Habs Daily: Canadiens Draft Trade Offers, Demidov’s Two Goals

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

Montreal Canadiens News

The Habs released their behind-the-scenes video from the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. It’s a rather entertaining watch, especially since General Manager Kent Hughes reacted to the first few picks the same way as most Canadiens fans did. The video also confirms the team had multiple trade offers that would have seen them move down in the first round if Ivan Demidov or Michael Hage were not available when they took to the podium.

Arber Xhekaj is the type of athlete that is bound to pick up numerous sponsorships, though a promotion for a burger involving The Sheriff necessitated photoshop to ensure the product did not appear to be tiny. [Arber Xhekaj’s Hands Were Too Big For Burger Promotion]

Ivan Demidov scored two goals for SKA against Sochi in KHL preseason action. We’re not going to get too excited about every goal he scores as he prepares for the 2024-25 season, but it’s definitely encouraging that he seems to have rekindled the scoring touch that saw him put together a historic scoring run in the playoffs last year. [Canadiens Prospect Ivan Demidov’s Entertaining Highlights]

#ICYMI #GoHabsGo prospect Ivan Demidov with 2G today vs Sochi #Puchkov #RUSU23 pic.twitter.com/o1c2Afpm8v

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 22, 2024

With newcomer Patrik Laine bolstering the forward ranks, the Habs have an opportunity to flip the script on their lack of success when it comes to finding talented Nordic players. Fortunately, Finnish players such as Saku Koivu and Artturi Lehkonen left their mark in Montreal with inspired play and a strong work ethic. [Montreal Canadiens Top 5: Best Finnish Players In Team History]

Top prospect David Reinbacher earned an assist in Austria’s Olympic qualifying warm-up game against Slovenia, which ended 2-1 in favour of the Austrians. Despite a tumultuous season in Switzerland, Reinbacher kicked off the top 5 of our Montreal Canadiens 2024 summer prospect rankings. [David Reinbacher’s Complicated Season]

Speaking of Reinbacher, he’s been busy at work preparing for the upcoming season. He hopes to earn a roster spot with the Canadiens straight out of camp, a lofty, if not reachable goal, as there appears to be an opening on the right side of the blue line. [Canadiens Defensive Situation – Evaluating Depth]

“This was the first summer I was on the ice with David Reinbacher. We worked on skating (position/edges), stickhandling & position related skills. He’s always willing to learn, very motivated with a great attitude. He was interested in all the details…”

– Kevin Parada pic.twitter.com/PaqxCrlfsb

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 22, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

While former Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan made some big acquisitions this offseason through trade, he also made a crucial free agent signing on July 1. He signed defender Matt Roy to a six-year contract worth $34.5 million. Roy previously spent parts of his first six NHL campaigns with the Los Angeles Kings. He will be another significant contributor on the backend for the Capitals, as they try to make the 2025 playoffs and go on a postseason run. [Washington Capitals]

When it comes to EA Sports, it’s in the game. But this year, on the cover is New Jersey Devils brothers, Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes. Eldest brother, Quinn, rounds out the first-ever — non-exclusive — brothers cover for the franchise. [New Jersey Devils]

Trade alert! The Penguins traded their top prospect, centre Brayden Yager, to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Winnipeg’s disgruntled top prospect, RW Rutger McGroarty. It seemed to come out of nowhere, but a trade like that doesn’t happen with one phone call. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Yaroslav Askarov’s tenure with the Nashville Predators could be in its final days. The prized goaltender prospect has requested a trade and informed the organization he will not report to the American Hockey League, as ESPN’s Kevin Weekes first reported Monday morning. Askarov and the Predators didn’t reach this boiling point overnight. Here’s a look at the events which seemingly led the 2020 first-round pick to ask for a change of scenery.[Nashville Predators]