Hockey Free For All

Episode 139 of the Hockey free For Podcast 01-10-2025

Hello Hockey Fans. Take a listen to Episode 139 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to get your hockey fix, topics and discussions include-
#1. Jakub Dobes has been outstanding since he arrived. Some are surprised, I am not, at all. Jakub Dobes has not only solved the backup goalie issue, but he is gunning for Samual Montembeau’s starting position and he is making an extremely strong case to this point to become the number one and starting goalie for the club by playing lights out hockey against not just the lower tier teams, but the elite team in the league.
#2. What is with the continued questioning and doubting of Kent Hughes. Is just jealousy by the inept?
#3. There are 2 transactions that Kent Hughes has made that I would love to gain his insight on that he has made. The 1st transaction would be the trade of Right-Handed Defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils this past offseason for a 4th round pick. The 2nd transaction is the Patrick Laine acquisition. It would have been even better if Right-Handed Defensive prospect Justin Barron was sent to Columbus, instead of Defenseman Jordan Harris.  I think Jordan Harris is a class act all the way around. Jordan Harris perfectly meshed with the club; from the moment he stepped on the ice.
Veteran Right-Handed defenseman David Savard who has and remains invaluable to the younger defenseman, the team’s locker room and leads by example showing the way and Christian Dvorak who has like several other roster players this year, has actually found a game and role that he can be a contributing member of the roster and not and every game liability.
#4. Kent Hughes and that entire Management team clearly understands chemistry and the importance of it.
#5. Hockey is a team sport, not an individual sport.
#6. Why is anyone questioning the Montreal Management team for traveling to Russia to evaluate its prospects?
#7. Stop trying to create incompetent and unneeded chaos by saying Ivan Demidov is getting all the love and Bogdan Konyushkov is the forgotten man. Ivan Demidov is a top 5 draft pick, and Bogdan Konyushkov was a 4th round draft pick. Of course, the attention levels will be different. Hello!
#8. Absolutely Jake Evans, David Savard, Josh Anderson, Mike Matheson, Joel Armia, Cayden Primeau and Michael Pezzetta should all be move at or by the 2025 trade deadline.
#9. Look at the A-List prospects yet to arrive in Montreal. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher and Adam Engstrom.
#10. Where does Emil Heineman end up? Jared Davidson, Luke Tuch and Florian Xhekaj will add grit Montreal needs and doesn’t have yet, and let’s not forget Joshua Roy! Is anyone paying attention to Sam Harris at the University of Denver?

Episode 138 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-29-2024

Hello hockey fans out there, here is episode 138 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to wrap up 2024 with, this week’s topics include-
#1. It’s Friday format in 2025
#2. Bogdan Konyushkov has been a forgotten prospect for the Montreal Canadiens, no, but there are apparently that want to start that rumor, sadly.
#3. Ivan Demidov is getting all the attention and love. He’s a top 5 prospect, he was the best in his draft class, and he should be getting that attention and generating that level of excitement. It’s normal people, hello!
#4. Someone explain, justify or come up with any scenario as to why Montreal want to make this proposed trade, why and how it even remotely makes any sense, in any way?
To Montreal:
Elias Pettersson
2nd-round pick
To Vancouver:
Cole Caufield
Christian Dvorak
David Savard
#5. If Patrik Laine did run his mouth, there can’t be any surprise to the wat the Columbus Blue Jackets responded, can there?
#6. If there was an intent to target and injure Patrik Laine in any way, that’s unprofessional behavior, any way you cut it, and the suspensions start at the player level, continue to the coaching staff, then onto the management and even include ownership.
#7. You respond by blowing out your opponent by an embarrassing score, not by injuring someone, which completely lacks sportsmanship and professionalism of any kind.
#8. Must be a lot of sad jealousy regarding Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes and that is pathetic.
#9. How has the acquisition of Alexandre Carrier stunting the development and opportunities of prospect Logan Mailloux?
#10. What’s with the excessive concern regarding lack of contract talks between David Savard and the Montreal Canadiens?
#11. Patrik Laine, has not taken or stolen Cole Caufield’s spot or any of the roles he has.
#12. Cole Caufield is far more valuable to the Montreal Canadiens than Patrik Laine is. That’s not even a question or viable discussion. 
#13. Patrik Laine is a one trick pony.
#14. Cole Caufield’s game has far more to it, than Patrik Laine game has or offers.
#15. Samual Montembeau has reestablished himself as the number one goalie in Montreal at the moment. Consistency will determine if that is long term, or he’s a placeholder.
#16. Cayden Primeau’s game has vanished.
#17. Yes, Cayden Primeau has been put on waivers. Don’t be surprised at all if he ends up back in Laval, after the abysmal season he has had to this point.
#18. No one should doubt that Jakob Dobes is a legit NHL Goaltender.

