Category: Dans les coulisses

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Dans les coulisses

Ivan Demidov heads towards the best U20 season in KHL history.

Today (and since the start of the season), Ivan Demidov is making headlines.

He scored a stunning goal this afternoon.

For those who may have missed it, I’ll share it again here:

The one who won the Rookie of the Week title for the sixth week this season a few days ago is on fire, and in KHL history, he is among the greatest at his age.

He is having one of the best seasons in terms of points per game and total points. And he hasn’t finished dominating yet.

Among all players who have had seasons at age 19 and younger, the Montreal prospect is just five points away from first place (Kirill Kaprizov) and four points from second and third place (Evgeni Kuznetsov and Matvei Michkov).

He has a chance to become the top scorer. He’s no slouch, the young one.

What stands out even more is not his number of points nor his points per game, but rather his points per 60 minutes. And in Demidov’s case, this might be the statistic that best illustrates his dominance.

Let’s remember that at the start of the season, he wasn’t playing much, and it’s normal he wasn’t gathering many points. Currently, his points per 60 minutes is 4.02.

No, that’s not a typo.

He has almost one more point per 60 minutes than Kaprizov in his second season after being drafted into the NHL.

And he has exactly one more point per 60 minutes than Michkov, who is the player most compared to Demidov.

We’ll talk again in two days when the CH prospect makes headlines again for his spectacular plays.

(Credit: en.khl.ru )

In Brief

– Too bad.

– They are due.

– He’s eating hockey.

– He is right.

– A comeback.

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Dans les coulisses

Daniel Brière criticizes ÉCJ leaders for the use of their prospects.

At the beginning of January, Canada lost in the quarter-finals of the World Junior Championship against the Czech Republic for the second consecutive year.

The leaders at Hockey Canada have been criticized for the decisions made in forming the team, which is understandable.

When you overlook guys like Michael Misa, Zayne Parekh, Carter Yakemchuk (and others), it’s logical to see that it raises eyebrows.

Even Daniel Brière decided to throw stones at the leaders.

The Flyers’ GM is not happy with how the coaches used Oliver Bonk (defenseman) and Jett Luchanko, and he stated this openly today at a press conference.

Brière did not mince words in sharing what was on his mind:

The Flyers’ GM did not like seeing two of his prospects being placed in disadvantageous situations and wanted to address this in front of Flyers reporters.

He would have liked Luchanko to have a bigger role (which would have made sense since he played in the NHL this season) and he wished that Bonk could have been placed in a role that suits his strengths on the ice.

It’s rare to see an NHL general manager speak this way… Especially so openly.

But at some point, Brière’s disappointment is understandable because he wants the best for his players.

The World Junior Championship tournament can be important in a player’s development (even though the event is not long) because young players experience something different.

There is more pressure, and leaders want to see what their players have in them in situations like that.

Considering all the criticism over the past three weeks, it’s clear that the chances of seeing this coaching staff return for the 2025 tournament are slim.

Now it remains to be seen who will have the job of bringing the gold medal back to the country… And the leaders will give themselves a chance if – and only if – the selected players are the right ones.

In Brief

– Cole Caufield is here!

– Wow.

– Nice surprise!

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Dans les coulisses

Jayden Struble is becoming a problem in Montreal.

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

It was announced a little earlier this morning: Jayden Struble will skip his turn tonight.

This is absolutely not a surprise since Struble has not been playing often for several weeks. Since Alexandre Carrier replaced Justin Barron, Struble is the true #7 defenseman of the team.

When we look at it, since he took part in the 9-2 loss against the Penguins (we’re talking about a game where David Savard was absent), he has only played four small games.

(Credit: ESPN)

If you check the game summaries of David Savard, don’t be surprised to find that in the four games in January that Struble played, the Quebecer was absent.

Would he have played since the December 7 game if Savard had been healthy? The question is valid.

All this to say that right now, the Jayden Struble we see is not the same as he was 12 or 14 months ago, when he came into the lineup “by default” and established himself frankly and confidently.

At the moment, we have more of a guy who, due to the quality of his game and his contractual situation, is problematic.

Earlier this season, the Canadiens decided to keep Struble in the NHL. By having him play games in the Bettman circuit, he lost his ability to go to Laval without having to clear waivers.

A month ago, I wrote that he was in the same black hole as Cayden Primeau and Michael Pezzetta, meaning guys who were doomed to not play and skip their turn.

