Welcome to Episode 179 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast hockey fans, this week’s Topics include-

#1. The Montreal Canadiens sign defenseman Lane Hutson to an 8-year 70.8 million dollar contract with an annual cap hit of 8.85 million dollars per season.

#2. The Montreal Canadiens have announced the signing of Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes to new 5-year contracts and promotion.

#4. Surprise! Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson are a perfect pair, no kidding.

#5. Think Edmonton Oilers of the 80’s regarding the Pairing of Noah Dobson and Mike Matheson.

#6. Neither Noah Dobson nor Mike Matheson will ever be compared to or confused with being big physical defensive defensemen. Not their game style or skill set.

#7. Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson are gifted offensive defensemen and very fluid skaters.

#8. Oh look, there are those who just can’t stand a good thing and be happy for the Montreal Canadiens solid start to the 2025/2026 season!

#9. It’s only 5 games in, out of 82, go get a 2nd job to fill your free time.

#10. Fortunately, the Montreal Canadiens are the definition of professionalism, Character, maturity, ethics, integrity and most importantly owned and ran by individuals that are brilliant deep thinking, non-reactionary, calculating, tactical people.

#11. The Montreal Canadiens are just fine in goal.

#12. On the day that Jakub Dobes was drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 draft out of Ohio State I said that the Montreal Canadiens have found themselves a diamond.

#13. Ever hear that old saying “history repeats itself” ya, that is exactly what you have here. Should they have kept Caret Price or Jaroslav Halak?

#14. Who do the Montreal Canadiens this time? Samual Montembeau or Jakub Dobes.

#15. My Choices were and remain to this day Jaroslav Halak and Jakub Dobes.

#16 So 5th round draft picks don’t matter, never develop into key players? Montreal Canadiens 5th round selections in NHL entry draft selections. 2024, RW Tyler Thorpe, 2023 LW Sam Harris & Goaltender Yevgeni Volokhin, 2022 C. Jared Davidson. 2021 RW Joshua Roy. In the 2020 NHL entry Draft Goaltender Jakub Dobes and in the 2010 NHL entry draft right winger, heart and soul, as well as leave it all on the ice every game player RW Brendan Gallagher, interesting!

#17. Jakub Dobes is a legit number one NHL goaltender.

#18. Henrik Lundqvist was a 7th round draft pick in the 2000 NHL entry draft by the New York Rangers, did he matter? Was he a relevant player for the N.Y. Rangers? HUUUUUUUU MMMMM.

#19. Goalies from other countries deal far better with outlet behaviors of North America, with the sole exception being U.S. grown goalies Playing in Canada are also unaffected.

#20. Besides Samual Montembeau and Jakub Dobes, don’t forget about Jacob Fowler, Yevgeni Volokhin, Mikus Vecvanags, Arseny Radkov or Alexis Cournoyer.