Author: Dose

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Kashawn Aitcheson sees himself playing with Kaiden Guhle

At the NHL combine, we’ve learned one thing in particular.

Many prospects want to play with Juraj Slafkovsky.

The Slovakian’s name seems to be popular with younger players, and some see themselves playing on the same line as him. But for defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, the prospect who could really interest the Habs, it’s a different story…

Anthony Martineau met him, and the kid could see himself playing with a player in Montreal: Kaiden Guhle.

The 6’2, 196-lb. defenseman with the rugged – and offensive – style says he hasn’t met the Habs… but that doesn’t mean Kent Hughes and the Canadiens don’t have their eye on him.

We know that Hughes and Jeff Gorton have more than one trick up their sleeve – as we saw last year with Ivan Demidov.

A defenseman who scores goals and hits like a train paired with Kaiden Guhle… we agree that’s pretty attractive thanks.

Because Guhle has already proven that his defensive game makes him an important player in Montreal. He’s already proving himself to be one of the pillars of the defensive brigade, and the idea of putting him alongside a player with style like Aitcheson in the future could be enticing.

Got 10 minutes to kill? Watch the following video, because it’s easy to see how special Kashawn Aitcheson is.

He reminds me of a mini Shea Weber (but left-handed):

The more I learn about Kashawn Aitcheson’s style, the more I think the Habs would make a great move by selecting him with one of their two draft picks.

But there’s also a world in which the defenseman is already gone by the time the Canadiens take the podium to announce their picks.

There’s nothing to stop Kent Hughes from moving up a few spots to make sure he gets him, as he did with Michael Hage last year… but hey.

It remains to be seen.

Overtime

– Hehe.

– It’s been a long time.

– Oh!

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Rumor mill: An $8M per season contract for Brad Marchand?

Even at 37, Brad Marchand is still a (very) good player.

As we’re seeing right now, he’s one of the most important pieces of the Panthers’ roster, because he does so many things on the ice.

It may have taken him some time to adapt to the style of his new club, but Marchand has been playing great hockey since the start of the playoffs. He has 15 points (five goals) in 18 playoff games so far…

His record will be one to watch this summer, however, as the veteran will be as free as a bird as of July 1.

And according to Chris Johnston(The Chris Johnston Show), Marchand could fetch as much as… $8 million per season for his next contract.

I have a feeling that Marchand’s goal won’t be to sign a short-term contract.

At his age, he’s going to want some kind of guarantee… because this is probably the last contract he’ll sign between now and the end of his career.

And, whatever the salary, there will be clubs interested in his services because Marchand brings a lot to a club.

He’s still capable of giving it on the ice, but we’re also talking about a guy with leadership qualities (I know, it sounds weird to say) and he’s loved by his teammates in the room all the time.

For a team looking to add a veteran who can still produce and help off the ice… Marchand would be a good candidate.

10 M per season for Bennett: the idea returns

If I told you I was the GM of a club and I’d offer $10 million a season to a guy who averages 45 points a season, you’d think I was crazy.

But then… that’s what we’ve been hearing about Sam Bennett for some time now.

Then again, according to Pierre LeBrun, some teams will be willing to pay him that much per year for his next contract.

And we agree on one thing: it’s special.

The salary cap may be going up, but…

Bennett is currently installed as the NHL’s leading playoff scorer.

He’s scored 12 goals (in 18 games) so far in the playoffs… and his closest pursuer is Leon Draisaitl, who has nine.

That said, we know that Sam Bennett has proven himself.

He’s an even better player when it counts (we’re seeing him right now in the playoffs, and we caught a glimpse of him at the 4 Nations Confrontation), and it’s really this aspect of his game that’s impressing at the moment.

Because without him, maybe the Panthers aren’t in the final right now.

And without him, the Panthers might not have been able to lift the Stanley Cup last year, in 2024.

We’re talking about a special player in important moments… and teams like the style of these players.

To hear Mathieu Darche tell it…

In recent weeks, there’s been a lot of talk about Noah Dobson on Long Island.

And understandably so, since at the time, the Islanders still hadn’t found their new GM, Mathieu Darche.

Many wondered whether Dobson might be available on the trade market, since the defenseman is one of the best in the National League.

But, to hear Mathieu Darche tell it… maybe you should forget about the idea of him leaving.

The club’s GM praised his defenseman, saying he thinks he’s special… and wants to find common ground to sign him long-term.

In reality, Mathieu Darche is right.

There aren’t a thousand Noah Dobsons in the NHL.

Dobson is offensive, he’s good defensively, he throws from the right, he’s only 25 years old… To trade a jewel like him would be illogical – unless you’re getting a huge return.

Because Dobson also has the potential to become one of the best at his position with his strengths. The Islanders also have the 1st overall pick in the upcoming draft, and we know that Matthew Schaefer’s name is popular right now.

