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https://montrealhockeynow.com/2025/07/09/montreal-canadiens-salary-cap-projections-for-two-seasons-habs-hutson/ Back from Europe in about a month and a half. By then some more of the picture will have shaken out. If any more major moves are done we will have to see some salary go out to accommodate salary moving in. Whether that is Price, Matheson, Laine or someone else…. It will be interesting to see. Cap moving up, but Hutson and Demidov will be expensive soon.

100% Hutson, Guhle, Dobson, Reinbacher are the core. Carriere is a good depth RD and while he isn't untouchable, I don't think we can afford to move him this year. I'd move one or two of Matheson, Xhejac, Struble, or prospects like Engstrom - but even than we shouldn't be moving them for another winger. We need to extend Hutson - BIG contract that will be $10M+ (I think given Dobson's contract, $10M will be the floor for Hutson on a long-term deal) and Demidov in another year. If we get another expensive winger, I can't see us affording the 2C we need - even if it is Dach. If Dach does finally stay healthy and have a big year, he will be getting a big raise. If he doesn't work out, we still will need the money to spend for a 2C.

Agreed, Habs young and talented defense is their greatest strength, don't mess it up.

Then our answer should be hell no.

What Gavin McKenna’s commitment means for the NCAA, CHL, Penn State, NIL and more - The Athletic "... That’s true in both the NCAA and CHL, where the developments of the last year are only positive for what they mean for the pockets of the players and the amenities and paths they’ll have available to them on either side of the border. There’s fear within the CHL and the NCAA that the rich will get richer and smaller markets and schools will have an even tougher time competing with the likes of London in the CHL and the powerhouses in the Big Ten or Hockey East than they already do, but smart hockey and business minds will find niches and avenues forward.

I was thinking they might want Guhle?

I expect that Hughes will not give up Matheson for anything less than a high-quality 2C.

CHL may not compete with 700k but not everyone is Gavin McKenna either. Maybe the CHL should find a way to pay some of their players though.

Bingo. Gone are the days of the top 18yr olds playing in Canada. Free education and six figure payouts will lead them all south of the border.

Another goalie signing, this time it's Benjamin Gaudreau. If the name sounds familiar, he was the backup for Canada at the World Juniors in 2023. https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/benjamin-gaudreau-contract-2025-2026/

Not necessarily dead but it might become the feeder league to the NCAA. Go play there until you're out of high school and then see what's out there. And there will still be those who prefer to play the 'closer-to-pro' schedule to prepare for the NHL. But with there being rumblings that some 19-year-old CHL players could play in the AHL in the new CBA, the CHL is going to become more of a league for 16 to 18-year-olds rather than 16 to 20.

The CHL can’t compete with NCAA money. Consider it dead.

It likely does. It seems to me that it would be harder to make the Kyrou trade work after the Bolduc trade than before.

What Gavin McKenna’s commitment means for the NCAA, CHL, Penn State, NIL and more - The Athletic "... Not that long ago, top NHL prospects were telling me they were getting branded sweaters and free meals at local restaurants as their NIL packages. McKenna’s package, all in all, is rumored to be upwards of $700,000 USD — or in and around a million CAD. (I haven’t been able to verify that number with people connected to McKenna, but it’s the biggest package ever given to a college hockey player.)

It likely starts with Mattheson

I agree, Mailloux was certainly a trading piece with some value and he is gone. I think whatever the Blues want for Kyrou, Hughes is not willing to give up.

Hear Habs interested in Jordan Kyrou, just cant see Habs adding another winger. But, what would St Louis want in return, or what could Habs offer that St Louis looking for?

I would more concerned about his size come "play-off hockey" ... a 60-point centre is probably $7M AAV with the rising salary cap ceiling

My garbage collector's, cousin's, hairdresser's, boyfriend's, neighbour's, Amazon-driver's, dog-walker says Tage Thompson wants to play in Montreal ... he swears it's true.

At least not Rossi at $7M AAV ...

Yeah i agree with that. I think they aren't going to get a 2C just to get a 2C. They don't want Rossi. They don't want someone older. If those are the options they want to stick with Dach at least one more year. That said, if suddenly Mason McTavish or other young centre became available for trade (and no I don't believe current rumours which are questionably sourced), but if someone like that was available, they would change their mind on things. So they have faith in Dach, but its not unlimited. If a certain specific option was available (young C with size), they would try to pounce. But keep in mind the competition for such a player would be fierce as 15 teams at least would want him.

I would suggest slightly qualifying that ... having been unable to obtain an appropriate 2C (long-term or band-aid), they believe that Dach has the skillset necessary to succeed if he can stay healthy and therefore is their best option, so they don't want to put too much pressure on him with their public statements.

I get the feeling that they still believe in Dach, but don't want to put too much pressure on him with their public statements either.

I think there is the late August, early September trade market but that tends to be depth moves. Wouldn’t mind being surprised with a 2C trade though

Jeff Gorton feels Canadiens added talent to their core, but more could be coming - The Athletic You’re trying to manage all these things, and you don’t want a lesser player that is not as good as somebody else walking in making way more money than another guy. Because it’s real, right? So those things, when agents argue for percentage of the cap, percentage of the cap, percentage of the cap, it can be a little too much for me. Generally speaking, that’s an argument for the better players.” ... you don’t generally see a lot of movement for the first 20 games. People want to see what they have. I don’t see that changing. I could be crazy, but the curious part is probably the next few weeks to see if there’s a secondary market that evolves. People didn’t get what they wanted,...