Author: Dose

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Simon “Snake” Boisvert targets Conor Geekie for the Habs

Simon Boisvert has come up with yet another target to get Canadiens fans talking. In the most recent episode of the Mathias and the Snake podcast , “The Snake” threw out an intriguing name: Conor Geekie, a young Tampa Bay Lightning player he believes deserves a serious look from Kent Hughes.

Simon Boisvert isn’t pulling this out of thin air. Geekie, a big 6’4″ center drafted 11th overall by the Coyotes in 2022, was traded to Tampa Bay in the trade that sent Mikhail Sergachev to Utah. Since then, he’s struggled to carve out a real place in the lineup of a veteran-filled team like the Lightning.

“The Snake” sees a familiar scenario: a young offensive talent stuck in an organization where playing time is scarce. Exactly the kind of gamble the Canadiens like to take since the arrival of Kent Hughes.

“The guy’s got offensive talent, but right now, he’s stuck in Tampa. It’s not because he’s not playing well… but rather than giving him eight, nine minutes a game, we’re sending him to the AHL.” – Simon “Snake” Boisvert

The picture is clear: Conor Geekie has the talent, but he doesn’t have the space. In a market like Tampa, where the Lightning are still aiming for top honours, individual development often takes second place to immediate performance. The result: a 20-year-old first-round pick who sees his progress slow down simply for lack of opportunity.

In Montreal, it would be a different story. The Canadiens have proven, with Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, that they know how to spot youngsters in need of a fresh start. The organization isn’t afraid to bank on potential, especially when it comes to players with interesting size and an offensive center profile.

And Geekie ticks a number of boxes. Tall, intelligent and capable of scoring, he’s exactly the type of player the Habs are looking to add to their core. Simon Boisvert would even trade a late first-round pick or a second-round pick and a prospect to acquire him. And when he talks about prospects, he mentions Owen Beck.

This kind of addition would fit in perfectly with Kent Hughes’ strategy of betting on youth, but on youngsters who are already a little more advanced. Players who still have everything to prove, but who already possess a solid base to integrate quickly into Martin St-Louis’ structure.

Tampa won’t be in a hurry to sell him, but the situation is worth keeping an eye on. With tight payroll management, a limited pool of prospects and an aging core, the Bolts will sooner or later have to make some tough choices.

overtime

– Matthew Scheafer is the top scorer among defensemen.

– The Hurricanes have recalled goalie Pyotr Kochetkov and defenseman Domenick Fensore.

– Jonathan Huberdeau scores his second goal of the game against the Flyers.

– Beckett Sennecke scores his fourth goal of the season in fine fashion.

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Samuel Montembeault is still one of the NHL’s worst goaltenders

The Canadiens may have won 4-3 in overtime on Saturday night against the Senators, but let’s just say it wasn’t Samuel Montembeault who saved the day. His outing yesterday was unconvincing, and MoneyPuck’s numbers back up what many fans saw with their own eyes.

According to the specialized site, Montembeault currently ranks second among the NHL’s worst goaltenders in Goals Saved Above Expected, a statistic that measures how many goals a goaltender prevents (or allows) based on the quality of shots. As a result, he has let in 7.6 more goals than expected so far this season. Only Linus Ullmark of the Ottawa Senators does worse. Not ideal for a guy who’s supposed to be establishing himself as a number one in Montreal.

Here’s the chart in question.

And yesterday was another perfect summary of his start to the season: good saves here and there, but also some worrying sequences. On Ottawa’s first goal, the Québécois goalie went the wrong way, sliding to his left while the puck stayed on his right. The result was an open cage and a headache-inducing goal. It’s not an unstoppable shot, it’s a reading error, pure and simple.

This kind of sequence, when it happens once, you quickly move on. But when it’s repeated week after week, it starts to create a buzz. And in Montreal, we know how quickly patience runs out with a doubtful goalkeeper.

