Author: Dose

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Desnoyers: First center in Montreal in 2-3 years if he is drafted by the Canadiens (according to the Snake)

Photo by Dale Preston/Getty Images

With just a few months left until the 2025 NHL Draft, there is one player in particular who stands out in the QMJHL.

I’m talking about Caleb Desnoyers, who plays for the Moncton Wildcats.

At the age of 17, Desnoyers is not just good: he is one of the best players in the league, currently ranking 4th among the top scorers.

The native of Saint-Hyacinthe has collected 51 points in 31 games (!) and what impresses about his play is his ability to excel in all three zones of the ice.

He excels offensively, and the same can be said for his defensive play.

Desnoyers is gaining points in the eyes of various scouts, and Simon Boisvert spoke about him in the recent episode of his podcast that he shares with Mathias Brunet (Processus).

The Snake didn’t mince words: for him, Desnoyers has what it takes to be picked in the top-3 of the draft.

And in Simon Boisvert’s eyes, Desnoyers could become the first center for the Canadiens within 2 or 3 years if he gets the chance to be selected by Kent Hughes:

What’s interesting is that the Canadiens are very familiar with the player in question.

Colleague Maxime Truman notably wrote an article at the end of November stating that the CH is closely watching him, and the site Responsible Gambler echoed the same sentiment by saying that Desnoyers is an important target for the Canadiens.

The idea of having a player like him is tantalizing because Desnoyers is from Quebec and because it has been a long time since the CH has had a dominant player from the province in their top-6.

Even less so on the first line: David Desharnais provided great service to the CH for several years as the first center… But we can all agree that he was not part of the NHL elite at that time.

All this to say that it would be fun to see the Canadiens select Caleb Desnoyers in the upcoming draft.

And if the CH is too far down in the standings, they will have what it takes to move up in the selection ranks, considering they have another first-round pick this year:

(Credit: Tankathon)

In brief

– At least he knows it.

– Tony Marinaro is so entertaining.

– The photo is magical.

– Already!

– Me too.

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Dans les coulisses

Desnoyers: First center in Montreal in 2-3 years if he is drafted by the CH (according to the Snake)

Photo by Dale Preston/Getty Images

With just a few months to go before the 2025 NHL draft, there is one player in particular who stands out in the QMJHL.

I’m talking about Caleb Desnoyers, who plays for the Moncton Wildcats.

In his 17-year-old year, Desnoyers is not just good: he is one of the best players in the league, currently sitting in 4th place among the league’s top scorers.

The native of Saint-Hyacinthe has collected 51 points in 31 games (!) and what impresses in his game is his ability to be effective in all three zones of the ice.

He excels offensively, and we can also say the same about his defensive play.

Desnoyers is gaining attention from various scouts, and Simon Boisvert spoke about him in the latest episode of his podcast that he shares with Mathias Brunet (Processus).

The Snake didn’t mince words: for him, Desnoyers has what it takes to be selected in the top-3 of the draft.

And in the eyes of Simon Boisvert, Desnoyers could become the first center of the Canadiens within 2 or 3 years if he gets the chance to be selected by Kent Hughes:

What’s interesting is the fact that the Canadiens know the main interested party very well.

Colleague Maxime Truman notably wrote an article at the end of November stating that the Habs are closely monitoring him, and the Responsible Gambler site also echoed this by saying that Desnoyers is an important target for the Canadiens.

The idea of having a player like him is exciting because Desnoyers hails from Quebec, and it’s been a long time since the Habs had a dominant player from the province in their top-6.

Even less on the first line: David Desharnais provided solid services to the Habs for several years as the first center… But we can all agree that he did not belong to the elite of the NHL at that time.

All this to say it would be fun to see the Canadiens select Caleb Desnoyers in the upcoming draft.

And if the Habs are too far down the standings, they have what it takes to rise in the selection ranks since they also have another first-round pick this year:

(Credit: Tankathon)

In Brief

– At least, he knows it.

– Tony Marinaro is so entertaining.

– The photo is magical.

– Already!

– Me too.

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Dans les coulisses

Kent Hughes remains confident in the case of David Reinbacher.

Is it just me, or… are we forgetting David Reinbacher?

The Canadiens’ hope was injured while receiving a hit during a pre-season game and underwent surgery on his left knee at the beginning of October. He is not ready to return to play soon, but Kent Hughes said he is not particularly worried about his case, even if Reinbacher will need to work hard to regain his rhythm.

The Canadiens’ GM compares the defenseman’s situation to that of Kirby Dach, who had to miss nearly the entire 23-24 season:

Speaking of defensemen, Kent Hughes mentioned that there were too many within the organization last summer.

