The Starr & D'Amico Show

On today’s episode of The Starr & D'Amico Show, Shaun and Marco discuss the real reason why Arber Xhekaj signed for only 1 season with the Canadiens, the current state of the goalie trade market, how the Habs should handle their 3-goalie predicament, the remaining desire to add more fire power and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Starr & D'Amico Show, Shaun and Marco discuss the start of Montreal Canadiens training camp, the initial line combinations, Chris Kreider taking reps alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, lines drawn for the battles on defense and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Starr & D'Amico Show, Shaun and Marco discuss Kaiden Guhle’s surgery which will keep him sidelined for the next 4 to 5 weeks, which players will ultimately benefit the most from Guhle’s absence, the Montreal Canadiens’ current salary cap flexibility, why they’ll be in a strong position to make moves during the season, Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Starr & D'Amico Show, Shaun and Marco discuss the Montreal Canadiens signing Arber Xhekaj and Alex Newhook. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico discuss Chris Kreider’s first appearance as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, Martin St-Louis’ contract extended for 4 more year, Arber Xhekaj remains unsigned and much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alexander Zharovsky continues to look like one of the most intriguing prospects in the Montreal Canadiens organization — but will he ever actually play for the Habs? On today's show, we dive into Zharovsky's start to the new KHL season and what we've learned about the talented 19-year-old since Montreal traded up to select him 34th overall in 2025. After a tremendous rookie season that saw him put up 42 points in 59 games and win KHL Rookie of the Year, Zharovsky is back with UFA for what may be his final season in Russia. So when could we realistically see him in Montreal? Zharovsky has said he intends to finish the final year of his KHL contract, potentially opening the door for him to make the jump to North America in 2027. But there's another question the Canadiens may eventually have to answer: Is Alexander Zharovsky part of Montreal's future — or has his development turned him into one of Kent Hughes' most valuable trade chips? If the Habs eventually go hunting for another major piece, would you be willing to include Zharovsky in a blockbuster? Or is his offensive upside simply too enticing to give up? We break down his development, potential NHL role, timeline to Montreal and where he fits into an increasingly crowded Canadiens future. Let us know in the comments: KEEP Zharovsky or TRADE him for the right player? #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Montreal Canadiens have signed Zach Bolduc to a 4-year contract worth $4.2 million per season, locking up another important young piece of their roster. On today’s show, we break down the new deal and whether the Habs got good value. Why did negotiations take so long? What does the contract tell us about how Kent Hughes and the Canadiens view Bolduc going forward? We also dive into Bolduc’s potential. What is his ceiling in Montreal? Can he develop into a legitimate top-six winger and consistent goal scorer, or does he ultimately settle into more of a middle-six role? Plus, with Bolduc officially signed, attention turns to another young Hab: Arber Xhekaj. Is the Sheriff next to get a new contract, and what could that deal look like? On the show: Zach Bolduc signs for 4 years at $4.2M AAV Did the Canadiens get good value? Why did the negotiations take so long? What the contract says about Montreal’s belief in Bolduc How high is Bolduc’s ceiling? Can he become a legitimate top-six forward? Is Arber Xhekaj the next Hab to sign? Drop your thoughts in the comments: Do you like the Bolduc contract? And what do you think his ceiling is with the Canadiens? If you enjoy the show, LIKE the video and SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens news, rumours, trades and analysis. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Montreal Canadiens have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran forward Chris Kreider, adding another proven goal scorer and experienced playoff performer to the Habs lineup. The deal carries a reported $2.15 million cap hit, with additional performance bonuses available. On today's show, we break down the signing from every angle. Where does Kreider fit in Martin St. Louis' lineup? Could he play alongside Ivan Demidov? What does his arrival mean for Montreal's other forwards and the battle for roster spots? And at this price, did Kent Hughes just land another potentially high-value veteran addition? We'll also look at what Kreider can still bring at this stage of his career, why Montreal was attractive to him, and whether this signing makes the Canadiens a better team heading into the 2026-27 season. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Kirill Marchenko trade situation is getting VERY interesting — and it’s looking increasingly possible that the Columbus Blue Jackets could actually move the talented winger. On today’s Starr & D’Amico Show, we break down the latest surrounding Marchenko and one huge question for the Montreal Canadiens: How aggressive should Kent Hughes be if Marchenko is truly available? We look at what a potential Habs trade package could cost, where Marchenko would fit in Montreal’s lineup and whether he’s the type of player where you’re willing to OVERPAY to get the deal done. If Montreal wants to add another major piece to its young core, could Marchenko be worth sacrificing premium assets? But the Habs certainly wouldn't be alone. We also look around the NHL at potential competition for Marchenko, including teams such as the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Utah Mammoth, and discuss what a potential bidding war could mean for Montreal. How much would YOU give up for Kirill Marchenko? Is there a prospect or draft pick you absolutely would NOT include? Drop your trade offer in the comments! Subscribe to The Starr & D’Amico Show for Montreal Canadiens news, rumours, trades and analysis throughout the season. