Hello Hockey Fans, out there. Episode 184 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived. This week’s topics include-

#1. If you really want to know where you stand, this is an opportunity for Montreal learn from.

#2. This is an opportunity for Montreal to grow from.

#3. This is an opportunity for Montreal as an organization and roster to truly understand its internal depth, talent and readiness of its prospects.

#4. This is not the time to panic or to make a knee jerk for the Montreal Canadiens.

#5. Jordan Kyrou is not what the Montreal Canadiens need. He doesn't fit in. He will destroy the development of and take earned roster spots away from internal prospects and talents.

#6. Call up Adam Angstrom and pair him with Lane Hutson for the 2025/2026 season.

#7. Bring up Jared Davidson as a permanently replacing jake Evans.

#8. Bring up the entire line of right winger Tyler Thorpe, center Florian Xhekaj and left wing Luke Tuch and make them the teams 3rd line moving forward, so that Montreal finally has physicality, grit and sandpaper players in their lineup that additionally have tremendous size, attitude and a wolf pack mentality

#9. Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook are all out for 4 months.

#10. Kirby Dach is supposedly out 4 to 6 weeks. I’ll be shocked if Kirby Dach returns to the lineup before Presidents Day in January of 2026.

#11. Alex Newhook is the only actual loss of the 4 players currently out. No one else was producing or contributing.

#12. Call up Kaapo Kahkonen and name him the team’s number 1 starting goaltender.

#13. Samual Montembeau and Jakub Dobes can rotate and play back up to Kaapo Kahkonen until their games return. Whichever one is not the games back up, they can sit in the press box.

#14. What has happened to Zack Bolducs games?

#15. Every team has injuries, but a total team collapse is not acceptable. Suck it up, buttercup.

#16. There is a need for a total roster reset in Montreal with a starting with the pairing of

First defensive pairing R.D. Noah Dobson/L.D. Mike Matheson

Second defensive pairing R.D. Adam Engstrom/L.D. Lane Hutson

Third defensive pairing R.D Alexander Carrier or Jayden Struble/ L.D. Arber Xhekaj.

Offensive Line #1 is RW-Ivan Demidon, C-Nick Suzuki and LW-Cole Caufield

Offensive Line #2 is RW-Zack Bolduc, C-Oliver Kapanen and LW Juraj Slafvlkovsky.

Offensive Line #3 RW-Tyler Thorpe, C- Florian Xhekaj and LW Luke Tuch

Offensive Line #4. RW-Brendan Gallagher RW, C- Jared Davidson and LW Josh Andersson

Starting goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and rotate the back up.

#17. Other than Alex Newhook, as the injured players return, start trading them, along with David Reibacher, Owen beck, Filip Mesar, Joshua Roy, Vinzenz Rohrer and Riley Kidney for continued draft capital to obtain A-level plus talent.

Welcome to Episode 183 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Hockey fans. This week’s episode topics include-

#1. Might be time to move on from Kaiden Guhle, maybe Anaheim, San Jose or Vancouver?

#2. The games of Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble are not the same, there is an enormous difference.

#3. Kaiden Guhle is a 1st or 2nd pair, 82 game, 23 plus minute player if and when healthy.

#4. Jayden Struble is a 3rd pairing 12 to 14 minute per night player.

#5. Montreal has 4 starting centers who are equal to what any other NHL club has and can ice. With that said, I would replace 2 of them, but with internal talent, that’s better than anything around the league.

#6. There isn’t another player in the entire league than Nick Suzuki.

#7. The number 2 center is Oliver Kapanen who has done everything asked of him and more.

#8. Kirkby Dach sits at the number 3 center position. Replace him with Florian Xhekaj or Jared Davidson

#9. Brendan Gallagher and Zack Bolduc are propping up Kirby Dach.

#10. Florian Xhekaj will protect Brendan Gallagher look no one ever has in his entire career

#11. Florian Xhekaj will provide Zack Bolduc space.

