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Christian Dvorak: the Canadiens should consider offering him a contract extension The article likely discusses how Christian Dvorak, a Canadian professional ice hockey player, has performed well and deserves a contract extension from the Montreal Canadiens. The team’s management should consider this to keep him on their roster, as he has been a valuable asset to the team. Offering a contract extension to Christian Dvorak would be a strategic move for the Canadiens, as it would allow them to maintain a strong and consistent lineup. By considering a contract extension for Christian Dvorak, the Canadiens can ensure that they retain a talented player who can continue to contribute to the team’s success in the future

To win in the NHL, you need a good center line.

Right now, there’s only one long-term certainty: Nick Suzuki is there. He’s the team’s first center and unless a better center comes along to replace him, he’ll be there for many years to come.

Thanks to Marc Bergevin for getting him and signing him, right?

But behind him, it’s thin. After all, Kirby Dach won’t play again this season and fewer and fewer people want to see him at center on the second unit (and at center in general) next year.

Jake Evans and Christian Dvorak? They’ll be free agents in a few months if nothing changes.

So, as it stands, if we take the four regular centers since the start of the season, only one is guaranteed to play center for the team next year.

And it’s not like Alex Newhook and Owen Beck are ideal solutions.

What I’m trying to say is that the team, which has a good chance of trading Evans in the coming days, has a good chance of having a thin center line in 2025-2026.

And that’s the year the Canadiens want to take a step forward. #Concerning

It’s possible that a top center joins the organization – and that would be good to support Nick Suzuki, who played well with Sean Monahan behind him.

That being said, until proven otherwise, it’s not the case yet.

Already lacking help at the top of the pyramid, seeing all the depth leave wouldn’t be a good thing. After all, the Canadiens can’t just rely on the Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen of the world.

So the question (which was impossible to ask before) arises: how much should the Canadiens consider offering Christian Dvorak a contract?

Obviously, we know it’s not the sexiest idea in town. Dvorak doesn’t have a big fan club among fans because he’s never lived up to expectations.

He never even came close to living up to them, in fact.

Warning: if Evans stays or if the Canadiens find a way to add (or keep) established centers, the proposal can take a backseat. But for now, that’s not the case.

We also have to wonder how much Christian Dvorak would be willing to sign a one-year contract to stay in town. We don’t know the answer from his side.

But I wonder how much Dvorak, who has a good chance of finishing the season in Montreal, would accept a one-year contract to rebuild his market value. I’m talking about one year because the Canadiens won’t want to keep him at all costs… and because I don’t want to keep him for more than that.

And if so, why not in Montreal, where he has the trust of Martin St-Louis? Starting on the power play is proof of his usefulness in the coach’s eyes, let’s be clear.

With a fourth-line contract (he should accept a significant pay cut, it goes without saying), Dvorak would have a specific role for the Canadiens and he would bring depth to a center line that, as we’ve said, will desperately need it.

Dvorak is American, but he chose to play his junior hockey in Canada. He also seems to enjoy being part of the group and is a good friend of Cole Caufield, as you probably know, which makes us think he could be open to the idea.

Obviously, the contract extension shouldn’t happen now (it would be way too early)… but as July 1st approaches, guys like Dvorak and David Savard could become potential candidates for a one-year contract.

Again: it will depend on how the Canadiens’ offseason goes. But it’s not an idea to dismiss out of hand, even if he’s not exactly a fan favorite.

In brief

– Josh Norris to be traded?

– Ah yeah?

– Interesting.

– The question arises.

– A good kid, Lane Hutson.

– It will be long.

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Brendan Gallagher became a father last week

In recent years, Brendan Gallagher met his wife (Emma Fortin) and he proposed to her. And recently, she became pregnant with the couple’s first child.

We knew that at some point during the season, she would give birth.

Last week, when the Canadiens player was absent from practice (Monday) for personal reasons, we could wonder if it was related to the birth of his child.

And the answer, it’s clearly yes.

Yesterday evening, after the win against Buffalo, Gallagher confirmed that last week, he became a father. A little girl has been added to the Canadiens player’s family.

