Author: Dose

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Alex Newhook quits and is unable to put weight on his leg

Ouch!

Alex Newhook, who is having an excellent start to the season, has just fallen hard against the ramp.

His knee seems to have taken the brunt of the blow and it looks serious… He was unable to put any weight on when he returned to the dressing room. Oliver Kapanen signaled to the therapists to come to his teammate’s rescue immediately.

The Canadiens enjoyed a power play after the injury, but were unable to capitalize and avenge their teammate.

Joe Veleno took his place on the second power play. Not ideal.

Just before, on the Stars’ second goal, Kirby Dach had blocked a puck and looked in pain. Luckily for him, he returned to the fray.

Overtime

Before the game, Newhook had 12 points in 16 games. He’s much more involved this season and it’s encouraging to see. After all, we seem to forget that he’s only 24. Let’s hope his injury isn’t too serious and that he can return to action soon.

If not, this will be a golden opportunity for the player (Kirby Dach?) taking his place on the second line with Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov.

If the winger misses a few games, will Jared Davidson eventually be called back up? He certainly deserves to be.

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Adam Engstrom is very comfortable playing on the right (even though he’s left-handed)

On the Mathias & Serpent podcast, Mathias Brunet and Simon Boisvert did a rather interesting exercise: predicting the Montreal line-up three years from now.

Well, it’s almost impossible to predict 100%, but when they talked about defense, Adam Engstrom wasn’t mentioned. And yet, the Snake likes him a lot for a long shot.

Still, we shouldn’t rule out the Swede’s presence in the Habs lineup anytime soon. He’s a very underrated defenseman in the organization and, frankly, I don’t think he could do any worse than Arber Xhekaj.

This morning, the Athletic Commission published an interview of the defenseman with Marco D’Amico, and the defenseman believes he is very comfortable playing on the right, which will amply help him carve out a position in the NHL.

He even believes he has an advantage playing in this position.

Playing on the right as a left-hander isn’t as rare as the opposite, but still, he has to play on his opposite side.

Not every defenseman is able and comfortable to do this. And in the NHL, right-handed defensemen are a rarer commodity.

In Montreal, Kaiden Guhle can play on the right, but he’s always injured. David Reinbacher is a question mark right now, and Alexandre Carrier is under contract for another season after 2025-2026, so let’s just say his future in Montreal isn’t set in stone. I’d love him to stay, though…

It’s just Noah Dobson who’s guaranteed a long-term spot on the right side of the blue line with the club.

Engstrom could sneak into the lineup (on the right) in the near future, then.

Overtime

– This time, it’s not to see Samuel Montembeault.

– A very sad moment.

– Backup in Edmonton soon.

– Well deserved.

– Obviously.

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Juraj Slafkovsky is much better than Tage Thompson at the same age

According to Marco d’Amico’s reports yesterday morning, the Canadiens have called the Sabres to acquire the services of Tage Thompson.

Well, it’s going to be expensive, but no one would say no to acquiring the big right-hander.

In fact, since the news broke, many people have been having fun with mock trades , and many would send Juraj Slafkovsky to Buffalo. Max Lalonde would take him to the airport himself.

The two forwards are very similar, but one is a right-handed center and the other a left-handed winger…

Today, Tony Marinaro released a very interesting chart, proving that Slafkovsky isn’t a finished product and that trading him one-for-one for Tage Thompson would be a mistake.

According to the chart above, Slaf was better at 19 than Thompson was at 23.

It took Thompson four seasons to eclipse the 50-point mark, while it took the Slovak just two.

Slaf may never have made 94 points like the other, but he’s only 21. The Sabres’ protégé scored 94 points at 25. Even before seeing these numbers, I would never have traded Slaf for Thompson, who is seven years older than the Montreal winger…

For big guys (Thompson is 6 foot 6 and Slaf is 6 foot 3), the adaptation period is sometimes longer. Before arriving in the NHL, they dominated through their physical strength, and while that’s still the case in the NHL, there’s a lot more talent, so they can’t rely solely on their physique.

Even though Slaf only has nine points in 16 games this season, I see him being much more involved this season. He’s physical, protects the puck well and is more aggressive on the disc carrier. He may never score 90 points, but his role – especially with the arrival of Ivan Demidov – won’t be to collect points by the ton.