Since then, Primeau is in Laval. And if Pezz is put on waivers (which doesn’t seem to be in the club’s plans, as they clearly prefer to keep him as the 13th forward), it won’t be a big deal.

But Struble?

Until proven otherwise, I don’t see Kent Hughes putting his prospect on waivers since the team probably doesn’t want to lose him. So I expect to see him, unless something changes, playing very few minutes for the Habs.

And that’s not great for his development.

extension

Did the Habs err in not sending him to Laval earlier, while he was still eligible to avoid waivers? Considering the circumstances, it’s a question that needs to be asked. But at the same time, who could play Struble’s role up top right now?

In short, the situation is not simple.

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Dans les coulisses

Laine wanted to give up hockey: he has taken care of himself and he is right to share his experience.

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

Professional athletes are human.

They are also capable of feeling emotions (contrary to what some think) and they are not immune to personal problems, even if some of them earn a lot of money.

They say money brings happiness… But that’s not always true either.

Patrik Laine experienced a situation like this.

He had to take a break from hockey to take care of his mental health, and it became so intense at one point that he considered giving it all up.

The forward – who currently plays for the Montreal Canadiens – shared on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast that he was depressed, he was no longer functional, he seemed to have reached a point of no return… And he even told Jarmo Kekalainen (his former GM) that he was not going to return to Columbus to continue his career.

It’s over. I won’t be back. I won’t play anymore. – Patrik Laine

In the end, Laine returned to play for the 23-24 season, and his problems became even more significant.

That’s when he decided to step back from competition to focus on healing:

It is important to highlight this because Patrik Laine made the right decision.

He prioritized his mental health over money, success, and everything surrounding his career, and this means that today, he feels happier than ever.

He has found his smile, he has started scoring goals in the National Hockey League, and he is having fun with his new team.

That’s what matters at the end of the day.

The forward is also doing well by speaking on this subject because it can help anyone understand the importance of taking care of oneself.

It brings more visibility to a more taboo topic… Even though we are starting to understand why it is crucial to talk about it when things are not going well.

All this to say that in my eyes, Patrik Laine should be seen as an example to young people and older individuals in today’s society.

He did what he had to do to heal, he had the courage to talk about it, and we can see where it has led him today.

Hats off, honestly.

In a nutshell

– Oh.

– What’s your prediction for tonight’s game?

– Sick.

– Wow!

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Dans les coulisses

Reaves argues with Xhekaj, saying that it looks bad since the Leafs won 7-3.

On Saturday night, the Canadiens dominated the Leafs in the first period.

Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, and Josh Anderson scored, so the Habs had a 3-0 lead at one point during the first twenty minutes.

This is when Ryan Reaves approached Arber Xhekaj to ask him if he wanted to drop the gloves. Xhekaj said no… while pointing at the scoreboard.

The Leafs player reflected on what happened, and obviously, he took the opportunity to taunt the Canadiens defender.

Reaves argues that Xhekaj looked bad in the context of the Leafs scoring seven unanswered goals to ultimately win the game 7-3:

You point at the scoreboard and then get scored on for seven. You look bad. – Ryan Reaves

It’s certain that Xhekaj’s reaction after Reaves’ request rattled the Leafs.

Every time a player makes a gesture like that in sports, it prompts a reaction, after all…

But on the other hand, Xhekaj was right in a sense because he had no interest in harming his team while the score was 3-0 in favor of the Canadiens.

He didn’t want to fight to change the momentum, but despite that, that’s exactly what happened in the end.

That said, Ryan Reaves could have felt a little embarrassed too because it’s not like he contributed to his team’s victory.

He didn’t play more than seven minutes in the game (6:38), he was blanked on the score sheet, and he finished the game with a +/- of 0.

But still, it’s true that in hindsight, Arber Xhekaj might have should have avoided pointing at the scoreboard to his opponent.

The Canadiens defender should have simply declined the invitation without necessarily being rude… and it ultimately backfired on him.

In Brief

– Note:

– Quite.

– News from CF Montréal:

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Dans les coulisses

John Tortorella didn’t even greet Patrik Laine when they saw each other for the first time.

Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images

John Tortorella is a special coach.

He is known for his fiery personality, and he is recognized as a coach who does things differently.

For better or for worse…

Patrik Laine – who was a guest on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast – spoke about his relationship with his former coach and recounted the time when the two men met for the first time.

