Without making too much noise, Tippett is establishing himself as one of the good players in the National Hockey League. He’s a joy to watch!
At the end of the game, with a little more than eight minutes left to play and the Flyers down by one goal, one of the referees raised his hand to signal a penalty.
The problem?
The referee in question decided to cancel his call… something we simply never see in the NHL.
John Tortorella was furious behind the bench of his team, and it’s understandable:
The penalty could have allowed the Flyers to go on the power play and score… But no.
That’s not what happened, and the Flyers lost the game by a score of 6-4.
Note that Matvei Michkov was held scoreless for the third straight game in his team’s defeat.
2 : Marc-André Fleury continues to mess with his opponents
Marc-André Fleury really looks like a good guy.
We know he loves to play tricks on his teammates, and he enjoys doing it.
Except that yesterday, he rather messed with an opponent: while Evan Rodrigues was in front of him, the goalie was doing what he could to block his view.
The Wild lost 6-1 to the Panthers, but Fleury can still be happy because he reached third place for the most career starts among goaltenders in the league.
He passed Patrick Roy in this regard, and he could beat Roberto Luongo’s record before the end of the season. He has 10 starts left to reach Luongo:
#mnwild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has made his 1,004th career start, moving past Patrick Roy for third-most in NHL history among goaltenders.
We might have witnessed a preview of the Stanley Cup final between the Leafs and the Stars, two teams that have been performing well since the start of the season.
But the Stars struggled to penetrate the Leafs’ defense.
This is partly thanks to Joseph Woll, who was really in shape:
In October 2023, Carrier was a guest of Kevin Raphaël on the podcast Sans Restriction Deluxe. What people didn’t know is that Kevin Raphaël decided to remove a segment from the podcast to avoid causing problems for Carrier.
Now that Carrier is a member of the Canadiens, Kevin Raphaël has decided to publish this never-before-seen segment.
UNSEEN CLIP.
We can now release this clip that was removed from the episode on October 15, 2023, with Alex Carrier.
He explained why he wanted to come play in Montreal. His dream is now a reality.#habs
OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 7: Alexandre Carrier #45 of the Nashville Predators skates against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on December 7, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
The rumor going around was that the Quebec defender would not be able to play right now, as he has been on the injured list for a few days. But the good news is that this morning, he received the green light from the doctors.
He will therefore be able to play right away.
By the way, Alex Carrier has received the green light from the doctors to return to play this morning. @CanadiensMTL@TVASports
Otherwise, we could have expected to see a defender from the Laval Rocket take the road to Montreal – and ultimately to Detroit, where the Canadiens will go tomorrow after practice – to bring some depth on the road.
But since Carrier can play, it won’t be necessary.
In fact, Carrier should be able to play the last three games before the holidays (Friday, Saturday, and Monday) with the Canadiens, if all goes well. That’s good news for the Canadiens.
Carrier will also join the team in Detroit.
Alexandre Carrier will join the team in Detroit for the Canadiens’ game on Friday night. pic.twitter.com/q15sgm6SLu
By virtue of circumstances, Jayden Struble is likely to be the one who will be benched more than the others. Before, it was between Barron and him… but now, Carrier is not there to be taken out of the lineup.
Given how long the Canadiens have been looking for a defender like him, he will play.
Extension
– Three Quebecers on the blue line and Samuel Montembeault as goalie: there will be Quebecers in abundance when it comes time to talk about the team’s defensive aspect.
– Kaiden Guhle should play more to the left with the trade, which was not the norm at the beginning of the season. This is good news since he performs better on his natural side.
– Kent Hughes made a trade to think about the present by sacrificing a defenseman of the future… who didn’t really have much of a future left. It’s rare for him to act that way due to the rebuild. But in this case, it had to be done.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 05: Kaapo Kakko #24 of the New York Rangers during warm-ups prior to the game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 5, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kaapo Kakko
The Rangers did not take long to resolve the situation involving forward Kaapo Kakko.
Set aside earlier this week, Kakko expressed his displeasure to the media, stating that he was not the problem in this team and that he did not understand why he was the victim in this situation.
He will no longer have such problems, as he was traded to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night.
#NYR have acquired defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 Third-Round pick and a 2025 Sixth-Round pick in exchange for Kaapo Kakko. pic.twitter.com/4OTAZWuFBs
In return, the Rangers acquire defenseman Will Borgen, as well as third and sixth-round draft picks in 2025.
Borgen is not a bad defenseman, but he is part of a weak return for Kakko, who has the skills to become a talented player in the NHL.
