Habs Daily: Canadiens Prospect Rankings, Xhekaj Injury

Your daily roundup of all the latest Montreal Canadiens stories, news, events, and highlights.

Habs News

• It’s time for a new Montreal Canadiens Prospect Power Rankings! In the initial list following the fan vote, several players dropped significantly, including David Reinbacher, whereas other players made a drastic jump into the top 5, including Jacobv Fowler and Filip Mesar. [Canadiens Prospect Power Rankings: Mesar and Fowler Shine]
• Goaltender Cayden Primeau was given his third start of the season by head coach Martin St-Louis. It’s a difficult challenge, but if Primeau is to eventually land with a new team he’ll need to prove he can string together wins [Canadiens Game 17: Primeau To Start, RHP Not Skating]
• Primeau started off strong, keeping the Habs in the game despite Vegas controlling the play early, but it was all for naught as the Canadiens played one of their worst games of the year on Thursday. Fortunately, Jesse Ylonen scored twice, but unfortunately, Arber Xhekaj had to leave the game after absorbing a big hit in his own zone.  [Canadiens Xhekaj Injured, Ylonen Scores Twice In Loss To Vegas]
• The Habs invited their fathers to join them for a couple of games. There was no doubt as to which dad would wear a C on their jersey if it were to be handed out.

Kaiden Guhle when asked who would wear the 'C' on the #Habs Dad's Team: "it's gotta be Nick [Suzuki]'s dad. I actually met Nick's dad a little bit this summer & got to spend some time with him; very similar personalities & really down-to-earth people so I'd give it to him"

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) November 16, 2023

National Hockey Now Network

• It hardly came as a surprise when the Colorado Avalanche announced that Pavel Francouz was going to miss the entire season. The team likely knew it was coming, but it’s still a tough pill to swallow. After the optional skate on Thursday, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar reflected on the impact Francouz had on the franchise over the last few years. [Colorado Avalanche]
• Nicklas Lindstrom was worthy of many accolades over his Hall of Fame career with the Detroit Red Wings, but no one ever suggested that his sense of humour was as world-class as his hockey sense. It turns out that the Perfect Human is capable of delivering the perfect punch line. Speaking at a media conference in Stockholm at the NHL Global Series alongside former Red Wings forward Daniel Alfredsson, the final question of the gab session was going in the direction of Alfredsson in Swedish. [Detroit Red Wings]
• Kevin Weekes shocked the NHL world when he reported that Calgary Flames defenseman, Nikita Zadorov, requested a trade from the organization. The report came as Zadorov was in a tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Adding coal to the fire was Zadorov’s agent, Dan Milstein. Milstein initially stirred the pot by stating the 6-foot-6 defenseman is likely done in Calgary as a result of diminishing ice time. On Saturday, a source close to the situation told New Jersey Hockey Now that Zadorov would welcome a trade to the New Jersey Devils. [New Jersey Devils]