Author: Dose

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Florian Xhekaj: Pierre Dorion wanted him at any price with the Senators

On Saturday night, Florian Xhekaj played his first NHL game. Arber’s little brother took the opportunity to collect his first point (an assist) and to fight his first career battle in the Bettman circuit.

All this on a Saturday night at the Bell Centre against the Maple Leafs… with his brother as a teammate and his parents in the stands. Nothing less.

For a fourth-round pick two years ago, that’s a pretty meteoric rise. After all, he played one NHL game before the fifth overall pick of his draft. We’re talking about David Reinbacher here.

What’s interesting is that many teams turned up their noses at Xhekaj at the draft. That said, there was one team that didn’t get a look-in until the 101st pick (the one used to select Xhekaj): the Ottawa Senators.

And Pierre Dorion, speaking on Le Retour with Martin Lemay, admitted that he was desperate to select Florian.

It’s worth remembering that in 2023, the Senators held no picks in the first three rounds of the auction. The club’s first selection came at 108th, seven spots after Xhekaj was chosen by the Habs.

So it’s safe to assume that if he hadn’t been the Habs’ pick at 101st, Xhekaj would have been selected 108th by the Senators… and you have to wonder if he would have been selected earlier than that if the club had been able to draft before 108th.

Of course, you’d think the whole thing would have been rather peculiar. We know that there’s been a big rivalry between the Habs and Senators for a few years now, and the games between the two clubs are pretty physical.

Imagine if the two Xhekaj brothers were at the heart of that rivalry: it would have been quite something.

And of course, if the two clubs don’t like each other, you have to wonder how much the Senators wanted Florian to piss off their rival. I don’t doubt that Dorion and the Sens loved him… but it’s an open question.

The good news is that all that is in the past: Florian is now in Montreal with his brother… much to the Senators’ chagrin.

Overtime

– Speaking of the Xhekajs.

– Sidney Crosby: a perfect fit for the Habs, according to Chris Johnston. [The Athletic]

– Alexandre Carrier knows: he needs to try to get hit less often.

– J’adore.

– Wow.

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Team USA’s GM is clear: if you don’t hit, you don’t belong in the Olympics

Cole Caufield is really enjoying his 2025-26 season. The CH forward, who has 13 goals and 22 points in 21 games, has really found a new gear this season.

His 200-foot game is truly impressive, and he’s more dominant than ever.

All this means that, with the 2026 Olympics just around the corner, his name is the talk of the town for a position with the United States. And it’s clear that he’s making things difficult for Team USA…

But obviously, Bill Guerin continues to talk like someone who has no interest in Caufield (or Lane Hutson). Pierre LeBrun, who chatted to him recently, reported this quote from Guerin during tonight’s Insider Trading segment:

If you don’t hit, the Olympics probably isn’t the tournament for you. – Bill Guerin

Guerin admits that guys like Caufield make his job harder these days. These guys shine on the ice, and Guerin is the first to admit it.

Having said that, it’s clear that what happened at the 4 Nations Confrontation really made an impression on Team USA‘s management. We know that the duels against Canada were physically intense matches, and we can sense that Bill Guerin isn’t really interested in letting himself be stepped on.

There are a few exceptions, of course (Quinn Hughes, for example), but Guerin doesn’t seem to want many of these guys in his line-up.

We know that in recent weeks, LeBrun reported that Caufield was closing in on a job, but that he would probably have been left out of the U.S. lineup if the decision had been made then. And a few weeks later, even though Caufield is keeping pace, it’s clear that his status hasn’t really changed.

Maybe Jack Hughes’ injury will open a door for him… but as things stand, Caufield seems to have two strikes against him.

Overtime

– Classic.

– Juraj Slafkovský on the power play: what do you think?

– Love this.

– Too bad.

– Hehe.

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Here’s (exactly) what it will take to get Ryan O’Reilly out of Nashville

The Canadiens need a center. It’s probably the worst-kept secret in Montreal right now.

And, meanwhile…

In Nashville, things are going really badly for the Preds. There are guys like Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly who could be useful to the Canadiens (at different levels)… but it’s especially O’Reilly’s name that becomes interesting when you think of the Canadiens’ current needs.

That said, Pierre LeBrun revealed some really pertinent information in the recent Insider Trading segment(TSN): to get O’Reilly out of Nashville, it’s going to take a first-round pick… and a “Category A” prospect.

Would Kent Hughes be interested in going that route between now and the trade deadline in March?

The question arises… because the Canadiens have the resources to move.

The Habs have five first-round picks until 2030, and we know that the club’s bank of prospects is still interesting. Adam Engström, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Alexander Zharovsky, Michael Hage…

We know that Kent Hughes is not closed to the idea of overpaying to help his club. But the question is… is he interested in parting with one of his top prospects (plus a first-round pick) for a 34-year-old veteran not named Sidney Crosby?

All in all, the way things have been going in Nashville since the start of the season, there’s every reason to believe that Ryan O’Reilly could be traded by March 2026.

He’s won the Stanley Cup, he’s captained a club, he’s one of the best two-way players in the National League…

There will be a multitude of teams interested in his services, to put it another way. And you have to wonder if the Canadiens will be one of the clubs pushing hard to get him out of Nashville.

