Author: Dose

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Jeff Gorton: “If Zachary Bolduc gets bigger and stronger, he’ll be unstoppable”

There’s reason to be excited about Zachary Bolduc’s avenue to Montreal.

The Canadiens are adding a rugged forward who can score goals and has a nice offensive touch.

His role could quickly become important in Montreal… and the Canadiens would like to see him develop into a power forward who can play long-term on the team’s top-6.

Jeff Gorton – who appeared on The Basu and Godin Notebook podcast – praised the forward’s qualities, and we know he’s been in love with him for a long time. Gorton spoke highly of him at the 2021 draft on NHL Network because he liked his game.

But in Gorton’s eyes, Bolduc also has what it takes to become an unstoppable NHL player.

All he needs is to get bigger and stronger.

We know he can score, we know his talent […] If he grows, gets stronger and becomes even more complete, he’ll be unstoppable. – Jeff Gorton

Arpon Basu wrote about it in an article:

Fans in St. Louis were frustrated to see Bolduc traded because they saw his potential last season.

And Doug Armstrong also knows that trading the forward proved to be a risk… because he sees him becoming quite a player in the National League.

The Blues must hope Logan Mailloux becomes the dominant defenseman we thought he would be in Montreal…

This deal could turn out to be a win-win for both clubs if both guys continue to develop.

But in the short term, maybe the Canadiens will have the upper hand because Bolduc already has a 19-goal season under his belt. And by playing with quality players in the top-6, it could help him explode even further… which, of course, would be great news for the Habs and their fans.

Once again, there’s plenty to get excited about when we talk about him.

Overtime

– Solid.

– Can’t wait to see it.

– The file won’t die.

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Golf battle: former NHL player Nick Tarnasky completely destroys a golfer

Do you remember Nick Tarnasky?

The former NHLer, who played in Tampa Bay, Nashville and Sunrise, was known as a strong man. When you have more penalty minutes than games played, that says a lot.

The Alberta native had a long pro career, but not always in the NHL.

(Credit: Hockey DB)

Why am I telling you about the former NHLer this lunchtime? It’s because the former player (who notably played in Hamilton), who hasn’t played in the pros since 2016-2017, has been in the news… in golf.

And let’s just say it wasn’t for his golfing skills.

A video surfaced of him arguing with another golfer. And quickly, when the golfer charged at the former NHLer, Tarnasky’s pugilistic past came to the surface.

And he fought like he was on ice.

After throwing his opponent into the water, the latter came back and tried to fight. The former hockey player grabbed him by the collar, as if he were on an NHL rink.

He quickly put him on the floor. He shouted “BANG” with every blow he landed.

We don’t understand exactly what led to the altercation, but Tarnasky and his colleague (who was filming) spent long minutes asking the other two guys (the one who got beaten and his friend) to leave. It took a while, but it happened.

Will there be a sequel to this story? We’ll have to see.

overtime

– Will he leave?

– Julien BriseBois taught Mathieu Darche discipline. [98.5 FM]

– The Habs have an asset in Nick Bobrov.

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The Canadiens are even worst in the face-off circle

A few days ago, a hockey man told me this: in modern hockey, all players on the ice must know how to defend. Playing center vs. playing wing is all about being able to win face-offs.

In short, the big difference between a winger and a center is efficiency in the face-off circle. Of course, there are also defensive, physical and visionary aspects to consider, but you get the idea.

So I was tempted to evaluate the Canadiens’ center line by looking at their efficiency in the face-off circle (last season and in their NHL career).

1. Nick Suzuki: 51.6% in 2024-25 and 49.1% in his career
After four seasons under the 50% mark, Nick Suzuki has just had two seasons in which he won more than every other face-off. He’s no problem for the Habs.

2. Kirby Dach: 40.3% in 2024-25 and 36.1% in his career
Before his injury, Dach was having his “best” season in the face-off circle last year. Except, looking at all this – and remembering the words of thehockey man I had the chance to chat with – we have to face the facts: Kirby Dach doesn’t have what it takes to play center in the best league in the world right now.

