Author: Dose

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Denmark eliminates Canada at World Championship

While the hockey world’s attention is focused on Brendan Shanahan’s demise in Toronto, Canada has just lost to Denmark in the quarter-finals of the World Championship.

It’s a classic communications tactic. When negative news is to be announced, the timing is often chosen to coincide with a major event, a major news story, to drown the negative in a media eclipse and butter it up.

Joking aside, it was a disaster for the team led by Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, Ryan O’Reilly and company, who escaped a late tie.

The Danes took a 2-1 lead with 48 seconds left in the game.

As at the World Junior Hockey Championship in December, Canada is excluded from the podium at an international event where it should never happen.

It’s proof that international hockey is becoming more and more competitive. This kind of result never, never, never happened 20 years ago.

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Brendan Shanahan will not be returning to Toronto

Brendan Shanahan’s contract will not be renewed by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The organization announced this in a press release at the stroke of 4pm.

More details to follow.

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ESPN’s figures for the first two rounds of the playoffs down on last year

Playoff hockey is a religion in Canada. Regular fans continue to tune in to the games, and new fans, who follow it when their team is doing well, are coming on board.

Even if hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, the NHL needs to be popular in the U.S. too!

And according to the figures from ESPN and TNT Sports (the U.S. broadcasting platforms for the series), viewership is down on the previous year. In fact, we’d call it a huge drop.

ESPN’s figures for the first two rounds of the playoffs were down 28% on the first two rounds of 2024.

The games averaged just 886,000 viewers. That’s simply awful for a national channel.

In simple comparison, the Canadiens’ first playoff game averaged 1.22 million viewers on TVA Sports, and we’re talking about a regional channel.

TNT Sports figures were down 19% on last year.

Having five Canadian teams in the playoffs may have slightly affected the American audience, but such a significant drop in numbers must still ring a bell for the NHL. There must be changes to the playoff format.

Many have criticized the divisional format with drafted teams, calling for a return to the format ranking only the top eight teams in order. Returning to this format could avoid redundancy.

We’d like to avoid having to listen to another first-round series between the Kings and Oilers every year.

The NHL could take a cue from the NBA with its play-in format. Instead of having two drafted teams advance directly to the playoffs, there could be four competing in a small tournament to determine who inherits the final two playoff spots.

The solution isn’t 100% clear, but NHL executives need to make changes to entice Americans to watch playoff hockey.

Overtime

– A story to follow on Monday.

– The Oilers fell apart in the first game of the series.

– More on this story.

– New Lightning signing.

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Don Waddell open to trading his first two picks: Kent Hughes should follow suit

In recent drafts, Canadiens fans were eager to see which player would be selected by Montreal. This year, the situation is a little different.

The Canadiens have the 16th and 17th picks in the 2025 auction, and many fans want to see Hughes trade them to improve the team right away.

These two picks don’t come close to bringing you an Ivan Demidov, but they still have value.

Talk to Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell, who has openly announced he’s willing to trade his two first-round picks.

Columbus has the 14th and 20th picks in the upcoming draft.

The Blue Jackets and the Canadiens are in a similar position. Both teams have battled for a playoff spot this season and are ready to take their game to the next level.

Trading first-round picks can bring in established players who can help the Canadiens fill roster vacancies.

Two first-round picks and a good prospect can help you get your hands on a second center, which is probably the Habs’ biggest need right now.

Free agents are all well and good, but it’s important to remember that players on the market are entitled to negotiate with all 32 NHL teams. That means there’s always a bidding war for the best players available.

And let’s just say that Montreal is certainly not the only team looking for a good second center.

By going with a trade, Kent Hughes could pick up a quality player who won’t need to be paid according to the bidding.

Getting back to Don Waddell, the fact that his first two picks are on the market may also be a bad thing for the Canadiens. If there are too many first-round picks available, their value will drop. It’s supply and demand.

Kent Hughes won’t budge from his original plan, but he’ll certainly have to find a way to pick up some good, established players this summer. His two first-round picks could help him do just that.

Overtime

– Good gamers.

– Bravo!

– Good news.

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Vinzenz Rohrer was ejected from today’s match after a dangerous baton charge

Austria had a big challenge today at the World Championship.

Vinzenz Rohrer’s country faced Switzerland… and it was the idea of reaching the semi-finals that really appealed to Austria.

But it didn’t work out as planned.

Logic prevailed, as Switzerland handed Austria a volley.

The match ended 6-0.

But it’s not necessarily the scoreline that will be remembered from this match: it’s also Vinzenz Rohrer’s blow to the face of a Swiss player.

