Canadiens Daily: Habs Report Card; Is Justin Barron Ready For The NHL?

The Montreal Hockey Now grades are in for Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes’ first NHL Trade Deadline.

The Canadiens may have a keeper in newly acquired defenceman Justin Barron.

That and more in the latest MHN Canadiens Daily:

Montreal Canadiens

My MHN partner-in-scribe, Marco D’Amico, had a great Q and A with Colorado Eagles head coach Greg Cronin about newly acquired Montreal Canadiens prospect Justin Barron. Looks like the Habs may very well have gotten a keeper in Barron.

Marco also gave his report card for Kent Hughes and the job he did before the NHL Trade Deadline Monday.

Montreal Canadiens Vice President of Communications Chantal Machabée moderated a Q and A with Hughes and executive vice president Jeff Gorton and Habs fans Tuesday.

National Hockey Now

Boston: My partner-in-scribe at Boston Hockey Now, Joe Haggerty, said that Bruins general manager Don Sweeney should also be applauded for the job he did before the deadline, specifically acquiring defenceman Hampus Lindholm.

NYI: Are Mathew Barzal and Oliver Wahlstrom finally buying into Barry Trotz’s defensive and two-way system?

Pittsburgh: Rickard Rakell made his Pittsburgh Penguins debut Tuesday and the Pens routed the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-1.

Philly: Will the Philadelphia Flyers have a new goalie backing up starter Carter Hart next season?

Washington: By getting traded back to the Washington Capitals, winger Marcus Johansson has come full circle.

Florida: The Florida Panthers are stoked to have Claude Giroux on board for what they hope will be their first trip past the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 1996.

Detroit: If Detroit Red Wings rookie sensation Mo Seider doesn’t win the Calder, voters need their voting rights rescinded.

Colorado: Now former Montreal Canadiens winger Artturi Lehkonen already has a good friend with the Colorado Avalanche.

Vegas: What the heck is going on with the Evgenii Dadonov trade?

Canada Hockey Now

Calgary: Calgary Flames goalie Jacob Markstrom was so bad Tuesday that head coach Darryl Sutter sent his goalie Jason Lebarbera out to face the media after the Flames lost 4-3 to the San Jose Sharks.

NHL

The Eastern Conference playoff teams are set, but we could have some April madness in the West as the NHL season winds down.

Montreal Canadiens fans are surely loving the seemingly impending playoff doom for the Toronto Maple Leafs.