Author: Dose

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Transactions: “There is still interest in Josh Anderson”

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

With the Canadiens now in the playoff picture, the trade deadline suddenly becomes quite interesting in Montreal. The club has impending unrestricted free agents (Jake Evans, David Savard, Joel Armia, etc.) for whom a contending team could pay… but if the Habs are still in the top-8 (or close to it) by mid-February, it will be difficult to trade them.

And above all, it would seriously hurt the morale of the club, which is exceeding expectations right now. If the GM gives you the challenge of being in the mix, and you succeed but see your teammates leaving, that can become heavy.

That said, seeing them leave remains a possibility… and in his piece today for Daily Faceoff, Frank Seravalli has placed two Habs players on his trade targets list: Jake Evans… and Josh Anderson.

For Anderson, it’s particular because he is not a rental player (he has two more full years left on his contract) and he is expensive ($5.5 million per year) for his output, but…

There is still interest in Josh Anderson. – Frank Seravalli

This season, the 30-year-old veteran has scored six goals and 15 points in 40 games. This is a disappointing output considering his salary… but Anderson still finds a way to contribute.

He is still a big guy who skates fast… and this year, he has reinvented himself as a quality player on the penalty kill. He is more in a support role, but he helps the Habs win games.

The big question now is who would be willing to pay to acquire Anderson. Retaining salary is not feasible for the Habs in the current situation (the club is already using two of its three salary retention spots for Jake Allen and Jeff Petry), and one might wonder if the best value for the veteran isn’t in town.

Anderson is not a perfect player, and getting rid of that contract wouldn’t be a bad thing in the long term. That said, he is a good veteran in the locker room who doesn’t complain (at least not openly) about his reduced role… and if the Habs make the playoffs, he is exactly the kind of player who could help Martin St. Louis’s group win games.

I really don’t believe in a scenario where he is traded by the deadline, therefore. I don’t really believe that about Jake Evans either, by the way… but in his case, his contract status makes it a bit more logical.

Especially since in his piece, Seravalli indicates he is not sold on the idea that the Habs are ready to pay a high price to sign Evans long-term. Let’s recall that yesterday, Renaud Lavoie suggested that “it’s only a matter of time before it happens”… even if some doubt it.

So we will need to see how the Canadiens navigate the waters leading up to March 7, which will be the last day to finalize trades. But clearly, there are big decisions waiting for the Habs… and if Josh Anderson draws interest before then, it will complicate matters even more.

In Brief

– Ivan Demidov is expected to remain on the first line of SKA tomorrow morning.

– More good words for Lane Hutson.

– It will do him good.

– Some interesting insights in there.

– Justin Verlander joins the Giants.

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The Canadiens have been among the elite in the East for two months.

If someone had told me two months ago that the CH would be in the top 8 of the East on January 7, I must admit I would have had a hard time believing it. Heavy defeats were relatively frequent at that time… and the club didn’t seem like a team in the mix.

That said, with a victory against the Canucks last night, the Tricolore is currently in the playoff picture. There is still a lot of hockey to be played, but we are really talking about a transformed team.

Obviously, there has been a lot of talk about the club’s strong streak since Patrik Laine’s return and Alexandre Carrier’s arrival. However, in November, the Canadiens were already starting to win a little more… until they became dominant in December.

But all this means that when we look at the team’s numbers over the past two months (since November 10, to be precise, when they were alone in the last place in the NHL), we see that the CH has a record of 15-9-1. This means they have earned 62% of the possible points on the table…

And as noted by Arpon Basu, that places the team in third place in the East. Only the Maple Leafs and Capitals are ahead of Martin St-Louis’ squad.

This means that for two months, the CH is not just a good team: it is clearly part of the elite in the East. The Panthers, Devils, Hurricanes, and others: they all have a lower points percentage than the Tricolore since November 10th.

It should also be noted that in the entire NHL, there are only six teams that have won more games than the CH since November 10th.

Of course, one may wonder if the CH will be able to keep up the pace. The depth of the team is not huge beyond the 20 regular players, so a long-term injury to a key player could be problematic for a machine that is currently running smoothly.

