Author: Dose

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Deadline: CH will take a few weeks to decide on the strategy to adopt.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Canadiens are in a somewhat strange situation.

With the club’s recent successes, it is difficult to determine what the team’s plan will be as the NHL trade deadline approaches.

Will Kent Hughes want to take advantage of the value of some of his players to send them elsewhere, or would he prefer to keep everyone to make a push for the playoffs? The question would have seemed illogical to ask a month ago, but now…

Pierre LeBrun discussed this during a segment on TSN and mentioned that there are interesting names in Montreal for other teams in the National Hockey League.

He mentioned Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, and Joel Armia. And the informant also noted that teams have already started calling about these three guys.

But LeBrun also said that it is too early to know what Kent Hughes is really thinking.

What we have to know is that the Canadiens want to give themselves a few weeks to decide on the strategy to adopt:

The deadline is in seven weeks (March 7), and by then, the Canadiens will play 19 games.

If they can win the majority of those games, I tend to believe that Hughes will be more relaxed at the deadline because his goal is to see the club continue to progress.

And it’s not by sending several guys elsewhere that this will happen.

But if the situation deteriorates by then, I primarily see two guys leaving if there is interest elsewhere in the NHL: Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia.

Jake Evans – in my opinion – should reach an agreement with the Canadiens on the terms of a new contract in the coming weeks because we can see how useful he is in Montreal. Kent Hughes will not let him go for peanuts, and even if Evans has a fantastic season, the chances of seeing another team offer (at least) a first-round pick for him are minimal.

And Hughes will not trade him unless he can get an excellent return for his services.

This all remains interesting because two months ago, we would never have had this conversation.

No one could have predicted that the Canadiens are the only NHL team to play for at least .800 since December 15 and that changes the expectations quite a bit at the moment.

It certainly changes the game.

In Brief

– Unsurprisingly, Tristan Jarry was not claimed on waivers.

– It’s not crazy.

– Ping!

– Intriguing…

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Kent Hughes must no longer respond to the calls from the Avalanche.

It will be three years on Saturday since Kent Hughes was named GM of the Montreal Canadiens. The one who will celebrate his 55th birthday next week has accomplished quite a bit during his early years in the management of the Habs.

He has made some good trades (Patrik Laine, Alexandre Carrier, Sean Monahan, Mike Matheson, and even Kirby Dach notably), but he has also made some less favorable ones.

Johnathan Kovacevic – who is currently taking Simon Nemec’s spot – in return for a simple fourth-round pick…

Ben Chiarot in return for a sacrificed first-round pick, Ty Smilanic, and a fourth-round pick…

But I was analyzing this this morning, and something jumped out at me: Kent Hughes should probably stop answering the phone when Chris MacFarland (GM) or Joe Sakic (president of hockey operations) calls him.

Why?

Kent Hughes has completed two trades with the Avalanche since he took over the Habs. And those two deals did not go very well…

1. He sent Artturi Lehkonen to Colorado in return for Justin Barron and a second-round pick that was used to move up in last year’s draft.

Lehkonen has become an impact player in Colorado and has been praised by pretty much everyone in the Avalanche organization.

Justin Barron, on the other hand, did not make an impact in Montreal, to the point where he was traded a few weeks ago.

Justin Barron never managed to break through in Montreal.
(Credit: X/Twitter)

As for the second-round pick, it did not become an important player for the Montreal organization.

Yes, Kent Hughes managed to work some magic by turning Barron into Alexandre Carrier, but that doesn’t change the fact that the initial trade involving Lehkonen was poor. And I don’t think Barron will break through in Nashville either…

2. Kent Hughes sacrificed a first-round pick and a second-round pick to acquire Alex Newhook, who was going nowhere in Denver. Newhook was a former client of Quartexx…

Newhook has an average annual salary of nearly three million dollars and we still don’t know what his real role is with the Habs. He is not physical, he is not categorized as a defensive player, he plays on the second line, but he is not producing points (only 10 in 43 games)…

When Ivan Demidov arrives next year, Newhook will be relegated to the third line. But is he really a bottom six guy? Can he develop in a penalty kill situation, among other things? We’ll see.

In short, all this to say that Kent Hughes would be better off not answering his cell if the Avalanche calls him before the trade deadline.

He should take calls from the Jets, Penguins, Predators, Blue Jackets, and Blackhawks as a priority.

Sometimes, there are relationships that fit less well than others. Or through which you never come out on top.

The one with the Avalanche falls into that category for Kent Hughes…

In brief

– No surprises here.

– Lane Hutson among the best players 23 and under who aren’t first-round picks. [NYT]

– When is retirement coming?

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Johnathan Kovacevic is taking Simon Nemec out of New Jersey.

Jasons by Johnathan Kovacevic a bit.

