You never know, but…

DAY

They are very high earners, but they don't have much to offer. The Canadiens players who could lift the markers by next Friday are not gems and not that many. Even Josh Anderson at 6'3'', 225 lbs looks attractive, but there are hidden flaws that are disenchanting especially when placed next to a salary of over 6 million a year. He has the qualities and the physique of a power right winger, but he is not Mr. Regularity and he will barely exceed 30 points this season playing on the first line. So would you give a first-round pick for Josh? Me neither.

Christian Dvorak may be the one who could change his address, but it would be surprising if the Canadian got a lot even if his salary of just over three million is not scary. A record of 9 goals and 16 assists, this season, does not throw anything down, but let's give him that he can work very well and help defensively.  

Joel Edmundson may be a long-range giant at 6' and 5'' tall, but he's often absent and in the tight space of the playoffs that's never reassuring.

Yes, he won the cup in St. Louis three years ago, but in an eight-year career he was never able to play a full season and last year he only played 24 matches. Montreal got him for a fifth-round pick in 2020. I highly doubt his value is as high as some claim.

THEY ARE NOT DREAMING

I have the same doubt about the attraction that can create Jake Allen who, especially in a race for the playoffs, can only be second if not third goalkeeper of an organization. In net, for two years, he has been a surprise box capable of the best and almost the worst. He is no longer as reassuring as he was when he arrived in Montreal. If Kent Hughes is able to get some good bargaining chips for Allen, he's a real magician and I'd take a lotto ticket with him.

In the same vein, I wonder where could we sneak Evgenii Dadonov with his 4 small goals, 18 points. The gift obtained from Vegas for Shea Weber last year turns 34 in three weeks and appears to have run out of gas in the tank. A few jolts from time to time, but nothing to text his mother and especially not to tempt a GM looking for reinforcements before the big spring tournament.  

Mike Hoffman is no longer Mike Hoffman. For several years he was said, and it was obvious, to be a one-dimensional player. The year of his 70 points with Florida, there was also a sad -24 on his record. He's 33 and has only made the playoffs four times since he started his career more than 10 years ago. I don't think Hoffman offers a style that inspires top honors.  

Sean Monahan is a great center player, but of questionable health or toughness. Is he already at his wit's end? It doesn't look good. He has only played 25 games this season and we are beginning to understand why the Calgary Flames let him go for considerations as vague as future.  

So the closer we get of the famous March 3, the more we realize that Kent Hughes, as salesman as he is, does not have much to offer and it is not with this plateau that he will be able to further improve his positions in the repechages.  < /p>

In the package, we cannot consider Brendan Gallagher who is having a horrible season. It's not much better for Jonathan Drouin even if he's been showing some great things since the star weekend.

David Savard? Joel Armia? Not sure the phone is ringing that much. 

THE DAMPHOUSSE AT HOCKEY 

Denver Damphousse will be 18 in two weeks. You guessed it, he's Vincent's son and he was born when dad was playing in San Jose. Today, son, who is 6-foot-3 and plays as a defenseman, plays for Kent School in upstate New York.

Although Vincent enjoyed a career of more than 1,200 points as a center player, his second son, Bo, 15, is a fullback like his big brother. Bo is only 15 years old, already 6 feet 1 inch tall and plays with the Lac St-Louis Lions, M18 AAA.

And the third “little” Damphousse is Xavier, 8 years old, who is in her second year as a novice. At what position? Vincent told me: “He follows the puck there…” 

DE L'ENCLAVE  

• One ​​goal, 5 assists, Connor Bedardparticipated in all of his Regina team's goals against Medicine Hat. The news made the rounds of the hockey world. Did you know he was awarded… the second star?
• Of the 32 NHL head coaches, 20 are former players on the circuit.
• Rue Chasle de Valleyfield, which runs alongside the Canadian Tire store, will change its name to rue Michel-Choinière. The businessman, owner of the department store, died a few weeks ago. He was an important player in the development of sports in his community, particularly in the local Regattas and the Special Olympics.
• In the same vein, the City of Valleyfield names the Terrain Denis-McSween what was previously Parc Charpentier. Denis has evolved for more than five years in the organization of the Expos and he is very proud of the gesture of his City.
• The very first televised hockey game was not Detroit-Montreal in 1952, but a match between the Canadiens and the Rangers at Madison Square Garden in New York on February 25, 1940. Rangers 6, Montreal 2.
• Mohamed Ali had nine children with five different women.
• Defender Cale Makar from Colorado is the most used player in the NHL, playing an average of 27 minutes per game.
• At the Canadiens, Mike Matheson is the most often and long on the ice in a game. He is there on average for 23 minutes 42.

Taking advantage of his vacation in the last few weeks, Kim Clavel traveled to Panama at the residence of an idol, one of the best boxers of all time, Roberto Duran, now 71 years old. A happy meeting.