Saturday Habs Headlines: Paul Byron a great surprise for the Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

• François Gagnon joined the morning show to talk about New York, and give his take on Paul Byron, the most surprising player this year for the Canadiens. [TSN690]
• The Habs won’t be bringing a full platoon to Detroit. It’s more of a commando unit at this point.

• Max Pacioretty, Phillip Danault and Carey Price were recognized at the final home regular season game on Friday. [Canadiens]
• The Canadiens are letting key players get some extra rest this weekend. [TSN]
• Pierre LeBrun weighs in on the upcoming Habs-Rangers playoff series. [TSN]
• Brendan Gallagher is all-smiles at his doll being in a fan’s Canadiens’ shrine. [Brendan Gallagher]

• In Hamilton, after talking about the Leafs rookies and the team’s playoff push, Frank Seravalli talks about the difference Carey Price makes for Montreal. [TSN1150]
• The Quebec Nordiques are a distant memory, but one of their last draft picks, David Ling, is still playing hockey, with the Habs’ ECHL affiliate Brampton Beast. [La Presse]
• Friday night was fan appreciation night, and a couple of guys just want to say thanks. [Canadiens]

Around the League and Elsewhere

• Last year was a travesty for Canadian NHL teams, but most franchises are preparing for the post-season now, what’s changed? [Sportsnet]
• Detroit’s famed Joe Louis Arena is closing its doors after this season, but the memories will last forever. [Yahoo! Sports]
• Down Goes Brown reaches into the grab bag to talk Olympics fallout, goalless seasons and more. [Vice Sports]
• There is lots of blame to throw around regarding the Olympic line in the sand drawn by Gary Bettman. [Montreal Gazette]
• Former NHL player Mathieu Darche reminds us that the Commissioner of the NHL chooses his actions and words carefully. [RDS]
• Broadcaster Mike Lange takes us through his play-by-play days in Pittsburgh and riding the bus with then teenager Jaromir Jagr. [Players’ Tribune]
• Dionne, Esposito, Howe, Mahovlich, Niedermayer, Pronovost, Staal, Sutter. There are many great Canadian hockey families which generated multiple players. In Germany, they have the Eisenschmid’s. [Journal de Montréal]
• On the family note, the Sedin twins have one year remaining on their contracts with the Vancouver Canucks, and they say it’s the only NHL team they will ever play for. [NHL]
• Colorado Avalanche prospect Will Butcher won the 2017 Hobey Baker award, the first defenceman to do so in eight years. [NHL]
• Butcher’s Pioneers edged out Notre Dame on route towards the championship game at the Frozen Four. [SBN College Hockey]
• Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but there is still buzz in Seattle over potential plans to build a new arena. [The Score]
• If you haven’t seen any Elite League hockey out of the UK, now’s your chance, as the league’s playoff final will be shown on the BBC. [Elite League]