This is good news.

As the Canadiens are unbeaten since her birth, the little girl must think that the Canadiens have found a way to recreate a dynasty of yesteryear. Unless I’m mixing things up…

Let’s recall that Gallagher hasn’t missed a single game this season. His wife’s pregnancy and the birth of his daughter have not affected his ability to play so far.

And he’s also healthy for a second season in a row, which helps.

Note that the Canadiens will soon be leaving for a long trip to the West, which will end on March 12 in Seattle. It won’t be easy for the Canadiens’ veteran, who will have to leave his family behind for several days in order to help the team make the playoffs.

A long paternity leave is not in the NHL’s customs…

in rafale

– Jake Evans and Lane Hutson are among the notable players present at the team’s optional practice.

– Who will leave?

– A name to watch.

– Do we like it or not?

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The Canadian has only 12% chance of making the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck

Will the Canadiens make the playoffs in 2025?

Based on how they’ve been playing for the past five games, yes. But the last few months remind us that highs can quickly be followed by lows, making it tough for a team.

Last year, it took 91 points in the East (and 98 in the West) to make the playoffs. At this rate, the Canadiens would need 26 points in 21 games until the end of the season, which is a pace beyond what Martin St-Louis’ men have been offering since October.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

So despite the winning streak, Kent Hughes might decide not to help his team for the playoffs by Friday.

According to MoneyPuck, the team has only 11.6% mathematical chance of making the playoffs. Will Kent Hughes believe in it despite what the numbers tell him? We’ll see.

If he wants to please his locker room, he’ll buy – or at least not sell.

But if he sticks to his basic plan (despite the fact that the team is #DansLeMix right now) with a long-term view, it’s possible that Jake Evans will have to pack his bags.

On this subject, Nicolas Cloutier and Marc de Foy (in a column in the Journal de Montréal) remind us that in 2007, in the middle of the playoff race, Bob Gainey traded Craig Rivet.

The negative: the Canadiens missed the playoffs by two points and ended up in no man’s land.

But the positive? Josh Gorges and a first-round pick – which became Max Pacioretty – arrived in town. It changed the dynamics of the Canadiens for the future (in a year when the Stanley Cup was not really accessible) and ultimately, it even gave Nick Suzuki.

Not too bad.

So with that information in hand, we’ll see how much Kent Hughes values a playoff run for his young team. After all, right now, it’s the big tangible advantage of not selling by Friday for the management.

To be continued…

in a nutshell

– He needs it, yes.

– The Canadiens are #DansLeMix thanks to their captain.

– To watch.

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Jake Evans contract: “the possibility has not been ruled out”

The Canadian can either keep Jake Evans or trade him by March 7 – or by Friday, if you prefer.

If they trade him, it’s likely only if the price is right on the market. And if they keep him, we’ll see if it comes with a contract extension for the rest of the season.

This is the current issue in Montreal, especially with the Canadian’s recent successes. #MessageFromTheGuysToTheLeaders

For a few weeks now, almost everyone has thought that negotiations are not going super well between Evans and the Canadian for a new contract for next season.

On this subject, Renaud Lavoie is the informant who (publicly) believes the most in an agreement.

But another informant has just given hope to those who hope to see Jake Evans continue to play for the Canadian in the coming years: Darren Dreger.

The TSN journalist believes that “the possibility has not been ruled out” by the Canadian, who continues to negotiate with him.

We can wonder if the information was leaked to raise the stakes or if the Canadian really believes, at this point, that they have a chance to sign Evans in the medium/long term.

After all, at the moment, Evans is in demand, but that doesn’t mean the offers are up to what Kent Hughes wants to feel comfortable moving.

Of course, if Evans (who is not talking to the media these days to avoid distractions) wants to sign with the Canadian, both the management and the player will have to put water in their wine. And where is the middle ground in this case? Who knows.

As long as the Canadian doesn’t overpay in the name of the rising ceiling, Evans has his place in town.

In a nutshell

– Was the wrong guy traded?

