Habs Daily: Planning The Next Step In Rebuild, St-Louis Contract

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

Montreal Canadiens News

• While the Montreal Canadiens certainly grew from an individual standpoint, there is much work left to be done when it comes to the team’s results. The decisions made this summer will impact the franchise for the next decade, if not more. The temptation to hasten the process is real, but Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton seem intent on sticking to the long-term plan. [Canadiens Management Preparing To Take The Next Step]

• The Canadiens announced they have exercised a two-year contract extension option for Martin St-Louis, which means the bench boss will be under contract for another three years. While most of the attention has been placed on the individual growth of players this season, it must be said St-Louis also improved several aspects of his coaching.  [Martin St-Louis Contract Extension Points To Growth As Coach]

• There was some good news from a health standpoint, as the forward Joshua Roy has been cleared to play after recovering from an injury that kept him out of action since mid-March. Roy, along with Jayden Struble, Justin Barron, and Logan Mailloux, will report to the AHL in an attempt to bolster the Laval Rocket’s playoff hopes. [Canadiens AHL Affiliate Receives Surprise Reinforcements]

• Mailloux was also named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team. The defencemen enjoyed a very solid season, as evidenced by his 14 goals and 33 assists in 70 games.

Logan Mailloux nommé sur l’équipe d’étoiles des recrues de la AHL
(Attention aux oreilles sensibles à la fin du vidéo) 😉
Détails: https://t.co/Xo5HCaOsxZ

Logan Mailloux named to the AHL All-Rookie Team
More: https://t.co/Xo5HCaOsxZ#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/E4Y3eVRhGF

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) April 17, 2024

• Despite reports to the contrary, defenceman Chris Wideman has not retired from the NHL.

Chris Wideman says he has not officially retired. He will continue working on getting healthy although he is uncertain on what his future holds. @TSN_Sports #Habs pic.twitter.com/bw3KdjQxON

— Kenzie Lalonde (@KenzieTSN) April 17, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• Completing a highly-anticipated signing, the Philadelphia Flyers announced on Wednesday morning that they had signed University of Denver star Massimo Rizzo to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2024-25 season. [Philadelphia Flyers]

• The Detroit Red Wings pulled off another miraculous 5-4 comeback win over the Montreal Canadiens, doing what they could do to qualify for the playoffs. But none of it mattered because of an empty-net goal the Washington Capitals scored 455 miles away. [Detroit Red Wings]

• The hockey gods toyed with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ emotions until the very end. For the Penguins to return to the postseason, they needed the Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals to lose. Alas, it was not meant to be. [Pittsburgh Penguins]