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Posted
49 minutes ago, WildTurkeyXX said:

We are in a great place. Especially if our homegrown talent can continue to reach and exceed expectations! It's a great time to be a Hab fan!

 

Think Don's point was that there hasn't been a traditional dynasty in the NHL since the 84-90 Oilers, some will say really the 79-83 Islanders.

Posted
16 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

 

Think Don's point was that there hasn't been a traditional dynasty in the NHL since the 84-90 Oilers, some will say really the 79-83 Islanders.

Dynasties definitely aren't what they used to be, but what is anymore? I'll take a modern era dynasty over nothing at all :)

Posted

Talking about dynasty just seems so silly at this stage.

We know what writer is talking about, with team looking better and pretty good prospect group, but still.

 

I assume Mantha wasnt a fit Hughes looking for.

Hockey | The Canadiens courted Anthony Mantha | The Press

 

"We had discussions," confirmed the 31-year-old forward. There was interest from Montreal in me and vice versa, but when it was time to talk about numbers and years, there was never an offer, so we went in another direction. We gave them time to call us back for a good week, but nothing happened. 

Posted
4 hours ago, DON said:

Talking about dynasty just seems so silly at this stage.

We know what writer is talking about, with team looking better and pretty good prospect group, but still.

 

I assume Mantha wasnt a fit Hughes looking for.

Hockey | The Canadiens courted Anthony Mantha | The Press

 

"We had discussions," confirmed the 31-year-old forward. There was interest from Montreal in me and vice versa, but when it was time to talk about numbers and years, there was never an offer, so we went in another direction. We gave them time to call us back for a good week, but nothing happened. 

 

He is no Kirby Dach (average 44 games/season) injury-wise but 58 games is nothing to write home about ... and while he brings height and weight he doesn't bring "hockey-size/physicality" ... a 1-yr deal might have been worth considering but on a two-yr deal where does he fit once Zharovsky and Hage arrive to fight for Top 6 prospects, with Beck and Xhekaj already fighting for Bottom 6 roles ... not surprised, and actually happy, HuGo passed.

Posted

 

I just trealized: theoretically, the coaches of an NHL team CANNOT coach an NHL player during the summer.

 

However, the Canadiens still haven't announced a contract extension for Marco Marciano, who is on the ice with Jacob Fowler here. Officially, Marciano is currently unemployed?

 

Are we going to wait until camp to announce a new contract? That would allow Marciano to work with the Habs' goalies during the summer...

  • Like 1
Posted

There are exceptions to this now.  If a player files a request through the NHLPA to work with a coach, it is generally allowed.

Posted

Still young. 

Canadiens will still be the youngest team in the NHL in 2026-2027 | TVA Sports

...

This is particularly the case for the Habs, who currently have the youngest team in the entire NHL, with an average age of 26.3 years old according to statistics compiled by NHL Rosters. The Chicago Blackhawks, who added veteran Patrick Kane to their roster on Thursday, follow in second place with an average of 26.7 years, while the Vancouver Canucks round out the top three least experienced teams at 26.8 years old.

At the other end of the rankings, the Colorado Avalanche (30.6 years), Florida Panthers (30.9 years) and Los Angeles Kings (31 years) will be the three oldest teams in the Bettman League in 2026-2027.

Posted

I think it's a little premature to be declaring the Habs the youngest team considering there's still two months before the season starts as the headline says.  They are the projected youngest team today but let's see what else there is transactions-wise around the league over the next two months.  Chances are, the order will be changing.

Posted

In general will be one of youngest teams.

Posted

What is left of free agents that Hughes may give a 1 year deal to, aside from Laine?

Posted

Every once and awhile ClickBait30 stumbles across a valid point ... in his four years as a Habs coach what young defenceman has Stephane Robidas helped to significantly improve?  Lane Hutson is a prodigy ... Kaiden Guhle was already a mid-first round draft pick ... Xhekaj, no ... Struble, no ... Kovacevic, no ... Harris, no ... Barron, no ... Engstrom/Reinbacher, TBD

 

Is it time upgrade the back-end coaching? 

 

Could better coaching have helped Struble and Xhekaj become 3rd pairing defencemen MSL could rely upon?  
 

  • Like 1
Posted
27 minutes ago, DON said:

What is left of free agents that Hughes may give a 1 year deal to, aside from Laine?

 

If it's a one-year deal, maybe Tarasenko?  I think he wants a multi-year deal but if that doesn't materialize, maybe that would bring Montreal in.

  • Like 1
Posted
On 7/17/2026 at 8:55 AM, DON said:

A dynasty, comeon.

 

The Canadiens Can Afford To Be Patient This Summer – Pro Hockey Rumors

 

"There is no NHL team better positioned to become a dynasty than the Montreal Canadiens."

Geez...all this hype about the Habs worries me a little. Anyone remember the front page of the Hockey News abotu 10 years ago, when they said that is was not a question of «If» the Leafs would win the Cup, but how many they would win.

 

I just hope we don't turn out the same way!

Posted
On 7/18/2026 at 11:15 AM, GHT120 said:

 

He is no Kirby Dach (average 44 games/season) injury-wise but 58 games is nothing to write home about ... and while he brings height and weight he doesn't bring "hockey-size/physicality" ... a 1-yr deal might have been worth considering but on a two-yr deal where does he fit once Zharovsky and Hage arrive to fight for Top 6 prospects, with Beck and Xhekaj already fighting for Bottom 6 roles ... not surprised, and actually happy, HuGo passed.

