Author: Dose

Categories
Uncategorized

The Canadiens are interested in Kiefer Sherwood

The trade deadline is three big months away. But between now and then, some names will be circulating.

I don’t know how far clubs will go to trade players soon instead of waiting until after the Olympic break. But the Canucks could move quickly.

We know that the Canadiens intend to trade rental players. That could get things moving.

In this regard, one name is gaining importance on the market: Kiefer Sherwood. The Canucks’ American forward is at the end of his contract and could leave Vancouver.

David Pagnotta mentions three elements that make him an attractive player: he scores goals, he plays robustly and his contract is really advantageous.

On the Sekeres and Price podcast, David Pagnotta reported that several teams like Sherwood. Have they called the Canucks to inquire about the forward’s services?

The Stars, Avalanche, Wild and Devils are among them. And the Canadiens have also been mentioned.

“The Montreal Canadiens, even if they don’t lead their division, are another club looking at which player would fit the mold of a Kiefer Sherwood.” – David Pagnotta

Sherwood doesn’t play center, which isn’t ideal for the Canadiens. But he likes to play hard and he could energize a third line in Montreal.

And I say third line… but his 12 goals this season show that he’s picked the right time to blossom.

(Credit: Hockey DB)

The 30-year-old winger shoots from the right and stands 6’0. According to Pagnotta, he’s not talking to the Canucks about extending his future in Vancouver, which opens the door to a transaction.

Note that he’s worth $1.5 million on his club’s books, which isn’t much. What’s more, since he received a portion of his salary in bonuses, he only earns $775,000 during the 2025-2026 season.

(Credit: Cap Wages)

So a club that really wants him doesn’t have to wait until the deadline to pick him up, because his contract is really, really advantageous on every level.

He’ll be an uncompensated free agent this summer. By then, he could be asking for at least four million dollars a year.

I don’t know how much the Canadiens would be willing to pay for a first-round pick (which will probably be the base price) for a rental winger who wouldn’t necessarily play in the top-6. To me, it just doesn’t fit.

But I can see why Kent Hughes is interested in the player’s profile.

Obviously, this isn’t the case that’s getting the most attention in Vancouver. Quinn Hughes, who is 19 months away from becoming a free agent, is the name that’s getting the most attention.

We don’t know if he’ll be traded this season. But if he is traded, the Red Wings won’t let him go to New Jersey so easily: they’ll be in the running.

overtime

– Nothing is decided yet for tonight’s game. Adam Engstrom is likely to skip his turn.

– Jacob Fowler and Samuel Blais in action in Laval tonight.

– No, Juraj Slafkovsky is not a center. [98.5 FM]

– To be continued.

– A nice photo.

– Incredible.

Categories
Uncategorized

Samuel Blais skates with the Rocket this morning

In the last few days, the Canadiens brought Samuel Blais back into the organization via waivers.

He was sent directly to the Laval Rocket. The Canadiens were out West, and there was no point in making him travel across the continent unnecessarily.

So Blais played the Rocket’s last two games… and was successful.

But now, with both the Rocket and the Canadiens in Quebec (and both clubs playing tonight at 7pm), you’d think the Canadiens would consider calling him up.

But no: Blais is at Rocket practice this morning, according to Cédrick Blondin. That means he hasn’t been recalled.

There were rumors of a potential recall recently. He might have been useful tonight against the Senators, in a game that’s going to be a bit of a bumpy ride.

I can’t say I’m completely surprised. I always thought there was a world in which Blais was only recalled for road games.

What’s the point of recalling him and activating his waivers dial (he can be recalled and sent back down if he hasn’t played 10 games or spent 30 days in the NHL) to not play him?

The Canadiens go on the road this weekend in Toronto. Will Blais be there to face his former team?

But the part that really surprises me is that Blais is downstairs while Jared Davidson is still in the NHL as an extra. That’s the most astonishing fact.

It must have something to do with the fact that Davidson is exempt from the waivers…

Speaking of the Canadiens, Jayden Struble was able to skate with the others this morning. We wonder if this means he’ll play tonight.

To be continued…

overtime

– Transaction in the NHL.

– The General is in town.

– Excellent.

– The Devils are one to watch.

Categories
Uncategorized

Kirby Dach started skating again

Good news in Montreal.

Forward Kirby Dach has started skating again. He did so this morning for about 15 minutes before regular practice. He was not with his teammates.

Renaud Lavoie reported the news.

As far as we know, it’s the first time the Canadiens center has laced up his skates since we learned he’d be out for a few weeks.

It’s a step in the right direction.

It’s important to note that a player recovering from a broken foot can’t skate if he’s not feeling relatively well. It’s not like an upper-body injury.

We don’t say his return is imminent: we say he’s progressing.

