{"id":310796,"date":"2025-11-27T18:58:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T18:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/310796\/"},"modified":"2025-11-27T18:58:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T18:58:11","slug":"notes-on-each-of-the-7-canadian-teams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/310796\/","title":{"rendered":"Notes on each of the 7 Canadian teams"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gino Reda is joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to go across the country with the biggest storyline right now with each of the seven Canadian hockey teams.<\/p>\n

Gino Reda: While our friends South of the border celebrate Thanksgiving with loads of football, CJ and I are going to feast on the latest insider hockey news right across Canada. <\/p>\n

CJ, let\u2019s start in Edmonton where there\u2019s not much to give thanks for right now. How long before something significant has to happen?<\/p>\n

\"\"Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) adjust his helmet during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky) Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) adjust his helmet during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky) (Lynne Sladky) <\/p>\n

Chris Johnston: Well that\u2019s the biggest questioon for the Oilers management. Some alarm bells sounded there this week. The loss they had on home ice to Dallas, going down 4-0 in the first period, that\u2019s the kind of game that I think causes everything to think.<\/p>\n

We know the Oilers would like to be patient from a management standpoint. They want to give this roster time to settle in before making any decisions. But when you\u2019re faced with decisions like that, it does start to cause a re-think and there has been a report here in the last 24 hours about their possible interest in Tristan Jarry<\/a>, a goaltender with ties to Edmonton, who\u2019s been having a nice bounceback season in Pittsburgh. <\/p>\n

I do think it\u2019s a time when the Oilers have to be seriously looking around at their options. Jarry is someone, I should mention, not that the Penguins are shopping by any means but they\u2019re in a position where they\u2019ll listen on any player. Whether it\u2019s Jarry or someone else, I think the Oilers have to be considering everything. Not just the amount of losses they\u2019ve had but the way they\u2019ve played through this first stretch of the schedule.<\/p>\n

Reda: The Canucks have run out of patience. They\u2019ve told GMs across the league that they\u2019re open for business and of course that sparked panic among fans of the Canucks that wondered whether Quinn Hughes<\/a> is going. What are you hearing about their plans?<\/p>\n

\"\"Kiefer Sherwood <\/p>\n

Johnston: Let\u2019s start with the immediate. They\u2019d like to get a centre, we know that. If they can\u2019t address that position immediately, they\u2019d certainly like to add another young forward at this point. <\/p>\n

David Kampf<\/a>, who they recently signed after his contract termination, is playing on their second line at centre. So Vancouver, obviously, is operating in a way that they\u2019re trying to salvage what they can from this season and I think it\u2019s notable when they send around a note like they did this week. Jim Rutherford-run teams traditionally like to get a jump on the deadline. Jim\u2019s not someone who has waited to make moves. So when he and GM Patrik Allvin are signalling a desire to sell, perhaps, a player like Kiefer Sherwood<\/a>, I think we have to listen.<\/p>\n

The big question with Sherwood is whether or not it\u2019s best to move him now, he\u2019s having suh a great year and he\u2019s a very unique player. He\u2019s the hits leader in the league and he\u2019s already scored 12 goals this season. Or is there a possibility if you wait a little closer to the trade deadline, can you get a first-round pick?<\/p>\n

They\u2019re working through trade options right now but certainly there\u2019s a lot brewing behind the scenes with the Canucks. They\u2019re just trying to do everything to make it as palatable as possible when you get to the bigger question you raised about Quinn Hughes<\/a> and make sure they\u2019re in a position to put the best sales pitch forward to keep him long term.<\/p>\n

Reda: Another busy spot after loads of trade speculation, Calgary has put together a nice little three-game win streak but then they got smoked by Tampa. So now what?<\/p>\n

\"\"Rasmus Andersson Rasmus Andersson <\/p>\n

Johnston: The fuse on that trade talk was largely lit internally with some of the interviews that Don Maloney<\/a> did here in the last week or so. I would suggest to you that the more games they have like the one in Tampa, where Dustin Wolf<\/a> was chased before the first intermission, it\u2019s only going to up the heat around the Flames in terms of that kind of trade discussion.<\/p>\n

One think I\u2019ll put on your mind as we celebrate the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, is the Christmas holiday is not too far away. I think around that point in time, Nazem Kadri<\/a> is going to have to decide what he eants to do. Does he want to consider a move somewhere else? If he does I think Kadri is going to have to dirve that conversation from his end.<\/p>\n

We know the organization would like to hold onto him longer term. That\u2019s a player who I think will be of interest if he gets to a point a month or so down the road and thinks that he wants to look somewhere else.<\/p>\n

If not him, Rasmus Andersson<\/a> is a pending UFA and he\u2019ll get increased attention. Obviously Blake Coleman<\/a>, who we\u2019ve reported on Insider Trading, is already drawing some interest from around the league. He\u2019s got one more year on his deal.<\/p>\n

Reda: Craig Berube<\/a> is trying to appreciate the glass half-full aproach. He got Matthews, Knies and Roy back. He got an overtime win but the glass half empty tells us they don\u2019t have a regulation win in over three weeks. What\u2019s your takeaway on the Leafs?<\/p>\n

