The Montreal Canadiens still have one major problem if they want to pursue Dylan Larkin: the Detroit Red Wings center has not approved Montreal as a trade destination.
That has not stopped an intriguing Canadiens prospect from entering the conversation.
TVA Sports reporter Nicolas Cloutier recently pointed to Michael Hage, Montreal's 2024 first-round pick, as a player Detroit knows particularly well and would have interest in. Hage plays at the University of Michigan, putting him directly in the Red Wings' scouting backyard. He also has an unusual connection to Detroit's front office through Michigan teammate Will Horcoff, the son of Red Wings executive Shawn Horcoff.
Cloutier said he is convinced Detroit knows Hage well and believes the Red Wings would be interested in him, according to a report relaying his comments on BPM Sports.
That does not mean Hage has been offered for Larkin or that the teams are actively negotiating.

#wings #canadiens #sports #horcoff

MONTREAL (AP) — Chris Kreider agreed to terms on a contract for this season with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday after mutually terminating his previous deal with the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week.
Kreider, a Massachusetts native, wanted to get back to the Eastern Conference to be closer to family after playing last year in Southern California following a trade from the New York Rangers. The 35-year-old winger joins a young team that is coming off reaching the East final before losing to eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.
Kreider has been booed in Montreal since colliding with Carey Price during a playoff series with the Rangers in 2014. Price did not play again that spring because of a resulting knee injury.
___
See AP's full NHL coverage here

#kreider #rangers #price

Oct. 31
Today in sports history
Today is Oct. 31. On this date in:
1900: American League president Ban Johnson wrote National League president Nicholas Young seeking major league parity and peace between the circuits, a pivotal step in the formation of the modern American League.
1942: Maurice "Rocket" Richard made his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens, recording an **** ist 36 seconds into a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins.

#national

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Morgan Frost #16 of the Calgary Flames skates with the puck against Quinton Byfield #55 of the Los Angeles Kings during the third period at Crypto.com Arena on February 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) Getty
The Montreal Canadiens have spent much of the summer resisting the urge to force another major move.
A fresh trade possibility could give general manager Kent Hughes a way to strengthen the middle of his lineup without chasing one of the biggest names on the market.
Ken MacMillan of The Hockey Writers named the Calgary Flames as one of three teams Montreal could trade with during the preseason on Aug. 22, singling out Morgan Frost as an ideal fit for the Canadiens.
Frost is coming off a career year in Calgary.

#california #morgan #montreal #canadiens

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Friday.
The Canadiens must avoid heading into the 2026-27 season with a three-headed monster in the crease. Okay, sensationalism aside, there's very little value to keeping three goalies in the mix, but it will be relatively difficult to find an acceptable trade partner if the goal is to move veteran netminder Samuel Montembeault. [Canadiens Goaltending: Solving The Montembeault Dilemma]
Even though top prospect Michael Hage faced a lot of pressure to forgo the remainder of his NCAA eligibility, and join the professional ranks, the 20-year-old forward made the difficult decision to remain with the University of Michigan. Some expressed frustration, wanting to see him in a Canadiens uniform sooner than later, but it may end up being the very best decision for both Hage and the organization. [Canadiens Prospect Hage Embraces Greater Expectations]
Few things are more magical than parent enjoying the company of a newborn.
Here's your daily dose of Lane Hutson highlights, featuring his very first game in the NHL.

#canadiens #difficult

Juraj Slafkovsky says money is no longer the priority for Montreal Canadiens players chasing their first Stanley Cup together.
The Canadiens have built a young core (youngest team in the NHL) around Slafkovsky ($7.6 million AAV), Nick Suzuki ($7.875 million), Cole Caufield ($7.85 million), Lane Hutson ($8.85 million) and Ivan Demidov ($9.15 million). Several players have accepted long-term deals that preserve flexibility around the roster.
Meanwhile, players around the NHL are signing contracts that exceed $15 million annually in 2026.
MORE: Canadiens legend Carey Price shares honest take on Montreal's young goalie duo
Speaking in Russian about Montreal's contract approach, Slafkovsky said the team's shared ambition matters more than individual earnings.

