Habs Daily: Analyzing the Rebuild, Lane Hutson’s Dominance

Check out all the latest Montreal Canadiens news, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.

Habs News

• Every rebuild has ebbs and flows, but there are certainly some very encouraging aspects of the Canadiens’ process that are worth highlighting. An active trade deadline could serve Kent Hughes’ team well, helping them take the next step in the rebuild. [Montreal Canadiens’ Rebuild Showing Signs of Life Despite Inconsistencies]

• Top prospect Lane Hutson had a fantastic night for Boston University. He had four assists in their 5-1 win over Boston College, pushing his season totals to an incredible 27 points in just 18 games.

• Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar was injured in Friday’s game against the London Knights. The Kitchener Rangers forward did not return to the ice after being elbowed in the first period.

Rangers coach says @CanadiensMTL prospect Filip Mesar took an elbow to the head in the first period. He did not return and no penalty was called on the play. He's listed as day-to-day.

— Josh Brown (@BrownRecord) January 20, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• Boston Bruins winger Milan Lucic’s domestic abuse case will go to trial on Feb. 16. Lucic’s wife, Brittany, did not drop the domestic charges against her husband. On Friday, the Boston Bruins winger appeared for his pre-trial hearing at Boston Municipal Court via Zoom. [Boston Bruins]
• The Canadiens are not the only team with a goaltender available on the NHL’s trade market. The Nashville Predators seem to be open to the idea of trading top netminder Juusee Saros. He’s had a down year statistically speaking, but the two-time All-Star should still command interest from some teams looking for goaltending reinforcements, like the New Jersey Devils. [New Jersey Devils]
• Now that top prospect Connor Bedard is playing in the NHL, all eyes are on the next offensive prospect in the system, Frank Nazar. Nazar is producing over a point-per-game for the Michigan Wolverines, a team that has not been as strong as last year’s iteration that went to the Frozen Four. This is something that may factor in–along with Nazar’s performance at both the national and international level–that earns him a contract once the season is over. [Chicago Blackhawks]