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“Sweet marketing” : Patrik Laine to Chicago or San Jose?

It cannot be said that the “Patrik Laine experience” in Montreal is a huge success.

The forward has scored 15 goals and added 11 assists (26 points) in 35 games since the start of the season, but it’s his level of engagement on the ice that bothers more than one person.

This is normal. In Montreal, fans want to see the players giving their all on the ice – and not being dragged along every other game.

The risk was not enormous when Kent Hughes made the acquisition, but still: one has to wonder if Laine will play his first game of the next season in a Canadian uniform.

Let’s recall that in 25-26, he will be in the last year of his contract, which earns him $8.7 million annually.

Mathias Brunet had fun creating his lineup for the next campaign, and Laine is not in it.

But what piqued my curiosity was when the journalist wondered if the player could be sent to clubs like the Blackhawks or the Sharks, who will probably need to add big salaries to respect the salary floor.

The idea is not bad:

Laine being offered to a rebuilding club like San Jose or Chicago to allow them to reach the salary floor and give their fans a little marketing treat? Very possible. – Mathias Brunet

The Hawks and the Sharks are in a similar position.

They have good young players in place, but they are still a few years away from being able to compete with the good teams in the National League.

And at that level, it’s true that the idea of giving a “marketing treat” – to use Mathias Brunet’s words – would be interesting for the fans of the two teams.

In Chicago, maybe it would also allow Connor Bedard to have a sniper on his line. The young man is not surrounded in the right way, and adding natural talent to the lineup could help.

And in San Jose, maybe it would help the Sharks be more competitive from next season with the emergence of Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini, who are having a great first year respectively in the NHL.

In both cases, acquiring Laine would not cost an arm. Kent Hughes is not in a position to ask for the moon for his forward for logical reasons, and I wonder if the CH GM will be interested in the idea of giving up a pick to get rid of the main concerned.

It would make some people happy, in any case.

In passing

– Seeing Armia (who trained this afternoon) play tomorrow would be great news.

– A classic.

– It’s true.

– Oh well.

– Solid.

– Good reading.

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Is Samuel Montembeault capable of playing 20 more games than last year?

Since he’s been in the NHL, Samuel Montembeault has never played more than half of his team’s games… except this season.

When you look at his stats, you can see that in his first three seasons with the Canadiens, he played about one game out of two. Last year, it was partly because of the three-way battle in front of the net.

But this year, it’s different. He’s the #1 goalie and he’s already played 48 games.

(Credit: Hockey DB)

And it’s not like the season is over either: there are still 17 games left in the season. And since the Canadiens are in the playoff race this season, the team’s #1 goalie is expected to play.

José Théodore, on 98.5 Sports, suggested using him for 13 of the last 17 games of the season.

And looking at the schedule, I agree. On my part, I would give him a break next Thursday in New York and on three other occasions during the last back-to-back games of the regular season.

Not playing much may not be ideal for Jakub Dobes’ development, but here we are.

(Credit: NHL.com)
(Credit: NHL.com)

So I think the question arises: is Samuel Montembeault capable of rising to the challenge and not getting too tired by playing 20 more games than last year? I think the answer is yes, he can do it.

But again, the question deserves to be asked and debated by the Canadiens.

Let’s remember that before Christmas, when Monty was playing every game because the Canadiens didn’t have confidence in Cayden Primeau, the Quebecer started to feel a certain fatigue.

He’s one of the most used goalies in the league (tied for third place with several other goalies across the league) and he hasn’t had a break last month. #ÉquipeCanada

(Credit: NHL.com)

You’ll tell me he didn’t play with Team Canada and that’s true… but he didn’t get a sun break like the others.

We just need to think that the Canadiens’ goalie is no longer used to playing that much and that the risk of burning him out exists – even if I have no doubt that right now, the goalie is hungry.

In baseball, they say that ideally, a pitcher should not throw more than 30% more innings than the previous year because of his arm. It doesn’t apply as well to hockey because a pitcher’s arm is a special thing… but we understand the logic of a workload increase.

