July 19, 2025 On Wednesday, the Montreal Canadiens announced they had signed a one-year one-way contract with forward Joe Veleno. The contract comes with a $900K annual average value, which is a nice price for a depth forward. The Habs needed to replace some depth. Several bottom six forwards have left Montreal. Michael Pezzetta didContinue reading “Joe Veleno gives the Habs another patch while they wait to fill a hole”
Tag Archives: Habs
The plan for the Habs D is entangled with the plan for Mike Matheson
July 14, 2025 The Montreal Canadiens went into the off-season with some obvious questions about their defense group. David Savard had announced his retirement and, with him being one of two right shots on defense, the hole he was leaving was real. The questions were obvious. Would David Reinbacher and/or Logan Mailloux be ready toContinue reading “The plan for the Habs D is entangled with the plan for Mike Matheson”
Early in free agency, there are things we can surmise about the Habs
July 4, 2025 With the first wave of a fairly flat free agency already in the books, General Manager Kent Hughes has approached the 2025 free agency window of change much like he approached his first three at the helm of the Montreal Canadiens. Like years past, Hughes has not yet overpaid on one freeContinue reading “Early in free agency, there are things we can surmise about the Habs”
In this draft window, the Habs accelerated their ascent to a contention window
June. 29, 2025 We should not be surprised. HuGo has been active in every draft window since their arrival, beyond simply drafting at their designated spots, to improve the Montreal Canadiens. But their Friday trade to acquire Noah Dobson, and then sign him to a contract that covers his entire prime years, was a stepContinue reading “In this draft window, the Habs accelerated their ascent to a contention window”
Three moves to help the Habs
June 26, 2025 This is a segue from this week’s Basu & Godin Notebook podcast where the guys – Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin – played a little game where they took turns being the Habs GM. Each of them identified three off-season moves to improve the Montreal Canadiens for next season. I wantContinue reading “Three moves to help the Habs”
Can the Habs find the next Sam Bennett?
June 21, 2025 This past week, the Stanley Cup for the 2024-25 NHL season was hoisted by the Florida Panthers. As is tradition, the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable playoff performer was also awarded. Unsurprisingly, Sam Bennett was the guy. Bennett is in the last year of his current contract and can becomeContinue reading “Can the Habs find the next Sam Bennett?”
Big questions drive the Habs attack for the next two windows of change
June 16, 2025 It’s mid-June and it looks like the Stanley Cup will finally be hoisted this coming week. Teams have already begun their off-season work, with contracts being signed and some small trades already unfolding. The NHL amateur draft takes place on June 27 and 28, and free agency opens on July 1. TheContinue reading “Big questions drive the Habs attack for the next two windows of change”
Can the young Habs keep the magic coming?
April 19, 2025 It took them the full 82 games to do it, but the Montreal Canadiens have clinched a berth in the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their goal was to be in the mix, but now they’re in the show, and on Monday night they will face off against the Capitals in Washington inContinue reading “Can the young Habs keep the magic coming?”
The Habs approach to the 2025 trade deadline was a head scratcher
March 8, 2025 On Friday, March 7th, Trade Deadline Day for the 2024-25 season came and went and the Montreal Canadiens did exactly nothing. For the first time in his tenure, General Manager Kent Hughes failed to capitalize on an important window of change for the Habs. The extension for Jake Evans is something. WeContinue reading “The Habs approach to the 2025 trade deadline was a head scratcher”
The Evans extension is team-friendly and team-defining days before the deadline
March 5, 2025 While fans and pundits were surmising which teams might be interested in a deadline trade for centreman Jake Evans, and what those teams might be willing to pay to land him, the player and the team had other plans. On Tuesday the Montreal Canadiens announced they had come to terms on a four-yearContinue reading “The Evans extension is team-friendly and team-defining days before the deadline”
Hab At Her 