The rest of his game wasn’t disastrous, but he never seemed in complete control either. Dangerous puck returns, a little hesitation in his movements, and that little lack of confidence we’ve noticed since the start of the season. Fortunately, the forwards were up to the task again, otherwise we’d be talking about an entirely different result today.

Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes continues to impress. The young Czech, who has shared the net with Montembeault since the start of the season, is showing consistency and composure in goal, as he is still unbeaten. He doesn’t work miracles, but he doesn’t give away a lot of free goals. And that, for a coach, is worth its weight in gold.

In short, Montembeault needed to take advantage of the start of the season to establish his number-one status. Right now, he’s mostly giving Dobes a chance to steal the job. And in Montreal, when the net starts slipping out of your hands, it doesn’t come back easily.

overtime

– Charles Coste dies aged 101.

– Jean-Gabriel Pageau avenges his teammate with a hard-hitting check.

– The Lightning win their fifth in a row against the Utah mammoth.

– Matthew Scheafer scores his fourth goal of the season.

– The Islanders score two goals late in the third period to escape with the win, having trailed by one goal.

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Steven Stamkos linked to the Canadiens

It’s no secret that the Canadiens would love to acquire a second center to complement and support Ivan Demidov.

Could Steven Stamkos fill that role in Montreal?

Jeff Marek, on the Sekeres & Price podcast, discussing the rumor that the forward is headed to Vancouver, believes that the Habs might also be interested in acquiring him as a replacement for Patrik Laine.

This was the second time in just three days that Stamkos’ name came up in discussions for a center, while Marco D’Amico also raised the possibility on The Starr & D’Amico Show podcast.

It might be a nice publicity stunt to bring a veteran like Stamkos to Montreal, but I’d be really surprised if the organization made that move.

The problem is that the veteran has been a shadow of his former self since arriving in Nashville and, at 35, you really have to wonder if his best years are behind him.

After a sub-par season in which Stamkos scored 53 points, including 27 goals, plus a minus-36 rating, the forward has just one goal, one assist and a minus-6 rating in thirteen games so far this year.

The main thing we’d replace Laine with Stamkos is his problems on the ice.

Not to mention that the former Lightning star still has three years left on his deal, worth an average of $8 million a year. Even if the Predators agreed to pay 50% of his salary, it’s too long and too expensive a contract for a player in decline.

It’s not a gamble worth taking, as I don’t think the veteran can regain his former form at 35, and his acquisition is likely to be a problem for the organization to manage.

And that’s even if Nashville asks for very little in return for Stamkos.

What’s more, I’d be really surprised to see Kent Hughes do this deal. Acquiring a declining veteran of uncertain performance with a very bad contract is the antithesis of everything we’ve seen from the general manager since his arrival in Montreal.

In Overtime

– Lions defeat.

– The Canes are one to watch.

– He’s on fire!

– Ouch!

– MLB in a nutshell.

– He’s really dominant.

– What a kick!

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Trading David Reinbacher is not a good idea (according to Marco D’Amico)

We’ve known it for a while, but the Canadiens are looking for a second center to back up (and follow) Ivan Demidov.

So far, Oliver Kapanen has had this responsibility, and while he’s off to an interesting start this season with seven points, including four goals, in twelve games, it’s not yet clear whether this combination can work in the long term and in the playoffs.

However, if the Habs want to acquire a center, they must also give something in return, and the name of a prospect who often comes up as a trade chip is David Reinbacher.

However, Marco D’Amico doesn’t think trading the young defenseman right now is a good idea.

Firstly, because its value isn’t great right now. According to him, that would be ” sell low “.

But more importantly, D’Amico would only trade Reinbacher for an established, long-term #2 center like Mason McTavish.

It makes sense when you consider the Habs’ prospect’s incredible potential. You don’t want to see him dominate the NHL for the next ten years in return for a rental player.

On the other hand, for a player like Sidney Crosby, who’s under contract for the next two seasons, is sacrificing Reinbacher worth it?

