The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Maxim Lapierre on the Canadiens Deadline, Team Toughness, Path in the East, and more

Episode Date: March 13, 2026

Jeff, Greg, and Max take a closer look at Boston College goaltender Jacob Fowler turning aside 32 shots in a strong performance against the Senators, what his development could mean for the future in net, and why he continues to generate buzz as one of the most intriguing young goalies in hockey. The conversation also touches on team building philosophies, roster construction, and the evolving landscape of the NHL as the playoff race intensifies across both conferences.From front office decisions and contract extensions to prospect development and the biggest storylines around the league, Jeff Marek, Greg Wyshynski, and Maxim Lapierre break it all down on another packed episode of The Sheet.Subscribe to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel for more NHL analysis, insider discussion, and interviews from across the hockey world.#NHL #Hockey #DailyFaceoff #JeffMarek #GregWyshynski #MaximLapierre #OttawaSenators #UtahMammoth #NickSchmaltz #JacobFowlerLeave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/caReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He is a co-host of La Pachebleau and a new program, post-Montral-C-Ral Canadiens games, and a lot to get into from yesterday. Max LaPierre joins us here on the program. Max, first of all, congratulations on the new program. How are you? Because you need a more thing. I'm good yourself, guys.

Yeah, of course. I need to be busy. Well, listen, the one thing about, and we were talking about the Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks a second ago and the sort of the economy of attention, in Montreal, as you all know, everything times two.

it's the attention en francais, and also in English as well. So the attention economy has always been strong in Montreal. What did you make up, just sort of wide-brushed thoughts on yesterday? Jacob Fowler with just a stunning performance as well. What did you take away from yesterday's game?

To me, that was all about La Guardien de Beau. Yeah, guys, all calm is he in front of the net for a young go-tender, just coming in at the end of the season like this. I feel like I play, with Carrie Price, obviously. I feel like it's kind of the same path a little bit. Like he played a little bit in the minors. Then he's winning some games. Looks confident right now. And I feel like the team in front of him plays a different way.

You know, like I feel like the teams know, the guys, they know there's a superstar coming. And he showed it last night with the saves at the end of the game. I feel like he was there right there. The Sands could have tied up the game. But what a save at the end. And I feel like he was playing the puck a little more tonight. as well. So for me, that's a sign that he's confident. And it's going to be a tough decision because Dobesh has been playing well. He's been winning games.

But if you look at the structure part of it, I feel like Fowler technically looks really, really solid. So we've been talking about who's in net between Montaubet and Dobesh. And now I think for playoffs, we're going to talk who's going to be between Fowler and D'Obech again. Agreed. Greg, first of all, congratulations in the podcast. Yet another ex-professional athlete stealing a job from an out-of-shaped journalist. But I think it's going to be a good show. Thanks so much.

Thanks so much. I wanted to ask you about their trade deadline because it seemed like there were some people that were really, I don't want to say upset but disappointed that Kent used it and do more. And then there were some people that said this was exactly what they should have done at the trade deadline. What were your thoughts about the Canadian's deadline? It would have been nice to go get some toughness a little bit or some heavy players, whatever it's up front, right defensemen. But I think the main thing with Kent use is he's following the plan. And it's pretty clear that they don't want, not that they don't want to win this year,

but this is not the year when they just go all out and they get anybody just to try to play an extra round. I feel like they love the core players. They have a good young group of players. They don't want to destroy that. it's tough right now, but at the end of the day, you want to win for 15 years. You don't want to win for one season and go back out of the playoff. And I think when you look back and the emotion is out of it, it was the right decision. We're going to wait for this summer.

We're going to have more time to build something solid. And I feel the chemistry within this group as well. Things are going well. Guys have fun together. You don't want to destroy that at the end of the season. I feel like when a move happens in the summer, it's kind of everybody's ready for it. Everybody has time to think about it.

If you're mad because somebody might take your spot in the lineup, you have time to digest. And when the training camp starts, everybody is happy and everybody knows their role. And it's not like it's happening out of nowhere. I feel like it might be the better time to move. Yeah. Let me pick on that for a couple of seconds here

because I thought that, like my point about this year in the Eastern Conference is, the shark is out of the pool. You know, like Florida's not here. Like this is, okay, everybody. Florida's coming back next year, right? So like, okay, everybody, the shark's not in the pool. Like, this is your chance to go all in.

And it seemed like nobody in the Eastern Conference really wanted to embrace that at all. Like, is there not a sort of sense of, because I look at the Montreal Canadians, and I think back to the Winston Churchill quote about, this is the end of the beginning. And that's where I look at with the Montreal. Montreal Canaanians. Like the beginning part of like putting this all together, like that's done. Like that's done. Like Montreal Canaanians aren't going to draft like fifth overall anymore.

