Volokhin’s contract, a strange team spirit in Ottawa and history for Schaefer

Dose
Crédit: ELMONT, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders waves to the crowd after being named first star of the game vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets at UBS Arena. (Photo by Dennis DaSilva/NHLI via Getty Images)

Have you noticed how the Canadiens have quite a few goalies in the branches?

Samuel Montembeault and Jakub Dobes are upstairs. Jacob Fowler and Kaapo Kahkonen are in Laval. But then there are a good number of prospects all over the world.

Alexis Cournoyer, Arseni Radkov, Yevgeni Volokhin, Mikus Vecvanags, Quentin Miller and Emmett Croteau are all prospects whose rights belong to the Canadiens.

We like the goalie strategy. After all, their development is hard to predict, and it’s best to take several chances before hoping to see a guy blossom.

Of course, this means that not all goalies can play in Montreal or Laval at the same time. It takes guys from other leagues.

And that’s probably why the Habs shouldn’t make too much of the fact that Yevgeni Volokhin, who is the third goaltender drafted in 2023 by the club after Fowler and Miller, will stay in Russia until 2028.

It was announced recently, but it’s safe to assume it was signed before November.

The Russian is only 20 and has had more playing time in the VHL than in the KHL so far this season. He’s going to need time to develop – and that’s okay.

See you in 2028 to see what’s what, then?

Nick Cousins in a state of indifference

On Saturday night, Nick Cousins fought Jayden Struble. Of course, he didn’t have much choice in the matter, considering what had happened during the preparatory calendar.

But something special happened afterwards, when he left the match.

His team-mates didn’t really care. His club didn’t necessarily issue an update on his condition. He just… disappeared for the time being.

Renaud Lavoie (not the first to suggest that Cousins isn’t Ottawa’s most valued teammate) spoke about it on the radio this morning.

Weird, isn’t it?

It seems that in Montreal, even though the club is younger and less experienced, we wouldn’t have seen this. The Canadiens’ youngsters are holding their own.

The race for the Calder

If Matthew Schaefer gets about as many points as Ivan Demidov, will he win the Calder? And if he scores more goals, how will that look?

This is a subject that will be the talk of the town for months to come.

Right now, the Islanders defenseman leads the rookies in goals (5) and points (10), which is pretty impressive for an 18-year-old defenseman.

Yesterday, he became the youngest defenseman in history to score two goals in a game. That’s no mean feat.

Lane Hutson has shown that a good passer in a club that makes the playoffs can win the Calder. So Demidov has a chance, if you look at it that way.

But what the Long Island player is doing… Wow.

overtime

– Hard blow for Washington.

– Interesting news.

– He’s a good kid.

– Not wrong.

– What do you think?