We’re not talking about a long-term option, but one that could put us in the category of contender for top honors as early as this season.

Especially since, if the Habs sign Mike Matheson for 3 or 4 years, the team’s top-4 for the next few years will be in place, and the club could have trouble making room for Reinbacher on the blue line in the short to medium term.

With that in mind, Montreal might as well maximize his value as let him stagnate in the organization.

This is a problem the Canadiens may increasingly face with their prospects over the next few years.

However, it’s also questionable whether Montreal really needs a second center in the long term, when Michael Hage could be joining the club in a year or two.

Above all, I think that in Reinbacher’s case, there’s no hurry and he should be given time to play. His value is likely to rise quickly, and the Habs will have a better idea of what to do with this prospect.

And let’s hope he stays injury-free for a long time to come.

Overtime

– An option for the Habs?

– Listen now.

– The Jays’ priority

– A situation he knows well.

– Three undefeated teams.

– What a catch!

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Top-5: CH prospects in the news

The Canadiens have a nice bank of prospects. Everyone knows it.

Sometimes, I get the impression that there are so many talented youngsters in the organization that some are overlooked.

So I’ve decided to put together a list of five Habs prospects who have been somewhat overlooked since the start of the season. And we have to start with Florian Xhekaj, who made such a splash at the Montreal practice camp.

1. Florian Xhekaj

La Licorne hasn’t had a great start to the season.

Xhekaj has a bigger role on the offensive end (he plays on the Rocket’s powerplay), but seems to be struggling to find his rhythm. The brother of the other has just one goal in his first 10 games of the campaign, and it’s worth remembering that in 24-25, he scored 24 in his first pro season.

Is this just a bad patch? Let’s hope so, because we all want to see him succeed…

At least he hasn’t lost his fire:

2. Hayden Paupanekis

Hayden Paupanekis may be the Habs’ most intriguing prospect.

At 6’5 and 205 pounds, he impresses with the fluidity of his skating stroke, and we would have loved to have seen him in action at the Canadiens’ practice camp a few weeks ago.

The center was unable to attend because he was battling mononucleosis.

That said, things have been going relatively well for him since the start of the WHL campaign. Paupanekis scored four points in his first six games of the season, but we know he’s best known for his defensive play too.

Seeing him produce at 18 in the WHL is still good news. And if he can add even more offense to his game, he’s going to be one of the really important prospects in Montreal because of his size.

3. L.J. Mooney

When we saw L.J. Mooney dominate the development camp this summer in Brossard, we all said the same thing.

Has the Canadiens just found Cole Caufield or Lane Hutson 2.0?

We know that his small size scared some clubs at the draft. And we know that this is a recurring “problem” for players as tall as 5’7, as is the case with Mooney.

But we also know that talent comes out of both ears…

Mooney is in his first NCAA season with the University of Minnesota and he’s been quieter lately. The diminutive forward has five points (two goals) in ten games so far, and while he’s able to stand out on the ice, it doesn’t always convert into a goal or an assist.

It’s worth mentioning one thing, though: things aren’t going great for his club either. The team has been struggling to score goals since the start of the season, and that’s understandable when you consider that Mooney is his team’s third-highest scorer with five points.

I have a feeling he’ll get his act together. And let’s not forget that not all youngsters dominate the NCAA at 18…

4. Bryce Pickford

I LOVED Bryce Pickford’s performance at the Habs rookie camp in early September. He’s mobile, he’s got great vision for a defenseman and he’s got a really good shot.

The proof?

In 14 WHL games this season, Pickford scored no less than seven goals (!). He has 13 points in 14 games and is one of the top defensemen in the league in his 19th year.

The youngster has some interesting qualities. And he’s clearly putting those qualities to good use in Medicine Hat, where he’s his team’s third-highest scorer – even though he’s not a forward.

5: Aatos Koivu

Canadiens fans know him well.