Like those days are done. Like that beginning part is over. Now you're into the second phase. I don't know. So the Panthers are out. The beginning of this thing is done. Maybe you overpay a little bit, but you're investing in experience for all those other players that are going to be. To your point are going to be here for the next 10 to 15 years.

Yeah, you're right. And it's so important for a young player to play some playoffs game. I feel like you play one round and it feels like you played a full season. Like this is where you grow as a player. This is where you learn about yourself as well. Like when the pressure is on and you're not allowed to make a mistake on the ice and there's no room and the game is frustrating. This is where you grow as a player.

And the Caulfield and Suzuki went through it. Their first year, they went to the end of the cup finals. So these guys are okay for me. we know what they were made of. Now it's the other group. Safkowski, Demidov, Hudson. You know, last year they had a tough matchup in the first round. Probably the worst possible matchup for this group,

the Washington Capitals, with Tom Wilson, Ovechkin, a heavy team, you know. This year might be the same guys. Like if they face Tampa Bay, Tampa Bay is a tough team. Buffalo is a tough team. Boston is a tough team. So it's going to be the same thing, which brings up the next subject that the toughness issue is going to need to be fixed at one point.

point and I don't think it's a matter of one player because you guys know you watch enough games like it's team toughness is not about bringing one big heavy guy and the other team is going to be scared or dressing jackay eight minutes a game and then it has no impact on the game you need to find toughness everywhere in your lineup and I that's the only part where I have a question mark because I look down in the minors I look all the prospect we have obviously there's there's Florian jackai who plays a really tough game but yep except for for this guy. I don't know who's going to be on the top six

or on the third line or a top four defenseman that is going to be scary to play against every night. Well, since Merrick bought up the Panthers, I'll ask you this question. Who do you believe was the more annoying team to play against? The Canucks team, where it was you,

Kessler, Burroughs, B.XA or this current Florida team with Marchand, Kichuk, Bennett, and the rest. I'll go with Florida because they won, right? That's the part where we fell. But this is hockey for me. It's all about passion.

And I feel like you see what happens when you bring somebody in the leadership group that plays the right way. How far it can go in an organization. I mean, they traded Uber though, who had 115 points that year. Yep. People were like, what are they doing? Like they're trading a 150 point a season guy for Kachuk. And they give Uyghur as well as an extra to Calgary, right?

So, but then you change the culture. Everyone plays a different way. Like you look at a guy, for example, like Eggblad. He's a big, strong defenseman. But he was never playing that tough or dirty or crush-checking people every single night. Now he does it. And Bennett, you add Bennett. And Barkov is a heavy guy.

So the team identity now is, it's, It's easy to say, like, they're tough and they're dirty, but this is not what makes the Florida Panthers a good team. They're just a bunch of guys that plays the right way every single time, whatever it's physically, defensively, under the skill part, when it's time to score a goal, the structure, they're well coach. So sometimes a little less points or skills and a little more character is important as well. You know what you're seeing that right now?

This is like an old Adams Division conversation. Where you've seen that now is Buffalo Sabres. You know, Tage Thompson gets hit, and here comes Zach Benson. Zach Benson. Yeah. Like here comes, like, here comes Lukin. Like, you know, Dalline's getting, you know, punched out by Brandon Hagle. And Ouka Pekulukin is charging out of his net to go chase him down to the blue line.

Like, I think that's what you're talking about. Max, your point, though, like that, that's been the secret sauce for the Panthers, right? Like, the core of that team is the kind of player other teams have to go find at the trade deadline. And I think, I think the Bruins team that you guys. guys lost you was the same way where the core of that team is is the same way and to your point about Montreal that's the trick like if your core is not that you have to either change your core or or find ways to get maybe that like B tier to be the tough tier because it's it's really hard to change your team's DNA otherwise yeah or the other option is the team has to buy in to

okay, we need to be more physical to play hockey. And you know like me, it's team toughness that is annoying to play against. Like, for example, when we were playing against Boston in the finals, you know that Chara and Luchick, they're going to destroy you every shift. They're going to hit you. You expect that. But when the skill players, like Marchant, Bergeron, like whoever is playing and they're considered like a skill player, they start hitting you and cross-checking you,

this is where when it's annoying and it gets you out of your game. You're like every single shift, it doesn't matter where I'm at on the ice. There's somebody who will disturb my game or will be physical. And this is where they need to learn as a team. Calfield, maybe he won't hurt anyone if he hits. But if he hits every single shift, this is annoying. Anderson, if he hits every single game, that's another thing. We have a guy that can play this type of role.

We have our own Tom Wilson in a way in Montreal. I'm not trying to compare the two players. but if Josh Anderson would decide to play this type of game every single night, it would change the picture a little bit. But this is not happening right now. Let me ask about one player as well. And listen, we all know that they need to make room for Texier in the lineup. Like, he looks so good.