This partly explains why he had to trade Johnathan Kovacevic to New Jersey during the off-season. And it also explains why he did not hesitate to send Jordan Harris to Columbus.

Hutson, Reinbacher, Mailloux, Xhekaj, Struble, Guhle, Engström, Barron, Harris… These guys were already part of the CH organization last summer, and we can also add Matheson and Savard to that list, even if they are older.

Barron was traded to Nashville for Alexandre Carrier, Kovacevic plays for the Devils today, and Harris was included in the Laine trade, but still.

Kent Hughes is right in saying there were too many defensemen. And he may be forced to make more tough decisions in the coming years if the young players become good…

Kent Hughes touched on several topics during his press conference, and it is relevant to discuss them. He talked about Demidov and the organization’s trip to Russia, and he said that he wants to see more from Slaf… But what is grabbing attention otherwise?

1. If Alexandre Carrier impresses the fans, it’s the same in the executives’ offices.

Kent Hughes wanted to add a defenseman who can play higher in the lineup, and that is what Carrier is bringing right now because he is able to counter the best opposing players.

The CH GM also likes the fact that Guhle has been better since the arrival of the Quebecer in town.

2. The trade deadline is in two months (March 7), but Hughes still does not know how he will approach that process.

He made the famous statement we often hear, saying that he doesn’t want to deviate from his plan… But he also said that the team’s successes will play a role in his decisions.

However, one should not expect a big splash:

3. Even if the team is in the mix and is playing above .500 (.513), the CH GM insists that the club has “accomplished nothing” yet.

The executives are hungry and see that the team is capable of doing even better.

4. Kent Hughes talked about Frank Vatrano’s contract (deferred money) and said he is not closing the door on that possibility in the future.

Because the GM is aware: in Montreal, the tax rate is high… And a contract like Vatrano’s could become an advantage of sorts.

5. The Canadiens’ GM took a long pause before answering the next question from a journalist:

Will we see Cayden Primeau in Montreal again before the end of the season?

Kent Hughes mentioned that Primeau did not have the start he wanted this season and that he is in the American Hockey League right now to regain his confidence.

But I have a feeling that if Jakub Dobes continues to perform as he has since his recall, it will be hard to remove him…

In conclusion, let’s note that Hughes emphasized the importance of a guy like Jake Evans in Martin St. Louis’ lineup.

The GM is aware that Evans has experience, is “very useful,” and is respected in the Canadiens’ locker room.

But obviously, he did not want to comment on a contract extension because those discussions remain confidential.

In Brief

– Indeed.

– His return is imminent, then.

– It’s coming soon!

– Makes sense.

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Dans les coulisses

Kent Hughes: “Juraj (Slafkovsky) is capable of doing better”

Juraj Slafkovsky is going through tough times.

Is Juraj Slafkovsky perfect?

No. And correct me if I’m wrong, but no one has said that either.

However, seeing that he hasn’t necessarily progressed since the beginning of the season, it’s normal to have doubts. After all, we’re talking about a first overall pick…

Kent Hughes was asked what he thought of his young player’s game, and his reaction spoke volumes.

He took a brief pause before answering the question… Then went on to say that the young player is capable of more.

And Slaf knows it:

Kent Hughes said it out loud: Juraj Slafkovsky has work to do.

Number 20 must understand that effort and willingness need to be there every night… And not every other game.

After all, Slaf has the tools to succeed, and we saw that last year. That’s why – in my eyes – the organization still believes in him, even if things have been a bit more challenging at times since the start of the season.

The Canadiens’ GM also mentioned that he isn’t necessarily surprised to see Slaf experiencing tougher moments because a player’s development isn’t always linear, even if the positive signs are there.

That being said, there’s a reason why Slaf finished 2024 ranked third among the best passers for the CH:

Without necessarily throwing him under the bus publicly, Kent Hughes still sent a message to his player, and it’s up to the player to do what’s necessary to bounce back.

That’s not a bad thing, in my opinion. Sometimes, that’s what it takes to get a guy going!

Overtime

If he keeps up the pace, Slafkovsky will be able to finish the season with (at least) 45 points.

But still, production is less important because the results will come if – and only if – Slaf starts playing regularly the right way.

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Let’s forget the idea of seeing Ivan Demidov play in Montreal this season.

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2024/11/07: Ivan Demidov (91) SKA Hockey Club seen in action during the Hockey match, Kontinental Hockey League 2024/2025 between SKA Saint Petersburg and Sochi at the Ice Sports Palace. (Final score; SKA Saint Petersburg 2:5 Sochi). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Kent Hughes spoke with the media today as part of his mid-season review.