The Canadiens just need to keep it in mind because a tired Montembeault won’t help the team stay #DansLeMix. And if he sends fatigue signals, the Canadiens will have to pick up on them.

in a hurry

– Tough break.

– Oh come on.

– Something will have to happen in Buffalo.

– He will have had a beautiful career.

– Worth listening to.

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Injury: Joel Armia is present at the Canadiens’ practice

Good news for the CH.

Joel Armia is present at the Canadian’s training this noon. Even though he missed the last game due to a hand injury, the CH forward was able to train with the others.

All the better for him – and for the CH.

On the other hand, it’s important to note that Josh Anderson, as is often the case in recent weeks, was not able to train.

The CH’s big injured player had another day of treatment.

More details to come…

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Jacob Fowler (again) the guardian of the year of his association: a greater challenge is eagerly awaited for him

Jacob Fowler is an excellent guardian. He proves it every time he gets on the ice.

This season was no exception. In addition to his 25 wins in 32 games, his average of 1.62 and the fact that he stops 94.1% of the pucks directed at him, he was named the goalkeeper of the year in his association.

No surprise here. He was also last year.

At this point, it’s clear that Jacob Fowler needs a bigger challenge. Because regular season games in the NCAA, they don’t seem to scare him at all.

And it divides into two plans.

The first, it’s that the series are at our doors in American college hockey. And unlike last year, Jacob Fowler won’t just want to reach the Frozen Four (the all-NCAA quarterfinals) because he’ll want to win.

Last year, he lost in the final.

But the other challenge will undoubtedly be to move to the pros next month. I expect the American goalkeeper to no longer play in Boston next year and to be the #1 goalkeeper for the Rocket in 2025-2026.

He should have time to come finish his season in Quebec. Will he play a game with the Canadians, who are currently in a playoff race? Will he go to Laval, a club that will make the playoffs?

Fowler, who could be considered for the Hobey Baker in the coming weeks, would benefit from being around the Rocket for the playoffs, which will start next month.

Getting playing time won’t be easy (but not impossible either), but the experience would be important for him, right?

in a hurry

– Reminder: Fowler’s team is strong.

– Really not, either.

– Oh well.

– Good question.

– Good news.

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Emil Heineman has not collected a single point in his last 13 games

I wrote it yesterday… and I’m saying it again today: the Canadiens’ top line is on fire over the past few weeks.

Nick Suzuki (17 points in 10 games) is the top scorer in the entire NHL since the Four Nations Confrontation. Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield are also playing inspired hockey, averaging over a point per game since the international matches (which they did not participate in).

The problem is that the other three lines are not producing.

Joshua Roy, Alex Newhook, and Brendan Gallagher do not form a real second line.

Roy has not had a point since his recall and is slow in every sense of the word…

Alex Newhook has only one point in six games…

And Brendan Gallagher has no points in eight games.

Honestly, it’s probably the worst line on the top six of any NHL team right now…

Alex Newhook doesn’t have what it takes to be a second center in the NHL.
(Credit: Getty Images)

The other problem is that the bottom six is not doing much better right now; the depth players are not taking over.

Christian Dvorak has only two points in eight games and Josh Anderson has only one point in the same period.

Jake “$2.85 million” Evans has two points in his last 12 games, while Joel Armia, currently injured, has only one point in his last 11 games.

But the one whose production worries me the most is definitely Emil Heineman. The Swedish winger has not scored a point since his accident in Salt Lake City (0 points in nine games). If we go back to before his injury, Heineman has not scored a point since January 3, in his last 13 games.

The Canadiens are in the midst of a fierce playoff race. Their top line and Lane Hutson are firing on all cylinders, but the other players on the team are unable to lend a hand.

Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton chose not to trade Evans, Armia, Dvorak, and Savard to give the team a chance to make the playoffs…

But they also decided not to provide them with any help in their quest for the playoffs.

