Habs Daily: Top Prospects Already Shining, Slafkovsky Award

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

Montreal Canadiens News

With the season opener just around the corner it’s time for the very first Montreal Canadiens prospect update of the year. Top European prospects such as Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, and Bogdan Konyushkov have hit the ground running, though they’re aiming for very different goals in the 2024-25 season. [Canadiens Prospect Report And Highlights: Demidov, Reinbacher, & Konyushkov]

It’s always fun to remember Carey Price had one of the most dominant seasons in modern league history when he took home multiple awards in 2014-15. The team’s leading scorer that season was Max Pacioretty, with 67 points. Statistically speaking, that was actually pretty good run support when compared to the rest of his career.

Safe to say Carey Price’s trophy case was packed to the brim following his stellar 2014-15 campaign with the @CanadiensMTL. #NHLStats #NHLGoalieWeek pic.twitter.com/G073gguH0x

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 26, 2024

Juraj Slafkovsky was named the Player Of The Year in Slovakia, an award handed out by the very underrated former NHL player Marian Hossa.   Twitter user Lubi provided us with a translation of Slafkovsky’s comments, a rather generous contribution of her time and linguistic abilities.

translation: pic.twitter.com/EZBrCbZE64

— lubi (@arberslaf) August 26, 2024

Speaking of Slafkovsky, he seems poised and hungry to pick up where he left off last season, a very encouraging sign for all concerned.

“I think I can be way better than I was (last year)…I had 50 good games & that’s not enough. I just wanna keep progressing more & hopefully we can get to the playoffs, that’s the main goal. That was just the beginning, I had to start somewhere…”

– Juraj Slafkovsky pic.twitter.com/t5nTzSyXiH

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 26, 2024

We’ve already discussed Demidov’s fantastic shootout goal as he captained the Russian Under-23 team, but it’s so nice that we will look at it twice. Perhaps even thrice.

LOOK AT THAT SMILE 😃
🚨 Ivan Demidov Shootout #RUSU23 #Puchkov #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/eJeosgT2dK

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 26, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

It’s difficult to say that this summer for the New Jersey Devils could have gone much better. Sure, they could have perhaps been more diligent in acquiring a top-six forward. But, it’s difficult to complain when general manager Tom Fitzgerald succeeded in making so many positive additions. [New Jersey Devils]

For nearly 20 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins core has come to define the franchise. Perhaps even more so than former owner Mario Lemieux and the near-dynasty of the early 1990s, the core three has built a multi-generational fanbase, beginning with parties surrounded by a renewed and young fanbase that fell in love with the team and the game after paying $10 for tickets as part of a student rush program. The Penguins’ trio has forged a cast iron fanbase that is not dependent on a star player. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

One of the best players in the history of hockey statistically is Jaromir Jagr. He currently sits at second overall in all-time points, including his interesting tenure with the Capitals. [Washington Capitals]