Author: Dose

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Connor Bedard is the worst player in the NHL for face-offs.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The infamous sophomore slump seems to be affecting Connor Bedard, who has had a rather ordinary campaign so far.

In 35 games, the forward has 9 goals and 30 points. That’s not bad, but it’s approximately the same production rate as his rookie season when he scored 61 points, including 22 goals, in 68 games.

However, for a first overall pick expected to be a generational player, we expect more than not bad.

Where the issue really lies is in the faceoffs.

Bedard currently ranks last in the NHL among players who have taken at least 100 faceoffs with a win rate of 31.4%. Ouch!

That means he’s losing more than two faceoffs out of three. It’s not easy to score points when you spend the first thirty seconds on the ice chasing the puck.

This is clearly an aspect of his game that the center will need to work on if he ever wants to be one of the elite impact players in the league.

And Bedard doesn’t need to become a faceoff specialist, but he must achieve a better efficiency than 31.4% if he wants to improve his offensive chances on the ice by ensuring his team controls the puck.

Additionally, while Bedard’s somewhat disappointing offensive output can partly be explained by the lack of quality wingers with the Blackhawks, his faceoff issues are truly harder to understand.

Let’s hope for Chicago that the organization will know how to help its young player improve this aspect of his game.

However, even if the former first overall pick does not show exceptional numbers in his first two seasons, it is undeniable that he possesses the talent and potential to become an elite player in the league, and that patience is necessary in his case.

And we must not forget that the Blackhawks are a young team in rebuilding, and Bedard will be able to count on the arrival of many talented players to better support him, which should also help the young center in the years to come.

In Brief

– Tune in!

– Canada wins!

– Signature for Victory.

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Lane Hutson: only seven NHL defensemen have more points than him this season.

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

When looking at what Lane Hutson has done since his debut in the NHL, it’s clear that it would have been hard to ask for better. The defenseman, who accumulated two points in two games at the end of last season, quickly proved this year that he wouldn’t need to pass through Laval.

And since the beginning of the year, he continues to demonstrate that his offensive talent is special. In 34 games this season, the defenseman already has 26 points to his name.

It took him some time to score his first goal, but he currently has two to his record.

Of course, this places him in an excellent position among rookies (especially with Matvei Michkov struggling lately), but when looking among all the defensemen in the league, it stands out that the CH defenseman looks very good.

In fact, right now, only seven defensemen in the entire Bettman circuit have accumulated more points than him since the start of the year. That’s it.

(Credit: Screenshot/NHL.com)

And among these seven defensemen, it’s notable that Adam Fox, recognized as being a role model for offensive defensemen in the NHL, is not included. Fox also has, like Hutson, 26 points to his name since the beginning of the campaign.

I am not saying that the CH rookie is already a better defenseman than Adam Fox, but the fact that Hutson is neck-and-neck with Fox for points this season is already a huge success, especially since he has more points than other big names across the league.

Hutson, who has seven points in his last six games, makes a few small mistakes in his zone, but offensively, he proves game after game that he is indeed a special talent.

And if the CH can finally count on a top offensive defenseman within its ranks, it will already be a significant boost for the future of the club.

In Brief

– A hat trick for Axel Sandin Pellikka during the first game of the WJC. Sweden won by a score of 5-2.

– Ivan Demidov among the elite under 20 in the KHL.

– Attention interested parties.

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SKA: with Evgeny Kuznetsov injured long-term, Ivan Demidov’s situation changes.

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2024/09/23: Ivan Demidov (91) of SKA Hockey Club is seen in action during the hockey match of the Kontinental Hockey League 2024/2025 between SKA Saint Petersburg and Avangard Omsk at the Ice Sports Palace. (Final score; SKA Saint Petersburg 4:1 Avangard Omsk). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Since the beginning of the campaign, we have been closely monitoring what is happening with Ivan Demidov in Russia. The CH prospect is playing big hockey… but he isn’t getting a ton of ice time either.

All of this is mainly due to contract issues rather than his performance, but oh well.

That said, there is someone who is really helping the kid this season: Evgeny Kuznetsov. The former Capitals forward, who is a star in Russia, loves having Demidov on his line, which somewhat helps the young player’s situation.

