The Montreal Canadiens want Zachary Bolduc signed, but the real issue may not be money. It may be term.
Bolduc, who came over from the St. Louis Blues last year, put up 30 points in his first season with Montreal and is still a restricted free agent.
Under normal circumstances, a deal like this would be fairly straightforward, probably landing somewhere in the one- or two-year range at a modest salary. But Marco D’Amico reported on the Starr & D’Amico Show that Bolduc and his camp are pushing for a four-year contract.
That kind of length is becoming more common for young players, and in Bolduc’s case it would carry him right to unrestricted free agency.
Across the league, the trade market for Connor Hellebuyck has also shifted, and not in the Winnipeg Jets’ favor.
Elliotte Friedman said the packages around Hellebuyck are getting tougher to assemble now that the draft has passed and he’s still with Winnipeg. The Jets are not focused on simply collecting picks and prospects, but if they want the kind of return they’re after, that may be the route they have to take. The problem is that a lot of the most useful assets teams leaned on earlier in the summer are harder to move now.
Draft picks carry more uncertainty once the draft is gone, because teams no longer know exactly what they’ll be dealing with at the next one. Prospects are trickier too, since training camps are opening and clubs may already be planning for those players to have bigger roles instead of using them as trade currency. The sense is that Winnipeg may have already missed its best chance to maximize the return.
Then there’s the Philadelphia Flyers, who could be waiting for a much bigger swing.
If the Quinn Hughes situation turns into a real trade possibility, the Flyers could be in the conversation. Kevin Kurz of The Athletic addressed the idea and laid out why it could fit. Hughes has strong ties to head coach Rick Tocchet and top centre Trevor Zegras, and the Flyers were already interested in him before he was traded to the Minnesota Wild.
Philadelphia also checked in on Zach Werenski when he surfaced in trade chatter, though nothing came of that. And the Leo Carlsson offer sheet showed exactly how aggressive the Flyers are willing to be when an elite player becomes available.
They have the draft picks and young players to make a serious offer, but any deal with Minnesota would have to include an extension. That extension is still expected to be for three years, no matter where Hughes ends up, so he can line up his contract with his brother Jack’s deal.
In Other News...
Flyers Rookie Camp Suddenly Feels Bigger For One Intriguing Prospect
Max Westergards name was already one to watch as Flyers rookie camp approaches, but his latest showing for Frolunda HC in a Champions Hockey League game gave the organization another reason to pay attention. The prospect contributed a goal and an assist overseas, adding a little more buzz to a group that also includes goaltenders Alexander Smolin and David Jiricek, while Maksim Sokolovskii has drawn notice for his promising play and noticeable physical development since becoming a first-round pick.
With rookie camp and training camp on the horizon, the Flyers prospect picture is starting to take shape in a way that makes Westergard stand out even more. Philadelphia always wants those early September sessions to answer a few questions, and his recent production only sharpens the intrigue around how he might look once he gets back in the mix with the rest of the young group. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Rookie Hype Now Carries A Much Bigger Franchise Question
Porter Martone has barely entered the conversation, and already the buzz around him is doing more than just flattering a promising young player. The rookie arrives with some NHL experience already on his rsum, which is part of why he is drawing early attention in a wide-open race for the 2026-27 Calder Trophy, even with other first-year players set to push for the same spotlight. For a Flyers team trying to build something sturdier than a one-year surge of excitement, that kind of hype is a sign of both progress and unfinished business.
The larger question is what comes next for the rest of the young core that needs to turn promise into permanence. David Jiek and Jett Luchanko are each heading into seasons where they have to show they belong in the NHL picture, while Dan Vladas new contract comes with its own pressure after a season that could make him a regression candidate. For Philadelphia, the real test is not just whether Martone meets the moment, but whether the group around him can keep pace long enough to make the rebuild feel real. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Defense Battle Could Open The Door For An Unexpected Name
The Flyers are heading into training camp with one of their clearer positional questions sitting on the blue line, where a mix of prospects and veterans will chase what figures to be a limited opening. David Jiricek looks positioned to claim a spot because of his waiver status and the offense he brings, leaving the remaining competition to players such as Simon Benoit, Oliver Bonk, Hunter McDonald and Ty Murchison.
Murchison is the name that has quietly started to stand out in the conversation, even with limited NHL experience. Rick Tocchet has already singled out the young defenseman for the way he defends and for traits that translate to more than just staying at home, which gives this battle a little more intrigue as camp gets underway and the Flyers sort out who can truly stick. [Read more 🡒]