MHN Puck Links: Habs GM Search, Petry Returns, Kane Rumors

The Montreal Canadiens continue to get players back as they kick off a seven-game road trip Wednesday against the Bruins in Boston. 

After it was confirmed that Patrick Roy was interviewed for the open general manager job for the Montreal Canadiens, there were some updates on the GM search overall Tuesday.

The Bruins re-signed goalie Tuukka Rask on Tuesday but he won’t start against the Habs Wednesday night

Are the Edmonton Oilers honing in on signing Evander Kane?

That and more in the latest MHN Puck Links:

Montreal Canadiens

Defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Tyler Toffoli (non-contact) joined the Montreal Canadiens at practice Tuesday before the team flew to Boston for their tilt with the red-hot Bruins that will kick off a seven-day road trip. (MHN)

According to TSN and Athletic NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the search for a new Montreal Canadiens general manager is still in ‘round one’ and as many as 10 candidates are still in the mix. 

Believe that the Habs are still in Round 1 of their GM interviews. Have interviewed most of their candidates but not quite done yet. Again, told that they're interviewing around 10 candidates in Round 1.

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 11, 2022

More on that and why Martin Madden Jr. was not allowed to interview for the open Habs GM spot. (TSN Insider Trading)

FOMHN (friend of Montreal Hockey Now) and Montreal Gazette columnist Brendan Kelly gives his take on the very passionate debate on whether or not Patrick Roy should be the next Habs GM. 

I may be from the Boston area originally but I lived in Montreal for two years, covered the Canadiens and experienced first hand how much the legendary Habs hall of famer polarizes the Canadiens fan base. I also know Jeff Gorton from his days in Boston and I just don’t see those two as great teammates. You can get over that and succeed as players but not so much in Hockey Ops and running a team. That’s especially true in the hockey mecca of the world, Montreal! (Montreal Gazette)

Finally, another current hot button issue surrounding the Montreal Canadiens is the media coverage on and in some cases, favorable PR spin for controversial Montreal Canadiens prospect Logan Mailloux. Mailloux is off to a great start with the London Knights after being reinstated from suspension to play by the OHL. 

If you’re unaware, Mailloux was suspended indefinitely by the OHL on Sept. 2 because of an incident that took place while the London Knights’ defenseman was on loan to SK Lejon in Sweden in November 2020. He was fined by Swedish authorities after admitting to two charges related to sharing, without her consent, a photo of a woman during sex.

Due to that, the Montreal Canadiens came under fire for being tone-deaf when they selected Mailloux in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The Habs and then-GM Marc Bergevin were widely bashed for drafting Mailloux, and rightfully so. That’s why it’s no surprise that criticism is and likely will for a while follow both Bergevin and the Canadiens.

Well respected, LA-based Athletic NHL reporter Lisa Dillman didn’t hold back when Bergevin was hired by the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday (The Athletic) *Subscription*

So many questions the night of the draft. And more today. https://t.co/vi5Vx2AaEm

— lisa dillman (@reallisa) January 9, 2022

National Hockey Now

As expected, goalie Tuukka Rask finally signed with the Boston Bruins on Tuesday for an insanely cheap one-year deal that carries a $1 million cap hit for the cap-strapped Bruins. (Boston Hockey Now)

Last August, Rask told a local sports radio station that he would play for free as long as free Bud Light beers were involved. Well, it looks like Rask and Bud Light have agreed on a new contract as well:

Holding up our end of the deal. You in @TuukkaRask? https://t.co/LjuM4J23kt pic.twitter.com/0nkDTJ0xok

— Bud Light (@budlight) January 11, 2022

As a result of Rask signing a new deal with the Bruins, rookie goalie Jeremy Swayman will be reassigned to the AHL to play for the Providence Bruins. (Boston Hockey Now)

Before we link one of his first stories for Philly Hockey Now, a big and hearty welcome to the National Hockey Now family for legendary Flyers reporter Sam Carchidi.

Sam Carchidi: Welcome to Philly Hockey Now’s Flyers coverage https://t.co/1NUqlssxWP

— Philly Hockey Now (@phillyhockeynow) January 10, 2022

Philadelphia Flyers legend Bobby Clarke absolutely went off on former Flyers and current Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ron Hextall Tuesday. Clarke claims that the majority of Flyers hockey ops staff wanted the Flyers to draft now Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar over former Flyers and current Vegas Golden Knights forward Nolan Patrick at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. (Philly Hockey Now)

The Florida Panthers are so hot right now that their fans can’t control themselves as rapper Kodak Black showed in a FLA Live Arena suite Tuesday night. (Florida Hockey Now)

Here’s the video but caution for sexually explicit content. (Twitter)

Great hire for the Detroit Red Wings as they have brought back hall of fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom as their vice president of hockey operations. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Former San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane is expected to sign a contract by this weekend and the Edmonton Oilers appear to be very interested. (San Jose Hockey Now)

NHL

More tidbits on the Habs’ GM search in the latest 32 Thoughts from Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman. (Sportsnet)