Right off the bat, the Canadiens’ GM didn’t hide his secrets.

The organization was not pleased with the team’s start to the season on the ice, but the GM says he is satisfied with his club’s recent performance. Rightly so!

Kent Hughes also discussed the team’s trip to Russia to see Demidov and mentioned that the Canadiens organization noticed that his ice time decreased during that period.

The Montreal leadership wanted to remind the young player that he is important for the Canadiens, and obviously, the Canadiens wanted him to feel comfortable. It worked, because Demidov began to play better afterward.

But Kent Hughes also pointed out one specific thing: the idea of seeing Demidov arrive in Montreal by the end of the season should be forgotten.

Of course, we know that the Canadiens’ trip sparked controversy for political reasons, but Kent Hughes insists he has no regrets about making that trip.

And this is true, even if there were several criticisms directed at the team.

The GM of the Canadiens added that there were other NHL clubs in Russia during that trip:

Listening to him speak, you can really sense that Kent Hughes is excited about Ivan Demidov.

You can feel in his words that everyone within the organization knows he will become an impactful player in Montreal, and at this level, it is normal to be excited as well.

Especially when we see the young player breaking records in the KHL, as he has been doing recently:

Extension

Ultimately, let’s remember that Ivan Demidov’s contract in the KHL ends at the end of the current season.

Therefore, technically, we should expect to see him in Montreal for the upcoming season… unless he reaches an agreement with SKA on the terms of a new contract.

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Patrik Laine practiced with his full equipment this morning.

With its rush of away games – across various time zones – and repeated flights, the Canadiens have not trained much over the past few days. Martin St-Louis has read the mental and physical state of his group well… and he has gained by betting on rest days rather than practice sessions on the ice.

But this break from training is now a thing of the past; the players of the CH took to the ice at the Bell CN Complex in Brossard a little earlier this morning.

In fact, I should have written “some” players took to the ice. Because not all players laced up their skates this morning.

Some forwards and the goalies skated on the ice in what seemed to be an optional practice. The return to regular training will therefore have to wait until tomorrow…

Before them, Patrik Laine was seen skating solo, but with his full equipment. He looked very good. I have the impression that he will be able to play this weekend, but they want to keep him away from the group for as long as possible to avoid contaminating his teammates (flu/gastro). Will he train with the regular group tomorrow? The CH should be able to provide us with an update on Laine’s condition in 24 hours.

David Savard, for his part, skated in sweats after his teammates. He is injured in the upper body, and all indications suggest that we will still need to be patient before seeing Papy Savy in uniform again.

The Canadiens will practice again in Brossard tomorrow before flying to Washington. On Friday, they will face Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, and less than 24 hours later, they will be at the Bell Centre to host the Dallas Stars (who will have been in Montreal for nearly 48 hours).

Each of the team’s two goalies should see action this weekend. I expect that Jakub Dobes will be sent into the fray in Washington and Montembeault at the Bell Centre. But, well, the opposite could also make sense.

And next week, the Montreal team will play four games in six nights in three different cities. They will have to go through Utah and Dallas (Tuesday and Thursday).

In short, we are witnessing the calm before – and after – the storm with the Canadiens.

Perfect timing to bring the GM out for the mid-season review! #11h30

In brief

– The salary cap of CF Montreal is currently MANY smaller than that of 2024. We can/should therefore expect more additions before the camp opens (January 11?)… or during the camp, like Josef Martinez last year.

– Will this be the announcement of the day – around lunch – from CF Montreal?

– Ivan Demidov and the SKA are having a tough time this morning.

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Lane Hutson: A contract bigger than Suzuki’s?

MONTREAL, CANADA- JANUARY 6: Lane Hutson #48 of the Montreal Canadiens greets the fans after being named the first star of the NHL regular season game against the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre on January 6, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens won against the Vancouver Canucks with a score of 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Arianne Bergeron/NHLI via Getty Images)

Lane Hutson is in his first full season in the National Hockey League.

So far, he is exceeding expectations: he has scored 30 points in his first 40 games of the season and ranks at the top of the NHL rookie scoring list ahead of Matvei Michkov and Macklin Celebrini (in that order).

Not bad for a five-foot-nine defenseman who wasn’t supposed to be able to adapt to the more physical style of the National Hockey League!

The small defenseman has quickly become an important cog in the Habs’ lineup, and there is already talk about his next contract.

Because one thing is for sure: Lane may be small… But his contract is going to be big. Hehe.

On a more serious note, Renaud Lavoie addressed this subject this morning during his morning segment on BPM Sports, and there was one specific phrase that caught my attention.