#12. Or Drop Jared Davidson between Brendan Gallgher and Zack Bolduc.

#13. Jake Evans is not having a good 2025/2026 season in many ways.

#14. If it’s decided Florian Xhekaj needs more time in Laval, which he does not, then Jared Davidson is the answer between Bredan Gallagher and Zack Bolduc, then the simple move is to replace Jake Evans with Owen Beck.

#15. Joe Veleno certainly is not the answer.

#16. If you want to add an entire new line, then call up Tyler Thorpe at right wing, Florian Xhekaj at center and Luke Tuch at left wing.

#17. That doesn’t even include Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky. Much will change in 2026/2027 anyway.

#18. The top 6 of the offensive for a decade will be Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield Ivan Demidov, Alexander Zharovsky, Michael Hage and Juraj Slafkovsky.

#19. The long-term top 6 defensively will be Noah Dobson, Bryce Pickford, Adam Engstrom, Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj and Owen Protz.

#20. Here is the actual concerns Kaiden Guhle 4 months, Patrick Laine 4 months or more, Kirby Dach not the same player he was when acquired, now Alex Newhook is out 4 months.

#21. This is why you do not trade draft capital, assets or existing prospects.

#22. What Montreal Canadien prospects likely won’t make it.

#23. What Montreal Canadien prospects will make it.

#24. Montreal Canadiens prospects to keep an eye on and not lose track of.

Episode 182 of the Hockey free For All Podcast. Let’s call this episode the Center and ripple effect episode as that will be the primary discussion. But before I start, a slight detour first.

#1. Why is anyone surprised by the Montreal Canadiens hot start and how they are playing?

#2. The Montreal Canadiens have extremely solid, if not the best management in the entire NHL and the perfect head coach.

#3. The Montreal Canadiens have drafted better than anyone else has for years now.

#4. The Montreal Canadiens have the top prospect pool.

#5. The Montreal Canadiens have the top player development department and staff.

#6. Seriously, why does anyone think that the Montreal Canadiens need Steven Stamkos? 35 years old and 8 million per season and is not even remote producing to or at that level.

#7. I wouldn’t trade Patrik Laine, straight up for Steven Stamkos. Patrik Laines 8.7 million contract and annual cap hit expires at the completion of the 2025/2026 season. Steven Stamkos’s contract still has 3 more years at 8-million per season. Montreal gains nothing with this player.

#8. Really, Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flame. He’s 34 years old and carries with him 5 more years at 7 million per season. Montreal gets nothing in this acquisition that they do not already have.

#9. Ryan O’Reily from Nashville. Someone explain how this makes any sense or any kind. He brings absolutely nothing that Jake Evans does not already bring to the organization.

#9. Bo Horvat, again why? He brings 6 years remaining of an 8 year contract that has an annual cap hit of 8.5 million dollars per season that runs through the 20230/2031 season. How many have failed finance 101

#10. The only one that might make some kind of sense. Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues. He’s 27. But it not only stunt the development of prospect Michael Hage, it would destroy his career and no one is even remotely worth that.

#11. The Montreal Canadiens have their 4 long term center within the Organization. Number one, their captain Nick Suzuki, Number 2. With many, many skills that cannot be taught that a player either possesses or does not possess Michael Hage at the University of Michigan. At number 3. Oliver Kapanen, and number 4 Jerad Davidson.

#12.Because of Jeff Gorton, Kent Huges and an absolutely amazing scouting department headed by Martin LaPointe and Nik Bobrov that brings in tremendous talent consistently for Adam Nicholas and Scott Pellerin the Director and Assistant Director of Hockey Development, the Montreal Canadiens are set up for long term success.

Episode 181, the Halloween edition of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. The topics in this edition include-

#1. Why do the Canadiens need to replace Patrik Laine. He has done nothing!

#2. Patrik Laine has not even remotely produced for the team in any way.

#3. There is nothing to replace regarding Patrik Line.

