Habs Daily: Laine’s Gifts, Suzuki Embarrassed, NHL Waivers

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

Montreal Canadiens

It’s going to take more time for Patrik Laine to find his optimal form on the ice, but off the ice there’s no need for any such delay, as the 26-year-old Finn has already established a deep bond with the fans.

It was clear during his hospital visit, which gave him an opportunity to hand out friendship bracelets to young fans, in yet another episode of Laine being unreasonably adorable in Montreal.

Plein de nouveaux amis 🫶

So many new friends#GoHabsGo | @HME_MCH pic.twitter.com/WWl7N3ftZH

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) December 12, 2024

Prospect Ivan Demidov was a healthy scratch as Russia played their first game at the Channel Cup. Russia’s coach? Yup, you guessed it, Roman Rotenberg, the very same coach who rewarded Demidov’s great production with SKA to open the season with a consistent decline in ice time.

Ivan Demidov is a healthy scratch for Team Russia’s 🇷🇺 first game today at the Channel One Cup. pic.twitter.com/YslhZveDpj

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 12, 2024

Prospect Aatos Koivu almost missed an entire month of action, with his last game dating to November 11. He scored in his return to play, though we should note Koivu is not currently playing with TPS’ senior team, which means a few more games in the U-20 league are to be expected. As for his actual injury, beyond being listed as ‘ill’, no details have been provided.

The Habs started Thursday night’s matchup on the right foot, as Cole Caufield set up Nick Suzuki’s 11th goal of the year to open the game versus the Penguins. It was all downhill from there. [Habs Highlights: Canadiens Fall Apart After Early Suzuki Goal]

There’s no way to avoid it, losing 9-2 in a professional sports setting is the epitome of embarrassing, especially when it happens while playing at home. The Canadiens quickly fell apart after captain Nick Suzuki opened the scoring in the first few minutes of the game.

#Habs Nick Suzuki: “I’m still trying to figure out what just happened; I don’t know who that was out there – it was embarrassing by us.”

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 13, 2024

There was some action on the waiver wire, with Utah claiming a Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman, and the Edmonton Oilers placing Travis Dermott on waivers.

#NHL Waivers today:#Oilers placed D Travis Dermott on waivers. #UtahHC claimed D Dakota Mermis on waivers from #Leafs.#nhljets placed F Henri Nikkanen on unconditional waivers for purposes of contract termination.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 12, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

Timely saves and structured defending after a troubling start allowed the Penguins to enjoy opportunistic goals as they pulled away from the Habs at Bell Centre. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

Tuesday night’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs was brutal. Yes, brutal. Not because the New Jersey Devils didn’t play well, but because they played so well and came up shorthanded. Goals have been difficult to come by recently, however, we’re not all that worried yet. [New Jersey Devils]

Fresh off a 6-5 win at Buffalo, familiar Detroit maladies – an inability to put the puck in the back of the other team’s net, mismanagement of the puck and too much time spent defending in their own zone – was again spelling doom in a 4-1 road loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. [Detroit Red Wings]