Habs Daily: Trade Talk, Draft Pick Value, Oliver Kapanen

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

Montreal Canadiens News

• ICYMI: The Montreal Canadiens are interested in trading for Martin Necas, but Kent Hughes is far from the only interested general manager throughout the league. No team is yet to convince the Carolina Hurricanes that dealing Necas is the right decision, however, a surplus in Montreal could lead to the framework of a potential deal. [Montreal Canadiens Among Teams Interested In Top Trade Target]
• A closer look at the pre-draft value of the Habs picks slated for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft reveals the haul is among the most valuable in recent team history, both in quality and quantity. [Habs Analysis: Pre-Draft Value Of 2024 Montreal Canadiens Picks]

• FC Hockey has put together an interesting 2024 mock draft tool which lets you pick for any organization, while the remainder of the picks are automated.  [FC Hockey]
• The Habs signed prospect Oliver Kapanen to a three-year, entry-level contract. Kapanen had a slow start to his season, but finished on a strong note, including seven goals and seven assists in 13 playoff games. If Kapanen fails to earn an NHL roster spot at camp, the expectation is that he’ll be loaned to Timra IK in the SHL rather than heading to the AHL to play with the Laval Rocket. For the record, his father, Kimmo, is Timra’s general manager.

The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract (2024-25 to 2026-27) with forward Oliver Kapanen.

News release ↓ #GoHabsGohttps://t.co/BCiwo2gNoY

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 15, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• The Edmonton Oilers have dug themselves in a deep hole in the Stanley Cup Final, but star Connor McDavid said the pressure is off his team. When you’re down 3-0 in a series, there is really nothing left to lose. McDavid and the Oilers threw everything they had at the Florida Panthers on Saturday night, taking a 5-goal lead into the third before leaving their home fans giddy with an 8-1 win in Game 4. [Florida Panthers]
• NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed a list of his top-25 trade targets on the market on Friday, and it was headlined by the usual suspects, such as Mitchell Marner, Martin Necas, Linus Ullmark, Jacob Markstrom, and others. Towards the bottom of Seravalli’s list were some younger, buy-low trade targets, including Morgan Frost, who checked in at No. 17. [Philadelphia Flyers]
• We are now a week removed from the Milwaukee Admirals’ season coming to an unexpected end after falling 4-1 to the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the Western Conference Finals of the Calder Cup playoffs. We are also a few weeks away from the 2024 NHL Draft and free agency. It’s now time to assess those Admirals who are set to become restricted free agents this summer and who also may be flirting with making the opening-night roster for the Nashville Predators. [Nashville Predators]