#4. Why would the Montreal Canadiens even remotely want Jaden Schwartz

from Seattle and along with his 27 million plus contract, for what purpose.

#5. Next question on this topic. Why would the Montreal Canadiens give away a prospect from their talent pool to Seattle, when they can obtain far more from another club, for that prospect?

#6. On that same topic, again I ask, why would the Montreal Canadiens give away a 2nd round draft pick in the 2026 that they initially acquired from the Columbus Blue jackets, when they initially acquired Patrik Laine to the Seattle Kraken, for a player that they do not need, rather than drafting another gem with that pick and add it to their prospect pool.

#7. The Montreal Canadiens have more than enough internal prospects to fill Patrik Laines injury. They do not need to acquire anyone from any other NHL club, the dead wait/bad contract that will come with it.

#8. And while I at it, the Montreal Canadiens do not need and have no need for of any kind for Nazem Kadri. Not to mention the awesome 49 million contract that Nazem Kadri carries with him.

#9. The Montreal Canadiens do not need Sidney Crosby. He would cost far too much, that would upset the team chemistry. It would upset the lines and tear apart who plays with who. It would disrupt the locker room. It’s not good. Las Vegas, Dallas, Colorado or Tampa, are better fits.

#10. Speaking of trade bait, Kaiden Guhle and David Reibacher might need to go, because of injuries. Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, Joe Veleno, Joshua Roy, Owen Beck, Filip Mesar and Vinzenz Rohrer are not looking like long-term pieces to the puzzle and may need to go. The greater value of these players may be draft currency.

#11. Is anyone extremely excited that the Canadiens could have Alexander Zharovsky in their line up by the trade deadline this season. It would be extremely exciting to see Ivan Demidov and Alexander Zharovsky play on the same line.

#12. The Utah Hockey Club has signed Logan Cooley to an 8-year extension worth a total of 80-million dollars, with an annual cap hit of 10-million dollars per season.

#13. Really! It’s the opening month of the NHL. Meaning its October. How are their people actually asking at this point can Cole Caufield win the Rocket Richard Trophey. What is wrong with these people. This is not even a viable question until the end of February of any season.

Hello hockey fans, welcome to episode 180 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast, this weeks topics include-

#1. Ivan Demidov, Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook look great.

#2. Oliver Kapanen has already replaced Kirby Dachs.

#3. The Injuries continue for Kirby Dach.

#4. Is the 2025/206 season it for Kirby Dach with the Canadiens?

#5. Patrik Laine has even looked go on the 4th line.

#6. Patrik Laine is way over paid

#7. It’s no surprise if Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine are both traded at the 2025/2026 trade deadline.

#8. Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine are taken up roster spots that other prospects deserve.

#9. Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach are not worth 12 million plus of team payroll.

#10. Just imagine Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky on the2nd line with Ivan Demidov in the 2026/2027 season.

#11. Is Jayden Struble better than Kaiden Guhle?

#12. Kaiden Guhle’s injuries continue!

#13. It may be best for both if Kaiden Guhle is traded.

#14. Adam Engstrom is a key prospect.

#15. Adam Engstrom is knocking on the door hard.

#16. Adam Engstrom looks like a definite part of the long-term top 6 on the Montreal Canadiens defense.

#17. Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson look every bit, a solid defensive pairing.

#18. Keep Mike Matheson. Montreal Needs him and he’s perfect for Noah Dobson.

#19. Hat’s off to Kent Hughes acquisition of Noah Dobson, as it looks like Noah Dobson, not David Reinbacker or Logan Mailloux is the top right-handed defenseman.

#20. It now seems far more likely that David Reinbacker will be a trade chip. His continuous injuries raise far too many questions just like Kaiden Guhle’s do.

#21. Kaiden Guhle had a relatively injury free junior career and has so far had an injury filled NHL career?

#22. Jayden Struble has injury issues and concerns while playing at Northeastern University, yet has no injuries in the AHL or the NHL?

