Wednesday Habs Headlines: Antti Niemi would welcome an extension with the Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• Free agent Antti Niemi is open to returning to Montreal. [La Presse | Google Translate]
• Sylvain Lefebvre was fired as the head coach of the Laval Rocket on Tuesday. [EOTP]
• The termination of the Rocket bench boss was not unexpected, with four principal reasons determining Lefebvre’s fate. [The Athletic]
• Lefebvre is a good man, but his departure is the correct move. [Montreal Gazette]
• Dominique Ducharme is being hailed in the media as the heir apparent. [Journal de Montreal | Sportsnet]
• However, Ducharme has been contacted by other clubs, but reportedly not the Canadiens. [RDS]
• A look at the first season of the Laval Rocket — and the final season of Lefebvre’s tenure — by the numbers. [RDS]
• Yet another voice echoing that the Canadiens need to take a lesson from the Toronto Maple Leafs. [Journal de Montreal]
• Despite a trying season, Max Pacioretty feels like a Montrealer through and through. [Montreal Canadiens]
• If the Canadiens aren’t interested in re-signing their captain, Pacioretty himself admits that a trade is the best option for the team. [The Athletic]
• With the season barely over, the witch-hunt is in full effect for scapegoats. [The Hockey Writers]
• Congratulations to Charles Hudon on the birth of his second child! [Montreal Canadiens]/

Congratulations to @KidHud_10 and his fiancee Krystel-Fay on the birth of their second daughter, Hannah-Grace, very early this morning at 3:39 a.m. She joins big sister, Lyah-Hope. 👶 #GoHabsGo

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 17, 2018

Around the league and elsewhere

• Breaking down the New York Islanders off-season UFA situation. [The Athletic]
• Jose Theodore thinks that Barry Trotz’s decision to go with Philipp Grubauer over Braden Holtby was a “suicidal bet.” [Journal de Montreal]
• The Humboldt tragedy is weighing heavily on the hearts and minds of the long-distance bus drivers which fuel minor hockey. [The Athletic]
• The Anaheim Ducks lost their nerve and their discipline in an embarrasing third period on Monday night to go down 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks [Sportsnet].
• The Minnesota Wild will be without Zach Parise, as he is week-to-week with a broken sternum. [ESPN]
• The Calgary Flames have fired head coach Glen Gulutzan and assistants Dave Cameron and Paul Jerrard [Sportsnet]
• A look at top-10 prospect Joe Veleno. [Journal de Montreal]
• The true story behind the Capitals “puck girl.” [ESPN]
• Pavel Datsyuk has signed a one year extension with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL. [Dan Milstein]/

Pavel Datsyuk signed 1 year contract extension with KHL club SKA St. Petersburg. Presently, Pavel is with the Russian National Team preparing for the upcoming World Championship Games in Denmark.

— Dan Milstein-Hockey (@HockeyAgent1) April 17, 2018

• Ak Bars Kazan leads CSKA Moscow 2-0 in the Gagarin Cup Final largely thanks to the efforts of two Canadians: Justin Azevedo and Rob Klinkhammer. [KHL]/