Canadiens Daily: Hughes; SlafKovsky; NHL Free Agent Rumours

Are the Montreal Canadiens better off standing pat for the rest of the offseason?

That, more Montreal Canadiens news, NHL trade rumours and more in the latest Canadiens Daily:

Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes believes he got a ‘difference maker’ when he drafted Juraj Slafkovsky first overall at the 2022 NHL Draft on July 7.

So who were the top 5 prospects at Montreal Canadiens development camp? Marco D’Amico breaks it down and it looks like Slafkovsky’s Slovakian teammate Filip Mesar also impressed.

The Montreal Canadiens were active on the NHL Draft floor but they’ve stood pat since then as Atlantic Division teams like the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings stood pat. Is this a blessing in disguise for the Canadiens?

National Hockey Now

BOS: Boston Bruins prospect and Ohio State defenceman Mason Lohrei is recovering from knee surgery.

NYI: New York Islanders fans can sympathize with Calgary Flames fans who are distraught over Johnny Gaudreau leaving them for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

PGH: We’re three days into NHL free agency and there’s still plenty of players available. What gives?

PHI: Has the time come for Philadelphia Flyers forward Morgan Frost to realize his potential?

WSH: The Washington Capitals have had a solid offseason so far and it appears it was almost even better.

FLA: New Florida Panthers draft pick Jack Divine is hoping he can prove all the teams that let him slide to the seventh round wrong.

DET: Detroit Red Wings 19-year-old prospect defenceman Simon Edvinsson is 6-foot-5 and 203 pounds. …and he’s still growing!

COL: Are the Colorado Avalanche now a favourite to UFA centre Nazem Kadri?

SJS: The scouts are giving the San Jose Sharks high grades for their NHL Draft picks.

Canada Hockey Now

VAN: The Vancouver Canucks are set to have a battle for who will back up Thatcher Demko this coming season.

CAL: Could the Calgary Flames end up signing another star player that already spurned them once?

NHL