#23. The dark horse right defensive top prospect is Bryce Pickens, who I think is Lane Hutson’s defensive partner, maybe as early as game 1 of the 2026/2027 season.

#24. Owen Protz was a steel in the 4th round of the 2024 NHL entry draft and will also be part of the top 6 in Montreal for a long time.

#25. There is no goaltending controversy. Stop trying to create or cause chaos!

#26. Samual Montembeau knows his game is not where he wants it.

#27. Samual Montembeau is a solid NHL goaltender

#28. Jakub Dobes is playing Light out Hockey.

#29. Jakub Dobes was a steel of a selection in the 5th round of the 2020 NHL entry draft with the 136th pick overall.

#30. But if there was a trade of either Montembeau or Dobes. I hope they keep Dobes now, just like I wanted Montreal keep Jaroslav Halak over Carey Price.

Welcome to Episode 179 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast hockey fans, this week’s Topics include-

#1. The Montreal Canadiens sign defenseman Lane Hutson to an 8-year 70.8 million dollar contract with an annual cap hit of 8.85 million dollars per season.

#2. The Montreal Canadiens have announced the signing of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes to new 5-year contracts and promotion.

#4. Surprise! Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson are a perfect pair, no kidding.

#5. Think Edmonton Oilers of the 80’s regarding the Pairing of Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson.

#6. Neither Noah Dobson nor Mike Matheson will ever be compared to or confused with being big physical defensive defensemen. Not their game style or skill set.

#7. Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson are gifted offensive defensemen and very fluid skaters.

#8. Oh look, there are those who just can’t stand a good thing and be happy for the Montreal Canadiens solid start to the 2025/2026 season!

#9. It’s only 5 games in, out of 82, go get a 2nd job to fill your free time.

#10. Fortunately, the Montreal Canadiens are the definition of professionalism, Character, maturity, ethics, integrity and most importantly owned and ran by individuals that are brilliant deep thinking, non-reactionary, calculating, tactical people.

#11. The Montreal Canadiens are just fine in goal.

#12. On the day that Jakub Dobes was drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 draft out of Ohio State I said that the Montreal Canadiens have found themselves a diamond.

#13. Ever hear that old saying “history repeats itself” ya, that is exactly what you have here. Should they have kept Caret Price or Jaroslav Halak?

#14. Who do the Montreal Canadiens this time? Samual Montembeau or Jakub Dobes.

#15. My Choices were and remain to this day Jaroslav Halak and Jakub Dobes.

#16 So 5th round draft picks don’t matter, never develop into key players? Montreal Canadiens 5th round selections in NHL entry draft selections. 2024, RW Tyler Thorpe, 2023 LW Sam Harris & Goaltender Yevgeni Volokhin, 2022 C. Jared Davidson. 2021 RW Joshua Roy. In the 2020 NHL entry Draft Goaltender Jakub Dobes and in the 2010 NHL entry draft right winger, heart and soul, as well as leave it all on the ice every game player RW Brendan Gallagher, interesting!

#17. Jakub Dobes is a legit number one NHL goaltender.

#18. Henrik Lundqvist was a 7th round draft pick in the 2000 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers, did he matter? Was he a relevant player for the N.Y. Rangers? HUUUUUUUU MMMMM.

#19. Goalies from other countries deal far better with outlet behaviors of North America, with the sole exception being U.S. grown goalies Playing in Canada are also unaffected.

#20. Besides Samual Montembeau and Jakub Dobes, don’t forget about Jacob Fowler, Yevgeni Volokhin, Mikus Vecvanags, Arseny Radkov or Alexis Cournoyer.

Welcome to Episode 178 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. The regular season has arrived. This week’s topics include-

#1. Left winger Michael Pezzetta leaves the Montreal Canadiens, signs with the Toronto Maple Leaf’s, and still ends up in the AHL.

#2. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s have signed former Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau.

#3. The Toronto Maples have also signed forward Sammy Blais who was placed on waivers by the Montreal Canadiens at the conclusion of the 2025/2026 pre-season training camp.

