Author: Dose

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes addressed the media in the final minutes to obviously answer several questions about the trade deadline.

The Canadiens were not active in the end on this completely crazy day, despite several rumors.

Journalists therefore ended up leaning some of their questions on other files, including that of the injured players, namely Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle.

In Guhle’s case, after seeing him skate this morning, it was clear that Kent Hughes would be questioned about the health of number 21 and his potential return to play before the end of the regular season.

And in response, the Canadiens’ general manager replied that it would likely depend on the position of the Tricolore in the playoff race in the coming weeks.

‘I don’t know if Guhle will be able to come back this season. It will depend on where we are in the standings. If we’re no longer in the running, we’ll tell him to focus on next year.’ -Hughes @CanadiensMTL

— Jeremy Filosa (@JeremyFilosa) March 7, 2025

Of course, if the Canadiens are out of the playoff race, we won’t force a return for Guhle, and we’ll let him take the time to fully rehabilitate for the next campaign.

However, if the Tricolore is heading towards a playoff spot, and Guhle could be ready to return to play, it’s possible that Guhle will take back his place in the lineup to help the Canadiens.

So all of this remains to be decided in Guhle’s case, but we must still face the fact that seeing Guhle return to play this season is more unlikely than not.

Kent Hughes’ reaction to the question says a lot, as he seemed unoptimistic about Guhle returning to play this season.

It’s a shame in Guhle’s case, because let’s say the Canadiens could have really used him right now in this big playoff push.

The Tricolore’s number 21 would have greatly helped the team last night against the Edmonton Oilers.

In a Nutshell

– Obviously.

#Habs captain Nick Suzuki says it’s «nice and refreshing» to not see any teammates traded at the deadline this year

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) March 7, 2025

– The Kraken’s forward will join the Devils.

Daniel Sprong to NJ

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025

– Coaches want Laine to improve his defensive game.

«If I only talk about Patrik Laine and his season, he had some good moments and some less good moments. The coaching staff wants him to continue working on his defensive aspect» – Kent Hughes https://t.co/vzjeyHtHQJ

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 7, 2025

– Indeed.

«Our fans in general understand that a rebuild is not done in a day» – Kent Hughes https://t.co/vzjeyHtHQJ

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 7, 2025

When the Canadian team went to get Kirby Dach from Chicago, expectations were high for the player.

We thought Kirby was going to become the Canadian’s 2nd center of the future… But right now, it’s hard to say that it will certainly happen.

Even Kent Hughes doesn’t seem sure…

The Canadiens’ GM was questioned about his player, and before answering a question that referred to the 2nd center position, Kent Hughes took a long pause.

He thought before giving his answer… And he said this: 

We went to get Kirby to be a good player. – Kent Hughes

Clearly, Hughes didn’t want to speculate on what awaits Dach in the coming years in Montreal… 

«We went to get Kirby to be a good player. This year, he was coming back from an injury. Kirby has high expectations for himself. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. When it’s not going well, it snowballs» – Kent Hughes https://t.co/vzjeyHufGh

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 7, 2025

Kent Hughes added that for now, the organization doesn’t really know what to expect from him in 25-26.

And that’s normal: the Canadian player has once again seen his season end due to an injury, and he will have to work hard this summer to get back in shape.

Already, it took him time this season to regain confidence… 

Of course, the Canadiens’ GM didn’t talk about his player as a flop.

He didn’t openly say he was disappointed with his player’s performance… But clearly, we can sense that he would like to see more from a guy who has good potential.

The organization hasn’t given up on him, but at some point, there will have to be results too.

Especially with the price the Canadiens paid to acquire him in the 2022 draft…

In a nutshell

– Interesting.

#LetsGoOilers release this statement regarding Evander Kane: «After further consultation with team medical staff, it has been determined that forward Evander Kane will not be ready to return to action for the remainder of the 2024-25 regular season. As a result, he will remain on…

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) March 7, 2025

– Yikes…

This is a horrible thing for a GM to say about any player publicly, let alone one who has given so much to the franchise

Damages his future earning power too

If I’m Ben Hankinson, Brock’s agent, I’m calling Allan Walsh’s photoshop guy right about now to commission a new work

— Steve Werier (@stevewerier) March 7, 2025

– Whoa.

Fraser Minten is part of the package going to Boston in the Brandon Carlo deal.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 7, 2025

– I like the trade for the Senators.

OTT/SJ:

To Ottawa: Zetterlund, Robins and a 4th
To San Jose: Ostapchuk, Gregor and OTT’s 2025 2nd

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025

With the trade deadline today, several teams have decided to go in search of reinforcements for the playoffs. Whether it’s Mikko Rantanen to Dallas, Brad Marchand to Florida or Dylan Cozens to Ottawa, there have been big names on the move.

And that’s without counting the transactions in the previous days.

Now, we’ve had a rather special transaction just before 3 pm: the Utah team has traded… Shea Weber. His contract now belongs to the Blackhawks.

Utah has traded Shea Weber to Chicago (whom they play tonight).

To Chicago:
Victor Söderström
Aku Räty
Shea Weber

To Utah:
2026 6th-round pick#UtahHC #Blackhawks

— Brogan Houston (@houston_brogan) March 7, 2025

More details to come…

The Canadian made a paper transaction by sending Owen Beck and Jakub Dobes to the American League.

This will allow the two youngsters to be eligible to participate in the Laval series.

The two guys had to be on the Rocket’s lineup before the trade deadline to be eligible to play in the series.

The Canadiens made paper transactions with Owen Beck, who was with the team on an emergency recall, and Jakub Dobes, so they can be assigned to the Laval Rocket.

The Canadiens have done paper transactions with Owen Beck, who was with… pic.twitter.com/DbJaG38tJH

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 7, 2025

That makes sense.

The Rocket – which is ranked 2nd in the American League standings – will likely have a good chance of going far in the series this year, and at this level, the addition of Beck and Dobes should help.

It’s easy experience for two young players who are in their first steps in the NHL… And it’s a good helping hand for Pascal Vincent.

After all, Beck and Dobes have played in the big league this season. They’ve tasted the NHL, which can have a significant impact on their performance in Laval. They will be called upon to play an important role, and that’s perfect too.

Let’s recall that before the end of the season, the Canadian can make a total of four recalls. They have used two to recall Owen Beck and Jakub Dobes…

Also, note that if the Canadian uses its four recalls and a player gets injured, they have the option to turn to an emergency recall.

In short, to make it simple, it’s worth knowing that the CH can also use an emergency recall (injury) even if they haven’t used their four recalls by the end of the campaign.

In a nutshell

— It’s good.

I’m told Rantanen didn’t like the place given to him in the locker room in Dallas and he would like to leave the organization.

— Maxim Lapierre (@Lappy14) March 7, 2025

— Good point!

“In the AHL, it’s so important to have good veterans, and he’s a real one.” — Pascal Vincent

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 7, 2025

— Hehe.

Apparently, the Jays were also in the running until the last second.

— Frédéric Daigle (@FredDaigle) March 7, 2025

— Logical.

Button on the Stars: “I think they are the best in the west now”

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 7, 2025

A huge boom has just resonated in the National Hockey League in the last minutes of the trade deadline, as Brad Marchand has just been traded to the Florida Panthers.

Brad Marchand is heading to the Florida Panthers, pending the league call.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 7, 2025

While everything seemed to be over, once again this year (like last year with Tomas Hertl in Vegas), a huge trade has fallen in the last minutes and seconds of the trade deadline.

The captain of the Boston Bruins has been traded to a division rival for the last year of his contract.

He joins the Florida Panthers, who are currently ranked first in the Atlantic division.

This is a huge blow for the Panthers, who have just filled the loss of Matthew Tkachuk for the rest of the regular season.

By placing Tkachuk on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR), the Panthers had freed up money, and they have just used it on Brad Marchand, whose contract is worth $6,125,000 per year.

We still don’t know if the Bruins are retaining salary.

In short, the Panthers have just added a very big piece to their lineup, as they risk going very far in the playoffs again.

Imagine a trio composed of Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand.

Three pests reunited, it’s likely to hurt their opponents a lot.

On the Bruins’ side, well, we can really say that the rebuilding has officially begun, as several veterans have left today.

Add to that defenseman Brandon Carlo, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the last moments.

TRANSACTION!

Another big coup for the Leafs, who add giant-sized defenseman Brandon Carlo.

Like the impression that it’s going to have cost a lot, that!#NHLTradeDeadline https://t.co/eVWT3cSddu

— Marc-Olivier Beaudoin (@MOBeaudoin1) March 7, 2025

Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle, Justin Brazeau, Max Jones, and Trent Frederic have all left in the last hours and days.

So, it’s officially the end of an era in Boston, and it’s a wonder what will happen with David Pastrnak.

Extension

Let’s see what the returns will be for the two Bruins players.

Want clues about what’s in store for the Canadiens?

David Savard and Joel Armia, two players who were in trade rumors, were seen on the ice with the other CH guys on the sidelines of today’s training.

Just a few minutes from the deadline, there’s only one step to take before deducing that they haven’t been traded.

David Savard + pic.twitter.com/mIcAVpUkfA

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) March 7, 2025

Joel Armia + pic.twitter.com/gLjLDK1x3X

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) March 7, 2025

More details to come…

This move here, nobody had really seen it coming.

The Avalanche has decided to trade Casey Mittelstadt to Boston in exchange for Charlie Coyle.

Coyle is a player built for the series – and we know that Mittelstadt’s experience in Colorado has not been super glorious since his arrival last year.

Casey Mittelstadt is part of this deal but there are also other parts https://t.co/lyb2DfpzIT

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 7, 2025

The Avalanche has been an aggressive team over the past few weeks.

Martin Necas…

The two new goalies in MacKenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood…

Ryan Lindgren…

Brock Nelson…

Charlie Coyle…

That’s a lot of new faces!

More details to come…

After days, or even months of speculation, Dylan Cozens has finally been traded.

He goes from the Sabres to the Ottawa Senators in a rather special transaction. At first, this transaction was somewhat logical: Cozens for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. But a few minutes later, the two teams made it official and Ottawa received Denni Gilbert AND a second-round pick in 2026, in addition to Cozens. It’s incomprehensible!

Moreover, Renaud Lavoie describes the Sabres as the training club of the NHL.

“The Sabres are the training club of the National League” – @renlavoietva pic.twitter.com/SJpr54Gn0p

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 7, 2025

It’s hard to disagree with his words, because this trade is extremely bizarre from Buffalo’s point of view.

Bob Hartley also made similar comments.

“They are practically the official suppliers of NHL players!”
— Bob Hartley is far from being a fan of the Sabres’ transactions in recent years! pic.twitter.com/cUPylDtHBf

— RDS (@RDSca) March 7, 2025

The team doesn’t improve either in the short or long term. I don’t know what the plan is there and honestly, I don’t think Kevyn Adams will start next season as the team’s GM.

“The training club of the NHL” is barely an exaggeration. When a good player is no longer producing in Buffalo, he gets traded and often, if not always, he explodes with his new team. This was the case with Jack Eichel (Golden Knights), Ryan O’Reilly (Blues), Brandon Montour and Sam Reinhart (Panthers). They all won the Stanley Cup with their new team in the following years.

Linus Ullmark never won the Stanley Cup in Boston, but after leaving Buffalo, he was one of the best goalies in the NHL, won a Vezina and was one of the main contributors to the best season in history a few years ago.

Will Cozens follow in the footsteps of all these guys? We hope not. But it remains that a change of air will do him good. Especially since the Senators are in the playoff race.

In the meantime, I would like to offer my thoughts to Josh Norris. He lived through the years of misery in the national capital and as soon as his team starts to be good, he gets traded to one of the worst organizations in the NHL.

Brady Tkachuk is also affected by the transaction.

Captain Brady Tkachuk fighting back tears while speaking to the media. “It’s pretty tough,” says Tkachuk. Just spent time with Norris and is devastated by the deal #Sens

— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) March 7, 2025

For the fans of the training club of the NHL, it must be tough. At RDS, François Gagnon can’t explain this transaction from the Sabres’ side. Marc Denis showed a bit more restraint – the GM is a friend and former teammate -, but he was visibly shocked by this trade, which will continue to make waves for a long time.

And TVA Sports added to it on X with a poll.

Which team won the transaction:
In Buffalo: Josh Norris + Jacob Bernard-Docker
In Ottawa: Dylan Cozens + Dennis Gilbert + 2nd round pick 2026

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 7, 2025

Where are the Sabres headed?

Your answer is as good as mine.

After having a very quiet morning in the National Hockey League, things are now unfolding this afternoon with the trade deadline approaching.

Whether it’s Mikko Rantanen or Dylan Cozens, we’ve really had quite a day so far, and there are still two hours left before 3 pm.

So it’s a big day, on several levels, as contract extensions are also being handed out, as was the case a few minutes ago with a former Montreal Canadiens player.

In fact, Johnathan Kovacevic has just signed a huge five-year, $20 million contract extension with the Devils.

5 years, $20 million. https://t.co/xewDkNe461

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 7, 2025

More details to come

Extension

It’s worth wondering seriously what the future holds for Simon Nemec with the Devils.

Good. The nonsense is finally over!

Mikko Rantanen has been traded and has FINALLY agreed to the terms of a new contract with the Dallas Stars.

We’re talking about an eight-year deal at $12 million per season. That gives a total of $96 million for the duration of the contract:

Mikko Rantanen and the Dallas Stars are closing in on an extension

8 years, $12M AAV. Would get the deal done.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 7, 2025

Mikko Rantanen to Dallas, it made a lot of noise since last night.

But what was complicated was the negotiation of his new contract. Rantanen had big salary demands and ultimately, he managed to find common ground with his new team.

He will have only passed through Carolina, so…

After spending the majority of his career in Colorado, the forward now finds himself in Dallas.

Do I need to remind you that the Stars and the Avalanche are in the same division? It’s going to be interesting in the playoffs in the coming years!

More details to come…