Thatcher Demko’s recovery remains a question mark in Vancouver, and the latest chatter is enough to make you look twice at the Canucks’ goaltending picture.
Jason Gregor relayed Kevin Woodley’s read on the injured netminder: “He said no timeline. There have been reports he won’t be ready to start training camp. I can’t confirm it, but with the Driedger signing, it makes you wonder if his timeline (to return) has been pushed back.”
In Ottawa, the clock is ticking on Drake Batherson and the Senators. Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen reported that the two sides have until September 15th to land an eight-year deal, since seven years is the maximum after that point. The team and player have both said they want to continue the relationship beyond the final year of his contract, but there is still a gap to close.
Sources cited in the report say Batherson is aiming for eight years. If he were to hit the open market, his number could land somewhere between $10 and $11 million.
If he waits until July 1st, the longest deal he could sign would be six years. And if nothing gets done before Ottawa’s season opener on October 3rd, the expectation would be that he heads to free agency.
Elliotte Friedman also weighed in, saying “there is a path to a deal” as long as both sides are willing to compromise. Money and bonus structure are the sticking points, and the Senators have a track record of not liking signing bonuses.
In Montreal, Sam Montembeault’s name keeps coming up in trade chatter. Karine Hains of The Hockey News reported that Louis Jean said on 98.5 radio in Montreal that he believed Montembeault’s time with the Canadiens was basically done by the end of last season. Jean said GM Kent Hughes tried over the summer to move him, but couldn’t find a team willing to meet the price he wanted.
Jean also said Hughes did get a trade offer for Montembeault, but it wasn’t the right one, since Hughes isn’t interested in losing trades or selling low.
That situation could be worth watching in Edmonton, too. The Oilers have been mentioned as a possible fit for Montembeault after Frederik Andersen’s offseason injury, though it’s not known how long Andersen will be sidelined.
Edmonton does still have Tristan Jarry and Devon Levi, but cap space is tight. The Oilers have just under $2 million available, so they would need to clear money to take on Montembeault’s $3.15 million salary.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Rumors Suddenly Carry A Bigger Rebuild Message
The Canadiens have spent this rebuild preaching patience, leaning on drafting and development instead of chasing shortcuts. That approach has kept the long view intact, but it also means every potential big-name target gets filtered through the same question: does this move fit the timeline, or does it pull the organization ahead of schedule? A proven center like Dylan Larkin is exactly the kind of player who can force that conversation.
For Montreal, the appeal is obvious because centers who can drive a team are the hardest pieces to find, and the temptation to accelerate the rebuild only grows when one comes into view. But a move like that would not come cheap, and any serious pursuit would test the clubs balance between protecting its assets and knowing when to spend them. The real issue is not just whether the Canadiens want to get better, but whether they are ready to shift from building toward competing. [Read more 🡒]
Golden Knights Trade Still Sparks Debate About What Vegas Gave Up
The trade that sent Max Pacioretty to Vegas keeps looking better for Montreal every time Nick Suzuki takes another step. What once felt like a straightforward swap of a proven scorer for a package of futures has turned into one of the defining moves of the Canadiens recent era, especially with Suzuki growing into the kind of center the franchise can build around.
Vegas got useful production from Pacioretty before moving on from him in 2022, but the long view is what keeps the debate alive. Suzuki has since become the Canadiens captain and first-line centre, won the Selke Trophy and played a major role in the teams recent success, giving Montreal a centerpiece it did not have when the deal was made. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Fans May Not Like Where This Montembeault Rumor Leads
Edmonton is heading into training camp short-handed, with Mattias Janmark, Alec Regula, Matt Savoie and Frederik Andersen all unavailable to begin the fall. Two of those absences are expected to linger into November, and Andersens injury naturally pushed the Oilers back into the market discussion for help in goal, a topic that always draws attention when a contender is trying to piece together its early-season plans.
Still, the Montembeault chatter appears to be running into the same wall it usually does in a salary-cap league. Marco DAmico has said a trade for Samuel Montembeault is unlikely because Edmonton would not have the room to absorb his $3.15 million cap hit while carrying those injured contracts, which makes the rumor harder to sustain even with a clear need at the position. For Canadiens fans, it is a reminder that interest around a goalie can move quickly, but cap reality can shut the door just as fast. [Read more 🡒]