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The Canadiens start their season with a loss (despite a good performance)

Finally! The Canadiens kicked off their 2025-26 season tonight, as they travelled to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs. For theoccasion, Noah Dobson and Zachary Bolduc made their CH debuts, while Samuel Montembeault was in net.Here’s the complete lineup:

On the Maple Leafs side, it was the club’s first game following Mitch Marner’s departure for Vegas.

Here’s what it looked like for the locals:

It only took a minute to see the first goal of the game. The CH started the game a little slow… and the Leafs took advantage.Bobby McMann deflected William Nylander’s shot to open the scoring.

That said, the CH answered back a few minutes later… on the shorthanded advantage: Oliver Kapanen scored his team’s first goal of the season.We’re also talking about his first career goal.

[content-ads]These were the only two goals scored in the first period. After 20 minutes, the score was 1-1.In the second, it was another player’s turn to score his first goal in a Habs uniform: Zachary Bolduc.He took advantage of a return on Brendan Gallagher’s shot to give his team the lead.

That said, the CH’s lead lasted only a few short minutes: the Maple Leafs provided the answer.

[content-ads]After 40 minutes, thescorewas 2-2.

In the third, we were treated to some spirited play for several minutes… until Morgan Rielly restored the Maple Leafs’ lead.Both Habs defenders broke their sticks on the sequence. It’s pretty hard to defend in those circumstances, we agree.

The CH tried to tie the game late, but couldn’t get it done.Auston Matthews completed the scoring in an empty net… on a sequence that won’t go down in history for Ivan Demidov.

William Nylander added a fifth goal for his team, again in an empty net.The final score doesn’t quite reflect how well the CH played, but it doesn’t matter: the Tricolore start the year with a loss.Final score: 5-2 Toronto The Habs return to action tomorrow night, when they travel to Detroit to take on the Red Wings. Jakub Dobes is expected to play his first game of the season.spacer title=’Prolongation’]- The Habs really, really held their own against a team that amassed 108 points in last year’s standings (even if Mitch Marner has since left, of course). Despite the loss, it’s a pretty encouraging performance for the Tricolore. If they keep playing like this, the points will inevitably follow– The crowd in Toronto was really, really not loud tonight. Actually, that’s not entirely true: it was… but for the Blue Jays

– Zachary Bolduc really had a good game tonight. We knew he was capable of scoring and having a dog on the ice, and he really showed the extent of his toolbox tonight. Watching him play, it’s easy to see why Kent Hughes was willing to part with Logan Mailloux to go get him– Before the game, Geoff Molson wished the club’s fans a great season.

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Flyers: Christian Dvorak practices on the wing of the first line (with Matvei Michkov)

This summer, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired Christian Dvorak. The former Habs forward, who became a free agent on July 1, signed a one-year contract to continue his career in Philly, whichwill pay him… 5,4 M$. Andfor much of the Flyers’ camp, Dvorak was seen practicing as the center of their fourth line. But at practice today, Dvorak was in a different chair, training on the wing of the first line,the line featuring Sean Couturier and Matvei Michkov.

[content-ads]You have to wonder if this is a sign of things to come in Philly. After all, right now, there doesn’t seem to be a player on track to steal his spot… and it makes sense that the Flyers would want to give Dvorak a big role when you consider the contract he’s been given.We’re already expecting to see him play on the powerplay and even the short-handed, but they seem to want to give him a big role at 5-on-5 as well.That said, it’s still peculiar to see him on the wing of another left-handed center. We know that Dvorak is a very defensively responsible guy who is solid in the face-off circle, and to see him on the wing is… peculiar.they seem to want to surround Michkov with two good defensive players… but one wonders if the club wouldn’t be better served by separating Dvorak and Couturier, especially as Trevor Zegras isn’t a great center either.So we’ll see tomorrow night if Dvorak will indeed be on the wing of the first line as the Flyers kick off their season in Sunrise against the Panthers. And if so, maybe it’ll be due to his big highlight of the preparatory calendar, hehe

[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Ivan Demidov, a dedicated guy.

– Here are the teams that would have been in the running for Connor McDavid.

– No expansion in sight, says Gary Bettman.

– Oh?

– Interesting.

–

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Lane Hutson not pushing for an eight-year contract, believes Darren Dreger

Will Lane Hutson sign a contract before the start of the season? It’s probably unlikely, at this point. Obviously, the Canadiens and the player want to come to an agreement. But right now, it’s hard to believe that the gap between the two sides can be bridged between now and the Toronto game, so Hutson will have to play with that in mind. No matter how much we say he shouldn’t mind, he’s only human. And having $72 million on your mind at that age changes your life.So, what’s the latest on this player with little negotiating power?

According to what Darren Dreger told Early Trading(TSN) and Montreal radio(TSN 690) yesterday, the player is aiming for more of a six-year contract – not eight like the club.

