Thursday Habs Headlines: Brendan Gallagher’s career year defies expectations

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• In the midst of team struggles, Brendan Gallagher is putting up career-high numbers. [Montreal Gazette]
• Quite a few interesting items managed to make it into the Habs’ “favourite things” baskets this year.... [Canadiens]
• Ray Ferraro is among those who have expressed surprise that Marc Bergevin is managing to stick around. [TSN 690]
• Shea Weber’s impact on the team is sometimes intangible, but it’s there. [The Athletic]
• That’s somebody’s dad on the TV!/

Sure is! ♥️ @PetryJ pic.twitter.com/oRDaNbqIqz

— Julie Petry (@petryules) March 22, 2018

Around the league and elsewhere

• While a potential expansion draft for Seattle would follow the same rules as the Vegas draft, it appears the Golden Knights will be exempt from the process. [Sportsnet]
• Goalie interference calls are about to look a little bit different, pending approval. [NHLPA]/

Retired referee will join Situation Room for Goaltender’s Interference reviews. Final decision will be made by Hockey Operations. (Pending approval by Competition Committee and BoG)

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 21, 2018

• The competition committee gave the change the go-ahead later last night. [NHLPA]
• Members of MSD’s hockey team shared what it was like to win the state championship, and why it was important for them to play in honour of their classmates. [TSN (Video)]
• Ron Francis’ time as Carolina’s general manager was not particularly noteworthy. [Canes Country]
• As some teams are finally surging after years of heartache, the Chicago Blackhawks will officially miss the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in ten years. [Sportsnet]
• Most media has been centered around potential rule changes, but Craig Custance took a look at some offseason priorities for NHL general managers following the spring meeting. [The Athletic]
• The Oakland A’s are introducing a new program to allow fans to choose their ticket price on certain days, with proceeds going to the club’s community fund. What if an NHL team were to adopt a similar strategy? [Twitter]
• American Olympian Monique Lamoreux-Morando is joining NHL Network as an analyst./

We're growing our #NHLNetwork family!

We are excited to announce @moniquelam7 will join our team as an analyst, and will make her debut on #NHLTonight, Friday at 6pE. pic.twitter.com/pUbF8SazUi

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) March 21, 2018