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No one knows how long the Canadiens own the rights to Quentin Miller

Want a bizarre situation?

In recent days, Quentin Miller has committed to playing in the NCAA in Denver next year. The Quebec goalie has not been in the QMJHL for a few months now.

He’s finishing his season in the Western Hockey League right now.

Normally, because he was in the QMJHL when he was drafted, he should be eligible for the NHL draft again in 2025 if he doesn’t sign with the Canadiens in the coming months.

He was drafted by the Canadiens in 2023.

But since he is now a member of the NCAA (or at least he will be), he should normally be under the control of the Canadiens for the next four seasons.

That being said, as Kevin Dubé reports, because there are no official rules for players who switch from the CHL to the NCAA, nobody really knows what the regulations are.

What’s crazy is that there are three possibilities.

A QMJHL player has two years of control by their team from the draft. A player who leaves junior major at their second year after the draft has two more years of control from there. And an NCAA player normally has four years of control.

So is it 2025? 2027? 2029? Nobody knows.

Noting that his agent, Jessy Morin, is an employee of Quartexx, Kent Hughes’ old firm, and since the Canadiens have been in contact with the Miller clan to make the decision to go to the NCAA, we can think that if there was a clear answer, Hughes would have said it to Morin. But that’s not the case.

The truth is that nobody knows the truth right now. – Jessy Morin

In any case, Miller will have to develop in the NCAA to hope that the Canadiens will offer him a contract. Currently, he’s not a top prospect for the Habs.

But everything can change quickly.

In rafale

– Stéphane Robidas is 48 years old.

– What will the Blue Jackets do at the trade deadline? [RG media]

– Speaking of the QMJHL.

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Martin St-Louis : «every game is like a game #7»

This morning, Martin St-Louis was questioned about the trade deadline – and about Jake Evans – during his pre-game press conference. But clearly, he didn’t want to talk about it.

And that’s logical.

After all, if Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton decide to trade some guys from the team, it won’t really help the coach in his quest to make the playoffs at the end of the season.

Because for the coach, that’s all that matters.

After saying in recent days that the CH was in playoff mode, he added to it this morning. How? By saying that the team, which can no longer afford to lose games to make the playoffs, considers that every night, they play a game 7.

It’s a great mentality to have at this point. And since many of the team’s young players have never made the playoffs in the NHL, it’s the most important hockey of their careers, anyway.

Will the CH win tonight? We’ll see.

Note that for tonight’s game, we’ll see Samuel Montembeault (which is logical) in front of the team’s net. We can also think that there will be no changes to the attack.

And that’s even if Josh Anderson didn’t practice this morning. #Classic

We also note that even if the defensemen practiced this morning with different partners than in Saturday’s game, the defensive pairs from Saturday will remain the same.

Martin St-Louis confirmed it during the press conference.

In a hurry

– Matt Rempe will not be punished further.

– Jordan Greenway wants to stay in Buffalo.

– Hello, Kirby Dach.

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It’s the Capitals’ turn to be linked to Jake Evans and Joel Armia

Obviously, in the coming days, the names of Jake Evans and Joel Armia will be circulating en masse. They are the two players from the Canadiens who are most likely to be traded.

Will it happen? Who knows.

Evans can help himself by signing a contract with the CH, but Joel Armia, from what we understand, is really at the mercy of other teams’ offers… and possibly some clubs’ desire to go get him with Evans.

In the case of Evans, we know that several teams will be on the case. Recently, we were talking about these teams: the Jets, the Maple Leafs, the Oilers, the Devils, and the Wild.

Will there be others? Surely, yes.

And now, this morning, in a text on The Athletic website, Pierre LeBrun and Chris Johnston made the rounds of the current rumors, and we found Evans’ and Armia’s names in the section of a few teams.

Here is the text in question, for those interested.

When we look at it, Jake Evans’ name appears in the section of three teams: the Maple Leafs, the Capitals, and the Jets. It’s the same for Armia, but without the Maple Leafs.

This is the first time we’ve seen the Capitals publicly linked to a Canadiens player.

The Capitals, who have a good power play disadvantage, are looking to get help on the bottom-6. It’s not exactly surprising since many aspiring teams have such a goal, in fact.

