Friday Habs Headlines: The Canadiens need to match the Penguins’ aspirations

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• Merely making the playoffs isn’t good enough for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it’s a model that the Habs should seek to emulate. [Sportsnet]
• With Shea Weber out, the Canadiens should face facts and hit the re-tool button. [The Hockey News]
• Weber’s absence is exposing a weakness on the blueline for the Habs. [La Presse]
• Will Weber the colossus be brought down by feet of clay? [La Presse]
• Nick Suzuki is the first Habs rookie forward to top 35 points in his inaugural campaign since Chris Higgins in 2005-06. [Montreal Canadiens]
• Suzuki has rocketed up the Canadiens’ depth chart this year. [Hockey Inside/Out]
• Cole Caufield is paying attention to Ilya Kovalchuk, and not just the Russian’s goal celebrations. [Montreal Canadiens]
• The Canadiens currently have the league’s worst power play ... again. [The Athletic]

Around the league and elsewhere

• Will NHL players be suiting up at the 2022 Winter Olympics? [31 Thoughts]
• Jesse Puljujarvi headlines a list of ten prospects who could be moving at the Trade Deadline. [The Athletic]
• Alex Ovechkin may be close to 700 goals, but where is he in the race for the Hart Trophy? [ProHockeyTalk]
• Phil Bourque’s quest to reconnect with old teammate Jaromir Jagr took him to Kladno. [The Athletic]
• Carter Hart’s new mask honours the late Ray Emery. [ProHockeyTalk]
• Retired firefighter Rico Phillips is changing hockey in Flint, Michigan. [The Athletic]
• The best... and worst linemate situations in the NHL. [TSN]
• Where theatre and hockey meet: an analysis of embellishment in the NHL. [On the Forecheck]
• Scouts reveal their biggest misses over the years. [ESPN+]
• Sidney Crosby is happy that Friday night’s game against the Canadiens will be “French Language Night” (feat. Max Talbot as the PA announcer) at the PPG Paints Arena. [Montreal Gazette]