#canadiens #around #juraj #nick

Cole Caufield's 51-goal breakout season has changed expectations around the Montreal Canadiens winger. NHL Network ***** yst Mike Rupp now believes the 25-year-old has a realistic path to 60 goals.
Caufield entered NHL Network's Top Wings Right Now list at No. 9 after producing 51 goals during the 2025-26 season. That marked his first 50-goal campaign and helped establish him among the league's top scoring threats.
MORE: Pierre McGuire says Canadiens 'figured it out' amid NHL contract boom
Rupp pointed to Caufield's shooting ability as the main reason behind his scoring ceiling. "He is a stop-and-pop type shooter where he could just kind of wind up and let her rip," Rupp said.
"He could change the angle of the shot," Rupp added. "He's got a great release, but probably one of the cleanest, prettiest releases I think at heart."

#canadiens #goals #mike

Bob McElligott has broken his silence after the Columbus Blue Jackets decided not to renew his contract.
The move ends his 17-year run as the team's radio play-by-play voice. Columbus announced that all games will be simulcast across television and radio beginning in the 2026-27 NHL season.
McElligott confirmed the news in a heartfelt post on X. He wrote, "As some of you have heard, I learned today that the Columbus Blue Jackets have decided to simulcast their TV broadcast, and my contract as the team's radio play-by-play announcer will not be renewed."
MORE: Montreal insider says Canadiens are built to pull off Kirill Marchenko trade
He thanked the organization, ownership, and the fanbase for their support. McElligott added, "To the #5thLine , I am especially grateful to you. Your passion, enthusiasm, and caring motivated me and drove me to give you the best broadcast I could."

#blue #jackets #decided

NHL trade rumors surrounding Kirill Marchenko intensified last week, but his agent has since poured cold water on reports linking the Columbus Blue Jackets forward to the Montreal Canadiens. The rumors gained traction after reports suggested Columbus was close to completing a blockbuster deal.
RG.org reported that Marchenko was "essentially between two teams" and that trade discussions were progressing. A source close to the winger said, "The parties are now negotiating the terms of the trade."
The speculation grew after an NHL ****** yst posted on X that the Canadiens were working on a complex three-team trade involving Columbus. The ****** yst added, "Montreal obviously has strong interest in Marchenko, but not just him."
MORE: Canadiens could get another shot at Kirill Marchenko, says NHL ****** yst
Marchenko's agent, Dan Milstein, wasted little time responding. "Go back to your vacation, man the mystery forward is doing more work than your 'sources' right now," Milstein wrote on X, dismissing the report with a playful jab.

#marchenko

After exceeding expectations with a trip to the Eastern Conference Final, the Montreal Canadiens aren’t content with standing still.
While general manager Kent Hughes has stayed away from blockbuster free-agent signings, the club continues to explore ways to add another top-six scorer, and one insider says Montreal made a serious push for one of the league’s emerging Russian stars.
Columbus Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko has emerged as a trade candidate after ESPN’s Kevin Weekes reported that his camp has indicated he is unlikely to sign a long-term extension with Columbus when eligible.
That development immediately caught Montreal’s attention.
Canadiens insider Marco D’Amico revealed the organization aggressively pursued Marchenko once the opportunity surfaced.

There's a new Newsy Lalonde in Montreal now.
Former Detroit Red Wings coach Derek "Newsy" Lalonde was hired on Wednesday by the Montreal Canadiens as an ****** istant coach on Martin St. Louis' staff.
Montreal's original Newsy Lalonde was Edward Lalonde, who dominated hockey with the Canadiens through the early 1900s.
As a player-coach, Lalonde led Montreal to their first Stanley Cup in 1916. Elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950, he has the third-best points-per-game total at 1.667, trailing only Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky.
Derek Lalonde won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning and then took over the Red Wings’ bench for two-and-a-half seasons with an 89-86-23 record before spending this past season next to Craig Berube on the Toronto Maple Leafs' bench.

