Canadiens Daily
Habs Daily: Projected Forward Lines, Laine’s Training Camp Impact
Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Wednesday.
Montreal Canadiens News
Now that the Montreal Canadiens have traded for Patrik Laine, it’s time to take a look at the brand-new projected forward lineup. Regardless of where Laine ends up, his presence gives head coach Martin St-Louis many more options, an important asset when attempting to improve the team’s results. [Canadiens Depth Chart: Line Options Following Patrik Laine Trade]
Laine will also have an impact on the training camp battles. After extracting Laine and a 2026 second-round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Jordan Harris, the Canadiens are seemingly set to take the next step in their process. Over the last few years, training camp has always been pretty predictable, with veterans taking up key roster spots and few legitimate prospects ready to crack the lineup. [How The Patrik Laine Trade Impacts Canadiens Training Camp]
Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was No.16 on the NHL Network’s list of top 20 centres in the league, which is sure to frustrate those who have made a habit of trying to downplay his value despite tangible evidence of significant growth.
The @CanadiensMTL captain recorded career highs across the board last year and his third straight season of 40+ assists! Nick Suzuki ranks 16th on our list.#NHLTopPlayers | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/wiU3Xc7iqa
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 21, 2024
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli had nothing but good things to say about Laine, despite the negative comments made by his general manager, Don Waddell.
Adam Fantilli shares his thoughts on Patrik Laine:
“Yeah, obviously he had some personal things he had to take care of. That’s why he entered the program and I’ve talked to him and it seems like he’s doing well, seems like he’s ready to get back into the game and into the grind…
— Dropping the Gloves (@dropping_gloves) August 21, 2024
TVA Sports spoke to defenceman Arber Xhekaj, one of the many Canadiens players who are excited about the addition of Laine to the lineup.
Arber Xhekaj says Habs players are all pumped about Patrik Laine joining the team & they’ve all reached out to him.
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/DdNYSOeRRX
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 22, 2024
National Hockey Now Network
Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is an esteemed member of the NHL coaching fraternity. As the second-longest tenured coach in the NHL and three Stanley Cup rings, he was a natural choice to lead Team USA in both the Four Nations Face-Off tournament this February and in the 2026 Winter Olympics. [Pittsburgh Penguins]
When the New Jersey Devils acquired Santeri Hatakka as part of the Timo Meier trade, many considered the Finnish defenceman as just a throw in to even out the NHL’s contract limit with multiple players going each way. [New Jersey Devils]
After acquiring him in a March 6 NHL trade deadline deal with the Colorado Avalanche, the Philadelphia Flyers and Ryan Johansen haven’t exactly gotten along. With Tuesday’s news of Johansen’s pending contract termination, things have taken another turn for the worse. But, how did we get here in the first place? [Philadelphia Flyers]
For the tenth time in franchise history, the Boston Bruins will have two players with the same last name etched on the back of their sweater. The slick-skating centre was one of Boston’s big free agent signings over the offseason. He joins veteran defenceman Hampus Lindholm in this exclusive clique. [Boston Bruins]