the 2025 NHL off-season. To be continued…

overtime

– To listen to.

– Every year, a text like this surfaces.

– Read on.