Author: Dose

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Matt Duchene: four more years in Dallas

It’s done.

The Dallas Stars have extended Matt Duchene’s contract by four years. He’ll earn $4.5 million a year (from 2025 to 2029), which is pretty reasonable for a player of his stature.

Maybe that’s a lot, four seasons for a 34-year-old… but hey.

The Canadiens player tends to have good seasons and bad seasons, but seeing him stay in Texas is good news for the club, which saw Duchene score 82 points this season.

He only had six points in 18 playoff games, but hey.

Duchene has been in Texas for two years, ever since the Predators decided to part with his services. In 2023 and 2024, he signed a one-year contract at $3 million per campaign.

So he gets a pay raise and more guaranteed years. Sounds like a win-win deal to me.

The Stars may have trouble meeting the cap in 2025-2026. If Jim Nill signed the contract a little less than two weeks before the market opened, it’s because he liked the price.

And it’s always easier to get a good price in Texas, compared to other states… #Taxes

Let’s not forget that the Canadiens could have benefited from a center like him, but Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s interest in the veteran was never really believed.

He had visited Montreal in 2019, but Marc Bergevin was in charge of the club’s hockey operations.

Details to follow…

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Sam Bennett: Toronto would not be on his list

Sam Bennett is in a strong position. The Conn Smythe winner will be a free agent in a few days’ time, and he should be able to secure a very nice contract.

Will it be in Florida?

Everyone expects him to stay in Florida. He’s good there for all the reasons we know, and seeing him leave a paradise like Sunrise doesn’t seem to be in his plans. Wouldn’t a contract worth $7.5 million a year be fair?

But in life, you have to plan for the worst-case scenario.

If he and the Panthers couldn’t come to an agreement and he had to sign a contract with another team, which Bettman Circuit team could he sign with?

The first name that comes to mind is Toronto.

After all, the club will have some salary leeway on the heels of Mitch Marner’s foreseeable departure… and the Queen City club wants to bring in guys to win in the playoffs.

On paper, it just makes sense for the Ontarian, who has often been linked to the Maple Leafs in the event of a departure from Florida.

But according to hockey insider Andy Strickland, the Maple Leafs wouldn’t be on the forward’s list if he becomes a free agent on July 1.

Since Toronto is the only other city seriously circulated to potentially sign Bennett in the event of a change of address, I wonder where he’d go. He’d be in high demand, anyway.

Still, unlike Aaron Ekblad and Brad Marchand, I’d put my money on Bennett returning to Sunrise.

overtime

– The Blue Jackets, on the market to watch.

– The final was not watched to its fullest in Florida.

– Rocket: veterans needed to take their game up a notch. [BPM Sports]

– The Blue Jays are doing well.

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LAST HOUR! CF Montreal hires Hassoun Camara and the GM of BPM Sports

Thunderbolt in the Québécois sports and media world!

Just a few minutes ago, Alexandre Panneton, GM of BPM Sports, announced to the company’s employees that he was stepping down as CEO. He will be replaced on an interim basis by Robert Ranger, current President and CEO of RNC Media Inc.

With the station having been up for sale for several months, and the fact that according to my information, the Arsenal Media group (Sylvain Chamberland) is in the final pre-purchase checks, it’s understandable that Ranger will be the link between Alexandre Panneton and the future buyer.

At the same time, Montreal CF announced two major appointments: Alexandre Panneton as VP and CEO, Communications, Marketing and Branding, and Hassoun Camara as Director of Strategic Communications.

Panneton and Camara will replace Samia Chebeir and Patrick Vallée, who were dismissed last week, as well as Charlotte Montminy, whose position was abolished earlier this year.

These are interesting hires for CF Montréal. Bringing back an alumnus of the club who is unanimously acclaimed in the city, and bringing in an executive who has metamorphosed the BPM Sports brand, is a major coup.