You know, when your father’s name is Saku and he’s worn the “C” on his jersey for so many years in Montreal… Hehe.

No joke, Aatos’ second season is going much better than his first in Finland. In 24-25, he scored one goal in 31 games (and added seven assists)… and he already has six points in 18 games so far this season.

Would we like to see more? The answer’s definitely yes.

But let’s not discount the fact that he’s only 19 and it can take time for a youngster to acclimatize to the professional level.

He’s showing great flashes and that’s what’s interesting at the moment. Games like this… it’s worth sharing :

Alexander Zharovsky, Michael Hage, Jacob Fowler, David Reinbacher, Owen Beck, Joshua Roy… these guys often get a lot of attention when we talk about the Habs’ top prospects.

But I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what’s going on with some of the organization’s other youngsters. Because they’re talented too.

Overtime

– Nice line-up.

– Beautiful.

– The result is sickening.

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O.J.: Jakub Dobes says Czech Republic officials don’t reply to his e-mails

With the start to the season he’s had, it’s fair to assume that Jakub Dobes is on the Czech Republic’s radar for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Lukas Dostal’s place has already been confirmed with the club… but Dobes could also make the team as #2 goalkeeper.

He’s showing he’s got the talent to make the Olympics, after all.

Arpon Basu mentioned to him that he’d seen the Czech Republic’s head coach say that Dobes is a guy to consider for the competition, and the Canadiens’ goalie’s response is… interesting.

Here’s what he said:

They (the leaders of the Czech hockey program) don’t even answer my e-mails. – Jakub Dobes

Basu explains the background well on his podcast: no club in the Czech Republic wanted Dobes when he was younger, forcing him to move to the U.S. to continue his development.

Dobes has never played for the Czech national team… and it’s clear that the Czech federation’s lack of recognition for the goalkeeper bothers him a little.

It’s only natural that Dobes should feel let down by his own country.

He was forced to move to the States to play because nobody wanted him when he was younger in the Czech Republic… and that’s bound to leave its mark in the end.

Dobes doesn’t even go back to his homeland in the summer, unlike a lot of guys who come from Europe: instead, he wants to spend time in St. Louis, which is where he had to move when he was 15 to live his dream of playing hockey.

I wonder what he’ll say if the Czech coaches tell him they’d like to have him on the team for the Olympics.

Because let’s agree on one thing: taking part in the Games isn’t for everyone, either…

Overtime

– Logical.

– Attention all interested parties:

– Sick.

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Five overtime wins after 12 games: a first in NHL history

The Montreal Canadiens’ 9-3-0 record after 12 games is truly impressive.

It’s been a dream start to the season for the Habs and their fans, as Martin St-Louis’ troupe finds itself in first place in the Atlantic Division and tied for first place in the East with the New Jersey Devils.

However, this magnificent record doesn’t tell the whole story, given that five of these nine victories could very well have ended up in the last slot on the record, which would have looked like 4-3-5.

Let’s just say it would be a very different situation, and there wouldn’t be as much positivity surrounding the Bleu Blanc et Rouge.

Fortunately, the Canadiens have excelled in overtime so far this season, picking up ten points with five 3-on-3 wins.

What’s even more impressive is that five overtime wins after the first 12 games of the season is a first in NHL history.

Indeed, the Habs are the first team in history to record five overtime wins through their first 12 games of a season.

That’s quite a feat, and shows just how unique and exciting the Habs’ start to the season really is.

Of course, it can also be seen as a cause for concern that the Habs can’t often win games on a regular basis, but in the end, the important thing right now is to rack up the points.

Perhaps at the end of the season, the fact that the Habs have fewer regular wins (RV) will work against them in a potential tie-breaker in the standings, but so far, there’s nothing to worry about.

It’s a very telling record for the Canadiens, as it shows just how much talent and confidence there is in the team right now.

These five overtime victories also tell part of the story of the Habs season in terms of the team’s fighting spirit.

