The Montreal Canadiens may already have a decision looming on one of their young centers, and it could end up shaping a bigger move down the line.
On The Sick Podcast with Tony Marino, Marco D’Amico laid out a scenario where Oliver Kapanen or Michael Hage could become the kind of asset that helps Montreal go shopping for help elsewhere.
“Ideal world, he’s your third-line center of the future. Ideal world. But if the, if the Canadians see throughout the season that maybe it’s not working out with Michael Hage as a, as a true centerman, as an all-situation centerman with Michigan, then perhaps, you know, either Michael or Oliver Kapanen, become that trade chip to allow them some level of security.
Because teams aren’t looking for prospects per se; they’re looking for some level of immediate help. Well, if Kapanen is producing, that would allow them to perhaps go and get that immediate help.
Knowing that maybe if he were to sign long-term, that number would be a little too high to stomach within that context. So there is the possibility.
I still believe that the Canadians have full faith in Michael Hage and respect his decision to go back because he wants to be that drop and play top six center. But if you have Kapanen as your 3C, you’re in business, in my opinion, when it comes to competing.”
Over in Detroit, Simon Edvinsson’s contract situation remains unsettled, and the timing isn’t helping. With the Red Wings still without a general manager, talks on the restricted free agent defenseman have slowed.
In a rough translation of Edvinsson’s interview with Anton Johansson of Aftonbladet, George Malik of The Malik Report noted that the defender said the process has been “a bit messy.”
Edvinsson said he wants to have a deal done before the season, but also acknowledged the clock is ticking.
“Of course you want to sign before that, and it’s getting really tight …Well, then you’ll see what happens. You want to play. It’s been a long summer and now you want to go back to hockey.
Has been a bit messy.”
Edvinsson is set to head to Detroit soon for training camp, and he plans to be there even if a contract still isn’t in place. He said he’ll pay for his own insurance in case anything happens.
Malik also reported that Edvinsson is eligible for an offer sheet and that there had been interest from other teams, though he declined to get into specifics. Even with that uncertainty, he said he loves Detroit and the fans.
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