There’s a lot moving around the NHL right now, and the latest chatter touches three very different situations: Montreal’s coach, Minnesota’s stalled contract talks, and a wild trade concept involving Philadelphia’s brightest young scorer.
In Montreal, the message from Geoff Molson is clear: the Canadiens are not in the business of replacing Martin St. Louis.
The coach has one year left on his deal, but the organization seems happy with what he’s doing and wants him in the fold longer term. The final call still belongs to St.
Louis, but the Canadiens appear prepared to go bigger, with more money and a longer contract. For now, they may simply be waiting until everyone is back from the offseason before putting the extension to bed.
The Quinn Hughes situation in Minnesota is moving much more slowly than expected. Elliotte Friedman said he’s surprised the talks over Hughes’ next contract haven’t picked up speed, and he pointed to the possibility that Hughes and some of his U.S.
Olympic teammates have spent the summer enjoying themselves instead of focusing on business. So far, there hasn’t been much in the way of real negotiating, according to Friedman.
He’s not sounding alarm bells yet, but he did note that if Hughes still doesn’t have a deal once the season starts, that would suggest something unusual is going on. He also said the situation could be connected to whatever Cale Makar signs.
Then there’s the most eye-catching idea of the bunch: Matvei Michkov and the Oilers. Philadelphia’s young scorer is a dangerous talent, but things could be getting a little uncomfortable with coach Rick Tocchet.
His ice time and production have become part of the conversation, and there are questions about his defence, conditioning, and his relationship with the coach. If that tension grows, the Flyers could eventually explore a trade.
That’s where Edmonton enters the picture. The Oilers could put together a package centered on Isaac Howard, a young defenceman, and multiple draft picks. It’s a pure hypothetical for now, but the fit is easy to see: Edmonton would land a top-six winger who could skate with Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, while Philadelphia would collect several young assets and picks if it decided Michkov wasn’t the right long-term piece.
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Former Flyers Goalie Gets One More Shot In A Brutal Place
Cal Petersen is getting another chance to push his way back into the NHL picture after spending last season with the Iowa Wild in the AHL. The former Flyers goalie, who has 106 NHL games on his resume mostly from his time with the Los Angeles Kings, has been working to revive a career that has been stuck on the outside looking in for more than two years.
The next stop comes at Washingtons 2026 training camp, where Petersen will be on a professional tryout and trying to force his way into a crowded goalie conversation. It is the kind of opportunity that can disappear quickly in camp, and for Petersen, every bit of that long climb back will hinge on whether he can make enough of an impression to keep the door open. [Read more 🡒]