[content-ads]Why six years? It’s easy to make connections with the fact that GM Kent Hughes said his player was seven years away from full autonomy – so far from leaving Montreal.Seven years plus the year already played, that’s quite a few years of control, it seems to me. Normally, we’re talking about seven full years before autonomy – and Hutson already has one behind the tie.But hey. If the GM is right, one last year of entry-level contract plus a contract to buy his last six years of control, that’s… seven. #Maths436

More and more, players seem to be taking inspiration from other sports. Example? Reaching full autonomy more quickly like in baseball, signing smaller contracts once they reach autonomy (to return to the market and take advantage of rising prices) like in basketball… [content-ads]These are techniques we didn’t see as often in the NHL, but which seem to be becoming fashionable. #LogiqueDreger also reports that the Habs GM and Hutson’s agent (who is represented by Quartexx) may meet in Detroit tomorrow, on the heels of the Habs game in Michigan. Will it happen? And if so, will everyone be able to put emotions aside and negotiate as effectively as possible? Will a new offer be submitted? In

[spacer title=’Overtime’]- Seen the same.

– What do you think?

– Well done.

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Zachary Bolduc scores in his first game with the Canadiens

Tonight is Zachary Bolduc’s first (regular) game in a Canadiens uniform.After all, he was acquired this summer because the club saw in him an important piece of its forward group.And early in the second period, his linemate Brendan Gallagher unleashed a good shot that gave Anthony Stolarz trouble, and he couldn’t control the return. Bolduc, however, was passing by… and he took advantage of the opportunity to score his first in a CH uniform.He went into the pay zone, and it paid off.

[content-ads]We know that last year, Bolduc finished the season strong with the Blues, particularly in terms of his ability to hit the target. He scored 19 goals last season, including 13 after the 4 Nations break,so he’s picking up right where he left off… but in a new uniform.With Logan Mailloux having a big camp with the Blues, Bolduc has a bit of pressure on him at the moment. After all, he’s the one the club got in return for the young defenseman… and Bolduc too has to prove that he’s capable of being an important part of the Habs’ core.But if he scores goals on a regular basis, Bolduc will quickly make Mailloux forget about him, we agree.[spacer title=’Prolongation’] We know that Bolduc didn’t particularly steal the show at the Canadiens’ practice camp.Bolduc, with this goal, has just made us forget all about his camp. And that’s good news.

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Oliver Kapanen scores the Habs’ first goal of the season

Tonight, the Canadiens officially kick off their 2025-26 season. And very early on in the game, the Leafs took the lead.

The Habs quickly found themselves playing catch-up hockey… and they even found themselves short-handed.

And it was in these conditions that he scored his first goal of the season, courtesy of Oliver Kapanen:

[content-ads]In addition to being the Canadiens’ first goal of the season, it’s also Kapanen’s first career NHL goal. Last year, in 21 games (season + playoffs), he didn’t hit the target in a Canadiens uniform,so it’s a great moment for the kid.We know that Kapanen found himself a little reluctantly at Ivan Demidov’s center to start the year, and he must now continue to prove that he deserves that position. And even if he didn’t score that goal with Demidov on the ice, it’s still a nice way of showing off,especially as the beauty is very, very nice. Well done, then[spacer title=’Prolongation’] Note that before the game, the Habs players were asked who would be the one to score the club’s first goal of the season.Who predicted Kapanen? Lane Hutson.

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Samuel Blais stayed in a hotel during the Habs practice camp

Samuel Blais knows the game: he’s played 257 games in the National League, and he knows how it works. That’s why he decided, among other things, not to find a place to live in the Montreal area until he knew whether he was going to make the club or not. Renaud Lavoie talked about it during the TVA Sports pre-game: Blais was living in a hotel during the CH’s training camp… because he didn’t necessarily know he was going to start / spend the year in the city.

Blais was disappointed to leave and that’s normal. He didn’t play in the NHL last season, but he gave himself a chance to make the club in Montreal by having a really respectable camp. Things can change quickly in the big leagues… and today, he finds himself in Toronto. But I’m sure, despite everything, that the fact of having been called up to the waivers by another team gives him a certain motivation… [content-ads] Blais won’t be in uniform for the Leafs’ season opener, and I can’t seem to figure out why that’s the case. We agree: on paper, Toronto’s roster is pretty good. There are players on the 3rd and 4th lines who are capable of doing the job en masse, but… at the same time, Blais would have been hungry as a lion tonight. The opportunity to perform well against the Habs, who placed him in the waivers on Sunday, was there… and it’s as clear as day that he would have done anything on the ice to make his presence felt.

But hey, the Leafs claimed him in the waivers, and not for nothing either: they saw something in him… and Craig Berube, who coached him in St. Louis, knows him well too.

It’s only a matter of time, in my opinion, before we see him play a game in a Leafs uniform. [spacer title=’Overtime’] – Yes or no?