Kakko has shown his potential several times in the past, but he struggles to remain consistent. He is having a decent start to the season so far, with 14 points in 30 games.
The second overall pick in 2019, Kakko may thrive in Seattle if he finds his footing with the change of scenery.
This makes him the third player selected in the top 4 in 2019 to change teams. Kirby Dach (third pick) and Bowen Byram (fourth pick) have also been traded.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 29: Rasmus Dahlin #26 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the Vancouver Canucks during an NHL game on November 29, 2024 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)
At 24 years old, Rasmus Dahlin is now one of the best defenders in the National Hockey League.
It took a bit of time for the first overall pick from the 2018 draft to establish himself as a true impact player in Buffalo, but the Sabres’ success generally goes through him.
He was not on the ice yesterday at the Bell Centre for the game against the Canadiens, and it showed in the Sabres’ defensive play.
Things are not going well in Buffalo, though: the Sabres have now lost their last 11 games… This is not ideal for a team that is supposed to be relatively good.
There are good players on this team, after all.
But in order to shake things up, maybe Kevyn Adams (GM) will have to make a tough decision by trading some guys.
Mathias Brunet and Martin Lemay (who are friends again) have each put forward a trade proposal to bring Dahlin to Montreal.
And in both cases, it’s eye-opening:
Canadiens’ first pick (not protected), Michael Hage, and Cole Caufield OR Kaiden Guhle for Dahlin (Mathias Brunet)
Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield for Dahlin (Martin Lemay)
That’s a lot:
.@mathiasbrunet would give the Canadiens’ first pick (unprotected), Michael Hage, and Cole Caufield (or Kaiden Guhle) for Rasmus Dahlin!@MartinLemay would give Lane Hutson and Caufield!!
To acquire a star player, you usually have to be prepared to pay a high price.
The Canadiens were lucky in the Patrik Laine trade because the player was in a dreadful situation in Columbus, but you understand the principle.
That being said, giving up a pick that could be top-10, an established sniper like Caufield or a good young defender like Guhle, and a quality prospect like Michael Hage — I find that to be a lot.
It’s too much in my eyes. Even Martin Lemay’s proposal concerns me… Because Lane Hutson has what it takes to become one of the best offensive defenders in the National Hockey League.
Still, the idea of acquiring a defenseman of Rasmus Dahlin’s caliber is appealing. The Canadiens would have their true #1 defenseman for several years (Dahlin is 24 years old) and it would resolve a certain “problem” in Montreal.
But still: I would not be willing to let go of so many quality players/pieces to bring in just one guy. Dahlin is good — he’s excellent, even — but the Canadiens have more weapons by keeping Caufield, Hage, Guhle, and even their next first pick in the bank.
In Brief
– So much the better.
Cayden Primeau today who concludes our discussion with a “good day” and Brendan Gallagher who enters the locker room saying “hello, hello!”.
I’m noticing more and more little details showing that players are making an effort in French.
Happy birthday to former Canadiens goalie Charlie Lindgren, who turned 31 today. This season with the Washington Capitals he has a 9-6-0 record with a 2.62 GAA and a .902 save percentage. #Habs#HabsIOpic.twitter.com/uyBnF1X0JT
Obviously, Carey Price can no longer push himself as much as before with his body.
He has to be careful because his knee is fragile, but that doesn’t stop him from spending time and playing with his children.
In the end, that’s what matters to me.
After all, Carey gets to share his passion with his son, and that’s great.
There are athletes who have spent their careers getting injured, and by the time they retire, they are limited in their movements because their bodies just can’t keep up anymore.
But Price can enjoy precious moments like these with his kids because he is able to do so… And that is what counts at the end of the day.
And who knows: maybe Carey’s son will start to love hockey too, which would allow the father to stay involved in the hockey world in some way.
In Brief
– Nice contest.
Come and see a Canadiens game with your kids during Family Weekend in collaboration with Parc Oméga and Tim Hortons, on February 8 and 9!
Je prépare mes notes pour le @5a7RDS et Sports30 et ça me renverse un peu de constater que Patrik Laine a plus de buts en avantage numérique que Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen, David Pastrnak et même Alex Ovechkin qui a joué 18 parties !
The 2023 draft remains etched in the memory of many.
And that’s understandable: when you see a 20-year-old who could have been drafted by the Canadiens having a lot of success in his rookie season, it grabs attention.
Matvei Michkov has been outstanding since his entry into the NHL, and the decision to select David Reinbacher ahead of him doesn’t sit well with many today.