I agree. And you go up and down the lineup and you say, okay, so who comes out and the name we keep coming back to, Sprending Gallagher? what do you like what like again like i do not envy marty st louis decision here whatsoever but knowing the texia has to be in this lineup is it galliger i i have no idea guys i've been thinking about it for a while now like and every time galley comes up with something new he fought last game uh against macape a way bigger guy he shows up like it's stuff like it this guy has been

bleeding for this oh yeah for many many years and he's there's like i like i like i like I watch pretty much every single game in the last 15 years, and there's not one night this guy didn't show up. It never happened once that you look at Brendan Gallagher and you're like, well, he's not working tonight. It doesn't happen. Like he's all out every single shift. So maybe that's the one guy for Texie because I think Texie is really skilled

and every single time he got the call, he's performing again last night, big goal. But guys, what do you tell him? Let's say you're sitting down, you're Marty St. Louis. You sit down with Gavis. Alligator in the office, which there's many parts to this discussion. First of all, Marty was a heart and soul type of player. Then you have a veteran sitting in front of you, and he's been through the old rebuild. He had some tough, tough season.

He was there to support the young guys, and now that their product is not finished, but we're right there. You're going to tell him, hey, Brendan, you're not going to play in the playoffs. Oh, man, that's a hard. No idea. I have no idea. I don't want to be Marty right now. What would you guys do? What would you guys do, honestly?

You play your best lineup. You can't stand on sentiment, man. That's why I liked what the capitals is it with John Carlson. As much as you want to keep that guy around for the Ovechkin farewell tour or whatever and have a certain amount of loyalty to a guy, if you have the chance to maximize the return for him at a hot deadline, you do it. And I love Galley. I got a curve ball.

Okay. I got a curve ball for you. Okay. Like, I'm, you 100% agree with you with Washington, but what happened in New York, right? I know it's a different situation where you got the Rangers. There's some veteran players that you might not be happy with,

but when you took them out of the lineup, it destroyed the whole thing. Like, they never been the same team anymore. Let's not forget. We were talking about a thing that could win two years ago. I think, you know,

I think that was more sort of, how it was handled too, like the way that they ended up getting rid of Barkley Goodro. And how they got rid of Jacob Truba. I think it was like, again, like this comes back to like just how delicate you have to handle this. Like I do understand, like to Greg's point, I understand that you got to ice your best lineup. Like at the end of the day.

Yeah. Hey man, you got to ice your best lineup. Oh, yeah. Same time. Here's the other thing. When you're handling veterans, like other, like other players are allowed to watch what you're doing. And other agents are allowed to watch what you're doing. And that sort of becomes your reputation. And that's part of the issue with the New York Rangers and how they've handled their players.

And I don't think that Marty St. Louis wants to fall into that trap, nor does Kent Hughes want to fall into that. And then with the Texier situation, obviously, we're going in the best lineup. Let's say we take Gallagher out. I just don't feel like Texie belongs on the fourth line, though. You know, like I feel like he can. He can contribute offensively. Like, he's strong on the puck. Like, he plays well defensively as well. So what do you do now? Like, do you just switch the two players or you take Texie and put him on the fourth line?

That's another tough decision for me. When, let me ask you about, I always love doing this one. When you look at the NHL right now, okay, and you think about, okay, you know what? I played in my era. My era was my era. If you played in the NHL right now, Max, which team would you want to play on? Like, is there a team where you're like,

maybe it is the Panthers that Greg just mentioned, like, oh, you know what? I'd fit right in there with the cats. Is there a team that you look at and you go like, and financially do, put more money in your jeans, you know, this is a state for tax free state? Is there a team that you look at and you say, oh, man, give me some of that.

If I played in the NHL right now, give me some of that. It's a good question. Obviously, I always have Montreal in my heart, but let's just play the game a little bit. I feel like, well, on the coaching side, I would love to play for Bones again because I had him in Vancouver,

so Columbus would be fun. What a great coach, this guy was. He's having a hell of a time. You know what? I feel like in my prime, I would be the player Edmonton would need. I feel like this is exactly what they need on the third, fourth line,

bring some energy, musicality, like play well on the PK. I feel like that would be the spot, Edmonton. I don't know, man. Hang on to go back to Columbus. I want to see you playing alongside Matthew Olivier and just like destroying them crazy. Driving them crazy.

And one of my good friends, the goalie, Elvis, is one of my good friend. I played with him in Lugano when I was in Switzerland at the end of my career. So great guy. He honestly, I know, listen, And listen, Merz Lickens is a fascinating guy and a tremendous interview. What was he like as a teammate there? It was great.

