Today’s NHL trade chatter keeps circling back to the same idea: money changes the conversation, but it doesn’t solve every roster problem.
Start with Montreal, where Sam Montembeault has suddenly become a name to watch in the goalie market. The logic is simple enough.
With Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler both in the pipeline, the Canadiens already have depth at the position, which makes Montembeault look like the odd man out as he heads into a contract year. Moving him now would give him a better chance to land a starting job elsewhere, while also letting Montreal get value back before he walks for nothing.
That possibility gets even more interesting if Connor Hellebuyck’s trade request turns into a real move. If Winnipeg suddenly needs a goalie partner for Stuart Skinner, Montembeault starts to make sense there.
Edmonton could also be in the mix, especially with Frederik Andersen dealing with an injury that could end up keeping him out longer than expected. One major goalie move could easily trigger another, and Montembeault could wind up right in the middle of it as camps get closer.
The goalie market isn’t the only place where one big contract is reshaping the conversation. Cale Makar’s new $20.4 million deal has fans rethinking what counts as expensive, but Jonathan Huberdeau’s contract still stands out for all the wrong reasons.
Calgary’s problem hasn’t gotten any prettier. Huberdeau finished last season with 10 goals and 25 points in 50 games against a $10.5 million cap hit, and even the year before, when he posted 28 goals and 62 points, the production still didn’t come close to matching the price tag.
That’s what makes the contract so hard to move. Edmonton was able to unload Darnell Nurse’s deal and get real pieces back, but very few people believe Calgary could pull off anything similar with Huberdeau. In a league where salaries keep climbing and old bad contracts start looking less painful, his still gets singled out as one of the worst in hockey.
Makar’s number also sparked a fresh round of “would you rather” debates around the league, especially when it comes to blue-line spending. Darren Raddysh’s $8.5 million deal leaves Toronto with nearly $12 million to use elsewhere, whether that’s on a top-six forward or more depth on defense. Lane Hutson, meanwhile, is on a contract that comes in at less than half of Makar’s number and already looks like a steal given how quickly he’s developing, even if that comparison isn’t exactly apples to apples.
Jaccob Slavin may be the most interesting comparison of all. At $6.4 million, he might be the better pure defensive defenseman, even if he doesn’t bring Makar’s offense.
Carolina has been able to build a stacked, balanced blue line around him for far less money than Colorado is spending on Makar alone. And that leaves the same question hanging over all of it: is it smarter to pay one player $20 million, or spread that money across two or three strong players instead?
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Flames Rebuild Debate Just Got More Frustrating For Calgary Fans
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A recent poll from The Athletic only added to the sense that the road back is long, with Flames fans and neutral observers alike ranking Calgary among the NHL teams least likely to lift a Stanley Cup in the next decade. The timing stings even more because the conversation around this postseason has again turned to the leagues playoff format, a reminder that in the NHL, getting in is one thing and being built to matter once the games begin is something else entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Flames Fans Have A Rare Chance To Be Part Of Team History
A rare piece of calendar news arrived for Flames fans this week, with the club opening up single-game tickets for the 2026-27 season and setting the stage for a year built around the Scotiabank Saddledomes place in team history. The schedule will include 44 home games, along with special events and theme nights designed to let the buildings longtime crowd celebrate the arena one more time.
For supporters who have spent years making the Saddledome part of their winter routine, the interest figures to be immediate and broad. The Flames are urging fans to lock in their seats early, a clear sign that demand is expected to be high as the team prepares for a season that will carry extra meaning every time the lights come on at home. [Read more 🡒]