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Canadiens Wrap

Canadiens Wrap: Hutson Contract, Anderson And Wilson, Demidov

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MONTREAL — There’s always Montreal Canadiens news to be absorbed on a daily basis, but there are only so many hours in a day. On Sundays, we recap the most exciting and relevant NHL news stories that you may have missed throughout the week so that you can stay in the Canadiens loop.

Monday

The NHL decided to fine Arber Xhekaj for… skating during the warm-up, and possibly saying some mean words toward the Capitals. All things considered, Xhekaj’s presence in the lineup has clearly been a positive for the Montreal Canadiens. As for the fine, it’s good to know the NHL has its priorities straight, because bad words can really hurt someone’s feeling before they attempt to give their opponent a brain injury via a hit.  [Canadiens Defenceman Arber Xhekaj Returns To Lineup]

Dylan McIlrath was also fined, and once again, I’m not sure anyone knows what he actually did. Perhaps he also spoke some mean words during warmups.

Tuesday

The Habs had the day off on Monday, however, head coach Martin St-Louis briefly met with the media. He wants the Habs to win in Washington on Wednesday so that the Bell Centre faithful will have another chance to cheer-on their team.


We now know when the Laval Rocket will play their first game of the playoffs, and their opponent has been revealed as well! The top team in the AHL during the regular season will face the Cleveland Monsters, with the first game of the series taking place in Cleveland on Wednesday.  As a reminder, the Rocket received a bye into the second round, while Cleveland had to beat the Toronto Marlies in a best-of-three series.  [The Laval Rocket Are Building Something Special In The AHL]

The Montreal Victoire needed overtime to beat the Boston Fleet. Laura Stacey scored her 11th of the year to secure the win. The Victoire now have an 11-7-3-8 record, and have clinched a playoff spot, but it remains to be seen if they’ll finish as the top team in the league.

Wednesday

Alexandre Carrier and Patrik Laine joined the team on their flight to Washington, which means both players are expected to be game-time decisions. If Carrier is unable to go, head coach Martin St-Louis has a few options for defensive pairings, but they’re far from ideal. Breaking up Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle doesn’t make much sense, but the Habs may have to go down that road if they want to spread the talent a little more evenly among defensive pairings.  [Canadiens Defensive Pairings Options Should Carrier Be Injured]

Good news! The most contrived trade in NHL history has now been sorted. Well, almost. There are pretty good chances the Montreal Canadiens will end up with Calgary’s first-round pick in 2025, but it’s not guaranteed, at least not yet. Habs fans will still have to pay attention to the NHL Draft Lottery, which is set to take place on May 5. [Canadiens Draft Pick Via Calgary Almost Set For 2025 NHL Draft]

Rookie Ivan Demidov seems to be enjoying his opportunity to play in front of Habs fans in the playoffs. It must be said that the decision to add him to the first powerplay unit has quickly paid off.


There’s some very good news ahead of the Laval Rocket’s first playoff game. Forward Brandon Gignac will return in time to participate, a significant boost to their offensive firepower. Gignac had been injured since late December. [The Laval Rocket Are Building Something Special In The AHL]

Thursday

There was a lot to discuss following Wednesday’s game, which is why we opted to keep David Savard’s retirement for the first thing in the morning. Of course, this was planned, and we’ve already written about the subject, but it’s always a little heart-wrenching to see a player’s career come to an end.

Savard can keep his head held high, as he didn’t just enjoy a very fruitful career, he also won a Stanley Cup, the ultimate goal of every hockey player. Many would be happy to simply feature in just one NHL game, while Savard played in over 900 if we include the playoffs.

Simply put, few reach Savard’s level of success, a testament to his hard work in a league that was quickly evolving.

It’s also worth noting he’s one of the most affable players in the league, and that’s not just the same cliché you hear about every NHL player.

Savard is a funny, loveable, and engaging mentor, which means he should have his pick of the litter if the Canadiens want to discuss a post-career job within the organization.

All the positives he brought to the table as a mentor in the locker room can still be used in a development role with the Habs. [David Savard Set To Retire After Playoffs]

The Canadiens dropped their final game of the season, a 4-1 loss versus the Capitals, putting an end to their surprise playoff appearance. The scoreline was a little flattering toward the Capitals, as the Canadiens did manage to go out on their shields. [Canadiens Draft Pick Via Calgary Almost Set For 2025 NHL Draft]

A playoff loss is never easy to accept, but there’s no doubt the Montreal Canadiens are trending in the right direction. The future is very bright, and the fun isn’t over, as the Laval Rocket are currently playing in the AHL playoffs. There are also a few important dates to keep in mind this summer, including free agency. [The Next Step For The Montreal Canadiens, Important Dates]

Speaking of the Rocket, Jacob Fowler stopped 23 of the 25 shots sent his way to secure a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Monsters. Sean Farrell scored twice, while Owen Beck netted the game-winning goal. Brandon Gignac, who hadn’t played since late December, was the catalyst for the GWG. [Laval Rocket Have Sights Firmly Set On AHL Championship]

Friday

Even though the Canadiens lost their series versus the Washington Capitals, there was a lot of good revealed throughout the short playoff run. There were also a few clear issues that came to the forefront, including the team’s lack of depth down the middle of the ice. Finding a No.2 centre should be a priority for Kent Hughes and Co. this summer. [Top 5 Lessons The Canadiens Have Learned From The Playoffs]

There’s still very important hockey left to play in the organization, which means all eyes will be on the top team in the AHL, the Laval Rocket. They have the talent to make a healthy run at the Calder Cup, but it remains to be seen which goaltender head coach Pascal Vincent will use now that the playoffs are underway. Cayden Primeau was among the best goalies in the league during the regular season, however, Jacob Fowler represents the future of the franchise. [Canadiens Goalies: The Primeau And Fowler Situation In The AHL]

Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery continues to show a significant amount of respect toward Montreal’s first line.  [Capitals Coach Gushes over Hutson, Suzuki Line]

Saturday

Lane Hutson enjoyed one of the best seasons from a rookie defenceman in NHL history, and he looks forward to the day he can sign a contract extension to ensure he can continue playing at the Bell Centre. [Canadiens Lane Hutson Excited For Contract Extension]

Alexandre Carrier was quick to dismiss the idea that Tom Wilson’s thunderous hit in Game 4 was dirty. He went as far as saying he would have delivered the exact same hit if the opportunity arose. [Carrier Discusses Series-Changing Wilson Hit]

Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis was among the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the coach who has been judged to make the greatest positive impact on his team. St-Louis was named alongside Scott Arniel (Winnipeg Jets) and Spencer Carbery (Washington Capitals). [St-Louis Jack Adams Nomination Speaks To Coaching Evolution]

There was some (relatively) good news on the injury front for Samuel Montembeault. The netminder tore his groin in two places, which is unfortunate, but it shouldn’t require surgery. [Good News On The Samuel Montembeault Injury Front]

Jared Davidson opened the scoring for the Laval Rocket in Game 2 of their best-of-five series versus the Cleveland Monsters. The Rocket won 4-0, with Jacob Fowler stopping all 20 shots sent his way to secure his first professional shutout. Fowler wasn’t that busy, mostly because it was a flat-out dominant performance from the Rocket from a defensive perspective. The next game is set for Sunday, at Place Bell, in Laval.  [AHL]

Speaking of Laval, Oliver Kapanen is expected to report to the AHL in the near future.

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