Hello hockey fans, episode 187 of the Hockey Free For All Podcast has arrived, this week’s topics include-

#1. Jakub Dobes turned in a lights out performance against the Toronto Maple Leaf’s and promptly returned to looking lost.

#2. Samual Montembeau, had a good game and then like Jakub Dobes looks lost.

#3. Alexander Zharovsky is lighting it up in the KHL.

#4. If Alexander Zharovsky does come over before the season concludes, there should be absolutely no pressure from any media outlet placed upon him.

#5. The real excitement is the 2nd line that Ivan Demidov, Michael Hage and Alexander Zharovsky will form in the 2026/2027 season, and still there should be zero pressure placed on them. Let them play and evolve into the stars that they all can be.

#6. Think about that 2nd line with a 1st line of Captain Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. Wow, what a top 6!

#7. On what planet does acquiring right winger Jordan Kyrou and goaltender Jordan Binnington from the St. Louis Blue make even remote sense to anyone with any understanding of the game or the organization?

#8. Jordan Kyrou is only in the 3rd year of an 8-year contract that pays him $8,125.00 dollars per season. Why would I want to take on that contract.

#9. Juraj Slafkovsky makes a million less than Jordan Kyrou and has contributed and performed far better.

#10. Jordan Kyrou is 27 years old, which kind of works, but Jordan Binnington is 32 years old and having no better of a season than Samual Montembeau is having. How does this help the goaltending?

#11. The Zack Bolduc for Logan Mailloux trade with the St. Louis Blues may turn out to be a dead even trade in the end, requiring both of these players to move onto or be traded again to other teams to truly reach their potential and reach their full potential.

#12. The Alexandre Texier pick up looks good.

#13. Alexandre Texier is ready to, can and has contributed more than offensive prospects who have been called up from Laval this season.

#14. Right-handed defensive prospect Bryce Pickford of the Medicine Hat Tigers had a hat trick and is playing lights out hockey.

#15. Bryce Pickford has already equaled his 20-goal output of last season in 48-games in 28-games this season.

#16. David Reinbacher has turned a big corner.

#17. Will David Reinbacher, be the defenseman paired with Lane Hutson, or will it be Bryce Pickford, there are strong arguments for both.

#18. Not to be forgotten is Bogdan Konyushkov, who is flying under the radar in the KHL and  has a very deceptive offensive game, is an outstanding skater and who plays a complete game with a nasty edge to it.

#19. Bogdan Konyushkov could also be an excellent pairing partner for Lane Hutson?

#20. The Montreal Canadiens have a plethora of talent of the left side of the defense in Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom, Owen Protz, Jayden Struble and William Trudeau.

#21. But no one should underestimate the talent on the right side of the defense as it boasts Noah Dobson, Alexander Carrier, Bryce Pickford, Bogdan Konyushkov and David Reinbacher. That’s over 2 starting top 6 defensive groups. No other organization even comes close.

#22. The next group of top-level incoming talent includes Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, Bryce Pickford, Owen Protz, L.J. Mooney Bogdan Konyushkov and Jacob Fowler.

 #23. Is Nick Suzuki the odds-on favorite to win the Frank Silk Trophey this year?

#24. Is Ivan Demidov the odds-on favorite to win the Calder Trophy this year.

#25. Does Oliver Kapanen deserve Calder Trophy consideration?

#26. Jakub Dobes could have been considered a legit contender for the Calder Trophy if his entire season had played out like the month of October did.