Unless a player like Emil Heineman – who was highly praised this season – wakes up soon, the status quo of the Montreal management may cost the Habs a playoff spot.

With a draft pick around 15th overall and several unrestricted free agents who will be leaving…

History will tell us if Kent Hughes made a good decision last Friday.

In a nutshell

– Éric Duhaime can’t believe that a billion dollars was spent to redo the Olympic Stadium roof.

– How did the Bruins decide on their trade deadline strategy? [RG Media]

– The CF Montreal coach spoke.

– Adin Hill: six years, $6.25 million per year.

– Sabres fans are fed up.

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To make the series, the Canadian will have to become the Capitals (the best club in the East)

12.8% chance of making the playoffs: welcome to Montreal.

Right now, even if the Canadiens are very close to the playoffs as such when looking at the standings (one point), we all understand that it won’t be simple.

Because as I said mathematically, the Canadiens have about one chance in eight of making the playoffs at the moment.

(Credit: NHL.com)

It may seem small when looking at the gap with Columbus, but we must not forget that two teams need to be overtaken to qualify and that it’s not just the last playoff spot that is accessible at the moment.

After all, the Senators have a good lead over everyone.

But we must also remember that, as journalist Kevin Dubé mentioned, qualifying for the playoffs in the East with 91 points under the new playoff format is very rare, happening only once in the last decade. Only the Capitals did it last year.

So if it takes at least 92 points to make the playoffs, that means the Canadiens need 23 points in 17 games. We’re talking about playing at a .676 pace over the next 17 games, a rhythm that no team in the East has maintained this season – except the Capitals, ironically.

(Credit: NHL.com)

The chances of this happening are slim. Can the Canadiens, with their lack of depth, become the best team in the East in a month? We have our doubts, let’s say.

But is it impossible? No, it’s not impossible. After all, when Patrik Laine (when he was productive), Alexandre Carrier, and Jakub Dobes arrived in December, the Canadiens were winning often.

So over a short period, it’s possible. But it’s not likely. This explains the “one chance in eight” from the beginning.

But the Canadiens shouldn’t worry about it. After all, as long as the team wins and stays close to the pack in the standings, the chances won’t drop to zero. And that’s what Martin St-Louis, who recently said the playoffs have already started for the Canadiens, should focus on.

in a nutshell

– The Canadiens will practice at noon.

– If the Canadiens miss the playoffs by one point, we’ll have to remember the overtime loss in Anaheim. [TVAS]

– The Sharks’ rebuild is going slowly, according to Marc-Édouard Vlasic. [98.5 Sports]

– Ouch.

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Top-5 : The stop of the year belongs to Linus Ullmark

Nine games were on the schedule last night in the NHL.

And let’s just say that action was not lacking.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. The save of the year belongs to Linus Ullmark

The Senators want the playoffs and it shows. Last night, they defeated the Bruins by a score of 6-3.

At the end of the game, the fans rightly chanted “we want playoffs.”

Ottawa is off to a good start, anyway.

Against his former team, Linus Ullmark stood out with a sensational save. Clearly the save of the year so far.

The Bruins tried to intimidate the Sens, but nothing worked.

In the loss, Casey Mittlestadt and Marat Khunutdinov scored their first goal with the Bruins.

2. Sergei Bobrovsky in the top 10 of winning goalies

It was truly the night of goalies.

Last night in Toronto, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves in a 3-2 Panthers win. With this win, the Russian goalie became the 10th winningest goalie in NHL history with his 424th win.

Sam Bennett (two goals), Sam Reinhart (two assists), and Mackie Samoskevich (two assists) stood out in the win.

On the Leafs’ side, Max Domi also had a good game. In addition to scoring a goal, he served a correction to Nate Schmidt after a big hit.

Ouch.

3. The number one duel between Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard belongs to Celebrini

For the first time in their young careers, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini faced off. This rivalry is going to become like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

But the first duel belongs to Celebrini: a 4-2 Sharks win.

