Thursday Habs Headlines: Sami Niku hopes Montreal is the fresh start he’s looking for

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

• Sami Niku is hoping his fresh start with the Canadiens will help resurrect his career. [National Post]
• Mattias Norlinder won’t be suiting up for back-to-back games this weekend due to an injury but Niku slid alongside Ben Chiarot during Wednesday’s practice. [RDS]
• Way back in July, Geoff Molson made an offer to extend Marc Bergevin’s contract but the two sides have not yet come to an agreement. [TSN]
• Dominique Ducharme remains cautious about whether Carey Price will be ready to start the season on October 13. [Journal de Montreal]
• He knows he’ll most likely be starting the season in Laval, but Micheal Pezzetta is pretty proud of his performance in Monday’s preseason game. [Journal de Montreal]

Around the League and Elsewhere

• After an extremely soft suspension for UHL player Anderi Denyskin for his gesture to Jalen Smereck, it’s time for the IIHF to step up. [Sportsnet]
• Smereck’s team, HC Donbass, is demanding “a reconsideration of the decision” made regarding the handling Denyskin’s suspension. [Sportsnet]
• The CHL is back and hoping for a normal season. [CBC]
• Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews played his first game in over a year in a preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. [NHL]
• After last season’s disappointment, Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell is out to prove doubters wrong this season. [NHL]