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Kent Hughes nears a deal, believes Renaud Lavoie

Yesterday’s game for the Canadiens(a shootout loss in Columbus) reminded us just how important depth is in the NHL.

With the Canadiens having lost two players capable of playing center (Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook) in the past week, we can see that the club’s depth is being tested.

And not just about.

Jared Davidson and Joshua Roy have been recalled and Joe Veleno, who doesn’t contribute much on the ice, has gone from a guy in the stands at the start of the season to forward #10 in the pecking order.

Roy didn’t bring much to the table yesterday, let’s face it. He didn’t impress and clearly, he was there by default.

Anthony Marcotte said it this morning on BPM Sports: the Canadiens recalled Roy because they didn’t really have a better option on hand.

I’m convinced that Florian Xhekaj could have an impact… but it’s true that the Sean Farrell and Alex Belzile of this world don’t sell dreams.

This puts Kent Hughes in a position where he clearly needs to consider seeking outside help. Because right now, there are holes in the line-up.

And still at BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie had this to say about Kent Hughes, who is working hard on the transaction market.

I think we may not be far from a transaction. – Renaud Lavoie

Obviously, people aren’t going to do Kent Hughes any favors… but he’s doing his job by keeping his finger on the pulse of the market. And clearly, he understands the need for reinforcements at center.

Yesterday, Elliotte Friedman wondered whether the Habs might be looking to acquire a center not for the future, but to fill a short-term hole. That’s probably still a possibility.

extension

Let’s not forget that right now, in the waivers, John Beecher is available. Is the Bruins’ 6’3 center the solution for Kent Hughes?

He’s a former first-round pick and he shoots from the left…

(Credit: Hockey DB)
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Top-5: 1,000 games for Jeff Petry

The Canadiens lost their game last night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Martin St-Louis’ men lost in a shootout… and it was a sixth loss in seven games for the Habs.

Let’s see what happened elsewhere in the National League, shall we?

(Credit: Screenshot / Google)

1: 1,000 games for Jeff Petry

It was a special night for former Canadiens’ Jeff Petry.

The 37-year-old defenseman played his 1,000th career NHL game… and his kids were on hand to celebrate. It was a beautiful moment for Petry and his family:

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The game between the Canucks and the Panthers ended… 8-5. A true offensive festival that saw Sam Reinhart collect three assists in his club’s victory.

And Reinhart made a spectacle of himself with this simply sublime pass:

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The Panthers have struggled with consistency so far this season. They have a 10-8-2 record… which isn’t exceptional by any stretch of the imagination.

But we know that Matthew Tkachuk and Aleksander Barkov are injured right now. And clearly, that’s hurting the club so far this season.

I wonder if it’ll turn around, and if the 8-5 win over the Canucks can get the club off to a good start…

2: Another goal for Alex Ovechkin

Alex Ovechkin’s passion is well known.

The Capitals captain loves to score goals… and he did just that last night. He scored the winning goal against the Kings to help his team win 2-1.

Ovi made himself forgotten in the enclave, and it’s always dangerous when that happens:

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After the game, Ovechkin and Anze Kopitar shared a moment.

This was the last meeting between the two men, as Kopitar will be retiring at the end of the season. And for the good of the cause, Ovi and Kopi traded jerseys in the hallways of the arena after the game:

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Alex Ovechkin now has 903 career goals in the National League. Will he make it to the 1,000-goal plateau?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind right now…

3: Oilers suffer embarrassing defeat

Things haven’t been going particularly well for the Oilers so far this season. And yesterday… the club’s game turned out to be a real catastrophe.

After all, a 5-1 loss to the Sabres is insulting.

It’s humiliating, in fact, and shows just how bad things are for the Edmonton outfit. It’s hard to believe that Connor McDavid was so happy after the game…

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Stuart Skinner hasn’t been able to make the big saves at the right times, and he had another rough outing. The Oilers goalie gave up four goals on 27 shots… and he didn’t help his team in the game.

The Oilers’ problem in front of the net is nothing new.

But now it’s really starting to get really worrying…

4: A magnificent goal for Taylor Hall

Taylor Hall played for the Bruins. And yesterday, during the Hurricanes’ game in Boston, the former first overall pick (2010) stood out with a beautiful goal.

He outwitted everyone to score his fifth goal of the campaign:

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It’s been going like clockwork for the Hurricanes all season, and they found a way to get the W again last night.

The Canes won 3-1… and now have a 13-5-1 record so far this season.

As of this morning, they sit 3rd overall in the National League standings. In the regular season, things often go (very) well for Carolina… but that’s not always the case in the playoffs, for example.

And therein lies the Canes’ problem.

5: Ducks win at Mammoth

The Ducks had to work hard to beat the Mammoth last night.

