Zach Werenski has heard the trade noise all summer, and his answer was as direct as it gets: he wants to stay put. After working out at Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets defenseman said being back in Columbus only strengthened that feeling. Speaking with local media, Werenski said, “Ideally, I’m here for the long term.”
Werenski said his focus is on winning, and winning in Columbus. He also made it clear this was the only time he planned to address the offseason speculation publicly. When the conversation turned to Adam Fantilli’s contract situation, Werenski said he believes Fantilli wants to remain in Columbus too and expects that situation to get resolved.
Elsewhere in the rumor mill, Quinn Hughes’ next contract is still taking shape, and the numbers may be climbing. Michael Russo said on The Sheet that a three-year deal looks like a realistic landing spot, with the idea being that Hughes could line up his next unrestricted free agency with his brother Jack Hughes.
Russo also suggested Minnesota may have initially thought Hughes could come in around the Kirill Kaprizov $17 million annual range, but that number appears to have moved. Hughes could now be looking at more than $18-plus million per season, even on a shorter-term contract.
Montreal may have a pair of restricted free agents worth watching before training camp opens Sept. 16.
Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc remain unsigned, and Stu Cowan believes both could become sign-and-trade candidates. Cowan pointed to last summer’s Canadiens move to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders after Dobson had agreed to an eight-year, US$76-million contract as a restricted free agent.
“The fact neither player has signed yet leads me to believe they could become part of sign-and-trade deals before Sept. 16 - like the one the Canadiens made last summer to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders after he had agreed to an eight-year, US$76-million contract as a restricted free agent.”
The Canadiens are still looking for a second-line center, so a trade in September or October remains a possibility. Xhekaj and Bolduc, both on inexpensive deals, could draw interest if Montreal makes them available.
In Ottawa, Steve Staios sounds like a general manager who still has work to do. Speaking with season-ticket holders on Wednesday, he said he’s open to more changes before the season starts, and he referenced the move that brought William Eklund in from the San Jose Sharks shortly after sending Brady Tkachuk to the Florida Panthers.
“I wasn’t done after the Brady deal, and I’m certainly not done now,” he said. “We’re determined to bring championship here to Ottawa.”
If the Senators can’t land another scoring option before training camp, that remains a need Staios could keep chasing during the season. He also said Drake Batherson’s contract extension is a priority.
In Other News...
Canadiens Are Taking A Real Risk With Samuel Montembeault
Samuel Montembeault is still on the Canadiens roster in mid-August, and for now the front office seems content to let the situation play out. Kent Hughes does not appear interested in moving the goaltender when the return would be light, which leaves Montreal in a familiar holding pattern: waiting to see whether a patient approach can turn a limited market into a better one later on.
For the Canadiens, the gamble is obvious. Keeping Montembeault gives them a chance to see if his value rises over the course of the season, but it also means carrying a goalie whose performance has already raised questions about whether he can take a meaningful step forward. If he does not, Montreal could end up spending another year searching for answers while the trade value Hughes is protecting never really materializes. [Read more 🡒]
Scott Gomez Still Hasn't Let Go Of A Painful Canadiens Era
Scott Gomezs time in Montreal still hangs over him in a way that clearly goes beyond the box score. The former first-round pick arrived with expectations and, after a strong first season, his production tailed off during a stretch that included a long scoring drought and growing frustration from both the fan base and the local media, especially after the trade that sent Ryan McDonagh to the Canadiens.
What stands out now is how completely Gomez has stepped away from anything tied to that chapter. He has reportedly kept his distance from Montreal-related conversations and has avoided interviews connected to the team, a sign that the experience left a deeper mark than many old hockey stories do. For Canadiens fans, it is another reminder of how quickly a promising start can turn into a painful legacy. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Linked To Another Winger Ottawa May Not Want To Lose
The Canadiens offseason shopping list may not be finished yet, and one name worth watching is Drake Batherson. Montreal is reportedly interested in the Ottawa winger if the Senators are unable to lock him up to a new contract, which would put a productive division rival squarely on the radar for a team still looking to add more punch on the wing.
Bathersons situation has the potential to shape more than one front offices plans, because Ottawa would prefer not to let a player of that caliber drift into the market. If the Senators cannot bridge the gap, Montreal could be positioned to jump in, but the real intrigue is what kind of contract talks are going on behind the scenes and whether Ottawa can keep the door from opening at all. [Read more 🡒]