(Credit: Montreal Impact)

However, Panneton’s departure must be seen as yet another anxiety-inducing factor for BPM Sports employees. Let’s hope the skies clear for the Laurier Street gang (who may soon become the St-Lambert gang, by the way).

In closing, Nathan Saliba, Dominic Iankov and Fernando Alvarez are all expected to officially leave the club in the next few days..

George Campbell’s name has also been in the rumour mill for some time.

I can’t wait to see what additions are made when the mercato opens in about a month’s time. Because fans care a lot more about the additions than the departures..

Although Gabriel Gervais has made it clear: before adding, you have to be able to clean house.

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Alexander Romanov in the sights of the Bruins and Flyers

Three years ago, Kent Hughes traded Alexander Romanov to the Islanders for the 13th overall pick. It was the basis of the deal that set the stage for Kirby Dach’s arrival in town.

Lou Lamoriello, then the Islanders’ GM, had paid dearly for Romanov, whose entry-level contract had all but expired by the time the deal was completed.

The Russian signed a three-year, $2.5-million-a-year contract. And here we are three years later.

Mathieu Darche has some decisions to make. The Islanders’ new GM must decide whether to offer his defenseman a big contract or send him elsewhere.

Right now, the rumor is that Romanov could ask for between five and six million dollars a year.

I don’t know what Mathieu Darche and Patrick Roy think of all this, but I do know that if the club wants to listen to other teams, there’s a demand for the former Canadiens man.

The Bruins and Flyers, two teams that historically advocate a “Romanov-style” of play on the ice, are interested in Romanov. This is what Stefen Rosner (RG Media) reports on the subject.

We don’t know if the Islanders want to trade him, and we don’t know what Darche’s price would be in such a scenario. Rosner is talking about a late first-round or early second-round pick.

Romanov has really progressed since leaving Montreal, but he’s approaching autonomy and Lou Lamoriello paid a lot of money in 2022. It’s only natural that the potential price should be lower than in 2022.

I don’t think Darche necessarily wants to trade Romanov. But we know that the Bruins and Islanders are negotiating a lot together. Who knows how far this could go?

Could the Bruins’ seventh overall pick be on the line in a package that could include Romanov? Who knows.

overtime

– To be continued.

– Cody Fajardo will not face the Alouettes tonight. [98.5 FM]

– Interesting.

– Of note.

– I love it.

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Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton: no decision yet, according to people close to him

Connor McDavid’s future in Edmonton is increasingly in doubt.

Does McDavid, fed up with not winning the Stanley Cup, feel his chances would be better elsewhere? Would he say yes to a change of scenery?

Is he tired of dominating the playoffs without a ring?

(Credit: Hockey DB)

Keep in mind that in a year’s time, McDavid could become a free agent. Will he make it that far? If he wants to become a free agent, he has every right to do so: all he has to do is sign anything between now and July 1, 2026.

But is it likely?

Yesterday, on the heels of his appearance on Jean-Charles Lajoie’s show, Renaud Lavoie mentioned that he had spoken to some of McJesus’ entourage and that they were unsure of his intentions regarding his future in Alberta.

And that, as the journalist says, isn’t ideal, since normally we’d hear that #97 is coming back. #Cassette

The journalist is of the opinion that the Oilers shouldn’t waste a single second and offer him the maximum money allowed by the collective agreement in order to show him that they’re serious.

The maximum he can sign for is $19.1 million a year, or 20% of the 2025-2026 cap ($95.5 million)… even though his next contract won’t start until 2026.

And if he says no, the Oilers could (or should?) consider shopping him to a club with which McDavid could sign long-term. Let’s keep an eye on the Maple Leafs in this regard, according to Lavoie, who points out that the Oilers captain has the same agent as Auston Matthews.

Is the Oilers’ inability to improve in front of net an irritant for McDavid? Perhaps it is.

I don’t get the feeling the Oilers will want the distraction of McDavid playing next season without a long-term contract in his pocket. After all, there would be too much talk around town. And the idea of losing him for nothing next summer… that would be a disaster over there.