– Marc-Édouard Vlasic has blocked many shots in his career. #Record

– Deadline: it’s stressful.

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Lane Hutson : fourth best scorer in the NHL among defensemen

When using the eye test, we see that last night, Lane Hutson was sometimes moving a bit too fast.

But we also see that he was excellent at the right moments. He notably allowed the Canadiens to win thanks to his two assists. Without him, we’re not talking about the same game.

This brings him to 48 points in 61 games – and 50 in 63 career games. And reaching that plateau in 63 games is a franchise record. Only 10 guys in NHL history have done better.

 

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Lane Hutson is a guy who has 31 assists since December 1st. And among all NHL defensemen, no one has done better.

His consistency (despite a dry spell before the Four Nations Tournament) means that right now, his 48 points put him in a tie for fourth place in the league for defensemen’s points.

Only Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, and Quinn Hughes, who are obviously big players in the NHL (…), are ahead of him in this regard for now.

Rasmus Dahlin, Shea Theodore, and Adam Fox, other big players on the ice (…), also have 48 points.

And if we go to the rookies, we see that Lane Hutson is among the only three players with at least 30 points this season – and he’s the only defenseman.

Macklin Celebrini and Matvei Michkov, two rivals in the Calder Trophy race, have 44 points. That’s four fewer than the Canadiens’ defenseman.

(Credit: NHL.com)

With Dustin Wolf, these three guys are at the heart of the Calder Trophy race. And if Hutson finishes with more points than the others as a defenseman, it will help his case.

We’re repeating ourselves, but right now, there’s a path to two consecutive Calder Trophies in Montreal. #LaneHutson #IvanDemidov

in a nutshell

– To read.

– There’s something to be proud of this season. [BPM Sports]

– At least, he’s doing better.

– Patrick Roy is not giving up.

– National anthem booed: Brady Tkachuk doesn’t seem to be in a good mood.

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One point from the series: Kent Hughes had several messages conveyed by his players

Last night, the Canadian team managed to find a way to win against the Sabres with a score of 4-3. It wasn’t easy (those who turned off their TV after 20 minutes are probably surprised to read this), but it got done.

And for the first time since Martin St-Louis’ first month at the helm of the Canadian team, the group found a way to string together five straight wins. And this, despite the Sabres’ 16 extra shots (36 against 20) last night.

Clearly, given the playoff race, the moment is all the more important. After all, this morning, the CH players woke up knowing they are one point away from the playoffs.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

Yes, the club will be inactive tonight and tomorrow night, which means that talking about being “one point away from the playoffs” may no longer be true in 24 or 48 hours. Yes, there are several teams to overtake in the standings. Yes, the club has holes in its lineup.

But clearly, the way they’ve been playing hockey for the past five games is a message in itself to Kent Hughes: we don’t want the club to sell players like Jake Evans and Joel Armia. The club hasn’t lost since the Super Bowl, in fact.

And the other messages to the GM were even… clearer.

After the game, in the locker room, many players didn’t hesitate to speak up and say publicly that they didn’t want to see Kent Hughes liquidate elements before March 7th.

Brendan Gallagher said he wants to make his GM’s job difficult ahead of the deadline. Cole Caufield said the group has put themselves in a position to play meaningful hockey.

Nick Suzuki said his group wants to be in the playoffs and wants to give the fans some good hockey. In short, these comments are coming from all over.

The question we need to ask ourselves at this point is what Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton think of all this. Does the group think it’s better not to sell rental players – and even add a guy right now? Is Jake Evans gone if he doesn’t sign a contract?

The answer in… three days.

But anyway. We still have to talk a bit about yesterday’s game, in which the Canadian team found a way to beat (again) the Sabres in a game that was a real brawl.

It looked like it was a divisional duel.

But no, Gary: keep the calendar the same instead of adding more divisional games. I’m so looking forward to games against the Wild and the Salt Lake City team, you know…

What do I take away from the game, then?

1. Nick Suzuki had four points, bringing his total to 65 in 61 games. That’s no less than 13 points in the last five games, since the break. He’s motivated by the playoff race, he’s well-rested after the time off, or he wants to show that he deserves to be with Team Canada?

