La raison du commentaire, c'est pourquoi on attend jusqu'au quinze septembre pour finalement mettre un DG par intérim quand on sait que là, sa mission, ça va être de dealer avec le-- tu sais, le-- je veux dire, c'est assez atypique comme genre et façon de faire à Detroit quand tout ce qu'on a vu se dessiner au cours de l'été.

Ben la, la face-- ben premièrement, pourquoi t'as attendu après le repêchage, puis après le premier juillet où je me rappelle pas, c'était quelle date exacte que pour congédier essentiellement Steve Yzerman.

Ça, c'est une chose.

D'habitude, quand tu vas congédier ton DG, tu vas le faire à la fin de la saison régulière.

Tu vas, tu vas, tu vas avoir une bonne, une bonne-- tu sais, il va y avoir du monde, des candidats de disponibles comme il y avait cet été.

Euh, et tu te permets d'avoir le choix de ces gars-là.

Et le moment où ils ont congédié Steve Yzerman, la plupart des gars avaient déjà des, des emplois.

Penses-tu qu'il y a une possibilité que cette année, que Kry-- que Larkin ajoute justement le Canadien après avoir vu ce que le Canadien fait maintenant, puis après Holik lui parle ? Parce qu'on s'entend que le Canadien, il y a Michael Hauge, il y a un gars que les Wings aimeraient, parce que la prochaine étape des Wings, c'est d'être en, être en reconstruction.

Mm-hmm

... last year.

It's, like, b- basically one a game, less than that.

Um, but at 6'3", 230, a guy who can skate like that, which is the same profile as Josh Anderson, except Josh hits people more, um, is what you need to get through playoffs.

And so they've just added another Anderson-like player, which shows you what they think of Josh Anderson.

Yep.

Texier's not signed forever, right? Depending on what, you know, his production, how he does this year.

So that's three perhaps opportunities this time next year that there may be roster spots open.

Yeah.

Um, so then I was wondering what are the terms of the contract, because I think a lot of your reaction is based on that.

When you find out it's one year at a 2.15 base, attainable performance bonuses probably getting him to close to like hovering around five, um, that's a great contract.

You know, that's a great deal.

It's perfect.

It's, it's, so any more than one year I would've had my reservations.

Uh, you look at what he did in Anaheim last season, like he's not the play driver he used to be in New York, but he's a very good complimentary player.

Mm

Yeah.

Um, so then I was wondering what are the terms of the contract, because I think a lot of your reaction is based on that.

When you find out it's one year at a 2.15 base, attainable performance bonuses probably getting him to close to, like, hovering around five, um, it's a great contract.

You know, it's a great deal.

It's perfect.

It's, it's, so any more than one year I would've had my reservations.

Uh, you look at what he did in Anaheim last season, like, he's not the play driver he used to be in New York, but he's a very good complementary player.

Um, Arpon, your thoughts on perhaps who's feeling a little bit more pressure today with their spot, what they thought their role was likely to be for this upcoming season following Kreider's, uh, arrival?

Yeah.

Um, so then I was wondering what are the terms of the contract because I think a lot of your reaction is based on that.

When you find out it's one year at a 2.15 base, attainable performance bonuses probably getting him to close to, like, hovering around five, um, it's a great contract.

You know, it's a great deal.

It's perfect.

It's, it's, so any more than one year I would've had my reservations.

Uh, you look at what he did in Anaheim last season, like, he's not the play driver he used to be in New York, but he's a very good complementary player.

Um, Arpon, your thoughts on perhaps who's feeling a little bit more pressure today with their spot, what they thought their role was likely to be for this upcoming season following Kreider's, uh, arrival?

Est-ce qu'à ton avis, ça va se régler avant le tournoi de golf? Et à quel point ça va être des saisons importantes pour la suite des choses pour les deux joueurs?

Honnêtement, ça dépend des contrats qu'il signe.

Moi, avec Jacky, ça ne me choquerait pas s'il signe un contrat d'un an, ce qui va faire en sorte que ça va être une année concluante pour lui.

Ça ne me choquerait pas non plus s'il était chargé, parce qu'on s'entend qu'il y a beaucoup de congestion sur la ligne bleue, particulièrement du côté gauche.

Alors, Paul Duc, je pense que c'est un cas un peu différent.

Je suis convaincu que les Canadiens voient beaucoup de potentiel dans ce joueur-là.

Il le voit comme une partie de leur avenir.

