Habs Daily: Top 20 Canadiens Prospects, Expectations, Veleno

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

Montreal Canadiens News

Check out the final rankings of Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted on by Habs fans. We published over 25 articles in this year’s project, which was only possible due to the support from our great community. The project will officially wrap up next week, but in the meantime you can give us your opinion on the top 20 Habs prospects. [Montreal Canadiens 2025 Prospect Rankings – The Complete List]

Nick Suzuki has long dreamed of playing for Team Canada at the Olympics. He was among the players Canada invited to participate in the summer Orientation Camp ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, alongside fellow Habs players Samuel Montembeault and Noah Dobson.  [Canadiens Analysis – Nick Suzuki Is Clearly A Top NHL Centre]

Habs captain Nick Suzuki today on potentially playing for Team Canada 🇨🇦:

“It’s an honour to get invited to the orientation camp…it’s obviously a huge goal of mine this season. Since I was a little kid, I wanted to play in the Olympics…” pic.twitter.com/LkXPuCpLNh

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 21, 2025

Speaking of Suzuki, he’s well aware that the bar has been raised now that the Habs have a playoff series under their belt.

Habs captain Nick Suzuki today:

“Expectations are gonna grow. We know that & that’s fine with us. We all want the same goal at the end of the day. We want to be challenging for the Stanley Cup. From now on, that’s pretty much gonna be our goal.” pic.twitter.com/O5joHfex5T

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) August 21, 2025

Newcomer Joe Veleno was spotted practising in Brossard. The Montreal native signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens that carries a $900,000 salary cap hit.

New Canadien Joe Veleno among #Habs players on ice this morning in Brossard. pic.twitter.com/ioUTxOqTR4

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) August 21, 2025

ICYMI: Ivan Demidov clinched the No.1 spot in our annual prospect rankings, as voted upon by Habs fans. The talented forward started his NHL career with a bang, assisting and scoring a goal in his very first period wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey. It’s hard to keep expectations realistic in his case, but until the Habs lock down the No.2 centre position, Demidov will face an uphill battle when it comes to producing. Fortunately, he’s among the most talented prospects to ever be drafted by the Canadiens, and he never backs away from a challenge. [Canadiens Prospect Rankings – Ivan Demidov The Gifted]

National Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh Penguins fans frothed as a new report emerged linking the Chicago-based Hoffman family, who own the aptly named Hoffman Family of Companies, to interest in acquiring the Penguins from the Fenway Sports Group. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

The Chicago Blackhawks have locked up forward Frank Nazar for a very friendly price. They signed the young forward to a seven-year, $46.1 million contract extension. His new $6.59 million salary cap hit will take effect starting in the 2026-27 season, as he enters the final year of his entry-level contract. He is under contract through the 2032-33 season.[Chicago Blackhawks]

When the call came from Detroit Red Wings CEO and Governor Chris Ilitch that his number 91 would be going up into the Little Caesars Arena rafters alongside the greats of the franchise, Sergei Fedorov admits he was overcome by emotion at that moment. [Detroit Red Wings]