Thursday Habs Headlines: Brendan Gallagher hopes to win in Montreal

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• Brendan Gallagher shared first-hand why he is glad to be playing hockey in Montreal. [Canadiens]
• The Habs have admitted to an internal preference for drafting players from Quebec, but that hasn’t been reflected in recent drafts. [The Athletic]
• It continues to look like Tomas Plekanec will return to the Canadiens this summer. [TSN 690]
• He may be one of the few options available to them when the market opens up on July 1. [Montreal Gazette]
• Although a deal didn’t get done at the draft, Marc Bergevin is still hoping to acquire Ryan O’Reilly, or perhaps another centre. [The Athletic]
• Brett Stapley knew the Canadiens were interested in him even ahead of last year’s draft, and was happy to have his name called in 2018. [Campbell River Mirror]
• Taxes are often cited as a reason free agents don’t want to sign with a Canadian team, but that shouldn’t be stopping them. [The Athletic]

Around the league and elsewhere

• He could have made more elsewhere, but Devante Smith-Pelly has signed with the Washington Capitals for another year. [TSN]
• The Penguins sent Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick to Buffalo in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2019. [PensBurgh]
• They are also reportedly the team that will become Jack Johnson’s new home. [PensBurgh]
• Not everyone was pleased to see Gary Bettman among this year’s HHOF class, particularly retired NHLers Nick Boynton and Daniel Carcillo. [Sportsnet]
• Shannon Szabados surprised the hockey world on Wednesday by signing with the NWHL’s Buffalo Beauts. [The Ice Garden]