Habs Daily: Canadiens Training Camp Cuts, Pearson Chemistry

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

Habs News

• Montreal Canadiens prospect Justin Barron has all the tools necessary to become a regular NHL blueliner, but he needs to prove he can put it all together on the big stage. [Canadiens Prospect Justin Barron’s Odds Of Making The Roster
• Arber Xhekaj and Mike Matheson stood out for the Habs during Saturday’s scrimmage. [Canadiens: Xhekaj, Matheson and Dufort Excel, Slafkovsky Notes]
• There’s a certain player that was not drafted in the first round that has flown under the radar. Jesse Ylonen had a very encouraging rookie season with the Montreal Canadiens last year. He did not receive as much praise as someone like Rafael Harvey-Pinard, but he did finish the year by producing the fifth-most 5v5 points per 60 on the team. [Prospect Jesse Ylonen Flying Under Radar
• Tanner Pearson looked good alongside Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield during the team’s Red and White scrimmage on Sunday. Filip Mesar also stood out, a continuation of the slow build-up he started last week during the rookie tournament. [Canadiens Pearson Finds Chemistry On Top Line, Mesar Shines]
• The Canadiens made their round of cuts, trimming their training camp roster from 72 all the way down to…68. Just four players were released to their respective junior teams. [Montreal Canadiens Announce First Cuts From Training Camp]

National Hockey Now Network

• Normally an organization’s top prospect has time to grow into the role of being a key contributor, but it is not an understatement to say that if Devon Levi does not live up to expectations, the Buffalo Sabres are not going to make the playoffs. [Buffalo Sabres]
• When the Philadelphia Flyers announce their lineup for Monday’s first preseason game, expect a young group that includes players who have made an impact on management. [Philadelphia Flyers]
• When the Nashville Predators traded star defenseman Mattias Ekholm to the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 28 for defenseman Tyson Barrie, prospect Reid Schaefer and a 2023 first-round pick, the team was likely hoping it could find Ekholm’s successor with that pick. [Nashville Predators]
• Until Jake Guentzel returns, his spot alongside Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust will have to be filled by someone else, and it looks as if Vinnie Hinostroza has first dibs on the job [Pittsburgh Penguins]
• With Patrice Bergeron out the window, Boston Bruins Head Coach Jim Montgomery is confident he can rely on excellent two-way play from Pavel Zacha in 2023-24. [Boston Bruins]