Latest news with #secondlinecenter
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Which Players Would Be A Better Fit For The Canucks, McTavish Or Rossi?
As the 2025 off-season continues, the main focus for the Vancouver Canucks remains finding a second-line center. This task has proven to be challenging, as many teams across the league are also looking to improve their center depth. With a shallow free agent pool, the most likely option for the Canucks will be via trade, which could result in the movement of picks, prospects, and players.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could Ivan Demidov Be The Canadiens' Second Line Center?
Generations of kids spent their childhood trying to answer the question 'Where's Waldo?', but that was an easy task compared to trying to answer the interrogation that's on the mind of every Montreal Canadiens' fan this offseason: Who will be the Habs' second line center? Depending on who you ask, the replies go from Kirby Dach to Zach Bolduc to 'Kent Hughes is just about to pull a big trade, I can feel it!' or even to: Ivan Demidov would be the perfect fit at the second line pivot. Advertisement Islanders' Sorokin Shocked By Dobson's Trade To The Canadiens Canadiens' 2025-26 Schedule Revealed Ex-Canadiens Goalie Signed NHL's Most Unique Off-Season Deal But what does the man himself believe? Well, unlike what has been reported in the last day or so, Demidov has never said that it was outside of the realm of possibilities that he would play center and that it wasn't something that interested him at all. According to Marco D'Amico, the young Russian said he would have to see if he could play at center. He has done it in the past, as a junior player, but never in the KHL. Humble as they come, Demidov also added that face-offs would be the key factor, and he doesn't always win them. The rookie will play wherever the Canadiens ask him to play, but he's not confident that he could play center in the NHL. He didn't say anything controversial, and any claims that he might have an attitude problem are false. He didn't refuse to work on his draws this offseason either. Advertisement I don't know how the idea could even be entertained given the fact that the player has elected to stay in Montreal this Summer and is diligently putting in the hours at the Canadiens' Brossard training facilities instead of enjoying the sunshine and the scorching weather. Last weekend, he even appeared in a shootout showcase in Boisbriand to please the fans, and he's also set to play in the Living Sisu LSHL three-on-three league this Summer. Could Demidov end up being the Canadiens' second-line center? Maybe, but right now, it doesn't seem likely, especially given the fact that the youngster typically doesn't lack confidence, and he confesses he doesn't know how good he could be playing that position. Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Advertisement Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could Ivan Demidov Be The Canadiens' Second Line Center?
Could Ivan Demidov Be The Canadiens' Second Line Center? Generations of kids spent their childhood trying to answer the question 'Where's Waldo?', but that was an easy task compared to trying to answer the interrogation that's on the mind of every Montreal Canadiens' fan this offseason: Who will be the Habs' second line center? 2:09 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canadiens May Recalibrate Target
In one of his latest pieces for The Athletic, insider Pierre LeBrun wrote that Montreal Canadiens' GM Kent Hughes is particularly active in the run-up to the draft. He confirms what most have been suspecting for a while, given how shallow the market is for a second-line center, the Habs may decide to go for an impact top-six player even if he is not a center. Given how Jeff Gorton spoke at the end-of-season press conference, this shouldn't come as a great surprise to anyone. In early May, the Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations said that a talented winger can be the driving force behind a line. Advertisement Canadiens: Should The Canadiens Extend Patrik Laine? Canadiens' Price Fails To Enter The Hockey Hall Of Fame On His First Year Of Eligibility Canadiens: A Quebecer Players Mount Rushmore Could The Canadiens Swing A Big Trade With The Golden Knights? With Matt Duchene re-upping with the Dallas Stars, Jonathan Toews electing to make his comeback with the Winnipeg Jets, and Trevor Zegras being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, the market for a second-line center is getting even more shallow. According to LeBrun, the Canadiens are seeking a trade partner interested in a package of one or both of their first-round picks and prospects. The insider warns that they won't push it; if the price tag is higher than what they're comfortable with, they'll walk away from the table. That also makes perfect sense, given that both Hughes and Gorton were adamant at the end of the season that the surprise qualification for the playoffs wouldn't prompt them to rush their rebuild. There have been rumblings recently about the Canadiens being interested in Brock Boeser, who is set to hit free agency on July 1st, and they are also in the running for Rasmus Andersson on the blueline. More often than not, though, Hughes has a knack for surprising everyone with his deals, making it hard to predict which way the Canadiens could be looking right now. Advertisement Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @ and Threads @karinehains. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable on The Hockey News.