If he doesn’t want to sign a long-term deal as early as July 1, 2025, shopping him around would put pressure on him. Will the Oilers want to play that game?

Darren Dreger (TSN 1050) doesn’t think McDavid will leave. He does, however, think it’s possible he’ll sign a shorter contract of three or four years.

Leon Draisaitl must hope Dreger is right. So do Oilers fans, for that matter.

overtime

– Enjoy.

– Where will he play next year?

– Very good question.

– He stays in Ottawa.

– He’s living his best life.

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Potential acquisitions: Jesperi Kotkaniemi not on Frank Seravalli’s list

After another long season in the NHL, we can move on to the off-season. There will be rumors, signings, and maybe even contract buyouts.

There are certainly some good candidates, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jesperi Kotkaniemi bought out by the Hurricanes.

He never lived up to the expectations placed on him when Carolina tabled an offer sheet for his services. He had just 4 points in 14 playoff games, and was relegated to the 4th line.

You’d think the experiment had gone on long enough, but Kotkaniemi’s name isn’t on Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli’s list of 7 players likely to be bought out.

Sevaralli is targeting TJ Brodie, Pierre Engvall, Justin Holl, Joe Veleno, Matt Dumba, Mathieu Joseph and Marc-Edouard Vlasic.

This may come as a surprise to some. Joe Veleno and Mathieu Joseph had an interesting impact on their respective teams.

It makes more sense in the case of TJ Brodie and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who have seen several young players take their places.

But not to see Kotkaniemi on the list is rather surprising, despite the fact that the Hurricanes would have to pay until 2034 if they wanted to buy out his contract. In the last 4 years, his salary would only count for $851,000.

This would free up over $4 million in payroll for the Hurricanes in three of the next four years. They could use this to acquire a player who would bring more punch to the forward line.

Overtime

– New podcast.

– Another Jays win.

– Third defeat in a row.

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Evander Kane injury: Oilers under investigation

Now that the Stanley Cup series is over, we can turn our attention to rumors and payroll discussions.

While many blame Florida’s tax system, it’s the Edmonton Oilers who will be under the NHL’s microscope in the coming weeks, yes, yes.

Daily Faceoff reporter Frank Sevaralli mentioned that the league will be looking at how to handle Evander Kane in the playoffs.

The NHL is questioning the legitimacy of the Oilers’ move to add Kane to their playoff roster after not playing an NHL game this season.

If the collective agreement was not followed to the letter, Edmonton could face NHL penalties, which would be a first.

Kane underwent surgery at the beginning of the year to repair two adductor muscles and was sidelined until March. He underwent another operation in January.

He returned to practice after the 4 Nations break, but didn’t get back into the game until the second match of the series, where payroll no longer counts.

Sevaralli’s sources say they don’t think Edmonton erred, but that’s something to keep an eye on.

It’s odd that we’re talking about investigating Edmonton when it’s not the first team that’s had, shall we say, suspicious behaviour with players. Greetings to Mark Stone, who miraculously returned to the playoffs twice.

One thing’s for sure, those who think Bettman has a penchant for American teams won’t be missing out.

Overtime

– Quite a personality.

– The Alouettes in action tomorrow.

– Phew.

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Aleksander Barkov woke up his neighbors at 5 a.m. to show them the Stanley Cup

Winning the Stanley Cup is special.

Players have been looking for this feeling since the beginning of their careers, and when they’re able to lift the Cup for the first time, it’s a unique moment.

As for Aleksander Barkov, he decided to share that feeling with some of his neighbors and the Panthers’ arena staff.

After the Panthers’ victory last night, the players had a party in the room.

And the club captain wanted the Panthers’ arena employees to be able to celebrate, too. He took the Stanley Cup out onto the ice at 1:35am to show them the precious trophy:

But it doesn’t stop there.

I say that… because Barkov also made a point of waking up some of his neighbors in his neighborhood to show them the cup.