That’s probably why Marc Bureau has been coaching Zachary Bolduc over the past few days, with a view to improving his skills in the face-off circle. Because it’s easy to believe that Bolduc could play alongside Dach and Demidov… and take face-offs from the left side.

On their strong side, Bolduc and Dach should be about 50% efficient. I hope so, at least..

Kirby Dach needs to improve in the face-off circle.
(Credit: Getty Images)

3. Alex Newhook: 42.8% in 2024-25 and 41.8% in his career
The only left-handed center currently projected to start the season in that position with the Canadiens, Newhook is struggling to win four out of 10 face-offs as well.

A team can’t hope to go far in the playoffs with only one left-handed center… who loses six face-offs out of 10. Losing one or two important face-offs often makes the difference in the elite.

4. Jake Evans: 52.9% in 2024-25 and 51.6% in his career
Evans has become the best defensive center in the organization, and also the best at taking a face-off.

He practiced, then practiced… and practiced some more. And he’s become very good at it . Do Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook practice as much? If so, why aren’t they improving?

For the curious, Jordan Kyrou (40.3% career and right-handed) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (44.1% career) aren’t options that would make the Habs a better club in the face-off circle.

But Sidney Crosby is, winning 57% of his faceoffs last season and 58.2% the season before.

This guy would solve a lot of problems.
(Credit: Getty Images)

Oliver Kapanen already has a better percentage than Dach and Newhook (42.9%), but he’s right-handed too.

Juraj Slafkovsky? He won 40.8% of the face-offs he took in the NHL.

In short, we need to improve this important aspect of the game before we can expect the Canadiens to be successful .

Because Christian Dvorak (left-handed center with a 55%+ success rate over the past two years) has left the organization and won’t be around to start the 2025-26 overtime periods. It’s a fact: the Canadiens aren’t as good as last year in the face-off circle.

overtime

– He had some school stuff to finalize.

– Which coaches are at risk in the NHL? [TVAS]

– Well.

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Jordan Kyrou: the Kraken has retreated (and Elliotte Friedman has his own idea of the price)

The Jordan Kyrou file is the talk of a lot of Montrealers.

As our colleague Maxime Truman informed us yesterday, the player wouldn’t say no to a deal that could bring him to Montreal. That’s a big piece of information.

And since the Canadiens aren’t done trying to improve… #EverythingIsPossible

But if the Canadiens want to get him, they’ll have to be willing to pay the price. Will the Habs want to do so after letting go of Emil Heineman, two first picks in 2025 and Logan Mailloux?

The question arises.

After all, the Blues aren’t going to give him to the Canadiens just because of Kent Hughes’ good looks. If he does leave St. Louis, it won’t be on the cheap.

And on that subject, Elliotte Friedman, in his 32 Thoughts podcast, gave us an idea of the price the Blues hope to fetch for the services of their top-6 forward.

According to the tipster, the Kraken backed off and the Blues were possibly asking for the eighth overall pick. As he said in the Kraken block on the podcast, he’s not sure of the price, but he suspects a high pick.

Recall that Jake O’Brien came out at eighth overall in last month’s draft.

One might think that the Canadiens’ 16th and 17th picks (sent to New York for Noah Dobson) would have been a good basis for a deal theoretically worth an eighth pick.

But that obviously didn’t happen.

Let’s not forget that the Blues want NHL players for Kyrou. And while theoretically, #16 and #17 picks are worth about an #8 pick, not all teams see it that way.

The proof? If it were that easy to get into the top-8 with those picks, James Hagens would surely be an Islanders prospect right now.

So right now, I’m thinking that if the Canadiens really want to go after Kyrou, it’s going to be expensive. But if the club knows that Kyrou wants to come to town, that might encourage the Habs to make a move, right?

To be continued…

overtime

– Indeed.

-Wow.

– Interesting.

