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Canadiens Wrap

Habs Wrap: Slafkovsky Sets Record, Rebuild Outlook, Draft Lottery

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montreal canadiens juraj slafkovksy

MONTREAL — There’s always something to discuss when it comes to the Montreal Canadiens, but it’s not always possible to stay up to date with every breaking story. On Sundays, we recap the most exciting and relevant NHL news stories that you may have missed throughout the week so that you can stay in the Canadiens loop.

Monday

  • ICYMI: Top prospect David Reinbacher scored a goal on his first shot with the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. It was also an important goal as it allowed the Rocket to push the game to overtime and secure a crucial win for their playoff push. [Canadiens Prospect David Reinbacher Scores First Goal First Shot]

 

  • Reinbacher also registered an assist when Sean Farrell scored against the Toronto Marlies on Sunday.

 

  • The Montreal Canadiens hold the Calgary Flames’ 2025 1st-round pick, which could end up being a very interesting asset if the Flames go full-throttle on their re-tool. Yes, that 1st-round pick with the ridiculously convoluted conditions could very well be a strong trade chip for the Canadiens as soon as this summer. [Why Calgary’s Retool Could Be Beneficial For The Canadiens]

 

  • The Habs decided to give goaltender Cayden Primeau the start against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday. There were two other significant roster changes to note, as Jesse Ylonen replaced Tanner Pearson and Jayden Struble replaced Johnathan Kovacevic. [Canadiens Game 70: Primeau To Start, Lineup Changes]

 

  • Primeau was dominant versus Seattle. The Habs won 5-1 thanks to goals from Alex Newhook (2), Nick Suzuki, Kaiden Guhle, and Mike Matheson, but it was Primeau’s play that won the game for the road team. [Results Kraken Game]

 

  • Lane Hutson and Luke Tuch faced Jacob Fowler on Saturday to see which Boston team would emerge as the Hockey East champions. Fowler’s Boston Boston College Eagles won handily, beating Hutson’s Boston University Terriers 6-2. Fowler was named to the Hockey East all-tournament All-Star Team.

Tuesday

  • How close are the Montreal Canadiens to putting an end to their rebuild and becoming legitimate Stanley Cup contenders? It depends on a myriad of factors. There are several important elements already in place, but as is the case for most franchises, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Our expert analyst took an in-depth look at the team’s current roster, the franchise’s outlook, and the potential timeframe for the team to be judged as a true Cup contender. [Canadiens Roster Outlook: How Close Are They To Contending?]

 

  • There was some good news on Monday as head coach Martin St-Louis will rejoin the team ahead of their game against the Colorado Avalanche. In addition, his son’s situation has stabilized, which is the best news of all. [Habs Head Coach Martin St-Louis Rejoins Team]

 

  • The NCAA’s Frozen Four tournament is upon us! This means several of the top Habs prospects will be in action, including Jacob Fowler (Boston College) and Lane Hutson (Boston University). We published a Canadiens-related cheat sheet for all the forthcoming NCAA action, including schedules, which prospects will be involved, and the impact it will have on when players such as Hutson sign their entry-level contracts and make their NHL debuts. [NCAA Frozen Four Schedule And Impact On Canadiens Prospects]

 

  • Speaking of Hutson, check out this cool video that was edited via colour grading.

  • Team Captain Nick Suzuki is always focused on the present. He offers the same type of impressive work rate every night. But that doesn’t mean he is not keeping an eye on some of the long-term possibilities that come with being one of the best players in the league. Say, for example, earning a roster spot with Team Canada at the Olympics.

  • Former Avalanche forward Alex Newhook is excited to face the team that drafted him. He’s also thankful for his time with the Avalanche, even if it ended with an unceremonious exit from the franchise.

 

 

Wednesday

  • With the NHL season winding down it’s important to keep an eye on the impact the schedule will have on the Montreal Canadiens and their NHL Draft Lottery odds. Things have improved since the last time we checked in, and there’s a possibility the odds could further improve in the final stretch of the year. [Canadiens Tank Watch: Situation Improved Ahead Of Draft Lottery]

 

  • Head coach Martin St-Louis rejoined the team after taking some time to deal with a family-related issue. The great news is that his son, Mason, is now feeling much better. [Habs Head Coach Martin St-Louis Rejoins Team]

  • The lone change to the lineup involved Samuel Montembeault being given the start against the Colorado Avalanche. The Habs were facing a familiar face, as former Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin is thriving with his new team.[Canadiens Game 71: Former Hab Drouin Thriving In Colorado]

 

  • Juraj Slafkovsky assisted Nick Suzuki’s 29th goal of the year, which means he’s now the franchise record holder for most points by a teenager in a single season, with 40. Oh, and other stuff happened in the game versus the Avalanche, but let’s be honest, Slafkovsky deserves his time in the spotlight. [Slafkovsky Sets Canadiens Franchise Record In Win vs. Colorado]

