Habs, Buds and Sens all making noise, but for different reasons

Giveaways and takeaways and add-ons.
A solid summation for the action undertaken by Eastern Canada’s three favourite teams during the National Hockey League’s summer siesta, which is now into a kind of zenith point.
Given what the Ottawa Senators have done (not much), the Toronto Maple Leafs (ouch) and Montreal Canadiens (heave-ho, everyone on board!), even the quietest period in the NHL’s yearly schedule sports some notable roster moves.
Let’s dip in.

OTTAWA SENATORS
General Manager Steve Staios is gaining a reputation for favouring caution well ahead of any kind of action.
Staios could have easily been pictured working in an antique watch repair shop in a previous life; he’s one hell of a tinkerer.
We checked in with that underwhelming signing of aging veteran Lars Eller last week in this space. Eller, at age 35, has seemingly been in the league forever and seemingly has played for about every other team in the circuit (not quite accurate, but you get the point – the dude has been around).
So then, fourth-line centreman role filled?
Likely, although Eller can also add some punch on special teams.
Staios took to the chequebook with a number of team re-signings as Claude Giroux (the most notable), goalie Leevi Merilainen, irritant Nick Cousins and winger Fabian Zetterlund. Zetterlund inked for the most money and a bigger impact is expected and needed in 2025-26.
As hockey insider Elliotte Friedman put it – “(Staios) hit a bunch of singles.”
A single that could turn into a stand-up double though was an under-the-radar swap with LA for defenceman Jordan Spence. Ottawa surrendered a couple of picks for the 24-year-old, right-shot blueliner.
It could be a decent deal. Spence – who, to be honest, couldn’t be picked out of a police lineup by 99 per cent of us – is considered a sharp puck-mover, and there’s reportedly potential for much more.
We’ll see.
Ottawa still needs offence, so Steady Steve might have to throw a bit of caution to the wind in the next two months (meaning: trade) to get what this club sorely lacks.
A quiet start, though, for Senators’ brass.

MONTREAL CANADIENS
Being labelled the ‘winner of the off-season’ doesn’t always go so well – ask the Nashville Predators about that gemstone.
Nonetheless, Montreal gets the nod early among these three Eastern candidates.
The major-league additions of 25-year-old former 70-point defender Noah Dobson was pure genius, and the add of gritty forward, home-towner Zachary Bolduc wasn’t far behind. Two terrific adds by GM Kent Hughes.
Recent rumours have Hughes now in contact with St. Louis about a potential trade for Jordan Kyrou (the Leafs are in on this too, as per reports). The 27-year-old is dynamic; a great skater with hands.
He also carries a significant price tag – $8.125 million US per season on a contract which runs through 2031.
Montreal would need to turn juggler here to make the initial big off-season splash even bigger. Names like Patrik Laine (one more season at $8.7 million US) and perhaps Kirby Dach or perhaps Mike Matheson are being airlifted into the rumour mill.
The latter two make some sense, but any team latching onto the declining Laine, a guy who can’t skate and seems reticent to invest into a complete effort game, is far-fetched.
The Habs have made great strides this summer-spring. The team that surprised as a late playoff entrant last season won’t be surprising anyone in the spring of 2026.
Montreal should be moving even further up the standings.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
So long Mitch.
So long Core 4.
. . . And now, things get real interesting.
Sure, there’s plenty of blame to pass around or share regarding Mr. Marner and his not-abrupt departure from hockey’s most scrutinized team. The fact that the previous regime (prior to Brad Treliving inheriting this absolute mess) didn’t step up and trade the shifty winger when it had the chance, speaks volumes. It speaks to either stubbornness, or absolute stupidity.
Most in the hockey universe knew this wasn’t working (the Core 4 thingy) or going to ever work, three-to-four seasons ago.
The organization under Brendan Shanahan thought otherwise.
Regardless, Marner’s gone now and it’s all in the rearview mirror.
This is where the ‘interesting’ comes in.
The Leafs have suddenly dropped down the regular season depth chart in the Eastern Conference. For whatever you might think about Marner, the Toronto native was a regular season wonder and a major reason as to why the club seeded high when the playoffs began.
They will drop in the standings, no doubt.
The Leafs added a good post-season performer in Nic Roy from Vegas. Unlike Marner, Roy’s game amps up in the playoffs. Still, he’s not close in value to Marner.
The Leafs will roll as far as Auston Matthews tosses his dice. He loses his buddy, and all that media pressure (negativity and focus) solely lands in the lap of the veteran centre.
Anything less than a fully healthy and extremely productive 2025-26 season and Toronto could be in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16.

thegrossgame@yahoo.com

Header photo: Jordon Spense