Sick Puck Links: Should the Canadiens Retire Carey Price’s Number?; The Rangers and Made Offers For McTavish

Welcome to ‘Sick Puck Links’ here at SickPodcasts.com.

From Monday to Friday mornings, we will link not just our content from the previous days but also the hottest news around the NHL.

Here are your Friday morning headlines with all the hottest news and NHL trade rumours from around the hockey world, heading into tonight’s NHL Entry Draft.

Sick Links:

The Montreal Canadiens are being linked to Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. He would surely be a great linemate for Ivan Demidov. What would you give up to get Marchenko? #GoHabsGo #CLB

Written by: Nick Lariviere #thesickpodcast https://t.co/upIJtFfb0b

— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) June 25, 2026

The Montreal Canadiens have reportedly shown interest in Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko. The Blue Jackets forward would be a great fit on a line with fellow Russian Ivan Demidov, but the question remains on whether or not Marchenko is actually available on the trade market. I wrote about both the fit and why he would fit so well on the Habs. Marchenko has another year left on his contract that pays him $3.85 million, and if talks of an extension go south, there could be a chance that the Canadiens could step in.

On Thursday, my colleague JD Lagrange wrote about whether or not the Canadiens should retire Hall-of-Fame goaltender Carey Price‘s number. Read why Lagrange believes that despite Price’s inability to lead the Habs to a Stanley Cup victory, he deserves to have his numbers in the rafters at the Bell Centre.

My latest on @sickmediaco:
Hockey fans love traditions, but what happens when the rules people swear by don’t hold up under scrutiny? A familiar Canadiens debate takes an interesting turn. #Habs #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/JgKiDS2IQS

— GrumpaDotCA (@GrumpaDotCA) June 25, 2026

Puck Links:

On Thursday night, it was reported that both the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers have made offers to the Anaheim Ducks for the services of centre Mason McTavish, meaning that these two teams are officially the front runners to acquire the 23-year-old. It was also reported that the Ducks are looking for a 1st round pick and a prospect for McTavish. Who will end up winning the sweepstakes for the young centre?

Hearing it’s the Blues and Rangers that have offers in to Anaheim on Mason McTavish.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 26, 2026

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired forward Valeri Nichushkin from the Colorado Avalanche for the 43rd overall pick in this year’s draft, a 3rd rounder in 2027, and a 5th rounder in 2028. Getting Nichushkin provides the Blue Jackets with a good middle-six scorer who is coming off a season where he scored 17 goals and 49 points in 72 games. Meanwhile, trading Nichushkin allows the Avalanche to get rid of his $6.125 million cap hit for the next four years. 

We have acquired a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in the NHL Draft from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Valeri Nichushkin. pic.twitter.com/wjNxpsZscA

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) June 25, 2026

Forward Garrett Hathaway was sent from the Philadelphia Flyers along with a 6th round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 4th round and a 5th round pick. The Flyers will also retain 50% of Hathaway’s $2.4 million cap hit for next season. Hathaway finished last season ninth in hits throughout the NHL with 252. He will provide the Panthers with yet another physical presence on their already tough team. 

According to Pierre LeBrun, the Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are in the sweepstakes to acquire power forward Mason Marchment in free agency. Marchment could be a fit for either team, as he will provide some much-needed sandpaper as well as scoring ability to the middle six of whatever team signs him. Marchment may be one of the most intriguing free agents to pay attention to if he reaches July 1st. 

The Penguins have acquired forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick.

Details: https://t.co/115i2b4QGf pic.twitter.com/O4skjkwYuH

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 25, 2026

The Washington Capitals made a trade for a 3rd straight day on Thursday as they sent forward Hendrix Lapierre to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2027 3rd round pick and a 5th round pick in 2028. Lapierre has been stuck behind great players in Washington ever since being drafted in the first round back in 2020. He played last year mainly on the 4th line, where he scored 4 goals and 16 points in 74 games. Heading to the Penguins will allow him to take advantage of a change of scenery with a chance for more playing time. 

On Thursday morning, captain of the Walter Cup Champion Montreal Victoire, Marie-Philip Poulin, had a press conference to reveal that she played the PWHL Playoffs with a torn ACL and meniscus after sustaining an injury on March 15th against the Boston Fleet. Poulin also stated that she will have surgery on her knee in July before working towards a long recovery period. We will only know in August what the timeline for her return will be.

Marie-Philip Poulin will undergo surgery on her ACL and meniscus, the Victoire announced.

The team did not give a timeline for her return, but will “provide updates as appropriate.” pic.twitter.com/VoJRuHoVS5

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 25, 2026

Even though it has been announced that the Canadiens and Brendan Gallagher will likely be parting ways this summer, on Thursday he was honoured by the mayor of Montreal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, as an honorary citizen of the city of Montreal. Gallagher is the first-ever player to be given that title by a mayor in Montreal.