The Canadiens player remembers it… Because at the time, Torts hadn’t even said hello before throwing him this line:

We had a game that night. I had never seen him and all he said to me was: “Don’t mess up on the ice tonight!” – Patrik Laine

Laine also recounted that in his third game with the Blue Jackets, Tortorella benched him because the player hadn’t responded appropriately to a coach.

That’s when he realized he had to stay in line with Torts:

It must be special for sure.

You don’t necessarily expect that kind of welcome when you join a new team… And you also don’t expect your coach to talk to you that way when it’s the very first time you see him.

But, well. Torts is Torts!

Laine touched on several topics during the interview, and there are a few things that caught my attention.

He said that the Canadiens’ doctors were worried that his season might be over after his injury in training camp, but that’s not all:

1. It was more difficult for him at the start in Columbus, where he recorded 21 points (10 goals) in his first 45 games in a Blue Jackets uniform.

Things improved later on: he was on a pace of one point per game in 21-22 (56 points in 56 games) and had success in 22-23 as well (52 points in 55 games)… But for him, it wasn’t important because the team wasn’t winning.

Laine wanted the win above all else.

2. Taking a break from hockey to focus on what wasn’t going well in his life was beneficial for him. He states that it was the best decision of his life, and today he is thankful because he has found happiness again.

You can sense in his words that it was a major trial.

3. Just before taking a break to recharge… Laine thought about giving it all up.

He no longer wanted to play hockey because he felt the need to move on.

He sees a therapist three times a week since that moment to talk about what is going well and what isn’t, and he says he is happier than ever right now.

The love he receives from fans and his teammates in Montreal plays a role in all of this, by the way. Laine says that playing for the Canadiens is “really” special:

4. The main interested party says he is looking forward to the Four Nations Tournament because he wants to solidify his place on the Finnish team ahead of the Olympics.

He wasn’t sure that Finland would invite him to participate in the event taking place in a few weeks because he hadn’t played for a while at the time teams were announced, but he is happy because he wants to prove he is still one of the best sharpshooters on the planet.

5. Laine was asked about the death of Johnny Gaudreau, and he paused before sharing his reaction.

He said that he and Johnny had become good friends because they sat next to each other in the locker room and on the plane. Ultimately, the news hurt him.

6. A few years ago, there was a rumor that Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers were buying TVs on the road to play Fortnite.

Laine reacted to that rumor by saying this:

That’s total b*llshit! – Patrik Laine

However, he claims that he played a lot of video games in Winnipeg because he didn’t necessarily want to go out to see other people.

On his days off, he could sometimes start playing at 8:30 AM… Until midnight!

Patrik Laine really seems to be in a good place right now, and it shows in his comments.

He loves his new environment, enjoys his time with his new teammates, and appreciates the support from the fans in Montreal.

And it’s well-deserved after what he has experienced in recent years.

In Brief

– Yeah! Win or lose tonight against the Lightning?

– Indeed.

– It’s understandable. But he will have to make another call too.

– Incredible…

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Dans les coulisses

Another completely ridiculous goal for Ivan Demidov

Ivan Demidov is too good.

He scored another simply ridiculous goal today during his game, and it shows how much talent he has.

Games like that can’t be taught:

Demidov completely outmaneuvered two defenders by passing the puck between his legs and then beat the goalie.

It looked easy, even…

In fact, this was his second point of the game.

In the first period, he showcased his vision by making a beautiful pass to his teammate, who was able to shoot on reception to score:

When the Canadiens selected him 5th overall in the last draft, we knew the Montreal organization had made a good move.

Everyone knew the player’s talent and the Canadiens can count themselves lucky to have had the chance to see him slide down to their pick.

The CH has a gem in their hands. I wonder what the Blackhawks, Ducks, and Blue Jackets are thinking right now…

Demidov has now collected 37 points in 45 games since the start of the season.

His two points today allow him to break into the top 15 of the KHL’s most productive players… And that’s noteworthy because the player in question is only 18 years old and because he plays less than others in the KHL.

He is a joy to watch right now!

Overtime

It should be noted that the Canadiens’ prospect started today’s game on the second line of his team.

He knows how to seize his opportunities to produce even more:

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Dans les coulisses

Brad Marchand could leave the Bruins.

Is Brad Marchand approaching his last miles in Boston?