The Canadiens prospect lost patience… and decided to hit his opponent in the face with his stick. The opposing player had given him a blow just before (which was not punished), but it was Rohrer’s response that was more intense.

The result? Rohrer was ejected from the match and unable to finish the tournament.

What a shame.

It’s a shame because the Canadiens’ prospect was really having a great tournament.

He finished the tournament with six points in nine games, which is quite an accomplishment for a 20-year-old.

That said, he’s certainly disappointed to know that his tournament is over and that he wasn’t able to finish the game.

It leaves a bitter taste, at least… especially in the context that he was one of his country’s good players during the tournament.

But he hurt his club with a dangerous gesture and unfortunately, it didn’t end well.

Next time, I have a feeling he’ll think twice before doing something like that.

Overtime

– Um…

– United States through to semi-finals.

– News from CF Montreal practice:

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All indications are that Jesperi Kotkaniemi will be a healthy scratch

Things haven’t been going too well for Jesperi Kotkaniemi lately.

The Hurricanes’ forward has scored just one goal in his last 36 games… and clearly, his coach is fed up.

This morning, KK practiced with his team’s extras. And everything points to him being left out tonight, even if he is healthy.

It’s quite something to see how far we’ve come with him in Carolina.

The experiment never really worked… and now we’re seeing the results.

It’s pretty special.

Kotkaniemi has been invisible since the start of the playoffs.

He’s collected just three assists in eleven games, and he’s not helping his club any more than he needs to.

Clearly, the Hurricanes have had enough.

Because if a guy like Mark Jankowski – who has his uses, but isn’t a player who can change everything – does indeed take his place in the lineup tonight, it’s still an important message being sent to the man selected 3rd overall in the 2018 draft.

And it also says a lot about how pleased we are with KK right now.

The Hurricanes have the elements to go all the way if everyone contributes in their own way, but that hasn’t been the case with Kotkanemi since the start of the playoffs.

And if KK is left out tonight, it’s because Rod Brind’Amour thought the time was right for the player to understand a few things.

Extension

Brind’Amour confirmed that Jankowski was healthy and could play tonight.

Again, that sounds like a guy who’s going to play… and everything points to Kotkaniemi having to pass.

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Jeff Blashill is the Blackhawks’ new head coach

The Chicago Blackhawks were still one of the teams looking for a new head coach.

But that’s all in the past.

The club has yet to make an official announcement, but it will be made later today. Jeff Blashill has been hired:

Blashill has NHL coaching experience.

He piloted the Red Wings for seven years (2015-2022) and spent the last three seasons alongside Jon Cooper in Tampa as an assistant.

So this is an interesting (?) hire for a club looking to turn a corner in its rebuild.

Will Blashill be able to take the team to the next level? That remains to be seen…

What was important for the Hawks?

Finding a coach who could work easily with Connor Bedard to take him to the next level.

The club’s young star has “disappointed” some people this season with his 67 points (23 goals) in 82 games, because the expectations placed on him are enormous.

There was talk of him being the next McDavid, after all. It’s only natural that some still expect more from him…

I can’t wait to see how things go for Blashill with a young team, because in Detroit, he never really had much success with his club. He made the playoffs in his first year as head coach and then missed them six years in a row…

With the hiring of Blashill, there are only three NHL clubs without a head coach at the moment. The Bruins, the Kraken and the Penguins.

Perhaps the Islanders will be added to that group in the next few days, with the new managers that will be hired… #PatrickRoy

Extension

Anders Sorensen will remain with the team as an assistant after finishing last season as interim head coach.

Michael Peca also joins the Hawks as an assistant.

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Ken Holland: “If Marc Bergevin stays, he will be very important to me”

Will Marc Bergevin be the Islanders’ next GM? We’d say his chances are good.

But if that doesn’t happen, he’ll be back with the Kings, an organization he’s worked for for years and an organization that preferred to hire Ken Holland rather than give him the GM job. And this despite his experience in a market like Montreal.

And why? Because Ken Holland’s experience is immense.

Recently, in an interview with JiC, president Luc Robitaille said that Bergevin would work well with Holland if he didn’t get hired elsewhere – that is, in New York.

Did he have a choice in saying that? Not really, no. And here, I’m talking as much about Bergevin’s comments to his president as Robitaille’s when he was interviewed on TVA Sports.

And now Ken Holland has also broached the subject.

In an interview with Pierre LeBrun(The Athletic), he talked about his relationship with Marc Bergevin and the importance of having a veteran like him with the club – if he doesn’t go to New York, of course.

And what leads me to believe that he isn’t releasing the famous tape is that he put in more than the client asked for.

Holland could have simply said he was looking forward to working with him, or something generic like that. But no: he praised the candidacy of his new assistant.