It’s very possible to see Hutson signing a bigger contract than Nick Suzuki, the team’s captain:

Starting in 2026-2027, the salary cap could reach $100 million. I have a feeling that this artificial cap (in Montreal) is going to explode. – Renaud Lavoie

Here, it is important to remember one thing.

Nick Suzuki is the one who has signed the highest monetary contract per season under Kent Hughes’ era, and we know that in the past, the Habs’ GM was reluctant to exceed that amount ($7.875 million per year) to sign another of his players.

Cole Caufield signed a deal that pays him $7.850 million until the end of the 2031 season, and Slaf has signed a contract of $7.6 million per season. There is Patrik Laine who earns a salary of $8.7 million per year, but the difference is that Hughes acquired the forward while he already had that contract in hand.

Renaud Lavoie’s argument – and it’s quite logical – is that the NHL salary cap is going to rise significantly in the coming years. And the Canadiens cannot limit themselves with their “homemade” cap because they cannot miss the opportunity to sign talented players.

Of course, the sample size is still rather small when we talk about Lane Hutson.

He has only played 42 games in the NHL since the start of his career… But 90% of the time, he looks like a guy who can become a superstar in this league in the coming years.

That’s why the time might be right for Kent Hughes. If the GM waits until the end of the defenseman’s contract and Hutson continues to find as much success… He will cost even more in the summer of 2026, when his entry-level contract ends.

This is quite a dilemma for the Habs’ GM.

In Brief

– Two key pieces will be absent during the Rocket’s trip to Cleveland.

– Well done.

– Things are heating up in this case:

– Sad news.

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The CH is no longer in the playoffs: it’s crazy how close the standings are in the East.

Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images

It is often said that things can change quickly in the National Hockey League.

Proof?

Just 24 hours ago, the Canadiens were sitting at the bottom of the standings for a playoff spot in the East. And since last night, the Canadiens have been surpassed by three teams in their conference standings.

The Blue Jackets (two points) won in overtime against the Penguins (one point), and the Senators were also able to gain a point in their overtime loss to the Red Wings.

This means that this morning, the Canadiens find themselves in 5th place among the wildcard teams:

(Credit: NHL.com)

It’s easy to notice, but it’s tighter than ever in the standings in the East as of the writing of these lines.

The Sabres find themselves at the bottom of the rankings, but they are only seven points behind the Blue Jackets and the last spot that gives a ticket to the spring dance.

And in terms of the winning percentage of each club in the playoff race, it’s ultra close as well:

It’s still crazy to see the Rangers at the bottom of the list shared by Grant McCagg on Twitter…

That said, it proves that there is a nice parity in the NHL right now, forcing all teams to play the right way.

A losing streak can be crucial at this point in the season… And that’s why the Canadiens’ recent successes are even more valuable.

The race for a playoff spot is tighter than ever, and I think this is a good thing for the Canadiens: we will see the identity of this team in a moment like this.

We will see if the Canadiens really have what it takes to be in the mix and it will also allow Kent Hughes to evaluate his players in a different way as well.

Because evaluating a team that has nothing left to lose is not the same as evaluating a team that is fighting for the playoffs.

Now it remains to be seen if the Canadiens will be able to continue their momentum, having won 11 of their last 16 matchups.

They should be able to win games in the context where the team has the 16th easiest schedule until the end of the season (among the 32 teams in the National Hockey League):

(Credit: Tankathon)

In Brief

– Oops.

– The Leafs are searching for a center who can stay in Toronto.

– Good point.

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Top-5: Huberdeau looks at his mother after scoring the winning goal in overtime

ANAHEIM, CA - JANUARY 7: Jonathan Huberdeau #10 and Jakob Pelletier #22 of the Calgary Flames celebrate Huberdeau's game-winning goal in overtime of the game against the Anaheim Ducks on January 7, 2025 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images)

There were ten games last night in the NHL.

The Canadiens were not in action: they will face the Capitals in Washington on Friday night.

That said, let’s take a look at what happened in the other games of the evening:

1 : A lovely moment for the Huberdeau family

The Flames were in Anaheim to play against the Ducks.

The evening was special, as it was the Flames’ mother’s trip.

The game went to overtime, and it was Jonathan Huberdeau who sent everyone home with a somewhat strange goal.

Jacob Trouba tried to clear his zone, but the puck ended up right next to the goalie, and Huberdeau took advantage to score one of the easiest goals of his career:

After the celebrations with his teammates, the Flames players took time to greet their mothers, and Huberdeau looked at his with a big smile on his face.

Huberdeau’s mom seemed to be really proud of her son, by the way:

2 : Marc-André Fleury, never change…

We’ve known for a long time that Marc-André Fleury is special… In the good sense of the word.