Episode 137 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-22-2024

Hello hockey fans out there. Just before the holiday hits, here is Episode 137 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast to take a listen to, topics include-
#1. What’s wrong with Kirby Dach’s game?
#2. Has Kirby Dach’s actually healed from his injury/injuries?
#3. Will Kirby Dach still be in Montreal and on its team roster after the trade deadline?
#4. Kirby Dach has to be concerned and see the coming arrivals of Michael Hage and Owen Back!
#5. What has happened to Alex Newhook?
#6. Alex Newhook provides speed and fill in skill and options, but absolutely nothing else?
#7. Alex Newhook has to see the writing on the wall that he will shortly no longer be part of the team’s top or even top 9 with the coming arrival of Ivan Demidov, with the acquisition of Patrick Laine, the pending arrival of Joshua Roy, the Arrival of Owen Beck, and a lot of other arriving talent coming soon?
#8. Put Juraj Slafkovsky back on the number 1 line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield and leave him on it for at least the remainder of the 2024/2025 season and let him truly gel with other gifted linemates.
#9. Stop with the line changes. The roster players in Montreal are clearly in need of chemistry and gelling with consistent linemates.
#10. What has happened to Cayden Primeau and his game?

Episode 136 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-15-2024

Hello hockey fans out there. Take a listen to episode 136 of the hockey free for all podcast topics include.
#1. Montembeau has returned to form at the same time Patrik Laine joined the Canadiens.
#2. Patrik Laine’s return has had a tremendous impact throughout the entire roster, not just the offense, which is head scratcher.
#3. Lane Hutson should be rookie of the year.
#4. Igor Shesterkins new contract will haunt the New York Rangers.
#5. Jake Evans trade value will never be higher, trade him and maximize the return.
#6. Patrik Laine, Joel Armia and Samual Montembeau were very interesting selections to the 4 nation tournament.
#7. Wow, what a complete disaster of a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins that ended in a 9 to 2 wipe out.
#10. Stop with the calling for Martin St. Louis to be replaced.
#11. The problem behind the bench lies with Trevor Letowski, Stephane Robidas and Eric Raymond.
#12. Who are you going to replace him with, Pascal Vincent, because he was amazingly successful with the Columbus Blue Jackets last season?
#13. The goaltenders are making the same mistakes and playing with the same inconsistencies nearly every night. That is Eric Raymonds job.
#14. The pairing combinations are often questionable, there’s constant breakdowns in their own end, along with missed assignments, in combination with players just running around seemingly lost like chickens with their heads cut off. That is all Stephane Robidas’s job to address, resolve and prevent.
#15.  Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher all need a Scott Steven type, Larry Robinson, Rob Blake, Chris Pronger type defensive coach.
#16. Offensively, other than Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield all season long and Juraj Slafkovsky in the beginning of the season, the offense has been inconsistent. Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook look lost. There has yet to be a role found for Emil Heineman and zero chemistry other than Suzuki and Caufield, this is Trevor LeTowski’s job.
#17. On a positive note, with a very small sample size, it looks like the acquisition of Patrik Laine looks great, but it’s a very small sample size. So far, so good.
#18. Jake Evans is having has best and most consistent year of his career.
#19. Josh Andersson has found a 2-way game that maximizes his effectiveness and skills, wonderful.
#20. Christian Dvorak remains an enigma at best. 
#21. Brendan Gallagher is having a far better season than he has had in several years, outstanding.
 #22. Time for Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta, Mike Matheson, Justin Barron, David Savard, Joel Armia , Jayden Struble, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Josh Andersson, Cayden Primeau and Samual Montembeau to move on.
#23. Welcome in Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Owen Beck, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom in the 2025/2026 season.

