Connect with us

Canadiens Wrap

Habs Wrap: Reinbacher’s Year, Sidney Crosby, Prospect Rankings

Published

2 years ago

on

By

Montreal Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher (2)

MONTREAL — There’s always Montreal Canadiens content to absorb, but there are only so many hours in a day. On Sundays, we recap the most exciting and relevant NHL news stories that you may have missed throughout the week so that you can stay in the Canadiens loop.

Monday

A Russian interview with top prospect Ivan Demidov is available, though we should note the closed captioning from YouTube probably isn’t entirely accurate. In the clip Demidov discusses the last year of his deal with SKA Saint-Petersburg, where he may play in the lineup, why there probably won’t be a contract buyout, and more. To access auto-translated closed captioning, click on the button at the bottom right of the video labelled ‘CC’, then click on the icon to the right of closed captioning identified with a gear. Change the subtitles to ‘auto-translate’, and then select the language you desire.

ICYMI: Prospect Joshua Roy clocked-in at No.4 in our 2024 Montreal Canadiens summer prospect rankings. The well-rounded forward underwent an impressive evolution in the QMJHL, which he followed up with a great start to his professional career with the Laval Rocket. Playing well in Junior hockey is fine, and the AHL is quite the step-up in competition, but the true test was the audition he was given with the Canadiens. Roy passed his test with flying colours, finishing among the team leaders in a laundry-list of important statistics. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Joshua Roy Deserves More Credit]

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine isn’t getting much attention in the NHL’s trade market. We discussed the possibility of a Canadiens trade involving the former 40-goal scorer last month, and while there are certainly some red flags in play, he could fit the bill for a team that needs an injection of offensive firepower. [Canadiens Trade Talk: Exploring A Potential Patrik Laine Trade]

Tuesday

Former Montreal Canadiens defenceman Andrei Markov touched on Ivan Demidov’s eventual ascension to the NHL, stating that he was happy the young Russian prospect was drafted by a great organization. He also mentioned the pressure that comes with playing in a big market like Montreal.

Speaking of Markov, he gave a short interview in which he reflected upon his time with the Habs. [RG]

We’ve reached the top 3 of the 2024 Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, and it kicks off with one of the most important players in the organization, goaltender Jacob Fowler.  There’s no denying Fowler has put together an impressive resume, including his fantastic freshman season in the NCAA as the Boston College Eagles starter, but the Habs should be in no rush to push him to the AHL or the NHL. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Jacob Fowler The Next Great Hope]

The Habs released a fairly entertaining video following captain Nick Suzuki and sniper Cole Caufield at the President’s Cup Media Day.

Wednesday

The Edmonton Oilers were already tight against the cap space, and that was before the St. Louis Blues signed two of their players to offer sheets. The situation doesn’t involve the Habs at the moment, but if the Oilers need cap space to match the offer sheets, the Canadiens could end up being a good trade partner.  [Canadiens Options To Exploit Oilers-Blues Offer Sheet Situation]

2024 draft pick Mikus Vecvanags has not reported to the Acadie Bathurst Titan. Rather than playing in the QMJHL, Vecvanags has decided to play with the Brook Bandits of the BCHL next season. The Latvian netminder was picked in the fifth round of the latest NHL Entry Draft, 134th overall.

Scout Lassi Alanen released a new article regarding Habs prospect Oliver Kapanen. It’s well worth your time, as Alanen always does a great job breaking down the intricacies involved with evaluating European players. The piece is hosted by Elite Prospects, and you will need a premium membership to view it. [EP Premium]

Thursday

Nicolas Cloutier spoke to Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher, discussing a variety of topics, including how he’s aiming for a roster spot with the Habs next season, as well as the pressure he will face in the league. It’s also worth noting Reinbacher will face Juraj Slafkovsky toward the end of the month as Austria and Slovakia begin their Olympic qualifiers. [TVA Sports (FR)]

The odds that Sidney Crosby would leave the Penguins are quite low, even if he’s yet to sign an extension. That being said, if there’s a player that would be a perfect fit for the #GoHabsGo rebuild, it’s definitely Crosby. He’s quickly approaching 40 years old, but his impact is impossible to ignore. [Let’s Talk About Sidney Crosby And The Montreal Canadiens]

The Habs are set to release yet another behind-the-scenes draft video. Last year’s video was short on details, but it’s still a very interesting look at the thought process behind the scouting team’s preparation for the big day. Hopefully they add a few Celine Dion behind-the-scenes clips to the mix.

Speaking of the draft, full marks to Jeff Gorton for his sales job prior to picking Ivan Demidov with the fifth overall pick. I have to admit, I got the slight impression he wasn’t particularly interested in Demidov after this particular presser. That being said, Gorton is the type of executive that likes to push his team toward picking up players with elite talent, such as Demidov, so perhaps I was a little too naive.

Prospect Vinzenz Rohrer was named the ‘Youngest Of The Year’ in the NL. The 19-year-old forward played a third-line role for Zurich, helping them capture the league championship with his Gallagheresque style of play. Rohrer was ranked 15th in our 2024 Montreal Canadiens summer prospect rankings. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – The Talented And Underrated]

Friday

Defenceman David Savard is one of the few veterans over the age of 30 that will be part of the Montreal Canadiens lineup next year, which means he’ll invariably have to deal with trade rumours throughout the season. I know we hear this a lot in the NHL, but Savard is legitimately a fantastic presence in the locker room, the type of guy you want around to help younger players find their way as they start their professional hockey careers. He’s also realistic. He knows he may not end the season playing for the Habs.

The 2024-25 season is a little over six weeks away, which means it’s time to take a look at the potential lineup heading into the home opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 9. The first line is fairly easy to predict, as Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield formed the only trio that showed consistency in the offensive zone last season, but beyond those three all bets are off. [Montreal Canadiens Projected Forward Lineup In 2024-25]

Top prospect David Reinbacher wants to earn a roster spot in the NHL, a very real possibility given the lack of depth on the right side of the blue line. Reinbacher is keeping his skills sharpened at the moment by skating with a few players in Switzerland.[Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Reinbacher’s Complicated Season]

Oliver Kapanen registered an assist in Timra’s 3-1 win over Brynas in SHL preseason action. He anchored Timra’s first line, which is a good reminder that in the event that he cannot earn a job with the Canadiens at training camp he will return to Sweden rather than being loaned to the Laval Rocket.

Saturday

Top prospect Lane Hutson will play a big role in helping the Montreal Canadiens turn the corner and hopefully become one of the most competitive teams in the league. His unique skill set has already allowed him to become the most productive defenceman in NCAA history, but fans will have to remain patient as he adjusts to the lack of time available to NHL players. Hutson lands at No.2 in our 2024 Habs prospect rankings. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Lane Hutson The Phenom]

Every hockey fan knows of the famous children’s book, The Hockey Sweater, and now we can see proof of his painfully ugly Leafs garb. “I asked God to send me, right away, a hundred million moths that would eat up my Toronto Maple Leafs Sweater”.

Some unfortunate news about former Canadiens forward Steve Begin. He is one among many professional athletes that has had to declare bankruptcy due to poor financial decisions, or placing trust in the wrong person. [TVA (FR)]

Related Topics:

MHN in your inbox

Enter your email address and get all of our articles sent directly to your inbox