It looks like the referees sided with Utah… and the zebra men missed several calls in favor of the Anaheim outfit.

But hey. The Ducks held on to win 3-2 in overtime.

Owen Zellweger stepped up to give his team the win:

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You have to admit, the Ducks have been surprising so far this season.

We didn’t expect them to be sitting 5th overall in the League after the first quarter of the campaign… but that’s what’s happening right now.

Good for them! Now we’ll have to see if the young and surprising Ducks can keep up the pace…

Prolongation

– Top scorers of the evening :

(Credit: Screenshot / NHL.com)

– Eight games tonight in the National League :

(Credit: Screenshot / Google)
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Despite a comeback in third, habs escape in shootout

The Canadiens are currently running out of steam.

Tonight, against the Blue Jackets, they want to put an end to a three-game losing streak.

Here are the line-ups:

The game got off to a bad start for Martin St-Louis’ team.

Zach Werenski had all the time in the world to score the game’s first goal.

In the second period, the new second line of Juraj Slafkovsky, who was the team’s most-used forward in the first, Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen came into their own.

The Finn completed the play of his linemates and Mike Matheson.

He’s on track to score 30 goals in his rookie season.

But before the period ended, Columbus scored twice.

First, Adam Fantilli took advantage of Joshua Roy’s sloppy play to score his team’s second.

And on the powerplay, Dmitri Voronkov doubled the lead.

The Canadiens had a much better third period, scoring two goals to force overtime.

Lane Hutson took charge in this period.

On Josh Anderson’s goal to cut the deficit to one, he did everything he could to find a shooting line.

And late in the period, with Jakub Dobes on the bench, Hutson scored from the point.

Overtime in Ohio.

Despite total Habs domination in overtime, Jet Greaves wouldn’t give in.

We needed the shootout, then.

Kent Johnson GOAL

Nick Suzuki STOP

Adam Fantilli STOP

Cole Caufield GOAL

Kirill Marchenko GOAL

Ivan Demidov STOP

Final score: 4-3 Columbus.

Fourth consecutive defeat for Martin St-Louis’ team.

Montreal will not play tomorrow. Next game is Thursday against the Washington Capitals.

Extended

– He had an excellent game.

– He almost scored his first NHL goal.

– Surprising, though.

– You never get used to it.

– Not easy for Cole Caufield today.

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Jack Hughes: the Devils thought they’d lost him for the season

Jack Hughes is the Devils’ most important player.

And when he’s not in the line-up, the Devils are far less dominant. And over the past few years, he’s missed some games.

Once again this season, he’ll miss a few months of activity. This time, his injury is not related to an injury on the ice, but to an accident in the kitchen. The Devils’ star will miss two months due to a hand injury: he cut himself during a team dinner.

Ouch…

But, as Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 thoughts podcast, the injury is less serious than first thought. New Jersey believed he would miss the rest of the season.

The fact that he’ll miss eight weeks and should be back before the Olympics is good news, then.

He might even make it to the Olympics in Milan for the US. I don’t know if the nation will dare include him in its lineup if he hasn’t played a game before the event, but we’ll see.

One thing’s for sure: if he were healthy, he’d be in the line-up.

In 17 games this season, 86 has 10 goals and 10 assists.

New Jersey is currently in first place in the Metropolitan Section. Knowing that their best player is having a great season is great news for the playoff race.

Overtime

– Two big games since his return.

– To be continued.

– Great story.

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Goalkeepers: three CH prospects among the NCAA elite this season

At the moment, the Canadiens are in a precarious situation in front of the net. Samuel Montembeault isn’t having a great season, and Jakub Dobes, who started strongly, has been struggling for the past few games.

No, it’s not ideal.

The good news, however, is that beyond the big club, things are going well for the organization’s other goalkeepers. Jacob Fowler, for example, is really dominant in the AHL… and he’s playing like a guy who wants to be called back.

But in the NCAA, too, the club has prospects in front of the net who dominate. In fact, when you look at the U.S. college circuit leaders in efficiency rate, you’ll find three Habs prospects in the top-5.

We’re talking about Emmett Croteau (1st), Alexis Cournoyer (2nd) and Quentin Miller (5th).

It’s important to point out that the sample is pretty thin, obviously. Croteau and Cournoyer haven’t exactly played a ton of games… but even so, they’re solid when they’re in front of their own net.

As for Miller, he’s had a good workload so far. In his case, the numbers are more significant.

We know that these three guys aren’t necessarily the biggest names in the club’s bank of prospects. That said, we also know that the development of goalkeepers is often quite unpredictable.

And right now, with the performances of the three guys, it’s logical to wonder whether they could eventually be part of the Habs’ future plans. But given that the Habs’ current goaltenders are on a tear, it’s encouraging to see other goaltenders in the organization making a name for themselves for the right reasons.