Like, I mean, when I arrived there, I feel like when the management, the coaches, the general manager, they met with me, I feel like that was my project. You know, we got a good young goaltender and we need somebody that played in the NHL to try to guide him a little bit

because he's so skilled. But you know what was unreal about him, guys, is he cared so much. He cared so much. like every single detail, but so much intensity to a point that sometimes it was too much. He wanted to win too much and this is what we needed to work on because it was five hours before the game at the rink, training after nervous that he wasn't going to win. It was puking between periods.

So it was all about winning for him and you could see there was something special. But just he needed to learn how to translate from Switzerland to the NHL, which is a different approach. and I mean I was there for four and a half years and I feel like he grew a lot as a player and as a person and let's not forget this background guys right like tough life his mom had to move so so they get a better life and all this like so I feel like it's always important when you look at a teammate to understand who he is and where where he's from because not everybody's got that lucky life where your both parents are driving you to hockey game and you got brand new gear and it's all fun fun and easy you know so yeah

Yet, when I learned who he was and his story, it was important for me to work with him and help him in his career. You mentioned the Blue Jackets. I think the consensus right now is we've got Carolina, we've got Tampa, and now we probably have Buffalo as the three most competitive teams in the East. Who would be your fourth right now? I'm going to look at the standings right now. I know. It's not easy because, like, you do have that jumble behind those top three teams. And I'm not sure myself who jumps out at me as the team I'd be most concerned about.

There's a team that impressed me about two months ago when they played here in Montreal. And now it's not the same. But if they could find their game back, I feel like Detroit, they were solid at one point. Structure, fast-paced, heavy, good goal-tending. But now I feel like they lost confidence. a little bit, but if they could find their game back, I feel like they have a good team. Detroit is a good team.

Just now, it's a tough downfall. It's not easy right now. Four wins in the last game, so no, it's not easy. They're a Todd McClellan team. Their natural habitat is the playoff bubble. They just want to get back there. They were too good. Clellons teams are always like right around

7th or 8th. They got to get back to where they're comfortable. Okay, let me close with this one. this one's going to have a sort of historical slant to it. So yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the final game at the Montreal Forum. And I can still remember the ovation that Maurice Richard got, which is one of the longest ovations in the history of the National Hockey League, just an absolutely beautiful moment for Habs fans everywhere.

Growing up in Montreal, who was your guy, Max? Like, did you have, like, even if it was like, because I was always, and I was always a thrill when I could work Montreal games for hockey night, and I would see Madame and Monsieur Belvoir. And I remember, I still remember the first time where Jean Belvoir walked past me in the hallway beside the room, and he said, I remember I said, I said, hello, Mr. Belvoir, and he said, Salue, Jeff.

And I'm like, how does Jean Belvoir know my name? It was the biggest thrill in the world. Gentlemen. Oh, it's the best. Did you have a favorite growing up in Montreal? I think my generation was Patrick Roy, obviously. We all wanted to be the goaltender outside playing. hockey, ball hockey in the streets and that was the superstar here. But for me, when I relate to

the Canadians and when I think about the logo, I always think about Maurice Richard. And you can see in the back here, I bought this a few years ago. The original like Jersey signed by Maurice and other players here, like I got a big picture of Maurice there on the other side. I feel like it represents what it is to be a Montreal Canadiens. It's hard work, dedication, love for the fans, love for the logo, always ready to face adversity. So yeah, I didn't have the chance to watch and play, obviously, but still remember like going every game in Montreal, I would look up at the picture, it was right over my stall, and I would just basically talk to Maurice in my head, saying, like, I feel like it's a privilege to be here. Can you help me tonight?

need a big game, you know? That's got to be such a cool thing. I've always talked about, the ghosts of the forum that still exist at the Bell Center. Like, I've always said to people, like, when I always say, oh, I'm a new hockey fan, what are the experiences I should have? Saturday night, 701, lights go down, spotlight, the tingles, cold play, all of it. Like, every fan's got to have it. It's another level. If I could go back in time, guys, and just live the five minutes where I put the jersey on for

the first time, there's nothing that compares to this. It's just unbelievable. The best. I love to have his mindset, too. He's still loved the Habs mindset, by the way, because earlier in the conversation, you said, you want to contend for 14 years, not one. I'm like, that's the most monstrel thing this guy has said. We're not trying to win a cup. We're trying to win cups. We're going to win 20. We're going to win 20 cups, not one. I know. Yeah, to the point where when, to the point where when they award you the Stanley Cup, you don't touch. it because you don't want to jinx next year.

No, no, no, I'm not touching this cover. We're just going to just going to keep rolling. Thanks, Gary. You can hang on to it. We're coming back again. Max, thanks so much for doing those. Congratulations on the new program. Everything you're touching on the new program.

Thanks a lot. You guys are great. Thanks for having me and keep us to go forward. Every day this month. Because you can call it all right. I went to the darkness.