Author: Dose

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Rocket: it’s okay if Jacob Fowler wasn’t Carey Price in the playoffs

The Canadiens wanted Jacob Fowler to sign his entry-level contract starting this summer only to allow him to finish his season in the AHL. And that’s exactly what happened.

This would give him a lot more playing time than he’d had in the Montreal playoff race.

Kent Hughes managed to convince him to go down, and eventually, due to circumstances (Samuel Montembeault’s injury), Fowler started the playoffs as a starter.

(Credit: The AHL)

He won all three games against Cleveland in the Rocket’s first series in 2025. It was thanks to him that the Rocket went on to the next level.

After that, he hit a wall against the Americans, and it was thanks to Cayden Primeau that the Rocket made it to the Eastern finals. And once there, it was the entire club, led by Primeau, that hit a wall.

Fowler finished games #2 and #3 in addition to playing game #4. He didn’t do badly.

In the end, he won his last game on May 6, but by the end of the playoffs he had become the man to trust. It’s been a strange journey… due in part to the collapse of Cayden Primeau, who hasn’t exactly recreated the magic of 2022.

(Credit: The AHL)

In eight games, Fowler finished with a 3-3 record, a 2.48 average and a .902 efficiency rate. Not bad for a young goalie behind a young team.

Has he been perfect? No. But he did what he had to do and got his feet wet to be ready for next season, when he should – if all goes well – be the man coach Pascal Vincent trusts in Laval.

Of course, in an ideal world, Fowler would have saved the Rocket’s season and done what Carey Price did: win the Calder Cup in his first AHL season.

But Price was exceptional. We shouldn’t have based our expectations on that.

Like all the other youngsters who have brought the Rocket this far (including David Reinbacher, who could well be starting next season in the NHL), Fowler has learned. He’s learned from the good times, but also from his club’s mistakes… including this one.

We’ll be talking about that one for a long time.

Fowler may take the blame for this one, but we all agree that he played the good teammate in front of the media. This mistake is mainly his team-mate’s.

The American knows what to expect next year, when he starts the pro season. That was the goal of the exercise… even if winning wouldn’t have hurt the Rocket, we agree.

extension

Let’s play bonding games for fun.

I know the Lightning organization already has a few goalies under contract for next season, but would you be totally surprised to see Cayden Primeau playing in the Lightning organization in 2025-2026?

After all, not only is it conceivable that Pascal Vincent could move to Tampa Bay for next season, but Joël Bouchard is the coach in Syracuse.

I’ll say.

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It’s always the same people who have “it all”

The Rocket 2024-25 is no more. The Canadiens’ training club suffered a fourth straight setback last night and its playoff run is over. They weren’t even able to pick up a game against the Checkers. #Sweep #FishTailEnd

It must be said that this AHL East final series felt like it was men versus kids.

The Rocket players were much younger, much less experienced and much smaller (both in height and width) than their opponents. Not for nothing did Pascal Vincent say that the boys were going to have to go to the gym over the next few months, following his team’s elimination.

You know, nearly one in two Checkers players was born before Y2K.

Add to that the fact that several veterans were injured (Trudeau, Dauphin, Wotherspoon, etc.), that Cayden Primeau had (re)lost his confidence and that the youngsters’ batteries were all empty..

But what struck me this morning was the fact that the Checkers are off to the final of their championship… just like their big club, the Florida Panthers.

So, yes, it’s always the same guys who have it all.

You have to understand, though, that some organizations attach more importance to the Calder Cup than others. Someone close to the Rocket told me this earlier this week: “At Laval, we don’t make our moves to win the Calder Cup. We do them to eventually win the Stanley Cup.”

OK, fine… the Rocket’s young players have gone out to get experience and they’ve grown from it, but how many players who have defended the Rocket’s colors over the past month will have an important role with the Montreal Canadiens in the future?

David Reinbacher?

Perhaps Owen Beck?

Florian Xhekaj?

Logan Mailloux? Joshua Roy?

