After two incredible weeks in Costa Rica, I’m back. The hockey world meanwhile kept spinning—because let’s face it, the game never stops. You’d think the Canadiens’ break for the Four Nations tournament might have slowed the news cycle, but that was far from the case. Even while no major trades materialized, the headlines kept coming.
With just 15 days until the March 7 trade deadline, let’s dive into some of the hottest storylines making waves.
1. The Caufield Controversy
Cole Caufield found himself at the center of debate after voicing his disapproval of fans booing the U.S. national anthem. The Wisconsin native, along with other American players, was asked about the reaction, but the real issue—the why behind the booing—was conveniently ignored by controversy-chasing reporters.
For context, many Canadian fans have been using the anthem as a form of protest against Donald Trump, whose remarks about Canada—mocking its Prime Minister as “Governor Trudeau”, threatening tariffs, and even suggesting Canada should be the 51st U.S. state—haven’t exactly sat well north of the border.
If reporters want to get political, they should ask players how they feel about why the anthem is being booed, not just if they like it. And let’s be real—if Canadian players heard their anthem booed, they wouldn’t like it either. Just ask Jonathan Marchessault and Andrew Brunette, who both expressed discontent when it happened in Nashville.
2. Politics and Hockey: A False Separation
Speaking of politics, let’s not pretend it doesn’t intertwine with sports. Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin, who’s also serving as Team USA’s GM for the Four Nations tournament, stirred the pot earlier this week:
“We would love it if President Trump was in attendance. We have a room full of proud American players, coaches, and staff. And listen, we’re just trying to represent our country the best way we can.”
Some argue sports should remain apolitical, but history tells a different story. The Olympics have been political for decades. The IIHF banned Russia. The NHL excluded Alex Ovechkin’s country from its 4 Nations showcase.
Make no mistake—politics and hockey are linked, and the league isn’t shy about cashing in on it. If it weren’t beneficial for business, Gary Bettman would have put a stop to this circus already. But controversy means attention, and attention means dollars.
3. Laine’s Ice Time Frustrations
Before the first puck was dropped in the tournament, Patrik Laine didn’t hold back in an interview, expressing his frustration over his dwindling ice time under Martin St-Louis.
“It would be nice to play more than 10 or 11 minutes a night,” Laine remarked, taking what seemed to be a direct shot at his coach.
To his credit, he later admitted he needs to be better, but let’s be honest—that’s like starting a sentence with “No offense, but…” You know what’s coming.
St-Louis didn’t shy away from firing back:
“If you play 11 minutes, prove to me that you can play more”, said St-Louis. “My job is to push Patty.”
The coach also hinted at a “major shift in mentality” for the second half of the season. Whether Laine embraces that shift or pushes back remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—this story isn’t over. The coach and management have taken notice.
4. Reinbacher Returns
Perhaps the most positive news for Canadiens fans is the return of top prospect David Reinbacher. The 20-year-old defenseman has been sidelined since September 28, when he suffered a knee injury in a game against Toronto. After undergoing surgery, he resumed practicing with the Canadiens on January 27 and is now back in game action with the Laval Rocket.
#Rocket Pascal Vincent on David Reinbacher's first game. "I thought he was our best defenceman in the first half of the game. He was really good. His reads, killing plays, first pass, his ability to anticipate what was happening in front of him. I'm very impressed with him."#GoRocket #GoHabsGo
— ChrisHabs360 (@chrishabs360.bsky.social) 2025-02-20T03:42:47.093Z
It’ll be interesting to see how this setback impacts his development, but let’s not forget—players don’t go fifth overall without serious potential. If he gets back to form quickly, his return could also open the door for Logan Mailloux to earn a call-up should the Habs move David Savard at the deadline while not negatively impacting the farm team in their playoffs’ push.
5. Habs at the Trade Deadline: Sellers Once Again
Despite briefly climbing back into the playoff mix, Montreal’s recent slide—losing eight of their last nine—has them six points out of the final wild-card spot with five teams to leapfrog. The reality? According to moneypuck.com, the Canadiens have 2.7% chances of making the playoffs, and are poised to be sellers for the fourth straight year.
Pending UFAs Jake Evans, Christian Dvorak, David Savard and Joel Armia are all likely on the move by March 8 at the latest. However, reports suggest GM Kent Hughes isn’t just looking for draft picks—he’s targeting players with term left on their contracts. Whether he pulls off true “hockey trades” remains to be seen, but buckle up—things are about to get interesting.
The Canadiens return to action on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Expect the rumour mill to heat up as we edge closer to the deadline.
Hang on to your toques—it’s going to be a wild ride!