A Schaefer – Dobson pairing could do some damage…

Overtime

– I hope so.

– I love the idea!

– Logan O’Connor underwent surgery.

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The Canadiens hid some things about David Reinbacher’s injury

David Reinbacher is one of the Canadiens’ top prospects.

We see in him a defenseman who will help the Habs in the long term on a top-4 because he has good potential and interesting qualities.

Oh, and the fact that he throws from the right… that changes things too.

But we know that it’s been harder this year for Reinbacher because he hasn’t played much. He underwent knee surgery in early October, and when he returned to action, he wasn’t playing every game for the Rocket.

The result?

Reinbacher played only 10 regular-season games and 13 playoff games, which isn’t ideal for the development of a young defenseman.

That said, we don’t know everything about his injury. Because, according to Anthony Marcotte(The Sick Podcast – Rocket Report), the Habs hid certain things about his knee.

They deliberately hid things because they were probably worried themselves. – Anthony Marcotte

Anthony Marcotte goes on to say that the Habs didn’t necessarily want to talk about it because fans would have been worried.

Which makes sense.

But, hearing all this, it’s normal to wonder about the state of Reinbacher’s knee.

Without saying that it’s alarming, we can say that it’s distressing to see that one of the club’s top prospects had difficulty playing at the end of the season – when he was supposed to have recovered from his injury – because his knee was often swollen after a game or practice.

And that’s where it gets really scary: if Reinbacher can’t practice hard this summer because he’s in pain, or because his knee is causing him problems, he won’t be able to arrive at the Canadiens’ next training camp in perfect shape.

This could have an impact on his confidence, it could make him a little uncomfortable on the ice, even if he did finish the season well with the Rocket in the playoffs… and the Canadiens’ management must really hope that it settles down quickly, otherwise the problem will become even bigger before long.

I’m having Carey Price flashbacks and it seems to be scaring me…

Overtime

– Derek Lalonde is hired as an assistant in Toronto.

– Jennifer Gardiner leaves Victoire.

– Good question.

– To be continued.

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The Habs really aren’t afraid of meeting prospects who will come out well before the 16th rank

With the draft fast approaching, we’re starting to wonder about the Canadiens’ two first-round picks.

The Habs hold the #16 and #17 picks… but that doesn’t mean we’ll be hearing from the club at those two ranks either.

There is a possibility that Kent Hughes could trade a pick – or his picks – to advance or get his hands on a player who can help next season.

But what we’ve noticed is that the Habs aren’t really afraid to meet prospects who will come out well before the 16th rank.

For example?

They met with James Hagens, Caleb Desnoyers and Porter Martone, three guys who are likely to go out very quickly in the first round.

There’s been talk for months that the Canadiens could trade their first-round picks.

But with the quality of the prospects in the first round, maybe that complicates things for the Canadiens too. Because at 16th and 17th, there are some guys with really interesting potential.

Carter Bear (among others) is a popular name in Montreal at the moment, and if the Habs feel they have a chance of selecting him with one of these two picks, it could change things.

All in all, in a way, it’s normal for the Canadiens to meet a lot of prospects at the combine. Managers want to get a better idea of players’ personalities, and if there’s one in particular the club is interested in, it may also prompt the Habs to go up and select the guy they really want.

But, at the same time, it also shows that Kent Hughes and his group are aware that there’s talent in the pile of prospects who’ll be coming out in the first round.

And that’s why we shouldn’t fall out of our chairs if the Canadiens decide to draft a player at No. 16 or No. 17, contrary to what we’ve been saying for some time now.

Overtime

– Why not?

– Logical choices.

– They have great chemistry.

– Wow!

– I’d like that.

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BPM Sports: Tony Marinaro and Martin Lemay not sure if they’ll be back in the fall

Today marks the end of the BPM Sports radio season. Starting next week, the usual shows will be off the air… and they won’t be back until the very end of summer.

And as with the end of every radio season, the question is who will be back in two and a half months? The business operates on contracts, after all, and there are hosts who won’t be back.

BPM Sports is no exception, of course, and what’s interesting is that since yesterday, the subject has been the talk of the town… on air. Last night, for example, Martin Lemay took the first few minutes of his show to thank listeners because he doesn’t know if he’ll be back next year.

And this morning, on his last show of the year, Tony Marinaro also talked about all this to conclude his show. Basically, he took the opportunity to thank listeners in turn, but also to note that he doesn’t know what’s in store for next season.

He noted that he hopes to be back next year… and to prove that his heart is with BPM Sports, he confessed that he turned down offers from other stations during the last radio season.

Interestingly, Marinaro also used the end of his show to criticize some of the station’s ways of doing things. In fact, he explained that the station’s contracts are usually not renewed until two or three weeks before the start of the season… and that, for him, is unacceptable.