Since the beginning of the season, he has been playing very well. The former Canadiens player, who was traded to the Devils a year before full autonomy, has found his spot, to use a phrase from Martin St-Louis.

He has been an important part of the Devils’ defensive unit since the start of the season.

Kovacevic is at the end of his contract and the Devils do not want to let him go. The Devils’ GM intends to negotiate with him to prevent him from testing the free agency market.

This is significant.

With Brett Pesce, Dougie Hamilton, and Kovacevic, the Devils would have a complete right side in the medium term. This could block young players who want to push for a spot in the NHL.

And on this subject, Jimmy Murphy (Responsible Gambler) discussed the implications this could have in a recent article on the topic.

What we note is that Simon Nemec, the second overall pick by the Devils in 2022 (behind a certain Juraj Slafkovsky), is particularly blocked. The young player, who spent most of last season in the NHL, is currently stuck in the AHL.

He has even been surpassed by Seamus Casey in the rankings of young players and he does not see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The young man believes he is capable of playing in the NHL and he is stuck in Utica. He therefore wants to move up to the NHL… and in light of everything that is happening, the Slovak is even considering requesting a trade.

As he told a Slovak media outlet, the door is open.

It’s too early to see if I will request a trade. – Simon Nemec

Because the Devils might shop him this summer and his value is not the highest, we naturally wonder if the Canadiens will seek to acquire his services.

Let’s remember that he is Slovak, just like Slaf and Filip Mesar, two other first-round picks in 2022. And let’s also remember that on the right side, the CH needs help in both the short and long term.

David Savard won’t be there forever and Mike Matheson is filling in on the right. Among the young players, Logan Mailloux is struggling and David Reinbacher, as everyone knows, hasn’t had the chance to develop this year.

Will Kent Hughes want to take an interest in him? If so, he won’t be the only one.

in brief

– Seeing Oliver Kapanen play is good news.

– To watch.

– Good listening.

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Another goal for Ivan Demidov

He doesn’t stop.

Ivan Demidov found a way to score another goal today. The CH’s hope, who is playing on the first line of his team today, used his hands to outsmart the opposing goalkeeper.

He is really strong.

As Grant McCagg points out, he was a bit lucky. But still: Demidov showcased his talent and used his creativity to get to the net and take the goalie out of his comfort zone.

It’s no small feat.

What’s interesting is the pace at which he has been scoring over the past few weeks – or since the visit of the Canadiens’ management. He scored in his last game (January 13) before today’s game, and he has three goals in his last five games.

He especially has nine goals in his last ten games. That’s quite something!

We should remember that Demidov will participate in the KHL All-Star Game in the coming weeks and that he has really picked up momentum in recent weeks.

It’s no surprise that everyone is talking about him positively.

He might not surpass Matvei Michkov’s pace of 19 goals in 47 games from last year in the KHL, but his current pace means he has little to regret.

All the better.

In Brief

– Greater expectations for CF Montréal?

– Neymar in Chicago: it wouldn’t be easy to pull off.

– A highly anticipated figure.

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The Islanders of Patrick Roy have one of the worst power plays in history.

Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images

Did you know that Patrick Roy’s Islanders have one of the worst power plays in history? It is indeed the case.

Since the start of the season, the Islanders are operating at 10.5%. Since power play statistics have been recorded (1977), this is shaping up to be the fifth worst mark in history.

Ouch.

(Credit: NHL.com)

Because the Islanders only have 2.44 opportunities per game, this means that the team is averaging one goal every four games on power play.

That is not enough.

The Islanders, who also have the worst penalty kill rate in the NHL (65.6%), give up multiple goals per week while shorthanded, but conversely, they do not score when they have the chance.

This could explain the state of the standings, clearly.

(Credit: NHL.com)

The problem is that right now, the power play of the Long Island representatives is performing worse than usual. The team is 0-for-25 recently, which has everyone questioning things.

The guys want to get it together, and so does the coach. But in front of the media, Patrick Roy is not panicking.

We have to trust ourselves and trust the guys who are on the ice. – Patrick Roy

Lou Lamoriello, who brought in Roy last year to spark a turnaround, must be wondering what he needs to do to help his team. After all, right now, the Islanders are not #InTheMix for the playoffs.

The Islanders don’t have a strong roster, they don’t have a bright future… and they haven’t scored on the power play at home since November 30. Let’s just say things are not going well.

In a nutshell

– Ivan Demidov on the first line.

– What do you say?

– Rebirth in Montreal is possible. [TVAS]

– Worth noting.

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Lane Hutson deserves to earn more money than Nick Suzuki.

Kent Hughes, since taking office, has not been afraid to offer good contracts to his young players.

Cole Caufield (eight years), Juraj Slafkovsky (eight years), and Kaiden Guhle (six years) have all earned long-term contracts without having to go through the notorious bridge contract.

