TSN released their top 50 players heading into 2014-15, with two Habs making appearances. [TSN]
Eric Engels feels that the Habs’ toughest decision left to make is to choose Dustin Tokarski as the backup to Carey Price and cut ties with Peter Budaj. Budaj is widely known to be a great teammate and “locker-room guy” so Engels predicts that this could end up being an emotional decision more than a hockey decision for the Habs. [Hockey Buzz]
Can the Habs make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals this year? The National Post gives us their scoop. [National Post]
Carey Price and a group made up of almost all AHL kids took down the 2013 Stanley Cup Champion, Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night in Chicago by a score of 3-1. It seems that Price is really set to go this year after two stellar performances. [Canadiens]
In case you missed the game on Wednesday, check out all of the highlights right here, including some post-game interviews and quite possibly the best save of the preseason so far. [Canadiens]
The Canadiens have announced another 5 cuts from training camp. Greg Pateryn, Sven Andrighetto, Gabriel Dumont, Jake Dowell, and Davis Drewiskie. Both Drewiskie and Dumont must clear waivers first before reporting to the Hamilton Bulldogs. It was widely rumored that Pateryn was fighting for the 7th defenseman spot against Jared Tinordi, but it doesn’t look like that is happening anymore. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Tinordi has won that spot though, Francis Bouillon is still with the Habs on a PTO contract and could be offered a one-year deal. [EOTP]
Let’s see if the CBC can make up for calling Max Pacioretty overpaid in a September article. Here is their 2014-2015 season preview of the Montreal Canadiens. [CBC]
Drayson Bowman was released from his PTO, and promptly signed a two-way contract with the Canadiens. [EOTP]
Outside of Montreal
Check out NHL.com’s list of “Biggest Questions Facing Western Conference Teams”. This is a complete list of the biggest question for every team in the Western Conference. [NHL]
Well that’s it folks, what potentially was the biggest March Trade Deadline target is now seemingly off the market. The Ottawa Senators have signed star forward Bobby Ryan to a seven-year, $50.25M extension. Ryan was set to become a UFA after the 2014-2015 season. The Senators also announced that star defenseman Erik Karlsson will be the next Captain to take over for departed forward Jason Spezza. [SB Nation – Silver Sevens]
Listen in to TSN radio as Pierre LeBrun updates us on the Ryan Johansen negotiations with Columbus. [TSN]
Are the Bruins actually going to trade somebody to make some cap room? With the signings of both RFA’s Reilly Smith and Torey Krug to matching one-year, $1.4M deals and placing Marc Savard on the LTIR the Bruins will still be over the cap. The Hockey Writers thinks it might come down to Chris Kelly or Gregory Campbell. [Hockey Writers]