It was 5 a.m. when he went to ring the doorbell of one of his neighbors… and it made for a really funny moment.

It’s a pleasant gesture.

I hate it, getting up at 5am, and I hate it even more when I get woken up at that hour.

But… if it’s to see the captain of my club come and show me the Stanley Cup he just won, it seems like a different thing. Hehe.

Imagine the scenario: the Canadiens win the trophy and Nick Suzuki shows up the next day in the wee hours of the morning so you can have a chance to see the prestigious trophy. What a moment!

All kidding aside, it’s cool to see that Barkov wants to share these moments with other people. He knows it’s special for him, but also for others.

Overtime

– I like the mentality.

– I’ve always loved this moment!

– I love it.

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8 years at (between $3.5 and $4M) per season for Trent Frederic in Edmonton: But… what are the Oilers doing?

Everyone knows what’s wrong with the Oilers.

And it doesn’t take a college degree to figure it out either.

The team can’t go all the way because the goalies in front of the net aren’t getting the job done. And we all agree that this is nothing new…

But instead of thinking about a quality goalie, the Oilers are about to make a funny move.

The Oilers and Trent Frederic are reportedly very close to agreeing on the terms of an eight-year (!) contract that will pay $4 million per season to the forward who finished the playoffs with an impressive… four points (one goal) in 22 games.

That’s… special.

At the moment, there’s not much money left (under $8M) for the rest of the lineup.

Especially since Evan Bouchard – too – is likely to sign a big deal…

The ceiling will rise over the next few years.

But…

But offering so much money over such a long period to a guy who’s been virtually invisible in the playoffs isn’t a good move. Especially when you consider that elsewhere in the Oilers line-up, there are relatively… large holes.

I really have the impression that this deal will not age well in Edmonton and that the Oilers will regret their decision before long.

Because let’s not forget one thing: Connor McDavid’s contract is up at the end of next season… and the Oilers will need a lot of money to keep him in Edmonton.

That said, offering bad contracts like Frederic’s seems to complicate things a bit.

Overtime

– Seen the same way.

– Signing in Anaheim.

– Yikes.

– Well done.

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Bruce Garrioch: Giroux could consider the Habs (if Kent Hughes wants to bring him to Montreal)

At 37, Claude Giroux isn’t as dominant as he used to be.

That said, he still racked up 50 points – including 15 goals – in his final season with the Ottawa Senators.

We’re talking about a player who finds a way to be effective from 200 feet… and who is also excellent in the face-off circle.

However, we don’t know where the veteran will pursue his career, since he’ll be as free as a bird as of July 1.

He has begun talks with the Sens about a new contract… but the two sides don’t necessarily seem ready to move forward.

The result?

Giroux could test the free agent market… and if the Canadiens show interest, it looks like he might consider signing a contract in Montreal.

Bruce Garrioch, who covers the Sens, wrote about this in a recent article(Ottawa Citizen):

League officials say he (Giroux) might be willing to consider the Montreal Canadiens if they show interest on July 1. – Bruce Garrioch

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard his name linked to the Habs.

In early May, André Roy said on BPM Sports that Giroux would like to play in Montreal …

All in all, Giroux could prove to be an interesting target for the Canadiens.

He has leadership qualities, he still has what it takes to play in a top-6 NHL team… and he’s not likely to command an astronomical salary either.

Not at his age.

It might make sense, given the Canadiens’ desire to add talent to the top of their lineup.

Then again, Giroux has experience, he’s capable of producing offensively… and the idea of pairing his vision of the game with the talent of a guy like Ivan Demidov on the second unit could be relevant to Montreal’s management.

It would plug a major hole at center in Martin St-Louis’s lineup… and give Michael Hage time to develop in the right way, without rushing his development.

Seeing Giroux sign a contract with the Canadiens, I don’t think it’s crazy either.

Overtime

– I agree.

– Yep. That’s right!

– His place in the Hall of Fame is already assured.

– Hopefully it won’t be too bad.

– News in the MLB.