The Canadiens were talking about an absence of four to six weeks in mid-November. If all goes well, Dach could be back before Christmas.

If he can play a little before the holiday break, that would be ideal.

Of course, between now and then, a number of steps need to be taken. In particular, Dach will need to be able to practice with his team, and he’ll need to be able to receive contact.

We’ll see what happens next as far as the timetable is concerned.

overtime

– To be continued.

– To watch.

– Jordan Binnington has character.

– Read more.

Categories
Uncategorized

Kaiden Guhle: further proof that his name is on the market

The Canadiens have several quality defensemen in their line-up.

Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle (injured), Alexandre Carrier, Jayden Struble (currently in bad shape), Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom are currently in the NHL.

And in Laval, David Reinbacher is getting more and more comfortable.

By necessity, this means that the Canadiens could, in the short or medium term, have nine guys capable of playing in the NHL at the same time.

That’s a bit much. And at some point, someone will have to go.

Let’s agree that Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson, three top-4 guys who signed long-term contracts to stay in Montreal in recent months, aren’t going anywhere.

Kaiden Guhle? Marco D’Amico(RG media) is able to confirm that his name is indeed being circulated(as JiC had said)… but that it’s the other teams that are calling. The Habs don’t want to trade their defenseman, even if he is fragile.

So that means another defenseman will have to go, at some point. The Habs can’t just let the market value of some guys melt like snow in the sun without doing anything.

To get a #2 center, you have to give, after all.

For what it’s worth, I don’t think David Reinbacher is worth trading. His market value can’t be too high, and the club’s management has bet on him by drafting him, for better or worse, in the top-5 in 2023.

He’s right-handed and he’s getting comfortable offensively in Laval. Why should he be sacrificed?

So that means the other four (Carrier, Engstrom, Xhekaj and Struble) may be the defensemen most likely, in light of all this, to be the sacrificial lamb.

I doubt Carrier will be the one to leave in the short term. Even if it’s harder these days, a veteran right-hander who kills penalties like he does isn’t exactly a hot commodity in the organization.

I’m not saying a trade will happen tomorrow morning… but it could. After all, Kent Hughes has never been afraid to trade a young defenseman in the past. #AlexanderRomanov #JordanHarris #JustinBarron #LoganMailloux

The other three, who are left-handed, could potentially leave if the right piece were to make its way back. And we imagine every team has its preferences.

But what are the preferences of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton? Does Adam Engstrom’s NHL test give the club the answers it’s been looking for?

To be continued…

overtime

– The Expos file isn’t dead?

– Absolutely.

– Martin St-Louis brings a lot of leadership.

– A name to keep in mind.

– What will the Panthers do?

Categories
Uncategorized

Top-5: Another three-point night for Macklin Celebrini

The Canadiens weren’t in action last night.

But there were still five games presented in the NHL.

Let’s find out what happened:

1: Another three-point night for Macklin Celebrini

The Sharks, to everyone’s surprise, are having a pretty respectable season.

And much of the team’s success must be attributed to Macklin Celebrini, who is simply excellent. He helped his club win again last night with three assists against the Utah Mammoth.

We also have to mention this goal by Will Smith. A real gem:

The Sharks won by a score of 6-3 and now have a 13-11-3 record since the start of the season.

That’s quite something.

Tyler Toffoli (two goals, two assists) also played a key role in his club’s victory, racking up four points. A fine night’s work for the former Habs player.

2: Sidney Crosby doesn’t slow down

Ah, good old Sidney Crosby…

The Penguins captain isn’t slowing down. And he’s not getting any younger either. Two goals last night for #87 against the Philadelphia Flyers… in a 5-1 Penguins victory.

Pittsburgh can thank its captain :

Sidney Crosby now has 18 goals so far this season. That’s good for 2nd on the league’s all-time scoring list…

So the Penguins have found a way to build on their surprising start to the season, and it’s special what’s happening in Pittsburgh right now. I wonder if the Pens can keep up…

3: Big night for Sean Monahan

Sean Monahan was on fire last night.

He scored twice to help the Blue Jackets beat the Devils (5-3) and the veteran really rose to the occasion.

He was named first star of the game, no surprise there:

Monahan scored twice… and he also dropped the gloves on Cody Glass in the game.

When I said he had a big night at work, I wasn’t exaggerating. Monahan was really on another planet against the Devils:

4: The return of Josh Norris?

When healthy, Josh Norris is capable of helping an NHL team.

And we saw it last night… when he collected three points (two goals) to help the Sabres to a 5-1 win over the Jets.

Things haven’t been going well for the Jets lately… and maybe that’s good news for the Canadiens.

