Habs Daily: Draft Targets, Slafkovsky, Suzuki, Caufield Thrive

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news, highlights, and stories you may have missed during the weekend.

Montreal Canadiens News

• With the season winding down it’s almost time to turn our attention to the prize at the end of the rebuilding rainbow. The Montreal Canadiens will have several interesting options at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, including Berkly Catton, Zayne Parekh, and Tij Iginla.[Canadiens 2024 NHL Draft Targets Starting To Emerge]

• Speaking of Iginla, the 2024 top prospect is enjoying an impressive amount of success in the WHL playoffs. The 17-year-old scored eight goals and three assists in just six games against the Wenatchee Wild.

TIJ IGINLA IS PLAYING HIS WAY INTO THE ROCKETS RECORD BOOK 🔥🔥🔥

The top 2024 NHL draft prospect has Kelowna up 2-0 with a chance to advance to Round Two with a win tonight#NHLDraft | #FeedtheFuture | @Kelowna_Rockets pic.twitter.com/fhK3FM18xX

— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 7, 2024

• Head coach Martin St-Louis received some unfortunate news as the team prepared to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Both Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj were unavailable due to upper-body injuries, leaving St-Louis without two of his best defencemen. [Canadiens Game 76: Blueline Injuries Lead To Emergency Recall]

• The Maple Leafs were the better team, but once again the top line of Juraj Slafkosky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield kept things interesting for the Canadiens. They continue to be the saving grace during the difficult rebuilding season. [Slafkovsky, Suzuki, And Caufield Saving Grace In Toronto Loss]

• Leafs superstar Auston Matthews gets it.

Auston Matthews on being booed in Montreal tonight:

"Honestly, I kind of find it like a tone of respect, I guess, especially in a building like this and a big time hockey city and fan base. So, I don’t mind (smile). I don’t mind at all."

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 7, 2024

• Cayden Primeau was tasked with guarding the net against the league-leading New York Rangers on Sunday night, a rather difficult challenge to say the least. [Habs Game 77: Primeau Faces Huge Challenge Versus Rangers]

• Primeau played well, and of course, the top line provided the offensive opportunities, but the Rangers were simply too strong for the Canadiens. Their disparity in the NHL standings came to the forefront. [Habs Game 77: Primeau Faces Huge Challenge Versus Rangers]

• There are two games, at most, left in Lane Hutson’s season. While we wait for the Final Four to take place, we can look back at some of the slick plays from the top Canadiens prospect, as well as the impact made by some of his Boston University teammates.

No games this weekend, so let's take a look back at how we punched our ticket to Saint Paul.

🎥: @mattwoolverton pic.twitter.com/YpUs9N4tKE

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) April 6, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• It looks like the New Jersey Devils might have a player in one of their mid-round selections from the 2023 NHL Draft. Forward Cam Squires had an electric season for the Cape Breton Eagles in the QMJHL this season, scoring 33 goals and 72 points in 66 games. H reached a new career high in all categories after eclipsing his 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points in 67 games last season. [New Jersey Devils]

• Improbable as it seemed just days ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a hold — admittedly, a tenuous one — on a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and people across North America are beginning to notice. They also seem to be catching on that Sidney Crosby is having an exceptional season. Good enough that some outside of this region have begun to suggest that he merits consideration for the Hart Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s most valuable player. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

• Mikko Rantanen, the sixth leading scorer in the NHL, left Friday’s game with an upper-body injury after taking a big hit from Mattias Ekholm and did not return. Nothing about the hit appeared to be dirty, but Rantanen wasn’t ready for contact when he received the puck at the defensive blueline. [Colorado Avalanche]