The teams mentioned are not guaranteed to try everything to get Evans or Armia out of Montreal, and it’s certainly not an exclusive list. But let’s keep a close eye on all of this.

In rafale

– To follow.

– News from CF Montréal.

– Panthers: Seth Jones on the second pair.

– Kings: their first pick in play?

– To note.

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The Canadian must not mix up the Kirby Dach and Jake Evans files

A little earlier this morning, I was writing a piece in which I talked about Jack Hughes’ injury in New Jersey.

The point of the text? The Devils have the right to be interested in Jake Evans (it was probably already the case to some extent), but not to replace Jack Hughes in case of a long absence.

Why? Because, obviously, it’s not the same player.

Well, know that the lesson also applies to the Canadiens. After all, Jake Evans’ file should not be managed based on what’s happening on the team’s top-6.

And here, I’m referring to Kirby Dach’s injury, whose season is over – and whose future with the Canadiens is more uncertain than ever.

In recent days, we’ve seen how much the number two center position is a problem in Montreal. We already had an idea, you might say, but the last few days have made it even clearer.

But we must not make the mistake of thinking that we need to sign Jake Evans even more because of Dach’s injury. Why? Because a center on the top-6 and Jake Evans are apples and oranges.

The Canadiens, who probably want to make a hockey trade for a top center by the start of next season (so either by Friday or this summer), should not keep Evans just because of Dach.

They should keep Evans / let him go based on what Evans is asking for and what other teams are offering. Dach has no bearing on Evans’ contract file and Kent Hughes should not let the player gain leverage in discussions because of Dach.

Yes, of course, Dach’s injury affects the Canadiens in the coming days on the market, but it shouldn’t affect Jake Evans’ salary negotiations. That’s the nuance… and that’s where files shouldn’t be mixed up.

And if the Canadiens want to go get a center now, they should do it… for the future. All the better if it can help the present (that would be ideal), but the focus should still be on the long term for the next few days.

Kent Hughes’ challenge will be to balance the present and the future in the coming days. And to do that, each file must be managed individually by the general manager.

If Jake Evans’ best value is on the trade market and David Savard’s best value is in Montreal, so be it.

Let’s note that right now, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, David Savard, and Christian Dvorak are the players who are most likely to leave the Canadiens by the end of the week. But that doesn’t mean they will leave.

With the Canadiens being three points away from the playoffs, a win tonight against the Sabres would send a strong message to the front office. But maybe the decisions have already been made, that being said.

in rapid fire

– Well done.

– I have no doubt.

– The Panthers are to be watched.

– Logical.

– Who will move on the market?

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Injury to Jack Hughes: Devils need a center even more now The New Jersey Devils have been dealt a significant blow with the injury to their star player Jack Hughes. This setback has put a strain on the team’s lineup and has further emphasized their need for a capable center. The Devils’ management is now under increased pressure to address this gap and find a suitable replacement to support the team’s offense. With Hughes out of action, the Devils’ chances of success have diminished, and the urgency to find a reliable center has become even more pressing. According to sources, the Devils were already in the market for a center before Hughes’ injury, but now the need has become more acute. The team’s general manager is expected to explore all available options, including trades and free agency, to bolster the center position. The injury to Hughes has also raised concerns about the team’s depth and the potential for other players to step up and fill the void. As the Devils navigate this challenging situation, they will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. The team’s ability to respond to this setback and find a solution to their center conundrum will be crucial in determining their success for the remainder of the season. The Devils’ next game will be a crucial test of their resolve and ability to adapt to the injury of their star player. Visit the Devils’ website for the latest updates on the team’s news and roster moves. The injury to Jack Hughes has added a new layer of complexity to the Devils’ season, and it remains to be seen how the team will respond to this challenge

The trade deadline is in four days. Are you ready for it?

Naturally, we have to consider this: the Canadiens are currently #DansLeMix of the playoff race. The team’s four straight wins after the Four Nations tournament have been beneficial.

In fact, the Canadiens are three points away from the playoffs.

(Credit: Sportsnet)

The big question in Montreal is whether center Jake Evans will be traded or stay in Montreal. And if he stays, will he have a contract extension in his pocket?

This will depend on the player’s demands and the offers on the market, obviously.