– Will he be traded?

– Well done.

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Jeff Gorton opens the door to another transaction

Will the Canadiens be on the move again this summer? Possibly.

It won’t be easy to do so, considering that Logan Mailloux, Emil Heineman and two first-round picks are already gone. The Habs have a good bank of prospects, but the goal isn’t to trade everyone.

But the club is trying – notably with Jordan Kyrou. We know that.

The next few weeks will tell us just how successful the club will be in adding a top-notch center or another youngster to graft onto the existing core.

And I like the Habs’ chances, despite everything.

On this subject, reading a text by Marc Antoine Godin (Radio-Canada), who interviewed Jeff Gorton as part of his podcast with Arpon Basu, we realize that the door is open for another personnel move.

We sense that Jeff Gorton didn’t want to say that his club would definitely move, since nobody knows for sure… but without saying that he has “paved the way” for a transaction, he certainly opened a door.

What evidence is there to support this?

Jeff Gorton mentioned that the cap increase benefits teams like the Habs who are trying to get to the next level. He believes that cap flexibility will work in his market.

He also says that the market isn’t dead the day after July 1, and that everyone is still looking to make a move. He expects transactions between now and the end of the off-season.

And since the VP also said that the first day of the season was not a deadline for improving the club, and that he possibly sees a secondary market being created along the way, I see this as an executive who knows full well that the job isn’t finished.

Warning: it may not happen. The Habs have already given away four young players, and it’s quite possible that the club won’t want to trade any more if they’re not sure of the return.

But seeing what he’s told Marc Antoine Godin and Arpon Basu, there’s a good chance the Habs will make a move.

And don’t forget that with Gorton, who’s good at playing poker in front of the media, you have to read between the lines: he’s not going to just hand out answers out of the blue.

And in light of his comments, it’s clear that the door is open for another transaction in the coming months.

overtime

– Wow.

– Makes sense.

– Bill Zonnon makes the Huskies proud. [BPM Sports]

– With good reason.

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Tobie Paquette-Bisson turned down an NHL contract to return to Laval

An AHL team often undergoes many changes over time. And that’s normal.

Every year, veterans change clubs (and sometimes even leagues), youngsters graduate and players are traded by their GM. This creates personnel turnover.

It’s all part of the game.

So an AHL GM has to find a way to bring in veterans this summer to compensate for the fact that several players from the 2024-2025 edition are now under other skies.

The Rocket did just that, bringing Tobie Paquette-Bisson back to Laval.

The veteran signed an AHL-only contract, but confirmed to Anthony Marcotte and Anthony Desaulniers (BPM Sports) that he turned down a two-way NHL deal to return to Laval.

Reminder: he’s not under contract with the Habs, just the Rocket.

At 28, he’s never had a taste of the NHL. And last year, he says he found it mentally tough playing for the Syracuse Crunch, the Lightning’s training club under coach Joël Bouchard.

Coming home for a third stint in Laval was a logical step for him, then.

Turning down an NHL offer to return to Laval shows that sometimes stability is important for a player. He’d rather come home to a stable role than try his luck elsewhere.

It speaks volumes about the appeal of the Rocket, which plays in a beautiful environment and is well managed.

Playing in Montreal or Laval has its disadvantages compared to Florida, but in cases like this, the Rocket has been able to leverage its advantages to attract a veteran who will support the youngsters in the club-school.

That’s part of the organization’s culture.

overtime

– What are the Blackhawks doing?

– This is how #13 practices :

– Wow.

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Jayden Struble vs Arber Xhekaj: if they want to play, it’ll be through the numerical disadvantage

With the recent acquisition of Noah Dobson, the Canadiens de Montréal now boast a very fine defensive brigade.

There are sure to be two right-handed defensemen in Montreal to start the season with Dobson and Alexandre Carrier (unless David Reinbacher surprises and breaks into the line-up).

On the other hand, this creates congestion on the left flank: Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble.

