Habs Daily: Ivan Demidov Situation, Free Agents, Xhekaj & Snoop

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories from Monday.

Montreal Canadiens News

• Russian forward Ivan Demidov is considered the second-most talented player available at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, but there are no guarantees he’ll be drafted early. This works to the Canadiens’ advantage, as they could certainly use an injection of talent in their forward prospect pool.  [Pre-Draft Nerves Improve Odds Demidov Available To Canadiens]
• The hope that Demidov might be available at fifth overall will grow if teams continue to question whether he’s top 3 material.

Chris Peters on the “lack of comfort some teams feel about selecting Ivan Demidov.”

👇👇 👇 pic.twitter.com/XX90w5BMx8

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 10, 2024

• The Montreal Canadiens are looking to take the next step, which means there’s inevitably going to be some housekeeping when it comes to the contracts offered to marginal players. [Potential Montreal Canadiens Free Agent Exodus On The Horizon]
• Arber Xhekaj’s name pops up on a regular basis in Habs-related headlines, but we didn’t expect to see the Canadiens defenceman enter into a collaboration with legendary rapper Snoop Dogg.  [Rapper Snoop Dogg Representing Arber Xhekaj During Concert]

National Hockey Now Network

• It’s no secret that the New Jersey Devils are after a goaltender this summer. New Jersey nearly acquired a No.1 goaltender ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline in March in a deal with the Calgary Flames. However, the Flames-Devils trade was nixed at the finish line and the deal never came to fruition. [New Jersey Devils]
• Evan Rodrigues had played for three teams in eight seasons before landing with the Florida Panthers. For the first time in his career, he is playing for the Stanley Cup. After getting a taste of the playoffs with Pittsburgh and Colorado, the 33-year-old could not wait to go on a deep run with the Panthers. Rodrigues played in his first Stanley Cup Final game on Saturday night and had a night he and the Panthers will certainly remember. [Florida Panthers]
• General Manager Craig Conroy may have yet more sweet sorrow to deal with. In the wake of a 2023-2024 campaign where the rookie Flames exec sold off high-value roster players such as Chris Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, and Nikita Zadorov; more core contributors may be packing their bags for a new city. [Calgary Flames]