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Canadiens Wrap

Canadiens Wrap: Zharovsky’s Potential, Demidov, Fowler

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Alexander Zharovsky montreal canadiens

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.

Tuesday

Talented winger Alexander Zharovsky was the first played picked by the Montreal Canadiens at the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, owing to his great hands and offensive creativity. He had a very solid season in the MHL that saw him earn more than a point per game, but he still has a lot to work on before he’ll be NHL ready.  Habs fans voted him as the sixth-best young player in the system in our annual prospect rankings. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – Magical Alexander Zharovsky]

Hall of Famer Serge Savard had great things to say about Habs phenom Lane Hutson, and when a member of the ‘Big Three’ talks, we should listen. Savard went as far as saying Hutson is the best player he’s seen play for the Habs since Guy Lafleur.  [NHL]

David Reinbacher is keeping busy in Switzerland, alongside fellow NHLer Marco Rossi. For what it’s worth, Rossi is yet to sign a contract extension with the Minnesota Wild.

Wednesday

Hard-working and cerebral forward Owen Beck took the No.5 spot in our annual Montrela Canadiens prospect rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. His versatility and NHL readiness should serve him well going forward, as he’s essentially a plug-and-play prospect with an impressive tool kit. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – Versatile Owen Beck]

Thursday

I have a sneaking suspicion that Zachary Bolduc has been taking a closer look at Montreal’s current roster, eyeing the vacant penalty killer spot left behind by Joel Armia’s departure.

Former Hab Josh Gorges will serve as the Kelowna Rocket’s assistant coach. The stalwart defender spent four seasons with the Rockets, including when he captained the team to a Memorial Cup championship in 2003-04.

Just in case you were worried about the lack* of Ivan Demidov practice updates, he’s definitely still working hard in Brossard.

Friday

Michael Hage represents one of the most exciting young players in the Montreal Canadiens prospect pool, owing to his ability to drive offence at full speed. His excellent hand-eye coordination and elite skating can’t be ignored, and are a big part of why Habs fans voted him as the team’s 4th best prospect. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – Supersonic Michael Hage]

Roster turnover is a guarantee throughout rebuilds, and still very much a factor for the Canadiens, even if they’ve turned the corner in their long-term plans. Check out five players who will be under the gun next season. [Top Five Canadiens Players With Something To Prove In 2025-26]

We’re definitely not going to analyze Ivan Demidov’s play in summer leagues, but it is fun to watch him play shinny in front of local fans. I think he’s played more local games than actual NHL games at this point in his career. A lot like Lane Hutson, it’s quite clear that Demidov is addicted to all things hockey.


Speaking of Hutson, he took a day off… is not a sentence I’m yet to write since the Habs drafted him.

Demidov was also hard at work, as per tradition.

Happy 40th to former Canadiens captain Shea Weber. May your lakes be full of aggressive muskie, and your forests overflowing with delicious venison.

Saturday

Talented goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler nabbed the No.3 spot in our annual rankings, as voted on by Habs fans. His time in the NCAA was very encouraging, but despite the fact that he represents the next great hope in the crease, there’s absolutely no need to rush him to the NHL. There are lessons to be learned from the mistakes made while trying to rush Cayden Primeau to the big show. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – Heir Apparent Jacob Fowler]

It’s the dog days of summer, which means we have a good opportunity to discuss some of the former Canadiens defencemen who graced the ice at the Forum and the Bell Centre. Everyone tends to agree that Larry Robinson was the best defenceman to play for the franchise, though there’s an argument to be made that Doug Harvey had a greater impact on the overall game, as he was essentially responsible for revolutionizing the defenceman position while helping the team win five Stanley Cups in a row.

Few will argue Andrei Markov is the best defenceman in franchise history, and that’s fair, but it’s also important to note that he finished as the second most productive blueliner in Montreal Canadiens history while playing on teams that were slightly worse than the ones that featured Harvey or Robinson.

I would go as far as suggesting Markov is among the most underrated players fans had the pleasure to watch in action in Montreal.

Nick Suzuki’s fantasy value is growing! NHL.com expects Suzuki to hit the 90 point mark next season, while also projecting Lane Hutson will reach 70 points. It’s not exactly a significant step forward from a perception standpoint, as Suzuki finished last season with 89 points, and Hutson rookie season saw him bank 66 points. [NHL]

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Abel

Marc… we miss you, I hope you’re fine.

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Abel

My apologies… for some reason, my “home” page was not refreshing for two whole days and the #2 prospect did not show up for a while. 😕

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