Canadiens Farm Team Cuts Players Loose
The Montreal Canadiens' farm team, the Laval Rocket, is preparing for the Eastern Conference Final of the AHL, and they have decided to part ways with a few players, at least for now.
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Abbotsford Canucks: Travis Green knows 'it's not a race' for Manny Malhotra to run an NHL bench
Travis Green knows taking the time to reach an NHL career objective is comforting. Ten years ago, he guided the Utica Comets to the Calder Cup Finals, the first time an AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the championship series. The Comets fell in five games to the favoured Manchester Monarchs — three one-goal contests and two that required overtime — but the players and Green were much better for the experience. Green parlayed four seasons as Utica bench boss into head coach of the Canucks in 2017, transitioned to the New Jersey Devils, and is now at the helm of the vastly improved Ottawa Senators. The Abbotsford Canucks open their Calder Cup title quest Friday in Charlotte, N.C. with rookie head coach Manny Malhotra in the spotlight. He has been widely saluted for a seamless transition to the demanding position and has a confidant in Green to live in the career moment and not dwell on the future. Green knows you have to look before you leap. Timing should be everything for Malhotra. What would Green tell the 45-year-old Malhotra as he preps to face the Checkers in the AHL championship? Malhotra served as a Canucks assistant to Green for three seasons before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in the same capacity. He was also a Canucks centre for 159 games over three NHL seasons. That's a pretty good book of work. Any advice, Travis? 'Doesn't look like he needs much right now,' Green chuckled Wednesday during an interview with Postmedia. 'Just keep doing what he's doing. He's obviously doing a hell of a job. I'm not giving him advice. He doesn't need it. I just sent him a note the other day to wish him luck and congratulate him on getting to the finals. 'I didn't know Manny before I got to Vancouver, but I consider him a good friend now. I'm happy and really proud of him.' That's where time can become a factor. Malhotra is the talk of the town as a hot NHL bench-boss prospect. He was a finalist here to replace the departed Rick Tocchet, but the Canucks pivoted to Adam Foote. That didn't stop speculation. As soon as Pete DeBoer was dismissed by the Dallas Stars on Friday, one betting site had Malhotra as a 3-to-1 favourite to supplant the veteran head coach. But the Stars have five key unrestricted free-agent forwards north of 30 years in age. The better bet would probably be a proven NHL bench boss to finally get Dallas over the hump and into the Stanley Cup Finals. Then again, if the Stars braintrust was curious about Malhotra, he was down the road in Cedar Park, Texas last week for three games against the parent club's AHL affiliate in the Western Conference final series. Green once thought he had a serious shot at a Anaheim Ducks vacancy, and an opening with the Colorado Avalanche, the summer before he signed in Vancouver. Patience paid off. He could have also leapt at assistant NHL posts long before leaving Utica. However, he stayed put for two more seasons after that Calder Cup Finals run in 2015. 'It's not a race,' stressed Green. 'I know that personally, and even going back to junior (Portland, WHL), I went there to learn to coach. It's much like making the NHL as a player. It take years of working on your craft. Same thing as coaching. Manny was a great hire by the Canucks. 'You're seeing between Ryan Johnson (Abbotsford general manager and Canucks AGM) and Manny two guys who will be a GM and coach in the (NHL) at one point.' Victoria native Spencer Carbery, 43, turned his second season running the Washington Capitals bench in 2024-25 into the Jack Adams Award. He was a unanimous winner as the league's top head coach over runner-up Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets. Green finished sixth. Carbery's acknowledgement came after doing predatory work as a Leafs assistant for two seasons and earlier running an AHL bench with the Hershey Bears for three seasons. The Capitals went 51-22-9 this season, improved by 20 points, and won a Stanley Cup playoff series for the first time since 2018. They finished second in goals per game (3.49) in the regular season after being ranked 28th last season (2.63). They were also tied for eighth in goals against per game (2.79) after tied for 16th in 2023-24 (3.07). Washington was fifth on the penalty kill (82.0 per cent), first in comeback wins (25), and tied for first in road points (53). 'A lot of (NHL) coaches have come through the AHL,' noted Green. 'Part of it is earning your stripes. The AHL is not always an easy place to coach. You've got injuries, call-ups, and some teams are just based on playing young guys. And, sometimes, your hands get tied a little bit, but for me, it was the greatest place to learn.' It's also where you have players on the way up the career ladder and some on the way down. 'You have to adjust your lines, the messages to your team, and rally them at certain moments,' added Green. 'You play a tough schedule and find way to have energy, even as coach, when you're tired. It challenges you in great ways and is such a good breeding ground for coaches.' Like Malhotra. bkuzma@ What you need to know about the Abbotsford Canucks' Calder Cup chase Abbotsford Canucks: Will Lockwood has Calder Cup incentive with red-hot Charlotte Checkers