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Kreider could be AVAILABLE, so should the Montreal Canadiens be interested? On today’s Starr & D’Amico Show, we break down whether the veteran power forward could actually make sense for the Habs and where he would fit in Montreal’s lineup. Could Kreider play alongside Ivan Demidov and bring a combination of size, speed, experience and goal-scoring to that line? Does adding an older veteran make sense for where the Canadiens are in their competitive window? We also look around the NHL at the other teams that could make sense for Kreider, what the market for him could look like, and whether Kent Hughes should seriously consider getting involved. Would you put him on Demidov’s line? Let us know in the comments! Subscribe to The Starr & D’Amico Show for Montreal Canadiens news, rumours, trades and analysis all season long. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Pavel Zacha become a realistic trade target for the Montreal Canadiens? The Habs’ search for help at second-line centre continues, and Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha could be a very interesting name to watch. On today’s Starr & D’Amico Show, we break down whether Zacha actually makes sense for Montreal, what he could bring to the Canadiens’ top six and what the Habs might have to give up to acquire him. We also look at the bigger picture in Boston. How does Fraser Minten’s new contract impact Zacha’s future with the Bruins? With Zacha a pending UFA, could Boston eventually decide that moving him is the better option rather than risk losing him for nothing? And most importantly: Is Zacha good enough to be the Canadiens’ answer at 2C, or should Kent Hughes be targeting something bigger? Drop your trade proposal in the comments! #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🚨 WE HAVE A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT! 🚨 Something BIG is happening with The Starr & D’Amico Show — and we’re finally ready to tell you all about it. We’ve been working behind the scenes on something that represents a huge next step for the show, and we wanted our YouTube community to hear the news directly from us. What does it mean for the show? What’s changing? What’s coming next? Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico will reveal everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it REALLY take to build a Stanley Cup champion? When you look back at some of the NHL’s dominant Cup-winning teams of the 2010s — Chicago, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Boston — there’s a common theme that helped make those championship rosters possible: elite core players providing enormous value on their contracts. On this episode of The Starr & D’Amico Show, we look back at how those Stanley Cup champions were constructed and compare their situations to what the Montreal Canadiens are building today. The Habs have locked up several important pieces of their young core on contracts that could provide significant value as the salary cap continues to rise. Could that give Kent Hughes the flexibility to add the final pieces Montreal needs to become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender? We break down: 🏆 The contract advantage behind past Stanley Cup champions 🔴 How Chicago built around its championship core 🐧 How Pittsburgh maximized its window 👑 What made the LA Kings roster work 🐻 How Boston balanced stars, depth and salary 🔵⚪🔴 How the Canadiens' current core compares 💰 Why bargain contracts can become a MASSIVE weapon 👀 Whether Kent Hughes is building Montreal using a proven championship formula Is Montreal quietly putting together the financial foundation of a future Stanley Cup contender? Drop your thoughts in the comments and SUBSCRIBE for more Montreal Canadiens news, analysis, trades and discussion from The Starr & D’Amico Show! #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a Montreal Canadiens roster spot up for grabs, and the battle for the Habs’ 13th forward could be one of the most interesting stories of training camp. Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj and Brett Berard all bring something different to the table — but which player makes the most sense as Montreal’s extra forward to start the 2026-27 NHL season? Beck brings versatility, defensive responsibility and NHL experience after appearing in 28 games with Montreal. Xhekaj brings size, physicality and an edge that few players in the organization can match after putting up 17 goals, 29 points and 182 penalty minutes with Laval last season. Then there’s Brett Berard, acquired from the New York Rangers this summer. The 23-year-old already has 48 games of NHL experience, giving Montreal another legitimate option in the competition. On today’s Starr & D’Amico Show, we break down what the Canadiens actually need from their 13th forward, how each player fits Martin St. Louis’ lineup and who has the inside track to make the Habs out of training camp. Who would YOU choose: Beck, Xhekaj or Berard? Subscribe for Montreal Canadiens news, analysis, trades, rumours and prospect coverage all season long. