Habs Daily: Canadiens Draft Lottery Odds, Caufield Talks Pressure

Here are the latest Montreal Canadiens news, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Thursday.

Habs News

• The Montreal Canadiens will be paying close attention to their Draft Lottery odds from here to the end of the year. Athletes will never intentionally tank, but fans are well within their rights to suggest the Habs could stand to add another top offensive talent to the mix at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. With that in mind, it will be a tight ‘race’ to the bottom in the final stretch of the season.  [Canadiens Tank Watch: A Tight Race To Improve Lottery Odds]

• Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis made a few changes to his lineup ahead of Thursday’s game against the Boston Bruins. Jordan Harris and Colin White re-entered the lineup, while Jayden Struble, Michael Pezzetta, and Jesse Ylonen watched the game from the pressbox as healthy scratches. [Canadiens Game 66: Lineup Changes Versus the Bruins]

• It was a low-event game, but the Habs can be proud of their effort against the Bruins. Joel Armia had a great game, both at 5v5 and on the penalty kill, while the rest of the lineup matched up nicely against one of the best teams in the NHL. [Montreal Canadiens Push Rival Boston Bruins To The Limit]

• Habs forward Cole Caufield has not enjoyed his best season from a goal-scoring perspective, but the 23-year-old winger has always embraced the intensity and pressure that comes from playing in Montreal.

ESPN: “What were your expectations for playing in the city of Montreal?”

Cole Caufield: "Pressure is probably the first thing that comes to mind. It's probably the toughest place to play as a young player. The fans just expect you to win, cause of the past history of winning." pic.twitter.com/RWXTCB3P2H

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 14, 2024

• Jake Allen did not get off to a great start with his new team. Allen allowed two goals on the first three shots he faced in a New Jersey Devils uniform. It should be noted that Allen settled down nicely after the early goals, securing an important win for the Devils in the process.

Jake Allen has given up 2 goals on 3 shots in his #NJDevils debut.

— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) March 15, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• The Philadelphia Flyers should be expecting reinforcements any day now. Goaltender Alexei Kolosov and his Dinamo Minsk were eliminated from the KHL playoffs on Tuesday, which means Kolosov, who already signed his entry-level contract with the Flyers in the summer, is free to join the team whenever. [Philadelphia Flyers]

• There’s an awful lot to watch for Blackhawk fans this weekend, and many of those same prospects could be in Chicago as early as next season. With a season that had sparse highlights at times due to a lot of losing in Chicago, it’s been a heyday lately with the Blackhawks teeing off on teams and the prospects playing in meaningful games this weekend. [Chicago Blackhawks]

• When the 28 players on the University of Miami Hurricanes club hockey team woke up Wednesday morning, they were ready to do battle in the AAU College Hockey championship. When they awoke Thursday, they were champions. The Hurricanes didn’t just beat the Florida Southern Moccasins, they crushed them, winning 10-0 in the DIII National Championship game. Following Miami’s win, the Florida Gators took out FAU 8-4 to claim the DII championship.[Florida Panthers]