On today's episode, we first discuss the Montreal Canadiens game against the Buffalo Sabres, then we discuss the Nashville Predators at Montreal Canadiens game, before ending the show with some goalie talk with Cayden Primeau's resurgence.

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Inside a special bonus Locked on Canadiens:

The Montreal Canadiens got in on the Erik Karlsson trade with the San Jose Sharks and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon. Kent Hughes was more than willing to act as a third party and ended up collecting a small fortune for his efforts at the end of the day.

When the dust had settled Montreal had acquired prospect Nathan Legare, a 2025 second round pick from the Penguins, goalie Casey DeSmith, and former Hab Jeff Petry, while they send Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick to the Sharks and Penguins respectively. Scott does his best to break down the new names, and old faces joining the Habs, and discusses why the departing names open the biggest window for young players in the rebuild.

The question remains though, is this another huge win for Kent Hughes? While the Penguins landed their White Whale in Erik Karlsson, the Canadiens made out extremely well. Scott makes the case for this being a huge win thanks to freeing up space for young forwards, but also how Hughes can make it an all-time deal if he can clear the logjam on defence next.

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With the Montreal Canadiens quiet lately, we decide to take a quick look around the rest of the NHL. The Calgary Flames have fired head coach Darryl Sutter and we discuss some of the chatter surrounding that move. The Winnipeg Jets appear to be daring their fans to abandon them and we share our thoughts on that. And finally, the Boston Bruins, winners of the President's Trophy, have choked away a 3-1 series lead. We take a moment to discuss, as Habs fans.

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#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #habs

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The Montreal Canadiens may have lost to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, but some of the Habs are trending upwards this week. We talk about who's hot and who's not, with particular emphasis on the Scott Sabourin of the Belleville Senators and his clown antics, Samuel Montembeault's single game poor performance, Mike Hoffman's improved play despite his huge gaffe, Kaiden Guhle's brilliance, Cole Caufield's consistency, Jake Allen's great saves, and honourable mentions to the likes of Lane Hutson.

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Montreal Canadiens lock in Ivan Demidov with a stunning eight-year, $9.15M AAV extension, solidifying a talented, hungry young core without a single $10M cap hit. Could this disciplined cap management set up the Canadiens to make a blockbuster move next season? Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba highlight Demidov’s commitment, the team’s forward-thinking contract structure, and what it means for fellow stars like Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson.

They break down why GM Kent Hughes stayed quiet during free agency, Montreal’s enviable cap flexibility, and the lackluster UFA market. The conversation turns to wild NHL moves—focusing on Bowen Byram’s massive contract in Chicago, Toronto’s flurry of risky signings, and Buffalo’s puzzling roster shakeup. Which Eastern Conference rivals truly got better, and is Montreal poised to seize an opportunity after another patient offseason?

00:00 Canada Day free agency frenzy

04:38 Montreal Canadiens' contract strategy

06:18 Discussing player contracts and strategies

12:28 Kent Hughes on trade strategies

14:14 Watching free agency from afar

16:16 Vancouver trades and team changes

21:10 Reviewing NHL team strategies

24:41 Risky player contracts for Matthews

28:27 Washington Capitals' financial decisions

30:53 Concern about facing Florida and Carolina

Photo credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images

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Montréal Canadiens Jakub Dobeš earns a three-year extension as the Habs solidify their goalie situation—does this move set the stage for Habs contending years to come? Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert spotlight Dobeš journey, from stepping up in high-pressure games to becoming the emotional anchor of the roster. The show compares his style to Carey Price, analyzes the Canadiens’ calculated contract timing, and questions whether Jacob Fowler or Sam Montembeault could shift the goaltending hierarchy yet again.

Exploring the free agent market, the hosts debate options like Anthony Mantha and Vladimir Tarasenko, discuss the limitations of this year’s UFA class, and evaluate whether trades are Montreal’s best path forward. Listener mail brings heartfelt stories about fandom, favorite Canadiens moments, and insider perspectives on the team’s culture of below-market contracts—can Kent Hughes continue building a roster of selfless stars without sacrificing future success?

00:00 Jakub Dobeš contract, Friday Mailbag
04:42 Discussing goalie contract extension
06:51 Becoming a Montreal Hockey Legend
14:16 Lane Hutson's future Stanley Cup moment
18:16 Evaluating Anthony Mantha's value
21:29 Answering listener questions
23:31 Discussing rookie camp talent levels
27:07 Team culture and contracts discussion
29:16 Discussing Montreal Canadiens UFA market
33:41 Future pressure on Canadiens Cup hopes
36:50 First time showing true fandom
38:42 Promoting podcast and social media

Photo credit: Eric Bolte - Imagn Images

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#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens

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Montreal Canadiens face pivotal contract crossroads as Kirby Dach files for salary arbitration while Arber Xhekaj opts out. Are ongoing negotiations setting the stage for a roster shakeup, or will stability win out for Kent Hughes’ squad?

Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba break down what Dach’s arbitration filing and Xhekaj’s decision mean for potential offer sheets, trade value, and salary cap strategy. The hosts also spotlight chaos across the NHL, from the Philadelphia Flyers’ blockbuster $18 million offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks’ Leo Carlsson to management missteps reminiscent of Marc Bergevin’s tenure. Plus, a full-season review of Zachary Bolduc’s emergence as Montreal’s potential next-level pest—can he lock down the perfect bottom-six role and become a true local success story?

03:26 Contract uncertainties with Xhekaj and Dach

06:29 Kirby Dach's qualifying offer

10:55 Discussing NHL arbitration scenarios

13:09 Record NHL player salary

17:55 Being part of a team

23:21 Zachary Bolduc trade discussion

28:11 Discussing a controversial hockey player

32:08 Podcast schedule update

Photo credit: Eric Bolte - Imagn Images

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Montreal Canadiens fans are growing restless as the offseason stays eerily quiet—where are the impact moves that could launch this young core into true contention? Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert scrutinize Kent Hughes’ patience in the current NHL trade landscape, dissecting why adding a top-six forward is harder than expected and whether Montreal can afford to wait for the perfect fit.


The conversation spotlights Jake Evans’ impressive reliability as a fourth-line center, questioning whether he’s an under-appreciated luxury or a hidden asset with upside. Key topics include the pitfalls of overpaying in trades versus free agency, the lessons from the Leo Carlson and Matvei Michkov dramas, and whether sacrificing draft picks is justified for a game-changer. Will Hughes risk the wrong move at the wrong time, or is a carefully timed blockbuster on the horizon for the Canadiens?

00:00 Canadiens' Free Agency Challenges
04:57 Hockey team trade frustrations
06:44 Discussing team moves and strategy
13:46 Jake Evans' current contract praise
17:24 Discussing trade deadline overpays
21:35 Discussing overpay in trades/signings
24:59 Discussing trade values in hockey
26:03 Discussing Canadiens' player trade strategy
31:29 Discussing a risky player contract
34:02 Negotiating player contracts
37:21 Sending mailbag questions for Friday

Photo credit: David Kirouac - Imagn Images

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#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens #canadiensnews

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