Habs Daily: Canadiens Prospects Playoff Schedule, Slafkovsky

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

• There are fewer Montreal Canadiens prospects than usual participating in the Canadian Hockey League playoffs. Four of them will play in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs, while only one prospect will feature in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs. As it stands, the Canadiens own no prospects in the Western Hockey League. Habs fans will want to keep their focus on two players, in particular: Owen Beck for the Saginaw Spirit and Florian Xhekaj for the Brantford Bulldogs. Filip Mesar (Kitchener), Cedrick Guindon (Owen Sound), and Quentin Miller (Rimouski) will also participate in the CHL playoffs. [Canadiens Prospects Canadian Hockey League Playoff Primer]

• The NCAA playoffs are also getting underway, which means players such as Jacob Fowler (Boston College) and Lane Hutson (Boston University) will be playing in single-elimination games on Thursday and Friday. If Hutson is eliminated, he will be free to sign his entry-level contract with the Habs. On that note, don’t get your hopes up just yet. Both Boston teams are among the best in the country, as evidenced by their No.1 and No.2 overall rankings. [NCAA Frozen Four Schedule And Impact On Canadiens Prospects]

• ICYMI: Juraj Slafkovsky became the first teenager in Montreal Canadiens history to register 40 points in a season. It’s quite the honour, but Slafkovsky isn’t focused on accolades. He simply wants to win more often, a rather admirable position given his short tenure in the NHL.

Reporter: “First time in Habs history that a teenager gets 40 points in a season…”

Juraj Slafkovsky: “People are talking about it, I’m happy about it but I just wanna keep playing, keep getting wins. I’d be happier if we were going to the playoffs, that’s the goal for me.” pic.twitter.com/GgU8SyqaXl

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 27, 2024

• In addition to the CHL and NCAA, European teams are also in the midst of their playoffs. Adam Engstrom’s team, Rogle, ended up sweeping the No.1 team in the SHL, Färjestad. This means Engstrom’s arrival in North America will be delayed. He earned two assists in the 4-0 series sweep and was used for over 30 minutes during game three.

🔥 @roglebk avgör på övertid och slår ut Färjestad i 4 raka matcher.#RBKFBK #SHL #twittpuck #ishockey #svsshl pic.twitter.com/6T3VbkmU54

— SHL.se (@SHLse) March 27, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• While things may seem to be at the proverbial rock bottom of the 2023-2024 season, this current slide is nothing out of the ordinary for this edition of the Calgary Flames. Calgary has a strong tendency to hit these slumps and follow them up with winning streaks. [Calgary flames]

• They were considered an afterthought just a few months ago, but the Nashville Predators are now a team that no one wants to face in the NHL playoffs. [Nashville Predators]

• You’re supposed to have a little bit more energy after a day off, right? Apparently, that’s not always the case for the Colorado Avalanche. After Sunday’s emotional comeback win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Avalanche were given a full day off on Monday. Considering Sunday’s game was an afternoon affair, it was more like a day and a half. That might have worked against them on Tuesday, as they looked discombobulated and out of it against the Montreal Canadiens, falling 2-1 to the visiting squad.[Colorado Avalanche]