Or all three?

Yesterday, his points were earned on the power play (two assists), shorthanded (one goal), and in overtime (one assist), so at 3-on-3. Long live special teams, last night.

He’s on track to hit the 1-point-per-game mark in a season, which would be a first since Alex Kovalev in Montreal. And for the first time in the NHL, he could finish a season with a positive differential.

He’s currently at +6.

Also, Suzuki is tied with Sidney Crosby for 17th place in the NHL for top scorers. Both players have 19 goals and 65 points in 61 games this season.

2. Martin St-Louis was probably not the most satisfied with the way the team played from the second period on, but he liked the fact that his team is fighting in the playoff race.

He must be eager for his group to make the playoffs one day.

3. Arber Xhekaj has a presence on the ice. Jordan Greenway looked like a scaredy-cat (to put it politely) on the ice in the first period, hiding from the Sheriff.

WiFi didn’t get any points last night, but he contributed to the 3-0 lead that the CH took early in the game.

4. Yesterday, the best players were the best. In addition to Nick Suzuki’s four points, Cole Caufield (one goal), Juraj Slafkovsky (one goal and one assist), Mike Matheson (one goal and one assist), and Lane Hutson (two assists) got on the scoresheet.

No one else got any points. This was a win signed by the team’s best players.

Cole Caufield reached a career high with his 30th goal of the season, a first for him. Mike Matheson played for over 28 minutes. Lane Hutson reached the 50-point mark in his career – in his 63rd NHL game.

He became the fastest defenseman in Habs history to reach that mark. Just that.

5. At even strength, Patrik Laine was the player least used by the Canadian team. He got 13:03 in total, but 5:31 of those minutes came from the power play.

When he’s not scoring, he’s not the most useful player, is he?

6. Owen Beck didn’t always have it easy last night. But under the circumstances, he’s not doing a bad job for a rookie who’s being put on the team’s top 6 in the playoffs.

Along with Alex Newhook (eight points in ten games since the start of February), he’s making a name for himself.

7. I don’t know how much the last five games have changed things in Kent Hughes’ head, but it’s possible that Jake Evans played his last game at the Bell Centre in a Canadiens uniform. Same thing for Joel Armia.

If it ends like that, Evans will have had a great moment on the ice for the winning goal.

overtime

Today, the Canadian team will hold an optional practice. Prediction: Josh Anderson, who is injured and still playing, will not be on the ice.

Tomorrow, the team will head to Alberta for their Western road trip. First stop? Edmonton for Thursday’s game (at 9 PM ET for Quebecers).

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Top-5 : 41 saves for Spencer Knight in his debut with the Blackhawks

Last night, there were six games on the schedule.

One of those games was won by the Canadiens in overtime.

Here are the other results and highlights:

1. 41 saves for Spencer Knight in his debut with the Blackhawks

The last game of the evening was between the Blackhawks and the Kings.

This was Spencer Knight’s first start with the Blackhawks. He was still wearing his Panthers uniform.

Knight was sensational, making 41 saves.

Chicago won 5-1. That’s the art of making a good first impression.

He became the fourth goalie in the organization’s history to make 40 saves or more in his first game with the team.

Ed Belfour, Jeff Glass, and Gilles Meloche had accomplished the same feat before him.

Among the Hawks’ forwards, Ryan Donato, Ilya Mikheyev, and Teuvo Teravainen each had two points.

2. A big point for the Senators

At 6:30 p.m., the two teams from the national capitals faced off.

In the second period, Washington seemed to be heading for an easy win, but the Senators didn’t give up.

Trailing 0-3, Ottawa came back to tie the game 3-3. The team then gave up the next goal, but tied the game again thanks to Brady Tkachuk at the end of the match.

However, it was the Capitals who won in a shootout thanks to a goal from Dylan.

Overall, it’s a big point earned by Ottawa, which is ahead of the Canadiens in the standings with one fewer loss.

In the win, Tom Wilson stood out.