\"\"Auston Matthews William Nylander Matthew Knies TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 16: Auston Matthews #34 and William Nylander #88 congratulate Matthew Knies #23 of the Toronto Maple Leafs on scoring a goal during the first period against the New York Rangers at the Scotiabank Arena on October 16, 2025 in Toronto, ON, Canada. (Photo by Thomas Skrlj\/NHLI via Getty Images) (Thomas Skrlj\/NHLI via Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Johnston: One of the adjustments they\u2019ve made internally is actually trying to be a little more positive, that being the coaching staff. It\u2019s not necessarily a tactical one but just realizing that there has been a lot of negativity around this team this year and they did see a bit of a bounce back with the win they got Wednesday in Columbus.<\/p>\n

Joseph Woll<\/a> certainly has been a really nice story since he returned to the Leafs lineup. He\u2019s been able to paper over some of their deficiencies, specifically in that game was a big reason why they got the two points.<\/p>\n

Also in that game? Auston Matthews<\/a> played more than 24 minutes coming back from his injury. While that\u2019s probably more than anyone would like to see him play, I think it\u2019s an important step that he was competing well and helped them get the two points. Him getting back is a posiitive.<\/p>\n

The last one I\u2019ll put in front of you, if we\u2019re trying to be positive is Easton Cowan<\/a>. The rookie Leafs forward has moved into their top six. He\u2019s earned some more minutes, scored a big goal against the Blue Jackets and is getting special teams time. I know the coaching staff is really happy with what they\u2019re getting from Cowan. <\/p>\n

The hope is that they can slowly dig their way out but the Leafs are on a very difficult road trip right now and have to keep finding ways to put points in the bank to put themselves back into the playof race.<\/p>\n

Reda: The Jets got served up a sour dish when they got news that Connor Hellebuyck<\/a> would miss 4-6 weeks because of that knee surgery. They\u2019ve lost three-straight since he went down. Where do they go from here?<\/p>\n

\"\"Eric Comrie <\/p>\n

Johnston: They\u2019re not shopping for a goaltender. They believe they can get through with Eric Comrie<\/a> and Thomas Milic<\/a>. Goaltending hasn\u2019t been an issue and you have to wonder if it could become one. By no means is the loss they had in Wahsington on Wednesday on Comrie but you look at a game like that and just know what a difference-maker Connor Hellebuyck<\/a> can be. It might have been a night they got two points had Hellebuyck been in there.<\/p>\n

The Jets are going to have to plow through this stretch without the reigning MVP of the league in the lineup. One interesting thing for them is if they do look to make some moves, they have a couple of young players to peddle in potential trades, that being Brad Lambert<\/a> and Ville Heinola<\/a>. <\/p>\n

But beyond that, they\u2019re just going to have to find a way to get a little more scoring down their lineup. That\u2019s an internal focus. The top line\u2019s been very good in terms of their offensive output and they\u2019re just going to have to grind out some wins without their MVP around for the short term.<\/p>\n

Reda: Speaking of injuries, the Habs have been hit hard and now they\u2019re heading West to Vegas and a stop against the league\u2019s best in Colorado. What\u2019s their plan, because it could be a while before they\u2019re healthy again.<\/p>\n

\"\"Jakub Dobes (Photo by David Kirouac\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) <\/p>\n

Johnston: Management\u2019s been doing its part trying to get a top-six forward. That\u2019s obviously been difficult to accomplish for any team in the league. We just have not seen a lot of trade activity. <\/p>\n

While the GM Kent Hughes is out there looking to make a deal, the coach Martin St. Louis<\/a> is under a lot of pressure too. Defensively this team has been giving up too much. It\u2019s been a bit of a slog and that\u2019s put a lot of pressure on what\u2019s been sub-par goaltending. <\/p>\n

So yes, it\u2019s not been an easy stretch by any means for the Canadiens but their focus still is on pushing towards making the playoffs again and trying to tread water through this period because, in terms of the injuries they have, there\u2019s not a lot of help coming around the corner. Those are longer-term issues. <\/p>\n

Unless they can bring in some external help, the answers are going to have to come from within.<\/p>\n

Reda: No Canadian team has more to be thankful for right now than the Ottawa Senators<\/a>. They\u2019re the only Canadian team currently in a playoff spot and they\u2019re getting their captain back. Life is good in the nation\u2019s capital right now.<\/p>\n

\"\"Brady Tkachuk Ottawa Senators Brady Tkachuk Ottawa Senators (The Canadian Press) <\/p>\n

Johnston: 100 per cent. The only team, really, with no smoke around them. No major issues and you\u2019re right, to get through the start of this road trip winning three out of four games, and then welcoming Brady Tkachuk<\/a> back in his hometown of St. Louis on Friday afternoon. It\u2019s great news for the Senators the way they\u2019ve managed to get through this stretch of schedule without Tkachuk. <\/p>\n

Even some of the issues they might have had, Fabian Zetterlund<\/a> was off to a slow start and he\u2019s scored a couple of recent goals. Everything has gone well. They\u2019ve tightened up their defensive play and there are lots of reasons to feel good in Ottawa given where they are at this point in the season. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Gino Reda is joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to go across the country with the biggest…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310797,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[433],"tags":[712,49,48,448,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-310796","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nhl","8":"tag-apple-news","9":"tag-ca","10":"tag-canada","11":"tag-nhl","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310796","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310796"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310796\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310796"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310796"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310796"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}