Overtime

– Jakub Dobes: people from his former university are attending tonight’s game.

– Hehe.

– Draft 2026: lots of big names at the top, believe several scouts.

– Things are going well for Jack Roslovic in Edmonton.

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Zachary Bolduc will replace Juraj Slafkovský on the first line tonight

Tonight, the Canadiens are in Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. And with Kirby Dach now sidelined, the club has had to alter its lineup.

Joshua Roy, who was in Laval, has been recalled to take Dach’s place.

Interestingly, Martin St-Louis took the opportunity to reshuffle his lines… and for the first time, the top line is affected.

Zachary Bolduc will take Juraj Slafkovský’s place alongside Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki tonight.

As for Slaf, he’ll be moving over to Oliver Kapanen’s wing… and Ivan Demidov’s.

More details to come…

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Rumor mill: Three names formerly linked to the Habs that are currently the talk of the town

Jonathan Marchessault is in the second year (of five) of his contract with the Predators, which pays him $5.5 million per season.

The problem?

Right now, the Québécois isn’t producing up to expectations. Marchessault has four goals and six points in 17 games this season… and now his name is back in the trade rumour mill.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard Marchessault mentioned as a guy who could move at some point.

And according to Pierre LeBrun (The Athletic), clubs are calling for his services right now. Barry Trotz should be able to find a partner to dance with, even if the player’s salary isn’t superb.

But with the salary cap set to rise over the next few years, Marchessault’s contract becomes a little less onerous.

And that’s what could help the Preds trade him anyway quickly. I wonder where he’d like to play, though… because it always seems a bit complicated with Jonathan Marchessault.

Tage Thompson is in Buffalo to stay (at least for now)

Once again, the Sabres’ season is a… disaster.

The club isn’t capable of winning, and that’s nothing new. And now, as usual, we’re hearing a thousand and one rumours about the players over there.

The guy who’s being targeted the most is Tage Thompson.But Elliotte Friedman was keen to dampen the spirits of those hoping to see him traded: right now, the Sabres aren’t interested in sending him anywhere else.

And Thompson, somewhat surprisingly, seems to be fine in Buffalo too.

The problem with that is that Thompson is wasting the best years of his career with a club that is so bad.

But hey.

If he’s comfortable with the situation, that’s his choice. And if the Sabres don’t want to trade him, that complicates things a bit too…

Brayden Schenn with the Habs: a subject that refuses to die

Things aren’t going well in St. Louis. As in Buffalo, in a way.

It’s not for nothing, after all, that there are rumors surrounding the club’s best players. And with the Canadiens’ forwards injured, it’s natural to look at the Blues and think they might want to do a deal with the Canadiens.

We’ve heard a lot about Brayden Schenn in recent weeks. And the guys on the Radar podcast wondered if it could work, a match between Schenn and the Habs.

What’s interesting is that all three of these guys’ names have been linked to the Habs in the past.

And even today, it doesn’t look like that’s going to change. The Canadiens need help and a guy like Marchessault, Thompson or Schenn could be interesting for Kent Hughes in a certain sense…

Overtime

– Fair enough .

– Bravo, Jeff.

– Read on.

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Five former Habs players who could really help out right now in Montreal

There are some former Canadiens players who are doing really well in the NHL right now.

And five of them could prove really useful to the Habs at the time of writing. Because with the Habs currently injured and some of the guys not producing, there are starting to be some big holes in Martin St-Louis’ line-up.

We can start with Sean Monahan, who left in 2024 via the trade market. And God knows, the Habs have been looking for a center who can play from the top-6 ever since…

For sure, Monahan could help the Canadiens right now. The team’s center depth is greatly affected and we know how good he was in his veteran role in Montreal.

Mony on the 2nd line with Ivan Demidov, it seems to me, would be interesting…

Monahan is currently on a 41-point pace this season, and while that’s not ultra-spectacular, it’s still a pretty respectable output.

But that’s nothing compared to who’s playing in Philly right now…

Christian Dvorak

Are you sitting comfortably?

If he can keep up the pace, Christian Dvorak will finish the season with a total of… 59 points. No, this is no joke.

D-Vo bet on himself by signing a one-season contract with the Flyers. He scored six goals and seven assists in 18 games with the Flyers, and has rediscovered the offensive game he had in junior.

The Habs could use him because, like Monahan, he played center and won his face-offs.

And let’s not forget that Dvorak has become really important to the Canadiens in the power play over the years. The Habs rank 16th in the entire National League for PK efficiency since the start of the campaign…

Emil Heineman and Joel Armia

I put these two guys in the same category because the Canadiens, since the start of the season, have had trouble trusting their wingers who play on the bottom-6.