A goal, an assist, and a fight (against Tkachuk). A Gordie Howe hat trick, then.

Pierre-Luc Dubois, meanwhile, has 10 points in his last seven games.

3. The Leafs escape against the worst team in the circuit

A trap game was waiting for the Leafs yesterday.

They faced the Sharks, the worst team in the NHL. And what was supposed to happen happened. The Torontonians lost in a shootout.

Fabian Zetterlund sealed the deal with a shootout goal.

In the middle of the third period, the Leafs were leading 1-0, but Tyler Toffoli tied the game.

For the Leafs, Calle Jarnkrok played in his 700th NHL game.

And his first game of the season, as he was injured.

He was left off the score sheet.

4. The Panthers win the Florida showdown

In Florida, the Panthers and Lightning faced off.

The reigning champions ultimately won the battle of the Sunshine State with a 2-1 victory.

Seth Jones made his debut with the Panthers.

Aleksander Barkov scored both of his team’s goals in the second period.

The team didn’t look back after that.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 27 saves against the team of the hour.

5. A header goal for Will Cuylle

After the Florida battle, here’s the New York battle.

A big showdown between these two teams in the playoff hunt.

The Rangers ultimately made short work of the Islanders with a 4-0 win. Igor Shesterkin had a shutout with 21 saves.

The winning goal was scored by Will Cuylle with a header.

However, it wasn’t intentional.

J.T. Miller is enjoying himself in New York.

On Cuylle’s goal, he had an assist and now has 14 points in 11 games since joining the Blue Shirts.

New York has as many points as the Red Wings and the last playoff spot.

Overtime

— He doesn’t want Ovi to approach the record.

— He’s on a hot streak.

— Nick Suzuki leads the charge.

(Credit: NHL.com )

— 20 teams in action.

(Credit: Google )
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Mike Matheson gives the Canadiens the win in overtime

After having disposed of the Sabres in Buffalo on Saturday evening, the Canadiens were back home tonight. The opponent of the day: the Sabres.

For the occasion, the CH formation remained intact… except for the identity of the starting goalkeeper.

Samuel Montembeault took his place in front of the net.

On the Sabres side, it was James Reimer who was in front of the net.

Here is the formation of the visitors:

Like in the last game, it was intense between the two teams. The Sabres were a bit more undisciplined, and that led to a numerical advantage for the Canadiens.

And Cole Caufield made the Sabres pay by scoring his 30th goal of the season.

Shortly after, it was the Canadiens’ turn to take a penalty…

But once again, it was the CH who scored. After being involved in Caufield’s goal, Nick Suzuki doubled the lead.

Then, again shortly after, the Tricolore returned to a numerical advantage, and again, they scored. This time, it was Juraj Slafkovský who scored.

Suzuki earned his third point of the period on the sequence.

After 20 minutes, the score was 3-0 for the Canadiens.

In the second period, we had a lot less offense. In fact, it took until the very end of the period to see a goal.

It was Alex Tuch who scored, unlocking the counter for the Sabres.

After 40 minutes, the score was 3-1 in favor of the CH.

The Canadiens had to contain the Sabres’ enthusiasm in the third period… and it started badly.

Tage Thompson brought the two teams back to within one goal.

The CH continued to be completely lifeless in the third period… and what was bound to happen happened: the Sabres tied the game.

After taking three bad penalties in the game, Rasmus Dahlin brought everyone back to square one.

After 60 minutes, the score was 3-3. We therefore needed overtime.

That being said, at 3 against 3, the Canadiens avoided the catastrophe: Mike Matheson gave the win to the team.

It’s a fifth straight win for the CH.

Final score: 4-3 Montréal (OT)

The Canadiens will resume play on Thursday evening, when they will face the Oilers in Edmonton. The game will start at 9 PM.

Overtime

– Tonight’s win over the Sabres sends a clear message to Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton. The team is in the mix as the managers had hoped before the season, they have just won five games in a row and players like Nick Suzuki and Alexandre Carrier have sent a clear message that they don’t want the team to sell. What kind of message would it send to the players to be a seller by Friday?