That said, I wouldn’t say no to Thompson… but not against Slafkovsky.

Overtime

– Of note.

– Why Zachary Bolduc is down [TVA Sports]

– Listen now.

– The Alouettes are much better with him in the lineup.

– Heavy loss for the Jackets.

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State of play: NHL ranks Habs as 6th best club in the league

The Montreal Canadiens’ start to the season has been surprising in one sense.

We didn’t necessarily expect the team to be this good in the first stretch of the campaign, and the club’s results may come as a surprise.

It also proves, on some levels, that the rebuilding is going the right way.

At the moment, the Canadiens occupy 6th place in the NHL standings. Only the Avalanche, Devils, Ducks, Stars (who will be at the Bell Centre tonight) and Hurricanes are ahead of the Habs in the standings.

And perhaps that explains why the NHL ranks the Canadiens as the 6th-best club in the league in its latest edition of the Strengths Report. The Habs are getting a lot of love these days… and deservedly so.

It’s nice that the Habs are ranked so high. But…

But it will be especially interesting to see if the trend can be maintained in the coming weeks and months. There’s still a lot of hockey to be played between now and the end of the season, and just because the team is off to a good start doesn’t automatically guarantee a playoff spot.

That said, if the Canadiens find a way to keep up the pace, they’ll not only finish near the top of the league standings: they could also go some way towards the next playoffs.

Expectations are starting to change with the club’s recent success, and it sure would be nice to see the Canadiens continue their playoff run next spring.

Things are going well right now, to put it another way… and the elements are in place for things to go well between now and the end of the regular schedule.

But then again, we know how quickly things can change in the NHL…

Overtime

– Of note:

– They’re good.

– I love the guys’ reaction.

– News in MLB.

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Martin St-Louis knows what it takes to beat the big clubs

There’s a certain trend that seems to be catching up with the Canadiens in recent years.

When the Habs face a big club, it’s not easy. It’s never easy, in fact.

We saw it in last season’s playoffs against the Capitals, and we saw it again Tuesday night at the Bell Centre against the Kings. The Canadiens didn’t have what it took to compete with the Los Angeles outfit earlier this week on a physical level, and it ended up sinking the club.

But Martin St-Louis says he knows what it takes to be good against a club like the Kings – and like the Stars, who will be at the Bell Centre tonight.

The secret recipe is failure first. And if the Habs don’t start the game by being involved at that level, that’s when things can get complicated for the Montreal team pilot.

You’ve got to be a little quicker on the forecheck. You have to arrive a little earlier. If you arrive on time, you’re going to deal with the physical play. – Martin St-Louis

That’s what was lacking against the Kings.

On Tuesday, before the game, we kept saying we had to throw pucks deep and be aggressive on the forecheck… but it didn’t happen. And the Kings had the opportunity to do whatever they wanted on the ice, because the players had time to make the right decisions.

When there’s less pressure on the other team’s players… it’s harder to come away with a win.

All in all, it’s a question of learning to start games in the right way at this level. And Martin St-Louis’s men won’t have to wait long for a test like this again… because the Stars also have a big club on paper.

The Canadiens’ players know what the message is. But they have to apply it for it to work, too…

Overtime

– I like it.

– Of note.

– This is special.

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0 in 7: The Canadiens’ powerplay needs to get back on track

The Canadiens’ powerplay is dangerous on paper.

There are talented players on both waves of the powerplay, and it works. It’s not for nothing that the Habs rank 5th in the NHL for powerplay success rate (26.1%) so far this season.

Except that lately, it hasn’t been so easy. Much less easy.

It’s been three games, after all, since the Habs have scored in this situation. They’re 0 for 7 during that period, and clearly, they need to get back on track. Special units always play an important role in a club’s success, and it’s no coincidence that the Habs have lost two of their last three games either.

Tonight’s game against the Stars will be a great opportunity to reverse the trend… as the Dallas team ranks 26th in the NHL for power-play efficiency (73.6%).

And Martin St-Louis knows it, too.

What needs to be corrected is the way the Canadiens execute their plays.