Episode 135 of the Hockey Free All Podcast 12-08-2024

Hello Hockey fans, take a listen to Episode 135 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics include_
#1. Patik Laine came back at the perfect time and has had tremendous impact.
#2. Why is it that any player injury seems to effect the Montreal Canadiens more than another team?
#3. Why do the Montreal Canadiens players not seem to know or have the depth of knowledge about the advantages and disadvantages of their own home rink like other teams seem to, such as the Minnesota Wild, The Dallas Stars, The N.Y. Rangers or all the most resent additions like the Las Vegas Golden Knight, Seattle Kraken or the Utah Hockey Club, that already does?
#4. The time has arrived for determinations to be made. The Montreal Canadiens are three to three and a half years into a rebuild.
#5. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have solidified themselves as core key pieces, there than these 3, much work remains.
#6. Many people will say that Kaiden Guhle should be and has also established himself as a key core member, but his injury history and consistency is concerning and raises questions about his durability and longevity to me.
#7. Major key core players are on their way. For Skill Winger Ivan Demindov, 2nd line center Michael Hage, Future Staring Goaltender Jacob Fowler, Finally a consistent power forward with the frame and expected consistency and nightly game in Tyler Thorp, Right Handed Defenseman Logn Mailloux, L/R Defenseman Adam Engstrom, A complete 200 foot/2-way center that can play it any way you want to in Owen Beck, Nightly toughness and skill in C/LW Florian Xhekaj and Left Wing Like Tuch. Plus a host of others.
#8. Arber Xhekaj’s shoulder injuries finally look to be behind him, which is fantastic news.
#9. Michael Pezzetta looks disillusioned, disconnected or detached from the team this year.
#10. Defensively, the time has arrived to move on from Justin Barron, Mike Matheson and David Savard have been inconsistent, along with Justin Barron, he can’t seem to figure out his game or put it together.
#11. Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom should both be members of the starting 6 defensemen for the Montreal Canadiens as of January 1st 2025 and for the remainder of the season.
 #12. Martin St. Louis remains the perfect head coach for the Montreal Canadiens and Roger Grillo has been an excellent addition as a consultant. The concern sits with Trevor Letowski, Stephane Robidas and Eric Raymond.

Episode 134 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 12-01-2024

Hello Hockey Fans, take a listen to Episode 134 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast Topics include-
#1. Juraj Slafkovski needs consistent linemates
#2. Kirby Dach. What is he, where is he, and will he be a part of the Montreal Candiens long term?
#3. Give Joshua Roy a legitimate shot
#4. There’s no team Chemistry Montreal
#5. Coaching staff 2 stay and 3 go
#6. A few players have established themselves, but there is a lot of work.
#7. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage and many other pieces have yet to arrive
#8. At this point, Montreal is very like to finish in the bottom 5 teams of the league for the 3rd year in a row.
#9. From December 1st to the 2024/2025 trade deadline is the key to the 2024/2025 season for the Montreal Canadiens.

