Habs Daily: Xhekaj Fined, Laine & Reinbacher, NHL Waivers, Cuts

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed this past weekend.

Montreal Canadiens News

The weekend turned sour when a minor-league player injured newcomer Patrik Laine in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Laine could not continue and had to leave the ice in what appeared to be significant pain. The NHL referees, in all their wisdom, opted not to penalize the clear kneeing penalty, which led to Arber Xhekaj taking matters into his own hands. Cedric Pare player did not answer the bell despite injury Laine, and cowered as Xhekaj rained down a series of angry punches. Xhekaj was then rightfully thrown out from the game.  [GOTTA SEE IT: Patrik Laine Injured, Arber Xhekaj Retaliates]

It was overshadowed by the violence in the game, but prospect David Reinbacher was also injured on Saturday. He absorbed awkward contact along the boards, leaving the game after just 13 seconds of ice time.

This didn’t look like a lot of contact, but Reinbacher left the game in a lot of pain after this play.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/oMgLy28Dfe

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) September 28, 2024

Xhekaj was only fined for his reaction to the knee-on-knee that injured Laine. There was some fear he’d be suspended, but given he kept his gloves on and missed most of the game, it appears the Department of Player Safety deemed it to be only worthy of a $3600 fine. [NHL Fines Arber Xhekaj For Retaliating After Patrik Laine Injury]

The Habs made their first round of cuts on Saturday, sending 27 of the players attending their training camp to the Laval Rocket in the AHL. Versatile forward Owen Beck headlined the list of players being assigned to their team’s AHL affiliate. [Montreal Canadiens Announce First Round Of Training Camp Cuts]

On Sunday two more players were cut, Brandon Gignac and Lucas Condotta, though they must be placed on waivers prior to being loaned to the Rocket. The Sunday cuts reduced the number of players at camp to 30. [Montreal Canadiens Place Two Players On Waivers]

There were several other NHL players joining Gignac and Condotta on the waiver wire, as teams prepare to make the final decisions prior to the start of the NHL season on October 8. That being said, as per usual, there weren’t any notable players added to the waivers list.

Today
McLaughlin (BOS)
Frk, Kirkland (CAL)
Sanford, Seney (CHI)
Gawdin, Hicketts, Madden, Walsh (LA)
Cecconi, Crotty, Raska (MIN)
Condotta, Gignac (MON)
Bellows, Hinostroza, Murray (NASH)
Laferriere, MacEachern, McGing, Skinner (STL)
Paquette-Bisson, Pouliot (TB)

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 29, 2024

As for the game itself, the Leafs once again won 2-1, though there was very little 5v5 time, a situation that always leaves the Habs in a difficult position, as their special teams have the potency of a dead horseshoe crab.  [Canadiens Instant Recap: Referees Lose Control, Habs Lose Laine]

National Hockey Now Network

 The smile on his face said it all. Seamus Casey earned a spot on the New Jersey Devils’ 27-man roster heading to Prague to take part in the Global Series. Coming into September with the belief that he’d be heading to the Utica Comets to serve as their No.1 defenceman, Casey’s training camp and preseason performance couldn’t keep the 20-year-old off the varsity squad roster. [New Jersey Devils]

The Washington Capitals are gradually getting to their final roster lineup for the 2024-25 season. The team announced they trimmed their roster down to 31 players. [Washington Capitals]

When the Florida Panthers called up players for their postseason practice squad once the Charlotte Checkers season ended in the first-round of the playoffs, Zac Dalpe was not among them. At 34 and with a young family waiting for him, Dalpe would be more appreciated at home instead of skating with his Charlotte teammates in South Florida waiting for a chance that would not come. [Philadelphia Flyers]