Habs Daily: Patrik Laine Trade Talk, 2024 NHL Draft Targets

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories from Wednesday.

Montreal Canadiens News

• According to reports, forward Patrik Laine wants to start anew, which would necessitate a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, seeing as the Finnish forward has two years left on a contract that pays him $8.7 million per season. Of course, Laine’s value in the league has plummeted in recent years, but it should be noted that he maintained a point-per-game pace in 2021-22 and was a few points shy of maintaining the same pace in 2022-23. The Habs certainly need to add offensive talent to the mix, and Laine fits the bill. He also has the type of size that tends to entice Kent Hughes in trade negotiations. And finally, he’s a reclamation project to a certain extent, yet another avenue the Canadiens have explored in depth since Hughes has taken over. With that in mind, what type of offer would you make for Laine? Is he even worth considering? Perhaps a trade that involves someone like Josh Anderson or Carey Price could be explored. Then again, given his history and all the media attention in Montreal, perhaps a trade with the Canadiens would be unwise for both the team and the player. [Why The Canadiens Should Explore Trade Options For Carey Price]

Would you like to see the Canadiens trade for Laine? 🤔 Let’s see your trade proposals 👇 https://t.co/eRFWHyiNpj

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 12, 2024

• Most expect the Montreal Canadiens to trade the 26th overall pick, which was acquired in the deal that sent Sean Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, but if they do take to the podium at the end of the first round there are several interesting draft targets worth evaluating. [Underrated Canadiens Draft Targets With The 26th Overall Pick]
• Draft analyst David St-Louis suggests that Beckett Sennecke’s overall value is not that far off from Berkly Catton’s, and that there’s merit to the idea that Sennecke should perhaps be picked beforehand. To be absolutely clear, St-Louis wasn’t necessarily discussing whether the Canadiens should pick one over the other, but it does give us insight as to how impressive Sennecke’s production was in the second half of the season. [Montreal Canadiens Top 2024 NHL Draft Targets Already Unveiled]

Depends on the lineup. If there’s room for a Catton, I pick Catton. If I need some size and skill, I pick Sennecke. No real separation there. If we’re just talking in theory and not fit, I had Sennecke ahead at the end.

— David St-Louis (@DavidSt_Louis) June 12, 2024

• Belated congratulations to Erin Ambrose for winning Defenceman Of The Year honours in the PWHL. Ambrose, along with Marie Philip-Poulin, was also named to the league’s First All-Star team.

LA DÉFENSEURE DE L’ANNÉE: ERIN AMBROSE!

Avec 18 points en 24 matchs et une moyenne de 26:26 minutes par match en saison régulière, Erin Ambrose s’est imposée comme l’une des meilleures joueuses de la ligue, devenant la toute première défenseure de l’année de la PWHL ! 🙌

LPHF… pic.twitter.com/maGtF3dTqL

— LPHF Montréal (@PWHL_Montreal) June 11, 2024

• The Laval Rocket and the Trois-Rivières Lions have extended their affiliation for three more seasons. While the Lions aren’t officially part of the Montreal Canadiens organization, they have provided the Rocket with an endless stream of players when injuries and call-ups came into play. Remember, when the Canadiens set a record for the most man games lost in back-to-back seasons, it’s the team at the end of the ladder that truly takes it on the chin. That team is the Lions.

C’était une formalité mais l’association entre le Rocket de Laval et les Lions de Trois-Rivières a été reconduite pour les trois prochaines années. On ne pourra jamais reprocher aux Lions de ne pas avoir fourni le Rocket en joueurs de qualité dans les dernières années.

— Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) June 12, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• Although there’s a lot of speculation that Flames General Manager Craig Conroy could deal his No.1 goaltender — especially in a Devils trade — an updated look at the situation suggests the former Vezina Trophy nominee could stick around in Calgary. [New Jersey Devils]
• The Florida Panthers had captain Sasha Barkov on the ice for their final skate at home before boarding their flight to Edmonton on Wednesday morning. The Panthers visit the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday at 8. Florida holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series. Barkov did not talk to the media on Wednesday, and coach Paul Maurice would not say confirm he would play in Game 3.[Florida Panthers]
• The Colorado Avalanche will soon have a new Director of Amateur Scouting. Wade Klippenstein, who has been with the organization since 2016 and was promoted to Director of Amateur Scouting back in 2021, is leaving on July 1 and joining Notre Dame Hounds Hockey as their Director of Hockey Development. The organization confirmed to Colorado Hockey Now that his contract is up and was not renewed, clearing the path for him to move on. He will not be at the draft table with the team in Vegas. [Colorado Avalanche]