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Jose Iglesias' slick sliding stop
Macklin Celebrini Finishes Third In Calder Voting, Lane Hutson Wins Award San Jose Sharks' forward Macklin Celebrini was a finalist for the Calder Trophy this past season, and while he had a strong campaign and made a push to win the honour of being named rookie of the year, he finished third place in voting behind Calgary Flames' Dustin Wolf, and Montreal Canadiens' Lane Hutson. 1:34 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
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The Carolina Hurricanes' 2025 RFAs
The 2024-25 NHL season is quickly coming to a close. July 1, officially the first day of a new season, is fast approaching and that means that contracts will be ending too. There's two different kinds of statuses for players at the conclusion of a contract: unrestricted free agents (UFAs) and restricted free agents (RFAs). Advertisement UFAs are free to negotiate with any team once that July 1 date rolls in, but RFAs are restricted to the team that holds their rights. There's a little more nuance to it all, but that's pretty much the jist of it. The Carolina Hurricanes don't have any main roster RFAs this season, but there are a handful of prospects who are finishing out their ELCs or extensions. Here are a list of those players under team control who will either be in need of new deals or will be let go: Ryan Suzuki 24, C 12g, 59pts, 69gp (AHL) Last Contract: 1 year, $775,000 (Arbitration Eligible - QO $814,000) The 2019 first-round pick finally got to make his NHL debut this season, appearing in two games for the Canes. Suzuki was an AHL All-Star as well this season for the Chicago Wolves and managed another very successful season not marred by injuries. Carolina Hurricanes Rookie Nearly Missed Out On NHL Debut Carolina Hurricanes Rookie Nearly Missed Out On NHL Debut Ryan Suzuki made it to Lenovo Center with barely any time to spare Thursday night. Skyler Brind'Amour 25, C 16g, 24pts, 68gp (AHL) Last Contract: 1 year, $775,000 (Arbitration Eligible) The son of Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, Skyler signed a one-year, two-way deal with Carolina last season after mutually terminating a deal with the Florida Panthers/Charlotte Checkers. He was drafted in 2017 by the Edmonton Oilers. Brind'Amour made his NHL debut at the end of the regular season and even scored his first career goal. Skyler Brind'Amour Scores First NHL Goal With Dad, Rod, Behind The Bench Skyler Brind'Amour Scores First NHL Goal With Dad, Rod, Behind The Bench It was another loss for the Advertisement Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night, as they fell 7-5 to the Ottawa Senators in their regular season finale, but yet again, the special moments from the game outshined the outcome. Noel Gunler 23, RW 13g, 26pts, 58gp (AHL) Last Contract: 3 years, $863,000 AAV The 2020 second-round pick returned to the AHL this season now that Carolina finally had some stability on that front. The Swedish winger improved on his numbers from previous seasons. Ty Smith 25, LHD 5g, 28pts, 36gp (AHL) / 1g, 2pts, 8gp (NHL) Last Contract: 1 year, $775,000 (Arbitration Eligible) After being acquired by the Hurricanes as part of the Jake Guentzel deal, Smith signed a one-year extension with Carolina and was a solid depth piece for the team. He was good at the AHL level and filled in for a few games at the NHL level when needed. Hurricanes Trying Out New Blueliner On Top Power Play Hurricanes Trying Out New Blueliner On Top Power Play Ty Smith made his Hurricanes debut on Sunday and will be running the top power play in Shayne Gostisbehere's absence. Domenick Fensore 23, LHD 9g, 32pts, 67gp (AHL) Last Contract: 2 years, $925,000 (Arbitration Eligible) The 2019 third-round defenseman had a good sophomore season in the American League, putting up career numbers, all while being a key piece for the Wolves in all situations. Fensore earned an NHL callup at the end of the regular season and looked comfortable in the minutes he was awarded. Pair Of Carolina Hurricanes Rookies Make NHL Debuts Pair Of Carolina Hurricanes Rookies Make NHL Debuts The Advertisement Carolina Hurricanes had a memorable night Wednesday even despite a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens as the team had a pair of rookies making their NHL debuts. Ronan Seeley 22, LHD 3g, 10pts, 69gp (AHL) Last Contract: 3 years, $810,000 The 2020 seventh-round pick took a bit of a step back offensively this season, but continues to be a strong defensive piece at the American League level. Anttoni Honka 24, RHD 8g, 21pts, 42gp (NL - Swiss League) Last Contract: 3 years, $836,667 (Arbitration Eligible) The offensive defenseman has not played in the American Hockey League for two seasons now, having been loaned out to Europe in each of the past two years. He was drafted in the third-round of the 2019 draft. Yaniv Perets 25, G 0.921 Sv%, 27gp (ECHL) / 0.846 Sv%, 4gp (AHL) / 0.857 Sv%, 1gp (NHL) Last Contract: 2 years, $805,000 (Arbitration Eligible) Perets signed with the Hurricanes following his NCAA title-winning season in 2023. He's struggled to keep up at the AHL level, but found success in the ECHL this season. Recent Stories • Jaccob Slavin Finishes Top-10 In Norris Voting For League's Top Defenseman • Trio Of Hurricanes Receive Votes For Selke Award as NHL's Top Defensive Forward • Hurricanes Rookies' Strong Seasons Validated In Calder Trophy Voting • Rod Brind'Amour Receives Zero Votes For Coach of the Year Stay updated with the most interesting Carolina Hurricanes stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