– Nick Suzuki, freshly named 3rd star of the week in the NHL, now has 64 points in 61 games this season, heading towards a point-per-game season. He has scored 12 points in five games since the resumption of activities. Clearly, the two-week break did him good. Thanks to the team’s managers for not selecting him, hehe.

– Lane Hutson now has 50 points in his career, and this in just 63 games. Only 10 defensemen in NHL history have reached this plateau in fewer games than the CH defenseman. Wow!

– After a strong first period, the Canadiens completely collapsed in this game. The Sabres finished the game with twice as many shots on goal as the Tricolore, who completely stopped playing after the first twenty. Lucky that the special units stood up in the first period, because at even strength, it was an awful game for the CH.

– We had a very physical game tonight… and it’s in these games that having an Arber Xhekaj in the lineup is not unpleasant. Xhekaj spent a good part of the evening chasing Jordan Greenway in response to what happened on Saturday, but Greenway never responded.

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Michael Hage could be involved to get a guy like Dylan Cozens

The injury of Kirby Dach in recent days has changed things in Montreal. In fact, more than ever, we realize that the second center seat on the team in the long term is, at the moment, a big question mark.

Because clearly, there are good reasons to doubt that Dach will be that player in the long term, so the CH must evaluate its options.

And among these options, there is Michael Hage. The center player, drafted in the first round of the last draft, is very promising… but he is still a prospect. He is not a sure thing, far from it.

With the Canadiens being more and more competitive, one can wonder how much the club can afford to wait. This means that we look at external options, including Dylan Cozens.

And before the game, during the Hockey 360 show, François Gagnon discussed Cozens’ case… and he noted an interesting point:

Michael Hage could be involved in getting a guy like Dylan Cozens. – François Gagnon

In summary, such a transaction would be made with the goal of “bringing forward” the arrival of a second center. The Canadiens would trade a very promising prospect who could become that second center for another center who, to a certain extent, is already that second center.

He is not a perfect second center, however, so it would be a big gamble.

But in a world where Buffalo trades Cozens to the CH (so, to a team in their division), we have to think that Kent Hughes would have to pay a high price to force the Sabres’ hand. François Gagnon also mentioned the names of Alex Newhook and Logan Mailloux, but the big fish that could really interest Buffalo is Hage.

In all cases, however, this says that it’s a gamble for a guy who earns over $7 million per year until 2030. The CH must be sure of its move.

If it’s a gamble that the managers are not ready to take, there are also short-term options that could temporarily fill the gap until Hage is ready. The RDS informant is also interested, and he mentioned the names of Brayden Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly.

Schenn ($6.5 million per year) is under contract until 2028, while O’Reilly ($4.5 million per year) is until 2027. These are guys who, for a year or two, could help until reinforcements arrive.

However, it is essential that the two be interested in playing in Montreal (Schenn has clauses to avoid certain teams in transactions until the end of his contract, while O’Reilly had decided to sign with Nashville to move away from the Toronto media reality), but these are options that, without costing Michael Hage, could help the Canadiens to some extent.

But clearly, this is the problem of the hour in Montreal. Let’s see how the managers will settle it all, because with Ivan Demidov arriving next year, finding him a good center player will be crucial.

In rafale

– No defenseman in CH history has scored 50 points in fewer games than Lane Hutson.

– Almost.

– It’s rare to see a player talk about family reasons to justify signing with the Blue Jays.

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Cole Caufield reaches 30-goal plateau for the first time in the NHL

It’s done! Cole Caufield has reached the 30-goal mark in a season for the first time in his NHL career.

The Canadiens’ forward opened the scoring by positioning himself to the left of the opponent’s net. He had a completely deserted net to score his 30th of the season.

Here is the sequence in question.

This is Caufield’s fourth goal in the last five games. The American has also picked up a point in a fifth consecutive game.

It’s nice to finally see Caufield reach this kind of milestone, he who has been impressing with his scoring talents since his arrival in Montreal, but who had trouble reaching important milestones.

More details to come…