Sometimes – too often, in fact – we see that plays can be a little easier to read. When the guys are static in the offensive zone, that’s when it can become less obvious… and it’s especially when you see the players moving around on the ice that it can become dangerous for the other team.

Because it’s true that the Habs have what it takes to be really good with the man advantage. The addition of Ivan Demidov to the first wave of the PP is a game-changer, because he opens up the passing lanes with his vision and his hands… but you have to stop looking for the perfect game too.

We’ve been saying it a lot lately: the Canadiens aren’t getting enough shots on net… and the same goes for the powerplay. The good news is that this is being corrected… But the Habs also need to find a way to revitalize their power play.

Maybe they can get back on track against a team like the Stars, who have trouble being disciplined and who also have trouble defending on the power play.

Overtime

– He’s right.

– Coming up.

– Well…

– They’ll be one to watch.

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Alexander Zharovsky likes to play center (and that’s a game-changer for the Habs)

The Canadiens are looking for their second center of the future.

For a while, we thought it was Michael Hage. That said, the man currently playing wing in the NCAA may be more suited to playing somewhere other than center in the NHL.

We’ll see in due course.

But as things change rapidly, we’ve also noticed that in recent games, Alexander Zharovsky has been tested more and more at center.

We knew he was being tested there… but we didn’t know he liked playing center better than wing.

In a question-and-answer session in the last few days, the Canadiens’ top prospect said he’d rather play center than wing.

And let’s just say it’s interesting.

Obviously, it’s too early to project anything concrete. Zharovsky still has (theoretically) a whopping 18 months left on his contract in Russia, i.e. until the summer of 2027. A lot can go right or wrong when it comes to development.

But what if he develops well at center?

If so, he could one day become a good candidate for the position that’s currently vacant: that of center of the future behind captain Nick Suzuki.

How about Ivan Demidov on Alexander Zharovsky’s wing?

The problem? If he only arrives in the NHL in 2027, the Habs can’t wait at least two years before making a move for a center.

So, in reality, the Habs have to consider this element (Zharovsky at center) as a bonus, without deviating from the plan to find a young center of the future quickly. Unless, of course, Sidney Crosby changes things…

overtime

– Good question.

– Interesting.

– Good news.

– Nice contract.

– Reconstruction in sight?

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David Kampf (once linked to the Canadiens) will be a free agent tomorrow

Recently, we’ve been talking about David Kampf. We’re talking about a center who had been linked to the Canadiens.

Kampf is in a dispute with the Toronto Maple Leafs, who sent him to the AHL. He played a few games with the Marlies before refusing to report to the Maple Leafs’ training club any longer.

And now the dispute has reached a point of no return: Toronto officials are going to terminate his agreement.

So he’ll go through the waivers today and be free as a bird tomorrow. It’s only a formality, though: no one will claim him.

How do I know this? Nobody wanted his contract in a transaction. So he won’t be claimed for free, without the possibility of withholding salary or trading a contract in return.

Kampf earns $2.4 million a year until 2027 under the terms of his current contract. Expect to see him sign for less than that, if he finds work. At minimum wage, perhaps?

So he’ll be leaving money on the table to leave the Queen City.

At minimum wage, might the Habs be tempted to sign this veteran, who knows how to play short-handed and is a good left-hander in the face-off circle?

Personally, I don’t see him signing in town.

The Habs don’t like to have extras up top, and I can’t see the Canadiens parting with Joe Veleno to make room for Kampf on the club’s fourth line.

While you’re at it, bring in a guy from Laval. #FlorianXhekaj

If Jake Evans wasn’t so good in the face-off circle, he’d be an option. But right now, the Habs certainly don’t need a guy who can’t play on the top-9 and wouldn’t be useful on faceoffs because of Evans’ presence.

I’d be surprised to see the Habs break club chemistry to bring in this type of player, who has been a problem in Toronto. He’s not talented enough to shake up the club’s organizational chart, having hardly played in the playoffs in 2025 in Toronto.

overtime

– That makes sense.

– Of note.

– The Tkachuk brothers could get into it.

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“Samuel Montembeault is easily one of the NHL’s top 15 goaltenders.”

Samuel Montembeault is the talk of the town these days.

Obviously, Montembeault is aware that he’s not playing up to his talent or the expectations that have been placed on him. He wants to give more.