I’m thinking in particular of Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson, who aren’t contributing much right now on the ice.

Gally isn’t moving forward, Andy isn’t completing his plays and scoring chances…

Heineman has (like Dvorak) 13 points in 18 games this season and already has nine goals in 19 games. He would be (by far) the Habs’ second-highest scorer and is really blossoming into an excellent player on Long Island.

As for Armia, he’s on a 35-point pace, but that’s not all either. He brought stability to the short-handed game, and Martin St-Louis was able to trust him by giving him defensive assignments.

You can’t do that with Gallagher or Anderson…

Alexander Romanov

Let’s end this with a defenseman: Alexander Romanov.

Right now, Romanov would help the Canadiens on several levels. It would allow the team to take its time with Arber Xhekaj, who has lost his mojo… and it would allow the Habs to have a good defensive defenseman in the absence of Kaiden Guhle, who is injured and will have to miss several more weeks of activity.

Ah, and let’s just say his more physical side wouldn’t hurt either…

Of course, it’s easy to say that these players would be helping the Canadiens today, even if they’re no longer in Montreal.

But it’s still a fact when you look at the Habs’ current roster and the team’s recent failures in certain areas. That said, which of these five players would you like to see playing for the Canadiens right now?

Overtime

– Congratulations.

– Yes.

– The list gets thinner.

– News in MLB.

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Zach Werenski, who will be competing in the Olympics, sang the praises of Cole Caufield

Tonight, the Blue Jackets welcome the Canadiens to Columbus.

We’ll have a chance to see Zach Werenski in action, who has established himself as one of the best players in the National League. He’s one of the elite defensemen on the Bettman circuit, and that’s because he finished in the top-3 last season for the Norris Trophy.

Yeah. We’re talking about one hell of a hockey player.

Werenski, who will undoubtedly be part of the American squad at the Olympics, was also keen to praise… Cole Caufield before tonight’s game.

Anthony Martineau caught up with him… and Werenski had this to say to the TVA Sports reporter:

Jack (Hughes) and Cole have different styles, but in terms of talent, it’s a good comparison. Caufield is quite a player. He’s scored 13 goals in 18 games and that’s impressive. – Zach Werenski

Is Werenski sending a message to Bill Guerin? I’m posting the question just for fun…

Reminder: if the Olympic Games started tomorrow, Cole Caufield wouldn’t be taking part. At least, that’s what Pierre LeBrun said in the last few days.

But, clearly… the little forward’s talent doesn’t go unnoticed. The guys know how dangerous he can be on the ice, because he’s got a knack for putting the puck in the net.

It seems that it’s only the U.S. management that can’t see it…

There’s still time before the teams send out their official line-ups for the competition, and Caufield knows what he has to do between now and then. He needs to find a way to keep up his current pace and score goals… while being responsible in all three zones of the ice – which he has been since the start of the season.

All that to say, there’s not much to fault in his game at the moment. And obviously, the U.S. players (or some of them) are aware of this, too.

Overtime

– Yep.

– Habs win. 4-2!

– Indeed.

– Logical. You can’t do that, Ja’Marr…

– Ah, no.

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Center help: The Canadiens look at all options (even those in the AHL)

The problem at center for the Canadiens is nothing new.

Nick Suzuki can do his job perfectly… but we’ve been looking for a guy to play behind him for a long time. And there’s no help for Kent Hughes, who saw Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook go down fighting in the same week.

The result? The result is that we’re talking about players like John Beecher to help the Canadiens. Which, in reality, wouldn’t have happened a month ago…

The Canadiens are really looking for a guy who can help the club right now. And Elliotte Friedman talked about it in the latest episode of his podcast: the Habs are looking at all their options right now.

By way of the NHL… and the AHL.

It’s clear that the Canadiens are looking for ways to solve their problem – which has become much bigger in recent days with the injuries to Dach and Newhook.

And Jeff Marek continues to wonder if Steven Stamkos (at a reduced salary) can become an interesting fit for the Habs. Marek is convinced that the Habs are monitoring the situation of Martin St-Louis’ former Nashville teammate… although he also thinks that several clubs are on the case.

He talked about it, too, on his podcast. And it’s not the first time he’s mentioned Stamkos and the Canadiens in the same sentence…

The Canadiens are going to be aggressive in their approach, from what we understand.

And that’s not surprising in a way, because Kent Hughes has always reacted that way. When there’s a problem, the GM of the Canadiens isn’t afraid to move to try and rectify the situation.

The Alexandre Carrier trade a year ago is a good example.

It remains to be seen, however, what the Canadiens’ GM will come up with this time around…

Overtime

– Absolutely.

– What do we think?

– Ayoye!

– At some point…