The Habs were always in the hunt in every one of their games, and were never downgraded, even in their three losses, which could easily have been victories.

The Habs always play close games, and are never beaten, while very often finding a way to get back into the game and come out on top.

In short, the Canadiens’ hockey this season has been REALLY fun so far.

Overtime

– Bravo!

– It’s understandable.

– Well said.

– Phew.

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62.5% on A.N. since October 25: the Ivan Demidov effect

The powerplay has long been a weakness of the Montreal Canadiens in recent years.

It was an element that needed constant work and improvement, yet it continued to be lacking in every game.

But now, finally, the Habs seem to have reached an elite level.

In fact, this season, the powerplay is working really well, and it’s only getting better, especially over the last few games.

Why in recent games?

Because Martin St-Louis finally inserted Ivan Demidov on the first power-play wave in place of Zachary Bolduc.

And since that change on October 25th, the Habs’ powerplay has been running at 62.5%.

In three games, the Habs have scored five times in eight chances on the N.A., and that’s not a fluke, it’s really thanks to the talent that’s overflowing on this first wave.

There’s incredible chemistry between the five guys on the ice.

Ivan Demidov adds a lot of creativity and variety on the powerplay, and it’s obvious how that makes the Habs quintet even more threatening.

It makes for some beautiful plays, like last night’s by Juraj Slafkovsky.

In short, 62.5% on the powerplay is obviously untenable, but it’s still irrefutable proof that Ivan Demidov belongs on the first wave.

Moreover, since this change, the Habs have climbed to 6th in the entire NHL in terms of powerplay efficiency with 28.6%.

Only the Oilers, Devils, Penguins, Stars and Wild do better than the Habs.

It’s great to finally have a formidable five-man attack in Montreal, and it makes Habs games all the more exciting.

Overtime

– A well-deserved day off.

– Incredible.

– Read more.

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The Habs’ talent and depth saved Samuel Montembeault last night

Once again last night, the Montreal Canadiens escaped with two points thanks to a spectacular and dramatic overtime victory.

Indeed, the Habs once again found a way to get out of it, giving us a magnificent 4-3 overtime victory over a great division rival, the Ottawa Senators.

The Habs won again, but things could have been very different had it not been for the fighting spirit and, above all, the talent of Martin St-Louis’ team.

Because in the end, one thing was once again painfully clear from last night’s game: Samuel Montembeault is not at the top of his game.

The Québécois goalkeeper allowed three goals on 17 Senators shots, and let’s just say it’s three goals Montembeault would certainly like to see again, even if he was more unlucky on the second goal than anything else.

Montembeault looked bad on two goals, and both could have cost the Habs the win, and more importantly, extended Monty’s losing streak to three in a row.

Fortunately, the Québécois netminder’s team-mates found a way to get back into the game and win in brilliant fashion.

The Habs have a lot of talent, and above all, a lot of depth, which clearly saved Samuel Montembeault from harsh criticism last night.

All the players in Martin St-Louis’ line-up seem to be able to make a difference, and that’s really a great strength.

Whether it’s the first line, Ivan Demidov or Alex Newhook, the Habs always have a solution, as we saw last night.

It’s a real change from the long years when the Habs were a team almost always saved by their goaltender.

This season, it’s the opposite, and that’s refreshing, except of course for Samuel Montembeault, who currently has the second-worst goals-against average behind Linus Ullmark, his opponent last night.

In short, if Monty can get back on track, and the Habs continue to play like this and have the answer to almost everything, the Canadiens will be even more dominant than they already are.

Now, what else can I take away from this fine Habs victory?

1. Alex Newhook is a completely different player from last season.

The CH’s #15 was REALLY disappointing in 2024-2025 with his 26 points in 82 games, and let’s just say we’d given up on him quite a bit for a potential impact player.

But this season, Newhook is on fire, and seems to be full of confidence.

He’s playing great hockey, and producing at a very good pace, already boasting five goals and nine points in 12 games.