He has his habits in front of his net, and every time he does something out of the ordinary, everyone talks about it.

He helped the Wild come back from behind and win 6-4 against the Blues after replacing Filip Gustavsson in net, and Fleury can also thank one of his posts, which made a big save at one point during the game.

The goalie made sure to give it some love:

Moments like that will always make me smile.

And Marc-André Fleury has a knack for making people smile, whether by doing a routine with his teammates or thanking his posts.

He should never change.

3 : Hellebuyck continues to write history

Have we told you that Connor Hellebuyck is one of the best goalies in the National Hockey League?

The Jets’ keeper is having quite a season and continued his momentum last night, while the poor Predators were in Winnipeg to face the Jets.

Hellebuyck stopped 26 of the 28 shots directed at him to secure his 25th win (!) of the season, and this is a high mark in the NHL.

In comparison, Jacob Markström and Jake Oettinger are the two goalies following him closely… And both have collected 20 wins in 2024-2025.

Hellebuyck is on another level: his win last night also allowed him to reach the milestone of 300 career wins.

He is the 3rd fastest goalie from the United States to achieve this feat:

If Hellebuyck can keep up the pace, the Jets will really be a team to watch as the season progresses.

And the goalie might even win 50 games if he continues to be this dominant…

Note that the Jets ultimately won by a score of 5-2 against the Preds.

Mark Scheifele recorded two assists in his team’s victory.

4 : Another record for the kid

Even at 37 years old, Sidney Crosby is still one of the good players in the NHL.

He collected two assists in his team’s loss (4-3) against the Blue Jackets, but that’s not what grabs attention.

The captain of the Penguins seized the record for the most faceoffs won in the NHL (15,183) since 1997-1998, since the statistic began being tracked:

This demonstrates one thing: Crosby is good in the faceoff circle… And let’s say that this has not been a recent development.

It’s also another accolade for a player who has practically won everything in his career.

Difficult to ask for more in the case of the kid.

5 : Sebastian Aho plays the comedian

It seems that Sebastian Aho and Brandon Hagel were purposely getting on each other’s nerves last night on the ice in Tampa Bay.

They didn’t let go of each other for a single second… And it continued on the benches of both teams.

The problem?

Hagel completely lost his seriousness when seeing Aho trying to imitate him with a face… Quite ridiculous.

The images are really funny:

This really reminded me of when Steve Ott teased Zack Kassian while he was playing for the Canadiens:

If we return to the game, note that Brayden Point was the one who decided the fate of both teams at the very end of the contest.

He scored with just over 50 seconds left on the clock, and that was enough for the Lightning to win by a score of 3-2:

Overtime

– Wow!

– Another loss for the Rangers.

– He’s on fire.

– Snipe.

– I love it.

– Ouch.

– Vintage.

– 100 goals in a Knights uniform for Mark Stone.

– At least, both avoided getting hurt.

– Amazing.

– A great victory for the Oilers against the Bruins.

– The top scorers of the evening:

(Credit: NHL.com)

–

(Credit: Google)
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Kirby Dach seems to have finally become the expected second center.

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 2: Kirby Dach #77 of the Montreal Canadiens skates during the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 2, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)

Without a doubt, Kirby Dach is experiencing his best moments since his injury last year.

He’s getting his name on the score sheet more frequently in recent games, including scoring the game-winning goal against the Avalanche in a shootout.

But beyond the numbers, it’s his overall play that has completely transformed. He skates with greater ease and appears less hesitant to make plays with the puck.

He withstands contact well and delivers some fierce checks in return. He’s being rewarded with goals, some like yesterday’s being a bit lucky, but he deserves them.

He works hard and makes his wingers better. He’s passed a good test in the absence of Patrik Laine and has done well without a regular winger. Whether it’s with Jake Evans, Michael Pezzetta, or Joël Armia, Dach finds a way to make the trio work and even manages to make Alex Newhook more effective in the offensive zone.

Is he finally the second center that CH has been waiting for? It might be a bit early to draw such big conclusions, but he’s on the right track.

One thing is certain, if CH wants to stay in the mix by April, they will need Kirby Dach at the top of his game.

Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are having excellent seasons, but they can’t carry the entire CH offense on their shoulders. The Evans trio is producing unexpectedly, but it will eventually slow down.

Dach must seize his chance and lead the second trio as he is currently doing. He needs to force opponents to divide their best resources between his trio and Suzuki’s. If he succeeds, CH could surprise in this second half of the season and who knows, sneak into the playoffs.

In Brief

– New episode available.

– All is well!

– It’s not getting any better in New York.