Sources indicate that Phil Danault has asked for a tradein LA. His camp hopes a deal gets done sooner than later; prior to the Trade Freeze.<\/p>\n
Kings are willing to wait it out, looking for a player-for-player trade.<\/p>\n
MTL, NJD and CAR are some of the teams to kicked tires there.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) December 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile,\u00a0Danault\u2019s\u00a0agent, Allan Walsh, decided to post on social media that the report is from someone who is not an insider; however, that post is clearly\u00a0not a denial of the report<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n This\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0mean that Montreal is instantly going to pounce. His $5.5 million cap hit for this season and next season is a bit steep considering\u00a0Danault\u00a0is on the decline offensively, being on pace for 13 points over 82 games this season. While he would be an instant upgrade for the bottom\u00a0six, however, not necessarily be for the\u00a0top six. Oliver Kapanen has been providing solid offensive and defensive\u00a0numbers, and\u00a0doing so at a fraction of the cost.\u00a0Then, there is the issue of Kirby Dach\u2019s imminent return from the injured list.\u00a0<\/p>\n Canadiens\u2019 Dach Progressing\u00a0<\/p>\n Dach has been seen skating in full gear,\u00a0indicating\u00a0positive steps in his recovery from a\u00a0broken foot. Originally anticipated to\u00a0return just after Christmas<\/a>,\u00a0there is hope he may be ready sooner. Yet he still needs to rejoin full practice and\u00a0demonstrate\u00a0he is ready to play at NHL pace and get medically cleared, but all signs are positive.\u00a0<\/p>\n Related:\u00a0Canadiens\u2019 Prospect Development Will Be Accelerated by World Juniors Participation<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Many would like to finally see Dach take over the second-line\u00a0centre\u00a0role, but Kapanen has been playing well in that role thus far, so there is less pressure on Dach to play there. Instead, he could\u00a0be used as a replacement for Zachary Bolduc on the top line on the wing,\u00a0rekindling\u00a0the chemistry he had with Nick Suzuki. More likely, he could\u00a0fill in on the third line, allowing for Owen Beck to return to the American Hockey League (AHL) and play top-six minutes instead of the eight to nine minutes per game\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been given in his current call-up.\u00a0<\/p>\n Montembeault\u00a0to Laval\u00a0<\/p>\n Samuel Montembeault\u00a0was sent to the American Hockey League (AHL) Laval Rocket for a conditioning stint, something the player and team agreed to.\u00a0<\/p>\n Laval only has two more games left before their Christmas break: Dec. 18 and Dec. 20. Montreal has five\u00a0games left before their Christmas break, its last one being Dec. 23 against the Boston Bruins. It is likely that if the conditioning goes well,\u00a0he could return to the team and get a start with the Canadiens. To ensure he gets the best opportunity for that outcome,\u00a0Laval head coach Pascal Vincent announced<\/a>\u00a0that\u00a0Montembeault\u00a0will start\u00a0both\u00a0of the Rocket\u00a0games.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI said to Sam this morning, when I was coaching with Columbus and we were playing against Montreal, we\u00a0weren\u2019t\u00a0very happy\u00a0to play against him. He was tough to\u00a0beat\u00a0and he was\u00a0very good. We know\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0very\u00a0good. He just needs some\u00a0repetitions,\u00a0he\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0played in a long time. Talking about\u00a0results,\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not trying to put pressure on him. I know\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0going to put pressure on himself. It\u2019s\u00a0not about the result of a game but he needs to find his game\u00a0parameters\u00a0and he\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0do that in practice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u2013 Pascal Vincent\u00a0<\/p>\n The goaltending musical chairs could continue after the holiday break, even if\u00a0Montembeault\u00a0has a good start. Even if it does, it is important for the Canadiens\u2019 playoff hopes to have their highest-paid goaltender returning to form.\u00a0<\/p>\n Canadiens Prospect Ready for Gold\u00a0<\/p>\n As a Canadiens first-round pick, Michael Hage has added attention from Habs fans eager to see him perform on an international stage. But for Hage, the World Junior Championship (WJC)\u00a0is more than just a\u00a0showcase;\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a way for him to live out a childhood dream. He explains it all in an\u00a0exclusive interview with Marco D\u2019Amico of RG.org<\/a>.\u00a0Raised watching the tournament as a kid, Hage says earning this opportunity feels\u00a0really special\u00a0and motivates him to\u00a0do whatever it takes to win\u00a0in whatever role\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0given, whether on wing or at\u00a0centre.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFor everyone at a tournament like this\u2026 regardless of what your role is, you just do anything you can to win, and you adapt to that role and make the most out of the situation\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0in.\u00a0There\u2019s\u00a0only one puck and\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0so many skilled players out here, and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0so fun to be a part of.\u201d <\/p>\n \u2013 Michael Hage\u00a0<\/p>\n His growth at the University of Michigan, particularly in his two-way play, defensive responsibility, and physicality, has helped him earn trust from coaches and prepared him for the intensity and competitive demands of international play.\u00a0Especially his versatility in playing both\u00a0centre\u00a0and on the wing, something Team Canada has been trying with him at the Summer Showcase\u00a0and in\u00a0pre-tournament games<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest thing that compares to being at Michigan in a tournament like this is just how important every single game is, every single little play.\u00a0Especially in college,\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0in a lot of win-or-go-home situations. Just how important the\u00a0little details\u00a0are all the time, I think, helps in a tournament like this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n -Michael Hage\u00a0<\/p>\n Hage\u2019s arrival at the\u00a0WJC adds another chapter to\u00a0an already\u00a0impressive story.\u00a0For\u00a0Team Canada,\u00a0his adaptability will be invaluable in the tournament, but also in the future with the Canadiens. It offers another encouraging sign that Hage is developing the habits and competitive edge\u00a0required\u00a0to translate his success at the junior and collegiate levels into long-term NHL impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keep an eye on our THW Podcast Network for all your hockey needs and THW\u2019s affiliated podcast,\u00a0Habs Unfiltered<\/a>,\u00a0for the latest Canadiens news, notes, and\u00a0rumours.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Canadiens_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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