Canadiens Wrap-Up: Habs 2023 Draft Plans, NHL Trade Chatter

MONTREAL — There’s never a dull moment when it comes to the Montreal Canadiens, but many fans lead a very busy life, meaning it’s not always possible to keep up to date with every news story.

But don’t worry, we’re here to help!

Every Sunday we will recap the most exciting and relevant news stories that you may have missed throughout the week.

Monday

• Being at the half-season mark in the NHL, it’s time for the first MHN 2023 NHL Mock Draft, where the Montreal Canadiens are slated to pick twice in the top 16.
• The Canadiens are focused on developing their young players, and, outside of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, there are a few success stories being written so far this season, like Jordan Harris and Kirby Dach.
• The NHL trade chatter linking Sean Monahan to the Colorado Avalanche has continued to pick up.
• With some players hitting the waivers this season, the Montreal Canadiens are in good standing leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline.

Tuesday

• From Connor Bedard, to the NHL trade market, to poutine recipes, and everything in between, the latest edition of the Canadiens mailbag covered a lot of ground. Take a look.
• There are salary cap implications that come with the unfortunate string injuries that forced the Canadiens to recall two players on an emergency basis, not to mention Sean Monahan’s name being added to the LTIR.
• The silver lining to the current injury woes can be found in the opportunity it will provide for players like Jesse Ylonen and Rem Pitlick.
• Kirby Dach and Justin Barron lead the Montreal Canadiens past the Winnipeg Jets.

Wednesday

• Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes met with the media to provide clarity on several important Habs-related topics.
• Canadiens defenceman Joel Edmundson is a popular commodity, with a handful of suitors that could make a play for him when the NHL Trade Deadline draws closer.
• Here’s why the timing may be right for the Canadiens to put in a waiver claim on Vinnie Hinostroza.
• With the news that Juraj Slafkovsky may not play again this season, there’s only one option for the Montreal Canadiens &d their prized rookie.
• It’s time for the Canadiens Prospect Power Rankings: We have a LOT of movement in the list, but there’s also a new player in the No.1 spot, & it’s not Lane Hutson or Owen Beck!

Thursday

• Arber Xhekaj has become much more than just a good story for the Canadiens. He’s filling a crucial role that is necessary during a rebuild, both for the team and the fans.
• Seeing as the team has an abundance of left-handed defencemen, Kent Hughes is ready to use some of his depth if the opportunity arises on the NHL trade market.
• There’s a legitimate possibility some of the Canadiens’ CHL prospects, such as Owen Beck, Joshua Roy, Filip Mesar, and Riley Kidney, could end up playing for the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge in the near future.
• The Canadiens lost 6-2 to the Florida Panthers, in a game that featured a multitude of fights from players like Xhekaj, Mike Matheson, and Michael Pezzetta.

Friday

• Seeing as there’s nothing left to lose this season, the Montreal Canadiens may want to consider giving goaltending prospect Cayden Primeau a few starts.
• The NHL announced Habs defenceman Mike Matheson was fined $5000, the maximum applicable under the CBA. But the fine itself is a sign of much bigger problems with NHL officiating.
• Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have built a lot of chemistry since the start of the year, however, unless Kirby Dach is present on the top line, the duo struggles. Is it time to split up Caufield and Suzuki?

Saturday

• Cole Caufield will be out for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.
• Juraj Slafkovsky is expected to miss the remainder of the NHL season with an injury; putting a swift end to his rookie campaign. But is his hockey year truly over? Not quite, but it’s also not what you think.
• The Montreal Canadiens would like to add a third 1st-round pick for the 2023 NHL Draft, and it might not be as impossible as we’ve been led to believe.

The Season So Far

If you’d like to go back and comb over some of the biggest news so far this season, here’s a list of each weekly Wrap-Up so far:

Jan 15th – Trade Deadline Targets, NHL Trade Rumours

Jan 8th – 2023 Draft Odds, Habs Prospects Traded

Jan 1st – Big 2023 Draft Lottery Odds, 2019 Re-Draft

Dec 25th – Popular Habs In Trade Talks, Xhekaj Fights

Dec 18th – Habs 2023 Draft Gamble, NHL Trade Talk

Dec 11th – Habs Interest In Boeser, Prospects at WJC

Dec 4th – Caufield Extension, Montreal’s Plan For 2023 Draft

Nov 27th – Habs Trade Talk, Monahan’s Growing Value

Nov 20th – Kent Hughes Active, NHL Trade Rumours

Nov 13th – Hughes’ Trade Strategy, Kirby Dach’s Growth

Nov 6th – St-Louis Strategy, Caufield, Slafkovsky

Oct 30th – Habs Trade Talk, Roster Shuffle & Waivers

Oct 23rd – Juraj Slafkovsky Impressing, Xhekaj And More

Oct 16th – Hughes’ LTIR Strategy, Carey Price, Waivers

Oct 9th – Hughes Roster Strategy, Roy, Slafkovsky