The first overall pick in the last draft started the game well. He fed Will Smith to break the ice.

Connor Bedard, on the other hand, was left off the score sheet.

Instead, he received a 10-minute penalty for abuse of officials.

It’s also important to mention that you shouldn’t touch Celebrini…

4. A goal in five consecutive games for Quinton Byfield

In one of the late-night games, the Kings hosted the Washington Capitals.

Los Angeles ultimately shut out Washington 3-0. 21 saves for Darcy Kuemper. It was his third shutout of the season.

At the end of the game, tensions rose between these two teams.

A frustrating night for Alex Ovechkin’s team.

Quinton Byfield, on the other hand, is on a happy streak.

He scored in a fifth consecutive game.

The Kings are 8-0-3 in their last 11 home games.

They’re good at home, them.

Let’s note that Pierre-Luc Dubois was left off the score sheet in his return to Los Angeles.

5. Vegas beats the Blue Jackets (to the great delight of the CH)

In Columbus, we were watching the game between the Blue Jackets and the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Blue Jackets are one of the teams that are ahead of the CH in the standings and they lost last night. Good news, then.

The Knights won 4-0.

In the win, Adin Hill made 27 saves for a shutout.

And Jack Eichel (with an assist) became the best scorer in a season in the young franchise’s history.

He has 79 points.

Montreal is still one point away from the playoffs.

Overtime

– He tried as much as possible to keep his team in the game.

– He’s on fire, despite the Oilers’ bad streak.

– The best scorers from last night.

(Credit: NHL.com )

– 12 teams in action tonight.

(Credit: Google )
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No, the CH cannot afford to let Patrik Laine leave this summer

In the last week, Patrik Laine has been the subject of much conversation. The forward missed two games due to, officially, the flu… which doesn’t look good when you know the team is in the midst of a playoff run.

And especially when you consider that he’s had a second bout of the flu in two months. That doesn’t look very good either.

And since then, everything has been discussed: a contract buyout, a trade this summer, and more: there are people who no longer want Laine in Montreal.

Earlier today on BPM Sports, Martin Lemay wondered if the Canadiens could afford to let Laine go this summer.

And that’s the point I find interesting: even if Laine can be frustrating at times, the Canadiens can’t afford to start the next season without him.

When Laine arrived in town last summer, we knew he was rusty. Health issues (physical and mental) had kept him out for a long time, and we suspected he would need time to get back in shape.

And if that wasn’t enough, in training camp, he suffered a knee injury that could have easily ended his season before it even started. The good news is that he returned to play in December…

And now he has 15 goals and 26 points in 35 games.

I ask you: if a rusty Laine, coming back from a knee injury, can score 15 goals and 26 points in 35 games, are you really ready to let him go this summer? I’m not saying he’s a perfect player and that the Canadiens should extend his contract, far from it, but the team needs Laine right now.

Letting Laine go would put even more pressure on the first line… and it would remove a talented player that Martin St-Louis could pair with Ivan Demidov, an excellent playmaker, next year to facilitate his arrival.

There’s a world where Laine continues to score at 5-on-5. That being said, even if he’s only there to score on the power play, he still has a use: yesterday, for example, he scored at 5-on-5, but he still allowed the Canadiens to get a point against the Kraken in a game where the team was lifeless.

Do you really think the Canadiens would be in the thick of the playoff hunt without Laine’s contribution? If you answer yes to that question, I invite you to watch a Canadiens game from November, when things were going so badly that we were calling for Martin St-Louis’ head in town.

And in the best of worlds, if Laine can avoid injuries this summer, he might be able to become a force at 5-on-5 again with a full offseason.

Because yes, Laine has already been a force at 5-on-5… and if he can become that again (to some extent, minimally), the Canadiens will be happy to have an option to help Demidov. Already that the team has to be ready to pay for a second center, so it’s not worth voluntarily shooting themselves in the foot by letting a winger go who, at his best, is an important contributor to the top 6.

Rapid Fire

– Incredible.

