Habs Daily: Slafkovsky’s Big Night, Xhekaj Contract, Newhook

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

Montreal Canadiens News

• The Montreal Canadiens announced they have signed prospect Florian Xhekaj to an entry-level contract which kicks in next season. Xhekaj then signed a professional tryout with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. This means he’s eligible to play for the Rocket if they manage to qualify for the playoffs. [Florian Xhekaj Defied The Odds To Earn His Entry-Level Contract]

• ICYMI: On Monday we discussed the possibility that Xhekaj could sign an early ELC. There’s no doubt about it, he seized his opportunity, as members of the Xhekaj family tend to.  [Habs Contract Options For Prospect Florian Xhekaj]

• So much of this season watching the Montreal Canadiens has been focusing on the top trio of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky, or the veterans that are likely to be traded for futures as the Habs continue to rebuild. Any leftover attention has been soaked up by the young defence core, or the emergence of Joshua Roy, and because of that, the spotlight hasn’t been on Alex Newhook as much as it should be. [How High Can Alex Newhook Fly with the Montreal Canadiens]

• Slafkovsky stole the spotlight versus the Philadelphia Flyers thanks to an impressive outing that featured his first three-goal game. The hat trick put the league on notice that the best is yet to come for the youngest player in the lineup. [GOTTA SEE IT: Canadiens Slafkovsky Scores First Hat Trick]

• Slafkovsky’s hat trick overshadowed a few other encouraging signs throughout the lineup. Josh Anderson scored, Christian Dvorak enjoyed a great return to play, and Brendan Gallagher put together yet another solid outing. [Canadiens Forward Juraj Slafkovsky Announces He Has Arrived]

• It wasn’t all good news on Tuesday, as the Habs announced Arber Xhekaj would be shut down for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury that requires surgical intervention. [Canadiens]

National Hockey Now Network

•  The New Jersey Devils announced on Tuesday evening that star forward Jack Hughes will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. [New Jersey Devils]

• Danny Briere and the Flyers were certainly aware of a potential legal situation involving Carter Hart’s alleged sexual assault, but never acted on it further than discussion. [Philadelphia Flyers]

• First-year Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette has the team in a playoff position with four games left in the regular season. But perhaps even more impressive than Nashville’s (slightly) improbable run to the playoffs is the number of players who are having career seasons under his guidance.[Nashville Predators]