Canadiens Daily
Habs Daily: Potential Call-Ups, Salary Cap Impact, Rangers Trade

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.
Montreal Canadiens News
Forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard was assigned to the AHL. The 26-year-old was given less than nine of ice time in his only NHL game of the season.
Les Canadiens ont cédé l’attaquant Rafaël Harvey-Pinard au Rocket de Laval.
The Canadiens have loaned forward Rafaël Harvey-Pinard to the Laval Rocket. pic.twitter.com/vc9HZ46c0Z
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 31, 2025
The Habs opted not to call-up anyone from the farm, which means they’re heading on their California trip with just 12 forwards and six defencemen. It’s a curious decision that leads me to believe they plan to call up either Owen Beck or Logan Mailloux, or perhaps even both.
Beck and Mailloux will also be in California, representing the Laval Rocket at the AHL All-Star Game, which takes place on Monday evening. The Canadiens have enough healthy bodies to face the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, with their next game set for Tuesday, versus the San Jose Sharks.
The prospects can take part in the All-Star festivities while also being available to the Canadiens on short notice.
No recall expected for now. Emil Heineman not on the @CanadiensMTL trip to California.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) January 31, 2025
Speaking of Beck, he opened the scoring for the Rocket during their 3-1 win over the Hartford Wolfpack.
Premier tir du match? Premier but du match 🚀
First shot of the game? First goal of the game 🚨 https://t.co/O4pDYlTzwy pic.twitter.com/29YIlY7bW7— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) February 1, 2025
The NHL announced salary cap estimates, and it’s pretty exciting news for Habs fans. They’re expecting a 10 percent increase per year, over the course of the next three years, culminating with a $113.5 million salary cap in 2027-28. By then, both Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield’s contracts should be considered an absolute steal, which will allow for plenty of financial manoeuvrability in Montreal. [Impact Of NHL Salary Cap Increase On Montreal Canadiens Future]
The New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks made a splash on Friday night. The Canucks sent disgruntled forward J.T. Miller to the Rangers, one of the teams likely to compete with the Habs for the final Wild Card spot in the East. This will be Miller’s second stint with the Rangers. He was originally drafted by New York, 15th overall in 2011.
My first impression is that it’s the exact type of trade the Canadiens should avoid going forward, at least from a Rangers perspective. There’s no doubt Miller is a decent player, but he’s clearly in decline, and paying futures for a 31-year-old player who is yet to hit the 10-goal mark reeks of desperation.
🚨Trade
To #NYR
JT Miller, Yr 2/7 @ $8M
Brannstrom, Yr 1/1 900K (in Minors)
Dorrington – must be signed by Aug ’26To #Canucks
Chytil, Yr 2/4 @ $4.4375M
Mancini, Yr 1/2 @ $870K then RFA
’25 1st (top 13 protected)Net Cap Impact $3.6M annuallyhttps://t.co/xNVSBDiYzI
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) February 1, 2025
Prospect Jacob Fowler was expected to start for the Boston College Eagles as they faced UMass, but the talented goaltender ended up sitting out game, which ended 4-0 in favour of the Eagles.
Looks like Fowler is out tonight and Korec will start. I do not think it is anything serious.
— BC Hockey Blog (@BCHockeyBlogger) January 31, 2025
The Canadiens opted not to claim defenceman Adam Boqvist on NHL waivers. The very next team in the waiver-wire priority, the New York Islanders, did put in a claim. [NHL Waivers: Top 10 Drafted Defenceman Available To Canadiens]
National Hockey Now Network
In the middle of Thursday’s game against the New York Islanders, news broke that the Philadelphia Flyers have acquired forward Andrei Kuzmenko and Jakob Pelletier from the Calgary Flames in return for Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost. [Philadelphia Flyers]
Florida Panthers captain Sasha Barkov will wear the ‘C’ next month for Finland at the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off. [Florida Panthers]
The Vegas Golden Knights have signed winger suddenly-a-free-agent Brandon Saad to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. [Vegas Golden Knights]