C'est pas

But, so h- how would you-- Like, h- what, what timeline do you think they're operating on in terms of serious contention?

Well, I would say that the timeline they're operating on is now defined.

The end of it-- Not the end of it, I shouldn't say the end of it, but there's a bit of a deadline here to get something done, and that is clearly now 2030.

Now, Dobes has just signed through 2030.

Nick Suzuki's contract expires in 2030.

I think their window to build a contending team has to be more or less complete by then.

It doesn't mean they have to win a cup by then, but they have to have the, the-- they have to have not just the foundation, they already have that, but they need to start putting up walls and really getting to, like, kind of the cabinets and all the finishing pieces that you do when you build a house.

Just a very mature Michael Hage yesterday.

Are you? Like me? Yeah.

Everybody has to jump off a ledge.

No, I mean, listen, it's, I think there's certain ...

Like, what I would say is that in the past, and in even last year, you know, the Canadians had two very attractive draft picks.

Um, and ultimately, they got used in the trade that they made.

And so, and then Ken Hughes was pretty clear about it, and I think it's, it makes a lot of sense that having the 28th overall pick is likely not gonna move the needle much on the trade market.

Now, you know, my understanding is there, there were some discussions involving that pick.

Right.

Are you? Like me? Yeah.

Everybody has to jump off a ledge.

No.

I mean, listen, it's, I think there's certain...

Like, what I would say is that in the past, and in even last year, you know, the Canadiens had two very attractive draft picks.

Um, and ultimately, they got used in the trade that they made.

And so, and Ken Hughes was pretty clear about it, and I think it's, it makes a lot of sense that having the 28th overall pick is likely not gonna move the needle much on the trade market.

That the, the, the reporting and the speculation that Ken Hughes had a massive offer on the table to Columbus for Marchenko that was apparently turned away, um, does Marchenko, in your opinion, kinda fit what the Canadiens have built and what are continuing to build? Is he that, is he that type of player, even though the salary would, again, r- reset the market internally for the organization?

Are you? Like me? Yeah.

Everybody has to jump off a ledge.

No.

I mean, listen, it's...

I think there's certain...

Like, what I would say is that in the past, and even last year, you know, the Canadiens had two very attractive draft picks.

Um, and ultimately, they got used in the trade that they made.

Right.

Arpon, uh, you know, going back to Michael Hage, i- if he did decide to, you know, change his mind and, and go to Montreal's training camp instead of returning back to Michigan, you know, uh, do you see him slotting into that 2C immediately, or is it something that you think the Canadiens would try to do gradually?

I think, first off, I think everyone needs to stop assuming that Michael Hage is an NHL center.

Um, he spent some time on the wing even at Michigan.

There are, are areas of ga- of his game that suggest that he might best be suited for the wing at the NHL level.

And I think the one circumstance that might make Hage reconsider is if the Canadiens strike out in adding a top-six winger, and if there's a, a spot at, on the wing available for him.

And- If they were to go to him in, say, mid-July or August or whatever and say, hey, listen, we, we weren't able to fill out this need.

We'd like to see if you could fill it.

Do you think if you had to, if you had to say which one was more likely, that he went back to own his game and refine it to become an NHL centerman, or did he go back to, to win a national championship with Michigan? Do you think that the decision to go back to college was more about refining his game or chasing, chasing a, a championship?

But, uh, do, do you think the Canadiens would, would take a stab potentially at trying to lock him in longer term for a lower cap hit?

Well, you look at the line that just caved the Canadiens in the playoffs.

Um, Stankoven signed long term at six mil.

Jackson Blake is signed long term at five and change.

Like, those contracts are gonna be ridiculously good value for Carolina.

And, and in order to get contracts like that, you do kinda have to take a swing beforehand, uh, when it's not obvious that the player is worth eight years of term.

So I don't know if Bolduc's like, you know...

If they don't, okay, what's next?

played some great hockey other than a couple of dips here and there.

That's kind of what the stage the Canadians are at, but it doesn't all have to happen this summer.

I mean, that took a while for Carolina to like slowly add pieces that fit to the way they want to play and their identity.

The Canadians are basically at the starting line of that process.

You know, like they're, they're really, you know, this is the first summer that they're in that phase.

So it doesn't all have to be done in one summer.

But the process probably has to start basically now.

I don't see the rush.

You're saying not so fast on moving away from Montembeau?

Yeah, I mean, listen, the salary, if the Canadians need that money, I have no doubt they'll be able to find a team that's willing to take a chance on Sam Montembeau because the sample size of him being an effective goalie, not a star goalie, not even necessarily a difference-making goalie, but a guy who's competent and can make the saves he needs to make.