The first day of the NHL's free agency period started slowly, but certainly picked up speed as the afternoon went on.
Now that we're past July 1, NHL clubs can sign unrestricted free agents to contracts and the offseason can finally, truly begin. We saw a ton of movement on Wednesday, mostly in the form of major trades from teams like the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers. There were also, thankfully, free agent signings to talk about as well, though not as many as you'd hope even with the thin market this summer.
Day 1 of NHL free agency often contains the most impactful moves, as now that the afternoon is winding down, teams will take their time to sort out their contracts as the summer chugs along. With the (likely) biggest deals of the day behind us, let's take a look at the major winners and losers of Day 1 of the NHL's 2026 free agency period.
The Canadiens continue to make incredibly smart moves. Re-signing Ivan Demidov to an eight-year, $73 million deal is tidy work. It's a high number now, but it's an incredibly team-friendly deal considering the kind of player he projects out to be. The Canadiens are certainly going to be a force for years to come and it'll be because of these savvy deals made with their young players.
For now, it seems as if Zach Werenski is staying a Blue Jacket. The defenseman could be moved via a trade this summer, but after all the smoke these last few days it felt like the writing was on the wall for Columbus. With reports suggesting that Werenski is "comfortable" returning to the Blue Jackets after talks with the front office, it certainly seems as if things have cooled off here to possibly Columbus' benefit.

Three women’s hockey players — Chloe Primerano, Abbey Murphy and Caitlin Kraemer — are participating in the Edmonton Oilers’ development camp this week.
In recent years, women such as Marie-Philip Poulin and Kendall Coyne Schofield have been on the ice during NHL teams’ development camps as guest coaches — Poulin with the Montreal Canadiens, Coyne Schofield with the Chicago Blackhawks. But in this case, this trio of players will be full participants.
Oilers general manager Stan Bowman had the idea to invite elite women’s hockey players to camp after watching the Milan Olympic women’s hockey tournament as an ****** istant general manager with the U.S. men’s team.
“They were putting on a show for everybody,” Bowman told The Athletic. “It was really high-level hockey on display and I was so impressed by it, that’s when it came to me — we should take some of these players and try to bring them to camp.”
Bowman contacted Murphy, Primerano and Kraemer in May asking if they’d like to attend the week-long camp, which began on Monday. Kraemer told reporters in Edmonton on Tuesday she thought the text from Bowman was spam. Primerano also had difficulty believing the invitation.

Maple Leafs, Canadiens both 'covet' $17 million free agent originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are Canadian rivals in the NHL.
They also might do battle this offseason in the free agent pursuit of Mason Marchment.
"The Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs both covet this player," The Athletic's Chris Johnston wrote on Tuesday.
NHL free agency opens at 12 noon ET on Wednesday. Marchment will be available.

Now that the 2026 NHL Entry Draft is in the rearview mirror, the Montreal Canadiens can now focus on the next task at hand, the opening of free agency on July 1, at 12:00 pm ET.
For those of you who missed the draft, the Habs essentially focused on selecting players who could not only make an impact with the team one day, they also carried a certain amount of truculence in their game.
Simply put, the Canadiens want to get bigger, and stronger, but the key factor is keeping talent at the forefront, something worth keeping in mind as free agency looms.
It’s a fluid situation, but as of Monday, the Canadiens have roughly $11 million in available cap ****** e, and given that there are few high-end restricted free agents left to sign, they should have enough financial flexibility to add a talented player, either via free agency or a trade.
It’s also not guaranteed they’ll submit a qualifying offer to all their restricted free agents, especially since Kirby Dach is set for a raise, but for now, we’ll ****** ume all four RFAs will be qualified.

Who is Tyler Bilodeau? Meet the Nets' newest draft pick from one of basketball's most athletic families originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Brooklyn Nets added another intriguing frontcourt prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft by selecting former UCLA standout Tyler Bilodeau. Bilodeau arrives in Brooklyn after steadily improving throughout a four-year college career split between Oregon State and UCLA. By the time he finished with the Bruins, he had developed into one of the Big Ten's most efficient forwards, averaging 17.6 points while shooting an impressive 51.8% from the field, 46.4% from three-point range and 87.3% from the free-throw line during his senior season.
But basketball fans are just beginning to learn that Bilodeau comes from one of the most accomplished athletic families in the country.
Professional sports have always been part of Bilodeau's life.
His father, Brent Bilodeau, was selected 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1991 NHL Draft before spending more than a decade playing professional and semi-professional hockey. His mother, Cass Bauer-Bilodeau, enjoyed a successful professional basketball career, playing in both the American Basketball League (ABL) and the WNBA over seven seasons.

Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Wednesday.
It was a very encouraging season for 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky. He set career bests in goals, ******* ists, and points, while also gaining confidence when he was tasked with driving the charge on the second line. [Canadiens Player Grades: Slafkovsky Took Next Step In Evolution]
It appears that the Matthew Knies trade dossier has not been shut. According to Deren Dreger, Knies is still very much in play in the NHL’s trade market. The Canadiens reportedly attempted to swing a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs at the deadline, but it fell through at the last moment. [Canadiens Hughes Berated Leafs GM For Failed Knies Trade]
Some are suggesting the Carolina Hurricanes will likely buyout former Hab Jesperi Kotakniemi, but given his age, I’d venture a guess that a team would be willing to take a flier on him, for a very low price.
The Montreal Victoire have re-signed Abby Roque to a two-year contract extension. Roque was crucial in helping the Victoire secure their first Walter Cup Championship in 2024-25.

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in game six of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday to clinch their second NHL **** le.
With the win, the Hurricanes claimed their fourth victory in the best-of-seven series.
Their first **** le came in 2006, when coach Rod Brind'Armour was team captain.
"I'm so happy for these guys. It just means so much to see how happy these guys are. It's sticking with it, we knew what we had here. It's such a great story with this team, I'm just really proud," Brind'Amour told ESPN.
The Hurricanes defeated the Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens to advance to the final after finishing as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference.

Stanley Cup Final schedule 2026: Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes dates, times, TV channels, live streams, scores for NHL playoff games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In many ways, the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes could not be more different.
The Golden Knights are in just their ninth season and have made their fourth Stanley Cup Final, with one win in 2023. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, have qualified for their first Stanley Cup Final in 20 years, over twice as long as the Golden Knights have existed.
For the Hurricanes, the key to breaking their championship drought lies in their defense. The Hurricanes lead the NHL this postseason, with the fewest goals allowed per game by a wide margin. During this playoff run, the Hurricanes' only loss came against the Canadiens, where they allowed six goals. In the other 12 games, the Hurricanes allowed no more than two goals and hold a perfect 12-0 record.
The Golden Knights, once again, are an opposite team, whose specialty lies in goal scoring. The Golden Knights have applied scoring pressure early and often in this playoff cycle, but they also boasted impressive defensive numbers. The Colorado Avalanche led the NHL in regular season scoring but only scored 7 total goals in four games against Vegas. Don't be surprised if the Stanley Cup Finals is a low-scoring affair.

Las Vegas — Shea Theodore scored at 5:38 of the second overtime and Mitch Marner recorded the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup history in the second period as the Vegas Golden Knights recovered from blowing a 4-0 third-period lead to edge the Carolina Hurricanes in a wild, 5-4 victory in Game 3 on Saturday night.
Theodore's slap shot bounced off the end boards and bounced in off the skate of goaltender Brandon Bussi for the winner and a 2-1 lead in the best-of- seven series.
Marner scored three times in the span of 6:10, besting the mark for the fastest hat trick of 6:21 in Game 1 of the 1957 Stanley Cup Final set by the Montreal Canadiens' Maurice "The Rocket" Richard against the Boston Bruins.
Marner, who had an **** ist in addition to his natural hat trick, leads the NHL with 28 playoff points, surpassing Jack Eichel's team record for points in a playoff (26) set in 2023 when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup.
According to ESPN Insights, the winner of Game 3 in a best-of-seven series tied 1-1 in the Stanley Cup Final has gone on the win the series 77% of the time. Game 4 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes live score: Full stats from Stanley Cup Finals Game 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Will the Carolina Hurricanes pull even in the series or will the Vegas Golden Knights go up another game. That's the biggest question as Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final comes on Thursday night.
Vegas holds a 1-0 lead after a wild 5-4 win. They swept the Colorado Avalanche to get here and have kept the playoff winning streak alive. The Hurricanes lost their Eastern Conference finals opener against the Montreal Canadiens, but made adjustments in Game 2 to advance.
2026 Stanley Cup Finals
9:40-3rd

NHL games on TV today: Full schedule, times, TV channels, live streams to watch 2026 hockey playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The two-month journey to a Stanley Cup is underway, with the NHL's best teams trying to work their way through the brackets to the best trophy in sports.
Only one thing is certain about what's to come in the postseason: The league will have a new champion in 2026. The Florida Panthers missed the playoffs after lifting the Cup the last two years and making the Final the year before that, guaranteeing a changing of the guard this June.
The Colorado Avalanche were the class of the league during the regular season, taking the Presidents' Trophy by eight points over the Carolina Hurricanes, but were swept out in the Western Conference Finals. The 'Canes rolled in the East, eliminating the resilient Canadiens to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.
Here's everything you need to know about when and where to watch today's games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Vegas Golden Knights would love nothing more than to throw a block party at Lenovo Center beginning Tuesday night. It’s a path, albeit a painful one, to winning a second Stanley Cup.