Episode 133 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-24-2024

Hello Hockey Fans, out there, take a listen to Episode 133 of the hockey free for all podcast. This week’s topics and discussions include-
#1. Is there just an outright desire to start chaos, controversy or rumors, why would the Montreal Canadiens hire Jim Montgomery?
#2. Only bring back Patrik Laine if he is absolutely 100% recovered and ready to go, not a second sooner.
#3. Just let Cole Caufield play and stop questioning or 2nd guessing a player you have no business doing it to in the first place.
#4. The shutout against the Edmonton Oilers was just another game. It was not any kind of turning point. The Montreal Canadiens actually played all 60 minutes.
#5. The obvious list of players that should be traded by the Montreal Canadiens includes-David Savard, Mike Mathenson, Josh Anderson, Christian Devorak, Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Jayden Struble, Justin Barron, Michael Pezzetta and yes both Cayden Primeau and Samual Montembeau.
#6. Three additional players that should also be moved are Brendan Gallagher, Alex Newhook and Kiby Dach. Brendan Gallagher has had a good season too this point and his trade value is the highest it’s been in a long time. As for Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook, they both need a change of scenery.
#7. Enough with the Trevor Zeagras obsession. Montreal does not need another inconsistent, overpaid and under performing player like Alex Newhook who has all kinds of skill and is a ghost almost every night.
#8. For what possible reason does Montreal need to acquire Right Defenseman David Jiricek from the Columbus Blue Jackets either?  

Episode 132 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-18-2024

Hello hockey fan's out there,
Take a listen to episode 132 of the hockey free for all podcast, regarding the state of the Montreal Canadiens, where they are at, their options, how the current season should be utilized and if your really want to ever see the quality of club that they were return.

Episode 131 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-10-2024

Hello Hockey Fan’s out there. Take a listen to episode 131 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast and this weeks topic focuses on one specific issue.
#1. What’s going on with the Montreal Canadiens and is it a player issue or an assistant coach issue.

Episode 130 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast 11-03-2024

Hello Hockey Fan's, here is Episode 130 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast topics of discussion, to take a listen to-
#1. After 2 lights out performances to start the 2024/2025 regular season Montembeau has crashed to earth.
#2.  Cayden Primeau has not looked good either, in the 2024/2025 season.
#3. Call up Jakob Dobes, he’s earned it based on the 2nd of the 2023/2024 Laval season, this pre season and the start of the 2024/2025 season in Laval.
#4. The Montreal Canadiens defense just looks completely lost, there’s no other way to put it.
#5. Aber Xhekaj clearly needs to be coached, taught, influenced and worked with by a Scott Stevens, Chris Pronger or Rob Blake to show him how to effectively use his blend of skills and frame, effectively on a nightly basis.
#6. For all of those who to see or think that Arber Xhekaj should be traded, prepare to see Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson absolutely obliterated and their careers prematurely ended by every single opponent the Montreal Canadiens faces.
#7.  Logan Mailloux does not have an NHL defensive game at this point.
#8. Montreal needs more grit/in your face place players. Such as Florian Xhekaj, Luke Tuch and Owen Protz to name just a few.
#9. You are witnessing why the Montreal Canadiens do not have too many draft picks or too much draft capital as some think.
#10. Martin St. Louis and roger Grillo stay, everyone else gone.
#11. Time for Kirby Dach to show what he has on an every night basis or step aside for Michael Hage, Owen Beck or several others.
#12. Alex Newhook needs to step his game and consistency way up.
#13. Line #1 is Nick Suzuki at center, Cole Caufield at right wing and Jaruj Slafkovski at left wing. Line #2 is Michael Hage at center, Ivan Demidov on left wing and Kirby Dach at right wing.
#14. Time to start using Oliver Kapanen effectively and play him for 15 minutes minimal or send him back to Finland.
#15. Time to unload Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, Justin Barron, Joel Armia ,Michael Pezzetta and Jake Even.
#16. Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage, Tyler Thorpe, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler, Filip Mesar, Owen Beck, Adam Engstrom, Oliver Kapanen, Joshua Roy, Luke Tuch and Jared Davidson are on their way in 2025/2026.
#17. Montreal does not need to acquire Trevor Zegras, stop with this rederick .
#18. The 2024/2025 season is not the season that Montreal shoot for making the playoffs. Let everyone find there place on the roster and trade the others for future draft talent.