However, yesterday, Kuznetsov was the victim of a rather borderline hit… and he was seriously injured.

According to Roman Rotenberg, we are talking about a “long absence.” TIFF, a Russian media outlet, mentions a possible absence of two months, but nothing has been confirmed in this regard for the moment.

All of this means that for a good while, SKA will be without Kuznetsov… and as a result, Demidov’s situation will change.

Theoretically, the logical reasoning would be to think that Demidov will get more ice time since the team needs to replace Kuznetsov’s offensive production. Thus, giving more playing time to one of the team’s top scorers is a concept that, on paper, makes sense.

But do I need to remind you that with SKA, logical reasoning is rarely the preferred approach?

Let’s remember that earlier this season, when Kuznetsov missed a few games, Demidov saw his ice time plummet. He had been demoted to the role of 13th forward (let’s recall that in the KHL, teams can dress a 13th forward), and he was only playing a (small) handful of minutes per game.

The question then will be whether the team will change its ways this time. Demidov is playing big hockey these days, but if Kuznetsov is no longer there, one might wonder if Rotenberg will take the opportunity to further reduce the kid’s ice time.

To be continued, therefore.

In Brief

– The only CH hope at the current WJC scores Sweden’s first goal.

It was Dalibor Dvorsky who scored the tournament’s first goal.

– Todd McLellan replaces Derek Lalonde behind the Red Wings’ bench.

– Charlie Lindgren is going to be a dad.

– Phew.

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4 Nations: Adin Hill makes it difficult for Samuel Montembeault

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

On December 4th, Samuel Montembeault was officially selected to join the Canadian team at the Confrontation of the 4 Nations. It was a great acknowledgment for the goaltender who, since his arrival in Montreal, has been doing an excellent job.

And with the Canadian team no longer in its prime years for finding goaltenders, Montembeault was a solid gamble to take.

We know that the goaltender received the call to announce the good news on December 1st. This means that since the beginning of the month, he is no longer playing to make the team, he is playing to prove that he deserves to be the starting goaltender.

Obviously, we know that his workload has been something for a little while, as he has had the last 10 starts for the Canadiens. That said, he has still done solid work.

An average of 2.64 goals allowed and an efficiency rate of 0.906 for a guy who “has weak legs”, is far from bad.

(Credit: Screenshot/ESPN)

These are statistics that, at first glance, make him a good candidate for the #1 role. Maintaining such numbers in a context where the guy is burned out is impressive.

However, if Jordan Binnington does not seem to be a major threat, it’s a different story for Adin Hill. In fact, the Golden Knights’ goaltender has been on fire since the beginning of the month, with an average of 2.00 goals allowed and an efficiency rate of 0.931.

And unlike Montembeault, he was not the last of the three to be selected. He thus started with a small advantage.

(Credit: Screenshot/ESPN)

There is still a little over a month before the tournament begins, which means things have time to change. However, it has already been nearly a month since the guys received the call, and since that moment, Hill seems to have stepped up his game.

Montembeault is solid (especially in the context where he never has time to rest), but Hill is a notch above.

In a context where the CH is ready to give a lot of games to Montembeault (although his workload will eventually need to be reduced), this means he will still have several starts to prove his worth before the tournament. However, if the tournament were to start today, one could think that it is the goaltender of the Golden Knights who would inherit the starting role.

Let’s see if Montembeault can turn the tide before the tournament begins.

In Brief

– CMJ: a Habs prospect on the top defensive pairing for Sweden.

– Two names to watch.

– A nice read.

– A sad anniversary.

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The Canadiens can recall Jakub Dobes as of today

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

The Canadiens’ schedule looks tough in the coming weeks.

After enjoying an easier December before the holidays, we see that the next five weeks will not exactly be marked by a favorable schedule for the CH.

We’ll see if the club will really be #InTheMix at that time.

(Credit: TVA Sports)

What we observe is that there will still be several sequences of two games in two nights. Starting Saturday and Sunday, the CH will begin its Florida tour.

And by the end of the trip, there will be a Chicago-Denver game (on January 3 and 4) that won’t be exactly easy either. There will thus be two back-to-backs in about ten days.

