The Canadiens-Sharks matchup in Montreal on Tuesday drew eyes from around the league, with scouts from 17 teams listed in attendance. Among the clubs represented were the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning, each with two scouts on hand, along with the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Utah Mammoth and Vegas Golden Knights.
One name that keeps surfacing in the goalie chatter is Karel Vejmelka, and Stephen Valiquette said he continues to hear him linked to the New York Rangers.
“Garand is playing at a high level. He wouldn’t be playing on a for a few reasons.
He could have been picked up on waivers, which he cleared. He could have been backing up maybe (Joonas) Korpisalo, and Korpisalo got hot.
But Korpisalo he hasn’t even started skating yet, so he’s a couple weeks away.
So I’m hearing (Karel) Vejmalka’s name a lot being linked to the Rangers, and Hellebuyck, by way of Vejmelka coming to New York, would be going to Utah. That’s the one I’m hearing more than UPL (Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen) coming to New York.
Like, it has to be a fit for three teams. That’s what’s going to make this Hellebuyck move very unique, and I can see the Vejmelka one.
Like Vejmelka, really good goalie. The only team last year that made the playoffs without getting 25 points from their backup was Utah.
Vejmelka did it on his own. He’s a game eater, and he can play.
Now, in the future, if it was Vejmelka - (Igor) Shesterkin at a lot of money, I guess around 15 million total. I don’t know if that’s something that works.
But I keep going back to the fact that once upon a time we did see (Dominik) Hasek in the same net as Cujo (Curtis Joseph) when they were both in Detroit. And teams find a way to figure it out.
But Garand himself, he’s been playing terrific.”
In Other News...
Canadiens Prospect Alexander Zharovsky Just Gave Fans Another Reason To Wait
Alexander Zharovsky continues to give Canadiens fans a reason to keep an eye on the KHL box scores. The 19-year-old forward, who is still developing in Russia with Salavat Yulaev Ufa, was part of a recent comeback win over Metallurg Magnitogorsk and has remained one of the more intriguing young talents in Montreals pipeline after a record-setting rookie season.
The start to this season has been a little uneven, but that is part of the patient plan the Canadiens have in place for him. Rather than rush him toward North America, Montreal is letting Zharovsky handle the ups and downs of a full KHL campaign, hoping the long view pays off when he is ready to make the next jump. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Still Loom In A Trade Situation That May Not Be Closed
Trade chatter around the league still has a way of circling back to Montreal, even when the Canadiens are not directly named in the latest twist. Connor Hellebuyck remains a major talking point as the Winnipeg Jets keep working on a deal, and there is even some talk that his physicals could be pushed back while attention shifts to the Heritage Classic weekend. Around the same time, Dylan Larkins name has been resurfacing in broader speculation, with his list of destinations expanding and his market still worth monitoring.
For the Canadiens, the key part is what is not yet there. Montreal is not on Larkins current 10-team list, which does not shut the door on future interest but does keep the club on the outside for now. Elsewhere, Pittsburghs situation bears watching too, since a tougher stretch could trigger a larger sell-off as management operates under a tight budget, leaving this as one of those leaguewide trade stories that could still change shape before it finally settles. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Brutal Test Without Their Captain
Nick Suzukis absence is the kind of development that changes the feel of a roster immediately. The Canadiens captain is dealing with an upper-body injury that will keep him out for 2-4 weeks, and with that comes the end of his remarkable run of 546 consecutive games. It is the sort of stretch that underscores how central Suzuki has become to Montreal, not just as its top center but as the steadying presence the team has leaned on through so much of its recent progress.
For the Canadiens, the next few weeks now become a test of depth and adaptability. Montreal has already moved to bring up Owen Beck from AHL Laval, a sign that the club is preparing to reshuffle responsibilities quickly while Suzuki recovers. However the lines are arranged, the larger challenge is obvious: replacing a captain who touches so many parts of the game is never as simple as plugging in one player and moving on. [Read more 🡒]