Jacob Fowler?

I understand the principle, but I don’t have to agree.

Is Fowler really any closer to winning the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens now that he’s had some good – and some bad – games in the AHL?

And while we’re on the subject of Stanley Cup vs. Calder Cup, the Panthers will begin the Stanley Cup Grand Final tonight in Edmonton, while the Checkers are still waiting to find out who will cross their path in the AHL Grand Final: the Canucks or the Stars. Need I remind you that the Panthers’ last Cup was less than a year ago, while the Habs’ was in 1993?

So, yes, you can aim for the Stanley Cup AND the Calder Cup at the same time. Provided you have the right plan, the right hires… and an advantageous tax rate?

Because I know we’re repeating ourselves here, but good professional hockey players are much more inclined to go and play in states where the provincial/state tax is 0 or 4.5% than in Quebec, where it’s 25%.

Basically, the Rocket’s problems are the same as the Canadiens’: size and taxes.

As I said at the outset, it’s always the same people who have it all. Unfortunately, Montreal fans have had more patience than success to celebrate in recent years.

Damn, the snowbirds who adopt their winter team are lucky, when you think about it.

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Draft: the Canadiens had lunch with prospect Carter Bear

On the heels of the NHL combine , the Canadiens – like other NHL teams – can go and meet some prospects.

By necessity, the club will be able to get answers to questions it has been asking itself. This is a very important week for preparing for the draft, which takes place at the end of the month.

We’re obviously keeping an eye on what comes out of it.

In light of what we’ve been reading in recent weeks, it’s safe to assume that Carter Bear will indeed be meeting with the Canadiens this week in Buffalo.

Remember, he can’t take part in the physical exercises, but he’s on site.

Because yes, the Habs like him. They’ve seen him play a lot this season in the WHL, and his rugged style of play fits in with what the Habs are looking to add to their forward corps.

And now there’s further proof of the Habs’ interest in the Bear. Because, according to Marco D’Amico(RG media), the Habs brought Bear along to get to know him better.

It often happens at the combine. But in his case, it was before that: earlier this year.

It goes to show that the club has been following him for a long time. There’s no saying he’ll make it to the Canadiens, and there’s no saying he’s the Habs’ ONLY crush, but he remains a name to watch.

D’Amico also talks about the Habs’ interest in KaShawn Aitcheson and Lynden Lakovic. These are two players we’ve talked about in the past, but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

And speaking of “that doesn’t tell the whole story”: Justin Carbonneau’s name isn’t mentioned in D’Amico’s text.

overtime

– Poor guy.

– Eh boy.

– A little, yes.

– To watch.

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Justin Carbonneau fired his agent by e-mail (and the word is out in the NHL)

The job of an NHL scouting team is much more than just watching a player on the ice or seeing how a prospect performs in physical tests.

Clubs want to know the character of a young man.

That’s why, on the heels of the Buffalo combine , which is currently underway, players are interviewed by teams. In this way, organizations can determine an individual’s character.

But it’s not the only way.

You know as well as I do that the NHL is a small world. So it’s only natural that scouts and agents, for example, gossip and tell stories.

And here’s one about Justin Carbonneau, the mid-first-round NHL prospect from Québécois.

According to Alexandre Gascon on the latest episode of Radio-Canada’s Tellement Hockey podcast, the fact that Justin Carbonneau chose to part ways with his agent via e-mail is a hot topic of discussion in the NHL.

The journalist explains that the Québécois was represented by an agency that split up. The two big agents went their separate ways during the 2024-2025 season.

Carbonneau said he didn’t want to make any big decisions during the campaign, as he wanted to focus on his draft year. That’s fair enough.

He finally decided to change agencies, which he has every right to do.

But even if his former representative (Jonathan Lachance) doesn’t want to stick it to him publicly, the word on the street is that he thinks it’s ordinary that Carbonneau announced his decision by e-mail. The Armada player also asked his former agent to stop trying to contact him.