He’s cut himself off from social networks for the time being, to get back on track. A good idea.

Because in reality, everyone agrees on this: Monty hasn’t forgotten how to be a good NHL goalie. He knows how to handle the Montreal market and how to make saves.

He just needs to find the right frame of mind to do it.

And in this respect, Renaud Lavoie is a great believer in Montembeault. In Lavoie’s eyes, the Québécois (who won’t be playing tonight, mind you) is in the top third of NHL goaltenders.

And when Anthony Marcotte told him, during his column on BPM Sports, that this meant the goaltender was in the top-15 of his profession, Renaud Lavoie told him that was “easily” the case.

That’s a big statement.

Do you agree? Do you think it was true, but his start to the season means that it’s not necessarily true anymore on November 13, 2025? Or do you think it’s simply not true?

Let’s not forget that goalkeepers, in general, don’t have as good a start to the season as they normally do. This is particularly true of Team Canada’s battle for a position in front of the net. #Olympics

Guillaume Lefrançois points out that this is the worst start to a season for goalkeeping stats in decades.

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But since Samuel Montembeault’s stats are still below the goalie average (among the worst, in some respects) this season, it’s understandable that he’ll have to give more to help his club.

That’s what the best in their profession are capable of, after all.

(Credit: NHL.com)

overtime

– The agent knows how to get what he wants.

– 13 Habs players at optional morning practice. [Canadiens]

– Auston Matthews to miss a couple of games.

– NORQAIN, official supplier of luxury watches to the NHL. Sidney Crosby is among the shareholders.

– New Jersey’s fine.

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Survival of TVA Sports: Pierre-Karl Péladeau is confident (and smiling)

TVA Group, whose shares are trading at just 64 cents this morning, announced a further 87 job cuts across Quebec yesterday. This brings the total to nearly 1,000 jobs eliminated in the last two or three years..

Pierre-Karl Péladeau went on the set of La Joute late yesterday afternoon to discuss these new job losses.

At the end of the interview, Paul Larocque took the opportunity to ask his big boss about the future of TVA Sports. And PKP’s answer seemed to speak for itself..

“The future of TVA Sports is still unclear. There’s still one part of the television rights to go, and the national French-language rights have not yet been awarded. Are there still discussions going on?” – Paul Larocque

“Yes, there are discussions, there are discussions… and obviously, as you can imagine, I won’t begin to tell you what they are.” – Pierre-Karl Péladeau

“Is Pierre-Karl Péladeau rather optimistic about that (the future of TVA Sports)?” – Paul Larocque

“Yes […] I know we’ll find solutions – Pierre-Karl Péladeau

It’s Pierre-Karl Péladeau’s smile during this segment on the future of TVA Sports that speaks for itself, in my opinion.

(Credit: screenshot/LCN)

According to my information, it should not be concluded that TVA Sports will NOT be able to pay the sum demanded by the NHL and Rogers for French-language national rights. With the Canadiens having completed their playoff-free streak in the spring, and the CRTC finally able to rule on Quebecor’s request for an increase in royalties (TVA Sports on Bell Télé Fibe), I’m told that TVA Sports’ financial health is in better shape than that of RDS.

If you’d told me that a few years ago, I wouldn’t have believed you..

Where do we stand for next year?
We learned this morning that 45 of the Habs’ 84 games next year will be broadcast in French on RDS. We’re talking about regional games which, from what I hear, have been sold for 10 years.

According to Max Lalonde (BPM Sports), 15 other (regional) games could be broadcast in French on Crave, with the RDS team describing and analyzing those games. However, some people have been critical of this possibility, indicating that these 15 games could be part of the 45 initially announced on RDS. We’ll see.

What I do know, however, is that if Bell Media ever decides to broadcast games on Crave, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Quebecor Media send a few games to its digital media Club Illico +. Canadiens fans would have to subscribe to four channels/services to be able to watch all their team’s games (TVA Sports, RDS, Crave and Club Illico +).

Extension

MLS is expected to announce in the next few hours that it will switch to a winter calendar as of the 2027-28 season. Please note! There’s no need to panic about the long-term survival of Montreal CF, even if many like to surf on this topic of anxiety..