I for one am very happy we didn,t get Mantha. He's a one year wonder...(contract year) not to mention he's too old and isn't a fast enough skater to keep up with the Habs.

Posted

 

Dom the stats guy has Carolina #1

 

NHL contract efficiency rankings 2026: Which teams spend their money most wisely? - The Athletic

image.png

 

Montreal has four A-plus grades on the books, two more than any other team in the league. Having forwards such as Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovský at their current levels making less than Jacob Trouba will have that effect. Given their relatively young ages, there isn’t much decline expected; with the term on each deal and the cap rising, that leads to some gaudy market value. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Ivan Demidov get to that level this time next year either, and the model is a big fan of Jakub Dobes’ immediate future, too.

 

Posted
10 minutes ago, DON said:


Hughes was smart for locking the core up before the BIG raises to player salaries in general kicked in. 
 

Anderson going into his last year. I’m curious what kind of salary demands he is going to have. He isn’t the scorer he once was but EVERYBODY league wide saw what he brings in the playoffs. 
 

Danault was a faceoff machine and I was thrilled with his playoffs - still I expect him to walk after this season. 
 

Carrier I expect to walk after this season

 

Montembault probably won’t start the season here

 

Newhook will get a contract if not traded

 

Dach - can effing stay healthy pal?

 

I'm starting to get juiced for the season

Posted
4 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:


Hughes was smart for locking the core up before the BIG raises to player salaries in general kicked in. 
 

Anderson going into his last year. I’m curious what kind of salary demands he is going to have. He isn’t the scorer he once was but EVERYBODY league wide saw what he brings in the playoffs. 
 

Danault was a faceoff machine and I was thrilled with his playoffs - still I expect him to walk after this season. 
 

Carrier I expect to walk after this season

 

Montembault probably won’t start the season here

 

Newhook will get a contract if not traded

 

Dach - can effing stay healthy pal?

 

I'm starting to get juiced for the season

Bit more on Habs in ranking,

... Those five deals do a lot of the heavy lifting here. The rest ranges from fine (Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle) to outright bad (Phillip Danault, Josh Anderson). The good news is the great deals will be cooking for a while and should allow Montreal to build something truly special. The bad deals? They’ll be off the books by next summer, where it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Canadiens sitting at the top of this list with plenty of room to add to one of the game’s best young cores.

Posted
4 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Danault was a faceoff machine and I was thrilled with his playoffs - still I expect him to walk after this season. 
(...)

Montembault probably won’t start the season here

 

Once Danault is gone, we really need either Kapanen++, Dach++ or a trade for a C, because I don't expect Hage to be ready yet one year from now.

 

As for Montembeault...anything could happen in the next six weeks. Or not. Having Fowler get 50+ starts in the AHL would not be a bad thing, either.

Posted

ClickBait30 fishing for controversy with a story based on PuckPedia listing Brett Berard on the Canadiens roster while Owen Beck, Filip Mesar, Florian Xhekaj and even Sasha Pastujov are listed as "non-roster" ... OMG ... we must be entering the dog days of the NHL off-season.

 

image.jpeg

Posted

I don't think PuckPedia having him there that much of a shocker, honestly.  As the roster stands, it's probably Berard who should be the 13th forward (since they're not going to want a waiver-exempt youngster in that role).

Posted

What is the master plan Kent?

 

Five Midsummer Questions Regarding the Habs – HabsWorld.net

 

1) Why didn’t Xhekaj file for arbitration?

...

5) If there isn’t an addition of significance, what becomes the plan?

While the belief is that the Canadiens are still aiming high to try to add a core player, it seems rather unlikely to happen.  There aren’t many core players available at this time of the offseason and with the trade market being what it has been this summer, the acquisition price would be on the high side.  No doubt that management has its ear to the ground to see if someone shakes loose but I suspect they’re more hoping than expecting it will actually happen.

Posted
On 8/2/2026 at 8:56 AM, DON said:

What is the master plan Kent?

 

Five Midsummer Questions Regarding the Habs – HabsWorld.net

 

1) Why didn’t Xhekaj file for arbitration?

...

5) If there isn’t an addition of significance, what becomes the plan?

While the belief is that the Canadiens are still aiming high to try to add a core player, it seems rather unlikely to happen.  There aren’t many core players available at this time of the offseason and with the trade market being what it has been this summer, the acquisition price would be on the high side.  No doubt that management has its ear to the ground to see if someone shakes loose but I suspect they’re more hoping than expecting it will actually happen.

Wait until the right deal comes along? Hope that core players continue to improve, and get better that way. Caufield and Suzuki likely won't see much improvement on the scoresheet. But maybe they improve on little things. Suzuki on efficiency. Shorter shifts? Caufield on defensive posession? Hutson improves his neutral zone choices and gets caught less? Slaf improves his defensive giveaways? Demidov continues developing and sees points increase. Dobes improves positioning and lets in less softies. Newhook continues making his case as a top 6 and battles more in dirty areas.  Guhle plays 75 games. 

 

There is so much room for improvent with this young team that if they don't add, it may be ok. Of course i'd love to see hutson on the left side and a true top 6 to play with demidov. 

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