It seems unlikely to think of that situation since Marchand is so identified with the Bruins. But increasingly, in the community, the question is being asked.

And this morning, on BPM Sports during the morning show, Renaud Lavoie addressed the topic.

Why are we asking this? Because more and more, there seems to be some discord within the team (which affects the results on the ice) and we wonder if Marchand is at the heart of it all.

Joe Sacco, who has previously criticized his captain publicly earlier in the season, recently left Marchand on the bench in overtime. In both cases, Marchand didn’t make a big deal in front of the media cameras.

We can also think about the “argument” with David Pastrnak (we’re not really sure if the disagreement is real or not) that has come to light over the past weeks.

If Sacco is “expendable” in the short term, Pastrnak is not.

Because Marchand is nearing the end of his contract, there seems to be increasing speculation about whether his future is in Boston. And keep in mind, if Renaud Lavoie is talking about it on the radio, it’s because he has reasons to believe it’s a possibility.

According to a TVA Sports insider, if the Bruins ever decide to move on, there would be multiple teams interested in signing him. And rightfully so.

Note that I’m expecting much more of a change in management or behind the bench than a change of captain. Marchand wonderfully represents the Bruins, and I expect him to outlast all of this.

Because if he leaves, the Massachusetts organization will regret it. And I think people in Boston know that all too well.

in brief

– Not to be missed.

– Martin St-Louis and his analogies.

– Kent Hughes is 55 years old.

– Well done.

– Connor McDavid will not appeal his case.

– Interesting.

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Dans les coulisses

Samuel Montembeault will play tonight

Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

This morning, the CH is back at practice. It’s been a while.

But what you need to know is that it’s very, very optional. Only a few players jumped on the ice at the Bell Centre, just hours before the visit from the Lightning.

It was therefore difficult to conclude anything regarding tonight’s game at that moment.

That said, despite everything, it made sense to think that the extras would be Michael Pezzetta on offense and Jayden Struble on the blue line. It’s the “optimal” formula for the coach… and that’s what will happen, in the end.

It also made sense to believe that Samuel Montembeault would play tonight’s game… and the coach confirmed that it will be so. This morning, he is the one doing the starting routine, which is a reliable indicator, under normal circumstances.

Logically, this week, one might believe that Tuesday’s and Saturday’s games (two home games against Tampa Bay and New Jersey) belong to the Québécois. That would leave Thursday’s game in Detroit for Jakub Dobes.

It makes sense, at least.

This certainly has nothing to do with the fact that Jakub Dobes had a slightly tougher outing on Sunday. After all, Montembeault is the club’s #1 goalie, and it’s his turn to play.

It will be Dobes who needs to have a big game on Thursday if he wants to keep playing a lot.

in brief

– Ivan Demidov on the top-6 today.

– To be continued.

– For reading.

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Dans les coulisses

Nick Suzuki at the heart of the recently canceled training sessions by the Canadiens.

Let’s talk a bit about the CH’s training.

Yesterday, I wrote an article about how the players of the Canadiens don’t train often. From January 14 to 20, there was no training… and today, there is only a morning skate on the schedule.

Obviously, travel is central to Martin St-Louis’s decision to act this way. He is the coach and, by the nature of things, he has the final say on such decisions.

But don’t think that he decides this all on his own.

What you need to know is that Nick Suzuki, the team captain, is also consulted for decisions like this. The opinion of #14 matters when Martin St-Louis needs to make a decision.

If Suzuki feels that his teammates could benefit from a little break due to fatigue, that will be part of the discussion with Martin St-Louis to determine the schedule for the coming days.

This is what Arpon Basu (The Athletic) informs us.

Because the CH has traveled intensely in recent weeks and because the results are showing on the ice, the coach is more inclined to give his boys a break.

Suzuki thus has the respect of the guys in the locker room, who give him honest feedback, and he definitely has the respect of his bosses, who chose to name him captain in 2022 and who value his opinions.

I imagine this is something he learned from Shea Weber, his first captain in the NHL. After all, Weber often talked with his coaches to make such decisions.

It’s great if Suzuki has a similar kind of influence over his team. That’s what you want from a captain. No?

Let’s also note that the occasional travel days during days off instead of a night after a game is also – obviously – to help the guys keep their legs fresh.

Right now, in any case, it’s paying off.

in brief

– Oh really?

– CH: something special is happening. [BPM Sports]

– Ouch.