– Speaking of the Leafs…

– Already?

– It’s heating up.

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110,000 in sticks and 200 pairs of gloves per season: Brady Tkachuk costs the Sens dearly

Some players are more demanding than others, for example? Brady Tkachuk… who has some pretty specific demands when it comes to his equipment. Mario Therrien, who works for True, told Max Lalonde on BPM Sports: the Senators’ captain is one of the guys in the NHL who demands a lot when it comes to his stock. Here’s what you need to know. Every game, Tkachuk likes to have four new sticks. He costs the Sens an average of $110,000 per season just for sticks… and that’s not counting the fact that he goes through about 200 pairs of gloves per campaign too.That’s a lot

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[content-ads] It reminds me of Nathan MacKinnon, who uses 400 sticks (!) per season. Or Ryan O’Reilly and Mark Stone, who change gloves after each appearance on the ice… NHL players – some of them, at least – are special. They have some pretty specific demands, and Brady Tkachuk’s explain that pretty well. But there are guys who think the same way too, and that popular English term sums it up pretty well: feel good, play good. I tend to think that players who don’t have much “importance” on the ice don’t have the luxury of being so greedy in their respective demands. But if it helps in some way, then… why not? One thing’s for sure: it’s a lot of work for each team’s equipment managers, and for the companies that have to deliver the goods.

[spacer title=’Overtime’] – I can’t wait!

– It’s time for him to

– Well done.

– Logan Mailloux

St. Louis

– Magnifique.

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New contract: Jack Eichel will be one of the NHL’s highest-paid players

Jack Eichel is one of the best players on the planet, and there’s no doubt about it. The American, who has been playing in Vegas for a number of years now, scored 94 points in his final season with the Golden Knights, and now his club has decided to reward him by signing him to an eight-year contract extension that will earn him $13.5 million per season, making him one of the highest-paid players in the National League.

We’re talking about a legitimate contract. Some might say it’s a steep price for a guy who’s surpassed the 80-point plateau just twice in his career, and that’s true. But when healthy, Eichel is one of the NHL’s elite, and he plays a crucial role in Vegas. Without him and his 26 points in the 22-23 series, perhaps the Golden Knights would never have won the Stanley Cup… [content-ads] More details to come…

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VIDEO: Alexander Zharovsky almost scored one of the KHL’s goals of the year

Alexander Zharovsky has talent, and it’s not for nothing that we’ve seen him pick up at least one point in his first three KHL games of the season. Today, his club was in action… and the Canadiens’ prospect was at it again.

Zharovsky played less than in his last three games (12:24), but came close to scoring one of the KHL’s goals of the year. He outwitted a player by passing the puck between his own legs… before passing it back between his opponent’s skates to create space in the slot. His shot missed the net, but the sequence is truly sublime:

[content-ads] To make a play like this, a player has to be confident. And clearly, Zharovsky isn’t afraid to use his hands to create things on the ice. He puts his skills to good use, and when he was first drafted by the Canadiens, he was talked about as being extremely adept with the puck.The proof was in the pudding today . The Canadiens prospect has now played four games so far this season, and has four points – including a goal – on the board. He’s doing well, and even though he was blanked from the scoresheet today in his club’s 4-1 loss, we saw him be creative with the puck.As long as he’s able to stand out from the crowd, it’ll be a good thing for his development on the ice.

[

– Sick.

– I hear he’s improved his skating this summer.

– Oh yeah?

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Sidney Crosby: “Speculation happens when you lose”

The Montreal Canadiens are looking for a second center, and many in Quebec are hoping that Sidney Crosby will one day be given the mandate to form a one-two punch with Nick Suzuki, but it doesn’t matter what the Canadiens fans are hoping for. It doesn’t matter what Pat Brisson, the Penguins or the Canadiens are hoping for, either, right now. All that matters is what Sid The Kid thinks. The Penguins can rebuild and lose games, but they just can ‘t force Crosby to lift his no-movement clause and go elsewhere. It’s got to come from him. He has to get so fed up with losing that he asks to leave Pennsylvania for the last few years of his great career. More and more, #87 is opening up on the subject. Recently, in a filmed segment with Colby Armstrong, the main interested party acknowledged that the more the club loses, the more speculation there will be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IG6kWmrIuI [content-ads]That’s what he said in response to a question about rumors about him, adding that when you win, the rumors revolve more around additions.That’s true.And we agree that he’s not crazy either. He knows that his club won’t reach the promised land in 2026 and that the Penguins are headed straight for Saint-Reconstruction-De-Dubas, a small suburb of Pittsburgh. If the Habs have a good start to the season, who knows what will be going through Crosby’s head. If Nathan MacKinnon wants to play with his friend, who knows what will go through Crosby’s mind…. [spacer title=’Overtime’]- Speaking of the Penguins.

– Seen the same.

– Nice.

– Interesting.

– Exactly.

– Of note: