Montreal Canadiens news and notes
- “Yes, our division is tough, but I think weโre capable of moving on to the next step,” proclaims David Savard, citing Juraj Slafkovskรฝ’s emergence as reason for optimism. [La Presse]
- Kirby Dach’s performance will have a big say in how high the Canadiens can climb. [NHL.com]
- The look of the blue line on opening night is a top storyline heading into the season. [NHL.com]
- Savard knows his time in the organization is nearing its end with so many defencemen in the pipeline. [RDS]
- David Reinbacher has been training all summer with the mentality that it’s going to pay off in a roster spot in Montreal. [TVA Sports]
- Ivan Demidov has been named captain of the Russian Under-23 team that competes in a pre-season tournament with several KHL clubs. [Journal de Montreal]
- Montreal had three of the NHL’s fastest players last season: Josh Anderson, Mike Matheson and … Nick Suzuki. [NHL.com]
- It’s very difficult to build a team of good players and keep it together in the salary-cap era, bu the Habs’ legends think the current Canadiens are set up well for long-term success. [La Presse]
- Vinzenz Rohrer’s great year in the NL is recognized:
Around the league and elsewhere
- Gilles Lรฉger, the man who orchestrated the arrival of the Stastny brothers to North America during the Cold War, has died at 83. [La Presse]
- Auston Matthews is officially named captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. [NHL.com]
- Wendel Clark wonders if the Maple are placing too much responsibility on Matthews’s shoulders. [Montreal Gazette]
- Ryan Getzlaf has taken a position in the Department of Player Safety. [NHL.com]
- Bill Zito took the Stanley Cup to Milwaukee. [NHL.com]