If Marc Bergevin stays, he’ll be very important to me. He’s been in this chair before, and that’s valuable experience. – Ken Holland

Holland points out that, in addition to having been GMs in the same years, they were also part of Canada’s management team in 2016. What’s more, Bergevin played for the Red Wings in the 1990s.

So there’s a bond of trust between the two men. And if Bergevin stays in Los Angeles, we have to think he’ll be important, since Holland’s comments don’t suggest otherwise.

overtime

– Ouch.

– In health, she’s a different kettle of fish.

– Coming up.

– Please note.

– What intensity.

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There’s no denying it: Florian Xhekaj’s progress is impressive

The Laval Rocket delighted its fans last night.

The 4-1 victory at the hands of the Americans now gives the club a 2-1 series lead… and the Rocket is now just one win away from the conference final.

In the Laval team’s win, Cayden Primeau put in a solid performance in front of his net. He needed a good performance and he came through with a big one. I’ll come back to that.

But we must also mention Florian Xhekaj… who, once again, had a superb game.

The brother of the other won the 2nd star of the game because he was everywhere on the ice during the game. He created chances, he hit the opposition, he was used at important moments… and he scored a beautiful goal.

Florian used his speed – as he likes to do – to break away from his cover and beat the goalie with a perfect shot:

It has to be said.

Florian Xhekaj’s progression is truly impressive. And there’s no denying it.

To see him score 24 goals in his first season in the AHL is quite something. We’re still talking about a fourth-round pick for whom expectations weren’t necessarily high when he was selected in the draft.

But to see him take his game up a notch at such an important point in the season is quite another.

Pascal Vincent threw him some flowers after the game, and deservedly so:

There’s no doubt that Arber’s little brother is winning points in the eyes of management.

And the more things go, the more he gives the impression that if he arrives at camp next year and is excellent from Day 1, we’ll start asking questions.

We need to talk about the goalkeepers

It must be a bit complicated for Pascal Vincent at the moment.

He has, on one hand, a goalie who has been excellent since the start of the playoffs in Jacob Fowler. A guy who seems hungry and wants to prove himself right now.

And, in the other hand, the Rocket pilot has the goalie who brought the club to where it is today in Primeau. Primeau has playoff experience and has been a little inconsistent since the start of the playoffs… but he got off to a superb start last night.

So, what should we do?

Since the start of the playoffs, Cayden Primeau has played three times.

On May 4, May 14 and May 21.

What I’m trying to say here is that he hasn’t been overworked so far. And if Pascal Vincent wants to trust him for the next game in the series, which promises to be just as important as the last… it’s not the element of fatigue that’s going to stop him.

But then again, it may be a tough decision, because Fowler is really good right now too.

The Rocket has the luxury of being able to count on a good duo in front of the net right now… but it also complicates the head coach’s job a little.

I can’t wait to see what the coach’s choice will be for tomorrow night’s (Friday) game at Place Bell.

Overtime

– The beauty of sport!

– Tranquille .

– 😂😅

– It starts tomorrow!

– Yes!

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Slaf’s father gave crap to a Habs fan who insulted his son on X

Juraj Slafkovsky’s father is active on social networks.

A quick look at his X account shows that he follows his son’s activities because he shares his highlights.

But… he’s more engaged than you’d think.

I say this because yesterday, Daddy Slaf came to Slaf Jr. ‘s defense after seeing a review on X.

An account shared a video of Ivan Demidov practicing in Brossard and in the post, the account in question argues that Slaf should have been there too.

And in the comments to the post in question, another account came out to say that Slaf has decided not to take part in the World Championships this year even though he’s healthy, which says a lot about his character.

That’s when Juraj Slafkovsky’s father stepped in to give him some shit… and to tell him he’d like to see him so he could tell him to his face.

(Credit: Reddit)

The tweet to which Slaf’s father replied is no longer there… but the father’s reply is:

Slafkovsky’s father had every right to be unhappy. But… his reaction was a bit strong too.

Because seeing a player’s father act like that on social networks is always a bit weird. Sometimes it sends the wrong message.

On the other hand, negative comments on social networks are everywhere. Whether it’s about Slaf or any other player.

It’s certainly not the first one he’s seen, and perhaps that’s why the father has lost his patience a little.

It’s worth remembering that the Canadiens’ player had already made a social-network outburst in 2023 that got people talking.

Slaf had criticized Air Canada – a sponsor of the Canadiens – in a story on Instagram… and it didn’t go down well.

Maybe Slaf and his dad should have a group chat and cry together instead… Hehe.

Overtime

– Well done!

– Absolutely.

– It’s the right mentality.

– Enjoy your viewing.

– You’ve got to do it!