And this story, as Gascon mentions, is something that is circulating among the scouts who are thinking of selecting him in a few weeks’ time, at the NHL draft.

That’s not a good thing.

Between the branches, we’ve also heard about Carbonneau’s attitude, which isn’t the most impressive of the lot. I wonder how much a club like the Canadiens will consider him if he’s available at #16 or #17.

To be seen in due course.

extension

The Radio-Canada podcast also talks about Carbonneau using “the NCAA card” like many players. It’s not impossible to see him playing in Boston next year.

To no one’s surprise, there’s clearly an exodus going on right now. The CHL will have to find solutions…

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“Checkers taunt Rocket on social networks

Tonight, the Laval Rocket’s season came to an end. The club was swept aside in the Eastern final by the simply more dominant Charlotte Checkers.

And the habs’ club-school took the opportunity to wish the Checkers good luck in the Calder Cup final.

The Checkers also got their message across via social networks… but they did so with less class.

Right after the game, the Checkers account on X posted a “AU REVOIR” with brooms…

And a little later, the club added another layer by publishing a private message in which they were asked if the players could let the Rocket win one because they were going to win the final anyway.

And to that, the Checkers replied “no”.

Obviously, since they won, the Checkers can afford to be a little slobbery. That’s part of the game, after all.

But it’s not what you’d see in Montreal or Laval, say.

Getting back to the Rocket, Jacob Fowler spoke to the media after the game, and took the blame for the goal that eliminated his team. He said he should have reacted more quickly when he saw Zack Hayes dive for the puck.

Here’s the goal, in case you missed it:

Pascal Vincent liked his players’ effort tonight and feels his boys deserved a better fate. He is aware, however, that injuries hurt his group in this series (even if it allowed the youngsters, especially on defense, to play bigger minutes), and what he takes away from the series is that the team’s young players will have to get physically stronger to get to the next level.

It remains to be seen whether he’ll still be around next year… but it’s doubtful.

Overtime

– That’s a good summary of the series. Even if the Rocket put up a better fight tonight, that said.

– Good listening. Montembeault arrives around the 56th minute, for those interested.

– Unless he agrees to sign at a discount in Florida, he’s going to get more than that. Especially if he lifts the Stanley Cup.

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AHL Series: Laval Rocket officially eliminated

Tonight, the Laval Rocket were trying to avoid elimination against the Charlotte Checkers. Trailing 0-3 in the series, the habs’ club-school had their work cut out to try and turn their series around.

And that’s one of the reasons why, for the first time in this series, Jacob Fowler was the Rocket’s starting goaltender.

And obviously, Fowler’s presence calmed things down in the first period. The Checkers didn’t score… and the Rocket even took the lead.

Joshua Roy hit the target at the very end of the first period.

And clearly, it was a bit of a crunch for the Rocket, who even doubled their lead early in the second period.

This time, it was Owen Beck who scored.

Except that in the minutes that followed, the Checkers showed their teeth… and brought the score back to 2-2.

And the Checkers’ second goal was scored short-handed, something we’ve often seen since the start of the series.

It was a pretty quiet end to the period, and it was pretty quiet in the third too… until the end of the period.

In a bizarre sequence, the puck found its way into Rocket territory… and Jacob Fowler stepped forward to try and push the disc away.

The problem was that Zack Hayes decided to do the same thing, but on the other side. And Jesse Puljujarvi gave the Rocket the lead.

The Rocket couldn’t score a third goal… so the team’s season came to an end.

As a result, the Habs’ club team was swept in four games in the Eastern finals.

Extensions

It’s safe to assume that Pascal Vincent directed his last game at the Rocket’s helm. Let’s not forget that there are rumors that he will be an assistant in the NHL next season.

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“I think the Canadiens will express interest in Mitch Marner.”

There’s now less than a month to go before the NHL free agent market opens. And of course, the big name we’ll be keeping an eye on is Mitch Marner.