And even more than that, I mean, it's just a year ago that we were talking about Sam Montembeau coming off, you know, being the third goalie for Canada at Four Nations.

He finished fifth in goals saved above expected.

Like, he was...

He had every reason, and the Canadiens had every reason to believe that they were good in goal.

Especially with Dobish as a backup and up-and-comer, he can ease into the job.

I'm curious where you see the kind of value in the future of Kirby Doc with or without the Canadians.

You're saying not so fast on moving away from Montembeau?

Yeah, I mean, listen, the salary, if the Canadians need that money, I have no doubt they'll be able to find a team that's willing to take a chance on Sam Montembeau because the sample size of him being an effective goalie Not a star goalie, not even necessarily a difference-making goalie, but a guy who's competent and can make the saves he needs to make.

And even more than that, I mean, it's just a year ago that we were talking about Sam Montembeau coming off, you know, being the third goalie for Canada at Four Nations.

He finished fifth in goals saved above expected.

Like, he was – he had every reason, and the Canadiens had every reason to believe that they were good in goal, especially with Dobish as a backup and up-and-comer.

He can ease into the job.

It seemed like a great situation.

he's

Is, is that kind of the takeaway from you talking about Carolina and tying it into the Canadiens?

I mean, that's part of it, for sure.

I think as we enter this, you know, the Canadiens have made some pretty high impact trades every off-season, and that's what we look at.

Like, last season, when you think of last summer, what stands out is them taking the big swing and landing Dobson, right? Which is a key element.

To me, almost as important is the addition of Bolduc.

And Bolduc had a very seesaw season, right? He, you, there were moments he looked good.

There were m- many moments where he did not.

But what, what to you presents the greater value? Kirby Dach as a trade chip, or Kirby Dach, while his qualifying offer is 4 million, but do you see a, a possibility where the Canadiens look at him and say, "Listen, we'll, we'll try you out for another three years at whatever the number is," probably coming in underneath the 4 million? I'm curious where you see the kind of value in, in the future of Kirby Dach with or without the Canadiens.

a little bit away from,

you know, NHL readiness or, but you have others, you know, I mentioned back earlier, I hope he gets huge value, but he's a guy who's knocking on the door of the NHL and probably could play in the NHL if he was playing for another team.

Engstrom, for sure.

I don't know what their appetite is for trading a David Reimbacher, but if it brings back sort of a core element that they can add to their existing core, I think they'd definitely think about it.

And he would generate a ton of interest.

So I think they're at the phase where...

You know, they're ready.

But the way that the rest of the Habs young players have developed here, does that maybe take a little bit of the pressure off of him to have to step in and be an impact difference maker right away in the NHL?

Movement in terms of getting moved out of Montreal.

Yeah, I think we've reached that point.

I mean, I wouldn't be surprised.

I mean, I think, yeah.

Yeah.

Listen, the Canadians have...

It's not as if the Canadians have a million spots to fill in Montreal.

Now, Arpen, I just want to ask you about Reinbecker, and I know that every season we go into the offseason and say how crucial of a year it is for his development, but the way that the rest of the Habs young players have developed here, does that maybe take a little bit of the pressure off of him to have to step in and be an impact difference maker right away in the NHL?

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when things aren't going my way, I have to, I have to not do more.

I have to do less.

I have to simplify.

And that's, we thought Suzuki do that over the course of the playoffs.

Like he kind of realized the environment he was playing in.

He adapted to it.

I mean, is it fair to say that you're expecting this to be over more quickly than the Hudson situation a year ago?

But, uh, now with the benefit of a week, how are you feeling about the way those guys, uh, handled all that?

Well, I mean, even without the benefit of a week, it was clearly a learning experience for all three of them, and I think including Slafkovsky.

And, and the only one who really-- The one who learned quickest on the fly was Suzuki, it seemed.

You know? Like, he-- When Slafkovsky said, "I learned that when things aren't going my way, I have to, I have to not do more, I have to do less.

I have to simplify," and that's-- We saw Suzuki do that over the course of the playoffs.

Like, he kind of realized the environment he was playing in, and he adapted to it, and that's something that he's always done really well.

Um, but just mentally, what these three guys went through is gonna help them in the future.

I mean, is it fair to say that you're expecting this to g- be over more quickly than the, the Hudson situation a year ago?