But for now, fans are right to appreciate their club’s successes: the CH plays like a team that is not only in the mix, but is causing serious damage over the last two months.

It’s no wonder that “Martin St-Louis” is slowly starting to rhyme with “Jack Adams candidate”…

In a nutshell

– This trio is playing some serious hockey.

– Indeed.

– Dan Bylsma does not like the critiques aimed at the Pride jerseys. [Hockey Feed]

– The guys in the CH locker room believe in themselves.

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« If the CH makes the playoffs, who would be a better candidate for the Jack Adams than Martin St-Louis? »

For the first time since 2021, the Canadiens are currently in a position to make the playoffs. Obviously, there is still a lot of hockey to be played… but the team is likely playing its best hockey in nearly four years.

It has been a long time since it was this enjoyable to watch a Canadiens game… because right now, the team is competitive.

That said, even though the team is playing great hockey these days, it’s worth remembering that just over a month ago, they were sitting at the 32nd position in the league. Seeing the Canadiens in the top-8 of the East right now is almost a small miracle…

And credit must be given to Martin St-Louis for all of this.

The coach, whom some were ready to fire back in November, has managed to get the best out of his group in the last month… and in a guest appearance on Spittin’ Chiclets, Eric Engels made a statement that is sure to provoke a reaction:

If the Canadiens make the playoffs, who would be a better candidate for the Jack Adams than Martin St-Louis? – Eric Engels

To hear it, just click on the video below: the excerpt is already placed.

And in fact, it’s not crazy: in discussions, the name Spencer Carbery (who is doing an enormous job in Washington this season) comes up, but if St-Louis leads his group to the playoffs, he will deserve serious consideration.

In a world where MSL manages to qualify his team for the spring dance, it would mean he has successfully relaunched his club after a very difficult start to the season and that he would have made the playoffs in a year where, even if we talked about the mix, we didn’t really expect to see the Canadiens qualify.

Once again, there is still half a season left to play… but I agree with Engels regarding this prediction.

If that happens, a ton of credit will have to be given to Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton for acquiring Patrik Laine and Alexandre Carrier (who are game changers in Montreal) as well as for graduating Jakub Dobes. However, it is currently the young players in town who are carrying the Canadiens… and that signifies that the coaching staff is doing a great job getting the best out of the group.

I’m not saying that St-Louis is definitely going to win that trophy… but if he makes the playoffs, expect to see him receive his share of votes. And if he wins the trophy because he doesn’t take a vacation the day the regular season ends, he will not have stolen it, far from it.

In a Nutshell

– For sure!

– The wives of Jeff Petry and Tyler Toffoli are launching their podcast.

– Quinn Hughes praises the Habs.

– He makes the difference.

– Interesting,

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Brothers Gaudreau: the accused refuses a 35-year prison sentence.

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 07: Johnny Gaudreau #13 de los Columbus Blue Jackets observa durante los calentamientos del juego contra los Carolina Hurricanes en PNC Arena el 07 de abril de 2024 en Raleigh, Carolina del Norte. (Foto de Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)

Last summer, the death of the Gaudreau brothers shocked the entire hockey community. The two men, who were gathered for their sister’s wedding, were fatally struck while riding their bikes.

Learning that the truck driver was intoxicated only increased the frustration associated with this situation that could have truly been avoided.

That said, since the incident, the judicial process has been ongoing… and this morning, the accused in the case, Sean Higgins, appeared for five minutes.

During this appearance, he was offered to plead guilty and accept a 35-year prison sentence… but he refused to do so.

He pleaded not guilty, so the case will go to trial.

It should be noted that if he is found guilty on all counts in the case, Higgins faces up to 60 years in prison. In fact, he could face 30 years for each of the murders, so he could receive up to 60 years that way.

Obviously, by refusing this morning’s offer, one might think it’s because he believes, based on his lawyers’ advice, that he can obtain a more lenient sentence. The defendant’s attorneys have already announced that they intend to try to drop some of the charges in the case.