What I’m trying to say is that Samuel Montembeault, who had heavy legs before Christmas, can’t play every game night. He will burn out due to the demands of the modern NHL schedule, including traveling and an increasingly offensive style of play.

And don’t forget that he’s going to the Four Nations Clash. He won’t have a break in February.

When we look at all this, the Canadiens can’t rely on just one goaltender. We know that the CH did it before Christmas, but that can’t continue like this. It can’t be the norm.

The CH has four options to put in goal.

  • Samuel Montembeault
  • Cayden Primeau
  • A Laval goaltender (likely Jakub Dobes, but it could be Connor Hughes)
  • A goaltender who is not currently in Laval (acquired through trade or signing, for example)

As Montembeault can’t play every game, the club clearly has less confidence in Primeau and, according to the latest news, the CH hasn’t acquired a goaltender, Dobes is becoming an increasingly serious option.

And as Renaud Lavoie reminded us this morning during his segment on BPM Sports’ morning show, even though there is currently a trade freeze during the holiday season, the CH can still call Jakub Dobes if they want. After all, they have only 22 guys out of 23 in their lineup.

Let’s recall that a few months ago, colleague Maxime Truman highlighted the fact that the CH really likes the work of European goaltenders. And since then, Dobes’ name has been on everyone’s lips.

Recently, we know that he was approaching a call-up, but injuries have slowed down the CH’s plans.

Whether to recall the goaltender from Laval Rocket or not will be the decision of Martin St-Louis and Éric Raymond, the goaltending coach. But if they haven’t trusted Primeau to play against Detroit, why would it be different against the Panthers or the Lightning?

If Monty doesn’t play the next two games, I think there’s a chance Dobes will experience his baptism of fire in the Bettman circuit in the short term. But that’s not a guarantee either.

In Brief

– I love it.

– Interesting.

– LeBron James wants December 25 to be NBA Day.

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“I don’t think that David Savard is going to cost an arm and a leg.”

When the Canadiens went to get Alexandre Carrier, a player who resembles David Savard in some ways, it was thought that the Habs had found the guy who could one day replace the veteran on the Canadiens’ blue line.

And unless Savard signs a new contract in town, that day will arrive at the earliest in spring 2025.

The question we must ask is whether the Canadiens will be able to trade the veteran to another team in the Bettman circuit by the trade deadline.

And here, opinions clash.

On one side, there are those who want to keep him at all costs. But there are also those who want to trade him at all costs and those who are open to trading him, depending on the price asked.

But what is an offer too good to refuse? Is it a first-round pick? Is it more than that? Less than that? Everyone has their own answer to this question.

Regarding Savard, some journalists from The Athletic (Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun) included him in a piece aimed at predicting where players would end up by the deadline.

LeBrun named the Oilers and Johnston named… the Maple Leafs for Savard. So we will keep an eye on them, given that these guys are well-connected.

But beyond the teams themselves, there is a passage in LeBrun’s text that caught my attention as it says a lot about the Canadiens’ mentality regarding the Savard situation.

I don’t think David Savard will cost an arm and a leg. It would be appealing for Oilers who don’t have a first-round pick this season. – Pierre LeBrun

The same Pierre LeBrun has already said that Savard is likely in his last year in Montreal. Thus, we can think that, in light of this information, the club is currently in the “trade Savard at all costs” category.

If the club doesn’t shoot itself in the foot with salary cap issues and doesn’t get into too much trouble on the ice by trading a player who is destined to leave, then yes, it makes sense to think that Savard will be gone by the deadline.

In brief

– Good question.

– Hmm…

– A must-read.

– Interesting.

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Donald Trump wants Wayne Gretzky as Prime Minister of Canada.

30 AUG 2015: Donald Trump shakes hands with former NHL star Wayne Gretzky before leaving The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Wayne Gretzky and Donald Trump clearly have a good relationship.

When Trump was re-elected as president of the United States earlier this year, the former NHL star was by his side. Images of the two circulated at that time.

And it caused quite a stir.

Donald Trump, who is building a team around him in anticipation of his return to power, clearly wants to collaborate with Gretzky, who is Canadian, for future endeavors.

In fact, as the main interested party said on social media (via the Truth platform), he was with Gretzky yesterday (Christmas Day, that is) and proposed he run for the next Prime Minister of Canada.