He doesn’t want to wait that long to find out about his future (he says he has his own timetable), but he also wants the practices to change for the other resort employees. If he can change that, he says it would be a victory in his eyes.

We’ll see what the next few weeks hold in store for the station, but I wonder if Marinaro’s words, which were a home run hire for BPM Sports this year, will mean that people’s contracts at the station will be signed earlier this summer.

Because we all agree that if Marinaro leaves, it would hurt the station more than the host, especially since the latter will certainly be in high demand if he becomes a “stand-alone host”.

Extension

It’s worth noting that this lunchtime, the station published a message on X to highlight the very big season it has just had.

Do we really want to change such a recipe? I’d like to think not… but we’ll have to change the way we do things when it comes to contracts if we want to succeed. Because losing Marinaro and Lemay (and possibly some of the station’s other big names) would hurt.

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Combine: the Habs player everyone wants to play with is Juraj Slafkovský

Right now, the prospects for the next draft are in Buffalo for the league’s Combine. They’re taking part in various physical tests, but above all, they’re meeting teams from the Bettman circuit.

It’s a big week for these youngsters, who are often challenged by the teams. And as we all know, the Habs have a reputation in this area.

The prospects also take the opportunity to talk to the media, and Anthony Martineau and Nicolas Cloutier do an excellent job for TVA Sports. They talk to the youngsters about a variety of subjects… and the Habs are obviously one of them.

Martineau, for example, often asks the kids who would be an ideal line-mate for the Habs… and according to what he reported this lunchtime, all the forwards he chatted to named Juraj Slafkovský in answer to that question.

Not Nick Suzuki, not Cole Caufield, not Ivan Demidov: Juraj Slafkovský.

And that’s surprising, considering that Slaf is criticized quite a bit more often than the others in Montreal. He’s far from hated, of course, but he’s often criticized for his inconsistency and long periods of inactivity.

And the fact that he often starts his seasons a few months late, but that’s another story.

For a player, however, the idea of playing with Slaf is a good one, given that he’s a big guy who, on his good nights, is capable of playing physical while standing out for his talent.

If you’re still wondering why the Habs chose the Slovak in the first place, you have a good part of the answer here: he has a rare profile, but he’s also the kind of player other players like to play with.

Slafkovský isn’t a perfect player, I’m not telling you otherwise. That said, to see him be an ideal linemate in the eyes of all the prospects at the Combine, just goes to show what a great player he is for his linemates.

And if he can find just a little more consistency, the Habs will really be driving… and who knows, maybe they can even use their former first overall pick as an argument to convince some guys to come play in town.

In Overtime

– A.J. Greer won’t play tonight, but he’s “on track” for Game #3.

– The guys are ready.

– Drake Batherson won’t be leaving Ottawa.

– Things aren’t looking good for the 2023 champions.

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Two more bizarre questions asked by the Canadiens to prospects at the combine

The NHL combine is drawing to a close.

The teams, who are there to evaluate prospects for the next draft, have had time to gather valuable information in preparation for the draft, which will take place at the end of the month.

Today, in particular, is the time for physical testing.

But in recent days, there have also been meetings with the prospects. And thanks to the work of Nicolas Cloutier and Anthony Martineau, we know a little more about the questions the Canadiens are asking the prospects.

And that’s interesting, considering that the questions are… always peculiar.

Earlier this week, we learned that the Canadiens were asking prospects what they would do if Martin St-Louis ever asked them to confirm that they had seen Nick Suzuki the night before, at 3 a.m., at the casino.

In the hypothetical scenario, it was obviously true that Suzuki had seen the prospect in question. And in the scenario, the Habs had drafted the youngster.

But then other prospects opened up about how the Canadiens were asking questions. And clearly, it’s up to the expectations we’ve come to expect.

Of the lot? You’re two men in the desert and you find a bottle of water and a baseball bat. The other jumps on the bottle and leaves you with the bat. What do you do?

Otherwise, another scenario has been reported. Basically, the prospect has to get under the skin of a captain of a military ship who has to take out submarines. A submarine blows up a cargo ship and 20 of your men jump into the water.

The question: do you save your men or do you do your job of blowing up the submarine?

On that subject, there’s a prospect (Mason West) who said he was saving his men… but he got it thrown back in his face that earlier, he’d considered himself a pitbull. It plays hard in the corners… and even though he got away with saying he was a gentle pitbull, it must have been a stressful moment.

Yes, it must be intense. Especially at 18, in front of Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and company.

overtime

– Of note.

– Attention all interested parties.

– For CF Montreal fans.

– Mathieu Darche is a busy man. [LP]

– Wow.

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The Lightning has hired an assistant who is not Pascal Vincent

In recent days, Pascal Vincent’s future at Laval has been in doubt.

Rumor has it that the main player is headed for the NHL as an assistant. Unless, of course, the Stars want to make him their team’s pilot?

