Habs Daily: Lakovic Interest, Draft Target Kindel, Demidov

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

Montreal Canadiens News

Lynden Lakovic mentioned to TVA Sports that he’d love to play alongside Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky. The lanky forward may be available once the Canadiens take to the podium midway through the first round.[Canadiens 2025 Draft Targets: The Intriguing Lynden Lakovic]

“Jouer avec Slafkovsky? Ce serait le rêve!”

Je l’avoue, j’avais mes réserves sur Lynden Lakovic avant d’avoir pu le rencontrer.

Mais confidence: il est depuis devenu l’un des mes favoris de cette cuvée.

Et partisans du CH… vous aimerez sa dernière déclaration!

😉🔵⚪️🔴 pic.twitter.com/71dynnJxGK

— Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) June 19, 2025

Speaking of the draft, Ben Kindel isn’t the biggest prospect available, but he might be the best playmaker. With 99 points in the bank this season, Kindel is sure to garner first-round interest.[Canadiens 2025 Draft Targets: Elite Playmaker Ben Kindel]

Development coach Paul Byron had nothing but great things to say about Ivan Demidov. Beyond his excellent play while active, the Canadiens are lucky to have a standout person like Byron working for the team.

Paul Byron on Ivan Demidov:

“He’s been working a lot on his skating (this summer). I think it was a great opportunity for him to get in the league & see the level of competition. He’s a player with a lot of talent, great hands, great vision…I think with the time that he has,… pic.twitter.com/r3KqOJVI3z

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 20, 2025

National Hockey Now Network

The Florida Panthers have a lot to deal with when it comes to getting back to the business of hockey which include new deals for a couple of their pending free agents. General manager Bill Zito said all of that could wait a day or two after the team won the Stanley Cup for the second straight year. [Florida Panthers]

You could call Radim Mrtka a late bloomer. He’s been working to make up for lost time ever since, so much so that the Seattle standout is considered the No. 2 defenseman and No. 5 overall skater in June’s NHL Draft. [Detroit Red Wings]

In a move most saw coming as the New Jersey Devils are looking to reinvent their bottom-six, Erik Haula was traded to the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. Now, the Devils have a void to fill. Perhaps, it will be externally. However, there are four internal candidates who can replace Haula’s services.[New Jersey Devils]