He noted that one day, it will (according to him) be the title of Governor of Canada, as he wants Canada to become a U.S. state.

According to Trump, Gretzky could “easily win” and wouldn’t even have to campaign. Trump added that #99 doesn’t want to do it, but he encourages Canadians to start a movement to convince him otherwise.

We understand why he would want his friend Gretzky to be the Prime Minister of Canada. He would have a greater influence over his northern neighbors, which is pretty easy to understand.

And in these more than uncertain times for Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of the country, things are going to stir here in 2025.

Can we interpret Trump’s message as a potential disavowal of Pierre Poilievre, who has a good chance of becoming Prime Minister in the future? Or is it simply a message in favor of Gretzky, nothing more?

Your answer is worth mine.

In Brief

– Notice to interested parties.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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The good moves by Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton in 2024

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

In 2024, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton made some good moves as GM and VP of the Canadiens.

At the end of this year, I felt like compiling my personal top-5 of their best moves from the past 12 months. Inevitably, this will lead to debate about my choices – and I love that.

Here’s what I’ve noted. And no, saying the team will be #InTheMix didn’t quite make my top-5…

5. Bringing Lane Hutson to the NHL

This may seem obvious since the young man was ready to make the jump, but the way the Canadiens handled Lane Hutson’s situation (bringing him in after two years in the NCAA) deserves recognition. After all, the rookie is performing well in the NHL.

And luckily, the American is here, to be honest.

4. Hiring Pascal Vincent to coach the Rocket

Kent Hughes did the right thing (even if it took time) by bringing Jean-François Houle back as head coach of the Rocket in the spring. But when he left even before his contract extension kicked in, a solution needed to be found.

And it was Pascal Vincent.

The Rocket’s start to the season has been excellent, and even though it has been a bit tougher since, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Vincent has a lot of experience in the AHL and NHL.

Bringing him into the organization was an excellent move.

3. Extending the contracts of Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky

During the summer, the two young players saw that the Canadiens weren’t waiting until they approached restricted free agency. Guhle (six years, $5.55M per year) and Slafkovsky (eight years, $7.6M per year) both agreed to let the Canadiens buy out years of unrestricted free agency.

And even though it’s not perfect in 2024-2025, it remains a good move, nonetheless. It was this summer and still is.

2. Acquiring Patrik Laine

When the Canadiens acquired Patrik Laine, it gave hope to the fans. And when he returned to play in early December, it electrified a Bell Centre that desperately needed it.

It was a great move.

1. Drafting Ivan Demidov (and Michael Hage)

In my eyes, Ivan Demidov is the most important piece of the Canadiens’ rebuild. Obtaining his services at #5 in the 2024 draft is nothing short of fabulous.

And when he gets playing time in Russia, he shows us how good of a choice it was.

But we must not forget that trading Sean Monahan eventually led to the arrival of Michael Hage, a first-round prospect that Canadiens management holds in high regard.

One day, he will make a difference – if all goes well.

Honorable Mentions

Want honorable mentions? Here they are.

– Bringing Alex Barré-Boulet into the organization.

– Trading Jake Allen to give the undisputed #1 position to Samuel Montembeault. Even if Cayden Primeau struggled this autumn, the Quebecer has clearly accepted the confidence placed in him.

– Trusting Emil Heineman in the NHL.

– Offering a contract extension to Martin St-Louis by activating the option in his contract. Because even if things don’t always go well, allowing him to coach towards the end of his contract would have been a very bad decision.

– Signing Connor Hughes to keep the net in Laval.

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Canadian: Three players from the organization who are expected to emerge in 2025.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Canadiens have several talented young players within the organization.

There are talented guys coming up, and we should see them in Montreal soon.

Among them? Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, Owen Beck… But the CH also has young players who are already there, and among all this great group, there are players who are expected to break out in 2025.

Here is a list of three guys I would like to see have a big year:

Logan Mailloux

Logan Mailloux has talent oozing from him. He has some really interesting qualities for a player of his size, and he is destined for a great career in the NHL if he can develop in the right way.

Things started off really well for him this year in the American League, and we even saw him get a chance in Montreal. He did well, by the way: the right-handed player scored three points (one goal) in five games, and beyond offensive production, he was solid.