Blocking shots in the NHL takes courage. Ask Pavel Dorofeyev, who took one off the knee in the Anaheim series then returned to the ice and was the overtime hero of Game 5 when he scored the game winner.

“It’s kind of a s— part of my job, but it hurts more when I miss it,” I just had to get myself together and get back on the ice,” was Dorofeyev’s now-famous postgame quote. And it exemplifies what the mentality is when it comes to blocking shots.

On this team, no one is exempt when it comes to getting in front of pucks. It’s one of those “non-negotiables” that coaches love to talk about. And John Tortorella has been a long-time advocate of demanding his players block opponents’ shots.

The memo was received loud and clear, Through three rounds of this year’s playoffs, the Knights have a total of 278 blocked shots compared to 223 for their opponents. Shea Theodore, who’s not known for being a big shot-blocking presence unlike his blueline partner Brayden McNabb, is second in the NHL in postseason blocks with 46. McNabb has 31 and ranks sixth, followed right behind by Noah Hanifin with 30 and Rasmus Andersson is 11th with 26 blocks.

And if you think the Vegas forwards get a free pass, guess again. Colton Sissons has 17 blocks, Jack Eichel has 16 and Nic Dowd has 14. Dorofeyev? He’s got nine and he’s got the bruises to prove it.

Carolina defenseman Jaccob Slavin is the Hurricanes’ top shot-blocker with 28, which ranks him ninth in the playoffs. The Canes don’t block a lot of shots. But don’t be fooled. Opponents don’t get a lot of shots for Carolina to block as shot suppression is preached by coach Rod Brind’Amour. In five games of the Eastern Conference Final, the Montreal Canadiens managed just 89 shots total, an average of under 18 shots on goal. No wonder the Habs were sent packing.

Can Carolina contain Vegas’ attack? Can the Knights get enough shooting volume each game to make Frederik Andersen work in the Carolina net? Or will the Canes have to block more shots in order to get the desired result?

Conversely, will Carolina be able to pressure Carter Hart enough and not get frustrated when Theodore, McNabb and the rest of the Knights throw their bodies in the way of shots from the Canes’ shooters?

Defenseman Dylan Coghlan said it’s a mindset that was there before Tortorella arrived, basically emanating from ******* istant coach John Stevens, whose primary responsibility is working with the Vegas defensemen.

“It’s just one of those things you have to do,” Coghlan said. “I think (Stevens) said it a few times — it hurts more if it goes by you. So just having that mentality and trying to do everything you can.

“I think it started as a joke, but I don't think anybody takes it as a joke. It's true, if it goes by you and i

The Carolina Hurricanes are headed to the Stanley Cup Final, and excitement is building across the Triangle as fans get ready for Game 1.
The Hurricanes will face the Vegas Golden Knights, with the series opening Tuesday at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Tickets for the Stanley Cup Final are now on sale.
After clinching the Eastern Conference ****** le with a Game 5 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday, Caniacs are preparing to pack arenas, bars and watch parties across the area in red, white and black.
For fans who can't make it inside Lenovo Center, there are several places around Raleigh to catch the action:
Moore Square (Downtown Raleigh): Outdoor watch party with a large jumbotron. Fans are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

Sabres vs. Canadiens live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 of NHL playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals

Sabres vs. Canadiens live score, updates, highlights from Game 1 of NHL playoffs Eastern Conference semifinals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The highly anticipated NHL Eastern Conference playoff series between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens has arrived at the KeyBank Center on Wednesday night.
It's one of those series that looks right off the bat like it could last seven games, but it has to start with Game 1.
The Sabres are playing in their first second-round playoff game in 19 years.
The Canadiens, who have won more Stanley Cups than any team in NHL history, are chasing their first Cup since 1993.

https://sports.yahoo.com/a...

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#hockey #sports #nhldraft #GoHabsGo