Three reasons to be hopeful after five weeks of Habs action

November 10, 2024 The fifth week of action for the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024-25 season featured three games. Tuesday’s game was a 3-2 overtime loss at home to the Calgary Flames. On Thursday, they lost 5-3 in New Jersey. Saturday night’s game was in Toronto, and the Habs left with a 4-1 loss. AfterContinue reading “Three reasons to be hopeful after five weeks of Habs action”

After four weeks of action, is there a way for the GM to help his coach?

November 3, 2024 In the fourth week of action in the 2024-25 season the Montreal Canadiens were looking up to see abysmal. The Habs suffered three losses on the week – an 8-2 home loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, a 6-3 loss in Washington on Thursday and a 3-1 loss in Pittsburgh onContinue reading “After four weeks of action, is there a way for the GM to help his coach?”

Should the Habs be in the trade market this early in the season?

October 30, 2024 The Montreal Canadiens ended their third week of play in the 2024-25 NHL season with a 4-4-1 record, a .500 clip that has them tied with several other teams for third place in the Atlantic Division. But the third week also saw the Habs smack dab in the middle of trade rumourContinue reading “Should the Habs be in the trade market this early in the season?”

Opening week featured stellar performances from three Habs

October 13, 2024 The Montreal Canadiens opened the 2024-25 season with three games. On Wednesday, they battled out a 1-0 win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs. In Boston on Thursday the Habs fell 6-4 to the Bruins. Then on Saturday night, the Canadiens toppled the Ottawa Senators with a 4-1 win. The story ofContinue reading “Opening week featured stellar performances from three Habs”

With the crazy preseason done, HuGo shouldn’t pull any punches

October 7, 2024 The Montreal Canadiens played their last preseason game on Saturday night, and not a minute too soon. From losing off-season acquisition Patrik Laine to injury, to the coach refusing to play his top line in the final preparation match fearing the same outcome, the preseason was a bit of a shit show.Continue reading “With the crazy preseason done, HuGo shouldn’t pull any punches”

Critical storylines as we transition to the Habs main training camp

September 17, 2024 The annual golf tournament is a sure sign that a new season for the Montreal Canadiens is about to kick off. On Monday, players, coaching staff and management teed off in Laval, and we can almost smell the rink. The rookie tournament is done and there were no major surprises. Lane HutsonContinue reading “Critical storylines as we transition to the Habs main training camp”

Three players who’ll want to shift the narrative at Habs rookie camp

September 7, 2024 On Friday, the Montreal Canadiens announced the roster of players that are due to participate in this year’s rookie camp, which is set to get underway on September 11th. Some familiar faces are returning under the weight of expectation while others are getting their first real glimpse at life in the NHL.Continue reading “Three players who’ll want to shift the narrative at Habs rookie camp”

Is a “cherry on top” trade possible to end this Habs off-season?

August 31, 2024 It’s been one helluva summer for the Montreal Canadiens. Since the Habs finished at the bottom of the standings, and secured the fifth overall pick following the draft lottery, GM Kent Hughes has been a busy man. It began at the draft. After packaging picks to improve on their second pick inContinue reading “Is a “cherry on top” trade possible to end this Habs off-season?”

Checking in on the Habs progress against the McGuire Profile

August 24, 2024 On April 20, 2023 I wrote an article assessing where the Montreal Canadiens were in their development against what I named the McGuire Profile. The McGuire Profile is a 7-player profile which hockey analyst Pierre McGuire says was developed based on conversations with Scotty Bowman. The profile identifies seven essential pieces toContinue reading “Checking in on the Habs progress against the McGuire Profile”

Kent Hughes is an August fiend, and Patrik Laine is a Hab

August 19, 2024 There it is, right when you least expected it. On a sleepy Monday afternoon in the third week of August, the casual tweet from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Minutes later, the full deal was confirmed. The Montreal Canadiens sent Jordan Harris to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Patrik Laine and a second roundContinue reading “Kent Hughes is an August fiend, and Patrik Laine is a Hab”