Sure, it wasn’t always perfect when he was in his zone… but that’s something to work on. That said, Mailloux needs to have a strong finish to the season in the American League to come into the next camp with confidence.

If he arrives at camp with confidence, good things will happen.

He has the skills, the physique, and the confidence to become a good player. We all agree that he needs to correct some aspects of his game (especially on the defensive side), but still: when a talented defenseman at 6’3″ and 213 pounds is able to play well, he often can excel in the NHL.

But Mailloux needs to reach the next level for that to happen.

(Credit: Getty Images)

Joshua Roy

It’s funny… but it seems to me that the cases of Joshua Roy and Logan Mailloux are similar. We’re talking about two excellent players… But we’re also talking about two excellent players who need to find a way to be more consistent in their performances.

Joshua Roy shone at the U18 Championships alongside Connor Bedard, and it’s not a coincidence. And if Bedard said that Roy was one of the best players he played with, that’s not a coincidence either.

But we know the deal with Joshua: he doesn’t always seem focused, and his motivation is sometimes lacking. Because for the rest… There’s not much to criticize in his game.

We saw him briefly in Montreal this season, but the result wasn’t very fruitful. Roy – compared to last season – didn’t necessarily seem to be in his place in the NHL, and it appeared to be moving fast at times.

Like Mailloux (again), Roy has the talent to succeed.

And it’s by working on his work ethic that he will be able to succeed.

Juraj Slafkovsky

Ah, Slaf… Juraj Slafkovsky was drafted first overall in 2022, and we saw exactly why in the second half of last season.

He had a stellar finish to the season alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield and even reached the 50-point plateau. For a 19-year-old player, that’s impressive.

It’s excellent, even… But Slaf has struggled to get going since the start of the season.

He can have good moments… but he can also be invisible for stretches of a few games thereafter. I saved him for last in my text, and there’s a reason: if there’s one player I would particularly like to see break out, it’s him.

He has the hands, the size, the vision… Slaf needs to shoot more often because he isn’t using his shot enough.

He needs to use his skills to drive to the net because he is capable of doing it.

With a body like his, he should be even more intimidating to other teams in the NHL.

For the CH to be competitive in a few years, the prospects must progress and help the team on the ice.

I’m not counting Slaf among the prospects because he already has experience, but you get what I mean.

Roy, Mailloux, and Slaf are three of the valuable jewels of the organization, and the Canadiens will need these guys in the coming years.

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Ranking: the Rangers and the Islanders at the bottom of their division

Some surprises have emerged this season in the NHL.

This happens every year, but this season has greatly surprised us, especially when looking at the current NHL standings as we reach the Christmas break.

Seeing the Washington Capitals with the third-best points percentage in the league (0.706), no one saw that coming.

Also, who would have thought the New York Islanders and Rangers would be face-to-face at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division?

I’m the last person who would have predicted this, especially for the Rangers.

To see so many star players placed on the market and to see captain Jacob Trouba traded is quite intriguing.

Clearly, something is not right with the Rangers, and Chris Drury could be the reason, or at least part of the reason.

As for Patrick Roy’s team, I didn’t have very high expectations for them, but I didn’t expect them to be last in the Metropolitan.

What’s even more shocking is to see the Montreal Canadiens are only two little points behind these two New York clubs, who should be more competitive.

In fact, the Islanders have fewer wins (13) than the Canadiens (14) and have played one more game than Martin St-Louis’s team.

The Habs, who were supposed to be in the famous mix this season, don’t have a disastrous season, but most fans expected more.

I can’t imagine the anger and frustration that Rangers and Islanders fans must feel right now, as they logically should be in playoff contention.

Imagine if the Habs had a roster like the Rangers but were languishing in the Atlantic’s basement…

There would be chaos in Montreal, and fans would probably want all (or almost all) members and players of the organization to be fired/traded.

On the other hand, there definitely has to be some change somewhere for the two New York clubs.

Both managements will have a lot to think about during this Christmas break.

In Brief

– The Xhekaj family at Christmas.

– Travis Kelce reached the prestigious milestone of 1000 career receptions.

– In the absence of NHL hockey on December 25, there are always the classic NBA games on Christmas Day. Anthony Edwards made sure to put on a show.