So we can expect quite a complex trial.

It is also worth noting that the accused will be back in court on February 4. The case will therefore continue… and we can think that we will need to be patient before a verdict is announced.

So this will be something to follow, but it continues to progress in this sad case.

In Brief

– It set the Bell Centre on fire right from the start of the game.

– Jakub Dobes has the potential to be a future #1, believes Stéphane Waite.

– A nice gesture from the Canadiens’ goalie.

– Lane Hutson’s performance yesterday continues to generate buzz.

– Another point for Oliver Kapanen today.

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McDonald’s: a new advertisement featuring P.K. Subban speaking French has been released.

Even though it will soon be 10 years since P.K. Subban was traded, the former defender remains a very popular figure in Montreal. His charisma ensured that he won the hearts of fans… but he was also an electrifying defender.

Sometimes, he may have been a bit too much… but he still had some great years in the city.

Today, Subban is retired, as he now pursues a career in the media. That said, he still loves Montreal as much as Montreal loves him… and this, McDonald’s has certainly understood.

The fast-food chain unveiled a new advertisement (in French) today… and in it, the former defender is the judge of a “style competition” between Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews.

And in the ad, which you can watch below, we notice that Subban speaks in French, as he asks the guys to have “more style”… before finding the “style” he’s looking for at the end of the ad.

The advertisement also has an English version in which McDavid and Matthews face off again… but where Subban (and Pierre Houde, whose voice is present in the French version) are not included.

This means that the company specifically chose Subban to promote in Quebec. It clearly demonstrates the defender’s popularity.

Obviously, McDonald’s and the Canadiens have teamed up for years to create advertisements. Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Jeff Petry, Tyler Toffoli, Cole Caufield, and so many others: they are very numerous to have done advertisements for the fast-food chain.

The company knows that the Canadiens sell… and with Subban, they are banking on one of the most popular faces of the last 15 years in the city.

Moreover, at the very end of the advertisement, there is a hamburger that references McDavid and another that references Matthews… but they also introduce the P.K. Poutine, so the former defender is also associated with a product of the company.

This is a good idea from McDonald’s to associate with Subban. Let’s see if it will pay off now.

In Brief

– Speaking of Matthews.

– The Tanev brothers (Chris and Brandon) are not afraid to block shots.

– Raiders coach loses his job.

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The Rangers offered Zibanejad to the Canucks for Miller (one for one)

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 17: Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (83) defends against New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) during the NHL game between the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers, held on December 17, 2024, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In New York, it’s not working anymore.

The Rangers tried to remedy the situation by trading their former captain (Jacob Trouba) to Anaheim, and Chris Drury (GM) also sent Kaapo Kakko to Seattle.

But it changes nothing: the team has won only six of its last 22 games, which is unacceptable considering the talent of this squad.

It doesn’t stop there, however.

As reported by Josh Yohe (The Athletic), Chris Drury also tried to trade Mika Zibanejad to Vancouver at some point this season.

The Rangers’ GM aimed to acquire J.T. Miller… in a one-for-one trade.

The Canucks said no:

Miller and Zibanejad have somewhat similar styles.

Both are 31 years old, and they are fully capable of being among the NHL’s most productive players… But Miller has a few more assets in his game.

He is better defensively and has two seasons with over 99 points (99 and 103) under his belt since 2021.

Zibanejad is good offensively, but not as much as Miller:

(Credit: HockeyDB)

In the end, it would really have been a trade of problems.

J.T. Miller does not get along with Elias Pettersson in the Vancouver locker room and it’s causing issues for the Canucks… While Zibanejad is not producing up to expectations in New York with his meager eight goals scored since the start of the season.

It also seems that Zibanejad is someone who is “very sensitive,” according to Larry Brooks, and he does not take well to finding himself at the center of several criticisms in the Big Apple.

It’s funny, but the Canucks and the Rangers seem to be in the same boat.

It’s a complete disaster in New York, and even if it’s not as bad in Vancouver, the Canucks have still lost seven of their last 10 games.