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Montreal Canadiens have two fascinating prospects developing in Russia — Alexander Zharovsky and 2026 first-round pick Gleb Pugachyov — and we’ve got the latest on where they stand heading into the 2026-27 season. Did Pugachyov do enough to earn a regular spot with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL, or could he spend time in the VHL or MHL? After playing just 13 KHL games last season, what should Habs fans realistically expect from the 18-year-old this year? Then there’s Alexander Zharovsky, who exploded for 16 goals and 42 points in 59 KHL games last season. What’s next for one of Montreal’s most exciting young prospects, and could this really be his final season in Russia before coming to North America? NHL.com currently projects his NHL arrival for 2027-28. We break down their situations, expectations for the upcoming KHL season and what the timeline could look like before we eventually see them in a Montreal Canadiens uniform. Subscribe to The Starr & D’Amico Show for Montreal Canadiens news, rumours, trades, prospects and analysis all season long! #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NHL trade market might finally be starting to shake loose — and that could be very good news for the Montreal Canadiens. After a trade between the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils, we look at whether this could be the beginning of more movement around the NHL and where Kent Hughes and the Canadiens fit into the picture. Are the Habs still actively looking to make another deal before the season gets underway? More importantly, how many teams around the NHL are willing to move established players in exchange for draft picks, prospects and future assets? Montreal has spent years building up its prospect pool and draft capital. If more teams decide they're willing to sell, could Kent Hughes finally find the deal he's been waiting for? We break down the NHL trade market, potential sellers, Montreal's assets and whether the Canadiens could be one of the next teams to make a move. Subscribe for Montreal Canadiens news, trade rumours, analysis and more from The Starr & D'Amico Show! #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Montreal Canadiens went through the offseason without adding the established second-line center many expected — so who fills that major role to start the season? With training camp approaching, Martin St-Louis has some fascinating options. Could Alex Newhook finally get an extended opportunity down the middle? Is Oliver Kapanen ready to take another step and claim the job? Or could a healthy Kirby Dach get another chance to prove he can be the Canadiens' answer at second-line center? On today's Starr & D'Amico Show, we break down all three candidates, what each player brings to the position, who fits best alongside Montreal's wingers, and what Martin St-Louis could be looking for when camp begins. The Canadiens didn't go outside the organization to find their 2C. Maybe the answer was already here. Who would YOU start at second-line center: Newhook, Kapanen or Dach? Subscribe for Montreal Canadiens news, analysis, rumours, trades and everything Habs all season long! #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Training camp is getting closer, but Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc still don’t have new contracts with the Montreal Canadiens. So… what’s going on? Things have been remarkably quiet surrounding both players, and with the Canadiens getting closer to camp, Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico break down where things stand and why deals haven’t been announced yet. Is this simply normal contract negotiation between Kent Hughes and the two RFAs? Could term, salary or future cap flexibility be holding things up? And is there any reason for Habs fans to be concerned if Xhekaj and Bolduc remain unsigned as camp approaches? We break down the latest, what the Canadiens could be trying to accomplish with both contracts, and whether we should expect things to finally heat up. SUBSCRIBE for Montreal Canadiens news, rumours, trades, analysis and breaking news all season long on The Starr & D’Amico Show! #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Connor Hellebuyck has requested a trade — and this could have major implications across the NHL, including for the Montreal Canadiens. On today’s Starr & D’Amico Show, we break down the fallout from Hellebuyck’s trade request and what it says about the growing power NHL players have in determining where — and when — they want to play. But there’s a huge question: how many teams can realistically trade for Connor Hellebuyck? We discuss: 🏒 Which NHL teams actually make sense for Hellebuyck 💰 What Winnipeg could demand in a blockbuster trade 🔥 How Hellebuyck’s contract impacts the market 👀 Whether player empowerment is changing the NHL 🥅 What a Hellebuyck trade does to the goalie market 🔵⚪🔴 And most importantly — what does all of this mean for Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault? Could teams that miss out on Hellebuyck turn their attention to Montreal? And could this suddenly change the value of Montembeault on the NHL trade market? Subscribe to The Starr & D’Amico Show for Montreal Canadiens news, Habs trade rumours, NHL analysis and more throughout the season. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Montreal Canadiens Rookie Camp is almost here — and there are some BIG names Habs fans need to be watching! We break down the Canadiens prospects heading into rookie camp and the players with the most to prove. Who could turn heads? Who could make a push toward the NHL roster? And which prospects could take a major step forward in their development? We’ll look at some of the most intriguing young players in the Canadiens organization. With the Canadiens continuing to build one of the NHL’s most exciting young cores, rookie camp gives us our first real look at which prospects might be ready to take that next step. Which Habs prospect are YOU most excited to watch? Subscribe to The Starr & D’Amico Show for Montreal Canadiens news, Habs rumours, prospect coverage, NHL analysis and everything Canadiens throughout the season. #montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices