Montreal Canadiens News and Notes
- Measuring progress during the early seasons of a rebuild can be difficult and frustrating, but the game against the Kings (despite the score) and Juraj Slafkovsky’s recent play are both encouraging. [Montreal Gazette | Journal de Montreal]
- After retiring from the NHL in 2018, Tomas Plekanec has hung up the skates in Kladno as well. [Canadiens]
- Jonathan Kovacevic has been in Arber Xhekaj’s position before and hopes his friend will see his time in the AHL as part of his road to success. [Montreal Gazette]
- Michael Pezetta’s fight in the Kings game was both for the logo and for his spot in the lineup. [Montreal Gazette]
- The Habs are making their annual hospital visits this week. [Twitter]
- The Habs honoured Caroline Ouellete’s remarkable career. [Montreal Gazette]
- Alex Belzile reflects on his time with, and after, the Laval Rocket. [La Presse]
- P.K. Subban recounts how he was told that if he played at the Olympics he couldn’t celebrate because it wasn’t how Canadians should act. [TVA]
Around the League and Elsewhere
- The Oilers are turning their season around under Kris Knoblauch. [TSN]
- Alex Ovechkin became the 16th player in NHL history to reach 1,500 points. [TVA]
- With Joseph Woll likely to be out for a while and Ilya Samsonov struggling, the Leafs are going to have to rely on Martin Jones. [Sportsnet]
- If there was ever an opportune moment for Samsonov to find his footing, this is it. [The Athletic]
- Peter Laviolette and the Washington Capitals are both pleased with the way things have worked out. [NHL]
- The Islanders have acquired Robert Bortuzzo from the Blues. [TSN | NHL]
- Max Pacioretty may be ready to return to action in a few weeks. [TVA]
- The things that make Christ Tanev so valuable a trade piece are also the things that might make him the most valuable for Calgary to keep. [Sportsnet]
- Travis Kelce has expressed interest in practicing with the Blackhawks, and Connor Bedard thinks it would be a fun time. [TVA]