– Good read on Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is back in Los Angeles tonight.

– Well done.

– Wow!

– Good for the Blue Jays.

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Pierre Dorion has no doubt: Florian Xhekaj will be an NHL player

It’s been a few years since the Xhekaj family has been making headlines in Montreal. We’ve gotten to know Arber as an undrafted free agent invited to the rookie camp… and in the 2023 draft, his brother Florian joined him in the organization.

For the two brothers, it must be special… but for the parents, who became Canadiens fans when they arrived in Canada, it must be just as special.

That being said, if Arber is already established in the NHL, Florian (who is younger) is rolling up his sleeves in Laval. He’s having a great first year in the AHL, but some are wondering if he really has a future in the NHL…

But Pierre Dorion has no doubt: the young forward will become an NHL player sooner or later.

He discussed it with Martin Lemay on BPM Sports today.

What Dorion explains is that even if Xhekaj is not the most talented prospect in town, he has assets that make it easy to project him as an NHL player. He’s a physical guy who, in a support role, will be able to bring heavy hockey to a Bettman circuit team.

In fact, Dorion puts Xhekaj in the category of Rocket prospects he sees definitely playing in the NHL. In this category, he also places Owen Beck, David Reinbacher, and Jakub Dobes (who has already graduated).

Logan Mailloux and Joshua Roy are not: they are in the second category, which represents more question marks.

So, that means that for Dorion, there are few prospects in the Canadiens who have more chances than Xhekaj to establish themselves in the NHL. He only talked about Rocket players, so we can probably add Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, and Jacob Fowler to his list… but the point remains: the list is short.

And of course, the idea of seeing the two Xhekaj brothers play together in Montreal one day is really interesting. It would be a great moment for the two guys and their family, but also for the fans.

In a hurry

– Wow!

– Mikko Rantanen says he would have been open to staying in Carolina. His agent also said the same thing in response to Rod Brind’Amour’s comments.

– General managers want clarity on the rights of CHL players who move to the NCAA. Quentin Miller is a case in point for the Canadiens.

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LAH : a DG trades his own son for future considerations

For a few years now, we’ve seen more trades in the hockey world involving future considerations. It’s a method used by some teams, for example, to send certain contracts elsewhere without getting anything in return.

In the NHL, you can’t trade something for “nothing”. That’s why future considerations are used as a legal way of saying “nothing”.

Today, the Utica Comets (AHL) made a trade of this kind. The club sent Will MacKinnon to Cleveland in exchange for future considerations.

It was mainly a way to get rid of a player who was no longer useful.

However, what makes this rather special is that the GM in Utica is named Dan MacKinnon… and he’s Will’s father.

So, he traded his own son for… nothing.

Of course, we can agree that this is a rather comedic situation. The atmosphere at the next family dinner might be… special.

MacKinnon is a 24-year-old defenseman with only four points in 42 games this season in Utica. He’s a depth defenseman in the AHL, which means his value isn’t enormous… but apparently, his father thought it was a good idea to send him elsewhere.

Maybe he thinks his son will get more ice time in Cleveland… but we can agree that it’s still peculiar to see a GM trade his son for absolutely nothing.

Meanwhile, let’s remember that if the NHL trade deadline was last Friday, it’s scheduled for tomorrow in the AHL. This means that AHL teams can still make moves… but players won’t be able to play in the NHL until the end of the season.

However, they can still play in the AHL as they please… and in MacKinnon’s case, who is closer to the ECHL than the NHL, the first point isn’t a problem.

If in Montreal, we were wondering what it would have been like if Kent Hughes had drafted his son Jack in 2022, the latter can probably be reassured: unlike Will MacKinnon, he can’t be traded by his father for mere future considerations.

But at least, it gives us a comedic situation in Utica.

In rafale

– Logan Mailloux thinks he’s better defensively.

– Good listening.

– The CH season is already a success, says Stu Cowan.

– Morgan Rielly, uncomfortable in Craig Berube’s system?

– One less distraction in Boston.