Thursday Habs Headlines: Losing defencemen like Andrei Markov has hurt the Canadiens’ offence

Montreal Canadiens news and notes

• The Canadiens are hurting from their lack of defencemen who can contribute offensively. [Montreal Gazette]
• Nikita Scherbak has been a driving force for Laval this season, and Mitch Brown recently broke down some of the best aspects of his game. [The Athletic]
• Alex Galchenyuk has developed a sweet bond with a young fan. [Canadiens]/

.@AGally94 and four-year-old Charlotte Rose have forged an incredible bond. 😍

READ -> https://t.co/Bd1slkuxzZ #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/cjFdlOifxO

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 10, 2018

• The NCAA’s December picks for both Rookie and Goalie of the Month also happens to be a seventh-round draft pick of the Habs, and Cayden Primeau is looking more and more like a steal. [Sportsnet]
• ICYMI: Will Tomas Plekanec make the 1,000 game milestone with Montreal? [EOTP]
• Carey Price has been named to the Atlantic Division All-Star Team, along with four members of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who will host. [EOTP]/

Around the league and elsewhere

• Pierre McGuire shared on Wednesday that he is recovering from surgery for prostate cancer, but he is doing well and expects to be back traveling in time for the Olympics. [USA Today]
• Even Connor McDavid is sick of offside challenges, especially after his team suffered from a close call. [TSN]
• With Olympic rosters being finalized, Chris Johnston reminded everyone how amazing a Canadian team with NHLers could have been for the 2018 Winter Games. [Sportsnet]
• Hockey Canada wanted World Juniors standout Cale Makar (COL) to join the team in Pyeonchang, but it appears that will not be happening, according to Darren Dreger./

Sources say Hockey Canada offered Dman, Cale Makar a spot on the Olympic team. However, it sounds like he has respectfully declined.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 10, 2018