The Rangers and the Canucks have what it takes on paper to be among the best teams in the National Hockey League… But that’s not the case with the current circumstances.

That said, perhaps a Miller vs. Zibanejad trade would have been beneficial for both teams, even if one of them brings more on the ice.

In Bullet Points

– Exactly: you know, when things are going well…

– Good news.

– That feels different.

– There are rumors in the MLB:

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Quentin Miller leaves the QMJHL

Photo by Dale Preston/Getty Images

The goaltender Quentin Miller was selected by the Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2023 draft.

We’re talking about a Québécois who was playing in the QMJHL at that time.

During the last season (23-24), Miller was traded from the Quebec Remparts to the Rimouski Océanic… But today we learn that he is leaving the QMJHL.

According to Kevin Dubé of the Journal de Québec, Miller will continue his career in the BCHL (on the West Coast).

And according to the journalist, Miller will join the ranks of the Chilliwack Chiefs:

It is rather rare to see a player from the QMJHL leave the league to join the BCHL… Especially in the middle of the season.

But Quentin Miller didn’t have much of a choice: he hadn’t played since the beginning of the campaign due to an injury, and the Rimouski Océanic decided to seek other options in December.

This is unfortunate in one sense for the goaltender – who also makes music, let’s remember – because the Memorial Cup tournament will be held in Rimouski next June.

But on the other hand, he needed to find an alternative to play and continue his development in goal.

Let’s remember that Quentin Miller celebrated his 20th birthday last December and could make the jump to the professionals next season.

He was impressed by Cole Caufield’s shot at his first training camp with the Canadiens in 2023, and now he must focus on his progression if he ever wants a chance to play in the NHL.

That’s why the option to play in the BCHL, even though we’re talking about a league that is considered less competitive than the Q, was on the table in his case.

In Brief

– Well done.

– Lane Hutson loves playing at the Bell Centre.

– Goaltenders of the week in the NHL. A little thought for Dobes nonetheless:

– He has contagious energy.

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For a month now, Emil Heineman has had better production than Matvei Michkov.

MONTREAL, QC - OCTOBER 09: Look at Montreal Canadiens left wing Emil Heineman (51) during warm-up before the Toronto Maple Leafs versus the Montreal Canadiens game on October 09, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The race for the Calder Trophy – as many predicted even before the season started – is exciting at the moment.

Macklin Celebrini, Matvei Michkov, and Lane Hutson are in a fierce battle, and after 40 games, ESPN has published a survey conducted with several journalists to determine who is the favorite right now.

Celebrini leads the race, Michkov is in 2nd place… And in the article, it is noted that Lane Hutson is the clear 3rd choice at present:

However, Hutson leads NHL rookies in points accumulated (30) since the beginning of the season.

It’s true that Celebrini has had to miss some games… But the fact that Lane Hutson plays as a defenseman adds even more significance to his candidacy.

His production is truly impressive:

But in Montreal, it’s not just Hutson who is impressive among the team’s rookies.

Emil Heineman has been rolling at a fantastic pace for a few weeks now, and ultimately, I feel that not enough is being said about him.

Because in fact, since a month ago (December 7), Heineman is the 3rd best scorer in the league among rookies.

He has better production than Matvei Michkov in this regard… And Heineman also has the best plus-minus (+6) of all rookies since that time.

When compared to Michkov (-10), for instance, it’s like day and night:

(Credit: NHL.com)

Matvei Michkov is an excellent hockey player.

He has the qualities to become a star in the NHL and he is doing well in his first season in the National League.

That said, recalling all this allows us to realize how well Heineman has been doing lately… Especially since he plays on the team’s 4th line and is often one of the least utilized forwards by Martin St-Louis.

It’s worth mentioning because for the past month, it’s been nearly impossible to blame him for anything in his game.

In the end, seeing two Canadiens rookies performing this way is interesting because it makes us believe that there is a bright future offensively in Montreal.

And this is without mentioning Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage, who will arrive in the next two years and have a good chance of playing in the top-6 one day.

That’s why we often say you have to be patient during a rebuild.

