While the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers started competing in the Stanley Cup on Wednesday night, the NHL’s other 30 teams are entirely focused on the scouting combine in Buffalo. For the Montreal Canadiens, that means meeting prospects and getting to know them in a formal interview setting, and for a select few, that means going out to dinner with the team.

If the Habs made the headlines in the past with their: “If you were an animal, which animal would you be?” question, reportedly, their most challenging question this time around is “You see Nick Suzuki at the Casino at 3 AM, the next day, Martin St-Louis asks you if you’ve seen him, what do you reply?”

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That’s an interesting question, given that admitting to it means the prospect was at the Casino too that night. When asked on the spot, this is the type of question that tests a prospect’s honesty, but also what kind of teammate he is. One could admit to seeing him, but it was also a way to acknowledge that he’s still as performant as ever, and it was a way to build team spirit rather than throwing a teammate under the bus.

And that’s just one of the trick questions the Habs are putting to youngsters. According to TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, top QMJHL prospect Caleb Desnoyers will meet the team. This is no doubt the Habs doing their due diligence, but chances are he won’t be available when the Canadiens get to pick, unless, of course, they trade up. The left-shot center has scored 84 points in 56 games with the Moncton Wildcats this season. He’s ranked seventh amongst North American Skaters.

According to Marc Antoine Godin, Mike Matheson spent an hour and a half with Hughes and Jeff Gorton yesterday. The veteran defenseman’s contract will be up at the end of the next season. He’s eligible to sign an extension starting July 1, and he would like to reach an agreement with the Habs. The 31-year-old blueliner had a down year, producing only 31 points compared to 62 in 2023-24. Given the fact that Lane Hutson took his role on the first power-play unit, this isn’t all that surprising. Still, the blueliner spent over 25 minutes on the ice on average and remained an essential part of the Canadiens' defense corps.

Matheson currently has a $4.875 M cap hit, which is quite reasonable given how much Martin St-Louis relies on him. It’s challenging to determine the type of contract he should obtain. As the rest of the blueline matures, his role will likely decrease with the years, and he will be relied on for his experience and leadership more than for actual production. Still, a shutdown defenseman like David Savard, who was essentially in that position, had a $3.5 million cap hit in his last contract.

While some would rather see Matheson moved at the next trade deadline than signed to an extension, it’s essential to remember that veteran leadership is crucial on a team, and also in the defense corps, to settle the nerves of younger players at times. I’m not saying Matheson will get an extension, but it’s an avenue worth exploring for the Habs’ brass.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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