Overtime

– I agree.

– Interesting…

– Of note.

– Really?

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Alexandre Texier is not expected to play tomorrow

Alexandre Texier has now been with the Montreal Canadiens for (just over) 48 hours.

He signed a contract with the Habs on Sunday afternoon… but even so, he’s already had two practices with his new teammates.

The question, however, is this: When’s his first game in the blue, white and red?

Renaud Lavoie had more to say about all this in his column of the day with JiC. The TVA Sports journalist mentioned that we “shouldn’t” expect to see Texier play tomorrow night in Salt Lake City… and that we might also have to wait a little longer to see him get his chance.

And you know what? It’s normal to know that he shouldn’t play tomorrow. And I have a reason in mind…

In the team’s last game, we saw Florian Xhekaj make his National League debut.

And it worked. Arber’s little brother played well and brought energy to the rink for the rest of his teammates. In particular, he won his battle with Dakota Mermis, and the Canadiens players came out to congratulate him, one after the other, while Florian was in the penalty box.

The point I’m trying to make here is that the Canadiens played so well against the Leafs that it would be a little odd to change the formula that got the team out of there with the W.

Alexandre Texier is a good hockey player and everyone knows it… but it worked last game with the players in place. And if all the guys are healthy tomorrow, I don’t see why Martin St-Louis would make any changes to his line-up.

I can’t wait to see Texier in uniform. But from what we understand, at the moment, that’s not going to happen tomorrow.

It remains to be seen whether the Frenchman will play his first game with the Canadiens on Friday (in Vegas), Saturday (in Colorado) or the following week…

Overtime

– He’s good.

– Bravo.

– That’s right.

– News from the MLB.

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J-S Dea doesn’t like the Habs’ decision with Texier: “They wasted a contract to bring him to Montreal”

The Canadiens needed reinforcements.

Kent Hughes offered a one-year contract to Alexandre Texier, an NHL-caliber player who didn’t fit into the Blues’ plans in St. Louis.

But in Jean-Sébastien Dea’s eyes, it shouldn’t have happened. The man who once belonged to the Canadiens organization emptied his heart a little during his column today on BPM Sports…

According to the former Rocket player, the Canadiens should have given the chance to a Rocket veteran instead. He talked about Laurent Dauphin, who is having a really good AHL season in Laval.

They (the Canadiens) wasted a contract to bring Texier to Montreal […] It’s not true, basically, that if you do everything the team asks of you… you’ll get your opportunity. – Jean-Sébastien Dea

On the one hand, his comments may be understandable. There are guys who deserve the chance to make their mark anywhere in the AHL (not just Laval) who never get a real chance either.

And it makes you wonder if the Rocket players might get less stoned in the coming weeks knowing that the Canadiens aren’t interested in recalling veterans from Laval.

But on the other hand, the Canadiens knew what they were getting into when they offered Alexandre Texier a contract. We’re talking about a guy who’s already proven himself and had his share of success in the National League.

That said, Jean-Sébastien Dea has already complained that the Canadiens didn’t call him back when he was playing in Laval. There seems to be a certain bitterness in his comments, and he seems to resent the Canadiens for not giving opportunities to older players – as was the case during his time with the Montreal organization.

I’m having trouble getting my head around all this. Because there are arguments that make sense on both sides of the coin…

Overtime

– Good.

– Now it’s your turn to answer.

– Yes.

– Love it.

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Best players aged 21 and under: Reinbacher beaten by 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds

Everyone knows what the “problem” with David Reinbacher is.

The youngster may have great potential… but seeing him injured so often is worrying for some. He’s not able to stay healthy, and that’s causing his development to slide in one direction.

That’s not ideal, especially for a defenseman.

Want to know how many people don’t believe in him?

In a recent ranking of the 100 best players aged 21 and under, Reinbacher is at position #97. But that’s not the worst end of the story.

In the ranking in question, which comes from The Hockey News, we also find… guys aged 15, 16 and 17. This means that some guys much younger than him are already ahead in their progression, according to those who created the ranking, which also caught the attention of Simon Boisvert and Mathias Brunet(Mathias et le Serpent) :

The Habs are still well represented in The Hockey News rankings. We find :

  • Lane Hutson at #5
  • Ivan Demidov at #7
  • Juraj Slafkovsky at #17
  • Jacob Fowler at 43rd
  • Michael Hage in 63rd place

But if we go back to Reinbacher, we can see just how much the Canadiens’ own defenseman isn’t universally appreciated. Rankings are worth what they’re worth… but seeing that there are so many younger players listed before him, it shows that he’s not the most popular prospect at the moment.

That may change over time, though.

Reinbacher is having a good time right now in Laval… but he hurt himself (again) in his team’s last game and missed the Rocket’s practice today. He’s solid when he plays.

But then again, that’s the problem: he doesn’t play all the time… and it’s really starting to work against him.

Overtime

– Oh.

– Of note.

– Your pick?

– Canada will have a great club at the CMJ.

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Practice: Adam Engström was in rotation with… Arber Xhekaj

The Canadiens practiced this afternoon in Salt Lake City.