Vincent has said publicly that he’s happy in Laval, not looking for a job and comfortable in the head coaching position. He is, however, open to returning to the NHL if the right opportunity presents itself. #Of course

But the fact remains that Vincent’s name is out there. Could the Penguins, Rangers, Islanders, Lightning or any other club give him an assistant position? Very possibly.

That’s why, when we saw that the Lightning had named Dan Hinote as Jon Cooper’s assistant, we reacted.

After all, the Lightning rumors were credible, given that Julien BriseBois is known to hold Vincent in high esteem. But obviously, unless something else changes, it’s not going to happen.

Jeff Halpern and Rob Zettler will be back behind the Lightning bench alongside Jon Cooper (their names still appear on the club’s website, anyway) and Dan Hinote replaces Jeff Blashill, who took over the coaching job in Chicago last month.

By the way, speaking of Cooper, we should note this.

I’m not the biggest fan of “official words” from managers or coaches, since they often have no choice but to say certain things publicly…

But we should note that Cooper, recently, spoke publicly. And he decided to address the rumours that he’ll be leaving soon to take on another challenge. #Mammoth?

Publicly, he said he never wants to leave Tampa Bay.

As I’ve said before, I’ll believe it when I see it, which is when he signs a contract extension so he’s not free as a bird in just over a year.

But since Jon Cooper said what he said and hired an assistant for 2025-2026, you have to think that there’s water in the “Pascal Vincent in Florida” project right now. #Timing

overtime

– Another name to keep in mind.

– Speaking of the Islanders.

– News from CF Montreal.

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Sidney Crosby and Dan Muse, like Alex Ovechkin and Spencer Carbery

31 head coaching jobs are currently filled in the NHL. Peter DeBoer has jumped to Dallas (and I’ve been talking about that for a while), but for now, every other NHL team has a head coach.

Marco Sturm will lead the Bruins and Dan Muse, the Penguins.

And just because he looks good doesn’t mean he won’t be a good coach..

No, Muse’s challenge in Pittsburgh won’t be easy. He’ll be leading an aging roster that refuses to rebuild. Crosby, Ovechkin, Letang, Karlsson… they’re all closer to 40 than 30. And Dan Muse is only 42..

How will the Penguins’ veterans react when they receive instructions from Muse?

Many see Crosby requesting a trade to play for a team closer to the big time… and an experienced coach better suited to him.

Except that! People were saying the same thing about Alex Ovechkin exactly two years ago, after the Capitals missed the playoffs following an 80-point season. You know, the Penguins just missed the playoffs with an 80-point season..

What did Ovechkin do after the appointment of Spencer Carbery (41 at the time)? He stayed in Washington because he wanted to spend his whole career there.

He started scoring goals again, broke Wayne Gretzky’s record and led the Capitals back to the playoffs.

Sometimes, what we think is logical and rational isn’t necessarily so for the main player. In short, before saying that Crosby is going to ask to be traded (to Montreal, like), remember Alex Ovechkin, Spencer Carbery and the Capitals.

We don’t know; maybe Dan Muse will lead the Penguins back to the playoffs?

Carbery didn’t have a great playing career; he coached in the ECHL, OHL and AHL, before becoming an assistant in the NHL.

Muse didn’t have a great playing career, he coached in the USL, as well as with the American program, before becoming an assistant in the NHL.

Sounds pretty similar, doesn’t it? And that means one thing: let’s wait and see if Crosby wants to leave Pittsburgh.

All that remains to be seen is whether Kyle Dubas thought too much outside the box when he hired Dan Muse… or whether he was a visionary.

We’ll find out in a few months, if not years.

Note that only Ty Hennes is still an assistant coach with the Penguins. So there’ll be plenty of room for Muse’s men.

And don’t forget that even though Sidney Crosby said he wasn’t involved in the hiring process, he must still have been informed of the direction the Penguins were going to take.

overtime

– News from the combine.

– Read more.

– Will it last?

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Peter DeBoer fired in Dallas

Yesterday, the Boston Bruins hired Marco Sturm as head coach. At that point, for the first time in months, all 32 teams had a coach, with none having the interim tag.

But it didn’t last long.

As Elliotte Friedman reports, the Dallas Stars decided to show their head coach, Peter DeBoer, the door. This came a few days after the club lost in the Final Four for the third year in a row.

Did the Jake Oettinger situation play a role in this? After all, pulling him out of the last game against the Oilers didn’t go over well… mainly because of the way it was done.

The club says it’s looking for a new voice. And those who know Maxime Truman won’t be surprised to hear this…

In reality, there were conflicts between the coach and management that meant his time was running out in Dallas. And in the end, going to the Final Four didn’t save his job.

Was this the reason for the players’ minds being elsewhere against Edmonton? Possibly, yes.

Details to follow…