The first three are guaranteed to be in the starting line-up for the start of the season (unless a trade materializes involving one of these defensemen).

Xhekaj and Struble have shared the workload over the course of the season, and one of them will have to stand out from the other to get more playing time.

They’ll also have to prove they can spend time in the defensive zone killing penalties, as David Savard’s departure leaves a big hole to fill.

Savard did a lot on the power play, blocking a lot of shots by stretching out on the ice.

Arpon Basu of The Athletic talked about this hole to fill in a recent article and we can’t really put Dobson, or Hutson in this situation. That leaves Guhle, Matheson and Carrier as defensemen who can take minutes short of a man.

As Basu mentioned in his article, Xhekaj has already spent some time shorthanded, which could give him an edge.

He has a very imposing frame, so he can clean up in front of the net if there’s traffic to give the goalie a good look at what’s going on.

Struble can also be imposing, but he’s not in the same league as Xhekaj (there’s still a four-inch, thirty-pound difference).

He can still stir the pot and help the goalkeeper.

If I had to choose a 6th defenseman, I’d go for Xhekaj. As we all know, the mere fact that he’s dressed for a game makes opponents calmer, and they’re less inclined to injure (intentionally or not) Habs players.

Both defensemen are young and tough and still have a lot to learn, but in my opinion, Xhekaj has a (small) head start, especially since we saw a progression in his game in 2024-25. He takes fewer risks, takes fewer stupid penalties and is out of position less often.

Practice camp will give us a better idea of who’s ahead of the other.

Overtime

– Caufield was in good company.

– If it helps him stay healthy, it’s a good choice.

– Two late first-round picks change addresses.

– He’s not letting up.

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Jordan Kyrou: one of the few to score as much as Cole Caufield at 5-on-5

Jordan Kyrou continues to be the talk of the town, even though he has a no-trade clause in his contract that began on July 1.

In fact, Maxime Truman wrote an article earlier today about Kyrou agreeing to come and play in Montreal if a trade were to take place.

Still, this is excellent news for the Habs, who are desperate for reinforcements in their top-6.

With Kyrou, the Habs would be very competitive.

However, what Kyrou would really bring to the Montreal club is his 5-on-5 efficiency.

Indeed, the Blues’ forward scored no fewer than 25 goals at 5-on-5 last year, putting him tied for 5th in the NHL.

And Cole Caufield finished tied for second in the NHL with 26 goals.

These two would wreak havoc at 5-on-5.

Kyrou has a flair for scoring, but doesn’t depend on the powerplay to make the red light flicker (unlike Patrik Laine).

Another interesting statistic about Kyrou is his goals-against percentage. Basically, this determines shot quality, indicating which player generates the best scoring chances.

The higher the percentage of this statistic, the better. And Kyrou’s percentage was 51.7% in the season and 53.1% in the playoffs.

It would make a big difference to Laine, who is extremely dangerous on the powerplay, but is also a pain in the ass five-on-five.

Also, it’s important to mention that Kyrou can play center, while being defensively responsible.

He would therefore be an excellent option on the second line, alongside Ivan Demidov and possibly Kirby Dach at center.

And let’s not forget young Zachary Bolduc, who has an extremely dangerous shot. The Habs might be tempted to use Kyrou at center with Demidov and Bolduc.

That would put Dach on the 3rd line with a guy like Alex Newhook and Josh Anderson or Patrik Laine or Jake Evans. The other two who wouldn’t be on the 3rd line would be on the fourth line with Brendan Gallagher.

Now we’re talking. And let’s not forget the addition of Noah Dobson, who greatly strengthens the right side of the defensive brigade.

On the other hand, Kyrou wouldn’t be cheap and I personally believe that Mike Matheson will have to go (and more). We know the Blues want established players, so that complicates things, but giving away Matheson would be a good start to a deal.

We’ll see what Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have in store for us next.

Overtime

– Well.

– Very nice gesture from Draisaitl.

– Read on.