In 12 games, he already has a third of the goals he scored in 82 games last season.

Of course, Newhook may not maintain a 61-point pace all season, but it’s still nice to see him perform like this.

2. Ivan Demidov is a gem.

The young Russian is truly a sight to behold, as he impresses us more and more with each game we see him grow in confidence.

Of course, at 19 years of age, it’s only natural that he’s not perfect, but who cares considering all the talent he brings to the table?

He’s magic and we’re lucky to have him.

3. The Canadiens have just four regular wins.

The Habs have an incredible 9-3-0 record, but five of those wins have come in overtime.

Of course, that doesn’t matter right now, and it’s great that the Habs are unbeatable in overtime, but we’ll just have to keep an eye on it, since regular wins (RV) represent the second tie-breaker in the standings after points percentage.

The Habs will be in a big playoff race this season, so at some point, it will be important to rack up RVs too.

Overtime

– It’s hard to swallow.

– Indeed. What a great win by the Alouettes.

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Top-5: Brad Marchand scores an emotional goal, dedicating it to his friend’s deceased daughter

It was a busy day in the National Hockey League yesterday, with 13 games on the schedule.

While virtually all the attention of sports fans was riveted on the Blue Jays’ defeat, the NHL continued to offer us some fine highlights.

Without further ado, here’s a rundown of the previous day’s highlights.

1. An emotional goal for Brad Marchand

Earlier this week, the young daughter of one of Brad Marchand’s friends sadly passed away from cancer.

In the wake of this news, the Panthers forward took time off from his NHL team to coach a U18 game to help this grieving friend.

It’s a beautiful gesture on Marchand’s part, and it continued last night, when he dedicated his goal to his friend’s deceased daughter.

Marchand pointed to the sky after scoring his goal, giving us a very touching moment, while showing us what a big heart he has, even though he’s known as a pest throughout the NHL.

In the shootout, Marchand scored the winning goal to give his team a 4-3 victory over the Dallas Stars.

2. Artur Silovs throws his stick to deny Kyle Connor a goal

Any technique or strategy is good for keeping the opposition from scoring, and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs understands this.

Last night, in a 5-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, the Penguins were guilty of a bizarre sequence in which Silovs tried to deny Kyle Connor a goal by throwing his stick towards his net, which he had abandoned after mishandling the puck.

It worked, as Connor lost the puck and tripped over the stick, but unfortunately for Silovs, it’s illegal to throw his stick.

Result: penalty shot converted by Connor.

All in all, a pretty funny situation.

3. Superb Wild team goal

Last night’s 5-2 Minnesota Wild victory over the Vancouver Canucks featured a beautiful team goal.

The game’s first goal, courtesy of Vladimir Tarasenko, was the result of some superb collective play by the Wild on the powerplay.

Joel Eriksson Ek made a beautiful pass on the volley for this goal, which we’ll probably see a few more times this season.

4. Three first-round picks score their first NHL goal

Three rookies, all previously drafted in the first round of an NHL draft, scored their first career goals yesterday.

Easton Cowan – Toronto Maple Leafs – 20 years old – Right wing – 28th pick in 2023

Isak Rosen – Buffalo Sabres – 22 years old – Right wing – 14th overall pick in 2021

Brad Lambert – Winnipeg Jets – 21 – Center – 30th overall in 2022

5. Sharks surprise Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are off to a good start this season, apart from their games that end in overtime.

In fact, unlike the Canadiens, the Avalanche have lost all their games when they’ve gone into overtime.

Out of five games, the Avalanche have lost five, most recently last night to the San Jose Sharks.

It was a surprising defeat, as the Avalanche escaped it against one of the NHL’s bad teams, which now gives them a 7-1-5 record after 13 games.

Extensions

– Here are all yesterday’s results.

– Here are yesterday’s top scorers.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Today’s NHL schedule: five games.

(Credit: Google/NHL)