Because let’s not forget: tomorrow night, the Winnipeg outfit will be at the Bell Centre to take on the Habs. And after a 5-1 drubbing in Buffalo, this team’s confidence really seems to be atrocious right now…

5: Young Ducks take on Blues

The Ducks are surprising. It looks like the kids are really ready to start winning, and that’s nice to see in a way.

Last night, the kids had fun: Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov and Leo Carlsson scored to help the Ducks to a 4-1 win over the Blues.

Carlsson followed up his smashing start to the season with a fine goal:

Chris Kreider scored his team’s fourth goal and the Ducks recorded their sixth win in their last ten games.

Things are going well in Anaheim right now. And it’s a bit of a surprise too…

Prolongation

– Top scorers of the night :

(Credit: Screenshot / NHL.com)

– 10 games tonight :

(Credit: )
Categories
Uncategorized

“The Habs need to explain to Brendan Gallagher that he can’t play every game anymore”

Brendan Gallagher isn’t having an easy season. The veteran has just one goal in 24 games, and it doesn’t exactly feel like it’s about to unblock.

And of course, it’s not because he’s taking it easy: the veteran is as intense as ever, but…

Unfortunately, Gally doesn’t have much left in the tank. And while he’s avoided injury this season, his impact on the ice is very limited.

All this led to an interesting conversation between Tony Marinaro and Éric Bélanger today on the Sick Podcast… and according to both men, something has to change with Gallagher.

And according to them, it’s the Habs who need to approach Gally to explain that he can no longer play every game. They discuss this around the 42nd minute, for those interested.

As we saw in the game against the Avalanche, the sequence of two games in two nights on the road (with jet lag) was particularly difficult for Gallagher. And that’s what led Marinaro and Bélanger to wonder whether, for example, the club should ensure that Gally no longer plays two games in 24 hours.

And we know that Gallagher won’t do it on his own: if the Habs want this to happen, someone on the inside will have to talk to him.

Because yes, it could actually help Gally get through an 82-game season. If his workload is limited, he’ll be able to give more when he’s in uniform, making him more effective.

And if the Habs want to try and squeeze some value out of their $6.5-million-a-year player until the end of next season, this could be the way to do it… especially since, eventually, the injured will return: there will be quite a few forwards in town when that happens.

The club is about to play 13 games in 22 days. And for Gallagher, all this is likely to be a pretty colossal ordeal.

Let’s see if the club takes action.

Overtime

– I love it.

– Martin St-Louis defends Alexandre Carrier.

– Kirby Dach’s speed is surprising.

– Best goaltending duos this season: the Habs rank 28th. [The Athletic]

– Nice read.

– Devin Williams joins the Mets.

– Oops.

Categories
Uncategorized

Selke Trophy: Nick Suzuki is the favorite, according to The Athletic

Since the start of his career, Nick Suzuki has improved with each passing year. The Habs captain sees his offensive production increase with each campaign, but more importantly, he becomes a more complete player with each passing year.

And when you consider that his club doesn’t exactly have a second center worthy of the name, what Suzuki does is crucial for the Habs.

And this year, more than ever, we feel that Suzuki has reached another level defensively. And given that Aleksander Barkov will miss the vast majority of the season, it opens the door to seeing him win the #14 Selke Trophy.

Dom Luszczyszyn, for The Athletic, has just updated us on the races for individual honors on December 1… and for the Selke, we find Suzuki in first place.

He’s ahead of Leon Draisaitl and Mitch Marner, according to Luszczyszyn.

The advanced statistics expert explains that Suzuki has some pretty exceptional numbers when it comes to its 5-on-5 defensive play. The club gives away very few goals when Suzuki is on the ice, partly because he helps his line dominate the opposition when he’s on the ice.

So far this year, the Habs have scored 17 5-on-5 goals with Suzuki on the ice. On the other hand, they have conceded just seven in the same circumstances.

Luszczyszyn, who is also the man whose statistical model was highly critical of Suzuki’s contract a few years ago (an opinion with which the expert didn’t necessarily agree), also notes that seeing Suzuki play at a numerical disadvantage helps his candidacy a great deal. We know he wasn’t doing it at the start of the season, but that’s changed with the injuries around town.

He doesn’t play as short-handed as some of the other title contenders… but he does enough to tick that box. And if he’s dominant at 5-on-5, he only needs to tick that box to make his candidacy credible.

We know it’s a long season, and it’s quite possible that other guys will take their game up a notch. But after nearly two months of action, Suzuki seems more than ever to be in the thick of the race for the Selke.

And that’s while scoring more than a point a game. He’s quite something, the captain.

Overtime

– Great read on Andrei Markov.

– Canucks: even if they want to sell, it won’t be easy.

– What to watch for.

