Habs Daily: Slafkovsky Needs More Ice Time, Offseason Training

All the latest Habs news, recent Montreal Canadiens stories, as well as information from around the National Hockey League.

Habs News

• ESPN predicted Juraj Slafkovsky will have 55 points next year, a significant improvement over his results during his rookie season. To come remotely close to doubling his output, Slafkovsky will need a major increase in ice time and quality of teammates. [Montreal Canadiens Forward Juraj Slafkovsky’s Usage Next Year]
• Some members of the Habs are already in town, including Slafkovsky and the hard-hitting defenceman Arber Xhekaj.

pic.twitter.com/BlWyXl6P9L

— carina (@goalcauf) August 30, 2023

• As for prospect Lane Hutson and defenceman Justin Barron, they’re busy getting at the always popular BioSteel Camp.

Hey Justin & Lane 👋 pic.twitter.com/ZEyTrMFO1Y

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 30, 2023

• The Montreal Canadiens released another tease for their behind-the-scenes draft video. Goaltending and Russian Pro Scout Vincent Riendeau is seen debating with Director of Player Evaluation and Amateur Scout Bill Ryan.

Things got heated. 🔥

Watch the premiere of the Canadiens’ 2023 NHL Draft Documentary on Aug. 31 at 7:00 p.m.!

⏰ https://t.co/vnacKF7eh2 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4JCgRwHaPv

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) August 30, 2023

National Hockey Now Network

• In his first public comments since early May, Boston Bruins winger Jake DeBrusk made it clear how he hopes contract talks with the Bruins go. [Boston Bruins]
• Jonathan Drouin may have moved from the Montreal Canadiens to the Colorado Avalanche during NHL free agency this summer, but he’s still giving back to the community in Montreal. [Colorado Avalanche]
• The San Jose Sharks can’t be much worse this year, right? They were the fourth-worst team in the NHL last season. They also had the fourth-worst points percentage, their worst since 1995-96. So odds are, they’re going to be better, if only because they’re already so close to rock bottom. On the other hand, they just traded reigning Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. So it’s easy to imagine, actually, the San Jose Sharks getting worse. [San Jose Sharks]
• Forward Carl Hagelin, a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017, has retired. Hagelin announced his decision on Instagram, citing an injury to his left eye sustained when he was struck by a stick during a practice in March 2022, while he was playing for Washington.  [Pittsburgh Penguins]
• The one story Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde will want to hear on the first day of training camp is Lucas Raymond‘s tale of how he spent his summer vacation. [Detroit Red Wings]
• TNT’s “between the benches” analyst will continue to have Philadelphia Flyers’ ties. Former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Brian Boucher will join TNT this season, the network said Tuesday. He replaces Keith Jones, now the Flyers president of hockey operations.[Philadelphia Flyers]