Hughes also inherited Nick Suzuki’s (eight years) contract, which was signed by Marc Bergevin.

The Suzuki contract has always been a benchmark for Kent Hughes in his negotiations. Because aside from Patrik Laine, who already had a cap hit of $8.7 million, no contract has been offered by the current GM above Suzuki’s.

You might say that Carey Price is still on the payroll of the Habs, but well.

All this to say that one day, there will likely be a player who will earn more than the $7.875 million per year that the captain earns thanks to Kent Hughes. The name Ivan Demidov comes to mind…

But in the short term, it’s mainly Lane Hutson’s name that stands out to me. And Pierre McGuire too…

Because Lane Hutson plays in a prime position, performs excellently on the ice, is young, has only begun to tap into his potential, the salary cap is set to increase, the Habs like him, and he’s one of the best point producers, he will have a big contract.

If Slaf had one after a good half-season, Hutson can have one after a good full season, right? Even if he’s not a first overall pick…

This must occupy the GM’s thoughts.

It’s worth noting that Hutson, by playing two games last April, burned the first year of his entry-level contract in 2023-2024. He is now in his second year of three on his contract this season.

Starting July 1, 2025, he will be eligible to sign a contract extension that would kick in on July 1, 2026. And as time passes, more and more people think that this could happen.

And if he signs, it surely won’t be at a low price. After all, he is so special…

Let’s remember that this season, Mike Matheson ($4.875 million until 2026), Alexandre Carrier ($3.75 million until 2027), and David Savard ($3.5 million until 2025) are the highest-paid defensemen on the Habs.

Next year, Savard will be gone, and Kaiden Guhle ($5.55 million until 2031) will be the highest-paid defenseman on the team – assuming nothing changes, of course.

in brief

– John Tavares is injured.

– Robert Saleh in Dallas would be… something.

– I like it.

– Things are stirring in Toronto.

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Samuel Montembeault has made all the starts at the Bell Centre this season.

Last night, Cayden Primeau won his game in the AHL. Things are going well for the goaltender of the Laval Rocket (better than Logan Mailloux, let’s say) since he was sent down – and that’s great for him.

In three games, he has three wins. And without him yesterday, the Penguins would have won. Even though he let in three quick goals, he shut the door and opened the door for a big comeback.

It’s good if he can regain his confidence down there. Because for now, it’s the most effective way for him to prepare for a potential return to the NHL – whether in Montreal or elsewhere.

But there’s something we must note aside from his victory yesterday. Did you know that this season, it’s only the second time that Primeau started a game at home?

The other time? It was… on January 3rd, also in Laval.

This season, Primeau (who was in the NHL until the holidays) has not started a single game at the Bell Centre. He has played four times at home, but every time, it was in relief of Samuel Montembeault.

It was never under optimal conditions, then.

(Credit: ESPN)

And because Jakub Dobes’ three starts with the Canadiens took place on the road, we can easily conclude that Samuel Montembeault has started all the Canadiens’ home games this year. Anthony Marcotte mentioned it on the radio (BPM Sports) this morning.

It was anecdotal when we talked about Martin Brodeur in New Jersey during his big years, but it’s news in 2024-2025 with the Canadiens. Especially when we know that Samuel Montembeault is not the best #1 goaltender in the NHL – with all due respect for his great season.

Obviously, even if it means that the Canadiens believe in Monty, it shows the lack of confidence the Canadiens had in Primeau. That said, with Jakub Dobes, things have changed.

Whether he plays tonight in Dallas (I believe he will), we should expect to see the little newcomer get one of the home games this weekend. In my eyes, Sunday’s game belongs to him.

(Credit: NHL.com)

I expect to see Dobes play on Sunday in New York, next Thursday in Detroit, as well as one of the last two games (January 28 or 30) of the month. Among them, that would make two home games.

And just before the break for the Four Nations Tournament, there will be a back-to-back at home on February 8 and 9. #SuperBowl

If Dobes continues to give the Canadiens a chance to win every time he’s in net, it’s clear that given how the schedule is structured, it won’t just be Montembeault playing at home.

And that’s perfectly fine.

The three goaltenders who have played in Montreal have things to prove by the end of the season. Monty will want to keep his #1 spot with younger players pushing, Dobes will want to stay in the NHL, and Primeau will want to prove that he hasn’t finished playing in the best league in the world.

And with Jacob Fowler coming in, it’s clear that everyone needs to continue to keep an eye on each other.

In Brief

– Jared Davidson did well yesterday. Interesting…

– What does that mean for the Blue Jays?

– Excellent.

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Knee operation: no “Kirby Dach treatment” for David Reinbacher

In recent days, we have seen David Reinbacher start skating again.