How much will teams line up to get him? That’s a question being asked… and it’s a question that’s constantly evolving in the days leading up to the deadline.

For example? If a center gets injured on a team that already needs help at center, it can affect the market.

Because the Canadiens have one of the most in-demand centers in the NHL right now, and because the Devils just saw a center get injured, it’s logical to link the two teams – who were already linked to some extent.

But because the injured center is Jack Hughes, we have to remember that the reinforcement they’ll be looking for to replace the star, if the injury is as bad as expected, won’t necessarily be Jake Evans.

Be aware: I’m not saying Jake Evans couldn’t go to New Jersey. But the team needs a top-6 center… and the Devils have one of the most effective numerical disadvantages in the league this season.

The fit isn’t huge with the Devils.

I’m not saying Evans won’t go to New Jersey. What I’m saying is that he’s not the one who should be targeted first to replace Hughes because we’re not talking about the same player.

To be continued in the next hundred hours or so.

in a burst

– To read.

– Oh no?

– What do you think?

– Is Patrik Laine better served with Owen Beck? [BPM Sports]

– The Blues know how to do things right.

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Top-5 : Sidney Crosby in the top-10 of the best passers in history

Last night in the NHL, there was a little action.

12 teams were playing.

Here are the results and highlights:

1. Sidney Crosby in the top-10 of all-time assist leaders

In the afternoon, the Leafs were visiting Pittsburgh and it was probably the best game of this Sunday of hockey.

Toronto finally won the game in overtime with a score of 6-5. It was William Nylander who sealed the deal.

A little earlier in the game, Auston Matthews scored his 390th career goal.

He took possession of the second spot in the Leafs’ all-time goal scorers list. With an assist also in the game, he reached the 700-point plateau.

And at the end of the second period, Matthew Knies scored with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

Wow.

Sidney Crosby didn’t let the spotlight shine solely on others, though.

On his team’s fourth goal, he picked up an assist, his 1050th career assist. He is now in the top-10 of all-time assist leaders.

2. A win in their last seven games for the Bruins

I think it’s time to rebuild in Boston… It’s really going badly.

Yesterday, the Bruins lost 1-0 to the Wild and have only one win in their last seven games.

In addition, they recently lost their captain…

For the Wild, Frédérick Gaudreau was the only goal scorer.

And Filip Gustavsson was on fire, stopping all 28 shots directed at him.

A 10th shutout with the Minnesota Wild.

3. Jonathan Quick is spectacular

Even at 39 years old, Jonathan Quick continues to offer good hockey.

Again yesterday, he was spectacular against the Preds.

In his 800th game in the NHL, the former King made 35 saves for his 63rd career shutout.

Also with the Rangers, Calvin de Haan and Jusso Parssinen made their debut with their new team.

De Haan picked up an assist, but Parssinen was shut out.

Another player who was shut out is Steven Stamkos. But in the case of the former Lightning captain, it’s been 13 games since he’s had a point…

4. Wyatt Johnston’s hat-trick

Wyatt Johnston is really something special.

Yesterday, he had a masterful evening, scoring three goals. In the first period, he scored with less than a second left.

In the third period, he scored two goals, completing his hat-trick.

In the history of the Stars, he became the third player to score 75 goals before the age of 22.

Two other forwards who are doing well in Dallas: Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund.

Duchene scored in a seventh consecutive game and Granlund picked up another assist, his seventh since joining the team. He has only played nine games with the organization.

5. Sebastian Aho wins the game in overtime

The Flames are not having a good trip to the American East.

First, they lost 3-0 to the Panthers and the Lightning, and last night, they lost 2-1 to the Hurricanes in overtime.

Lucky they won against Washington before their trip to Florida.

The recent losses are good for the Canadiens, who have the Flames’ pick in the next draft.

Let’s go back to yesterday’s game. It was Sebastian Aho who gave the win to the Hurricanes in overtime.

Nazem Kadri had created the tie at the start of the third period.

If the season were to end today, Montreal would draft 17th with the Flames’ pick.

Overtime

– We’ll keep an eye on his health.

– Shutout for Adin Hill, who faced Jacob Markstrom returning to the game.

– A big fight.

– What an acquisition!

– Roope Hintz leads the charge.