 

  • Things have gone from bad to worse for the Canadiens’ ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions. Deacon Sports and Entertainment (DSE) has not paid any rent since 2023, and they now owe the city over $1.1 million. But here’s the kicker, DSE is still profiting from ad sales and the concession stands. The ECHL wants DSE to sell the team by April 2. If the team is not sold, there’s a possibility the franchise will cease to exist before the end of the regular season.   [FR – Nouvelliste]

 

  • Prospect Quentin Miller was named the Goaltender Of The Month in the QMJHL. He won all his starts while maintaining a sparkling 0.928 save percentage.

Thursday

  • With the NHL season winding down it’s important to keep an eye on the impact the schedule will have on the Montreal Canadiens and their NHL Draft Lottery odds. Things have improved since the last time we checked in, and there’s a possibility the odds could further improve in the final stretch of the year. [Canadiens Tank Watch: Situation Improved Ahead Of Draft Lottery]

 

  • Head coach Martin St-Louis rejoined the team after taking some time to deal with a family-related issue. The great news is that his son, Mason, is now feeling much better. [Habs Head Coach Martin St-Louis Rejoins Team]

  • The lone change to the lineup involved Samuel Montembeault being given the start against the Colorado Avalanche. The Habs were facing a familiar face, as former Canadiens forward Jonathan Drouin is thriving with his new team.[Canadiens Game 71: Former Hab Drouin Thriving In Colorado]

 

  • Juraj Slafkovsky assisted Nick Suzuki’s 29th goal of the year, which means he’s now the franchise record holder for most points by a teenager in a single season, with 40. Oh, and other stuff happened in the game versus the Avalanche, but let’s be honest, Slafkovsky deserves his time in the spotlight. [Slafkovsky Sets Canadiens Franchise Record In Win vs. Colorado]

 

  • Things have gone from bad to worse for the Canadiens’ ECHL affiliate, the Trois-Rivières Lions. Deacon Sports and Entertainment (DSE) has not paid any rent since 2023, and they now owe the city over $1.1 million. But here’s the kicker, DSE is still profiting from ad sales and the concession stands. The ECHL wants DSE to sell the team by April 2. If the team is not sold, there’s a possibility the franchise will cease to exist before the end of the regular season.   [FR – Nouvelliste]

 

  • Prospect Quentin Miller was named the Goaltender Of The Month in the QMJHL. He won all his starts while maintaining a sparkling 0.928 save percentage.

Friday

  • Top Montreal Canadiens prospect Lane Hutson scored a goal and an assist in Boston University’s big 6-3 win over RIT at the NCAA’s Frozen Four tournament. This means he matched his production from his rookie season, with 48 points, albeit he did it in three fewer games.

  • The CHL playoffs also got underway on Thursday. Canadiens prospect Owen Beck earned three assists in Saginaw’s 6-4 win versus Owen Sound. Fellow Habs prospect Cedrick Guindon scored the opening goal for the Attack.

 

 

 

 

  • Slafkovsky extended his point streak to nine games, but the youngest player in the lineup was more interested in discussing Suzuki’s excellent play this season, which includes the 24-year-old setting a career-high in goals (30) and points (69).

 

Saturday

  • Head coach Martin St-Louis gave his team a well-deserved day off following the big 4-1 win on Thursday, but there was some news including a Montreal Canadiens player. Defenceman Kaiden Guhle had a hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety following an incident that took place versus the Philadephia Flyers. It wasn’t a particularly violent play, but Guhle interfered with the game from the bench, which is clearly against the rules. [Montreal Canadiens Defenceman Facing Possible Suspension]

 

  • The NHL’s Department of Player Safety did not take long to render their verdict. Guhle will be suspended for one game due to his slash from the bench on Flyers forward Travis Konecny. [Kaiden Guhle Suspended For One Game]

 

  • Juraj Slafkovsky was all smiles on Friday morning. The 19-year-old is still one of the youngest players in the league, and while his recent surge in production is encouraging, Slafkovsky believes the best is yet to come.

 

  • The CHL and NCAA playoffs are in full swing. Several key prospects, including Lane Hutson, Jacob Fowler, and Owen Beck enjoyed a very strong start to their championship runs. Beck, in particular, set the tone for the Saginaw Spirit with a three-point effort.[Canadiens Prospect Playoff Updates – Fowler, Beck, Hutson]

 

  • You’ll note Fowler is described as a big-game player, and though that term is thrown around a little too often, Fowler’s results in big games are hard to ignore.

 

  • Lane Hutson scored the game-winning goal to secure a semifinal appearance at the NCAA’s Frozen Four tournament.

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