Canadiens News & Notes: Newhook, Trade Rumors & Olympics – The Hockey Writers Montreal Canadiens Latest News, Analysis & More

Team USA likely hasn’t shown much interest in Caufield due to his small size or the perception that his game is streaky. But he has been very consistent for the Canadiens this season. That said, Team USA has several talented wingers such as Matt Boldy, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and Chris Kreider, who are all big, physical forwards, and they will likely use the same formula they used for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament last February when they lost to Canada in the final, focusing more on playing a physical game rather than one based on speed and pace that led Canada to the gold medal.

However, Caufield creates offensively at five-on-five, on the power play (PP) and is on pace for more than 40 goals this season. He also holds the franchise record for game-winning overtime goals in a career with 11 to date. He is a prolific scorer who can handle the physicality of the NHL. But if Team USA chooses to ignore him because of his size, Canadiens fans shouldn’t be too upset as that could be a boon for the club.

Giving him a few weeks off mid-season to heal any minor injuries, bumps and bruises and deal with any fatigue issues will allow him to reset before Montreal begins its stretch run for a playoff push, and this season they’ll be aiming for home ice advantage in the first round. As it stands, while Montreal has several players who could make their national Olympic team, only Juraj Slafkovsky is an option to play, who joins Team Slovakia for his second Olympic Games.

Canadiens chasing centers

Montreal is desperate for a top-six center, and according to Marco D’Amico of RG.orgthe Canadiens have contacted the Buffalo Sabers about the availability of Tage Thompson. He confirmed that several teams, including Montreal and the Vancouver Canucks, have expressed interest. Thompson is a huge center and a powerful forward who can score (several 40-goal seasons). But according to a well-placed source, Sabers GM Kevin Adams’ response was consistent: “Not available at this time.”

While the Sabers want to avoid panic decisions, their season is at a crossroads. Do they want to go all-in and make the playoffs for the first time in fifteen years, or do they throw in the towel and hope for a lottery? Either way, keeping a 28-year-old veteran, 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed center making $7.14 million for four more seasons is always the right decision. While he may not be listening right now, Adams’ answer isn’t “No” either, which opens up the possibility that at some point he could be willing to acquire Thompson, who has a list of five teams that aren’t trading.

However, if Buffalo makes him available, there will be a huge bidding war given the shortage of centers available on the market, especially those that peak on affordable, fixed-term contracts. It would be expensive, especially in a seller’s market. The last star traded was Jack Eichel, who is a better player, and the returns Buffalo received from the Vegas Golden Knights included Alex Tuch, a 24-year-old power forward who was coming off a 25-goal season, and Peyton Krebs, who was recently picked in the first round, as well as in the first round and in the second round.

For the Canadiens, the equivalent would be Juraj Slafkovsky, Michael Hage (who has played on the wing in recent weeks) and a first- and second-round pick. That price is far too high for most Canadiens fans to accept. But situations change quickly, and what seems like a certain outcome or value now may be completely different a month from now. This is a situation to keep an eye on.

Canadiens’ Newhook injured

Alex Nieuwhaak suffered what appeared to be a significant injury against the Dallas Stars in a 7-0 loss Thursday night. No official announcement has been made yet, but the way his teammates talked about the injury and his probable prolonged absence does not give much hope of a speedy recovery.

Whether it’s a few weeks or a few months, losing Newhook hurts. He played a key role in the top six, helping to stabilize the line with two rookies, Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen, while also providing significant attacking depth, with six goals in seventeen games, putting him on a 30-goal pace this season. He also played a more physical game, at a pace that would see him rack up 125 hits over an entire campaign, which would have been enough to finish in the Canadiens’ top ten last season.

So who will the Canadiens replace him with? He brought speed and an offensive scoring touch, and he was just starting to establish himself on the penalty kill (PK). His speed was a weapon, just like when Paul Byron was in Montreal. His breakaway speed is well respected – it helped force the PP to hold a player high, which helped stretch the forwards, creating space for the PK to fill the middle of the ice.

The obvious answer is to promote Zachary Bolduc to the second line. While he doesn’t bring the same intangibles as Newhook, Bolduc plays a tough, physical game with an excellent shot, which could be an asset on par with a sublime playmaker like Demidov. Unfortunately, moving Bolduc up would leave a hole in the bottom six that would need to be filled.

Are the Canadiens interested in David Kampf?

Why mention David Kampf? Well, the Canadiens need to strengthen their bottom six. They are also looking for a left-handed center who can win face-offs and play on the penalty kill, and it just so happens that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kampf fell out after he was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate Toronto Marlies and refused to report. He has since been suspended without pay.

Terminating his contract will cost him approximately $3.4 million in residual earnings, but it will also give him the freedom to sign with a new club immediately. Despite being 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds, Kampf is not a physical player, with a career-high of 84 hits in 2023-2024, for an average of just over one per game. While he checks some boxes, he is not the ideal candidate for Montreal.

He was in the third season of a four-year contract worth an average of $2.4 million. Still, Kampf is a responsible, defensive forward. He should generate interest around the league, and the question is whether he will chase long term, opportunity or the best short-term reset. Montreal may offer him the best option to stay with his former team, but don’t expect Hughes to overpay for a player who can only provide short-term relief.

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