The feeling right now is that Marner won’t be back in Toronto. Things have really gone south for him this season, and he’s probably tired of constantly being labelled the scapegoat for the Leafs ‘ playoff failures.

After all, he’s got his share of the blame… but he’s not the only culprit either.

We get the impression that Marner will probably want to go south of the border to pursue his career, but we know he’ll be courted from all four corners of the league. And speaking on The Sheet (Jeff Marek’s podcast), David Pagnotta had this to say:

I think the Canadiens will express interest [in Mitch Marner]. – David Pagnotta

Pagnotta, who also mentions the Flames as a team likely to express interest, notes, however, that he doesn’t necessarily get that sense that it’s an environment Marner would like to go to. Because yes, two things can be true: the Canadiens may have interest in a player, but it doesn’t have to be reciprocated.

In the event that the Habs really do have a lot of interest in Marner, you have to wonder whether the club will be able to find ways to motivate the player to sign in town. Obviously, the pressure of the Montreal market is a factor that could cool Marner down… but the club can count on other strengths.

Its promising young core is likely to be competitive for years to come, and the club has a great vision in place: if Marner wants to play with a competitive team and likes the way the Habs are building their core, maybe Kent Hughes could hit the nail on the head.

Obviously, the chances are slim. That said, this isn’t a scenario in which the Habs aren’t even interested in signing Marner: clearly, they’d like to add Marner to their group.

They’re clearly not the only team in that position, but if Marner is open to signing in Montreal, the Habs will want to be at the negotiating table.

In Overtime

– Corey Perry doesn’t want to retire this summer.

– Indeed.

– He would probably be the player most in demand.

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“Connor McDavid… and why not with the Canadiens?”

Why not Connor McDavid in Montreal?

There are many answers to this question, but Jean-Charles Lajoie asked himself in episode 76 of his podcast.

The Oilers captain will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2026, unless he receives a contract extension by then. So, Connor McDavid in Montreal: why not?

It’s going to be expensive, several teams, including the Leafs, will be in the running, the Oilers are doing well and finally, if Montreal went after him via trade, the club would be sacrificing a lot of key pieces.

That’s the answer to the question.

If Kent Hughes really wanted to go after McDavid, I’d wait until July 1 to offer him a contract extension. He’d cost so much on the trade market that I don’t think any team would go that route to acquire him.

Then again, if Wayne Gretzky was traded, anyone can be traded.

I don’t think McDavid will leave the Oilers, though. He and his team are doing well and, for the past two seasons, they’ve been in the Stanley Cup finals. The atmosphere is good in Edmonton and I can’t believe Stan Bowman wouldn’t do everything in his power to extend the contract of the league’s best player and possibly the best of all time, especially with a Stanley Cup.

But if he’s available, JiC begs Kent Hughes to take a trip to Edmonton and ask Oilers management what it would take to get his hands on 97.

No, it wouldn’t take the two first-round picks in 2025, Logan Mailloux and Kirby Dach. It would take, at the very least , three first-round picks, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

I wouldn’t be surprised if demand were even greater. Let’s not sacrifice the future either…

Overtime

– Who’s got the edge?

– It’s crazy.

– It starts well.

– We wish him the best of luck.

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Christian Dvorak could ask Yanni Gourde for a six-year contract

Since his arrival in Montreal, Christian Dvorak has had a good run, and that was the second half of the 2024-2025 season.

Other than that, he was an unloved figure.

Still, the center has his uses on a team, and Jean-Charles Lajoie wouldn’t hesitate to give him a three-year contract. Tony Marinaro strongly disagrees, saying he won’t be back.

Obviously, Dvorak won’t be getting six million dollars a season, but, according to Jic, the contract recently signed by Yanni Gourde in Tampa Bay could serve as a comparable.

The Québécois signed a six-year deal worth $2.33 million. Obviously, Kent Hughes won’t sign his protégé for six years, but three years at $2.33 million isn’t bad.