In Brief

– I can’t wait to see that.

– Indeed.

– The guys are confident and it shows.

– It says a lot…

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Point by match: Suzuki is on track to become the first player from the Canadiens since Kovalev to achieve the feat.

MONTREAL, CANADA- JANUARY 6: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates the overtime winner of the NHL regular season game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Vancouver Canucks at the Bell Centre on January 6, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Vitor Munhoz/NHLI via Getty Images)

Is Nick Suzuki a number one center in the National Hockey League?

Everyone has heard this question at least once.

But with the way he has been playing since the start of the season… It’s hard to say he isn’t among the best players in his position in the NHL right now.

At the time of writing, the captain of the Canadiens is sitting at 27th place among the league’s top scorers (tied with Lucas Raymond).

He is also ranked 13th among the top scorers for centers in the NHL: this means there are only 12 guys at his position who are doing better than him offensively since the start of the campaign.

12.

And when we look at the list of those players, we realize how excellent Suzuki is:

(Credit: NHL.com)

Crosby, Point, Scheifele, McDavid, Hughes, Draisaitl, MacKinnon…

We can agree that these players are clearly seen as top players in the NHL.

And seeing Suzuki on that list highlights how valuable he is for the Montreal Canadiens.

He is improving season after season and he really looks to be at the top of his game right now:

But it goes even further than that.

Nick Suzuki has collected 41 points in his first 40 games of the season. If he can maintain this pace, he will finish the campaign with a production of at least one point per game… And the last time we saw this in Montreal, it was a long time ago.

The last one to achieve this feat? His name is Alex Kovalev, and it happened during the season… 2007-2008.

The captain, who was born in 1999, was not even 10 years old at that time!

(Credit: HockeyDB)

Nick Suzuki has been a joy to watch lately and it doesn’t stop at his offensive play.

We know he is also really good without the puck: in recent weeks, he has managed to shut down Aleksander Barkov, Brayden Point, Jack Eichel, Nathan MacKinnon, and J.T. Miller in his team’s victories.

This proves his excellence from a defensive standpoint as well.

And it makes one realize that it’s hard to ask for more when all of this is considered for #14.

In brief

– Oh!

– Good text.

– I love it.

– A rumor to watch with the Jays:

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Patrik Laine: we should expect a return on Friday.

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

When Patrik Laine returned to play, it gave the Canadiens the spark they needed to start winning again.

And even though his absence for three games isn’t hurting too much, it still stands that the Canadiens must be eager to see him back. After all, he is good… but it would also allow for Michael Pezzetta to be taken out of the lineup.

Because yes, you may have noticed that Pezzetta is not Martin St-Louis’s favorite. His 34 games out of the lineup and his small playing time (4:46 on average since his return) are good indicators of this.

(Credit: ESPN)

I’ve often mentioned that for the good of the player and for the good of the Canadiens, sending Pezzetta to waivers must be done. And I maintain my position even though Pezz has played for three games.

Knowing who to call back in his place (without unnecessarily affecting the Rocket) would be another challenge, but okay.

But what needs to be known is that if no one gets injured by Friday, during the next game in Washington, the chances of seeing Pezz return to the stands are still good.

Why? Because this morning, on BPM Sports with Max Lalonde and Gilbert Delorme, Renaud Lavoie said we should expect to see Laine back on the ice.

Laine, who has been sick for a few days, should practice this week with the group.

We won’t be able to get details today since the Canadiens have a day off, but it will be interesting to see if the Finn will be able to practice tomorrow morning, about sixty hours before the game on Friday night.

Let’s also note that David Savard, for his part, is a more uncertain case for Friday. It will depend on the doctors’ advice, who might want to give him more rest before returning to play so he doesn’t injure himself further.

And considering how Jayden Struble played yesterday, removing him from the lineup at all costs is not exactly necessary.

In Brief

– If my grandmother were a man, she would be my grandfather. At some point, when there are too many ifs…

– A must-read.

– It will be the Dodgers or the Padres, in my opinion.

– Interesting.