I mean, I

think once it sort of got into Caulfield's head that he wasn't producing at five on five and not performing the role that he's expected to perform for his team, it snowballed on him.

Slavkovsky, similar.

I mean, Nick Suzuki of his own volition on Monday mentioned his breakaway at the beginning of overtime of game three.

And if he scores there and doesn't shoot it two feet wide, like, I mean, I don't think I've ever seen Suzuki missing that that badly.

If he scores there and the Canadiens win that game, even if the rest of the series were to unfold the way it did, they would get to six games.

Like the narrative around this team would be completely different.

I mean, is it fair to say that you're expecting this to be over more quickly than the Hudson situation a year ago?

More important for the Canadians right now, 2C or top four right D?

I still think it's the 2C.

I think the goals for number, I mean, I'd be interested in looking at that number from like, say, late January onward, you know, under Marco Marciano, let's say.

I think they'd be a little higher up.

It's just that I haven't looked it up, but I would think that their ranking would be a little bit better.

They still need to keep more pucks out of their net, but, you know, the 2C is, is, is just a glaring hole.

You know, I mean, it's like, But the one, I guess the one element of that that I find kind of interesting is, and I asked a bunch of guys, you know, I wrote about Dmitrov this morning, but I asked a bunch of guys about the notion that Gordon first brought up, that sometimes you can have a winger who can drive a line.

Well, I don't know if it's part of the answer to the next question, but which prospect do you think is most likely to be dealt, whether it's for a 2C or a right D, of the guys who are pushing?

Yeah.

I mean, not that the Canadiens were overly tired or banged up, it's that the Hurricanes were overly not.

I mean, that's a huge factor in the sense that, you know, what gave the Hurricanes the most optimism heading into that series is just how fresh and how healthy they were.

And yeah, they showed a lot of rust in game one, but that quickly went away, and we saw what happened once it did.

But I think even more than that is, you know, the, the Canadiens, their brand of hockey, something that is baked into their brand of hockey as far as I can tell, is not only their willingness, but their, um, their strength in adapting their game to attack opposing teams' weaknesses.

And in this series, they were just completely unable to do that.

Like, it was every single thing that the coaching staff came up with and that the players were tasked with es- executing, uh, basically blew up in their face.

I'm curious how you feel about the pressure around Ken Hughes a- and what his team managed to accomplish in the regular season, and earn their right to get to a final four, and what that does for, for, for the squad and how he tackles that this off-season.

Yeah.

I mean, not that the Canadiens were overly tired or banged up, it's that the Hurricanes were overly not.

I mean, that's a huge factor in the sense that, you know, what gave the Hurricanes the most optimism heading into that series is just how fresh and how healthy they were.

And yeah, they showed a lot of rust in game one, but that quickly went away, and you saw what happened once it did.

But I think even more than that is, you know, the, the Canadiens, their brand of hockey, something that is baked into their brand of hockey as far as I can tell, is not only their willingness, but their, um, their strength in adapting their game to attack opposing teams' weaknesses.

And in this series, they were just completely unable to do that.

Like, it was every single thing that the coaching staff came up with and that the players were tasked with ex- executing, uh, basically blew up in their face.Every perceived weakness that they had identified, when they tried to exploit it, invariably it became a turnover and it started heading back towards their end.

I'm curious how you feel about the pressure around Ken Hughes a- and what his team managed to accomplish in the regular season and earn their right to get to a final four, and what that does for, for, for the squad and how he tackles that this off-season.

Yeah.

I mean, not that the Canadiens were overly tired or banged up, it's that the Hurricanes were overly not.

I mean, that's a huge factor in the sense that, you know, what gave the Hurricanes the most optimism heading into that series is just how fresh and how healthy they were.

And yeah, they showed a lot of rust in game one, but that quickly went away, and you saw what happened once it did.

But I think even more than that is, you know, the, the Canadiens, their brand of hockey, something that is baked into their brand of hockey as far as I can tell, is not only their willingness, but their, um, their strength in adapting their game to attack opposing teams' weaknesses.

And in this series, they were just completely unable to do that.

Like, it was every single thing that the coaching staff came up with and that the players were tasked with ex- executing, uh, basically blew up in their face.Every perceived weakness that they had identified, when they tried to exploit it, invariably it became a turnover, and it started heading back towards their end.

I'm curious how you feel about the pressure around Ken Hughes a- and what his team managed to accomplish in the regular season and earn their right to get to a final four, and what that does for, for, for the squad and how he tackles that this off-season.