You can’t go higher than three years. – JiC

The host is clear: he wants to keep the line with Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher intact. Dvorak’s two line mates will see their contracts expire in two years.

If keeping the center seemed like a crazy idea at the start of the season, it doesn’t seem to be the case now. Montreal’s center line remains inexperienced and not the best. Keeping Dvo would give Michael Hage time to develop and not get thrown into the lion’s den.

If Hughes decides to go after a good second-line center this summer, keeping Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s replacement would make a little less sense. But otherwise, it’s not a crazy idea at all.

It now remains to be seen whether Dvorak, at 29, will only demand $2.33 million per season or close to it. After all, this may be his last chance at a big NHL contract. In any case, a six-year contract, which will provide him with financial stability, could be in his plans.

Overtime

– Yes.

– It’s clear.

– Obviously.

– A fine example of resilience.

– Great news.

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Rumor mill: Hurricanes, Hawks and Kings (very) interested in Marner

July 1 is less than a month away.

Do you know what that means?

We’re fast approaching the opening of the free agent market… and this summer, there could be some big changes in the National League.

For example, we know that Mitch Marner’s name is going to be popular all over the NHL.

In fact, it already is.

But even if it’s hard to predict where he’ll be playing in 25-26, some clubs are already showing interest in him.

Chris Johnston(The Chris Johnston Show) talks about the Hurricanes and the Blackhawks… while David Pagnotta(The Sheet Podcast) says the Kings will be aggressive in their efforts to bring Marner to Los Angeles.

All three are interesting options.

In Chicago, Marner would play with one of the league’s best young players in Connor Bedard…

In Carolina, Marner would add to an already excellent group of forwards and perhaps help the club finally advance a little further in the playoffs…

And in Los Angeles, Marner would also be superbly surrounded because the Kings have some very talented players in their line-up.

Will it come down to these three clubs in the end?

Perhaps. But one thing’s for sure: whatever the destination, the team that’s going to get him had better get the cheques out… because it’s going to cost a lot of money.

Let’s talk about Jason Robertson

Jason Robertson is a popular name these days.

And this morning, on BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie revealed a piece of information that hadn’t yet seen the light of day: the Stars player was almost involved in the Mikko Rantanen transaction, in place of Logan Stankoven.

Jason Robertson in Carolina would have been interesting:

The Stars want to save money on payroll because they don’t have a lot of space (about $5M) available to navigate right now.

And the fact that Robertson is likely to break the bank before too long – his contract runs out at the end of next season – also plays a role in the balance.

But it also seems that the Stars weren’t too happy with Robo’s performance in the last playoffs.

And that’s to be expected, given that the player scored just six points in eleven playoff games.

The best have to be the best for a club to be successful in May and June, and that simply hasn’t been the case with Robertson of late.

And now, what’s happening… is that his days in Dallas really do seem to be numbered.

Where will Drouin play next year?

Jonathan Drouin has been having fun since his arrival in Colorado.

He’s rediscovered his offensive game: in 23-24, he scored 56 points in 79 games.

And in 24-25, he collected 37 points… in “only” 43 games.

But now his contract is up, and he’ll be testing the free agent market this summer. And since the Avalanche have players to sign and the club may not have enough payroll room to keep him, the idea of him leaving via the free agent market is starting to circulate.

In the TVA Sports article above, we read that the New York Post would like to see the Québécois play with the Rangers. And Yahoo Sports has linked him to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

But no matter: Drouin needs to find a place where the pressure isn’t too great.

It worked out well for him in Colorado, precisely because he was able to do his business without too much scrutiny. The pressure of a big market affects his game, as we saw in Montreal… and if he wants to give himself the best possible chance of success, he needs to go somewhere where it’s quiet.

I don’t know how much interest there will be in him throughout the NHL, but Drouin has proven over the past two years that he’s capable of helping a National League club.

It remains to be seen which club he can help next.

In Overtime

– Nice signing for the Canucks.

– Indeed.

– Rocket win or lose tonight?

– Well done.