But according to Mathias Brunet, the Canadiens wouldn’t have drafted him even if Reinbacher was no longer available.
The journalist (La Presse) argues that the Montreal organization would have leaned towards Ryan Leonard (Capitals) or Dalibor Dvorsky (Blues):
If Reinbacher hadn’t been available, we probably would have opted for a Ryan Leonard or a Dalibor Dvorsky. – Mathias Brunet
Note that the website Habsolument Fan also wrote an article on the subject.
Kent Hughes and his group didn’t decide to avoid him for fun or to cause frustration in the city. They made their decisions because they had their reasons.
That being said, it’s logical to see Mathias Brunet say that the Canadiens wouldn’t have drafted the Russian even if Reinbacher were no longer available.
Because if Michkov’s name had come before the defender’s on the Canadiens’ list, he would probably be playing in Montreal right now.
And if Reinbacher were no longer available at the 5th pick, it would mean that one of the top-4 players slipped down to the Canadiens’ spot.
It’s agreed that here, we have to exclude Connor Bedard because he was seen as the logical 1st pick… But things would have been different if Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli, or Will Smith had been available for the Canadiens.
In the end, whether we like it or not, Matvei Michkov will always be linked to the Canadiens for the reasons we know. And even if some are upset with the Canadiens’ decision, no one has the power to go back in time to change history.
#Avs place Tye Felhaber on waivers.#Preds place Marc Del Gaizo on waivers.#Isles place Grant Hutton on waivers. #WPGJets place Dylan Coghlan on waivers.
Notably, Del Gaizo was fantastic last night vs the #NYR
I don’t know if you’re in the mood to laugh. But if you are, I suggest you check out this excerpt from the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, where Paul Bissonnette suggests that Sean Avery could be the next GM of the Rangers.
What Biz heard is that Sean Avery is heading to New York to talk with none other than James Dolan, the owner of the Rangers, about “the state of the Rangers” right now. As if things weren’t bad enough already.
And the former goon added this:
There is a crazy side to James Dolan that makes it possible he could consider replacing Chris Drury with Sean Avery as the Rangers’ GM. – Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette says Avery has confirmed that he will be chatting with the owner of the Rangers. But obviously, the GM talk is coming from the podcast host, with the elements he has in hand.
And let’s just say I don’t believe it. Even if his colleagues didn’t call him crazy after he brought up his idea.
Okay, Dolan needs to shake things up, and yeah, Sean Avery is still liked in New York. But he has no experience with a team (or as an agent, for that matter) to take a club like the Rangers right now.
I’m not saying that Avery can’t be part of the solution. Maybe his love for the Rangers could be an asset in some role within the organization.
But if a guy like him, who has no experience as a GM and has a very controversial past, becomes the boss of the New York Rangers, I will be floored. And that won’t happen.
If the playoffs were to start today, Canada would have a six in 16 chance, or 37.5%, of bringing the Stanley Cup back to the country.
After all, right now, there’s only the Montreal Canadiens, unsurprisingly, that are not in playoff contention. The Habs are more #InTheMix for a high draft pick.
In the East, the Maple Leafs are obviously well-positioned, but the Senators are a surprise.
(Credit: NHL.com)
After all, I didn’t expect to see these poor Senators, who have been struggling for ages, take a step forward in recent weeks. But with a record of 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, that’s indeed the case.
Good for the fans there: they deserve it.
But it should also be mentioned that in the West, four of the eight playoff teams are from Canada. I didn’t have that on my bingo card a week before Christmas.
The Jets, of course, are at the top of the West. As for the Oilers, they rank third in their division.
We didn’t know what to expect from the Canucks, but for now, they are the first wild card team in the West. I don’t know if it will hold, but there you go.
That said, the surprise is Calgary.
(Credit: NHL.com)
The coming weeks should change things, and it won’t be for the better. After all, it is impossible for the Habs to get back into playoff contention, which means it could only get worse for Canada.
Let’s remember, however, that the Habs of 1993 are the last Canadian team to have won the Stanley Cup. I wasn’t even born yet. #1996
In Brief
– If Pezz gets his face smashed in by one of his coaches, that explains why he isn’t playing. #Just kidding
Colleague Vincent Demuy attended the morning practice of the Rocket in Laval. Filip Mesar therefore takes a spot on the right side of the dynamic duo Beck-Davidson. https://t.co/cg2xo6hoKG
: @NHL) pic.twitter.com/z23F92ycvT
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: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+
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dollar dropped below 0.70 USD cents today for the first time since 2002.
