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Saturday Habs Headlines: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Reviewing Montreal’s performance, season post mortems from around the league, playoff hopes in Edmonton and Toronto, the newest NHL team, and more in today’s links

Apr 16, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield (22) and teammates defenseman Lane Hutson (48) and forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) after a game against the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens News and Notes

  • Reviewing Montreal’s 2023-24 season. [La Presse]
  • The Habs will have an overabundance of defensemen, which is a good thing if the correct choices are made. [The Gazette]
  • Jeff and Eliotte talk about Marty St-Louis’ coaching job in Montreal, the Coyotes/Utah situation, and more in the most recent 32 Thoughts episode. [Sportsnet]
  • Montreal’s PWHL team is most likely about to set the league’s attendance record at the Bell Center. [Yahoo Sports]

Around the League and Elsewhere

  • Ryan Smith has high hopes for growing the Utah hockey market. [The Athletic]
  • Utah’s fledgling franchise has over 20,000 season ticket deposits. [TSN]
  • Their team may be headed to Utah, but the NHL is holding the door open for another chance in Arizona. [Sportsnet | Sportsnet | La Presse | NHL]
  • Jaromir Jagr passes Gordie Howe as the oldest player to actively play professional hockey. [The Gazette]
  • Pavel Francouz retires. [TSN]
  • Daniel Alfredsson is not in the running for the Sens’ head coaching job according to Steve Staios as the search picks up. [TSN | TSN]
  • Patrick Kane would have no issues returning to Detroit, but neither he nor Steve Yzerman sound like they think it’ll happen. [NHL]
  • Jacob Markstrom’s future in Calgary is uncertain. [Sportsnet | Sportsnet]
  • The Flames hope that they will be able to market their team as an attractive destination for free agents. [TSN]
  • The Leafs have faith in Auston Matthews going into the playoffs. [NHL]
  • Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are two of the best players in hockey. Could this playoff run dictate whether they choose to remain in Edmonton after their current contracts? [The Athletic]
  • Sidney Crosby plans to talk about a contract extension this off season. [NHL]
  • Kris Letang played all 82 games and didn’t see a dip in performance despite playing through many injuries. [Sportsnet]
  • Kyle Dubas is committed to returning the Penguins to the playoffs in short order. [The Athletic]
  • John Tortorella is disappointed with the season’s outcome. [ESPN]
  • William Nylander is a “a possibility” for Game 1 after missing practice. [TSN | Sportsnet]
  • Brady Tkachuk is disappointed that his sixth year in the league has ended with the Sens no closer to the playoffs. [Sportsnet]
  • Who has the best chance to end Canada’s cup drought? [TSN | La Presse]
  • Daniel Briere thinks Ryan Johansen may be done. [Sportsnet]

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