(Credit: NHL.com)

– Another evening with six games.

(Credit: Google )
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No points in thirteen games: it’s very difficult for Steven Stamkos

Things are not going well for Steven Stamkos lately.

The forward has no points in his last thirteen games.

The Predators also lost 4-0 to the Rangers in New York tonight.

His last point, a goal, dates back to January 23 in a 6-5 win for the Preds over the Sharks in San Jose.

In addition to his offensive drought, Stamkos also has a minus-15 differential in these thirteen games. It’s tough for him at both ends of the rink.

During this period, the Predators have only managed three wins.

Let’s say it really doesn’t seem to be clicking between the Canadian hockey player and his new team.

Moreover, Stamkos’ signing with Nashville last summer surprised several people who thought he would finish his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 35-year-old player signed a 4-year deal worth $32 million (average annual salary of $8 million).

Let’s recall that the forward played 16 seasons in Tampa and won two Stanley Cups with the team that drafted him first overall in 2008.

We can say that Stamkos has not been impressive since his arrival with the Predators. In 59 games, he has 33 points, including 17 goals, and a minus-23 differential.

How can we explain this decline? We’re talking about a player who had at least one point per game in twelve of his last fifteen seasons with a peak of 106 points just three years ago.

Is Stamkos starting to show signs of slowing down at his age? Or has he been playing with an injury for a while, which would explain his significant decline over the past month?

Of course, the forward is not the only player having a difficult season with the Preds, who are really having a year to forget. The team is currently ranked 30th in the NHL with 49 points (21-31-7) in 59 games.

However, if things don’t improve for Stamkos next season, his contract could become very problematic for the Nashville organization.

In rapid fire

– Another questionable hit by Rempe.

– A hat trick for Johnston!

– What a save by Quick!

– Does it deserve a suspension?

– Ten in a row for the Cavs.

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Coins of rumors: Alex Tuch highly coveted by the Lightning

March 7 is approaching quickly.
There are only five small days left before the NHL trade deadline.
Obviously, with just a week left before this critical date, trade rumors are coming out of nowhere and it’s harder to keep track of everything going on in the league.
So here are three recent rumors:

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the favorites in the race for Alex Tuch

I’m not telling you anything new, but the Buffalo Sabres are having a tough season again.
It’s clear they’ll be sellers, being 29th in the entire NHL.
Dylan Cozens is getting a lot of attention, but another big name has been circulating around the Sabres recently: Alex Tuch.
The 28-year-old power forward is still very effective and knows how to score goals.
As the playoffs approach, a guy of his size (6 feet, 4 inches, and nearly 220 pounds) is always welcome, which is why there’s a lot of interest in him.
However, one team stands out in the race for his services, and that’s the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Adding a guy like Alex Tuch to a second line with Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli is enticing.
He won’t come cheap, but Tampa Bay seems willing to do whatever it takes to add Tuch to their lineup, especially since he has a $4.75 million cap hit until the end of the 2025-26 season.
Buffalo isn’t necessarily willing to give Tuch away, unless a team offers something very interesting.

There’s a lot of interest in Jordan Kyrou across the NHL

Another quality player who’s generating a lot of interest right now is Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues.
He’s a right-handed center who can almost deliver a point per game and is also defensively responsible.
Kyrou has already had a 37-goal season and scored 31 goals last season in a slightly more disappointing campaign.
He’s attracting a lot of attention, and the NHL Trade Rumors page has listed three logical destinations for the 26-year-old forward.

The Carolina Hurricanes are the first team mentioned in the article above.
If the Hurricanes ultimately trade Mikko Rantanen, Kyrou could be a great long-term option for them, given that he’s in the second year of an eight-year contract worth $8.125 million per season.
It’s worth noting that the Blues are in the midst of a playoff push and would probably like to have assets that could help the team right now.

The Edmonton Oilers are looking to trade Evander Kane

Evander Kane hasn’t played this season and is on the long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which means he doesn’t count against the cap.
There’s no exact date for his return, but he recently said he’d like to play at the end of the regular season and help the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, which suggests he’ll have to come off the LTIR.