Categories
Uncategorized

Powerplay: the Habs are (really) better on the road than at home

When you look at the Canadiens’ roster this season, you realize that the club has rarely had so much talent. Whether forward or defense, it’s pretty spectacular to see so many talented players in town.

And inevitably, this means that expectations on the powerplay are higher than usual. Because normally, that’s where talented players can really let their hair down.

Except that this season, the Habs have had their ups and downs on the power play. There have been some great sequences, but there have also been some spectacular lows.

What’s interesting, though, is to look at the difference in terms of massive forward efficiency when the Habs are at home and when they’re on the road.

And what you realize is that he’s really, really better away from the Bell Centre. He converts 13.9% of his opportunities at home versus 34.4% on the road.

We’re talking about a difference of more than 20 percentage points. And if you compare it to other NHL teams, the Habs’ powerplay on the road would be the best in the entire league… while the one at the Bell Centre would rank 28th in the league.

That’s a major difference.

We know that, in reality, some of this has to do with the fact that the club has made changes to its lineup before road trips and home games. And we also know that, in general this season, the Habs are better on the road than at the Bell Centre.

But still, it’s rather peculiar to see the club having so much trouble scoring with the man advantage in front of their home fans. And with several games at the Bell Centre coming up, let’s see if the club can get back on track, especially since they’ve just had some powerplay success on their trip out West.

Overtime

– Hehe.

– Tomorrow’s game will be important for him.

– That’s right.

Categories
Uncategorized

New contract: Mike Matheson took less money to set an example for others

Mike Matheson has signed a contract extension that will pay him an average of $6 million per season until the summer of 2031.

That’s quite a deal for the Canadiens… because the defenseman could have fetched more money elsewhere.

And he seems to know it.

Speaking on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Matheson confessed that he wants to stay in Montreal because he sees the Canadiens being really good before too long. He believes in his chances of winning here, and that’s what he wants too.

But Matheson also said that by taking less money, it may encourage other players to do what he did – and what others before him did too.

Reminder: Caufield and Slafkovsky had the arguments to earn more money than Nick Suzuki because of the salary cap increase. But they decided to take less to respect the Canadiens’ salary hierarchy… and to give Kent Hughes more flexibility to improve the team.

That’s the culture in Montreal right now.

Maybe it sends a message to Ivan Demidov, who will (no doubt) break the bank when he signs his next contract.

But with what he’s seen from his teammates, I really have a feeling Demidov’s going to go that route too. And even then, it could help Kent Hughes acquire other players to help the team win games on the ice.

That’s what’s important. And the players are aware of it, too.

I really like that mentality. The Canadiens’ management is able to sell their plan to the guys, and the players respect that too. And it also shows that they’re in it to win, and that they know it can be done if everyone thinks the same way.

Again, it’s part of the culture. And in that respect, hats off to Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton… who have helped the Canadiens so much to achieve the status of a club that wants to win and sees its players take less money to make it happen.

Overtime

– A beautiful moment.

– J’adore.

– Beautiful goals.

– Good. To be continued…

Categories
Uncategorized

Nick Suzuki is battling it out with several players for the Olympics (and we know who they are)

Nick Suzuki has all the qualities needed to take part in the next Olympic Games.

He’s good offensively and defensively, he can play in any situation, he’s ready to play on the wings if needed, he’s responsible on all 200 feet of the ice, he’s one of the best centers in the National League today…

But there’s a “problem” that’s getting bigger, for the captain.

It’s the fact that there are so many talented Canadian players with a chance to break into Canada’s line-up for the tournament.

And in the eyes of Elliotte Friedman(32 Thoughts Podcast), Suzuki is competing with these guys right now: Mark Scheifele, Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Tom Wilson, Wyatt Johnston, Bo Horvat…

It makes sense, in a way. Because these guys are having a really good time in the NHL so far this season.

Here again, we agree that Nick Suzuki deserves to make the club.

He’s proven himself and has what it takes to help the team on the ice. But… it seems, on the other hand, that I’d like to see him take a break. And I know it may be selfish to think that way.

That said, it’s worth remembering that the captain has never missed a single game in his NHL career. He works his butt off every night for the Canadiens and takes his role as captain to heart.

Oh, and he seemed to hurt himself against the Flyers in early November too. The Canadiens will need #14 to have any hope of making the playoffs, and if Suzuki is healthy, it will clearly help the Montreal team’s chances too…

We’ll have to keep an eye on that. Team Canada’s executives will have some big decisions to make (as will those of the U.S. team), and it will be interesting to see what happens between now and February.

It’s going to get interesting, in my opinion… especially if Suzuki starts to dominate like he’s capable of.

Overtime

– Interested parties:

– It’s going to be a great evening.

– It’s stirring.

– Beautiful photo.