Wednesday Habs Highlights: Charles Hudon among the best young players in the AHL

Montreal Canadiens news and notes:

• Charles Hudon is simply in another tier compared to the rest of the Habs prospects straddling the AHL-NHL border. [Mitch Brown]/
• If Alex Galchenyuk makes it to training camp, could he start the season at centre? [TSN 690]
• According to Tony Marinaro, Andrei Markov will be a Hab if he yields to the team’s demands. [Tony Marinaro]
• If Markov does not return, how big of a loss is that to the Habs blueline? [Dave Poulin - TSN]
• The newest members of the Canadiens have their number assignments. [Heather Engel]/

New #Habs' numbers:

Drouin - 92

Alzner - 22

Hemsky - 83

Schlemko - 21

Holland - 13

Froese - 32

Taormina - 42

Morrow - 45

— Heather Engel (@engelheather) July 4, 2017

• Scott Cullen looks at the Ales Hemsky for Alexander Radulov “swap” made by Dallas and Montreal. [Scott Cullen - TSN]
• The leading lights of SB Nation take a look at their season predictions, and a certain Marc Dumont came out the victor. [SB Nation]
• Joni Ikonen’s not too shabby either. [Mitch Brown]/

#Habs Joni Ikonen averaged 4.14 SOG/GP in the SuperElit - very impressive. Additionally, majority of points were 5v5 (70%). pic.twitter.com/n9P5AE7guS

— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) July 4, 2017

• Relive the ferocity and accuracy of Artturi Lehkonen’s shot in the videos of the day. [LNH.com]/

Around the league and elsewhere:

• Nino Niederreiter of the Minnesota Wild has filed for arbitration. [TSN]
• David Desharnais has signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers for 1 million dollars. [Blueshirt Banter]
• Nail Yakupov is now a member of the Colorado Avalanche. [Mile High Hockey]
• Andre Burakovsky has signed a two-year contract with the Washington Capitals at an AAV of 3 million dollars. [TSN]
• Ilya Kovalchuk will stay in the KHL for the upcoming season. [Sportsnet]
• Travis Yost says that the Maple Leafs chose Patrick Marleau over more cost-effective options. [Travis Yost - TSN]/