#4. Sammy Blais played for current Maple Leaf’s head coach Craig Berube, when Craig Berube was the head coach in St. Louis Blues.

#5. Connor McDavid has signed an extremely interesting new 2-year contract.

#6. Connor McDavid clearly holds all of the cards at the end of his new 2-year extension.

#7. How about Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher and Patrik Laine to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Sidney Crosby straight up. Or add forwards Riley Kidney and Joshua Roy for 2 additional 3rd draft picks from the Pittsburgh Penguins, but absolutely nothing else from Montreal.

#8. I am surprised that Oliver Kapanen was the prospect out of all the prospects was the one that made the Hab’s roster. But he was absolutely the proper center for Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook, and it’s an excellent and talented line.

#9. The Line of Brendan Gallagher, Kirby Dach and Zack Bolduc has been both solid and impressive.

#10 Juraj Slafkovsky is looking great with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

#12. Samual Montembeau did not look ready in Toronto.

1. Jokub Dobes looked in mid-season form in Detroit.

#14. Noah Dobson didn’t look ready in Toronto but was solid in Detroit.

#15. Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson should be paired together all season long.

#16. Lane Hutson should be paired with Adam Engstrom.

#17. Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble should be paired together for the entire season.

#18. Ryan Lenard was and would have been my pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Welcome to Episode 177 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast. Topics include-

#1. Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen are not only having excellent training camps, but have formed a line with is having a solid training camps, but have formed a line with Ivan Demidov that immediately has chemistry, with a great combination of skill.

#2. Florian Xhekaj continues to show his value and why he needs to be part of the roster. Florian Xhekaj brings a sandpaper and grit element to the roster that no one has since Chris Nilan did.

#3. Kaiden Guhle’s frequency and variety of injuries continue and that has to be extremely concerning to the organization.

#4. I said from the moment the Noah Dobson trade was announced, I didn’t like the trade. He’s a defensive liability and he is proving my point in training camp. The Canadiens’ coaching staff has a lot of work to do with Noah Dobson

#5. Noah Dobson doesn’t use his size or weight in his game; he is a perimeter defenseman.

#6. David Reinbacher’s injuries are mounting up and affecting every season and his development. This has to be extremely concerning to the Montreal Canadiens Management.

#7. In the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, I also would have drafted David Reinbacher and not drafted Matvie Michkov. Matvie Michkov is a headcase and extremely self-impressed. But my choice then and to this very day would have been Ryan Leonard from Boston College.

#8. Can anyone else imagine a right-wing line of Cole Caufield, Ivan Demidov, Ryan Leonard and Tyler Thorpe for the Montreal Canadiens. Wow!

#9. In 2 seasons, will Kaiden Guhle, David Reinbacher or Noah Dobson even still be with the Montreal Canadiens?

#10. I didn’t like the trade of Logan Mailloux for Zac Bolduc. Zac Bolduc better be the real deal, right out of the gate and never look back.

#11. Think about the defenseman that the Montreal Canadiens have traded away. Wow!

#12. This is exactly why you don’t trade Adam Engstrom, Jayden Struble or William Trudeau, and you don’t rush to move Mike Matheson.

#13, In 2 seasons’ from now could the starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadiens be Lane Hutson paired with Bryce Pickford, Adam Engstrom paired with Arber Xhekaj, Owen Protz paired with Carlos Handel with Rasmus Bergqvist as the seventh defensive option? It’s a real possibility.

#14. Jayden Struble’s value and position on the team has certainly increased.

#15. Kirill Kaprizov is not even remotely worth his new 8-year 136-million contract.

#16 The Minnesota Wild could have cleaned up trading Kirill Kaprizov.

#17. Luke Hughes of the New Jersey devils is not remotely worth 63 million dollars over 7 years.

#18. Someone please explain and somehow rationalize the 8 years, at 9-million per season contract that has been handed to defenseman Jackson LaCombe by the Anaheim Ducks.