Habs Daily: Laine And Dach, Roy Is Underrated, Prospect Praise

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

Montreal Canadiens News

With preseason games on the docket, it’s always a good time to remember Joshua Roy is one of the best-value picks the Montreal Canadiens have made in a while. His audition in the NHL last season went incredibly well, connoting top-six usage may be in order for the 21-year-old forward.  [Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Joshua Roy Deserves More Credit]

The very smart Joshua Roy was excellent value as a 5th rounder in 2021 and the value has only gotten more excellent as the years have gone by. https://t.co/VdDGGQxccs pic.twitter.com/SYNDUUxhPC

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) September 20, 2024

While we’re on the subject of player cards, Ivan Demidov’s draft year comparables tend to be pretty decent. Some guy named Wayne Gretzky is among them. [Ivan Demidov’s Big Night]

La mobilité d’Adam Engstrom 🤤 pic.twitter.com/6xz2oJLt6F

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) September 20, 2024

Adam Engstrom’s silky-smooth skating is always a treat to watch. He’ll have a hard time carving out a roster spot in the NHL this season due to the logjam among defencemen, but there’s no doubt he’s been turning heads at training camp.

La mobilité d’Adam Engstrom 🤤 pic.twitter.com/6xz2oJLt6F

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) September 20, 2024

Hard-working prospect Vinzenz Rohrer put together a two-goal effort for Zurich in just the second game of the season.

Fair enough, his second goal of the game is much nicer. pic.twitter.com/1tzeJ07G4C

— Thibaud Chatel (@Thibaud_Chatel) September 20, 2024

Filip Mesar didn’t necessarily stand out during the rookie camp, but there’s still a lot of time for the skilled forward to impress Martin St-Louis and Pascal Vincent.

Voilà Filip Mesar qui s’illustre 👀 pic.twitter.com/HanwHd0bbl

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) September 20, 2024

It’s much too early to start analyzing lines, but Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach enjoyed some instant chemistry during Friday’s scrimmage. It’s far from surprising, as Dach has a history of playing well regardless of his linemates. Again, it’s early, but Laine’s shooting skills combined with Dach’s ability to facilitate the transition game could end up paying off.

Dach sort ses mains 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nz24RrKOqL

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) September 20, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

Adam and Jesper Boqvist live close enough to one another now that they get to carpool to work with the Florida Panthers. A few months ago, they did not think that would have been possible. Yet within the span of a week in July, the two signed separate contracts with the Panthers. [Florida Panthers]

No one in the New Jersey Devils organization is rooting harder for Kevin Labanc than Timo Meier. The former San Jose Sharks teammates are now reunited in New Jersey after general manager Tom Fitzgerald extended Labanc a professional tryout contract. [New Jersey Devils]

From the outside, the Philadelphia Flyers roster and lineup for the 2024-25 season looks set. In reality, head coach John Tortorella is going to have the final say. [Philadelphia Flyers]