And right off the bat, it’s pertinent to know that Adam Engström practiced as an extra, but was in rotation with Arber Xhekaj. That’s saying a lot.

At least, it suggests that it’s Arber who could come out of the line-up if Engström gets a chance to shine…

Does this surprise me? Not necessarily. Arber hasn’t been playing great hockey lately, and he looks like a guy who’s lost his identity. He doesn’t hit anymore, he doesn’t fight anymore…

It makes you wonder where he is these days, the Sheriff. And if there’s one guy who needs to be bailed out to make room for Engström, a defenseman more complete than #72… by necessity, it’s Arber right now.

But while we’re on the subject of practice, let’s not forget this: Alexandre Texier has shown just how good his hands are.

How good?

The Habs’ new player completely – but COMPLETELY – undercut Samuel Montembeault in a mini shootout. Monty didn’t see a thing and Texier seems to have really impressed his teammates.

Turn up your phone or computer and listen to the guys’ reaction to his goal:

Right now, there are a lot of positive comments about Texier. His former teammates in particular have praised his talent, and we saw at practice today why they were so keen to speak well of him.

Like Engström, Texier was also an extra. He was in rotation with Josh Anderson on the club’s 3rd line, according to the Canadiens, and we shouldn’t necessarily expect to see him play tomorrow night against the Mammoth.

But that’s okay too. Giving him a few practices to help him acclimatize to the Habs system wouldn’t be a bad thing…

Overtime

– The Ducks have a damn fine club on paper.

– Josh squared away.

– Good question.

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Jakub Dobes to face Mammoth tomorrow evening

The Canadiens are in Salt Lake City for tomorrow night’s game against the Mammoth.

Martin St-Louis’ men will be looking for their second win of the season against André Tourigny’s team.

And for the occasion, Jakub Dobes will be in goal for the Habs. St-Louis is putting its faith in the goalie who’s doing best at the moment, and that’s no surprise… because the Mammoth still has a lot of firepower.

Dobes deserved to play, too.

Samuel Montembeault hasn’t won since November 8… and he hasn’t been super solid in front of his net, either. He’s giving away a lot of goals to the opposition and is having trouble regaining his confidence.

Dobes has had a tougher time… but he was solid against the Leafs on Saturday night. Let’s hope the Canadiens can keep it up.

More details to come…

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Two big messages for Arber Xhekaj (who must understand them)

It’s been a tough few weeks for the Canadiens. We know.

With the trade market fairly dead, Kent Hughes has turned to the Alexandre Texier situation to add some elbow grease to his group. Will it make a difference?

Offensively speaking, there have also been some recalls. Joshua Roy (who is already back down below), Jared Davidson and Florian Xhekaj were all recalled to compensate for injuries.

But clearly, the recall that had the biggest impact was Xhekaj’s – and I say that with all due respect for Davidson’s game, a player who isn’t naughty under the circumstances.

Xhekaj gave the Canadiens a bit of sandpaper on Saturday. It was no great luxury.

In actual fact, his recall (and the importance the forward has taken on in just one game) means that his brother Arber, who hasn’t been leading the way lately, must be getting the message.

What message? That he needs to rediscover his identity, lest he lose his place in the lineup.

And since the Canadiens also chose to recall Adam Engstrom, it’s clear that Arber Xhekaj has been sent another message: not only can your brother play your role as Sheriff, but Engstrom can take your place.

Engstrom, in particular, has been called back to see what’s inside him. So unless Arber becomes a forward (which never really seems to have been in the plans), he’ll have to step up a notch to keep his place in the sun.

The internal struggle puts pressure on a few guys, but Arber is at the heart of the story. And the Canadiens can send him a message (skip a game) if they feel like it.

We’re a long way from the days when first-round picks were rumoured for #72. But right now, he just needs to use the circumstances of the moment to get his practice camp mojo back on the ice.

overtime

– Fine for former Habs.

– It’s a whirlwind in MLB.

– Nothing less.

– Funny list.

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Treatment day: David Reinbacher will not practice today

Bad news in Laval.

The Rocket has announced that David Reinbacher, who returned to action in recent weeks, won’t be able to practice like everyone else this morning.

In fact, he’s entitled to a day’s treatment.

Normally, we don’t make a big deal out of a player taking advantage of a therapy day. It happens, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be available for the next game.

Especially since the Rocket won’t play until Saturday.

But because Reinbacher is one of the club’s top prospects and his state of health is a cause for concern for everyone who follows the Canadiens’ activities…

Let’s just say it adds another layer to the story.

It’s important to mention that the Austrian has been playing well for some time now. He’s getting more and more comfortable, which is ideal.

This weekend, he was particularly good.

The Rocket are currently without Adam Engstrom, who is in Utah with the Canadiens. All indications are that Reinbacher, more than ever, will have to eat big minutes without Engstrom.

Will he be healthy enough to do so? To be seen.

The Canadiens’ goal will be to keep the defenseman as healthy as possible, so that he can develop and help the organization get to the next level.

Considering that we know nothing else about his absence, all the room is for speculation.

overtime

– Read more.

– Really?

– Yes.