However, Kane’s full no-trade clause recently expired, and he had to submit a list of 16 teams he wouldn’t want to be traded to.
Stan Bowman is reaching out to the other 15 general managers to see if a trade involving Evander Kane could happen.
If Edmonton doesn’t see how the 34-year-old forward can help the team and Kane is willing to return before the end of the season, the team would simply want to get rid of his salary ($5.125 million).

In a nutshell

– Good news for the Devils.

– What a beautiful goal.

– Jared Bednar makes some very good points.

– It’s always nice to see this.

– Indeed.

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The Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield trio is one of the most productive in the NHL

Since Juraj Slafkovsky has been paired with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, the Montreal Canadiens’ first line has officially been born.

I’m not saying it won’t change over time with the likes of Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage coming up, but the three young players are playing very well together.

It’s not uncommon for the first line to be the one that stands out, game after game.

According to the Money Puck website, the Canadiens’ core offense is among the best lines in the NHL.

With a minimum of 200 minutes played together at 5-on-5, the trio ranks 7th in goals scored per 60 minutes (excluding Sunday games).

It’s also just ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ trio composed of Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner.

It’s still incredible.

As for the trio made up of Eric Robinson, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Martin Necas (before Necas was traded), they rank 4th in goals scored per 60 minutes.

But there’s another trio that’s catching my attention, and it’s the one made up of Dimitri Voronkov, Sean Monahan, and Kirill Marchenko. The Jackets’ trio not only tops the list (goals per 60 minutes) but is also excellent defensively, with only 1.31 goals against per 60 minutes.

What makes it even more impressive for the Canadiens’ first line is when you rank the trios by the number of goals scored together at even strength. You see that Slafkovsky, Suzuki, and Caufield are 4th.

(Credit: MoneyPuck)

The Canadiens have undoubtedly found their future first line with three players who complement each other perfectly.

Slafkovsky just needs to be more consistent in his gameplay, but he’s only 20 years old, so let’s be patient.

Especially since recently, we’ve seen the Slafkovsky from the second half of the season, and he’s starting to understand his role: that of a power forward.

If he focuses on playing that way, he could undoubtedly become one of the best power forwards in the NHL.

I’m really looking forward to seeing when Demidov joins the lineup, if he can dislodge one of the three players to evolve on the first line.

Rapid Fire

– He’s so dominant.

– Let’s not forget this achievement, which would be quite incredible for Sidney Crosby to reach.

– Max Domi answered the call (in every sense of the word) from Wayne Gretzky today.

– Worth reading.

– Too bad for the Orlando Magic.

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Reilly Smith left out: New York Rangers are officially sellers

This week, some teams have jumped ahead of the trade deadline.

Yesterday, there was a big trade between the Florida Panthers and the Chicago Blackhawks. Seth Jones had to pack his bags for the warm sun of Florida.

Ryan Lindgren also had to pack his bags, as he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche, along with Jimmy Vesey, in exchange for Calvin De Haan, Juuso Parssinen, a 2nd-round pick, and a 4th-round pick.

With this trade, the New York Rangers seem to be setting themselves up to be sellers by March 7th.

Now we learn that Reilly Smith will be left out of tonight’s game in anticipation of the trade deadline.

According to Pierre LeBrun, Smith could be traded by Friday.

So that means the Rangers are officially sellers, even though they are only one point behind the Canadiens, and have a game in hand.

This is rather surprising, since the New York team still has a chance to participate in the playoffs, even though the standings are extremely tight in the East.

But it’s just as surprising because the Rangers just acquired J.T. Miller (who has been doing very well since his arrival in the Big Apple).

I’m trying to understand the logic behind all this, but what was the point of acquiring J.T. Miller if the team wants to sell?

I’d love to know what Miller thinks about it, since he waived his full no-movement clause to go to the Rangers.

The fact that the Rangers are deciding to be sellers also plays a big role in the Montreal Canadiens’ chances of making the playoffs.

Peter Laviolette’s team is a divisional rival of the Canadiens, and the race is very tight. If the Rangers “give up” on the playoffs this year, that’s one less team in the running.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens in the next five days.

Rapid Fire

– Proof that things can change (very) quickly.

– Interesting.

– He can still come back for the next game, but if he has to miss more games, it would be all the better for Lane Hutson in the Calder Trophy race.

– Incredible.

– That’s a big hit.