Habs Daily: State Of The Canadiens Defence, Kapanen Contract

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Thursday.

Montreal Canadiens News

• Montreal Canadiens prospect Oliver Kapanen signed a contract with Timra in the SHL. His father, Kimmo, is the general manager for the Swedish club. The Habs are expected to sign Kapanen this summer, which means he’ll either earn a roster spot at training camp or be loaned back to Timra, where he can be given ample ice time and opportunities. [Canadiens Prospect Signs Contract In Europe]

• The ‘State of the Rebuild’ series continues, with the focus shifting to the defensive situation in the NHL. While the young defencemen are overflowing with talent, the results haven’t quite caught up to the encouraging process. That’s to be expected in a rebuild. Fortunately, the best is yet to come.  [Montreal Canadiens State Of the Rebuild – The Defensive Situation]

• PWHL Montreal faced PWHL Boston in the first game of the first-round playoff series. Montreal outshot their opponents 54-23, but dropped the game 2-1 in overtime. Boston goaltender Aerin Frankel was flat-out dominant.

Save of the century?? pic.twitter.com/5UdEoA7hBI

— x – PWHL Boston (@PWHL_Boston) May 10, 2024

• Apparently, Juraj Slafkovsky’s bed in Czechia is not sufficient to support his 6’03” frame.

Someone get Juraj Slafkovsky a new bed at the World Championships 🛏️ https://t.co/3F6kQpEpo2 pic.twitter.com/MCE4JAwEGq

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) May 9, 2024

• Check out this Cole Caufield fan art:

It’s Cole! #gohabsgo @colecaufield @kcdubay @CanadiensMTL @NHL pic.twitter.com/AcSoHKqyLA

— Annik (@alemiredesigns) May 9, 2024

• The Habs released a batch of their favourite pictures from the 2023-24 season.

Brb buying 60+ frames 🖼️

Check out the best photos of the season!

Photo gallery ↓ #GoHabsGo

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 9, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• Things are progressing quite quickly for Colorado Avalanche winger Jonathan Drouin. The 29-year-old joined the morning skate with his Avalanche teammates prior to Game Two on Thursday. He won’t be in the lineup, but considering he only started skating 24 hours ago, it was a pretty quick turnaround.[Colorado Avalanche]
• The Toronto Maple Leafs fired their head coach, Sheldon Keefe, on Thursday morning after they failed to qualify for the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons. According to a report, Keefe will now be added to New Jersey’s detailed list of Devils coaching candidates. [New Jersey Devils]
• SKA St. Petersburg chairman Alexander Medvedev isn’t the only Russian in favour of Michkov trying his hand at the NHL with the Flyers. Apparently, Michkov’s trainer, Dmitry Yashankin, wouldn’t mind the Flyers getting an early Christmas gift, either. [Philadelphia Flyers]