This is good news for the Canadiens’ prospect as it means that his knee injury (he underwent surgery, as you know, in the fall) is healing at a normal pace.

Seeing images of Reinbacher on the ice this week is a step in the right direction.

We knew that the Canadiens’ plan, which really shouldn’t have hoped for Reinbacher to get injured like this when Matvei Michkov was coming into the NHL, was to see him back by the end of the season.

Not in Montreal: in Laval, obviously.

But now, along with the Austrian’s return to the ice, Anthony Marcotte (BPM Sports) reminded us that the Canadiens’ wish was to have him play in Laval before the end of the regular season.

This would be similar to last year: he would arrive in Laval for the playoff race. The conditions wouldn’t be the same as last year when he was healthy, but we understand.

What is interesting is that apparently, the Canadiens will not be afraid to play the defenseman at the end of the season – if he is healthy enough to do so.

Last year, at the end of the season, Kirby Dach said he was ready to return to play. But since his doctor had forbidden him from returning for eight months, he watched the last games of the season from the press box.

Clearly, Reinbacher does not have those conditions. We can think that the surgery was not the same and that this affects how his return to play is managed.

If Reinbacher can play at the end of the season, he could be confident for his summer training. Because it’s all good to be involved with the Canadiens’ coaching staff, but nothing compares to actual action.

overtime

Given how things are going for the Rocket, the chances of making the playoffs are good. In the club’s division, the top five teams qualify… and the Rocket has a 12-point lead over Belleville.

Reinbacher should, if all goes well, have enough time to return. The Canadiens talked about a five to six-month absence, which brings us to the beginning or end of March.

(Credit: The AHL)
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Top-2: The Sabres score a goal despite having no shots in the third period

Quite a quiet evening in the NHL as four teams were in action.

At least Connor McDavid was playing.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. The Sabres score a goal without any shots in the third period

The Buffalo Sabres, the worst team in the East, faced the Hurricanes last night and surprisingly, they won.

A 4-2 victory. Ryan McLeod was the hero of the match, scoring a hat trick.

He opened the scoring just 43 seconds into the game.

This was the fastest goal of the season at home for the Sabres.

His last goal was scored without even taking a shot.

In fact, in the third period, Buffalo scored one goal and never shot on net. Check out this chaotic goal.

2. Connor McDavid ranks second in points for the Oilers

At just 28 years old, Connor McDavid is the best player in the league.

Yesterday, with two goals and an assist, he became the second highest scorer in history, surpassing Jari Kurri with 1,044 points.

He is 625 points behind Wayne Gretzky.

Knowing 97, he should surpass him by the end of the season.

Even though McDavid is a great player, sometimes he can throw punches like this.

Marcus Johansson never returned to the game after that incident. Will McDavid be fined?

The match ultimately ended with a score of 5-3. The winning goal was scored by Vasily Podkolzin.

Conclusion

– Let’s see.

– Unfortunately, he did not score any points.

– Players from yesterday with two points or more.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– 26 teams in action tonight.

(Credit: Google )
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Logan Mailloux had a terrible game against the Penguins.

While the Canadiens’ defense has found stability, Logan Mailloux is having a tough time with the Laval Rocket.

His game on Wednesday against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins could even be described as atrocious.

Just looking at his game sheet, one might think that Mailloux wasn’t that terrible. He registered an assist on the overtime winning goal and finished with a zero plus-minus rating. But that doesn’t reflect his game at all.

The Penguins took control of this game by scoring the first three goals. Mailloux was specifically responsible for the third goal, as he caused a turnover at the opposing blue line, allowing the Penguins to attack with an odd-man rush.

And that’s not all. Mailloux was penalized in the second period for roughing. Upon exiting the penalty box, he cross-checked Emil Bemstrom, and the referees sent him right back to the penalty box.

These are stupid penalties that can easily be avoided.

Really nothing was working for Mailloux in this game. He was removed from the power play in the third period. Pascal Vincent seemed to have had enough of him on the power play for this game.

We had seen Logan Mailloux lose some power-play time in recent games, as he has been going through a tough stretch, but being completely removed from the power play is something else.

Mailloux, who is considered a talented offensive player, has only registered three points in his last 17 games. It’s simply dreadful for him.

What’s even crazier about this situation is that he will be one of the two representatives of the Rocket at the AHL All-Star Game. It’s somewhat shameful for Laval, which has many players who are currently experiencing much more success.

Mailloux is going to have to find his footing soon because at this rate, there’s no chance he will receive a call-up with the Canadiens.

In Brief

– The Islanders’ power play is reaching record levels of mediocrity.

– Here’s a new podcast featuring the wives of Tyler Toffoli and Jeff Petry.

– Funny story!

– He should be the first Quebecer drafted in 2025.

– A must-listen!