– He should earn a (very) large annual salary. Possibly the biggest in NBA history.

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Gavin McKenna to be paid $700,000 to play at Penn State

For some time, there had been talk that one of, if not the best prospect of the last 10 years, Gavin McKenna, would be heading to Penn State in the NCAA.

Now it’s official: he’ll be playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2025-26.

Penn State is one of the most prolific universities in the world of college hockey and certainly has what it takes to attract a name like McKenna.

However, what makes it even more interesting is that Penn State has offered McKenna no less than $700,000 US to join their school.

So, not only will he have a college education on his way to the NCAA, but he’ll have already amassed several hundred thousand dollars before he even gets to the professional level.

The CHL really can’t compete with that.

Penn State would have offered more than double what Michigan State would have offered for the gifted 17-year-old ($300,000).

Even at $300,000, that’s a lot better than what the CHL offers its players: housing included, as well as food and about $600 a month, according to this CBC article. The CHL calls it a stipend rather than a salary.

With what McKenna will earn playing at Penn State, it’s safe to say that nothing is going right for the CHL, which is seeing more and more players leave for the U.S. in the NCAA.

At the same time, the choice makes sense: a good education at a good university (without taking anything away from Canadian universities) and a much more attractive salary than the CHL “treatment”. What’s more, the NCAA is a much better option for developing talented young players.

The CHL will have to make some changes if they don’t want to see too many players leave for their neighbors to the south.

Overtime

– He’s certainly creative.

– Interesting.

– Is this officially the end of tennis for Eugenie Bouchard?

– Good news.

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NHL’s best defensemen: the Habs have five in the top-100, according to fans

The Habs’ big coup this summer was the deal that brought Noah Dobson to town. The right-handed defenseman fills a major organizational need (that of a top-notch right-handed defenseman), and more importantly, takes the pressure off David Reinbacher.

Because now, the big name on the blue line will be Dobson. Reinbacher no longer has the pressure of becoming that player: as long as he becomes a solid top-4 defenseman, the Habs will be in the driver’s seat.

That said, we know that in Montreal, Lane Hutson has been the big name on the blue line until now. He’s just collected 66 points in 82 games in his first NHL season, and his arrival has really changed the game for the Canadiens.

That’s why it’s interesting to look at the ranking of the NHL’s best defensemen according to fans, an exercise carried out by JFresh on his X account every year, to see where Dobson and Hutson stand…

And what we notice is that Dobson (19th) is ahead of Hutson (24th).

Last year, Dobson was ranked 17th, having just collected 70 points in one season. And despite a tougher season in 2024-25(where he wasn’t as bad defensively as you might think), he only fell two spots.

Hutson, meanwhile, was unranked last year for obvious reasons: he had only played two games in the NHL. That said, unsurprisingly, he’s the highest-ranked defenseman of all those who weren’t ranked last year.

It’s also worth noting that the ranking goes all the way up to 125th… but more importantly, that in the top-100, we find no less than five Habs defensemen. In addition to Dobson and Hutson, there’s Kaiden Guhle (76th, just ahead of Alexander Romanov), Mike Matheson (84th, down from 68th last year) and Alexandre Carrier (99th, up from 94th last year).

Last year, Matheson was the highest-ranked Habs defenseman at 68th, while Guhle was the only other member of the top-100. A year later, the Habs have more than double that number. That’s something.

In an ideal world, Reinbacher would join that top-100 in a few years’ time, but what’s clear is that the Habs have quality on the blue line right now. Dobson and Guhle are signed long-term, Hutson could become long-term at any time and Carrier has two years left on his contract.

Matheson, meanwhile, has a more uncertain future… but the quality of the Montreal blue line means the club can afford to sacrifice him for help elsewhere.

We’ll see if all this translates into results, but what’s clear is that the Habs are much better equipped on the blue line than they were at this time a year ago. And it’s great to see the quality of these players being recognized by fans across the NHL.

Overtime

– That’s right.

– That’s right.

– It’s about time.